#but no the princesses got married and saved only once so that means THEY ARE THE FUCKING SCUM OF THE EARTH AND DESERVE ALL THE DAMN SCORN

[idiosyncraticrednebula]

I clicked on a video essay about Snow White and off the rip, the guy called Snow White a "passive domestic weirdo with no personality" and quickly figured out he is one of THOSE critics. He also got one about Ariel and you bet your ass he is one of these "gave up her voice for a man", "The Little Mermaid is misogynistic" dipshits. I have yet to watch the video, but I know for a fact he is one of those guys. His videos reek of that smartass, sanctimonious, leftist bullshit just by reading the titles and looking at the thumbnails. This guy also has a video defending Twilight. You can't make this damn shit up.

#disney #video essay #txt #i'm sorry but i'm so sick of people ripping the princess movies apart #like holy fucking shit i have never seen a children's entertainment property be so fucking bashed and disrespected the way disney princesse #have been disrespected and so grossly misunderstood #all because fucking cunts on the internet didn't like certain aspects about the original movies #yet fucking bratz has never gotten NOWHERE NEAR the same amount of fucking hatred they have been and they are WAY WORSE role models #these are sexualized ass dolls and materialistic directly marketed at little girls #but no the princesses got married and saved only once so that means THEY ARE THE FUCKING SCUM OF THE EARTH AND DESERVE ALL THE DAMN SCORN #i hate you fucking cunts who made it popular to shit on them #i fucking loathe you with all my heart i can't stand you #there are faaaar worse “role models” for children including little girls than them yet are blamed for every fucking evil on the planet #“these are just characters” ok but it isn't them precisely that get me mad it's people not getting the messages of the movies #it's indicative of an on-going of shitting on everything that's feminine in a positive light. that's what's pissing me off about the #bashlack. y'all notice how the characters who are more tomboyish or less traditionally feminine are seen as superior #i will defend them with every fiber of my body. i do not give a fuck if people think i'm utterly insane for that #i'm so sick of all of you #like i said i have yet to see his analysis of tlm but i just know he is gonna say some bullshit about ariel #i find it funny how disney princesses and barbie have been blamed for years and years for every bad thing on the planet and repeatedly #bashed for all the supposed “bad” messages and themes they teach to little girls because of miserable grown ass women who projected their #anger onto these fictional women that are supposed to represent the best of not just women but humanity as a whole even if they have flaws #and all yet bratz gets nowhere near the same amount of bad press despite them being clearly sexualized and materialistic as hell. they are #more damaging to little girls than barbie and disney princesses ever were. barbie and dp's have taught good things but these bitches? they #were pretty bad role models yet don't get the same amount of flack #don't get me wrong i grew up loving bratz but now i clearly see the ugliness of those characters being promoted to children as “role models #they are everything dp's and barbie have been accused of for years but no hatred for them

[sporadicthingcollection]

Kiss, Marry, Kill: Part 2/2 (LA!Buggy the Clown x F!Reader)

Summary: In which Buggy saves your bacon and you continue to lie to yourself. Pairing: LA!Buggy the Clown x F!Reader Rating: Explicit. Word Count: ~2.3k (of 5.3k) Warnings: Canon-typical violence, sexual fantasies, needles.

A/N: I was going to wait a few days to post this, build some anticipation, but y'all thirsty and I am a woman of the people.

---

Does Buggy feel a twinge of regret as he hauls ass out of Arlong Park? Sure, but not out of any sense of honor or decency or whatever. He just wishes he could have seen your lovely face one last time.

And he must have racked up some good karma recently, because he does indeed see your lovely face. It's curled up in a snarl as a fishman bears down upon you, but it's hot in a warrior princess kind of way.

You throw a right hook that collides with the fishman’s jaw, but no dice. He belts you right in the mouth. It lays you flat, but you take it like a champ and pop right back up.

He hates the idea of such a pretty face being marred in such an unfair fight. So he lends a hand.

Detaching said hand, he sends it floating toward the scuffle. A hard pinch on the ass throws the fishman off guard with a yelp.

You see the opening and slam him across the face once, twice, a third time. He collapses to the side. You waste no time jumping atop him, straddling his chest as you wallop his face into hamburger.

Still kinda hot.

Satisfied that he’s unconscious, you climb to your feet, resting your hands on your hips as you catch your breath. You run a hand through your hair, mussing it in a most handsome way.

Buggy saunters up behind you. Not particularly quietly, but you’re so winded you must not notice. He hovers his chin right over your shoulder. “Boo.”

You screech. Loudly. And whirl around and throw a haymaker that he only just catches with his remaining hand.

“Aw, c’mon,” he grumbles. “That any way to treat your coffee soulmate?”

You blink at him. “When’d you— How— What?”

He recalls his other hand. It reattaches with a little flourish. “Saved your life, babe. You're welcome.”

You look around, then frown. You give his chest a weak shove and stumble away. “I gotta… gotta find Usopp…!”

“Up-bup-bup. Not so fast.” He snags you by the back of the shirt and pulls you back. You whine in protest. "You owe me, Miss Sawbones.”

You scowl at him. “I didn’t ask for help.”

“No, but you got it. Which means…” He taps the tip of your nose. “You.” Tap. “Owe.” Tap. “Me.”

“Fine. Whatever. Cash it in later when I’m not in a rush.” You try to run again, and again he snatches you. “What’s your problem?!”

“My problem is that, if everything comes up Buggy, I’m never going to see you shitheels again.” He leans in close enough for his nose to bump yours. “But I don't like having unfinished business.”

Your eyes are so hot that steam might as well be coming out of your ears. “Just tell me what you want and fuck off.”

Finally, just what he wanted to hear. But what to ask for? You most certainly don't have money. And the map's a wash — even if you could get it, all your little friends would beat him black and blue. No, this has to be something that will get under your skin. Pull your pigtails a little. Hurt your pride.

Like a ray of divine inspiration, it hits him. He can't help but grin as he steps towards you. You take a step back. He matches it. Another step. Another. He backs you right into a tree.

He brushes a strand of hair behind your ear, tracing his finger down your jaw to tip your chin up. He pulls out his best imitation of that damn cook. "Give us a kiss, love."

Your face screws up in disgust. You slap his hand and try to jump away, only for him to grab your arm. Swinging you back around, he pulls you flush against him, his free hand on your waist. He revels in your warmth. He missed his body so much.

He puckers his lips. “C'mon, just a little smooch. Won’t even use tongue.”

You yank your arm from his grip and stare up at him. Grabbing him by the collar, you jerk him downwards. He braces himself for a slap. Or maybe a punch. That seems more your style.

But then you yank him forwards and his lips collide with yours and every joint, every tendon, every inch of sinew in his body locks up. It's all he can do not to topple into a thousand parts and pieces.

He's in shock. He never freezes. Not in the middle of a performance, not in the middle of a fight, and certainly not in the process of sweet talking a kiss out of a pretty little thing.

And yet, here he barely stands. Probably because it’s none of those things — there's no one around, the fight's over, and you're not a pretty little thing. You're a very beautiful grown woman.

His heart flutters against his ribs like a starved hummingbird barred from a flower. He wants more. He wants everything. He wants you.

Oh, this isn't good. It's never good when he catches feelings. Especially not this quickly. Never ends well for him.

...but maybe this time...

You pull away with a pop, but your grip on his waistcoat stays strong. Your mouth remains open, and you waggle your lower jaw, running your lip along your bottom teeth. Your tongue darts out to lick your lips.

He wants to lick them too.

You let out a yip as he swings you down and dips you low, one hand on your neck and the other hooked under your leg. You gaze up at him with wide eyes, twinkling like mischievous little stars.

He dives in for the encore before he can lock up again. Somewhere, some idiot sets off fireworks.

Oh, what a kiss. It’s the kind of kiss they write songs about. The kind that breaks fairy tale curses and turns frogs into princes. The kind that lonely sailors dream of, wishing on shooting stars for someone to love. Someone to laugh with, argue with, cry with, share a treasure with, share a bunk with, share a crown with. Someone to be his and his alone.

And then he feels it. A little nudge against his lips. He pulls away in surprise. “So much for no tongue.”

Smears of red lipstick and flakes of white greasepaint coat your lips. You lick them anyways. “I never agreed to that.” You throw your arms around his neck and force your way inside his mouth.

Now it's the sort of kiss that haunts the dreams of all men. Fiery. Slick. Dexterous. You stroke his teeth and nip his lips and fill his mouth in due measure. He can barely keep up.

The images come unbidden. You, lying across his bed, eyeing him like a tigress eyes her meal. Him, ripping your shirt off to get at those delicious breasts. You, bouncing on his cock, moaning like a whore. Him, flipping you over to fuck you more efficiently. You, begging and whining as you hit your peak. Him, climaxing so hard he sees lightning. You, resting your head against his chest as you drift off to sleep. Him, pulling you closer and burying his face in your hair and whispering sweet little things that you won’t remember—

God damn, are all your kisses like this? Is this what you treat every man to? A lightning strike, a cool plunge, a searing brand, all in one? What kind of devil did you make a deal with to be so beguiling?

His head spins like a carousel as you pull away, from either shock or oxygen deprivation. Probably both.

Even more old paint covers your face. And you still don’t care. Your chest heaves and your gaze burns as you lick your chops. 

While his brain processes what just happened, his poor, stupid heart takes the wheel and shoots its shot. “Wanna come with?” he rasps.

The smolder in your eyes snuffs out and your brows scrunch. “Huh?”

“Ditch the punks. Join up with me. It'll be great."

You blink a few times, eyes darting around. “Why?”

Why? A kiss like that and you’re asking why? “Group of weirdos like us could always use haircuts.”

That marvelous sound leaves your lips. First that glorious snnnrrrk and then that clattery laughter. Your face lights up with glee, your pretty teeth on full display. “Sell me on it.”

That’s a good sign. “Your own cabin. An operating theater. More treasure than you can carry and the best barber chair it can buy.”

Your smile grows. You slip a finger below his chin as you gaze up through your eyelashes. “Sweeten the pot.”

Oh, that’s a dangerous look. His mouth starts writing checks his ego certainly won’t let him cash. “Your own act. Your name in lights. And you can kiss me like that whenever you want."

Those eyes turn downright smoky. You say in a low, low voice, "Just kiss you?"

He almost drops you. All the blood rushing to his cheeks stops dead in his arteries. Then it waterfalls all the way back down.

He jerks you upwards and presses his lips to your ear. “I’ll screw you to the wall every night and eat your cunt like a wild dog every morning. How’s that sound?”

A little hiccup of a gasp escapes you. “Sounds— Sounds good to me, Captain.”

He's ready to throw you over his shoulder like a sack of flour when something whistles through the air above him. He looks up. Pain explodes across his jaw, popping his head off and sending the rest of him sprawling.

It takes him a moment to shake the stars out of his eyes and get the blood back where it belongs. The sniper kid stands a few yards away, quaking in his boots as he loads up his slingshot. Next to him, you scramble to your feet, clutching your makeup-smeared hand.

"Nice timing," you say to Usopp. You pat his shoulder, leaving a streak of white.

“Don’t mention it.” He swallows. "What do we do about him?”

“Iunno. Either kill him or let him buzz off.” You grip your wrist. “Yeow, that hurt…”

Buggy recalls his head to his neck and gives it a good shake. How dare you? How dare you use him like that? Give him feelings only to play with them? What kind of heartless bitch are you?

He's got quite the eloquent insult prepared, but it vanishes as soon as his mouth catches up to his thoughts. “You...!”

He launches his fist at you, but the kid fires off a round from his slingshot. Buggy yelps as a dozen pinpoints of pain pierce his palm, and he recalls it back. There are, in fact, a dozen pins buried deep in his hand. Ow.

He looks up, but the kid is speeding away. You're close behind, but you do glance back. He swears he sees a glint of remorse in your dark eyes, but you're gone moments after.

Alone. Again. After getting his emotions kicked around like a naughty puppy.

Fuck this. Fuck Rubber Boy. Fuck the sniper kid.

And, most of all, fuck you.

—-

You're no good at art, but you're the only person around here with steady hands, a sterile needle, and a willingness to inflict pain. Thus, redoing Nami's tattoo falls to you.

"So how was it?" she asks.

You're so focused on tracing the design onto her arm that you almost don't respond. "Not too bad, if I do say so myself. Might have to adjust the angle."

"Not that. The other thing."

The tangerine connects to the tangerine leaf. The tangerine leaf connects to the pinwheel spoke. “Yes. Of course. The other thing.” 

“Heard you kissed the clown.”

The pinwheel spoke connects to the other spoke aaaand the pen slips from your fingers. Fortunately for you, it doesn’t screw up your careful tracing. “We’re gonna need a new sniper when I’m done keelhauling the old one.”

Nami laughs. It’s not bitter anymore, which you’re thankful for. Girl’s been through a lot. “C’mon, how was it?”

You scoff. “Sudden. Sloppy. Tasted like greasepaint and self-loathing.”

You leave out that you actually like all that. Surprise. Spit. Theatrics and desperation. What can you say? You’re a dumb bitch with a bad taste for pathetic men. You accepted this about yourself a long, long time ago.

If Nami picks up on your deception, she doesn’t let it show. “Thanks for taking one for the team, doc.”

Taking one for the team. Yeah. That’s what it was. A distraction. A diversion. You didn’t manipulate a madman’s feelings for you. He didn’t read you like a giant neon sign. Nor did you feel anything in that kiss. Not in any of them.

Certainly not the first time — that was impulse. Nor the second time — that one was thrust upon you. And the third time — brain was preoccupied with stalling for time so your cooch took over for a moment.

A moment that almost led to you abandoning your friends for a psycho, your conscience reminds you.

You shake the guilt off. “I’m not a doctor,” you mutter, “and let us never speak of this again.”

You swear she stares right into your soul. That she knows what you’ve done. But she nods. “Speak about what?”

It takes a few hours, a few curses, and a few tears, but the tattoo comes out great, if you do say so yourself.

And the entire time, you’re distracted by thoughts of a psycho with a very persuasive tongue.

---

Never had you on my mind

Now you're there all the time

Never knew what I missed until I I kissed ya

---

⬅⬅⬅ | To the "Curious Courtship" Masterpost | To the Mastahpost | Tip Jar | ➡➡➡

#buggy the clown #buggy x reader #buggy x you #buggy the clown x reader #one piece x reader #one piece #one piece live action #reader insert #x reader #emberly writes

[pathetichimbos]

Well, guys, a single person told me I should make this into a post, and so now you're all getting another fabulous take on Thomas Hewitt I've been looking for an excuse to talk about.

Question: 'Do you think realistically would it be hard to get into a relationship with Tommy?'

Short Answer: Yes! And no.

Ha, you really thought there'd be a short answer to this? No, let's dive in.

Thomas, on the surface, is a very awkward, to himself kind of guy. He doesn't like stepping out of his comfort zones, and he hates change. He thrives on strict routine, and isn't one to do something without being told. (ex: he doesn't take initiative at the slaughterhouse, he does exactly as he's told and doesn't stray from those rules)

He has an extremely strong sense of familial bond and ties to his family, he wouldn't betray them for anything, (and yes, that includes you too). It's a huge cultural things in small towns. It doesn't matter who your family is or what they've done. It's true ride or die mentality.

Considering these things, if you want to hope to have a relationship with him, you're gonna have to take up their lifestyle. Every part of it.

If you've ever been to an old southern woman's house, you know how insulting it is to refuse food. It's practically the same thing as spitting on their shoes and slapping them in the face. If you refuse a home cooked meal, especially when you're still considered a 'guest' in the house, you will end up on their bad side.

And Thomas is a Mama's boy, through and through, if his mother doesn't like you, he doesn't like you.

And that mentality is only doubled for the Hewitts. Their family has starved, and if you've ever struggled for food, you understand why they won't let it happen again. I could go into a whole in depth analysis on the Hewitt family and their cannibalism, but let's get back to Tommy.

Thomas doesn't trust people easily. It's in their family, in his blood. The Hewitts (especially after they start murdering people) are suspicious and unforgiving people. People will often assume that they became isolated after the town died out and everyone left, but in reality, they were isolated long before that, as Luda Mae, Hoyt, and even Monty (though much less than the other two) wouldn't tolerate Tommy's mistreatment and abuse.

And as for Thomas' personal distrust, I can almost guarantee there were several times people would pretend to be his friend or even go as far as 'asking him out' only to immediately burst into laughter and mock him the moment he got excited.

Now, he's much more closed off and distrusting of strangers kindness and friendliness.

...But, he's a huge romantic.

He absolutely loves the idea of having someone to love.

His favorite books Luda Mae would read to him as a child were the princess stories. He would dream of being the prince charming, saving the princess from the retched beast so they could get married and live happily ever after.

But, as he got older, he started believing he was better fit for the role of the filthy monster that never falls in love.

Packaging all this up into one neat present, you get a pretty clear idea of what kind of man Thomas is.

So, how does one actually end up in a relationship with him?

It's simple! In the most complicated way possible.

First, is actually meeting him in a none murderer-victim setting, because once you hit that area, there's really no going back. If he's told you're next, you're next.

He's going to be really suspicious of you, no matter what you do really. Even if you do become 'friends', he's a rather anxious man, and he's going to have doubts for a long time.

You're going to have to get on everyone's good side. Like I said before, he cares deeply about his family and their opinions, and being around them and accepted by them is a non-negotiable. And I don't just mean Luda Mae, I mean everyone, including Monty and Hoyt.

Speaking of Hoyt, that will have it's own ground rules as well.

Thomas, despite being a big hunk of a man who could easily toss around someone twice Hoyt's weight, is not the man of the house. Hoyt is like a father figure to him, and he looks up to him. Well, not in every way, but you get the picture.

He isn't going to take well to you bad-mouthing Hoyt. Of course, he doesn't care if you want to rant about the man's annoying presence sometimes, but it depends on how close the two of you are and what you're saying.

If you try to accuse the man of being abusive, or not caring about his family, Thomas isn't going to like it. Hoyt is a mean hothead, sure, and by today's standards, most people probably would consider him abusive to a certain extent, but this is a small southern town in the 1970s.

Hell, most of the 'abusive' traits Hoyt show are still practiced in small towns to this day, and are considered normal behavior. Again, I could go into a whole spiel about Hoyt's character and actions, but I'll get to the point.

If there is one thing true about Hoyt, it's that he cares about his family. Every action he takes is in their interest, and he'd put his life on the line to keep them safe, including Thomas. Hell, he protected Tommy as a kid just as much as Luda Mae did.

So, yea, really any bad talk about his family is going to get you on his bad side.

But, let's say that you follow these rules, and you mesh well with his family and him, how long will it take for Tommy to actually catch feelings for you?

...Pretty much almost immediately.

Thomas is reserved and untrusting, yes, but he catches crushes faster than a Tommy-hater can catch these hands. (for reference, that's really fast)

He's a sweetheart, and eager to be loved and accepted, so the irrational, romantic side of his brain eager hops on the Y/N train the moment you show him any real affection.

But as for actually loving you? That's going to take a really long time.

Luda Mae always raised him on the idea that love can't exist without trust, and he takes that to the extreme. He literally won't consider a relationship with you until he can completely trust you with his whole heart.

And once that trust is earned and the two of you become 'official', that's it. He's in it for life. In his eyes, you're the only one for him, and he takes that belief to heart. So it is extremely important that you only enter the relationship when you're 100% ready. He won't understand the concept of needing a 'break', or time apart. Once you're in it, you're in it, and if you ever leave, there's no coming back, and Thomas will leave your life entirely, with the rest of the Hewitts shunning you as a result.

Because of this, it's also important to remember that there really is no such thing as 'harmless' flirting with Thomas. He doesn't understand the concept of friendly flirting. He's either going to assume that you're mocking him or that you actually do have feelings for him.

Communication is a huge key with this man!!! He doesn't pick up well on hints or social cues. Be up front of and honest about you're feelings or he will have no idea how you really feel, and it'll only cause heartbreak and confusion in the long run.

...Well. Now that I've practically made a How-to Guide on romancing Thomas, I think I'll call it here. Good luck on attracting your local Hewitt boys. See y'all in the next one.

#thomas hewitt #thomas hewitt x reader #thomas hewitt x you #thomas hewitt x y/n #thomas hewitt x s/o #slashers #slasher fandom #slasher x reader #slasher x you #slasher x y/n #slasher x s/o

[bloodynereid]

Tinsel, Gold and Dragons

(modern au!)

pairings: rhaenyra targaryen x fem! reader, past rhaenyra x alicent

tw: kissing, alicent bashing, alcohol consumption, talk about hooking up, hatred of the holiday season??

description: You were wondering how the hell this family had so many attractive people. Rhaenyra’s brain was currently not computing, she was pretty sure this was called bisexual panic but it had never really happened to her in real life before.

a/n: hiii hope you enjoy this little fic i randomly wrote last night. i've been kind of missing just writing stuff that isn't requests so hopefully this is still ok haha. ALSO i'm 100% an alicent defender, she's the loml so just remember that a lot of this is from rhaenyra's pov and not my own thoughts about her character. anyways hope you enjoy this and happy holidays <3 (might write a part 2 at some point but who knows?)

Rhaenyra Targaryen never liked the holiday season. After her mother died things just got worse and the boring parties she was always subjected to only got more boring. The welcome reprieve of baking gingerbread in the kitchen with her mom was gone in seconds and now holidays just reminded her of everything she had lost.

This year’s party was going to be the worst one by a long shot. Rhaenyra had to deal with Alicent fucking Hightower - oh sorry Targaryen now… that was something she still hadn’t accepted. I mean how do you even cope when your best friend suddenly starts fucking your dad in secret, gets pregnant, marries him and then proceeds to act like she’s Virgin fucking Mary?

The answer is with a lot of scotch, stupid hookups and long hours studying. She was desperate to get her law degree so she could finally do something and it also meant she could start working at her uncle’s law firm.

Currently though she was stuck in her father’s house whilst her new toddler half-brother threw temper tantrums and broke anything in his vicinity.

It was Christmas Eve and Viserys had nearly decided to cancel the annual Christmas party, in favor of “family bonding” but Alicent had somehow convinced him to keep it on. Rhaenyra did not want to think about what she had done to convince him. She nearly gagged at the mere idea of it.

Smoothing out the material of the dark red dress with a slightly higher slit than what would be considered appropriate, Rhaenyra let out an audible sound of satisfaction. She looked fucking hot. Plus Alicent would freak when she saw it, perfect.

Once upon a time Alicent Hightower had been her best friend, and probably something more but now… all that Rhaenyra could muster up for her is a cold chill of utter hate and rage.

Rhaenyra was thrown out of her thoughts when her phone called out the familiar ringtone that belonged to her uncle.

“Daemon… you do know that people can text now don’t you?”

“Haha, you can call me old all you want but you might regret it when I don’t tell you how I’m about to save you tonight.”

“Please tell me you found a way to make them all die fiery deaths.”

“Nothing as dramatic as that but I assure you it’s still the perfect escape.”

“Are you going to leave me in suspense while I endure this torture or…”

“Fine, you spoiled princess. We’re having a little party at the firm and since you’re coming to work here soon…”

“You didn’t.”

“But I did.”

“Fuck off. You mean I can actually leave this party.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t already.”

“You’re my savior.”

“Knight in shining armor and all that. Just remember to get me a good present this year.”

“When do I ever disappoint you?”

“There is also another surprise waiting for you when you get here.”

“Daemon… what have you done?”

