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#took a coven where most members were fighting half the time and turned it into the most loyal close-knit group of friends within a month

sleeplesshq · 1 year

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Sleepy Hollow welcomes you, RACH! We hope you enjoy your stay in town as we work hard to rebuild the unity that was once lost! Please send in your account within 24 hours to secure Joseph Quinn and Andrew Koji as your faceclaim!

name: Ren Yamada

faceclaim: Andrew Koji

gender & pronouns: Cisgender Male : He/Him

age: 32

Species: Witch

occupation: Owner of the Golden Hour Lounge

BIOGRAPHY (tw: substance abuse, depression)

In so many ways Ren Yamada's life seemed perfect, He grew up in a wealthy family who appeared to own half of the Bay Area in California for decades and was destined to end up with everything once he got old enough. His life seemed on paper to be perfect and yet it was far from it. The pristine image of the Yamada family was just a projection to cover how dysfunctional they truly were. The only thing more dysfunctional than family dynamics was the state of the coven he grew up in. There was too much internal fighting and backstabbing due to the stress of maintaining secrecy. Ren started to drift away from their dynamic and find his own identity and trouble on his own.

Every family needed a black sheep and Ren seemed like that was the role he wanted to fulfill. By the time he reached his late teens, Ren had seemed like he was crafting an image the complete opposite of his family. He was trying to give his family the bad name they truly had behind closed doors. Was there a “Millionaire son is arrested in a bar fight?” It was probably Ren. An “ Heir to business empire busted for drugs ? “ It was always Ren. While his family was a mess and deserved to be called out for it, his own actions were also a cry for help. Between his constant fighting and addiction issues, it seemed like he was just looking for something that wasn’t his family's games. He wanted any escape he could find.

In an attempt to try to clean up his son's image Ren's father set up with the daughter of another coven member who did business with the Yamada family. He was also hit with an ultimatum, get his life together or lose everything. While it seemed like an unfair arrangement, Rens father was attempting to keep his son safe. He had grown up in a time where the wounds left from hunters had cost too many lives and thus was trying to keep his son from exposing himself and the coven. The Yamadas had avoided being exposed for years while still having a high profile existence and he wanted to keep it that way and Ren wasn't going to get in the way of that.

Ren played ball and found himself enjoying the relationship despite it being set up by his father. He actually found a person that seemed to understand how utterly infuriating families could be. He was able to keep his vices in check and had even proposed without any sort of family prompting. It seemed like everything was starting to work out in the end as Ren turned a positive corner. However, the sudden and suspicious death of his father sent Ren into a tailspin that he hadn’t fully been able to recover from. Due to his father‘s passing Ren was left everything and yet hadn’t been equipped to handle the business. He became overwhelmed and realized how much he needed help, but didn’t want to ask for it. His personal life also took a major hit and Ren found himself relapsing causing his engagement to fall apart. Instead of being the bigger man and trying to fix his situation, Ren left the company in the hands of his cousin, took his fortune and ran.

Many expected him to go traveling and living in excess on some sort of tropical island but that wasn’t what Ren wanted to do. He was tired of being the focus of things and just wanted some peace and quiet. It was also something that others expected him to do and Ren refused to be predictable. After a positive run in with a scout for Sleepy Hollow; Ren packed up his life and moved to the safe haven. He knew he was running from his problems and his family and most of all his grief but Ren didn’t know any other way to cope.

What did make sense to him was to buy out a business in town and just pretend he hadn’t let down everyone he knew and loved. Since the barrier went down however, members of his old coven have gotten wind of what he had done and are trying to find where he ran off, including his former fiancé. It shouldn’t be too hard to find the former rebellious rich kid though; as he’s still using his vanity and ego as a distraction to prevent others from seeing just how much he’s still struggling.

