After he’d introduced himself to a pompous bully harassing another boy, he’d found himself in a bit of trouble.
The first was that this blonde, blue eyed arse claims to be trained in the art of murder, so that doesn’t bode well.
Another was that he turned out to be the Prince of the bloody kingdom. So that got Merlin thrown in the dungeons rather quickly that first day.
But the second day they met, that’s when the real trouble began for poor Merlin.
They’d danced their way through the street, swinging maces around, like either of them actually knew what to do with them.
And instead of being thrown in the dungeons for a second time, Merlin experiences something he hasn’t yet experienced from this boy; empathy.
And then the strangest thing happens.
After telling the guards to release him, he turns and rakes his eyes over the peasant boy’s face (peasant boy to him anyway).
“There’s something about you, Merlin, I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
To which Merlin stands dumbfounded, long after the Prince had vanished from sight.
It wasn’t just the fact that his royal pratness, had let him go, or that he didn’t seem to recoil in disgust when Merlin got near him, like most nobles Merlin encountered had done.
It also wasn’t just the fact that Arthur seemed to see past it all. The torn, threadbare clothes, and the dirt and the scrawny arms accompanied by large ears and pale skin. Arthur seemed to look into Merlin’s eyes and see something Merlin had never been able to show anyone.
And then Arthur said his name.
For the first time. Without a gawking audience.
And it was so…different.
Over the course of one’s life, they hear their name often and with many different pronunciations and inflections. Merlin had heard his in jest, in anger and belittlement, from his mother in gentle, fond, loving.
Arthur really hadn’t enunciated the word any differently than everyone else, but the way his voice pushed itself through his lungs and over his teeth and tongue and declared it so…confident but curious. But also low and vibrating, like the hum of bees, or the way the sun will sing if you listen close enough.
It felt like Merlin had been riding a horse for several hours and now his feet and fingers were buzzing and numb.
No one had ever said his name and Merlin actually stop to admire how they did it.
The poor young warlock had tried (with all his might) to overlook how beautiful Arthur was. Because he was a cruel arrogant man like his father…probably.
But he can’t really make that judgment can he? Certainly not with the evidence he has so far. He can admit, that first meeting was not a good indication of character. (He’s thought about that fateful day many many times over the years, playing it over and over in his head.)
Merlin’s theory is that, in that moment, when Merlin told him he’d had enough, Arthur knew it. He realized he had made a mistake in humiliating a servant who was just doing as he was bid.
Instead of continuing to harass said servant, and feel even more guilty, Arthur turned his ire towards the instigator. Merlin was more than happy to take the brunt of whatever punishment was coming.
Merlin has met nobles. He can usually tell the type just by the clothes and the way they walk, head held high above the scurrying peasants in Ealdor. The rich and beautiful weren’t always around, but many families passed through often enough on their travels, Merlin was almost forced to interact with them. Helping Will’s mother at the inn or at the cart where his own mother sells her sweetmeats and fruit pies.
Nobles didn’t want to do anything they could pay someone else to do. Cook and serve the food, refill the wine, rid themselves of clothing, bathe, all the way down to blow out the bloody candles.
Merlin could see where having that amount of power could be useful, like for protection. Having armed guards surrounding you in the face of attack must put your mind at ease. Especially when powerful people are such a devious breed.
Perhaps, this is why Merlin did not clock Arthur right away. Yes he was entitled, Merlin had assumed at first glance that it was because he was handsome, young, and good with a sword. Just wanted to pick fights with anyone who was willing. Noblemen didn’t ‘pick fights’, they have their men cut someone down in their sleep. Certainly not little Princelings, how was Merlin to know? Prince’s don’t fight with their own fists, surely.
Realistically, Arthur could’ve thrown him in the dungeon just for questioning his authority.
This is where Arthur strays, as he always has. Because Arthur has never felt like a Prince. Or a King, for that matter. Though, that is his destiny, as the fates have decided, and he will always do the right thing.
Arthur, in his heart of hearts, is a knight. Trained with every weapon they could find, naturally skilled with a sword, infamous across the land as ‘unbeatable in combat’.
That’s why he fought Merlin with no hesitation and the knight’s heart is also why, upon winning the second round, he let Merlin go free.
Unknowingly, saving his own life. If Merlin had been put in the dungeons a second time, he wouldn’t have been there in time to stop that silly little dagger from piercing the Prince’s heart.
And then maybe Merlin wouldn’t be in love with his master, future King, and best friend, all in one unfairly gorgeous human being.