“Nothing. There’s just someone I think you should meet.”

“Oh God, maybe I won’t go.”

“You know you’re too desperate not to, plus she’s your age so you won’t have to deal with boring old men like me.”

“She’s a she?” 

Rhaenyra perked up, she hadn’t had a date in a while and ever since Alicent she hadn’t even tried to step her foot back into that pool. A string of meaningless hookups with men had done nothing to quell the heartbreak side of the whole situation. This would probably be good for her. 

“Yes. So I guess that means you’re coming?”

“Obviously.”

“Should I send a car over?”

“Don’t bother, I’ll just drive Syrax.” Syrax was a birthday present from Daemon, a beautiful and subtly gold car that drove like a dream.

“Ok, see you soon Nyra.”

“Bye, Uncle.”

Rhaenyra sped through the streets of King’s Landing in the comfortable leather seat of her car. The bright Christmas lights that adorned the shops made a bright smile appear on her face. She may hate the holidays but at least the lights and food were incredible.

She arrived at the tall building that held Caraxes, Daemon’s law firm and named after his first dog but no one needed to know that. She gave her name to the security guard before parking the car in one of the empty spaces.

Her red dress fluttered in the cold breeze as she waited for the elevator to open. The firm was located on the 60th floor, the penthouse. Rhaenyra always loved being up high so the height was never a problem. What was annoying was how long it took her to actually get up there.

When the elevator doors finally opened at the correct floor, loud Christmas music echoed through the floor and she could clearly hear cheers coming from the area close to Daemon’s office.

Since the secretary was nowhere to be seen, Rhaenyra walked the now familiar route towards her uncle’s office. Weaving through a variety of cubicles she found a large Christmas tree and a small bar had been set up outside her uncle’s office.

“NYRA!” A loud voice that corresponded to her uncle slurred out and his tall frame ambled towards her. Within moments she was suddenly caught in a warm embrace and she returned the hug with her smaller arms wrapping around his torso.

“When did you have time to get this drunk, uncle?” Rhaenyra asked when they finally parted.

“Oh you think this is drunk, darling. Don’t you remember me at that New Year’s-”

“Andddd I’m going to stop you right there. I still get trauma flashbacks.”

“I must say, you look absolutely stunning Nyra. I’m sure our dear Alicent flipped when she saw you.”

“You should have seen her face when I told her I was going to unfortunately not attend her party.” Rhaenyra and Daemon shared a laugh before Daemon spotted someone in the crowd and a smirk appeared on his face.

“Y/N! I have someone you should meet.” 

Rhaenyra followed Daemon’s line of sight and found the most beautiful woman she had probably ever seen. You were wearing a dark blue floor length dress which was held up with spaghetti straps. A pashmina scarf looped around your elbows and you had a smile on your face as you approached the two of them.

“You summoned me?” You asked when you finished weaving through the sea of people.

“Well yes, I wanted you to meet my niece. Rhaenyra this is Y/N, our newest and most promising associate.”

“Pleasure to meet you.” You said as you offered a hand to the stunning silver haired woman. You were wondering how the hell this family had so many attractive people. Rhaenyra’s brain was currently not computing, she was pretty sure this was called bisexual panic but it had never really happened to her in real life before.

“I-uh, nice to meet you too.” Rhaenyra stuttered out as she took Y/N’s hand and shook it.

“Well I’ll leave you two to it.” Daemon said with a conspiring tone in his voice before he disappeared into the crowd.

“So… Daemon’s been singing your merits all over the office for a while now so I think I have an unfair advantage here.”

“Oh God, what has he been saying?” Rhaenyra groaned out as she dramatically swept a hand over her hair.

“Nothing bad, I promise. You’re getting your law degree at The Citadel, right?”

“Yup.”

“How’s that? I was debating going there for a while but ended up going to Oxford instead.”

“It's hell but worth it, I hope.”

“I totally get that, Oxford was like medieval torture but I’m happy it landed me in this place.” You said as you swept a hand in the direction of the office space.

“Wait, how old are you?” Rhaenyra suddenly asked before her face contorted in embarrassment. “Shit, that was rude, sorry.”

“Ha don’t worry, I get that all the time. I’m 25.”

“24.” Rhaenyra offered back in solidarity.

“We’re basically the same age then.” You said with a wink before you took a sip of the amber liquid in the glass tumbler.

“Probably why Daemon shoved us in this little corner together.”

“I’m for one glad to be stuck in this little corner with you.” You said as you smirked in Rhaenyra’s direction. A light blush started to dust Rhaenyra’s cheeks.

“I’m glad too, but I’m desperate for a drink. This week has been hell.”

“You don’t like the holidays either?”

“Hate them.”

“We have something else in common after all.”

You spent the rest of the party sitting next to Rhaenyra in Daemon’s office. You drank sparingly, not wanting to be drunk since Rhaenyra needed to drive back and you didn’t want to act like a fool in front of her.

Rhaenyra felt like this was the first time in years that she felt truly happy. It was nice just to talk and gossip and be free to actually be herself. With Alicent it felt like she was walking on eggshells before the incident and now it was near impossible to be in the same room alone with her. But with Y/N…

At first, Rhaenyra went into this wanting just to have a quick hookup but those hours spent talking or maybe it was the alcohol that got to her head but she decided she deserved something better. She deserved someone better.

“Do you need a ride home?” Rhaenyra asked when people started to mill out of the party. Y/N turned to her in surprise before a gentle smile lit up her face.

“It wouldn’t be any trouble?”

“Not at all, but don’t think this is some kind of selfless act - maybe I just want to spend more time with you.”

“Well, we just have to indulge in your selfish desires don’t we?” You said with a twinkle in your eyes and a laugh on your tongue.

“You have no idea the scope of my selfish desires.”

“I would like to find out…”

Rhaenyra basically dragged you down to her car after that little remark. As she drove through the streets of King’s Landing, you took a leap of blind faith (or maybe love) by gripping the hand that lay between the two of you. Rhaenyra instantly threaded her fingers through yours and you spied a small smile making its way to her face.

Once she pulled up in front of your apartment building Rhaenyra bit her lip and turned to look at you - still completely in awe of how pretty you are.

“We arrived.”

“That we did.”

“Well…”

“Well… do you uh-”

“Do I what?” Rhaenyra said as she wiggled her eyebrows.

“Rhae… I- do you want to come up?”

“Only if we can have a date tomorrow.”

“It’s Christmas Day.”

“I’ll think of something.”

“Hmm… deal.” You said as a giddy smile graced your lips. Suddenly the feeling of soft lips meeting against yours startled you out of your reverie and you jumped to thread your fingers through her silky hair.

“You are so beautiful.” Rhaenyra mumbled against your lips before slipping her tongue to delicately stroke yours. It seemed impossible that your smile could widen even more but it did.

“Mmm, says you. You fucking goddess.” You said when you both finally pulled away. Panting and grinning like idiots.

“This is certainly turning out to be a very merry Christmas.”

“Ho ho ho.”

rhaenyra is an bisexual icon just like her uncle and we love her for it !!

#rhaenyra targaryen #rhaenyra #rhaenyra x reader #rhaenyra is a bisexual icon. #rhaenyra targaryen x reader #rhaenyra x fem!reader #alicent hightower #daemon targaryen #hotd #house of the dragon #game of thrones #hotd x reader #hotd modern au #modern au #house of the dragon x reader #got #syrax #caraxes #viserys targaryen

[risuola]

V — A GOLDEN CAGE — F. READER x TOBIRAMA SENJU

Visiting your father went just like you expected it to go. Horribly wrong but you wanted to push through it and go back to your home in Konoha. Things unfortunately got out of hand and you were forced to summon Tobirama to save you.

cw: physical abuse, toxic parent behavior, sexual abuse mentioned just briefly (nothing of that nature is happening but it's a warning nonetheless), forced drug intake, heavy misogyny, reader discretion is advised — 3,1k words

SERIES MASTERLIST

With an ANBU officer that Tobirama assigned to assist your trip, you reached the village that was your homeland. A place where you grew up welcomed you with fake smiles as you entered the palace. You used to live there, but no warmth or domesticity was waiting for you inside the familiar interiors. Once you entered, you received a long, harsh and emotionless hug from your father, just so the appearances were kept in the eyes of your security member, but with Konoha's shinobi departure, all of the artificially gentle gestures departed as well, leaving you with cold aura of your strict parent. Oh, how many memories it brought to the front of your mind.

After four hours of travel, you were given some time to rest and you took it, preparing yourself for what's to come. Evening was still early and you expected a meeting with your father that day before the madness of the next one starts. The talk was plain, it was nothing, just as if he wasn't talking to his daughter but to a foreign person and you'd lie if you said it hurt you. You were used to similar treatment from him, there was never any parental love he showed. He never acted like your father, more so like your owner, which in a sense he was. Every decision regarding you had to go through him, had to get his approval before it came to life; he decided what you’re going to wear, what and how much you’re going to eat and with whom you’re going to spend your time. He was strict and demanding nothing but compliance, feeding you fear and uneasiness from the youngest age. He did everything to burn down your character, to change you into a maid, a housewife, into someone who’s doing as is told. You were too strong mentally to go down this road and you learned how to play his game. Or so you thought, because you felt truly free only when you married Tobirama and left the village.

With a false wish to rest well, you spent the night hyperaware of the surroundings. Your old room brought memories you were not too fond of; the fake light aura that surrounded you, with all the soft and plush fabrics and luxurious ornaments made you feel sickly. You were often trapped in here, as your father explained it by protection and keeping you pure. A golden cage, an exclusive prison. He kept you out of the world, giving you no choice but to sneak out on your own to train or see people. If not for that, you'd probably go insane very quickly and as the time had passed, you were impressed with yourself that you remained the clarity of mind. You went through all of it, the many years of mental, violent training that were often close to break you down. Strict rules of your palace made you depressed in every meaning of this word; at one point you were too afraid to speak, you were frightened to look anyone in the eyes – even if it was just a servant of yours. Your life wasn't easy. The princess title covered all of it up, dressing your misery in fairy tale stories and glittering the dark path you had to walk through.

The next day began just as you expected. A breakfast, beautifully spread on the large, long table where you sat down facing your father, focusing on the food rather than his demanding gaze that seemed to pierce right through your soul. He was displeased by your sight; you could tell that right away. Disgusted even.

"There are stories that reach our ears," he began; the annoyance apparent in his voice even though you could tell he was trying to sound calm. The tension in the air was thick and heavy, palpable enough to make you feel suffocated.

"Regarding...?”

"Regarding your behavior in Konoha. Rumors have it, you're serving the society of the village. You're quite liked in here, aren't you?" The question was rhetorical and during the speech, there was a few accents put onto certain words with the most apparent note of disgust that surrounded the word serving.

"That's a part of my duty, as of a wife to—"

"Cut the bullshit. As a wife, you should be at Senju's feet. Do you not know how a marriage should look like?" Your father got up, slamming his fist on the table, knocking down glasses as your food bounced on the porcelain plate. That’s about it when it came to the breakfast. "I have given you up believing you're well prepared, but I see I was wrong. Can you imagine my disappointment, my shame when my people talk about your treatment to your husband?!"

"With all due respect, but Konoha has different vision on marriage and I fulfill my duties to the best of my abilities. My husband is—"

"Shut your mouth when I'm talking," he groaned, cutting you off yet again and you sighed, putting down the chopsticks. Peaceful breakfast wasn't what you’ve expected anyway. "You, acting all lovey-dovey with that man is an insult to our tradition, to our people. It's been almost a year and I was patient, hoping you'd realize your place, but as of now I don't see any other choice, than to put you in it myself."

"What does it even mean? Your superiority over me ended the day I was married off. Now the only person that can give me orders is Tobirama, not you, and he do not wish me to serve him."

"Spare your words until I lose control."

You shut up, wondering if it’s worth it to just leave the palace and get back to Konoha earlier. It would for sure make a fuss but if you were careful enough, you might not interrupt the negotiations that were taking place. Without a warning, two women entered the room, cutting your thoughts short as they grabbed you by the shoulders and dragged outside with force. You were aware of a place you were heading to. Little, closed house-like building, but small enough to fit one room and a small bathroom. It was like a basement even though it wasn’t underneath the ground. It was dark, with no windows. A prison your parent used to put you in to 'teach you a lesson'.

Your father wanted to break you, to plant the seed of fear in you that would bloom into your compliance to Tobirama later. That would push you down to the ground and make you stay at that level, so the Senju can tower above you. A wife that’s perfect, according to the misogynistic tradition of your land, is the one who’s humble and obedient, who doesn’t speak up and is afraid to do so. Woman’s role in the marriage was objectified – a woman was meant to speak when asked and be silent when she’s not, she was meant to keep her head low, mouth shut and legs open to fulfill the desires of her husband. To give birth to as many heirs as the man pleased to have. It looked like this for decades in your village and you happened to disagree with that from the youngest age, what saved you from an early marriage. You couldn’t be more thankful for the agreement between Yu and Konoha, but your father was far from happy.

When the doors closed, trapping you inside with two men you had seen for the first time, the terror began but you had no intentions of giving in. Not this time. When you were younger, you just took it – too afraid to show any fighting skills that you were learning in secret from the world, but now it didn’t matter. You fought the physical abuse for a day, but your body was weakened and you assumed it was something you were sneakily given during breakfast. It was everything but a surprise to you. Your father was known for his toxic behavior, as he would often poison you to weaken your reactions, and then ‘show you your place’. You should have known better to not eat or drink anything he’s giving you.

The nightmarish treatment of kicks and punches was something your body remembered but weaned from. It's been almost a year since you were beaten for the last time, as Tobirama kept you safe and warm in his embrace. The men didn't care about the marks that were appearing on your body. Your father will sooner or later inject you another one of his mixtures that make bruises invisible to the eye, but leaving the pain of them. It was a brutal ritual he often used to place you in order. Something you hated more than anything but had to learn to live with. Minozuki wasn't stupid, he knew he cannot leave any signs of abuse on you to prevent your husband from knowing as he suspected he wouldn’t be as grateful as he should be. But it was a service, your father thought – it was a favor he was doing towards the young Senju, because clearly he wasn’t able to discipline you himself.

The torture took two days, although for you it felt like eternity. There was little to no perception of time in a space with no daylight and no clocks. Every bone, every muscle hurt – even your hair and nails burned with pain. It'll go away, you told yourself, repeating it like a spell to push through it. Two days of the hell had already passed, meaning you’ll go home soon. Conveniently, you were expected to stay as long as the negotiations in Konoha are taking place, and there even was a delegation from your village, probably to make sure your husband is not leaving. Minozuki thought of everything – it wasn’t a coincidence that he invited you now. He knew damn well you’ll come alone.

“How’s my daughter doing?” Your father’s voice reached your ears from outside, where he met with your abusers to get reports on the progress. The door stayed open, but even if you’d want, you couldn’t escape now. Not when you were that weak, not when they were standing right behind the wooden entrance and especially not in your current state. You could taste nothing but blood, it coated your mouth and half of your face. You were coughing it out for god knows how long, something inside of you had to be damaged. Something had to be fractured enough to release a constant flow of red through your lips. For the nth time you felt like you’re gonna pass out, an exhaustion taking the best of you, the world spinning more and more right before your eyes.

“She’s stubborn,” one of the men responded, and the second agreed. Their voices were faintly hearable for you now, barely coming on top of the intense ringing in your ears. “At this rate she’ll have her bones broken but learn nothing.”

“So, change the tactic. Use every mean.”

“Yes sir.”

The change of tactic caught you off guard. Never before your father had a reason to use any kind of sexual abuse towards you, hence you couldn’t be prepared for that at all and at first, you couldn’t even tell what was happening. You were once again forced to swallow down a liquid in which another dose of drugs was dissolved. At this point, you were close to throwing it up as it forced down the blood back to your stomach. When it began taking over your body, you felt like you’re levitating. You were able to move, barely, but your limbs felt numb. You had no control over them, but your mind stayed intact. Aware of what was happening, you felt like you’re standing next to yourself, observing with no power to react. That out of body experience frightened you to the core, you never felt like this before.

And then, you were reminded of a mark on your body, that Tobirama left before you departed. It was one of those he used to teleport himself between places. He wanted to make sure you’re safe during the travel or your stay in the palace. He was well aware of how scared you were going there, even though you tried not to show it, you did your best to not worry him with your family issues. But he knew better, he made you promise you’ll use it if something’s wrong, so he can appear instantly and protect you, but you swore to yourself you won’t bother him. His job in Konoha was so important, you couldn’t bring him in just because you were kicked in the gut but when it got to you what was happening now, what your father meant by saying every mean, you got truly scared.

The men grabbed you, began tugging and jerking your body, as they were fighting with every last bit of power you had left to push them away. The intention was clear as they were pulling your clothes, ripping the seams, cutting the straps, revealing more and more of your skin, squeezing and slapping your body, groping everywhere. The feeling of disgust began overflowing your mind. Was that really what your own father allowed to happen? Before marrying you off he put so much effort into keeping you pure and now he was just okay with you being used in this dingy, dark cage? You couldn’t push them away; your body was too weak, your hands had no strength as they met the much larger bodies of your abusers. Biting your thumb open, you smeared the blood over the marking on your forearm, focusing every last bit of chakra that you had in there, alarming your husband.

In the middle of talking, Tobirama fell quiet. The feeling of your energy calling for him paralyzed him for a split second as he knew you wouldn’t use his marker if it wasn’t absolutely necessary. He knew you all too well to know you were too stubborn to call for him for as long as you can withstand whatever was happening and the thought of what pushed you to do so froze the blood in his veins. What on earth was happening in your village?!

“Tobirama?” Hashirama addressed the silence, looking up to his brother, immediately noticing something was wrong. Just as if Yugakure delegation noticed as well, they began asking more questions, aiming towards the younger Senju to distract him from the feeling but the hokage got up, dismissing his brother with a pat on the shoulder. “Let’s take a break.” Hashirama’s authoritative voice wasn’t up to any discussion and nobody dared to say a word.

You fought with all of your might, forcing yourself through the drugs, fueling your muscles with remains of your chakra just to move them, to push those men away from you. With a whine, you fell down to the ground, after being striked in the head but your body didn’t reach the floor. Appearing suddenly, a strong arm wrapped itself around you, situating you under the wall gently. Seeing the familiar face in front of you, you exhaled in relief. Tears rolled down your cheeks, the marking worked after all and you knew damn well that Tobirama would come and help you eventually, but to see how fast he reacted warmed your heart all over again.

Senju was enraged by the sight he was met with. Your body, partially undressed was covered in purple signs of abuse, in the red patterns of blood that was gushing out of your mouth and two men in front of you were trying to take advantage of the half-conscious state you were in. He had no idea why were you so barely present, but it wouldn’t surprise him if it was some kind of drug coursing through your system. Your father was nowhere to be found and the more he looked around, the more dried blood caught his attention. Furrowing his brows, he groaned in anger, easily beating down two offenders that dared to lay a finger on his wife and he wished to give them a bigger lesson, to make them suffer longer, to beat them harder, but all of that could wait. Now you were the top priority for him. Now he had to take you home, to safety.

“Hey,” he said, forcing himself to sound calmer than he was, as he squatted in front of you, swooping your body from the floor with such gentleness that you barely felt any pain.

“I’m so sorry to bother you,” you muttered, leaning into the familiar scent of his neck. Even though you were barely registering the world around you, fighting with your own perception, you would recognize him everywhere. In a matter of second you were back in Konoha, in your own bathroom and the light of it made you squint and whine against Tobirama’s shoulder.

“Let’s get you cleaned up and you’ll rest, alright?” He spoke softly and his deep, caring voice soothed your nerves.

“You can go back to your duties, I can manage…” In hopes to reassure your husband, you tried to stand on your legs but as soon as your weight landed on them, you began to fall. It’s only thanks to the protective embrace around you that you didn’t reach the tiles.

“I’ll stay with you as long as you need me to. Please accept my help and don’t worry about the negotiations. The most important parts of it are already sealed, my brother can deal with the rest alone.”

With a nod, you draped your heavy arms around his shoulders, melting into his large body, into the safety of him. Everything hurt you, the pain felt unbearable just a second ago, but such close contact with Tobirama made It worth pushing through.

“I love you more than my own life, Tobirama,” you whispered against his chest, pressing your lips right above where his heartbeat echoes. “I’m so grateful that you came, that you saved me before they—”

“Ssh, it’s okay, you are now safe with me,” he hushed you gently. He sounded calm, his tone was warm and he showed nothing but love and patience to you, but inside of him there was a storm raging. Not now, he reminded himself in his thoughts. His fingers were stroking your hair whilst the other hand kept a hold around your waist, keeping you up and standing. He could feel how weak you were, how little chakra was circling in your system – an effect of you using it constantly to fight back the assault. Tobirama prioritized you above everything else right now, but in his head, he already planned the visit to your homeland.

Those people, your father… they needed to learn why they don’t want any problems with him.

» NEXT PART

TAGLIST: @garouaddict @bluebreadenthusiast @nelivv - I tagged everyone who asked for continuation, please let me know if you want to be tagged for the future parts loves! (and don't be shy to tell me if you don't want to be tagged as well!)

#naruto #naruto imagines #shippuden imagines #naruto shippuden #shippuden #tobirama #tobirama senju #senju #tobirama x reader #tobirama imagines #tobirama fluff #tobirama smut #tobirama fanfic #tobirama fanfiction #tobirama x you #senju x reader #senju x you #senju fanfiction #tobirama imagine #tobirama arranged marriage #tobirama senju x reader #naruto x reader #konoha founders #senju tobirama #senju imagines #tobirama angst #naruto angst #naruto fluff #senju fluff #tobirama x y/n

[adisillusionedauthor]

Like it was meant to be... - Lando Norris

A.N: This is based off of a crazy dream I had, if you guys want I could probably make a part 2.

Pairing: Past Life prince!Lando Norris x Past life servant!reader

Masterlist<3

Warning: a little sad, might continue this..., trying something different, cute Lando

Word count: 785

I walked through the castle looking for prince Norris, in the morning he had asked for me to look for him, but up until this moment I was swarmed with duties to prepare everything for the arrival of the princess he’s supposed to marry, I know it’s wrong and forbidden, but I love him and he loves me, even though that’s the only truth I know, I must end it, I must think of the best for the kingdom. I hear his voice coming from the balcony so I open the door without much thought, once I opened the door his arms were holding the princess much like he held me, my eyes instantly meet his as he frantically let’s go of the princess, I apologize for entering without knocking and start to walk away, he apologizes for leaving so frantically and starts going after me, calling out for my name: “Y/N! Y/N, please let me explain!” Once he’s close enough his finger closes around my arm gently, pulling me to a haste, my eyes meet his, my eyes full of tears and his full of worry and concern: “Please, let me explain. I can’t lose you” He said caressing my cheek, I shook my head causing a few tears to fall: “No… We were never supposed to happen… This was a mistake, not cause you’re royalty and I’m not, not because you’re going to marry another woman in a few weeks, but because I knew I wouldn’t be able to let go of you once the time came… I got too attached over some stupid thing… It probably meant nothing to you, but to me… It was everything… Goodbye my prince, I’m leaving the castle in the morning” His eyes widened and he pulled me into a storage room that was close to where we were: “What do you mean you’re leaving? NO! You can’t… I’ll… I don’t know what I’ll do without you… Please,Y/N” He pleaded and his eyes almost convinced me to stay, my eyes fill with tears and so did his, our tears start falling, his eyes lower once he realizes there’s no convincing me to stay. He pulls me into a tight embrace: “If I can’t have you in this life, I’ll look for you in the next one… That’s a promise…” He said so sure of himself and I believe him, I allow my arms to wrap around him one last time, I pull away after a few minutes of holding each other, letting the tears fall, I wipe my tears then wipe his so gently, cupping his cheek gently: “She’ll be happy with you… If you truly wish to look for me in the next life, Lando… I’ll wait… I’ll wait a thousand years… I’ll wait until you find me, but in this life forget about me… Focus on your kingdom… I’ll be okay… Somehow, I’ll be okay… I promise” I say letting more tears fall, more tears fell from his eyes and he pulled me into a last sweet and loving kiss, I let my fingers tangle into his hair, pulling him closer to me, then once we let go of each other, we wipe our tears and walk in different directions on the corridor, he walks back to the princess and I… I walk towards my room where I’ll pack everything and leave this kingdom behind. Find my own future outside of this castle’s walls.