NAME: Jackson Cassidy

PRONOUNS: Cisgender Male | he/him

FACECLAIM: Joseph Quinn

AGE: 28

SPECIES: Shifter (Canidae with a strong preference for wolves)

OCCUPATION: Former thief and Mechanic at the pit stop garage

BIOGRAPHY:

(Tw: murder, abuse, mental health )

No matter how hard Jackson Cassidy tries, trouble follows him wherever he goes. Born in London, Jackson came from a long line of shifters whom had fallen on hard times once he was born. Having been connected to a lot of unsavory things had caused the family to wear out their welcome in his hometown. In an attempt to get a new start; the family moved across the ocean to create a better life for themselves in America. They had bought into the dream that everything would be different for them over there; unfortunately things didn’t work out in their favor. All the problems they tried to leave back in England only followed them across the ocean and the unsavory behavior grew into all out crime for the Cassidy family. By the time Jackson was 8 his dad was in and out of jail and his mom had abandoned him without a second thought. It left the young shifter alone and placed in foster care.

Things from then on only proved to be more difficult for Jackson. While his home life was a disaster it was all he knew and he seemed unable to connect to constant shifts in living situations. Every so many months he would inevitably be sent back to live in a group home again, instead of something long term. He had a hard time connecting to other people due to deliberately trying to keep others at a distance with his behavior. Some of the homes were also just as bad as his parents were if not worse which only made him retreat more. The only thing that managed to make matters worse was when Jackson started to shift more, thus alienating him further from people his age and those trying to take care of him. He was essentially learning everything all on his own, to varying degrees of success. It appeared as though there wasn’t going to be any way for him to find a sense of peace. However one home seemed to stick in a way that he’s carried with him for the rest of his life.

When Jackson was 15 and living in Chicago; one particular home stood out to him. They weren’t trying to fix him nor were they a bad environment either. They were just letting him be and allowing him to be exactly who he truly was. He actually started to connect to others due to the lack of pressure to fit in. His foster parents seemed to want to adopt him despite his difficult past and he started to connect to one of his foster siblings in a positive way. He wasn't used to being in a healthy environment that he didn't know how to react. He wanted to lower his guard and tell his foster sister about what he truly was but before he could tragedy struck. Like all things in Jackson’s life, nothing good ever stayed the way it should’ve been. And most of his problems came in the form of his foster sister‘s boyfriend. He seemed to not like the closeness between the two, despite behaving only as siblings. It still prompted her boyfriend to take his anger out on her. That was something that just wasn’t going to stand with Jackson and eventually the situation ended in a deadly altercation one night and Jackson followed his families criminal legacy whether he wanted to or not.

It didn’t matter that the act was based on good intentions and trying to protect someone he considered his family; Jackson had still committed a terrible crime that he couldn’t come back from and didn’t want his new family to suffer for his impulsive nature. The act forced him out of his home and essentially on the run for a number of years. Since that night. Jackson has been moving from town to town, with usually just a backpack and a number of library books he’s been stealing in order to always keep his mind busy. He wasn’t completely alone however, as the internal urge to always find a pack was present, but he never stuck around for longer than a year at most. He hadn’t been raised around other shifters and it was difficult to make it a long term situation. The young shifter preferred to keep to themselves and unavailable to connect to other people. Even as he picked up skills to survive through the kindness of others, Jackson still just didn’t want to open himself up to others. He believed that only pain could come from it, seeing as how the last time he opened up it led to him committing murder in self defense. And he didn’t want his past actions or his biological family to come looking for him.

However, this way of living can only last so long, and eventually Jackson found himself going mad from the isolation and landed in Sleepy Hollow. He heard the area had a pack that seemed to be the right fit for him as a person and wanted to actually make an effort to stay in a pack and town for longer than 365 days. The truth of the matter was, Jackson was tired and the nomadic living was harming him psychologically and he couldn’t handle it any longer. He hadn't fully realized the ramifications of staying alone for too long, but he's trying to make up for it, if it's even possible. Only staying half present to others and a pack only left him living a half life and Jackson needed a change.

Since the move the shifter has come out of his shell a lot more which is both a good and a bad thing. He’s a lot more friendly and helpful to others but tends to be somewhat of an erratic presence too when he’s not careful. The limited social interactions of traveling on his own too much is still present and he often deals with extreme highs and lows as a result. He feels though that maybe this is the perfect fit and he’s planning on staying permanently. Reaching out to see if his former foster sister is well is the push he needed to prove that maybe he’s done running and ready to face the world as he actually is, no matter how difficult it can be. .