Various shades of black make up most of her usual mission clothes, every component also made out of the most luxurious fabrics on the market. A flashy leather jacket and black tactical boots complete the outfit.
Her toolbelt includes holsters for two daggers and a special place to keep her leather gloves safe and within easy access.
She wears a custom made mask, perfectly sculpted to her face. The design is simple, but effective at concealing her identity.
ID: Zuko on the left and sokka on the right. From avatar, the last air bender from the waist up and aged up. They have their back turned to the viewer and are facing each other so only their profile is visible. They are looking lovingly into each other's eyes. sokka is resting his left arm on zukos shoulder, holding zukos jaw. His index fingers brushing underneath a cut up hair strand. zuko holds with his right hand on sokkas back. His left hand is placed over sokkas wrist, holding a bracelet made out of zukos cut off hair between his two fingers. End ID
i regrett not making zukos robe seethrough again. but... uhm.... i didn't mean to make this complicated again?
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if you want to deal with all my reblogs
may I direct your attention to my side only my artworks blog?
he says i hate everyone except you and that is addictive and that is kind of romantic and beautiful because you're young and you're kind of a sarcastic asshole too and you don't like bad boys, per say, but you don't really like good ones either. and you like that you were the exception, it felt like winning.
except life is not a romance book, and he was kind of being honest. he doesn't learn to be nice to your friends. he only tolerates your family. you have to beg him to come with you to birthday parties, he complains the whole time. you want to go on a date but - people are often there, wherever you're going. he's just so angry. about everything, is the thing. in the romance book, doesn't he eventually soften? can't you teach him, through your own sense of whimsy and comfort?
at first - you know introverts often need smaller friend groups, and honestly, you're fine staying at home too. you like the small, tidy life you occupy. you're not going to punish him for his personality type.
except: he really does hate everyone but you. which means he doesn't get along with his therapist. which means he has no one to talk to except for you. which means you take care of him constantly, since he otherwise has no one. which means you sometimes have to apologize for him. which means he keeps you home from seeing your friends because he hates them. you're the single exception.
about a decade from this experience, you'll type into google: how to know if a relationship is codependent.
he wraps an arm around you. i hate everyone except you. these days, you're learning what he's actually confessing is i have very little practice being kind.
I've been having a lot of brain rot over @xitsensunmoon vampire AU. One mainly of how Moon would be if Y/n came home one day very weak from the blood they had to give? Knowing that he does not show his tender feelings behind his teasing gestures.
Short Drabble on this idea is down below.
Moon has always been a bit of a teasing, cocky, gremlin most of the time, always pushing you and just being the chaotic character that he is. Despite him being such a tease, he does care about you. Especially when it comes to your health.
Knowing that you push yourself so far for giving blood to those in need, including the two vampires that now reside with you in secrecy, it does worry them at times with how tired you are when you finally return home from work.
One particular day, however, you push yourself a little too far. Giving more blood than you should have. But despite your health, you knew it would save so many people in the long run.
“I’m home.” You state out begrudgingly before turning and weakly closing the door behind you. Your arms feel like lead and are a struggle to lift.
Moon made his way over to you, his eyes boring into you as he grinned his sharp fanged teeth at you before stopping short. His features quickly changing into something a bit more of an underlying sense of concern as he studied you with his bright red eyes, brows slightly furrowed.
“What? Is there something wrong?” You raised a brow.
“You look terrible.” Moon spoke out.
“Well yeah, I just got back from the doctors, you know how the deal is.” You shrug out.
“You look worse than the other days.” Moon gives deeply.
You let out an annoyed sigh. “Moon I don't have time for your snarky remarks right now. I have shit to do and I don't need-” As you started to make your way around Moon, your balance started to drift and suddenly felt a sudden weakness in your legs. Dark spots started covering your sight as things started to drift lower, and lower and lower. Where you getting shorter than Moon? Your mind fuzzy and not catching up with what was exactly happening.
Something moved on the edge of your vision, you saw a flash of blue and your body jerked slightly. You felt something from under your arms.
When the dark spots in your sight started to disappear, you could finally see what happened in your daze. Moon’s slender hands were under you before you could fully hit the ground and risk any more damage. His expression was now one of wide-eyed worry as he looked over you. His eyes flit from your face to your chest, then back. His smile was no longer present as it was now in a concerned frown while his stature easily loomed over you in his squatted position.
Moon had rushed over to catch you.
You shifted a bit by a means to sit up, looking anywhere but Moon’s face as he still carefully held you. “Sorry, ‘m fine. It’s just a sleep spell that caught me off guard is all.” You mumbled out.