YEARS LATER…

I can’t believe after years of saving I finally managed to buy a paddock pass, I’m going to meet my favorite driver Lando Norris. I’m already in line to take a picture with him, I brought one hoodie from his merch for him to sign for me if it’s possible, soon it's my turn and I’m sweating, his adorable accent hits my ear once I get close enough and somehow manage to mutter the words: “Could I please get a picture with you?” He smiles at me sweetly and says: “Sure thing and I suppose that hoodie is for me to autograph?” He asks, his smile almost makes my knees buckle, but I manage to give him a shaky nod, he offers me his hand for us to take the selfie, I take it, my hand shaking he wraps one arm gently around my waist and I feel a soft shock, nothing to strong, but it seems like he felt the same since he looks at me confused, we take the picture and he signs my hoodie, he hugs me before going on to the next person, once he hugs me, it feels strange… Like something I’ve been looking for a long time… Like it was meant to be…

#f1 fanfic #fluff #formula 1 #f1 x reader #f1 #fanfic #cute #adorable #sad #angst #light angst #slow burn #drabble #old lifes #past life #prince #lando #lando norris #lando x reader #lando norris x reader #landonorris #ln4 #mclaren f1 #lando imagine #f1 2024 #f1 gif #f1 gifs #f1 imagine #f1 fic #f1 angst

[the-moon-files]

Linked Universe - Masc!Reader Soulmate Quick Headcanons <3

(^^ this is so cute i gotta find the anime its from)

Sun: Male/Masc Reader (he/him), Guide Reader :)

Stars: Wild (Breath of the Wild Link)

Planet: Headcanons/scenarios, kinda long sorry

Comets & Meteors: Content Warnings: Link possibly feeling comphet (compulsory heteronormative), the general angst of being the best friend love interest (ends well dw), Links missing you/being sad about it

& Trigger Warnings: Link crying. (Please comment if otherwise.)

☆

Wild (BOTW Link)

Ok so we know he was stuck before the calamity following Zelda around

And while in game it seems like he's perfectly accepting of his role as her knight

And maybe could love her or grow to love her

I feel like after the Calamity, and after he meets you, its not possible anymore

It kinda feels like that same way ppl come to realize theyre lesbians??

Like he could've been straight and happy or content (not really, not fully, but in that way that gay women settle for staying with a man, he'd stay with Zelda maybe)

She used to be all he had left really, so maybe out of obligation he'd have stayed, but then he lost his memories.

And what was once a daily duty now became a woman he barely knew halfway across the kingdom, (who creepily randomly telepathically invaded his mind,,)

Link doesn't really realize how he feels until after traveling with you around the entirety of Hyrule, camping, fighting, cooking, eating etc. together, after becoming best friends with you,

Its like how a lesbian realizes they're lesbian bc they could never imagine themselves actually dating/married to a man, at least relying on him for the long term,

Then that sentiment comes in like "i just wish i could stay with my best (non-man) friend forever" kinda way

Like he definitely had the thought "this is so much easier, i wish we could be together forever" <3

So while "dating" you didn't necessarily occur to Link at first bc of heteronormative mindset/general mission of the Calamity Ganons

He quickly breaks out of that a couple months into the journey

Zelda at first may have been the quintessential "princess needing saving" but you were the "best friend love interest all along" type of energy you know?

So when at the end of you guys' journey, you feel the tug to leave, because the adventure's over.. you fully expect to see Zelda running into his arms or something, and turn away

You may be able to accept he loves women (tho how he looked at you and how comfortable he was touching you had you thinking possibly, maybe, hopefully otherwise)

But that doesn't mean you're going to sit here and watch it happen

(You know the games, the Legend of Zelda, this is how it always ends)

Instead, you feel lean but strong arms clamp around your torso

You're lifted up (even if you complain about how heavy you are, and he must be tired)

But Link is just smiling, and spins you around, Zelda is slack jawed in the background and then giggles??

Well, that's sweet, at least he remembered you were here instead of getting absorbed in her

Link practically whips you around, turning you in his arms

You stumble but he's too strong to let you falter in this position

He crushes you to his chest, a whispered "thank you" in your right ear, his breath is warm and ticklish

You awkwardly pat his back, "yeah, of course buddy, glad she's okay, and you're alright, you should get some rest. Oh, and you can have whatever I've got left in my iventory, since I won't be needing it anymore... you know I've gotta go soon."

You feel more see Link jump in shock, he grasps your shoulders (you didn't realize how hot his hands were until they were gone from your back)

You're worried he forgot about the whole "only here for adventures" Guide thing until painful understanding shows in his blue eyes

He immediately looks like the wind got knocked out of him

"Sorry Link, I wish I could stay to rebuild or explore Hyrule with you... but it's not my choice anymore."

You look apologetic but at least you know he won't be alone, that was your entire reason for being a Guide in the first place

But as you begin to fade (which, wow, Hylia really can't spare having you stick around for longer than a few minutes or seconds after Ganon's defeat??)

Link looks, panicked?

Like he's watching the Calamity happen all over again, but unlike in the game, he actually looks overwhelmed and freaked

His calloused hands attempt to grab you in various places, your arms, your waist, your shoulders, hands, just anything he can hold onto

But nothing works and you give him a sad smile, wishing him good luck with Zelda and the kingdom

And a reminder not to push himself too hard, bc you wont be there to stop him anymore

It's only just as the last of your vision fades (like a movie fading to black at the edges and closing in)

That you see him start to cry.

☆

The first few months without you were hard, you had practically been the one constant in his life, afterall he couldn't remember much else so consistent before you

Sure, he had flickers of old memories, old friends, even of Zelda,

But they were special ones, specific moments, not having a routine every evening for who cooks dinner and who does dishes

No memory of someone helping him figure out how to dress himself, or how to shield surf down the best slopes

You were home, the very wilds he's grown to love and adore during his adventure, his house in Hateno was more like a inn he didn't pay for, rather than the warm fire you were sitting beside, lifting a blanket corner so he could curl up beside you

Zelda had understood, thankfully

She'd expected he would be different, memory loss can affect someone like that

But she'd said he seemed, better, lighter

Lighter than he ever was as a knight, even at the happiest she'd seen him

He'd helped some with the castle at first, but seeing how depressed he was, esp after she got other workers or Hylians to help, Zelda had sent him off

Under the flimsy excuse to go officially inform the rest of the kingdoms that she'd been freed and Ganon defeated

Link had unconciously returned to your favorite spots around Hyrule, and it had hurt in a different way to be around stables and have people ask where you were (you were more talkative than he was)

He'd started to avoid civilization unless absolutely necessary for supply runs, and he preferred to do so in disguise late at night..

So when Link's summoned on an adventure yet again to fight a threat so devastating it needs the previous incarnations of him...

He's actually looking forward to it.

Don't get him wrong, he wishes this weren't necessary to defeat the shadow, and he doesn't want anyone to get hurt, but if this is an adventure...

It means he might be able to see you again.

And he's willing to take on Ganon all over again, spend months at a time fighting and mowing down monsters, if it means you're allowed to be by his side once more

(He had tried praying to Hylia, which he didn't do much pre or post calamity usually, but for you he made an exception, and the blonde found that this was the one prayer that he could feel no divine eye turned on him for...? Her presence was practically gone when he prayed for you back)

But at least now, he realizes, he was right.

Thank goodness (not Hylia?) , he was right

Because Link could feel you,

As he'd learned towards the end of his journey, there was an innate 6th sense he had for feeling your presence, the closer you were, the more precise it was, even down to which way you were turned (all without him looking at you)

(He had ignored the strangely giddy feeling that bubbled up in his chest when Impa learned of this trick, and began to tell him, for the first time since his memories about it were gone, about soulmates)

Like familiar paths in Hyrule, he knew where a safe place to sleep was waiting,

You were waiting.

All he had to do was step through the portal, find his fellow heroes, and he knew, you would be there.

☆

This accidentally posted 💀🥲

Welp, i was about ready to post it anyway, hope someone got a kick outta this,

Im slowly gonna add all the Links btw lol

Thanks for reading, hope u enjoyed! :)

Peace Out,

🌙

#linked universe male reader #linked universe x reader #lu x reader #lu x male reader #lu imagines #linked universe imagines #linked universe reader #linked universe soulmate au #im so embarassed why did this post on accident 😖 #anyway “invisible string” by taylor swift could fit this vibe #dont worry i wont copy and paste #for the other links #i love my babes too much for that #DO NOT TAG AS YANDERE I STG #OR DARK #im specifically here to lighten up the LU tag too 😤 #im doin it for genshin so im doin it over here for my other love rn

[cowboylament]

“You’ve got 100 years on me. Where’s your kindness.”

“I saved your life that's pretty kind.” He said standing.

I hummed, “yeah well Eris saved it first so you’ll have to do a bit better than that.”

I might have noted how it felt to make him laugh so many times, might have wondered at the strange world we’d seemed to find ourselves within, as if winnowing had sent us sideways into another universe, rather than through our own. Instead, I felt something else, something not heavy at all, but light and wispy, vanishing from the room. It was nameless, even looking back at the two moments did not reveal the nature of what had left. Instead just an instant before, my left hand seemed to hold something within it. Like a caress but laden with meaning. My fingers flinched around the phantom. Then Lucien’s hand too, the same one, in the same instant, flexed. 

or

Y/N makes a deal with death and Lucien is part of it. Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Bonus, Ao3

(Pre-Amarantha)

“The Princess of the Night Court.”

Darkness gave way from the back of my eyes. There had once been an empty room and warmth enveloped me, but where it had gone I was not sure. My head weighed too much, and in trying to lift it, to follow the tether of consciousness made in that voice, it only lolled from side to side. I couldn’t even tell how long I’d been blinking at my dangling feet until suddenly it occurred to me I was. 

I lifted my gaze, the weight diminished, and 13 pairs of eyes stared back at me. Whatever ether I was returning from vanished, an imperfect attention to the scene taking shape. There was nothing beneath my feet for me to move on, to back away, and as I tried to cover myself with my arms I found an ache in my shoulders, a burn at my wrist from the rope. 

They were watching, those 13 eyes. Glinted in the moonlight, narrowed with mixtures of amusement and disdain. And I knew some of them.

A bony finger pressed at the middle of my spine and began to drag itself down my back. I recoiled, my legs instinctively flinching forward trying to bow my back, to run away. The High Lord, Beron, revealed himself from behind me. 

“Aren’t you pretty.” He said and I managed to twist away enough for his hand to fall. His boots crunched under the crisp Autumn of night. Were it any other circumstance I’d have closed my eyes and taken pleasure in the feeling of my bones growing cold. I’d have stood there until I couldn’t stand it any longer, and slept until the morning came, with an Autumn made for summer.

“You denied our offer of marriage.” He continued, looking toward his sons, just two of them waiting on his word. Eris stood with the cruel beauty he’d always had, ruined only by whatever sneer he decided you deserved. Next to him, Lucien. His stony exterior didn’t break, not even now, but I knew it all enough. The pair were amused. 

It had been a mistake, coming here alone, and I’d insisted. How foolish you could seem through the lens of mortality. Beron set himself before me, his thin frame so used to towering over me he almost reluctantly looked upward. The action was only made real by the fact it was he who had all the power.

“But you will still be an Autumn Court bride.”

Someone told.

Around us, the males gathered in the clearing stirred. The hum of their intentions sliced through me, cold and unforgiving. 

“This is your last chance,” Beron said looking out toward them all, the rabid wild things waiting. Something truly unimaginable had been decided, and I could not stop its occurrence, not really. “You can marry Eris and we can be done with it.”

There was a creeping silence, one that only enhanced the roaring in my ears, as if they’d been filled with air. I wasn’t even sure if I could hear at all. The only thing that told me I could was the sound of my own voice, as cutting and familiar to Beron and his son’s as the cruel tone of his own. 

“I won’t make the same mistake as your wife.”

Though he had not been amused whatever spark of joy he got in the terrorizing of females winked out. Like a cloud had passed over the moon the small brightness of his face became shrouded in shadow. Words to kill by, words to harm. Only he couldn’t, if the stories were true. If the legends of primal instincts and the Cauldron weren’t folktale, in this place, before all these people, he couldn’t. 

He walked behind me and I steadied my breathing. The moment the High Lord left my field of vision my stomach dropped. If that made a sound then every male before me heard it, along with that frantic heart beneath my chest. Their smiles broadened, white teeth catching the moonly glow to show their feral delight at my helplessness.

Even Eris. Even Lucien. 

Gravel stirred directly behind me. I looked out at the crowd like knowing their faces would give me power over them. His voice, too close, spoke the damning words.

“By the Cauldron.” He said and a deep burn wrapped my side, climbing like fire on a dry field. The cold night flooded my throat in the shock of my gasp, before it was ravaged by a scream. He was burning me, Beron, he had to have burned me, but there was no smoke. The scent too, was not of flesh, but of blood. I looked down and saw the stain across my dress, the silver blade bathed in red like it had seen battle. 

He cut me. 

And the words, his voice rang out into whatever silence had been left behind by the ceremony. The ancient marital ceremony. His sentencing worse than death, spoken in that old tongue.

“We ask the blessing of the Lares.”

Then the taut rope went slack and I tumbled down to the ground, knees screaming, feet numb. I’d been tied a long time. His barbaric deed had been done, archaic, but the old magic of the land remembered and I felt its thrum. 

“Make use of your head start,” Beron said, his back to me. He was already walking away. The outcome to him didn’t matter. 

I didn’t look to make sure the magic had bound them to their place. The cover of the brush waited, and I needed distance, I needed objects between us. Without a stumble, on legs I could barely feel, I bolted. I was only under the cover of the darkness for mere minutes, when into the silent night, cries made for battle rose to the air. 13 males were competing to find me, and whoever got me first, would make me their wife. 

It did not take too long for it to occur to me that Beron had cut me precisely to prevent any great feat. I didn’t dare try to winnow, not when the scrapes of branches that whipped at my arms in the dark could barely manage to heal. Whatever siphon of magic I contained had been clamped.

I wound my way, sacrificing distance for staggered random cuts, in the hopes that the trees and bushes would offer coverage I myself could not provide with my shadows. The bright white cloth only served as a marker, the growing red stain almost helping me though not as much as it hindered. 

Another male yelled, closer, but not by much. They taunted me from a distance. The rules of this wretched ceremony had been decided centuries before, but at least they’d put in that, the head start. If I got far enough I could winnow, into a tree or lure them someplace and then winnow myself far away. 

There came a clearing, a large one and I bit back a cry of frustration. Losing the distance only to now need it. I’d be a lamb for slaughter, out in the open. Branches snapped and I couldn’t wait. I ran into the tall grass as fast as I could. The further out I got the sharper the clairty, the more dire circumstances revealed. There was a river cutting across it. My hearing, all my senses had to be dampened. I hadn’t heard it. Those men then must be closer than—

Out of the brush, six males descended upon me. Their large frames moved at impossible speeds. I kept going, didn’t hesitate to plunge into the water even as they got closer. No planning could save me, only action. I stumbled where the water got deeper and slowed me down. I still had some time, the head start would not be for nothing. Waist deep and on slippery stones I pushed forward and did not face my fate. I didn’t want to know who was closest. 

The water which might have been thin, delicate even, seemed now thick and sluggish. It slowed me, but with the magic those males had, I wasn’t sure it would hold them. Halfway through the bank bottomed out and I submerged myself. The surprise sent a gasp of icy water to my lungs. 

Resurfacing to the sound of splashing water, the closeness of Eris's laughter, I half choked and half cried as I righted myself trying to reclaim air. My side howled as I made through the current. Even in the icy water, the wound burned. Some trick at the Autumn hand—a blade that burns. 

I didn’t let myself wallow, for what tonight was lost. Eris who had, in all his wretched years, at least laughed with me on occasion. Who that first night in summer court had asked me to dance when no one else was brave enough to do so. Even for all his scheming, for the advantage he got in those moments and the intention of insulting us, he knew me.

I reached for a branch on the other side to pull myself out, my bicep straining with the weight of my body. All the afternoons Cassian offered up his training and all the afternoons I declined. How much and how little I knew if they were to catch me, and even with what I knew, how little of it I could successfully do. 

I could barely move but a surge of strength dragged itself through me and I lifted myself out using the branch as leverage. Just as success seemed imminent, however, a sharp tug pulled me back down. I yelled a signal to whoever else was out in those woods precisely where I was, had I not fallen under again. 

Move. Move. move. The words were sent everywhere in my body but for a minute I couldn’t. The hand on me lost its grip just as my limbs seemed to register their abilities. I had no more time. Now, even these single moments could decide my fate. My fingers brushing the bottom of the murky water pushed upward. Cough after needed cough left me vulnerable. Someone saw it, they grabbed my arm. I swung, muddy rock in hand, and the cry pelted the air before a splash. I didn’t look back to see who the male was or if he surfaced. Silence followed. When I made it out on solid ground I let my assumptions push me. 

They were faster, better equipped, taller, stronger, but I was not in the water. A lacerating pain hit my gut. It slowed me down a fraction and without my fae hearing, I didn’t register the impending heavy footsteps behind me. A boot pushed between my steps and I skidded to the damp floor, disappearing into the tall grass. 

The wind was knocked from my chest but before I could replace it a hand pressed over my mouth. A body followed it. 

“Listen carefully. Make for the thicker part of the woods diagonal from here.” It was Eris. He had me, I could feel the power in his having me, like the magic wanted him to do something, but he wouldn’t. He gritted his teeth. 

“Run. Do not stop running whatever you do.”

He was instructing me, helping me? Or making the game more fun. He didn’t want to marry me. A male close by let out a cry of agony and my eyes widened. I shook my head grasping at the hope he’d find sympathy for me, that it would remind him who I was. Yet where I expected some wickedness, looking at his face, taking in the words he was repeating, he didn’t look the same. His face looked softer than it had in all the years we’d seen each other, far less cruel. I could tell it, even in the darkness of night. His words registered fully once he pressed a blade to my hand. 

“You can make it.” He didn’t say where, or what was waiting, but a noise just after the last word came out must have caught his attention. His head whipped before he looked back at me and then I saw it, his mask. It slid so precisely into place. It was familiar, it was him, it reminded me of Rhys. 

He was saving me. 

I gripped the blade.

“Looks like fate is in my favor,” Eris said. 

The two men there looked on, eager that I was caught even if not at their hand. Neither of them was Lucien, if he’d even run with them at all. He’d just wanted to see me suffer, he was worse than Eris, and I never even knew it. 

Eris looked back at me with the most subtle of nods as the men approached. The grass hid the blade he’d given me. Did he know? Did he know what I knew to do? Or did he just believe in me, my ability to survive? Two twin shadows blocked out my face from the moon and it was the only signal Eris needed. The future High Lord of Autumn moved with the speed only a cauldron-blessed male could possess.

One swipe and the males were stumbling back.  I was up as soon as his body was off me. 

“What are you doing!” one yelled toward Eris and I looked for that thicker brush. It was an impenetrable darkness just to my left. I made to shift toward it, but the second male must have come after me instead of waiting behind because a hand was on me. I whirled with my blade and struck. Unluckily, he had a weapon of his own.

“Where'd you get that?” He said almost in awe. 

My eyes flicked toward Eris accidentally. The male before me smiled and I knew he understood. I gave Eris away. He could fight these two men on his own, maybe, but it was no guarantee. Before he could think of what the information meant, what he might do with it, I sent a slash and metal met metal. I would not let my mistake prove fatal for the only one who’d helped me. 

 It was sloppy work, all of us tired, all of us sopping. I could hear Eris fighting, swords striking almost in echo to our own. My opponent managed to slice my arm and I cried out, withdrawing from his reach.

“Ah, the little Illyrian.” the man said and he tapped at his shoulder subtly. 

Darkness swooped in, slick and faint. Halfway gone, I felt halfway gone. The cold of the gown was replaced with the warmth of the blood. No, none of this was good. 

My breath curled into the night, heaving, as light as smoke. It would be a fight then, there was no other way to go. I used all I had learned from Cassian to disarm him, widening my stance, lunging, and before he could even register the shifting weight of my body a sharp slice through his abdomen gutted him. He fell to his knees with a look of surprise but the last thing he saw was my back disappearing into the thick forest ahead. 

I could feel the darkness. It pooled around me with such intensity I was being dragged by it. Foolishly I waited for Rhys to arrive, to just know instinctively something was wrong, but even as I hoped I knew the shadowed world was nothing but the heaviness of an approaching end. 

I stumbled, a tree root and fell onto the path. I wanted to lift myself but all I could manage was to crawl into the brush. I leaned against the tree that had at last defeated me. The wetness on my side remained. Whatever shock that had settled under the skin had vanished and the weight of all that had happened pressed down on the wound. My breath was shallow enough, the warmth at my side great enough, that I understood I was about to die. Whatever Eris believed I’d make it to was too far. 

I could possibly winnow, but I had waited too long to go any distance greater than the edge of Day Court, if we were even near it. And even then, even if I did that, there was no telling what or who might be around, if anyone at all. 

So I would die, and Eris would die, if he hadn’t killed that male first. Maybe in the after worlds, the lives that came later, we could stomach one another. Or else, we would be given another opportunity to prevent this outcome. 

Something cracked near by and my mind drew blank. It was right there, the creature. My head nodded to the side momentarily becoming too heavy. The brush moved and moonlight basked my face. I brought down my sword and lunged now face to face with my opponent.

Lucien.

“Stop.” He said instantly. His warm fingers wrapped around my wrist and the knife fell. After everything he’d won. 

Behind us, Eris roared Lucien’s name into the night air with so much rage I thought the trees would strip themselves bare of their leaves. Without a word, he hauled me into his arms. I was limp, dead weight, curling around him like ivy and even then his speed didn’t diminish. The noises of the ceremony fell behind us. 

Your good blood is wasted, I don’t know anyone who’d have you.

I opened my eyes and with some found strength made to push Lucien away. I don’t know who was left in this game, but this was not an outcome I could manage. I would be no consolation prize. I shoved harder. Even if I couldn’t win I would like to die knowing I’d tried, just to say I had, just because it felt like it was what I would do. 

Lucien stepped off the path and dropped me, bark biting through the cotton. 

“Stop. If you do not listen to me, you will die.” He said sternly. “Eris and I are getting you out, back to Night Court.” His reprimand loud somehow didn’t echo in the near silent woods now. As if he’d willed it. 

“That’s treason. You’ll both lose your titles and be dead by morning.” 