#oc rp #new rp #literate rp #supernatural rp #group rp #fantasy rp #magic rp #witch rp #sleepless.accepted

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bellygunnr · 3 years

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Boarding Action

CW: DEATH, BODY HORROR, AI POSSESSION

in accordance with discussions via @poisonheadcrabsalesman (who wrote their own!!!)

----

"All forces who can hear this transmission, fall back to the Infinity to help with defense!"

The Commander's call to arms overlaps with the Captain's demand for battle stations. Roland blasts both messages to either end of the ship for as long as he can-- until something in him snaps and his voice becomes muffled, silent, and hoarse. He opens his eyes to seek out the damage but they, too, are compromised, smarting and burning and bleeding where power fails and explosions rock his bones. He stretched himself out and hates that he struggles.

The Infinity was boarded. Her internals raged with isolated slipspace signatures while her outer shell cracked and gave way to less mobile enemies. Processes calculating the damage had to be ignored lest he be paralyzed by the rapidly swelling, rapidly worsening assessment, when he was already struggling to keep up with the protection of his most important assets. There were protocols in place to deal with attacks so close to home, after all-- he could follow every one, or he could live a little.

Subroutines disguised as instincts struggled to urge him into flight. He felt his awareness subside as violent Promethean attacks wiped out five, no, six more of his eyes, and predictive analysis ratcheted the death toll ever higher. His chest reverberated as he took the mouthpiece in Main Corridor 3, Deck Three, and declared it sealed--

"Exits are now closed off. Eliminate on sight. Hold tight."

--because he was venting atmosphere in six outer compartments so that the Covenant crafts attempting to file in were immediately deprived of precious oxygen and totaled. He said as much to Fireteam Ox before they got too close. Go this way, Spartans. Ammunition under here, soldiers.

Two more of his eyes blink and shutter, vision growing grainy before stabilizing. The Captain is struggling not to give into his impulses. Biosigns flicker and flare, leaching chemical readings into already half-contaminated air. He can't focus on them all, he has to prioritize, but the soul count aboard is dwindling from 17,000 strong to less than 16. He's not a combat AI-- he feels each death, like a corrupted byte of data.

The grief threatens to unravel him but he spins it off to be processed elsewhere. He is rattling off into an active comm, but what is he saying--

"Spartan Miller, Spartan Miller,"

Behind you! Slipspace readings on your six!

But comms are dead and he is forced to drag himself out of his miles-high suspension and look into the Intelligence/Operations room with one giant eye. Maybe he's slower than he thought. Spartan Miller is engaged and tangling beautifully, but the diagnostics from his armor stink of desperation. Though distorted, he can hear him shout.

"Crimson, a bit busy. Hold position and I'll override--"

Crimson was stuck? How did he miss that? They were mission-critical assets at this point. Right, Roland would be hard pressed to interfere with analog controls, but if he went down here, and offered a handshake there, then--

"We're through, Miller!"

Tinny and soft and heard from a distance, Crimson coordinates desperately with a mission handler who's stuck fast to the breastplate of a Promethean Knight, and Roland realizes that--

He might be watching someone die. Far too closely than he'd like and perhaps unpreventable except that this wing of the Infinity isn't totally undefended and that there are Spartans here, here, and-- too far, caught up in their own engagements, but this IFF tag, blinking amber like a server port in standby--

It might just be close enough.

But the IFF tag reads this and the biosigns read that so Roland has to interface with the Spartan's neural implants and pick apart the limited software running sluggishly in its roots. He has to interface with the Mjolnir, bloated by its own hydrostatic gel layer, and force it to decompress as rapidly as it can. Embolisms are nothing now. This Spartan is this Spartan is he's getting his hands under his chest and pushing up, up, up, electricity arcing across its nervous system in fitful bursts.

One Knight dissipates in a burst of metal plates and data. Damage readings bleed out from the Ops room like smoke from kindling. Roland shuts down the Mjolnir's safety checks to continue pouring input into the neural lace, blowing processors but managing to get fat, stiff fingers around the stock of a rifle. He slams down on random parts of the lace until something flashes and the gun snaps up into firing position.

16,500 strong drops to 16-even. One member of Crimson is nursing a crushed shoulder. He feels filthy, with so many intruders writhing in the Infinity. His people-- her people-- are keeping the Covenant ranks at bay but the Prometheans--

How do you fight something like that?