There was a beat of stillness before Moon moved one of his hands to drift down your arm. You tensed as he gently pressed your wrist. He was being mindful of his claws as he pressed his thumb to the pulse point on your wrist to feel the thump of your now weak life force.
“You pushed yourself too far. You are weak.” Moon softly scolds you.
You let out a huff at this, weakly tugging your hand away from his grasp. He was right but this was normal for you. You just went only a touch overboard it’s nothing serious.
Moon sighed and moved to bring his hands back under you to pick you off the ground. Your side pressing to Moon as one hand wrapped under your back and the other under your legs, holding you in a signature bridal style as his long cape dragged with him in his movements.
“Wh- what are you doing..?” You tensed at the close contact as he moved to walk over to the living room.
“Carrying you.”
“You know I can walk Moon-”
“Do you want to have another sleep spell and fall again?” He looked at you with a sharp expression in his red eyes.
“….No.” You grumbled out and begrudgingly looked away. You hated how he had a good point. “But I need to clean n’ finish up some things.” You tried to wiggle out of his grasp but his arms easily held you firm. Your whole body was just so difficult to move.
“Later.” Moon flatly stated before moving over to the couch and carefully lowering you down on it. “You need to recover and rest.”
You grumbled and your body simply melted to the couch. You were still trying to move to get up but even your body just wasn't listening while you laid down.
“You're so stubborn.” Moon chuckled slightly in a tease. He boops you with a clawed finger on your nose as he bends over you with his face cocked to the side. Softly amused by your antics while he sharply grins at you.
“And you're a prick.” You deadpan.
He smiles cheekily at you before looking over and walking out of your sight. His footsteps and the bells he adorns fading out as he goes to get something. Your eyes already threatening to close in waves of tiredness. God, you had stuff to do, why was your body like this?
The jingle of bells prompts Moon returning back to where you were. He lays a hand on your shoulder to get your attention, being mindful of his claws as he quietly sits in front of your weak form on the side of the couch. Your eyes opened slightly at the contact and seeing him. His head on level with your own in this position while his fluffy cape draped over the back of him.
“Here…Drink.” He urges as brings a glass of water over to you. His other hand helps guide you to sit up. You gingerly take the glass and sip the water down while Moon continues to stare at you with his sharp red eyes. Flitting from your face to your chest, and then back again. Concern laced in his features.
Once satisfied and swallowing the last of your water, you handed the now empty glass back to him.
“Thank you.” You quietly give. He hums in acknowledgment as he sets the glass on the ground beside the couch before you laid back down. Shifting one of the pillows that was on the couch to be under your head. Moon's head now resting on the couch on level and particularly close with your own face, watching you with an unreadable furrowed expression. His clawed hands rested under his faceplate as if pouting or being hesitant over something. It was starting to worry you now.
“What's up wit’ you, I don't think I’ve ever seen you like this before.” You questioned sluggishly.
Moon looked away slightly as his brows furrowed more, grumbling a bit as his fingers tensed a bit in the cushion.
“I didn’t quite catch that.”
He releases a huff in slight embarrassment. “I’m worried…about you.” Concern filling his answer.
“You’re… worried about me?” Your sleepy brain was trying to process his answer.
He nods once.
“Why? Imma be fine.” You state as if it was nothing but a simple thing.
Moon eyes looks back at you for a few beats before moving slightly closer to you. Sliding one of his slender hands to be under the pillow you lay on for more support and brought his other free hand to grasp one of your own that was lying on the couch between you and Moon. His slow and careful grasp engulfing it entirely as he looks back at you once more. One of his fingers pressing to your pulse point once more.
“You need to take better care of yourself….You push yourself too hard.”
You sigh sleepily. “I know Moonie… But every time I do this, I help so many others. You both included. Don’ want you guys to starve.” You mumble as you blink heavily.
“You are just as important, Starlight.” Moon whispers as his concerned eyes flit around your face once more. He gently released his hand that held your own and brought a careful index claw up to tuck a strand of hair away from your face. “Please promise me you won’t push yourself like this again.” He softly asks you.
“Mmmmnnnn..” You mumble out, your brain starting to quickly go into sleep mode.
Moon’s bell on his hat rings softly when he leans his face closer to you, the fluff of his hat brushing up on you with how close he is. “Please.”
“Mmmm okay, okay…” You managed to get out sluggishly.
Moon lets out a huff in relief before looking over and reaching for a blanket that was folded on the other side of the couch. Draping it over your small form before looking over you again.
Letting out another soft sigh he leaned in and nuzzled his faceplate onto your forehead. His arm wrapped around your torso.