If Eris wasn’t dead before, he was now. Lucien shook his head and our eyes met. He had a stern cold look about him but with everything, with all of the history, all the baggage I knew what he meant. Pain lanced through me, not from the wound, but from what he had planned.

“Don’t,” I said. “I’m not worth it.”

“It’s too late,” Lucien said simply, like he thought of me as an equal. “Eris has already planted the story of my betrayal. And unless you prefer to die I’d rather not see my mate slaughtered like a lamb.”

I felt my heart in my throat. That yell, that brutal raging yell, its purpose for us, and its origin a lie. How had Eris mustered the strength, the ability, to tell it so seamlessly? Who less than half an hour ago had been smiling at the thought of my demise. Lucien would be killed if he returned, if even I couldn’t find the seam of truth and fact in that voice. His crime was beyond the scope of the Autumn Court’s cruelty. Beron would have found some way to forgive Eis and his violence but this scapegoat, it was too perfect. 

They’d kill him and if they didn’t kill him they’d hunt him until they could. Anyone who claimed him would have their own death wish. Lucien, he’s now a prize for slaughter just the same as me. We were equals.

My knees gave out and Lucien moved forward to support me on instinct. We can’t both die. Death backed away a step, as if in answer, in negotiation. I prayed to that male waiting to take me through the veil, to any forgotten God who had nothing else to do, to the Cauldron and its humor. Let me get him safe, it is all I need. 

“I don’t want you to,” I said through my teeth as the burn raged in my gut. 

The oblivion receded. The darkness at my eyes cleared and life, in its small worships, returned. The thrum of whatever had coveted the soil at the start seemed to pull back within me, just barely. I was clearer of mind. I had something I didn’t have before. 

“You don’t have to. We’re going.” Lucien made to pick me up again but I shoved my forearm under his neck and twisted us around. He froze, mouth slightly agape and eyes narrowing. He didn’t fight, even if he would be able to outmaneuver me, overpower me, in this state. 

“You don’t get to make commands,” I said, the feelings, the position, the male, it was all too familiar. “Not after what your father did.”

He craned his neck down, nostrils the disgust on his face as plain as ever. Yes, this was familiar.

 “I had no part in that. The moment we discovered what they planned we made the decision then to get you out.” 

“And if you’re going to succeed you are to do exactly as I say.”

He barely reeled it in. Out of reach still, but closer than before, sounds of males desperate raging screams tore the night in half. Their anger so chilling we both had to look toward it. His focus changed though from what he couldn’t see to what he could. He looked longer, like he was saying goodbye, taking one final look, before in similar fashion as Eris something slid over his face that masked what had been there before. Only instead of it being a false front, to hide his true intentions, its indifference concealed a deep pain. I knew what was there though, and what it mourned. Even though he’d never said it—his mother, he mourned his mother.

The male nodded. We couldn’t waste any more time.

“Take us as far east as you can in the Night Court.”

This plan had to work. Death itself had granted me the power for it. It was a precise kind of weight, and I knew just what it would allow. 

Without question, his warm hand enveloped my arm. It was the only warmth left in the world. I didn’t need to know anything for that to feel worse than it did. Death held my coldest hand, but I couldn’t think about it or the new plan. At least there were goodbyes. Lucien looked forward like he could see it, what waited on the other side of his power. His face stony, seemed barely capable of emoting at all. There was a sense of doom on the precipice. The kind in which you realize you’ve just lost everything. 

Then a wind tucked around us and pushed us through the seam of the world. 

We jumped through space twice and when I opened my eyes I might have laughed. He’d landed us perfectly. Just ahead of me a rock carved with the Night Court insignia lay hidden. 

“I can’t get any further.” He said, looking around, eyes catching, constantly flicking back to that invisible wall. “We should go.”

The wards were close, and what a comfort to know they were working. I latched my arm around his, holding it with both my hands. Now now now now

“I know,” I said. “I’m taking us the rest of the way.”

“Us?” He said but before we could move I yanked him through the ward. He felt it, in fact, his eyes narrowed in the places he’d caught before. Backing away from me, he stared at the space behind me, warped ever so slightly to the eye, like it would reveal something. You’d have to know to look for it to see it truly. 

“What did you do.” He said, disbelief clouding his face while anger descended upon him. 

“You’re staying with me. These wards won’t let you out.” I said, a small lie. Though he might not want to leave anymore, he very well could. 

Lucien’s entire face morphed with familiar disgust. “If I’ve saved you just to be killed by the High Lord of the Night Court—”

“You forfeited your life to that wretched place. You’d be lucky to have the swift death at my court’s hand.” It was so easy to be cruel to him. Even if I wouldn’t let him die least of all the way Beron would have done it, I didn’t mind wounding him. How rarely we ever came to blows with such severity and even still I knew just what to say.

“That's my home.” He plowed forward. Easy indeed. 

“If you leave…” I said. 

The world began to grow fuzzy, a warning, perhaps, that the generosity of fate was a limited thing. My power momentarily flickered in and out. We needed to go and we needed to go now. I leaned into the tall male before me for support. I was sure I was pale, sure that he couldn’t deny me. “They’ll kill you. Please, Lucien.”

Without another hesitation, the anger lost to him, he grabbed me. “Go,” He said. “Now.”

I took the last of my power, wrapped it around us, and again we were gone. 

Just as soon as we landed in the living room I collapsed forward. The deal was done. My side burned with such intensity I could barely breathe. Lucien was lifting me toward the table in an instant. He didn’t even look around the room, it was like he knew it. He dodged two chairs, a table. Whatever was on the slab of wood fell to the floor shattering in the otherwise silent house. 

The chaos, then, was born. 

Footsteps barreled through the hall and Rhys and Morr appeared through the doorway. They pushed through the furniture. It was carnage, everything was tossed over in favor of getting closer. 

“What happened?” Morr said

Rhys didn’t care. “Get Madja” and without a thought, our cousin was gone. 

“I got her here as soon as I could,” Lucien said as though he’d been here a thousand times. The townhouse, Velaris, the High Lord of Night Court, none of it mattered. The history was erased, he had tried his best, he had helped, it was all he wanted to say. His voice promised too, the desire to do more. If given an order he’d take it. 

Rhys focused his gaze, realizing for the first time just who had been holding me, who was standing in his house. He hesitated, just enough, that I saw what he was about to do and pushed myself off the table. Just an instant of his power could be irreversible.

I was not fast enough, not as fast as I should be. The darkness drew back from the corners of the room. Death watched, waiting to see who he’d take. No— as I approached the two males something about that assessment felt false. I was ashamed even, to have considered it. Something watched me curiously, whatever had given me that power, it gave a kernel more back.

 By the time I got close enough to grab Rhys and use it, he had Lucien by the neck. 

“I should rip your throat out.”

“Rhys!” 

Lucien didn’t look at me, a slight redness taking in features. I pulled my brother's shirt, blood smearing on the sleeve I tugged and tugged but he was too afraid, too focused in his pursuit of revenge. He almost lost the only full-blood family he had left. Nothing mattered besides this fact. I moved between them. Rhys couldn’t look either, he refused to. 

I pressed my back into Lucien and wrapped my arms behind me to hold myself tight into him as if my body would force air into it just by being there. 

“Let him go,” I said with the practiced sternness of regality. As if I were talking to someone in the Hewn City. I repeated it two, three times, let him go, let him go, let him go. Yet each one fell apart in my mouth, the thread of desperation growing tighter. Its influence forced a wetness from my eyes. 

Lucien’s hands which had been on Rhys's wrist reached down and grabbed mine, tightening around it. He did not come all this way to die in the townhouse. My family home was not a place of such violence. It was a brutality I was tired of. 

I tried to get into my brother's mind but it was shielded and the pain at my side became too much. He felt it anyway, me at his mind, because once I hit the shield the first time his jaw slackened. He registered, for a second time, the male in the living room.

 Lucien gasped a breath. 

“Rhysand,” Morr yelled rushing toward us. I hadn’t heard her, hadn’t even seen until she was there. “you're upsetting Y/N.” 

All words had gone. Lucien gasped for air, the grip loosening further, but I didn't look. I didn’t want to injure anyone more, find something primal in my need for Rhys to drop him. It was enough.  

The rage left his eyes and Lucien fell. Relief, like death, flooded me as my mate leaned into me for support for half a second. The darkness moved toward the edges of the room again. This was it. So I let Lucien lean, even as the pain returned. 

“He did this to you?” Rhys asked.

I shook my head, and when I faced my family, their brows furrowed in shock, confusion, moved closer together with worry. Lucien, who still pressed his warmth into my palm, gripped me tighter by the wrist and it was the first sign to me I was falling. He was the only tether left to the real world. Everything else snapped the moment that blade struck. It was all Madja needed. 

Morr ordered everyone out, her familiar arms lifting me back to where I’d been. I asked her to go watch the two males. She didn’t argue and left. A piece of the panic in my own heart settled. I hadn’t known that it was reserved for Lucien, hadn’t known that it was not for my own safety, but for his. I knew it was bad from the healer’s face. I waited for the darkness at the corners of the room to envelope the world, but they stayed put. 

I hadn’t said goodbye, but that was not part of the deal. Still, they waited, as if idle, again watching. Selfishly I was glad at least it had stopped hurting. The old fae’s hands moved quickly, her eyes scanning, I felt them both probing in and out of me, like she were under the skin. Maybe she was, I hadn’t seen the wound. 

“This may be unpleasant.”

I made to open my eyes, to see what she was doing, but just as I did she poured a solution over my skin. The pain that had been coming in its waves, returned at full force, twofold. Closing my eyes only made it worse, I became acutely aware of the deepness with which the solution entered my body, the sensation of the burning, the moving hands, the panic. I cried out, yelled unlike any of the yells I’d had in the Autumn Court. To survive this would be the hardest work, but to speak after was something of a miracle. 

“How you made it this long without passing out I don’t know,” she said.

Tears began to wet the side of my face again, and she just watched. It was all she could do while my head shook like even if she could she would take it back. My muscles contracted in directions out of my control. I couldn’t reach for her, couldn’t even beg more than a shake of the head and inaudible cries.

“What did this? Who did it?”

I didn’t answer, turning my head into the cool wood of the table. My teeth gritted so tight I don’t think air made it through, let alone words. 

“I need to know.” She said grabbing my face to look at her. I felt the stickiness of blood on my chin. I’d gotten used to the metalic scent. It was all I could smell. 

“Beron,” I gasped out pulling from her, squirming away. “With a blade.”

“Was the blade special?”

I clamped my eyes shut and the darkness was too impure for what I wanted. I wanted to find I was no longer seeing, faced with the voice. Each time I tried to escape the pain I found, always, I could get no further from it. The solution she’d poured was still making its way down into the deep of my body, further than I tracked my existence. “What?”

“Did you notice anything about it?”

I shook my head gripping the table. “It burned when he sliced me, I thought it was fire.”

She sighed and inhaled deeply before she nodded, grabbing for her supplies with fervor. The pain was coming in waves offering momentarily relief. 

“I have to do it the human way. If I use magic to heal this it will only grow worse.”

“What?” I said

“It hurts like this because your body is trying to heal it with magic which the blade is specifically cursed to prevent. It makes death slow, excruciating for fae, allowing only a little healing before reverting back.”

I let myself wallow as she attempted to thread the needle, but when my shaking proved too difficult to work with she threw a towel over my body and quickly left. For a moment I thought I’d died. I’d died and was trapped inside for just a second to see it all unfold in another layer of agony. Only she returned with someone. A tall, tanned male. His face did not betray him so easily but I knew that he was shaken up. I reached my hand out for him.

“Cassian,” I said but my voice was weak, shaken.

He approached but seemed not to know what to say, instead choosing to grab for my hand. He knelt and I was eye level with the kind familiarity of his face. The first pierce of the needle almost proved too much, with every other pain, and I clamped my eyes shut so hard I saw stars. I squeezed his hand, all that power gone, I didn’t even think about if I could hurt him. I knew I couldn’t. 

“My, my, have you gotten stronger? I think my finger is broken.”

When I was younger, regardless of how long we’d been apart, he’d hug me and always say that same line. I laughed a little, as best as I could manage which sounded more like crying.

“Rhys isn’t killing Lucien is he?”

He barely managed more of a laugh than I did but shook his head. “No, but it's taking all his and Morr’s effort.”

“Good.” I said through gritted teeth “He’s not half bad to look at I’d hate to lose the new Velaris eye candy.”

“That's probably the nicest thing I’ve ever heard you say about your mate.”

“If I do die at least I have a good confession. You’ve all wanted to know what I thought of him this long.”

“You can’t die,” Cassian said moving forward with such seriousness I almost went to say I was kidding but he continued. “We have 7 AM training.”

The needle disappeared seemingly. Whatever had been in that solution had begun to diminish, the waves of pain coming more slowly and with less force. It still left me breathless, but even that was a relief compared to what had happened. I would have sworn my rib was broken if the pain didn’t seem to be inflamed and surging at once.

“What you thought a little flesh wound would get you out of it? No, I don’t think so. No special treatment, even for the High Lord’s sister.”

“What if I told you I used your disarming technique.”

Cassian’s eyebrows rose, “did you? Tell me about it.”

“Gutted him.”

Madjas work faded even more as I told him what I remembered, the tips he’d taught me. The choice to grab Cassian of all people, was perhaps her best and greatest prescription. 

“That’s what I like to hear.”

It was getting darker now. My throat strained on it and my eyes began to close as if I were falling into a deep sleep. The only thing that kept me awake was the sudden intensity with which Cassian squeezed my hand.

“Keep talking to me. You gotta keep talking.”

I tried to swallow, but nothing was there to swallow, and my throat began to burn in a different way. I felt the flare of my nostrils as I tried to hold it in, the pain on top of the pain, but I knew it was obvious. Knew now that my eyes glittered and clouded with unshed emotion, waiting to come out. 

“Promise me you’ll be nice to Lucien.” Cassian hesitated and I gave him the only glare I could manage. “Please.”

“I will. For you, I will.”

I shook my head, I didn’t want him to do it for me. The violence all these years, what we’d fed each other and allowed, was what brought this. It was one thing, what Lucien and I did, but it was harmless just the same. He could call me names, fight with me, mock me, but nothing would ever make me desire harm against him. This was a well-bred hatred, that had born such violence. We were all part of it, in our own malicious way. 

“You don’t understand. None of you do. You won’t even look, really look, at someone.”

I didn’t know if something like that could be undone, but at least we might say we tried. I dropped his hand and began to wipe at my face. Who knows what would happen, how I’d heal. If my mate would be stranded in Velaris or away from me. An instant protectiveness of him became me in a way it never had. 

Cassian sighed, “it will take time.” 

“I know, but you just have to try.”

“Okay, I’ll try. No more tears, not over this,” Cassian said, taking my hand back. The male seemed lost in thought for a moment before he brightened and added. “I’ll take him to Rita’s.” 

I really laughed at that and it sent the rest of my tears out of my eyes to make room for new emotions to sit there. Cassian looked less scared, softer now. Whatever was going on behind me must have been a major improvement. In fact, I felt as if my color had returned a little. “He’d be a hit there I have to say.”

“Do you have a crush on him?” I scoffed but Cassian's amusement was hard to miss. The smile on his face got broader. “I’ve always suspected that there was a little something there c'mon you can tell your cool older brother.”

“You won’t tell?”

“Not a soul.”

I closed my eyes, reluctant. I’d made such deals before, but I opened my mouth to keep talking as the sound of the scissors cutting the thread sliced through the room like a surrender, a victory. “He's certainly not a bad male to be mated to. He keeps me very entertained.”

Cassian smiled “Well isn’t it convenient that 50 years later he’s now in Velaris.”

Madja stood and the moment was broken, Cassian met her eye and nodded to whatever the healer had gestured. I did not have time to be embarrassed for what had been shared between us. Most of them had teased me about Lucien and our dislike for one another. Rhys was the worst about it, though Morr and Cassian were tied for second. All of them secretly believed we’d been together, been in love. Only Morr had reason to believe such a thing.  

Cassian moved around the table and they spoke in hushed tones. 

“He’s her mate?” The healer said before I could sense that I was alone. As they left, so too did a darkness from around the room, like a thin cloud had, at last, passed over the sun. Perhaps I had never been that close to death at all, or maybe the shadows were proof, really, of how close I was regardless of if they were real or not.

It was hard to say how much time passed, but after a moment footsteps entered into the dining room again.

“Cassian?” I said keeping my eyes closed.

“Calling your mate by another male’s name is not exactly polite.”

I turned my head so slowly, it seemed to take every bit of available energy. He was stock straight, standing in the entryway and I didn’t speak, didn’t move. I really beheld him then. Despite his face, he was warth made real. His throat bobbed, and the first step he took walked toward the edge of the table was lethargic, tentative. By the time he reached the edge though, he was more confident, kneeling just as Cassian had. His doing it seemed tender, almost sincere. Unlike Cassian however he didn’t hold my hand, he instead reached to brush away the hair on the side of my face that had become glued down by my tears.

“How are you feeling?” 

“Tired.” My voice cracked. I let my head fall to the side, let him hold its weight before righting myself. 

“Do you need anything?”

He offered it as if he knew where to go, if I asked for water, for food, he’d walk through my house like it were his own. Or else, there was a kind of bravery in his willingness to face my court and say I wanted it. In his position, I’d have been useless. I shook my head, my eyes falling to the red ring around his throat. Something in me wanted to lash out, a whip in my chest. 

His hand brushed more hair away drawing my focus back. “You did good.”

I don’t know if that was ever a word he’d described me as. Good. It sat in my mouth like marbles. I almost made to look to see where we were, if this were Prythain and not some other universe close by. Yet even my voice had taken on that tone that had no name. The kind that spoke like we were laying in bed together, like there was a long-time intimacy between us. Perhaps hatred, just as much, could make one known to another, could make a language for which only you two understood. 

Lucien’s eyes caught sight of something above my head and he reached for it. “She said that I need to check the bond.” Warmth pooled along my cheek. He had a rag, a fresh one, and he began to wipe the blood from my face. 

“Why?”

“A mate has…certain capabilities, sight, that can be helpful with injuries like this.”

I nodded, his fingers delicate and different than I remembered or imagined. I turned my head almost knowing where to go intuitively and he dragged the warm rag over me before dropping it back in the bowl. A small act of care. 

While he began to focus on our bond I studied his face. I could feel it instantly, that growing tension, as if he were pulling on something in me. If it weren’t so hard to move I’d think I was sliding off the table into him. My chest becoming his chest, his eyes mine, fingers. I scanned his features, he’d not lost the granite look he had in Autumn. He was different now though. If not on his own then simply in the way he appeared to me. He should be, loss does that, and he’d just lost his family, his mother. Something in me ached and just as the pain in my heart pierced me Lucien’s eyes flicked to mine. 

“You’re very handsome.” I couldn’t even commit to the idea I hadn’t been thinking those words. That I was saying so only to avoid the pain of my sympathy for him. It would be foolish to pretend it was not true, I’d always known it. I’d said it just because, because I guess I was trying to discover what was in this new difference, what we could do with it. 

The tension inside me stopped and Lucien’s brows rose in the shock before he began to smile just a tad.“Took you 50 years to figure that out?”

“Didn’t want to boost your ego.”

He laughed a little and I felt the pull begin again. I closed my eyes. He must have noticed after a while because he started talking again, even though it felt as though the worst of it was over. I didn’t think I was in danger anymore.

“My ego is no bother to you now?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Being chased through the woods has a way of putting things into perspective.”

“Maybe I should tell Madja something’s wrong with you.” 

I smiled as faintly as he had. This was I think the most civil we’d ever been in all our lives and even now it held an air of rudeness. It was laughable. Who knows where we’d be in 50 more years. 

“If you’re going to be here I might as well give you a chance to be bearable. I know you’re narcissistic.” 

“How mature you’ve become.”

“I always have been. You’re just too old to remember. What are you 400? 500?” the mating bond in place seemed to strain with emotion. Not one that I could decipher but it was like I’d been let in somewhere or a flood gate had been opened and all of it and its complexity came spiraling out. It ended shortly after.

“300.”

“You’ve got 100 years on me. Where’s your kindness.”

“I saved your life that's pretty kind.” He said standing.

I hummed, “yeah well Eris saved it first so you’ll have to do a bit better than that.”

I might have noted how it felt to make him laugh so many times, might have wondered at the strange world we’d seemed to find ourselves within, as if winnowing had sent us sideways into another universe, rather than through our own. Instead, I felt something else, something not heavy at all, but light and wispy, vanishing from the room. It was nameless, even looking back at the two moments did not reveal the nature of what had left. Instead just an instant before, my left hand seemed to hold something within it. Like a caress but laden with meaning. My fingers flinched around the phantom. Then Lucien’s hand too, the same one, in the same instant, flexed. 

“Y/N.” Rhys said from the hall. My mate drew back, seamlessly capable of diminishing his presence at will. He made himself less visible all altogether, I could not forget though. “Using magic is off limits while that wound heals. You’ll have to remain in bed.”

I smiled, if only to tell Rhys I was alive and exhausted, “your early morning training threats will be postponed then.” 

He could barely laugh, but he tried. He turned to Lucien, similarly incapable of forgetting him now that he was here, in this house. “I’ll show you to your room. Cassian and Morr are taking you Y/N.” 

The Lord of Bloodshed appeared behind my brother and I let my head fall to the side, everything slowed down. I felt like a wounded prey. Even my blinks came at a crawl. 

Cassian though didn’t look toward me first, he watched Lucien. His gaze trained on my mate, as if studying him. I saw something there between them which had no category, no definitive emotion, but it was like the context of my confession was a haze with which Cassian was trying to see this Lucien. Not the Lucien he knew of his own construction, but the one there, who’d traveled all that way, who’d tried for his life to get me home.

Lucien must have noticed the pause and the two ever so slightly nodded. Maybe what had left was that bitterness between us all, or else, the intensity for which it blinded us. Reluctance and yet the threads of trust passed between them. I understood only that what had happened wouldn’t be forgotten but the possibility that they could know each other differently was there just the same. 

Then Cassian looked at me and smiled. His hands reached under me and as gently as ever he pulled me off the table. He waited for any tension or wincing, speaking only once we were sage and upright.  “You know how many females would kill for this?” 

Rhys chimed in behind us. “None from what I remember.” 

“You’re just mad because you’ve been sorely lacking on our trips to Rita’s.” 

“Keep it to yourself,” Morr said. “Y/N’s already queasy.” 

***

Morr managed to clean me up. Though magic had been off limits for me, I was glad at least that its use by others didn’t burn. From the bureau, she’d managed to pull a shirt and pants. Each delicate movement sent a searing burn into my side. With every small victory, I took a breath: a hand through the armhole, my head pulled out of the neck. 

“How do humans do it?” I said wincing when she’d had me lift my leg. 

“They’re almost resilient if you think about it.” 

After tying the pants shut, however, my cousin looked at me with a cocked brow. The clothes were clearly a male’s. The shirt had too deep a neckline for females, it pooled open when we bent to reveal the bandages. The pants had to be pulled beyond their means to be tied to fit.

“Rhy’s was gone.”

“Oh that's not my question, I wanna know what your guests walked out of here with?”

I kept as much grace and delicacy as I could manage, sitting in my bed. Exhaustion was at last closing in with a welcome it had not had before. My cousin tossed the blankets over me, but I knew better than to lie down. Rhys would be here at any moment. 