How long will the assault last?

Not enough intelligence on the matter.

Requiem-- older than him. Older than them all. He got here late, but he knows that the Infinity has seen it before. Her old handler's data still lingers in her circuits.

Roland wonders if he can get the Spartan to breathe. If he presses down here, the muscles in the left leg will spasm and it will jerk forward. Movement on the right is hindered by a plasma-cut hole in the hip, but still, he heaves himself forward, until he can clumsily spin around and wait for the gyro sensors in the exoskeleton to account for the sway.

His vision splinters off into a million fractal points, struggling as he is to contend with every lane of input and feedback. His destination is here and all he has to do is nudge the barrel of the battle rifle that way, just so, and seize the nervous system until the trigger finger depresses and and and and

Another Knight shudders and explodes as the back of its skull makes contact with repetitive three-burst rounds. Spartan Miller staggers out from under it, Magnum dropping from his shaking hands.

"Who--- Donya! Thanks for the save. I was getting worried there. Are you-- Donya?"

Roland-- Donya-- struggles to get their arm off of the gun to wave; her body gives out as she does.

Roland curses. That aspect of himself withers away and dies as the neural implants burn, setting the Mjolnir interface alight.

This time, he forces himself to turn a blind eye to the Ops room. He's more helpful elsewhere.

He's done enough.

And AI shouldn't be processing the concept of taste or the voice of their mother, anyway.

#halo #roland the ai #spartan miller #unsc infinity #spartan ops #halo spops

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deafchild2000 · 3 years

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Nguyen Sisters (Triplets)

(Alright, this is more of a backstory for characters in my story: Inheritance!

1. Tien Nguyen (The Oldest) - Chi Pu

2. Bian Nguyen (The Middle Child) - Dianne Doan

3. Yen Nguyen (Youngest) - Lana Condor

And the late: Kara Nguyen (Mother)

Van Nguyen (Older brother/sibling)

Bian, Tien, and Yen Nguyen make of a set of triplet sisters to the late Van Nguyen and daughters to the late Kara Nguyen.

Upon their deaths by Hayley Marshall-Kenner (orchestrated by Davina Claire) and Kol Mikaelson, they were taken in by other witches of the Ninth Ward Coven at the age of 6.

As the daughters of an Elder and sisters to a Regent, they are powerful together as they are apart. They share an equal disdain for Mikaelsons and Hayley Mashall for the deaths of their loved ones, leaving the three to only have each other.

Yen was a dance student at a community center where she met Harmony, who was only going by her first name then. The two quickly hit it off and became fast friends. It wasn't until later when Harmony had visited the Ninth Ward where she experienced the massacre her mother created. Her screams had everyone running towards her, including Yen & her sisters (whose first meeting prompted the visit in the first place). It was Tien whose eyes narrowed in fury when she recognized her mother's killer in Harmony and wanted to give her an "aneurysm she'd never forget" when Yen stopped her.

By the time Harmony recovered, Hayley and Vincent had come running to the Ninth Ward once immediate word got to them that Harmony is there. And knowing how her daughter's Sight worked, she knew the inevitable happened.

Finding Harmony on the ground with what could only be copies of Kara Nguyen, deducing they were her daughters and threats to her little girl, Hayley was quick to remove Harmony from the ward while Vincent attempted to defuse the situation (and prevent any more bloodshed). Tien was furious and wanted Harmony's head while Yen tried to calm her down, only to be scolded for consorting with the enemy. Vincent tried to explain that Harmony's an innocent to what went down on the October 19th Massacre.

It would later be revealed that Tien was there and watched Hayley kill Kara, igniting a fierce hatred for the hybrid.

Sometime later, Harmony came back to the Ninth Ward to speak to the entire coven, but mainly the triplets. She brokered a deal: Since they can't touch Hayley for the sake of peace between the Factions nor Kol & Davina for the deaths they caused, she'd take their place. A daughter for a mother. A loved one for a loved one. Any surviving family members of the 12 witches who wish to take vengeance on the three culprits through her are welcomed to do so in three days at the Lafayette Cemetery. Harmony would be bound to a boundary spell and wear the Cursed Shackles to make herself powerless. In return, those who choose to enact vengeance upon her shall go unpunished. As a show of goodwill, Harmony would go as far as to make a legally binding contract & deal with the Ancestors that barred the faction from intervening and use the blood of her mother and family members in a spell to prevent them from coming after them.