“Don’t do it again or you will regret it.” He scolds lightly.
“I woonnnttt.” You drawl out. Defeated in the exhaustion and Moon’s hold on you.
Moon's presence holds you softly and securely as sleep washes over you in seconds. You had seriously pushed yourself too far today as your pulse was just barely thumping under Moon’s touch. He does not have a desire to lose you. You mean too much to both him and Sun.
Moon’s form stays by your side as you sleep deeply, his eyes closed as his faceplate nuzzles you. Whether it be in content or by means of comfort, he lets out quiet deep purrs to try and aid in your recovery. Still paying close attention to your pulse as he rests with you on the couch as if it could stop at any moment.
[I need you to go look up "ICICLE WORKS - I STILL WANT YOU" and start blaring that as loud as you can right now.]
So. Typhus and I have failed in our mission to get him into everyone's bedrolls. Turns out that traumatized vampire got hands. We didn't have the heart to break up with Astarion, and I think we're DnD married now. Please keep us in your prayers.
imagine being the miya twins older sister who has had suna rintarou fully enamoured with your existence since he first met you at 15 years old.
he has tried to make many moves on you over the years to no avail; sneakily trying to place his arms around your shoulder before one of your brothers notice and throw the nearest object they can grab his way. not letting you carry anything while hes around, claiming how “youll never have to lift a finger again” if you give him a chance. hell, even dropping down to the floor to tie your shoelaces the second he realises the laces have come loose, taking his time to stand back up afterwards as he slowly rakes his eyes over your figure so he can fully take in every inch of you. every attempt of his to make you swoon for him is met with “sorry sweetheart, still not into minors” and a small ruffle of his hair which gives him a dopey smile. you would think he would start to back off eventually but to your dismay every rejection you have handed to him has just made his desire for you grow stronger - he takes your words as “try again when youre 18”
which is exactly what he does. on his 18th birthday his friends decide to throw him a massive party - being the twins chaperone you had to come along and when suna set his eyes on you, you knew there was no chance of you escaping his antics. you catch him glancing at you multiple times throughout the night before he gets pulled away by one of his guests, a disappointed look in his eyes every time he had to look away from you.
after a couple of hours you decide to step outside onto the balcony to catch some fresh air seeing as there was no sign of the party dying down anytime soon. you’re outside for maybe 5 minutes when you hear the door slide open, you already know who its going to be seeing as he has been trying to catch you alone all night, you turn around to finally face the boy and he looks as ecstatic as ever.
“happy birthday suna.” you swear you can see his soul leave his body the second those words leave your mouth, its not the first time youve said it to him tonight - youre not that cruel as to not wish the poor boy a happy birthday on his special day - but everything that comes out of your mouth looks like it sends him to heaven and back.
“thankyou yn, i appreciate you being here, but then again, i know you cant spend more that a week away from me because youre just so obsessed with me.”
“wow, am i that easy to read?” you chuckle along with him, noticing the way his gaze doesnt stray away from your face while you face forward, “so, how does it feel finally being legal?”
“incredible, it means you can finally give me a chance.” he doesnt miss the way you sigh at his words.
“suna we’v-“
“i know that we’ve been over this, but i don’t really think you mean it,” this gains an eye roll from you, “plus, my one wish when i blew out my candles was that you would give me a kiss.”
“really? well i guess your going to have to go without this year.”
“it was my birthday wish, youre not gonna deny me that are you?”
“yknow, if you tell your wish to someone it doesnt come true right?”
“yn…please,” his voice is barely above a whisper, he sounds desperate, “i have been waiting for three years, all i ask for is one kiss, just one.”
“i think youre forgetting that im 22 and you are freshly 18.”
“im still 18 though.”
“hm… you make a good point,” you see the way he perks up slightly at your evaluation, a hopeful look becoming more prominent in his eyes, “one kiss. let it be my official gift for the birthday boy.” you might have well as told him he had just one the lottery, anyone who walked past the sliding door would think you had due to the way his smile was so wide.
“thankyou” is all he can muster up before he is snaking his hand up your body and with a hand tangled up in your hair he leans down until his lips touch yours, you can feel the shit eating grin spread across his face as he gently moves his lips in sync with yours, pulling away slightly to whisper “best birthday ever” before leaning back in <3
On the idea of Theseus's Ship: in the end, it's still his, isn't it?
It was known as Theseus's, and it will continue to be known as Theseus's.
Even after he has returned to the ground which grew the wood of the hammer used to nail the ship's frame,
Even after generations of new wood have rotted and the sails are rags clinging to threads,
Even after millennia,