I could tell Morr wanted to ask. She sat in the chair as if waiting for a solstice gift, the kind of expectant look children get, but I think she wanted to be respectful. I knew though, she wanted to ask. What happened out there, between you both? What could change things so drastically? I opened my mouth as if I words existed to tell her, and she sat forward too like she knew what was coming.

“Whose clothes are those?” Rhys said. If there had been words to say he’d have interrupted them, but as it happened I didn’t know what could change us both in such a way. I wasn’t even sure I knew where I was. 

“Cassian let me borrow them.”

I was quick, but it was useless. The male himself walked in behind him and seemed confused upon hearing his name. Rhys, however, did not even consider my lie because the clothes were far too small to be his. There weren’t even holes for the wings. We had a kind of agreement, to say as little as we could about such things. 

The gravity of our situation settled when Rhys pulled up the chair near my bed. The tightness of his movements, the precise arc of his brow. He always had a different look when he considered me, my words, as my High Lord. I could tell the difference of who I was speaking to. I was so tired I thought I might cry again, at the thought of having to hash out details now. If I did he wouldn’t be cruel, he wouldn’t push.

“I won’t ask any questions tonight, but I do need to know if he hurt you.” Rhys began to say. He didn’t say his name, just acknowledging Lucien strained on his vocal cords like the words were too big to leave his throat. Whether he’d heard me downstairs, if he’d felt that need for the Autumn male to remain unscathed, he wanted me to say it aloud, he wanted reasons.

“He got me out. He and Eris, they had a plan.”

“Eris?” Cassian chimed in. “He was there too?”

I felt a heat burn into my lower back, not that of the one by the blade, but more familiar. They’d made no promises to me, my court, only death had. If I wasn’t careful they could kill him for his family’s crimes, they could be unforgiving. My hands balled the comforter and I looked between the three warriors watching me. I felt so like them and yet so unlike them just the same. A warrior of a different kind, not meant to fight. Not meant maybe for their world, yet I was a part of it and I felt its influence gladly, with warmth. The strains though were showing. Something had changed in those woods, that much was true.

“I behaved badly,” Rhysand said, knowing what I was thinking without stepping inside my mind. “I’m committed to hearing out all sides before I make any decisions.”

I met his calculated stare. “They asked for the blessing of the Lares.”

The whole room dropped in temperature as if all the heat had been snuffed out by shadow. It was indeed ancient magic, from fae across the sea, not so much done here, where the chosen bride was taken against her will. The male intended for her was set in pursuit, and the Lares donated some of their magic to him. That was what Eris had been fighting against, the urge to release the magic, only capable when I let out a cry of pain. Beron would pick up whatever backwater ceremonies he could that allowed violence, warping them, making them worse. 

“I could barely winnow. He was the one who got us to the Night Court. I just got us into the townhouse.”

I shifted with the weight of my brother's pity. Rhys had never really asked me about my mating bond. Even the teasing historically had been more about tolerating Lucien than the thought we’d ever truly acknowledge what we were. No, not once had he asked me of Lucien and Velaris or what it was like, to have that tether, and if there was anything we wished to do with it. 

How could he though? When it had snapped into place Lucien and I were at each other's necks in the Day Court visiting as guests. We’d snuck into an alcove of the great library to try and resolve an argument but at its peak, Lucien’s eyes burned with hatred and realization. I knew what it meant. I didn’t have to ask why he’d looked so disgusted. It was a rare moment of unity, not so much civil as we’d been downstairs, but neutral. We agreed that it was unfounded, that we might ever be mated truly. 

We’d run into each other as we moved through courts and seasons alike, dancing with whoever, kissing whoever, flirting with whoever. No one was off limits besides each other. Occasionally when our manners overpowered the anger we’d agree to meet somewhere and have it out. We were so cautious it took 25 years for Rhys to find out. It slipped when I was drunk and he was so livid after I explained our arrangement I spent three months waking at dawn to train with Cassian.

“He was ready to die tonight for me. He forfeited his title to save me.” I said my voice hushed.

Everyone straightened, this was news, terrible news, only adding to the complexity. It meant he didn’t simply have a member of the Autumn Court, but it’s unclaimed exile. If Beron discovered before we told him that we’d had him there’d be reason for a blood duel, for a war.  

“He what?” Morr said, her voice barely a whisper.

“I forced him through the Velaris wards. He told me Eris and he planned to plant a story of treason. If he leaves this court, if he remains unclaimed, he’ll be slaughtered. I couldn’t let them do that.” 

To him, I couldn’t let them do that, to him I nearly said. A careful mask, one that I felt guilty about. It made me look better than I was, to take anyone's life so seriously, but the truth was I cared only for his. I’d done it for him and him alone. I’d probably have left Eris, trusted him to figure it out, just as I had in that clearing after the river. 

A heat of embarrassment struck and whatever color I had regained grew more intense. What I did want them to know though, was that it mattered to me. That if I had a say I did not want Lucien dead. He never intended to make it out tonight. He wasn’t just forfeiting a title, He was giving up his life for me. If we were equals, I intended to do the same. 

“I’m incredibly serious when I say this. I want you all to be good to him. He lost everything tonight.”

For all his friends I wasn’t sure any could claim him. I had little power over this outcome, but if there were any I’d use it. We were his best shot. It was no small ask, the fallout of claiming someone who’d committed treason could start wars. I knew though, knew that to reveal my hopes and his sacrifice changed enough. 

Across from me, the softness of an older brother returned once more. Rhysand bowed his head in acknowledgment while Morr and Cassian followed suit.

“Not everything.” Rhys smiled and before I could ask what he meant he added, “it is clear we are indebted to him. I don’t know how we’ll move forward from here, but I can at least offer him refuge.”

I let out a breath, relaxing further in the place where I had unknowingly reserved such worries for Lucien. My brother stood and the pity of the group was relinquished to the night. 

“Rest, we can talk more on it all later. You’re both safe and that's what matters.”

The group made to leave, flicking out the lights. What might the rest of the court make of all this, having spent 50 years on the outskirts with too much to say about it. Cassian had already gotten something less scathing from me. Tomorrow, in the days to come, would we revert to our old selves and let tonight be nothing? Later, as Rhys said. The lights dimmed but from the hall, the shadowy figure of Cassian peered back into the room. 

 “I can’t promise I won’t wield my words if provoked.” 

“You’re barely coherent now.”

I heard his laugh from behind the door. 

***

Sleep came quickly at first, but it began to flicker in and out. The deepness of it grew more shallow and I, unable to toss and turn, felt restless near dawn. It seemed this new feeling, this new world, would not go away. Much like falling asleep for the first time in a new room, despite being surrounded by my belongings and friends, I couldn’t get comfortable within it. So I watched the window, waiting for the new day, where. As the sky lightened to that purple dusk, the door to my room creaked open and I knew precisely who was there.

Lucien, similarly in borrowed clothes, wore a knit sweater of Azriel’s and some pants. I wanted to smile, would have smiled but I was too tired to tell myself to do it. He didn’t say anything, didn’t move, we just stared at each other. Not the same Lucien really, nor I the same female. This new Lucien was keen on not speaking, and when I realized that I broke the silence. 

“Why are you awake?” 

“I can feel your restlessness down the bond.” 

I made to sit up, biting a groan, but Lucien put his hand out to stop me. It's not as if I was particularly polite and regal with him before. 

“Sorry, I can’t even shield.”

 “The healer mentioned.” 

He pulled the chair Rhys had been in closer to the edge of my bed. It groaned with his weight, the ease with which he leaned back, relaxed, like he hadn’t discovered this long-held secret. He was as casual as ever but that was familiar to me. I could make him angry or nothing, rarely anything else. I could navigate this easily, I knew the body of his relaxed posture, every flinch, every raising of his brow. What I didn’t know was what I wanted him to feel when I didn’t want him mad. The quality of the light grew more pure through the window. Not quite dawn yet not really day. In the beam of it, he looked beautiful. It was almost becoming of him, to see him in Velaris. I almost liked him. 

He smiled, the smile he gave when he knew something about me that I didn’t want him to know. I moved my mind to other thoughts but that only garnered greater amusement. 

“So guarded even still.” He said, his keen observations never unspoken.

“I have to be or you’d use it against me.” 

He shrugged his shoulders in agreement, he could only acknowledge the merit of my argument without words. I could call him handsome but it would sooner kill him to say I was right. His eyes fell out over the room and I watched his assessment, felt it, like they were Madja’s working hands. He lingered on the bookshelf.

“I’ll drop my shield too.”

“You don’t have to do that. I’m sure it's annoying, feeling what I feel.”

He shook his head. 

“When did it start?” I asked. How much had I revealed of myself? When could he begin to know precisely how much I was feeling?

“The moment he cut into you your shields dropped.”

In the river, I’d had that surge of power, like it had come from somewhere else. If he’d been with Eris he might have seen it, might have… I don’t know how this worked between us. If he could even do such a thing. But stranger things had happened, mates were always surprising. 

“Here,” Lucien said. He didn’t wait for me to give a definitive answer. At once there was a second weight of feeling in the place where the thread belonged. He watched me register it, those feelings of guilt and grief, before the core of it warmed significantly to something kinder. 

“Now we’ll both be vulnerable and we can see what the other will do with it.”

I said nothing. I knew what he meant, to see what we’d do with it. Would we wield it against each other, in argument, in our real lives if they ever came back which I suspected they would. We’d revert back to ourselves in some ways with this information, vying to have power over each other like always. To know each other like we did, that could be leveraged.

This was power of a different kind, to hold that vulnerability in my chest, to know he held my own. This was not a separate giving and taking, it was a power we had together.

“Alright. So long as you don’t brood too often.”

Lucien’s face softened and it was hard to get used to, the feelings that seemed to exist outside and yet within. A twinge of amusement had come from his chest to mine. Then suddenly admiration, then grief which settled itself more readily, like it had been there so long it knew where to go. It was like getting used to a second heartbeat in echo with your own.

“Sorry.” He said knowingly. I wondered if my face showed the pain of it, or his chest. “If things get too somber I'll shield.”

“Don’t.” 

Even if we never mated, there was a chance now to come to terms with what was between us in a way I had never considered to want. I was asking my court to change, and so too it was only fair that I did, if only in the smallest of ways. I don’t know what would become of us, what that looked like, but regardless in order to change there had to be newness, I had to see Lucien in a way different from how we’d been.

“I’m sorry about my brother,” I said.

“I can more readily sympathize with him having seen the state of you. I don’t know what I’d do if I were him. I don’t think I’d have hesitated.”

He detached himself the longer he spoke. The image I didn’t doubt took shape in his mind, informing his sympathy, deepening it.

“You’re not your father.”

His grief was overwhelming, but I tried not to show it, tucking away the sincerest version of him I’d ever known. The chandelier overhead swayed like the weight of those words had moved it. The wind howled at the window, a draft then, the shadows deepening but not how they had when I was on the table downstairs. 

“Do you feel different?” I dared to ask.

“In what way?”

“I don’t know. When you went into the bond was there anything strange?”

Lucien thought for a moment, his eyes on the ceiling where mine had just been. The bond quieted to a contemplative hum. The thoughts were not so readily available, not at least, how they’d been when we wielded them to wound.

“Nothing was out of place. Does something feel wrong? Should I wake the healer?”

I shook my head. “It’s not like that. I thought maybe you’d feel it too.” Disappointment came and went as I remembered that Lucien would feel it, only after his anxiety stitched itself in my own chest. He stood just a bit and pulled the chair closer to the bed.

“I want to understand.”

“I don’t feel real,” I said my own words hushed. My voice knew I was embarrassed before I did. “It would have never occurred to me to do half of what I’ve done tonight. I don’t even think I would have imagined it, imagined you and me…but it’s happening right?” 

“It is.” 

“I thought so.” 

A wave of fear powerful enough for Lucien to feel moved through me. He shifted with it in his seat, leaning forward his elbows on his knees. “What are you afraid of?”

I blinked a few times. There was no amusement, no teasing. Just a genuine question between us, rare and new. I wasn’t sure I wanted to say the answer. I hadn’t been well versed in being honest with him, it went against my instincts.

“It’s stupid.” 

“You’re never stupid about anything.”

For the first time all night, I hoped he felt the gratitude that wove itself within me. “Something changed between us out there. I’m afraid to find out what it is.”

On the nightstand was a glass of water. Lucien reached for it and passed it over to me, our fingers brushing. I hadn’t realized how dry my throat was, how crackling my voice had become, like a fireplace, like the embers. I drank it but a softness in my throat remained, words seemed less solid than ever before. My only true weapon. 

He took the glass and set it down before saying, “do you remember in the Day Court when the bond snapped?”

I nodded. 

“At dinner, we’d been sat next to each other and we started going at it. Who knows what it was about. You were wearing a rather racy dress, might I add. Golden, like sunlight—starlight, and it exposed your whole back which you’d had facing me the whole time until our fight forced us to excuse ourselves. In the library after a good 15 minutes, you said to me, if you should find a female dim enough to bed you we can only hope the offspring don’t inherit their parent's lack of intelligence.”

His face didn’t change, but he looked different when he began to speak. I felt nothing down the bond, perhaps only greater emotions managed their way through, but the more he spoke the warmer he got even though I couldn’t say what feature of his had shifted to reveal it. 

“It snapped after you said that, like you’d dared the Cauldron somehow. And all that we quarreled over, the reason we’d left to begin with vanished from our minds and clearly since has not returned. Something new had happened, things had changed.” 

 The moral of the story had been delivered in its unassuming way. The old goes, we forget about what happened, we move on to other things. It was of enough comfort to me that I began to grow tired. 

“We’ll figure things out just as we always have.” He said and I recalled that flex of his hand, the warmth of him around my wrist when he’d gasped for air. I’d supported his weight just a fraction, but it had been so warm. My breath began to pick up, just a little, and I shifted in the bed closer to the edge he occupied. I extended my hand.

“You can hold it,” I said so quietly as if we were teenagers at the mercy of chaperones and fae hearing. I said he could hold it, but really I was asking him to. I felt his watching me, so keenly. It wouldn’t have taken the bond for him to know what I meant, he always managed to before. 

Lucien hesitated in a way he had not earlier when he’d tucked my hair behind my ear. It's any wonder what sort of instinctual behavior came with his mating bond, how he’d felt so comfortable to be tender whereas now the confidence had evaporated. Regardless, it was a short hesitation. He slipped his fingers delicately underneath my palm and I found the new warmth of him engulfing me was already familiar. 

My eyes felt heavy then. I nearly suspected a sleeping drought in the water. “And will things be different tomorrow? Back to normal?” 

“I should think so, yes.” He hesitated as if waiting for my reaction but it didn't bother me. Not at least now. 

“I was scared of that but I no longer am.” 

He spoke softly like a breeze, his words ghostly, scarcely there. “It doesn’t have to be the same forever.” 

“No. I don’t want things to be.” I said unsure of what that meant, of the future we spoke of and how it looked. I could scarcely imagine much else between us, even as the once wretched male managed to be comforting, sincere. Down the thread between us, I felt something close to endearment, but it was new, tentative. Then it shifted, it became lukewarm.

“I had wanted to get to you first,” Lucien said his stare once again taking on that greater distance, somewhere out of my reach. A heavy grief set itself between us. “That was the plan, but I didn’t get there.”

I squeezed his hand. I hoped it would be an anchor like he was to the real world just a few hours ago downstairs. I wanted to bring him back here, to bring him back to the dawn, to this story where we now sat together in a sincerity of our making.

“With matters like this,” I said as his eyes found their way back to mine. “The last male left is usually the better.”

I don’t know if he was convinced, but his shoulders sagged a fraction, and it appeared that was enough. He squeezed my hand back.

 “Sleep, I’ll stay here as long as I’m able.”

I nodded and he did not leave, not even when I closed my eyes or when I opened them again a few hours later and he told me to sleep again. Even though the light was brighter and morning seemed in full and silent swing. When I woke for the day, however, he was nowhere to be seen. The chair was back against the wall, like nothing had changed at all.

#This is meant to be 4-5 parts #I don't remember much of the intricacies of the ACOTAR universe with mating bonds #or the politics #I just like the characters and that lay of the land and am in the process of rereading #I wrote a lot of day dreams with Lucien so I thought it would be fun to share while I figured out how to write fiction #lucien vanserra #self insert #acotar #lucien acotar #lucien fanfic #lucien x reader #lucien x you #sjm books #night court #that is all #acotar fanfiction #acotar fandom

[neptune-writez]

promise: ellie w.

you and ellie are playing-pretend, to which she promises to be your knight in shining armor. js pure fluff, i love baby ellie with my heart

-----

Among all the bad decisions you both have ever made, you and Ellie decided to play-pretend. You were the damsel in distress while she was the prince. Both of you tried to keep your volume down, but to no avail. Ellie was as loud as ever and her laugh was highly infectious, making you laugh even harder. Just kids being kids.

"Fear not, princess! For I, Prince Ellie, shall save you from your demise!" she says, exaggerating every word. She then climbed onto a make-shift box fort, raising a wooden sword high in the air.

You giggled, holding your stomach. You were laughing too hard to even form a full sentence.

Without warning, Ellie yelled out a battle cry and jumped down from the box fort onto you. You didn't even have any chance to let out a cry as she came crashing down. "Ellie! You- why?!" you managed to blurt out, between heavy breaths, with Ellie still on top of you. You tried to push her off but you were both laughing messes that you gave up not long after.

Ellie snorted, getting up, still holding the wooden sword.

"So- princess, what do I get as a reward for rescuing you?" She had the audacity to request for a reward?!

"Reward? You mean for almost killing me?!" you gasped, in mock anger. You raised your hand up to your chest, offended.

The grin on her face got even bigger. "Yeah, do you know how hard it was for me to build that box fort?" she winked. She then proceeded to laugh at her own joke. Typical Ellie.

Watching Ellie laugh made you melt. "To thank thee for saving me, thou shall be given permission to marry me!" you announced. To be honest, you had no idea what you were saying, and you only knew this line as it had appeared on television once. It sounded cool, so it stuck.

Ellie's emerald eyes lit up for a second, like she had just struck gold, and shoved her hand deep into her pocket, rummaging around. "Wait- I have the perfect thing for this!"

To your surprise, she pulled out two paper rings. One of them was blue, and the other was red. She then knelt down and pushed the red paper ring onto your finger.

To 12 year old you, it was like a fairy tale. Like how Snow White got her Prince Charming, even though Ellie wasn't technically a prince, it still counted. You figured that the swarming herd of butterflies in your stomach was just because of excitement.

"Now, we are legally husband and wife!" she says dramatically, before putting the blue paper ring on her finger. You giggled and said, "My romeo!" Again, something from television.

"I'll be your knight in shining armor, princess [name]! You shall never live in fear ever again!" she declared, before trapping you in a tight bear hug. She smelled of nature, and it was very refreshing. You buried your head deep into the crook of her neck.

"Promise?" you questioned.

Ellie let go of you, and you were disappointed until she said to you, "Promise."

Safe to say that Ellie had never broken her promise and kept her word.

#tulip:writings #ellie williams x reader #ellie williams x you #ellie williams #tlou #tlou2 #the last of us #the last of us 2 #ellie x fem reader #the last of us ii #the last of us imagines #wlw #gay #lesbian pride #lesbians #wlw pride

[suzannahnatters]

My final Love Like the Galaxy reaccs!!! the tl;dr:  I loved it and it's the sort of show that probably demands to be seen twice because TWISTS and HINDSIGHT so IDK, one day maybe! Anyway it's either on Viki or on YouTube for anyone who wants to see what happens when Jane Austen comedy of manners meets The Count of Monte Cristo, but, like, in Ancient China, featuring an epic romance between a naive sledgehammer engineer girl and the terrifying murder general who cannot help looking utterly besotted with her every time she drifts past: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZZZLpfFwcBprNI6msl3NWt3pdX6F-eGs And now: for the reaccs for episodes 43-56, including the famous Murder Party (TM), check under the cut!!!

If Yang Yang ends up with Smug Scholar instead of her sweet little marquis I WILL throw things (thankfully, the sweet little marquis is getting actual screentime with her)

oh I LOVE this: the Empress apologises to Consort Yue for stealing her husband, and Consort Yue points out that if it's anyone's fault it's the Emperor's, and why should the Empress apologise? it's the little things, you know?!

I love that in amongst all this scowly strategising and betrayal and people's families in mortal danger…there's a whole running joke about whether the armour Niao Niao made her beloved makes him look more like a chicken or a mandarin duck

cdramas asking the real questions

wow they really kept like 90% of the action budget for this episode and money well spent say I

once again murder general is rushing off to save our girl, only this time he guesses precisely where she is and what she's doing, and knows she's probably doing a great job of it :')

GASP we are suspicious of Elder Brother Snacks now???

I've got a bad feeling about him and the crown princess turning out to be bad eggs - almost as though we're building up to a BIG BETRAYAL between our babies

Wan QiQi swaggering into prison in a wedding dress is the energy I aspire to

Hmm… Lou Ben feels very very foreshadowy of an obsessive man making a self destructive choice to grab what he wants no matter how it hurts the woman he loves

All the foreshadowing is REALLY mounting up now - Snacks still caring about NN but not wanting to see her after what she's done, NN observing of another couple that they were birds on the same tree but flew apart when trouble came

Anyway we are all headed for a heck of a third act breakup aren't we

is zisheng,,, allergic to almonds

what an absolutely bonkers twist

poor little Wang Ling! how terrible does her family have to be that she is trying to save her murderous traitor of an elderly husband, just because he treated her better than anyone else in her life?

"he even had a flower garden planted in my courtyard to please me, although he has life-threatening asthma! which means that he can't visit me very often! he's the best husband, Niao Niao!" okay Mrs Charlotte Collins

"Cheng Shaoshang, it seems you really don't know anything about Ling Zisheng" OOOOOOHH

Smug Scholar: a voice of reason. a stickler by the rules. an indefatigable drama queen who is quite ready to beg murder general to go right ahead, be his guest, do crime, because then Smug might get to marry Niao Niao instead

torture is always wrong, revenge kids! that said, it's very funny that murder general has been busy with hot iron and boiling oil all night and found out nothing, while NN has put herself fully abreast of the situation armed with nothing more than…a conversation with a female acquaintance

"wait - all that stuff you did in my name was ALSO in pursuit of your revenge plot? who are you really?" this show keeps serving the best stuff

matching bite marks on the arm is a way cooler idea than matching tattoos tbh

why are you not telling her, zisheng, she already knows!!!

she's sworn up and down (with bitten arms!) that she won't mind, it's keeping this from her that she can't forgive, get a clue!!!!!

ooooo - we have been cordially invited to a MURDER PARTY love the gearchange from Jane Austen Romcom to Jacobean Revenge Tragedy

OK LET'S GO, WHERE'S THAT MURDER PARTY I WAS PROMISED

Glad that we were given this scene of Marquis Chengyang being delusional and Chunyu being Justly Terrified that the young man obsessed with revenge has finally agreed to come to his father's birthday party, it doesn't quite explain how nobody realises this is Very Bad News but at least lampshades it

Since filial piety is the norm in this society, I guess it's hard for the elders to realise just how at risk they are from someone unfilial!