While the Ninth Ward agreed to the terms, it wasn't long until word got back to the Faction leaders and tried to stop it. Even Vincent couldn't because the spell Harmony used to protect those involved the Ancestors, meaning they not only agree with the terms but forbid Vincent from interfering. Hope even tried to take her place, but Harmony said that if one thing changed, everything else would and then no one would be happy.

That night, it would appear that only the Nguyen Sisters would be a part of the "trial". Yen was the only one vocally opposed to this, Tien wanted to do this, yet Bian kept a neutral expression.

Harmony spent HOURS being tortured by them but made no moves to escape, which frustrated Tien greatly. All she did do, however, was goad them to do more, to do their worst. Eventually, Hayley and Vincent managed to get into the cemetery and find them, however, much to the surprise of everyone, it was Bian who ended Harmony's suffering and broke the boundary circle before telekinetically taking off the shackles. Hayley grabbed her half-dead-looking daughter before vamp speeding out of there.

Vincent went off on them, but it was Tien who was furious at Bian until it was revealed that she'd been talking to Van in the Well.

He may not have liked dying and how he died, but Van made peace with it on his own terms. When Harmony had contacted the Ancestors for their help, he didn't agree with the torture session. One of the few things he's agreed with others (Marcel included) was that children are innocent. Harmony taking on the pain and anger of the actions of 3 was not fair. The girls were 6 years old. Harmony wasn't even 2 yet. Regardless of Kol, Davina, and Hayley's actions, he couldn't condone this and begged Bian to end it if it went too far.

(And considering it went in for hours...that says something about how Harmony was handling it!)

Hearing this from Bian, and then from Van himself, Tien lashed out and walked away back home with her.

Yen, completely remorseful, created a care package of herbs and tea from her coven and left it for Harmony, only for Hayley to retrieve it. Despite the glare from the hybrid, Yen assured this would help Harmony, whom it was revealed to had been unconscious for three days, and even said Vincent could back up her claims if she asked him. And she wanted Hayley to tell Harmony that she was sorry, only to get the reply to "tell her yourself".

Eventually, thanks to the verified care package, Harmony did recover. And it wasn't long until she was filled in on the tense situation with the Ninth Ward and sought out Tien, whom she let punch her in the face after calling her current disposition "sad and pathetic". It was revealed that Tien hated that Harmony wasn't fighting back and the more she tortured her, the more ashamed she felt (like kicking a puppy while it's down) which led to ger continuing it even with Harmony's goading, which pissed her off more. Harmony asked what pissed her off most: Her lack of self-defense or acceptance of the situation. It was both.

Considering how Harmony is Hayley's clone in appearance and attitude, Tien was full-on prepared to feel victorious at the idea of torturing the monster that turned her life upside down. She expected Harmony to be just like Hayley, cruel and merciless ...and what she got was the shame when Harmony was selfless and accepting. Her family made her and her sisters orphans and Harmony took responsibility and apologized for it. It distraught her and she couldn't take it. Harmony takes this time to reveal that part of the reason she held in through the torture was that it wasn't the first time she was tortured for her family's crimes and she wasn't the only one whose life flipped at 6 years old. She precedes to tell her of the Kidnapping Incident, how she was the reincarnation of a girl her father killed through ill-worded compulsion, and how it awakened her Seer Sight. She recants how it left her unable to accept the Mikaelsons ("a few years of good deeds doesn't erase a millennia worth of cruelty") and how she's bound to experience the loss they suffered on a personal level. Kara is just a sign that she'll lose Hayley ("The universe isn't that kind to let me keep my mom after she took yours.") This completely changed Tien's opinion of Harmony. The tribrid was only 4 years younger than her and had to deal with the weight of family name carries, as well as the pain they wreaked. Tien at least knows she can trust her family, meanwhile, the girl before her might never be able to trust hers aside from her mother and sister. Harmony then reveals how her mother smelled more than Yen's hand on the care package, revealing she knew Tien had a hand in it as well. So the kindred girls form a friendship and a truce, which they present before the Faction leaders and covens. Harmony is still going to keep that protection spell over the sisters (so someone doesn't get any ideas) and that they were even. Hayley takes this as a belated chance to apologize to the sisters, which is a given to be not easily accepted. At best, Harmony is a friend of theirs, therefore she's safe. But just because Hayley's her mother doesn't mean she's forgiven. Tien makes a point to say Hayley will have her day in death, but for now, she just has to keep their friend safe.

From that moment on, the sisters had a great and relatable relationship with Harmony. Yen was happy to have her friend and dance partner back, Tien became very protective of her, and Bian...Bian and Harmony had an interesting connection since they both held secrets that could change everything. She was their unofficial little sister whenever she came home from boarding school and was happy to hear about Salvatore (for the most part. They had their opinions of Harmony's choice friends having bad reputations and the Saltzmanns). Harmony considers them honorary members of the Midnight Falls Coven (the coven she made with Penelope Park and Alyssa Chang).

The sisters are 18 and in their final year in high school when shit hits the fan in February 2026. In hindsight, if you asked Bian of all sisters, she'd tell you that something has changed within the Factions and Hayley's disappearance would cause all hell to break loose if Harmony doesn't cause it. Bian would also say Hope was involved. The triplets may be closer to Harmony, but it wasn't for the lack of trying to get along with older the Mikaelson twin. Hope never quite forgave them for torturing her little sister and the fact she's more inclined to the Mikaelsons didn't help. So once word got out of Hope's tomfoolery with creating a hybrid (in contrast to her sister's opposition with creating them), Bian could have easily seen Hope's involvement with the return of Klaus Mikaelson a mile away. But once word got out that Hayley Marshall Kenner, the mother of their friend, their mother's murderer, and almighty Crescent Alpha, was turned into a vampire and killed? The sisters didn't hesitate to contact Harmony and to go to her. Tien had a few choice words she wanted to say to Hope Mikaelson and the fact the very thing Harmony warned her would happen to Hayley came true, and it wasn't even with fair circumstances (but when was fair ever a given?) was enough to boil her insides as she knew Harmony wouldn't take it well. Which was a proven point with her barricading her mother's room and stealing her clothes, her necklace, and blaming everything on Hope to the point of no end in sight, and antagonizing the Mikaelsons. She went full-throttle mean girl and even Bian felt that this wasn't something that would go away soon. Tien couldn't even snap her out of it, which ended up with Harmony pushing them away.

By the time Harmony split the Hollow with Hope, the sisters were surprised she was apologizing. Hayley's death messed her up on the same level Kara did, maybe even more. She explained to them the matter of everything that happened when Hayley died (Hope's ridiculous need for Klaus resulting in Hayley's death and Nightwalkers, another product of her father's stupidity) before telling them to get out of town before the Nightwalkers did more damage and came for them (a bullet they'd find they missed). Yen asks if she's okay, which Harmony responds with "I'm angry. I'm pissed. I'm tired. And I'm ready to legally change my surname." Harmony tells them to visit the Ancestral Well one more time to see Kara and Van, forwarning them that it might be their last. By the time they return to New Orleans, the Well is destroyed (meaning Kara and Van can find Peace), the Nightwalkers are gone (thanks to two pissed off Mikaelson twins and a LOT of dark magic), and the clincher: Now those Mikaelson twins have activated their werewolf curse. Yen is terrified for Harmony, Tien is angry (at Klaus more), and Bian isn't surprised (one of the few conversations she and Hayley had was that Harmony would be pissed off when she triggered hers). What is troublesome is the pipe shots she's shooting at everyone. Tien manages to snap her out of it and tells her that Hayley wouldn't want her like this...which works until Harmony comes back from Limbo and reaffirms changing her surname again.