I LOVE that Chunyu (sp? the stepmother) gets a whole speech to point out the hypocrisy of HER continually bearing the blame of "climbing into the master's bed" after so many ppl in the show have ridiculed her for it as though it wasn't a decision made by the marquis

oooooooooooohhh this is amazing: Yang Yang is disturbed that NN's farewell before the wedding sounds like she doesn't ever intend to return home. and from NN's response, she KNOWS murder general is about to do something crazy and is fully prepared to suffer the consequences alongside him

it's…really amazing that during the stretch of the cdrama when the male lead traditionally starts Machinating and Scheming and lying to the female lead about it, THIS show keeps the heroine's agency intact, she sees right through his lies, she is still front and centre. Chef's kiss.

she knows where it's happening; she knowns when it's happening; she's sending someone for news. she's amazing and so are these writers.

meanwhile: murder general refusing to enlighten the marquis as to his true identity is Irene of Athens-level pettiness and I love it

the way this show keeps this whole episode focused on the story's main character even though she has little to do with -

oh wait never mind she has decided to involve herself anyway!!! now we get the entire Cheng family charging into battle? with NN at their head on a black horse? EPIC?????

well THAT was the best of Jacobean revenge tragedy

shocked to discover that Zisheng has Always Known who was really behind the fall of the lone city - he's just been quietly, methodically working through the destruction of all the perpetrators, COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO style

I love a protagonist who holds cards so close to his chest that not even the audience knows what's going on

more than that, it really adds nuance to the show's themes about revenge. Sometimes the system is broken, & even in a good system people will sometimes get away with murder. What to do then?

I can't support the vindictiveness of the leads (& I'm not sure I'm meant to) but as revenge plots go, I like the weightiness of the themes - how to fight for yourself in a world where laws and manners tell you you shouldn't? - better than Dumas' more superficial take.

where did these two henchmen come from, because they are NOT being paid enough to be part of this absolute disaster

also WHEE Niao Niao gets to swoop in and save HIM for once! Well done our girl!

oh what an idiot. what an absolute peanut.

I was pulling for you, murder general, but I'm not sure how you'll manage to come back from doing the One Thing (abandoning her) she asked you not to do

she's still calling him by his false name T_T

something something she only ever knew him by his false name and identity not his true one

moment of silence, please, I'm experiencing an emotion

well, duh - of COURSE Third Prince is here to collect NN to go help him plead for murder general, who has obviously been quietly helping him all along. even better: we don't know if NN is just figuring this out now or has known it for months but she understands it perfectly, just like we do, the moment she sees Third Prince's face

!!! murder general has been deceiving everyone in so many other ways too???????

it's not just that he knew all along who was responsible for the lone city's fall and has just been working silently to gather evidence on them: he ALSO has been playing four dimensional speed chess with palace politics, supporting a totally different faction to the one he was supposed to be aligned with?

IT WAS HIM IN THE PAGODA ALL ALONG????

I just love the sort of character who plays certain things SO close to the chest while also being utterly open and vulnerable about certain other things. like, as long as we trust their judgement for hiding the certain things and know it's not for purposes of control. and while NN does interpret his secretiveness as control, due to her upbringing, it's also easy in hindsight to see things from zisheng's POV: he is playing not one but several high stakes political games, treading a tightrope between the prince he is supposed to be supporting versus the prince who would clearly be a better choice, and now suddenly thrown into the middle of all this is a naive and well-meaning sledgehammer fiancee who is an absolute force of nature but who is not yet quite insightful enough to see and understand where the deep waters run; she's simply driven by personal loyalty to protect her empress' son. and she keeps forcing choices on him: protect her, or serve the Third Prince? and he makes tremendous sacrifices, as with the Tiger Tally, to save both of them. so is he going to take the risk and tell her and trust in her, or is he going to keep her in the dark just about this, until the game is over (it's so close to being over) and he can be as candid about these things as he can be about everything else?

but at the same time, he was so frustrated with her for not being candid with him, for not telling him when the mean girls tried to KILL her, for lying to him about choosing to help the crown prince - he should have known better than to reproach her about this when he was doing exactly the same things to her all along.

I love that the show just doesn't support him in this. for two people who both say they want to work as a team, these two both spend an awful lot of time keeping things from each other. and it's only after going away and thinking about it that I start to see his side of the story at all, because she is so totally front-and-centred in the way the story is told.

oh wow - now she gets a whole speech and thesis statement about how just because she's a woman she shouldn't be shut out of her husband's confidence, and ends: "Ling Buyi is my most beloved person in the world. But I am still me."

I love this show so much

It's really wild that murder general, who everyone knows went on a murderous rampage to kill the entire Ling clan, goes from being condemned to death to the apple of the emperor's eye based on his surname changing

no doubt it's historically accurate and murder uncle, at least, deserved it - but for me it's just another sign of how irretrievably this system is broken, that bloodline so clearly outweighs right and wrong.

I'll be chewing over the question of whether this last-minute aversion of filial impiety ("it's ok! he was doing it to avenge his REAL father!") undermines NN's previous point about the right to filial reverence depends on a parent's conduct, or whether it's an author's saving throw to secure a HEA

"but I can never forgive him for abandoning me - he even swore it was for my sake" aha! How To Critique The Break Her Heart To Save Her Trope (Without Actually Using The Trope??????) this show didn't HAVE to hunt down and kill every bad Asian drama romance trope like this but is that stopping it? no

Empress telling NN that whatever decision she makes, she will support her in - hits like a punch because the only person who's told her this till now is murder general. On the other hand it is comforting, and underlines the themes of NN being a whole person without him, bc she still has love and support!

as an aside, I also like how the show has handled NN's terrible parents. by the end of the show, she's fought for, and won, their respect and support, & has come to understand the pressures they are under. but she will never love them the way she loves the Empress, bc they haven't earned that love. I feel this consolidates the filial piety critique.

we finally get to hear murder general's side of the story - and it's fascinating to hear him say that he failed. he did everything to bring ling yi to justice - and couldn't. the murder party was his failure.

I'm finding the murder party less problematic at this point than the Censorate beating

whoah, the empress is sailing in to admit that she spoiled her children until they were useless, so she's not upset about the crown prince being demoted? seems a rather unfortunate theme if children are only ever bad because of bad parenting

NN still taking absolutely no prisoners in the romance, though: "oh, I understand you perfectly. the problem is that you never understood ME" that's quite a burn

The Empress is now requesting to be deposed, and it's a complicated scene - is she blaming herself, or voicing regrets? I think she's regretting not fighting for herself: as she points out, her accepting a menage a trois has not spoiled Consort Yue's life so much as it has spoiled her own chance at love.

while the show has sometimes been finger-wagging, it's saved here bc she also blames the Emperor for going along with the flow, too, and tamely accepting a three-way marriage.

meanwhile at home, everyone's like "Niao Niao is so mature now!" and I'm sitting here like NO SHE'S NOT, SHE'S HAD ALL THE HAPPINESS CRUSHED OUT OF HER and…….along comes Not-Quite-So-Bad-Mum to say that precise thing, and confess to having been wrong all along???? This show just keeps hitting.

Love that NN's 3rd brother is completely on her side at this moment. he understands the assignment ("break up with murder general and send him away with a flea in his ear") and executes it with prejudice.

oh…mum has repented too late. I'm not sorry for her, but I AM sorry for the way NN chooses to spend the next forever - when there were so many things she wanted to see and do!

and now: five years' worth of mutual pining in excruciatingly aesthetic slomo, thank you

meanwhile everyone in the Cheng family is getting married? Yang Yang is getting married? Mum's warrior maid is getting married? Good for you warrior maid!

Smug Scholar, otoh, has remained UNmarried for our girl, and I actually love the choice he's presenting her - NN doesn't much care who she marries if it's a business arrangement; she just won't marry the man she loves knowing he was willing to lie to her and abandon her

is it really weird that I suddenly want to write the story about the coldly pragmatic fake marriage of convenience between NN and Smug Scholar

!!!! she IS going to get engaged to him??? murder general is going to come back from five years of picturesquely scruffy suffering to find her engaged to Smug Scholar??!?!?!!!??!

oh this will be GOOD

"thanks, but I can ride without stirrups these days" I love that this show is allowing the heroine to establish a life of her own apart from the hero - they have to be complete on their own before they can be good for each other.

and now: a break from reality for an absolutely bonkers carriage chase, which, because this is a cdrama, comes complete with one of the parties trying to extort a proposal of marriage from the person chasing them

I swear this is the third time this exact same cliff has cropped up in this show, one would think that people would know better than to gallop madly down the DEAD END CLIFF ROAD

Empress pays her last respects to the emperor: "I know that if it wasn't for Emperor Li's tyranny you would have asked nothing more than to live a simple life" LIESSSS this man requires a constant stream of drama to live, how would he have survived as a gentleman farmer?

"if you are truly filial, don't exchange your life for mine. Live well." while this show has come down in the end in favour of filial piety, I think that for the most part it keeps filial piety where it belongs: subordinate to ethics - and that's something I can get behind.

With NN decided that murder general is not the man for her and murder general determined to accept her decision, I really don't see how this will get believably sorted out in the next…3 eps. Bc she's absolutely right, he had his chance and he blew it. That said, I was really worried the show would blame her for being unreasonable, but only the recent antagonist has done that

even NN's mother is now telling him: we don't need you to perform guilt for us, we also had our chance with NN and blew it, now we can only defer to her conscience AND YOU SHOULD TOO

so, I guess we're headed for an "undeserved grace" ending, and I hope they make it a convincing one and not cheap, bc it's too late to show him doing any work to prove his repentance.

oh I love this scene: she tells him she forgives him but cannot trust him, and he without defending himself, vows to live well and take care of himself (because quietly protecting the people she cares about is the one last thing he can do for her)

and he won't ever tell her that he's been doing this because he knows it would only make her despise him more!!!

time for the bad family to apologise, the grandmother in particular for trying to control her children, and Niao Niao to decide no longer to carry resentment, but to dwell on the people who love her instead

I love that the themes have largely to do with resisting control, even when it's from family members, and fighting for yourself. Even more, I love that the highest expression of this theme comes in the trust there's supposed to be between husband and wife. Sometimes, lack of communication IS an attempt at control - although on thinking it over I'm not sure it always has been that on murder general's side. but if there's one thing the past five years must have taught him, it's that he's going to have to be be particularly open with this particular woman, because her family HAS tried so hard to be controlling in the past, and she can't take even the appearance of it from him.

somehow, yet another of NN's old enemies has an overly complicated plan to kill her sigh

loving how murder general jumps into this trap and promptly becomes useless and it's time for the lil henchmen to save the day

stop shouting his name and figure out how to open the trapdoors Niao Niao, smoke inhalation is no joke

murder general looks amazing for someone who was just blown up

TEARFUL RECONCILIATION SCENE

ahaha Snacks has fallen in love with his wife, we love to see it

Smug Scholar, meanwhile (exact words): are you all done flaunting your love?

EXPLODING PICKLES

flailing I love it NN is deploying her secret weapon….the family Cheng

"you can't be in two places at once, General!"

maybe not, but wifey and he can

"i'd like to see who interferes with my best granddaughter's marriage!"

*smash cut to the emperor having a hissyfit because he can't interfere with the marriage *

it's over? pokes couch cushions for spare episodes

OK I LOVED that murder general's grand gesture in the final ep comes in the form of a dilemma. should he go rescue his beloved as everyone is telling him - or should he stay on task, submit to everyone's ridicule for not protecting his woman, and risk her thinking he's abandoned her again?

his answer shows that at last, he has come to truly understand her (five years after she told him he'd never understood her). it's not physical abandonment she truly fears. what she fears is not being trusted & allowed to act as his equal. So he leaves her to protect Guo village while he stays on HIS task. His grand gesture, after so many rescues, is not to rescue her at all.

SCREAMING at that moment when Third Prince is like, seriously, mate, you'd better not abandon her! she needs help!!! go on I'll be fine!! and Zisheng VISIBLY WAVERS and then pulls himself together and shouts GUO VILLAGE HAS NIAO NIAO! GUO VILLAGE WILL BE FINE!!!

since the root of the contention between them was always him not treating her as an equal, this is probably the best proof of change we could get in the screentime. and the show is very insistent to tell us that if NN bends to take him back, it's because it's what SHE wants, not bc she can't survive without him.

the show does give her that moment of fright during the explosion to rush her past her abandonment issues, but since the real issue was always about control, I can make my peace with it. Similarly, she taught him a 5-year lesson about not consulting her. He knows - & her family makes it explicit - that he can never pull something like this again.

final overall thoughts: I have rarely seen such a well done romance in Asian drama, especially cdrama. The show was long & got repetitive, especially in the 2nd half, even though it had some of my favourite stretches as NN starts fighting for respect & equality within her marriage.

The themes about family, state, and fighting for oneself got fingerwaggy at a lot of points, many side characters were brutally humiliated and many of the numerous female characters became nonsensically villainous just to give NN antagonists. So, I would say the show is quite flawed.

that said, what this show does well, it does SO WELL. I was absolutely invested in this romance to an extent that is very rare for me. I was delighted by the way the show critiques asian romance tropes, there's a wonderful Dumas-level revenge plot, the fight scenes while rare are terrific, the show remains laser focused on its female protagonist all the way to the end, and if you are not delighted by the utterly besotted looks murder general serves up five times per episode, I don't know what to do with you.

#love like the galaxy #lltg #ling buyi #cheng shaoshang #cdrama #asian drama

[ilovehobi101]

Their concubine.

Pairing: Namor/K’ul’ku’kan x reader x Shuri, Namor/K’ul’ku’kan x Shuri

Part 2.

Warning: Infidelity M/f/f, polyamorous relationship, Dirty talk (in English and Yucatec Maya), Hickeys, Cockwarming, Creampie, Nipple play, Sweet nicknames, Pampering, love triangle, Choking, Beach Sex, Praise and degrading kink, Breeding kink, Masturbating, Cockdrunk, Spanking, Begging, Rough sex, Squirting, grammar mistakes?

Summary: You and your cousin Riri were invited to Princess Shuri's private wedding, once King Namor laid his eyes on you, he decided you will be his as well as his wife, you tried hard to say no but you couldn't resist the handsome god for long.

A/n: this is my first time writing for the MCU so be gentle with me lol, I might have focused more on Namor x reader but part 2 will be more of both. Sorry if it sucks.

You sat in awe of the beautiful wedding, your cousin was the maid of honor so you were left by yourself, Princess Shuri was gorgeous in her wedding dress and her groom was...you couldn't even describe his attractiveness. When you first saw his people you weren't shocked you mean there's a god of thunder and a purple alien so people who lived in the ocean weren't really that much of a shock at least to you, "Does anybody object?" the groom looked around as if daring anybody to say something, his dark chocolate orbs stopped on you with an emotion you couldn't read, a part of you wanted to turn around to see if he was actually looking at you but you didn't want to embarrass yourself more as when you sent an awkward smile towards him that seemed to snap him back and he looked back Shuri, with love in his eyes.

Everyone cheered, clapped, and hollered as the happy couple shared a deep passionate kiss, they pulled apart and faces their subjects "Wakanda forever! Líik’ik Talokan!" The Queen and king chanted to their people and their subjects repeated the only ones who didn't was you and Riri making you both feel out of place. the now-married couple began to walk to the after-party, and everyone followed soon after. You watch the sunset fall behind the ocean and the lights of the lanterns turn on with a drink in hand "Beautiful, isn't it?" a deep latin american accent called, you turned to look at who spoke and immediately froze as the handsome king walked up to you "Are you enjoying the party? " "it's amazing and yes it's more than beautiful" you answered hesitantly "What is your name, In hechicera? (My enchantress)” you rose your brow in confusion but told him anyways, He tested your name and oh the way it rolled off his tongue made a shiver ride up your spine before you ask for his.

"My people call me K’ul’ku’kan, My enemies call me Namor but you can call me In Ajaw'o," he smirked slyly "I want you as mine, my concubine." he spoke looking into your eyes with want and determination, you open your mouth to answer but luckily your phone ringed, saving you "I got to umm t-take this." you stutter, speed walking more like run away from Namor.

Namor softly chuckled as he watched you run away, how he can't wait to hear your pretty moans and cries for him, to hear his hips smack against your hips as your nails pierce his back, to see your lust and desperate-filled eyes begging him to use you, to please your king. You couldn't believe what just happened, you're pretty you know that but hot, attractive men barely looked at you twice and to have someone like him, who oozes dominance that you just want to submit to, allow him to do what he wished to do to you was overwhelming, to say the least. you quickly found your cousin, telling her you got to go. You thought that was the end of it but man you were wrong, it was a week after the wedding, and a necklace of silver chain with light blue, and darker blues jewels with a handwritten note on your doorstep,

' Encantadora (Enchantress) you have enchanted me with your beauty and I hope this will enhance you as you have me. I had it made by my finest jeweler, and the jewels hand-picked by me. I would love to see you adore it, in hechicera.-

- A Ajaw'o' (Your king)

You looked up past the trees to the ocean, and you wondered if he was watching. You looked back at the necklace 'fuck it' you took it inside and put it into your jewelry box. The next day another necklace arrived a gradient blue seashell with gold on the edge of it, this came with a note as well, his way with words was charmingly elegant, and gift after gift came, a row of seashells of silver and blue, a pair of earrings that wrapped around your earlobes and was shaped like a fish's side fins, seashells, and starfish covered the top and bottom of the fins, a long chain of pearls dangled down, the held colorful blue shell, it was the most beautiful of the jewelry he had sent to you "I-it's beautiful." you said in awe as you walked back into your home to put it were you kept the things Namor gifted you. You smiled then paused, this is wrong, you were openly letting princess Shuri's, your role model, husband court you if that was what he was doing. No, this couldn't continue the next gift you'll give back somehow.

You woke up bright and early, as expected another gift laid on your doormat but instead of jewelry it was a conch shell blue and white in color with a note beneath it

'Encantadora, if you wish to see me as I do, blow into this and lay it into the ocean and I will come to your call.

- A Ajaw'o'

'Huh, convenient.' you thought as you strutted your way back into your house and left the Conch Shell on your couch side table as you gathered a bag to put all his gifts, courting gifts? and begin to make your way to the beach, on the way millions of thoughts flew through your mind what struck you as odd is 'I don't what this to stop.' that almost made you pause in your step, but you finally made it 'ok all I have to do is blow this and put it into the ocean, I got this but how far?' you let the bag dropped to the sand, lifting the shell to your lips, you blew into as hard as you could, you need him to hear, and throw the shell into the ocean.

You paced back and forward, trying to gather your courage when a splash caught your attention, and your jaw dropped 'Lord, help me.' you watched as Namor walked out of the waves with short dark green shorts, a gold belt, and a neckpiece with a set of golden seashells and pearls wrapped around his neck, gold jeweled bracelets on his wrists and biceps. Namor pushed his hair out of his face, the sun shined upon him causing the water to make his brown skin seem like it was sparkling. You shut your mouth and gulped as you hyped yourself up "In hechicera. " Namor acknowledged "U-Umm I uh here!" you went to reach for the bag of jewelry but his hand stopped you and made you look up at him "Are my gifts not to your satisfaction?" He questioned, his thumb rubbing your chin "No they're absolutely beautiful but—" "Then why rejected me In yakunaj? (My Love) " he questioned again, his lips centimeter away, his dark eyes gazing into yours "I..i" you didn't want too but you wanted him, with your entire being, you wanted to feel what it was like to be fucked by a god it wouldn't hurt for a day right? You could just say no more after, yeah that's what you'll do.

"Please.." you whispered, Namor smirked and his lips laid upon yours, his hands on your waist pulling you against his hardening bulge. A whimper climbs its way out of you as his hot tongue explores your mouth, and your breathing became uneven when you felt his hand wrap around your nape and his other groping your ass. "Le mía, in jats'uts concubina." he whispered against your lips, moving on to kiss your shoulder and gently manhandle you to lay on the sand, you could feel yourself become wet, and your patience grows thin "Please, I need you!" you beg, bucking your hips against him"Yes? What does my concubine want?" he growled, biting and sucking your neck, "Fuck me, please I feel like I'll die if you don't," you whine, grinding your clothed cunt hard against his hard member.

"Toop (Fuck). take off your clothes." Namor hissed, his cock twitching to be inside of you. You happily do what he ordered, how can you say no to a king, a fucking hot ass king like him, you practically rip your shirt, bra, skirt, and underwear off, and your cheeks felt got as you watch what he'd do. Namor took a moment to admire you, your pussy was glistening with your arousal, your breasts move up and down for your heavy breathing, your eyes held desperation for him and your lips parted just a little bit, he wanted so badly to make your lips swollen with his kisses but he was a benignant king, he will make your wish come true. Namor spread his pre-cum down his cock to lubricate, making it a bit easier, he knew it might hurt, his cock wasn't average, he was thick and long but fuck he couldn't wait.

"Ready in yakunaj?" he smirked, his cock head nudging your drooling core, you only nodded with excitement, Namor chuckled and kissed you as he slide home, balls deep "Joder ti', jump'éel coño jach apretado, perfecto utia'al a ajawo'" He groaned in his native tongue "Fuck, such a tight pussy, perfect for your king." he translated, gritted his teeth as his skilled hips began to work. His pace was slow at first, letting you get used to him but that didn't last long, his dick drilled into you like no man has as if he'll never fuck another pussy, feral growls left him as he suck at your neck, marking you his, your moans and whines, his growls and groans, skin slapping was all you could hear.

You gasped, his mouth engulfing your hardened nipple, and his large hand hooks one of your legs over his shoulder, his cock now hitting the ring of your cervix, fucking you into the sand"FUCK! Go-gonna cum!" you cried, tears in corner of your glossy orbs, "Cum, Encantadora ." Namor ordered after letting go of your nipple, his brown eyes locked with yours and like that you cummed making a mess on Namor's dick and the sand below you, Namor buried his face into your neck to muffle his loud groan as he thrusted hard, dumping his cum into you, filling every part of your walls. Namor took a moment to regain his senses before he slowly pulled out with a wetting pop that made you flustered as his and your cum came out like a river onto the already cum covered sand. "You are mine," he said slowly, with seriousness, you knew it was true, you were kidding yourself when you thought you could say no to this man "Yours," you replied, you knew this wouldn't last but fuck you'll enjoy well you can.

You thought your relationship was gonna be all about sex but it was more than that, even though he was busy as the king of Talocan and now Wakanda he still made time for you. He let you show him your likes and your dislikes, and hobbies, he let you cook your favorite foods for him, although he did not show you knew he liked it, he watched your favorite movies while you cuddled, your head under his chin and his strong arm wrapped around you. Your favorite moment is when you showed him 'the little mermaid', he said nothing but you could see he wanted to, wanting to respect your likes, but it wasn't one-sided he showed you dances of his people, showed you how to paint, and teach you some words of his native language, he even trusted you enough give you kimoyo beads that Princess Shuri updated that allow the wearer could visit talocan with a skin-tight suit but still able to protect them and he showed you how his people tamed whales, beautiful fish you ever thought you'd see up clos.

That night he made love to you, you tricked yourself into not seeing it that way but it was broken when on the edge of unconsciousness, he whispered that he loved you, he had fallen in love with you, and how you truly were an enchantress. You fall asleep with a smile, knowing he felt the same.

"In hechicera let's go for a swim, I want to show you something," Namor spoke catching your attention from your book "Ok let me get dressed" you smiled excited to see more of his world "What you have on is enough, let's go." he got up and made his way out the door with you rushing to keep up. The trip didn't take so long, you both stopped at a stone ring which Namor put his hands in, and suddenly a current of water appeared, Namor looked at you, a mischievous glint in his browns "wait no!—" you screamed as he grinned, taking your hand and swimming into the strong current, dragging you with him. You squeeze your eyes shut from fear, relaxing only a bit when you felt his muscular arms, protecting you. "Open your eyes" he whispered after you made it to your destination, hesitantly you opened your eyes and silently gasped, a beautiful city stands before you was this talocan? "let's go." he gestured as he swam to the city, you not far away.