Eventually, the sisters are at a loss when they hear of Klaus Mikaelson's willingness to die to keep the Hollow from the girls. Surprisingly, it's Yen who's not impressed since right with Marcel, his prime existence has caused issues and the fact this is what ends him and not a glorious death? At least with it, Harmony won't freak out about the death-inducing visions just being in the same room causes her. Ironically, Tien feels bad because Harmony is capable of loving him and knows it's because of Lorraine and the others that Klaus might not even get her love then. She never had a father figure except for Van, and while it kills her not to tell her to talk to him, she's well aware Harmony and Klaus will literally need another lifetime to sort their issues. Bian is neutral but pities the Mikaelsons. All things must die and 1000-year-old vampires are no exception. She can respect that he's doing at least one good thing which Harmony can remember him for, which can help in the long run now that the Mikaelson twins will never be the same.

Then, to their shock and ire, the eve of his death is when they are visited by Kol and Davina Mikaelson. Hayley left a letter for both of them regaling how Harmony was tortured for their poor choices and that if the youngest Mikaelson could apologize for their actions, the ones who did the deeds should too. Maybe it was because of Klaus's impending demise, or maybe it was because Harmony pulled a Davina and locked Kol in his vampire body, or maybe it was because he lost favor with his two nieces inadvertently causing this whole mess...or maybe it was all of the above because seeing Kol kneeling and apologizing to them was a sight they'd never forget. And while Davina had no love for Klaus, Hayley's letter was rather vicious in demanding that her dying wish to the witch was to apologize to the sisters as well as the couple giving them enough money to live off of for the rest of their days. Like Hayley's apology, it doesn't even come close to answering for what they took from them. But because it was Hayley asking (demanding) and Harmony paying for it, it was something.

The drama would have ended after Klaus's death until there's a big commotion from Harmony's home. They didn't hear until later that Freya tried to kill Harmony and now their regent, Vincent, and a witch named Bonnie Bennett from Virginia, are sharing joint custody of Harmony with the Mikaelsons getting very limited visitation rights and paying for her boarding school tuition as a result.

For the first time, Bian smiled. This would definitely benefit the twins while Yen and Tien feel the headache coming on now. They wish Harmony Eve the best because college sounds like a vacation right about now.

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3laxx · 3 years

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Bring It Home - Chapter 11

Turning her golden eyes up to the memorial, she winced. Luz looked so lifelike, so authentic, that she almost felt as if the young teen could start moving at any moment. She stood proudly, as Amity had remembered her, her chest puffed out and her hands holding a light glyph while her coat fluttered behind her.

And finally, the end is here. The legacy Luz left to the isles. A very smart person told me that a legacy is planting seeds in a garden you never get to see (yea ofc it's a Hamilton quote xD) and honestly, that's exactly what Luz did in this series.

Ao3 / FF.net

---

Slowly, Amity approached the memorial they had erected for Luz only last week. Matt and Gus had been working on it like mad, to get it finished right after they had torn down the statue of the emperor just after the riot had started.

Her entire body ached and she was heavily leaning onto her crutches, but she hadn’t wanted to push this event out any further than need be.

As soon as the healing coven had announced that she was safe to go, she had jumped up from the bed and gotten ready for the ceremony.

Matt and Gus had managed to capture Luz’s spirit so well, Amity’s heart ached.

Grunting, she took step after step, before Willow joined her side and Gus started coming from the other. They took a short break, still watched by the people of Bonesborough before Amity could move on again. Eda was already waiting for them by the memorial, along with Raine, Lilith, and Camila.

Amity gave a strained smile, then she straightened up and managed to take the steps up to the monument. The people of Bonesborough, many of which had taken part in the revolution in the past four years, stayed respectfully quiet.

Amity turned to let her gaze wander over the crowd which had closed after her, looking down into expectant faces, before turning back to her family. Edric and Emira had joined Eda on the other side and softly smiled at her.

The years after they had opened the portal door to the human realm had rapidly picked up the pace. Belos had discovered them building an illegal portal and had started chasing them, hunting them down, her family and friends and everyone keeping ties to Amity and Eda.

After running away, they had formed a rebellion, under Eda’s and her administration, together with everyone brave enough to come to join them. Word had spread fast, and they had been able to build a base, practice fighting, and gear up in a matter of three years.

More and more people from all over the isles had joined their cause until they had become a powerful opposition to Belos’ unbroken power.

Even Principal Bump had joined their forces, after pronouncing the school a neutral ground to ensure the young generations’ safety.