As you both continue swam until you were in the capital city, you looked around you kids were playing, adults buying and selling stuff, and some even waved at you "Hola, mmm in wéetlail yéetel Teene' ichilo'ob teech ki'ichpam. (Hello umm me and my friends think you're beautiful)" A little girl came up to you and nervously looked back at her friends who were just as nervous, you gazed back at her friends with a soft smile and back at her "Hola yéetel Yo'olal ba'ax Nib óolal, teech xan teech ki'ichpam. (Hello, and why thank you, you're beautiful too)" you spoke softly. Namor watched on the sidelines as you interact with the children, asking their names and a thought crossed his mind, he wanted to see you like this with your children, to see you speaking softly to them and caring for them, then his thoughts dirty, he wanted to fuck your womb fill of cum, so much there would be no doubt you'd get pregnant, to see you swelling with his child, breed you time and time again, to hear you beg for it. He had to hurry and show his second surprise before he lost his control and composure, it seems only you and Shuri had a way to make him lose control of himself easily. "I have one thing more to show you." Namor informed "ok let's go" you replied before saying goodbye to the children.

You made it to his palace, it was more astounding than you imagined, you stopped in front of a clear box that was attached to the wall that had a brown door leading to a room, swimming into the box you looked at Namor curious but he smiles slyly and gestured for you to wait. The water started swirling around you and down a drain on the floor you didn't notice, it continued until no water was inside. You looked around shocked, your suit disappearing into your beads "there's more." he pointed to the door, and you took a breath and open the door, your jaw dropped as you walked into the room almost in a trance-like. The wall was a light blue, so light it was almost white, a king-sized bed stood against the middle of the wall, and a round headboard coral was decorated on the top, it looked so soft in front of the bed against the wall was a large wardrobe, a light oak brown in color, on the left wall was a beautiful vanity and bookshelves, with bean bags around the bookshelves and on the other walls was huge windows with white curtains, you step closer to the windows as colorful fish swim passed by. "How?" you asked in awe ""How" is never as important as "Why"." you turned to look at him "Why?" you questioned as you walk up to him "Because I have come to love you. I love you Encantadora." He started looking at you with such fondness, you could help but pull him into a heated kiss that lead to the bed and clothes being tossed.

"Such a slut for your god." Namor hissed when your heat welcome him, and you bounced on his dick, your nails digging into his muscular chest, leaving small angry crescent moons for everyone to see. "Please, not enough, more!" you cried with tears in your eyes as you quicken your pace, trying and failing to find the pleasure he can only bring, begging him to fuck you as not even you can do, Namor just smirked, planting his feet on the mattress and thrusted up, hard. Brushing that special spot and hitting your cervix, all thoughts left, and only his cock, his long, hard cock was on your mind and in your pussy, the only thing that mattered now. his thrusts were rapid, rough, and downright punishing. You yelped as he slapped your ass "What? Can't think? In puta tonta." he purred in his baritone voice, his eyes lusted and lidded as he suddenly got you onto your back, your legs to your chest, cock still inside you.

"Fuck." you panted as he pounded away, your nails running down his back "Yaan in tséentik in linda peek'o' reproductora, chup a seen u Ma'atech a sentirás vacía, a k'áat le je'elo'. Ba'ax tia'al ten a Ajaw." Namor grunted his hips smacking into your ass "Gonna breed my pretty breeding bitch, fill you so much that you'll never feel empty, do you want that? To serve your king?" he repeated in English, his accent even thicker, you let out a lewd moan at his words squeezing hard around him and feeling your climax coming, he spanked you as he asked again "Please let me to be filed with you." you slurred cockdrunk, eyes locked with his, body jerking from his thrusting. a snap of his hips had you squirting, absolutely drenching you and him the bed, his thrust became sloppy as he fulfilled his promise, his lips on yours in a kiss full of passion.

Shuri controlled her heavy breathing as she came around her fingers, watching as her husband fucked you like he hated you from the wardrobe, she waited for you both to fall asleep to leave. She needed to think of her next course of action.

Translation:

Le mía, in jats'uts concubina

Mine, my pretty concubine.

@namorkawaiiwife @opalinehart @savagemickey03 @caloetta @darkfairy102190 @nessa41890 @littlekidsteve @18lkpeters @plasticfantasticl0ver @galaxygirl453 @wint3r-h3art @omgsuperstarg @paranoiac-666 @notalwaysa @like-things-thatarentreal @psamathegoesrawr @gingermous @deliciousfestsalad @aiden-presscott @amyhennessyhouse

#namor x you #mcu namor #namor of talokan #namor smut #namor x reader #namor fic #namor imagine #namor x y/n #namor x shuri #wankandaforever #mcu fic #black panther #shuri x you #shuri fic #king namor

[heejayy]

I Do || Shuri U.

Warning: explicit/ sexual language,

Genre: smut, fluff

Pairing: Shuri x black fem! Reader

Word count: 1.4K

A/n: don’t judge the smut part cause I really can’t write spicy scenes 😭🙄

Nothing felt real right now. You felt like you were having one of those out of body experiences as you stared at yourself in the mirror. Today was the day you were getting married to the love of your life. Yes, you were happy and yes you were excited but reality just decided to smack you all at once today. You were feeling so many emotions you couldn’t help but cry as you looked at your self. Marriage is something you’ve wanted since you were small, but now it’s seem like it’s come so fast.

“No no you can’t cry y/n it’ll ruin your makeup!” Nakia panicked grabbing some tissues and handing them to you. You dabbed under you eyes hoping you didn’t smudge anything.

“I know I just- it’s so much to take in I mean I- I’m getting married like today! I’ve always dreamt of marrying Shuri but now it’s actually happening. I get to marry her and spend the rest of my life with her” Nakia rubbed your exposed shoulder giving you a loving smile.

“You two are going to be wonderful together…you know what I’ll be right back” she smirked scurrying off out of your room. You sighed adjusting your dress so you could take a seat on your bed. You lifted your dress a bit to take peek at your shoes.

You smiled to yourself thinking I truly feel like a princess today. A light knock pulled you away from your thoughts “come in!”

The door slowly opened to reveal a breathtaking Shuri dressed in a sleek black suit paired with her custom made black heels trimmed in silver.

“No Shuri you can’t be in here!”

“Relax my eyes are covered, but I heard you were having a difficult time?” She asked worriedly with her hand out trying not to bump into anything. You chuckled at the sight getting up to help her.

“Nothing to worry about baby I’m just a little emotional thats all” she hummed rubbing the back of your knuckles. “I understand my love I got emotional myself, when I- I realized the people I love the most won’t be here to see me get married.” You heart shattered.

“Oh my shuri” you pulled her in for a tight hug “they’re here I know they are and they are extremely proud of you” you swayed her back and forth doing your best to comfort her.

“I know” she pulled away still covering her eye “but don’t be afraid to actually tell me if you’re backing out before we get to the alter cause if you try to leave me later on I’m not letting you go” she joked trying to lighten the mood, it got a little chuckle out of you.

“I’m never leaving you shuri don’t worry” she smiled bring your hand to her lips kissing it.

“Good but we better get going we have a whole country waiting for us. I’ll see you soon my dear but for now can you guide me to the door?” you laughed helping her.

“You and your weird American customs” she said shaking her head. You scoffed and rolled your eyes “no one told you you had to cover your eyes silly.”

“Ahh shuri put me down!” You giggle as Shuri lifted you up bridle style carrying you through the palace. You two were equally excited to finally be wife and wife but a bit tired from todays festivities.

You laid your head against her chest relaxing in her arms. “Tired?” You mumbled a yes as you let your eyes drift close before you knew it you were being laid down on her bed.

“sthandwa come on it’s our wedding night let have some fun!” She teases pinching your sides, you tried to hold back a giggle squirming around “Shuri i’m dead tired, let’s save the nasty stuff for our honey moon, it’s only a week away.”

She gasps grabbing a pillow to playfully hit you “who said anything about sex I just wanted to spend time with you, you dirty girl.”

she definitely was implying sex she just wanted to flip it on you. You rolled your eyes as you sat up “help me take my hair and makeup off and I’ll give you a little treat.”

Shuri immediately jumped into action doing a little jog to the bathroom to retrieve your makeup wipes. She peeled off your lashes, took all the hair pins out, undressed you, and ran you a bath.

“Alright I guess I can stay up a little longer for some fun” she grinned scooting to you from the other end of the tub.

“Mmm can we start now?” Before you could even said yes you could feel her slender hands slowly sneaking between your thighs. Your eyes flickered to her lips and back up at her, she took that a sign to kiss you. Her soft lips moved in sync with yours, she was such a good kisser and she tasted like vanilla cake and wine. While distracted with kissing she ran her thumb over your bud cause you to moan into her mouth. And without warning she slipped her middle finger in “mmm sh-shuri.”

“Shh usana I didn’t even start yet, open wider” without thinking your body listened to her and you spread your legs farther apart. She slipped a second finger in and started slowly pumping in and out.

“Shuri don’t be a tease go faster please” she listened to you picking up her speed while simultaneously rubbing you nub. You never felt anything better, your eyes rolled to the back of your head as your toes curled You never thought it was possible to cum this fast but with Shuri all she had to do was look at you and you were already unraveling.

“Sh-shuri please!” You moaned her name as your back arched out of the bath water “I’m close!”

“Come on intombi entle (pretty girl) cum for me” just like that you came undone on her fingers.

“Uggh oh my god that felt good” she pecked your lips pulling her fingers out to lick them clean.

“It’s your turn know sthandwa” you said smiling grabbing the back of her neck pulling her towards you for a sloppy kiss.

You two had migrated to the bed, you had Shuri’s legs over your shoulders as you ate her out. You wanted to tease her so you gently bit down on her clit her body jolted out of pleasure as she moaned your name. “Mmh baby you taste so fucking sweet, I could do this all night” you hummed against her core sliding two fingers in, without preparation you quickly began pumping and pushing up against her sensitive spot. Her grip on your hair got tighter letting you know you were doing a good job.

“That feel good princess?” She tried to speak but all that came out was a whine. You were the only one who could make her feel such pleasure and she loved it. You sucked on her clit whole fingering her and her thighs tighten around your head. She rocked her hips trying to get her release quicker, but you pulled away annoyed leaving a smack against her thigh.

“I’m in charge right now” you said giving her a warning glare before diving back in. It wasn’t long after you started feeling her squeezing around your fingers, her whines began to get louder and higher as she dug her heels in your back.

“Shit sthandwa I’m gonna cu- nnghh!” warm liquid came squirting from Shuri as her back arched off the bed, you didn’t stop though you helped her ride out her high until she collapsed back on the bed panting. You sat up from between her legs surprised but also proud, you actually made her squirt. Thinking about how vulnerable and sexy she just looked you smiled to your self as you licked your lips and fingers.

“How was that?” You asked playing innocent. She slightly sat up to look at you with that pretty fucked out face “if I knew you could do that I would’ve let you take charge more.”

You and Shuri now laid naked in each others warm embrace. Her head laid on your chest as she left little kisses in between the valley of your breast. A smile spread across your lips as you stroked her curls. You felt so anxious about your future but you also felt joy knowing you’ll get to spend every second of it with the woman you love.

“I love you Shuri and I’m glad I married you.” She smiled looking up at you with those pretty brown eyes.

“I love your more usana and I’m glad I married you too.”

Shuri Masterlist

©heejayy 2023 — any reposts or translations of my works outside of tumblr are strictly prohibited unless granted permission 🤍

#shuri imagine #shuri x black!fem reader #shuri x fem!reader #shuri fluff #marvel fluff #lesbian #shuri x you #shuri udaku #shuri smut #marvel smut #princess shuri #shuri x y/n #x black reader #black tumblr #lgbtqia #ask heejayy

[doughbrainer]

*Wipes Sweat Off My Brow.* Well... They're Finally Done! I Don't Want To Stal, So LETS GET TO IT!

NATURE FAM DESIGNS!

Not Including Father Time, Because He's An Oc, Sorry. ;-; I'll Save Mother Nature For The End, Because She's Kind Of Complicated.

Also, I'll Split The Post Because I Don't Want This Post Taking Up People's Feed.

Keep Reading The NATURE FAM'S DESIGNS And HEADCANONS!

Starting With The ELDEST CHILD!

EARTHQUAKE - He/Him

762 cm - 25 ft (Voice Claim: Joe Garderner - Soul)

Earthquake Is The Oldest Child Of All Of The Nature Children, And Has No Biological Father. This Is Because He Was Born Through A Special Form Of Asexual Reproduction That All Gods Possess. Of Course, He Is The God Of Earthquakes, And In A Way, Represents Earthquakes As A Whole.

Earthquake Doesn't Get Very Angry Very Often, But When He Is, He Blows Up At People Around Him. When He Has His Moments Of Anger, He Is Very Apologetic. He Isn't Particularly Bossy But Is Very Stubborn. When He's Stressed, He Gets Stomach Pains, Which Sometimes Causes Earthquakes.

He's Married To Arsa, Who As Of Current, Isn't Seen A Lot By Others. Most Of The Nature Know About Her, And Have At Least Her Once At Earthquake's And Arsa's Wedding. Because Of Earthquake's Chosen Location Under The Earth For His Home, He And Arsa Aren't Seen Much All Year Round.

Because The Temperature Of His Home Changes So Frequently, He Often Chosen Not To Wear A Shirt As It's Easier Then Slipping In And Out Of It Throughout The Day.

According To Those That Have Met Him Only A Few Times, He's Hard Headed But Means Well.

~

NORTH WIND - He/Him

518 cm - 17 ft

North Wind Is The Second Child, And Older Twin To South Wind, And Is One Of The Biological Sons To Father Time. He's The God Of Tornadoes And Wind, And Controls The Wind In The North Sections Of The World, Sharing Partial Duties Of His Section With East And West.

Growing Up, He Was Shy And A Major Cry Baby, But As He Got Older, Circumstances Made Him Act More Like A Spoilt Child. He Often Tries To Make Himself The Center Of Attention, Which Often Doesn't Work. His Behaviour Only Changed After He Had A Period Of Time Away From His Family, But While He Still Has His Foul Attitude On The Outside, On The Inside, He's Still The Lonely Child He Was When He Was Younger.

When His Plans To Overtake Santa Claus Failed, And Was Therefore Grounded From His Responsibilities By His Mother, He Had A Lot Of Time To Think About Himself. His Mistakes And How His Actions Affected People. Yes, It Took A Few Hundred Years To Make Him Realise, But Eventually, He Decided It Was Time That He Pulled Himself Together. He Apologised To His Family, Especially His Brother's Snow Miser And Heat Miser, And To Anyone Else That He Felt Like He Was Rude Or Hurtful To. Although Not Everyone Accepted His Apology, He Knew This Was The Right Thing To Do.

He's Transgender, But Other Than His Family, Not Many People Know This.

People Usually Describe Him As A Brat, But He's Slowly Beginning To Grow On People In A Good Way.

~

SOUTH WIND - She/Her

318 cm - 10 ft (Voice Claim: Charlotte - Princess And The Frog)

South Wind Is The Third Oldest Child, And The Younger Twin To North Wind. She Is Also Another Child Of Father Time. She's A Goddess Of Dust Storms And Wind, Controlling Wind In The South Part Of The World, Sharing Partial Duties With East And West.

Compared To Her Twin Brother, She Was Much More Outgoing In Comparison, But Still Often Kept To Herself. She Will Lend A Helping Hand To Anyone If She's Asked, But As She's Gotten Older, She Usually Doesn't Tend To Reach Out That Often. Sometimes She Is A Troublemaker Though, Causing Inconvenience To Others At Random.

When It Comes To Her Love Life, She's A Hopeless Romantic, But Hasn't Actually Been In A Proper Relationship Yet. Not Because She Can't Get With Anything, But Primarily Because She Thinks There's More Important Things To Worry About. Sometimes She Uses Her Human Disguise And Goes Down To Where The Humans Are, Partaking In Common Things They Do, So She Tends To Have A Lot Of Stuff Made By And For Humans In Her House That She Also Uses.

She's Often Described As Fun To Be Around, And Life Of The Party.

~

LIGHTNING - She/Her

610 cm - 20 ft (Voice Claim: Poison Ivy - Harley Quinn Show)

Lightning Is The Fourth Oldest Child In The Line Up, And Just Like Earthquake, Also Doesn't Have A Biological Father The Exact Same Reasons. She Is Of Course A Goddess Of Lightning, And In A Way Represents It, But She Also A Goddess Of Midwifery And Childbirth. She Actually Went To A Human College And University To Learn All About The Topic Of The Secondary Duties.

She's Good To When It Comes To Reading The Room, Knowing When It's Time To Be Serious And When It's Alright To Have Fun. That's Why She's The Most Respected Of All Her Siblings. She Doesn't Have Any Bad Relationships With Anyone In Her Family Or Any Other Gods For A Matter Of A Fact.

She Has Two "Forms", The Other Where Body Glows And Lines Form Across Her Body Often Happens When She Is Using Her Powers, But It Only Happens When She's Doing Certain Stuff.

People Praise Her A Lot For What She Does, But In Reality, She's Not That Great With Handling Compliments Of Any Kind.

~

THUNDER - He/Him

256 cm - 8"5 ft (Voice Claim: Din - The Wish Dragon)

Thunder Is Fifth Oldest Child. He Too Has No Biological Father Like His Older Sister, Lightning, And His Older Brother, Earthquake. He Is A God Of Thunder, And Somewhat Represents It At The Same Time. He Also Is A God Of Fatigue.

He Usually Is "Sleeping On The Job" But When He Is Up And About, He Tends To Get On People's Nerve. He's Not Evil In The Slightest, Just Annoying, And Does Things Often For His Own Entertainment. Once He Sent A Cloud Soldier To Slay Newt, The God Of Neutral Colours, Just To See If Anything Would Happen. When His Angry Or Upset, This Can Sometimes Lead To Random Thunder Storms.

He Doesn't Try Too Hard To Make Himself Look Nice, Usually Wearing A Dressing Gown Robe And Shorts. He's More For Comfort Than Looks.

He's Considered The Laziest God Around.

~

HEAT MISER - He/Him

366cm - 12 ft

Heat Miser Is The Middle Child, And Is The Older Twin To Snow Miser. As Well As Another Child Of Father Time. He's The God Of All Things Hot, This Includes Fire, Volcanoes And Lava. Originally, Earthquake Was The God Of Volcanoes And Lava, But He Passed These Responsibilities Off To Heat Miser When Heat Miser Was Old Enough.

Because He's A God Of Heat Related Things, He Has Partial Control Of The Sun, And Even The Sun. Some People Just Consider A Solo God Of The Sun, And Although This Doesn't Bother Him, It Does Undermine His Abilities A Tad Bit. He's Very Quick To Anger, And It Doesn't Take A Lot To Set Him Off. The Few Things That Are Able To Calm Him Down Are Edward, And Occasionally His Minions. His Hair Grows Brighter The More Emotional He Is, Which Tends To Happen A Lot As Heat Miser Is Very Moody.

Although Heat Miser Wouldn't Call Himself Much Of A Romantic, As Of Current, He Is A Lover To The Mortal Man, Edward Light. He's Practically Infatuated With Him, And Would Be Distraught If Anything Ever Happened To Edward. He Tends To Treat His Minions Like Children, Even Though It's Completely Unintentional. He Doesn't Like To Admit It.

He's Basically Hot Headed Nerd With A Gentle Soul.

~

SNOW MISER - He/Him

427 cm - 14 ft

Snow Miser Is The Fifth Youngest Child In The Nature Family, And Is The Younger Twin To Heat Miser, And A Child Of Father Time. He's A God Of All Things Cold, And Therefore A God Of Snow, Ice, Winter And So On. North Wind Use To Be A God Of Snow And Winter, But When Snow Miser Was Born, Those Responsibilities Were Taken Away From Him And Passed To Snow Miser.

Like His Twin Brother, He Has Some Partial Control Of The Night Time And Also The Moon. Some People Simplify Him To A God Of Just Night, Which Really Annoys Him.

When He Was Younger, He Didn't Care Much For Drama With His Brother, But As He Got Older And Certain Things Became More Prized Between Them, Snow Miser Took It On And Made It His Mission To Be Better Than His Twin Brother In Every Way There Is Possible. He's Had A Few Relationships In The Past, But Overall, He's Generally A Slag Compared To Everyone Else, And Isn't Prudish In The Slightest.

With Him Making Everything Into A Competiton With Heat Miser, It Often Leads Him To Forget To Take Care Of Himself. He Only Seems To Be A Meanie When Heat Miser Is Around, But When Heat Miser Isn't Near Or Snow Miser Is In The Comfort Of His Own Home, He's The Kindest Person Most People Say They Have Ever Met. Although Snow Miser Doesn't Like To Admit It, He Has A Lot Of Love That He Wants Share.

Overall, He Comes Off As A Major Drama Queen, But Really He's A Major Weenie With A Big Heart.

~

EAST WIND - She/Her

518cm - 17 ft (Voice Claim: Harley Quinn - Birds Of Prey)

East Wind Is The 4th Youngest, And The Older Twin To West Wind, And Is Another Child Of Father Time. She Is A God Of Floods And Wind, Primarily Controlling The Winds In The East Section Of The World, Sharing Partial Duties With North And South.

She Has A Very Bubbly Personality, And Loves Being Around People. Working Best In Environments With Other People. Although She Does Like Alone Time Every Now And Then, And Sometimes Even A Break. She Tries Not To Work Too Hard, Finding Fun In Everything. She Does Her To Be Loving And Sympathetic.

She Love Animals Of All Kind, But Funnily Enough, Is Scared Of Birds. Doing Her Best To Stay As Far Away From Them As She Can. Sometimes, She Goes With Her Sister, South, Down To Where The Humans Are.

She's Kind Of A Dits But Tries To Fit In.

~

WEST WIND - She/They

152 cm - 5 ft (Voice Claim: Megara - Hercules)

West Wind Is The Third Youngest, And The Younger Twin To East Wind, Again, Another Child Of Father Time. She Is A God Of Wind As Well, Controlling The Winds In The West For The Most Part, But Shares Duties With North And South. Unlike The Other Winds, West Is Not Also A God Of A Natural Disaster, Instead Being A God Of The Seasons Autumn And Spring.

She's Really Laid Back Compared To Their Twin Sister, But Isn't Lazy. Of Course She Does Her Job. She Has An Attitude Of Where She'll Do Whatever She Wants, And She Won't Care What Happens Afterward, Unless Someone Gets Hurt. Growing Up, She Was Teased For Her Height A Lot, And Usually Insults Would Send Her Into A Freak Out, But As She Got Older, She Shrugged Off Mentions Of Her Natural Height. As She Realised It Was Only A Big Deal To Those Who Don't Know Them.

She's Stronger Than They Look, And If She Caught Someone Making Fun Of Her Siblings, She'd Definitely Send A Plate With A Knuckle Sandwich. She Can Control Her Emotions Really Well, But Doesn't Like To Leave Her House Much.

She Just Prefers To Be By Herself Most Of The Time.

~

HIGH TIDE - He/Him

214 cm - 7 ft (Voice Claim: Demoman - Team Fortress 2)

High Tide Is The Second Youngest Child, And The Older Twin To Low Tide, And A Child Of Father Time. He's A God Of The Tides And The Deep Sea, And Primarily Controls The High Tides.

He's Very Serious About His Work, And Makes Sure Everything He Does Is Perfect. He's Often Shirtless, As He Finds It Easier To Breath Through His Gils Instead Of His Nose Or Mouth. His Hair When He's Above The Water Usually Goes Down Like Regular Hair, But Under Water, It's Rises Up. High And Low Have Squishy Bodies, Somewhat Like Rubber And Gummies Mixed Together, And They Both Wear Matching Pearls.

He's Very Protective Of Low Tide, But Also Has The Most Arguments With Him. Eventually Of The Arguments With His Brother Is What Leads Him To Somehow Get Separated From Low, And Therefore The Rest Of His Family. The Only Thing He Has To Remind Himself Of Them Is The Pearls He Wears On His Wrist.

He's Not Angry Persey, More So Easily Irritated.

~

LOW TIDE - He/They

212 cm - 7 ft (Voice Claim: Nanette - Gnomeo And Juliet)

Low Tide Is The Youngest Child In The Nature Family, The Younger Twin To His Older Brother, High Tide, And The Last Child Of Father Time. He's A God Of The Tides And Shallow Sea, Often Controlling The Low Tides.

They're A Bit More Goofy In Comparison To High Tide, And Like His Sister East Wind, Try To Find The Fun In Everything. He's Naive About A Lot Of Stuff, And This Leads Others To Be Very Protective Over Them, Especially High Tide, But They Often Get Into The Most Arguments With High Tide. Low Tide, Despite Being AMAB, Is Often Mistaken For A Girl, Due To His Appearance And Voice. He's Hair, No Matter What Environment, Always Flows Down, And He Wears Pearls Around Their Neck That Matches With Their Brother.

After An Argument One Day, High Tide Left The Cave They Shared With Low Tide, And Never Returned. Low Tide Felt Responsible For High's Sudden Disappearance, And In His Brother's Absence, He Took Control Of Both The High And Low Tides.

He's Very Cautious Now, And Tries Not To Get In People's Way.

~

And Now It's Time For The Lady Herself.

MOTHER NATURE - She/They

244 cm - 8 ft

Mother Nature Is A Little Complicated, Not A Lot, But A Little. Of Course We Know She's The Mother Of All The Children Of The Nature Family, And The God Of ALL Nature, And Representing All Of It.

She's Moody, And Sometimes Her Emotions Are Out Of Control, But She Tries Her Best To Be A Good Person. She's An Original God, And Has No Parents, She Just Came Into Existence Eventually At Random. The Form She Usually Takes Is Of Something That Looks Like A Green Satyr, But She Has Endless Shapeshifting Abilities, And Can Take Whatever Shape Or Form She Pleases, So This Is Not Her Only Form, But It's The Same Form They Spawned Into The Universe As.

All Her Children Have The Ability To Turn Into Animals, Have A Human Disguise, And Can Change Their Height If Necessary In The Moment, But None Of Children Can Shapeshift The Same Way She Can.

Although Her And Father Time Were Together At Some Point, They No Longer Consider Each Other Partners, And Nature For The Most Part Appears To Be Solo For Now. She Mainly Sees The Children At The Yearly Meeting, But If She Ever Wants To Check Up On Them, She Gets Others To Do It For Her.

She Loves All Of Her Children, But It's Obvious That She Favours Some Of Her Children More Over Others.

~

...

And That's All Of The Canon Nature/Miser Fam!

Gosh, Designing All Of These Guys Was A Pain In The But, I've Never Had To Do So Many Designs Back To Back Before. But This Was Also Pretty Fun! I Enjoyed Updating Designs Where I Thought It Was Needed, But Also Created Designs For Others I Haven't Drawn Yet. I Debated Drawing Mother Nature, But I Decided To Do Her Anyways, As She's Literally The Mother Of All Of Them, And It Would Just Be Unfair. I'm Really Proud Of How They All Came Out, Especially The Miser Brothers. I'm Going To Give Some Credit To @generalfebruary / @generalfebruary-rankinbassart As Their Designs Of The Miser Fam Did Inspire My Own, Especially Lightning's Design.

There Is Some Info That I Want To Save For My Miser Fam Ask Blog @miser-fam-stressful-seasons But This Basically Covers A Majority Of It. It Might Be A While Before I Do Any References Like This Again, But When I Do, It Will Definitely Be For OCs.

I Apologize For The Long Post, And I'm Sorry If This Ends Up Taking Up A Majority Of People's Tumblr Feeds, But I'm Really Happy To Finally Have This Done. Now It's Time To Finally Answer Some Newly Received Asks I Got On My Ask Blog! Until Next Time Everybody.

#a miser brothers christmas #the year without a santa claus #snow miser #heat miser #the miser brothers #mother nature #mother natures family #miser fam #mother nature family #snow miser and heat miser #miser brothers #nature family #nature fam #the nature fam #the nature family #fruit fam #north wind #northwind #snowmiser #north wind a miser brothers christmas #earthquake a miser brothers christmas #the tide twins #tide twins #headcanons #design #the winds #lightning a miser brothers christmas #thunder a miser brothers christmas

[ladystoneboobs]

y’know, whatever the true parentage of aegon vi aka young griff, in a way he is more like rhaegar than jon snow is. by which i mean their attempts to force themselves into archetypal roles, rhaegar as the prophesied hero against supernatural dark forces and yg as the hidden-prince-in-exile come to save the country and restore peace and harmony by taking the throne.

rhaegar’s very existence is owed to a prophecy, when the ghost of high heart said the ptwp would come of aerys/rhaella’s line they were forced to get married by their father. his destiny was decided and agreed before he was born, as just a hypothetical male prince. bc ofc this promised prince must be a son born with a cock, right? no one ever looked for or expected a princess for this. and when he was born during the mysterious tragedy at summerhall, what could be more of a sign that the prophecy was fulfilled? no need to keep waiting for any more kids, anyone further down the line, this baby had such a dramatic entrance he has got to be the specialest boy of all. rhaegar likely knew all of this from a very young age. grandpa jaehaerys ii believed enough to force his kids to marry, so he wouldn’t want this important planning to go to waste by taking it to his grave, now, would he? was rhaegar reading all the time bc his favorite genre was old prophecy scrolls or was he always doing homework to become the hero he knew he already was? does it really matter when either way he never really had much choice in his role in life? one day he finally goes to train with the master-at-arms only bc he realized from his reading that he “must” be a warrior. he became as great at that as he was at anything else, according to ser barry, but he never enjoyed knighthood. 

to me that’s all a far cry from jon, who grew up idolizing daeron the young dragon and dreaming of glory and conquest. jon, who spent most of his waking hours training in the yard even when injured at the end of asos, just bc he didn’t know what else to do and it helped him blow off steam. jon, who had a nostalgic “hunger” in him when hearing the sound of swords in the yard as lc. the same guy who as of acok still couldn’t get why sam would consider old books and crumbling scolls to be treasure. jon, who has nothing but doubts once he does rise to power and herodom as lord commander and can’t conquer them. and most importantly, jon, the hero who chanced into his role as shield guarding the realms of men only bc ned won the fight at the toj after rhaegar died and took him to be raised in the north. if/when jon does return to life and take his place as a heroic head of the dragon, that role can only be his own choice, not one he was raised for his entire life, just as his membership in the night’s watch was ultimately his own choice based on his northern childhood. (jon’s conception may have also been prophecy-related, but beyond that, his path and rhaegar’s sharply diverged.)

know who was shaped for a royal destiny “since before he could walk”, though? that’s right, aegon in essos aka young griff. his destiny was already chosen for him by the schemes of illyrio/varys just as rhaegar’s was by grampy jae ii and other dragon prophecy nerds before him. he studied his scrolls and trained with the royal master-at-arms just as aegon studied in the routines of his entourages and was trained by knights of the golden company.

and, at some point, we know rhaegar realized he wasn’t the ptwp and decided it was his first son, aegon, instead. mostly bc a comet was seen the night of aegon’s conception. i remember seeing a post years ago saying rhaegar must have spotted the comet that night, run naked straight to elia, and declared they had to get babymaking asap bc the comet was a sign too significant to be ignored. a joke post, prob, but i feel like there’s prob a lot of truth to the idea of rhaegar desparetely forcing the signs to add up, concieving a child on that night after he’d already seen the comet rather than just happening to have sex with elia on the same night there just happened to be a comet sighting. i believe this bc why would it all just be lucky coincidence if aegon vi was not the ptwp? lbr now, whether he indeed got his head smashed in by the mountain or was switched out and sent to essos, rhaegar’s elder son was/is not the promised hero. (just like rhaegar himself could not be the pwtp, after all.) a previously-thought-dead-for-16-years newbie with shaky parentage credentials introduced this late in the game is not going to steal both jon’s and dany’s thunder like that, c’mon. so a comet appearing just for his conception feels about as likely as red rahloo actually killing 3 kings just for the sake of frickin’ stannis. it’s even possible that rhaegar later decided aegon might not be the ptwp either and put more stock in dragon head #3 bc of the whole ice and fire union aspect with lyanna. we just don’t have enough info about that part of the story to know for sure. but there’s no suggestion he was unhappy with elia beforehand or that either of them thought she could not bear more children until the maesters actually said so after aegon’s birth. and even if he was “right” about lyanna’s child being the most important one (ew), he was still counting on both aegon and rhaenys to be the other two heads of the dragon, and presumably planned to raise all 3 of them for their destiny together in kl as he had been. in which case his plans utterly failed, because that is just not at all what happened with any of those kids.

in that sense, death is what jon and his bio dad most have in common as they both walked fairly boldly and blindly into their doom. but the circumstances are still a bit different as jon was murdered in a mutiny rather than killed in battle, not to mention his likely resurrection as an actual hero of prophecy. despite being around 10 years older than either jon or aegon is presently, i’d say rhaegar was even more naively overconfident in his plans than jon was in his final moments. to go that quickly and without any known hesitation through each change of plans from simply being ptwp himself to becoming a warrior as well as a weirdo nerd to fathering 3 heads of the dragon to truly fulfill prophecy to organizing a political coup at harrenhal to honoring lyanna instead to eloping with her after aegon’s birth to make her wife #2 and mother of dragon head #3 to riding off to one definitve battle against cousin robert after hiding in his lovenest with lyanna for months, idk, that does not read to me as someone suffering the same questions and doubts jon did in the nw. rhaegar told jaime “when this battle’s done” not “if i return in victory” in their farewell. he had no back-up plans in case of his defeat, leaving elia with aerys and lyanna in the toj, no plans for how to protect either wife or any of his all-important prophesied progeny in the event of his loss, just as he had no immediate plans to deal with aerys yet. (compare that to idealistic young king robb stark, thought to be recklessly honorable and accused of thinking himself invincible in his youth, yet he still managed to make plans for his succession should he die childless in battle, and planned to put his wife and mother in strongholds held by trustworthy (sane) allies who could defend their positions for some time in his absence.) all that only makes sense to me if he always thought he’d still have time for all that later, never truly envisioning the possibility of house targ being overthrown so soon when all his hero kids were still babies. 

after all, whether he was the ptwp himself or only meant to raise the 3 promised dragon heads as heroes, surely their destiny was already written years before and he couldn’t go out in such a mundane way, right? i’d say aegon/yg shows the same kind of overconfidence in going along with all the gc’s changes in planning, from whatever varys/illyrio originally wanted with viserys iii alive to finding dany and marrying her after the birth of her dragons to leaving for an invasion of westeros first to conquer the stormlands himself before wedding dany as equals. he never imagined she could refuse him until tyrion told him so, and imo is still not grasping that his female relation could prove more important than him in westeros with her 3 dragons. rhaegar may have known he was doomed since his tragic birth among so much death and later knew he wasn’t the pwtp, but he likely still expected a higher doom, one as dramatic and magical as his birth at summerhall. he couldn’t imagine his chest being caved in by lyanna’s dumbass ex, his boorish cousin robert, just as aegon/yg can’t know what doom could be in store for him in westeros either. 

#valyrianscrolls #asoiaf #asoiaf meta #Rhaegar Targaryen #aegon vi targaryen #jon snow #young griff #jonathan snowflake starkgaryen #i know ive said i stay in my lane but i dont think targnation owns a monopoly either and this isn't really rhaegar hate #i even agree w the shippers on some things! #its just that idt he should be credited as right abt everything when 1/3 of his kids became a hero in a way he never expected #imo thats a bit like saying mel switching from stannis to jon would mean she was right all along #dreams of dragons #(c)lsb #happy figures of prophecy on flying firebreathers friday!

[taylorkellyreporting]

i hope no one minds if i liveblog this bitch: black panther: wakanda forever

good lord i’m already sobbing this whole funeral scene is touching my heart

where’s nakia?

the dora are so badass

shuri trying to act like she’s okay when she’s clearly still grieving :(

what the…

“if your muscle brains were present they would still be there choking on their fuzzy adornments” “you bald headed demon” TEARS STREAMING DOWN MY FACE M’BAKU IS SO FUNNY ?!(&48*%#

“m’baku, what would you have us do?” “we should find the fish man and kill him” THE SILENCE AFTER HE SAID THAT FUCK

“so, when are we leaving so i can see my favorite colonizer?” i love shuri so much 😭😭

“you didn’t think to call?” “now why would i have your number?” pls okoye’s so funny

this isn’t at all important to the plot but shuri looks so fucking fine in that purple outfit and those shades leaning up against the car

okoye freaking out about the way she looks 😭😭

not it only taking me a fucking split second to start shipping shuri and riri fkgjvjdn their chemistry goes crazy

“aw shit, am i being recruited?” “no.” riri’s face pls she looked so embarrassed

THIS SHURI, RIRI AND OKOYE SCENE IS SO CHAOTIC I’M CRYING REAL TEARS

“YOU NEED TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THE WAY THAT YOU LOOK, WALKING AROUND HERE WITH ALL THAT ASH ON YOUR HEAD” ?&876$&*#<?£

“you got this!!!” “mm, with your heater” 😭😭

shuri, riri and okoye is a dangerous team up i’m obsessed with how badass they all are

OH SHIT RIRI????

i never wanna hear okoye scream shuri’s name like that ever again my God

DID THEY JUST KILL OKOYE???? WHAT THE FUCK

oh she isn’t dead okay i almost started sobbing

i thought okoye screaming shuri’s name the first time was bad but this time was so. much. worse.

MY GOD I NEVER THOUGHT RAMONDA WAS DIRECTING THAT SPEECH TO OKOYE I FEEL SICK

that scene broke my heart

NAKIA 🫶🏻

“it’s been six years since you left us” does that mean her and t’challa didn’t stay together after the first movie? cause i assumed they had gotten married. also her not going to the funeral explains why shuri kept ignoring her phone calls

“princess leia, belle from beauty and the beast, that white shit” 😭😭

whew that backstory was intense

“or you can wear a suit :D” lmao??

aside from the fact that namor literally kidnapped shuri, he’s a grown ass man who looks old enough to be her dad why would anyone ship them…

“he suffered in silence” God, i am not your strongest soldier

i’m sorry but namor is insane like he really thinks killing everyone’s gonna solve his problem? be calm.

“you said you wanted to burn the world, let us burn it together” uh i think the fuck not you trick ass bitch

“riri williams is a child prodigy who was running circles around all of her professors” tony stark’s daughter🫂

i don’t know who namor thinks he’s talking to like that??? if he don’t back tf up from ramonda

“the spy saves wakanda once again. the queen will reward her with lifetime banishment, i’m sure” m’baku is such an asshole skdjgjvjcns

“he was king and black panther to everyone. but to me…he was everything. my t’challa.”

WHAT THE SHIT

“you just hung up the queen.” “i just hung up on my mom. there’s a difference.” 😭

m’baku lifting up that person and throwing them around like a rag doll shouldn’t have been so hot

if m’baku dies…🔪

wakanda’s the most powerful country in the world and they’re being taken down by fucking fish?

FUCK NAMOR AND FUCK THE WRITERS THIS IS SO SICK

they’ve taken everything from shuri man what the hell

how can you kill off angela bassett…

“so now you have to hear from a child who scoffs at tradition” love this callback, hate the circumstance.

“i just buried the last person who truly knew me. my heart was buried with her” MOTHERFUCKER

seems like the writers decided that for the final part of this movie they’d just make everybody cry

shuri’s gonna put on that suit and it’s gonna break me for real

“so who taught you how to do all that you know?” “my big brother” GOD

is that motherfucking killmonger?!

not them making me laugh while simultaneously making me cry my eyes out

“can i get some of that, too?” 😭😭

shuri in the suit 🥹 t’challa would be so proud ☹️

“it is not what she would have wanted for you. it is not what i want” what if i cry????

“her dreams. her hopes for me…it doesn’t exist. it doesn’t matter.” my eyes are gonna be swollen by the end of this movie good lord

the way m’baku was looking at shuri after her outburst ☹️

“it will consume you.” “it already has.” this is not what i wanted for shuri i’m devastated.

“for the queen”

“that’s can’t be good.” you think?

OH MY GOD

they lost so many people ☹️

shuri fixing riri’s car oh they’re girlfriends

i’ve had enough of namor

“colonizer in chains…now i have seen everything” LMFAOOO I LOVE OKOYE SO MUCH

my God this moment of silence for t’challa/chadwick with these scenes of him…i’m a wreck. he’s so so missed.

HE HAS A SON OH MY GOD I’M SOBBING

no cause in bp 1 king t’chaka said “a man who has not prepared his children for his own death has failed as a father.” and nakia just said “your father, your baba, prepared us for his death, didn’t he?” i am a mess. t’challa was such a good man.

he’s so precious 🥹

“my name is prince t’challa, son of king t’challa”

this movie was such a beautiful tribute to chadwick and i absolutely love it 🫶🏻

#forgive me if any quotes aren’t exact dialogue the stream i used was low quality and it was hard to hear #wakanda forever lb #wakanda forever spoilers #bp:wf spoilers #t’challa #shuri #queen ramonda #riri williams #nakia black panther #okoye #m’baku #namor #everett ross #shuriri

[aurheatum]

toa anniversary mun day

under cut

Name: 

Nel, i mean it’s Sarah technically, but once you start getting multiple notes in the mail with Nel on them I think it counts. Nelfes works too. I respond to most anything tbh

Pronouns:

she/her or they/them

Birthday (no year):

Dec 6th Saint Nicholas Day : )

Where are you from? What is your time zone?

Chicago. CST [GMT-5].

Roleplay experience:

Over ten years, started on Neopets and other forums. Moved to Gaia Online and then Tumblr indie space some time in 2011.

Got any pets?

Baby boy

Favorite time of year:

Springtime or Autumn

Some interests and things you like:

I’ve always been super into mythology, all of them. I used to think that Carl Jung was onto something with the collective unconscious but then Anthropology and the reality of multilineal evolution ruined that for me (college will teach you things); but that’s alright because humans their ability to create and interpret their surroundings with equal parts love and fear is still pretty cool.

Some funfacts & trivia about you:

-Agnostic but i work in an occult library (it’s pretty quiet; the new age bookshop across the street has all the events)

-One time on Gaia Online I was kicked out of an Okami RP bc I didn’t make my posts aesthetic enough, and I thought it was just the most heart wrenching thing -I’m not sure what people stand to gain back in Ye Old Runescape luring new players out into the wild and PKing them but I was gullible enough to follow some other players at like 7 yrs old and this would have happened to me if i wasnt SUPER good at clicking my mouse and running out of there. Surviving such a harrowing experience made me think i was truly invincible.

-I was supposed to write my final paper for my Japanese Buddhism class on… surprise, Japanese Buddhism but I really wanted to talk about Kenji Miyazawa’s writings instead so I spun it through a lens of his Nichiren conversion and its impact on his poetry. My prof saw right through me but I still got an A.

What non-Fire Emblem games do you play?

Tales of RPG series raised me as a person so u know. I like Persona 1-2 era SMT though I’ve played Nocturne and IV as well. What else? Okami, LOZ: Twilight Princess, farm sims and visual novels. Genshin, on and off.

Favorite Pokemon type & Pokemon:

Psychic; wooper family (clogsire im so glad u joined us)

How did you get into Fire Emblem?

My neighbor would bring over Path of Radiance so I could play it on my gamecube with my own save back in the day

What Fire Emblem games have you played?

Tellius duology. Sacred Stones, FE 13-16; currently doing Blazing Blade. Archanea one day.

First Fire Emblem game:

POR

Favorite Fire Emblem game:

Tie between 3 Houses and Radiant Dawn

Any Fire Emblem crushes? 😳 

It’s rhea okay. I wont lie and i wont pretend it isnt evidence of my spectacular taste either

If you’ve played the following games, who was your first S support? Who would you S support nowadays? - Awakening: Tiki (first S support was olivia bc i wanted a pink haired kid)  - Fates: honestly i’d have to revisit, i know i first married niles as m!corrin - Three Houses: I married each lord on their route tho it’s much funnier if you dont i think (First route was Crimson Flower but I saved at the split so I could marry Rhea first lmao) - Engage: Saphir 🥰

Favorite Fire Emblem class:

War Cleric or Qi Adept

If you were a Fire Emblem character, what would be your class?

I’d be the mage you have to drag around and treat with baby gloves only to learn like a single good spell I think

If you were a Three Houses character, what would be your affiliation?

Leicester Alliance tbh

If you were an Engage character, which Emblem would you Engage with?

Based purely on mechanics bc i love them all prob Soren dlc, Sigurd, Celica, and Lyn.

How did you find TOA?

End of 2020/beginning of 2021 I was really trying to get back into rp but couldn’t get into the various systems on discord. One community that I was trying was affiliates with The Officer’s Academy and an active tumblr community rly caught my interest. The rest is history!

Current TOA muses:

Rhea 3H, Micaiah Radiant Dawn, and miss Hortensia engage

Who was your first TOA muse? If you don’t have them anymore, could you see yourself picking them up again?

This blog right here! I put her down for a bit and probably will again but. It’s not like she ever leaves, instead of brain there is Rhea u see (i bear this burden so u do not have to)

Have you had any other TOA muses?

I played Sephiran for a hot sec and Ingrid for around a yearish iirc. Both very fun

Do you think you have a type of character you gravitate towards?

Not really? I need to be able to connect with them on some level obviously, and I tend to prefer characters who have like a clear childhood or background for why they are That Way. Micaiah was actually p difficult for this reason but being able to really shape her based on what little we know also made me ever more fond. ♥️ I love to stare at pegasusknight and serenesforest supports pages late at night tehe

What do you believe you enjoy writing the most?

I don’t particularly plan ahead but I really love when threads reflect past character development whether in a thread with the same muse or different. TOA extended universe… I’d like to do that more I think but first I have to actually make a support page huh? Since Rhea’s back she’s made more bonds though and that makes me happy.

Favorite TOA-related memory: Definitely Unlocked 2021! It was my first event after really starting to warm to the TOA community and i was an awe of the scope of the events. The mods thought this far ahead?! We can do this?! Every event since has just been even more fun but the surprise and intrigue i felt then really stayed with him

*How do you pronounce TOA?

Toe-uh. Like Dee-En-Dee. you know.

Got any delusions that didn’t see the light of day that you’d like to share? 😉 

I think I mentioned I muse Hubert before, and also that I can't really seeing myself maintaining a blog for him? So other than that, no. I do think Nimh could be quite a bit of fun though *laughs*

#ooc #|meme response