The fighting had picked up. Some members of the Covens had sided with Belos, some with the rebellion, and the Emperor’s Coven had only picked up in strength.

About a week before, Amity had finally led the invasion of the castle grounds and had managed to corner the emperor and kill him. His right hand, Kikimora, and some other coven guards had fought ferociously, but the rebellion had won. Finally, they had overthrown the totalitarian government and had implemented a completely new, emergency senate, as Lilith had called it, to decide on the best possible system to found now that they had all doors open again.

Camila had been put in as an advisor on human systems, as well as Bump as a historian on ancient Isles systems and they were currently in the process of finding a form of government that was fit for everyone on the Isles.

Along with a lot of other fighters, Amity had been injured and put on bed rest for a week, but she had announced before their invasion, that she’d devote this uprising to Luz.

After all, the human had kicked off the idea of a revolution, she had managed to change Amity’s mind, and she had been the cause of all this to start, after all, the portal she had come through had been the turning point of Belos’ reign.

He had carried his aspirations into the grave with him. Amity had never learned what he had wanted to do with the portal, but she hadn’t cared, either.

All she had cared about was to end his terror, to end the coven system, and to make things fair again on the Boiling Isles, after fifty years of a tight-knitted and violent reign.

And, of course, to make a legacy. For Luz.

Sniffling, she nodded at Matt to step forward, presenting her a metal box of Luz’s most important belongings. Camila, Eda, and her had searched them out together to donate them to this cause.

Her gaze flickered over to her family once more, finding all eyes glued to her.

Edric and Emira had fought all battles on her side, after breaking completely with their parents upon learning that they had staffed Belos’ ranks with abomatons over the years. They had joined the rebellion as some of the first to do so, and they were both bandaged as well. Emira was sporting a pretty nasty scar over one half of her face where an abomaton had used a fire spell on her. According to Viney it only gave her “more character”, as ridiculously cheesy as Amity thought that was.

Edric had lost a leg, but he had quickly been able to get a prosthesis by their skilled healers, and by now it was almost invisible, except for the slight stumble every time he started walking and briefly forgot he was missing a leg. Amity could still only shake her head at her brother’s statement to forget something like that. Eda was smiling at her, with King standing beside her. He was a good head taller than her by now and at eighteen years of age, he had significantly grown.

She and Eda had grown closer after Luz had died, and she had almost become a sort of mother figure to her as she had become to Luz. Lilith next to her gave her a small nod and Amity gratefully nodded back. Her mentor had stepped up as a leading figure in both Amity’s life and the rebellion, and she had managed to save Amity a few times, from her own ferocity sometimes.

Camila gave her a small smile as well. After they had gotten to know each other, they had hit it off quite well, Amity even starting to live with her when the Owl House got too crowded for Amity’s anxiety. She had almost become the same warm energy in her life as Luz had been and it hadn’t been hard for her to understand why Luz had wanted to get back so desperately after she had struggled with that due to her own issues with her mother.

Willow placed a hand on Amity’s shoulder and caught her gaze. Managing her crutches, Amity placed her bandaged hand on top of hers and squeezed softly.

She had stayed with her through it all, not even wavering in her stance when her fathers had been arrested in the hopes of blackmailing one of Amity’s closest friends. Unquestioningly, she had followed Amity into every battle, and even when she had lost an eye, she hadn’t backed down as Amity’s closest and most important commander.

Gus on her other side softly pulled her into a one-armed hug, before she looked over to him. He had thrown himself headfirst into the rebellion and hadn’t even rested once to fight for their cause, only when Willow had forced him to.

Humming, Amity finally handed her crutches to Willow and let Gus hold her upright, so she could search out the bucket list she had kept with her all these years.

It had become thinner and more fragile with all the use, ripping along a few more folding lines, one edge even coming off. Amity had had to glue it back on.

But it had overcome, had traveled with her for over ten years. She gave the piece of paper a soft look, gulping down her tears before stroking all the tasks she had written down.

The paper looked so worn and old, she almost didn’t believe it had only been ten years.

Sniffling, she traced her old handwriting, before tapping over all the checks.

She had decided to leave the first task open. What even was a real witch?

It didn’t matter to her. It didn’t matter in the least. She had known Luz and had watched her become a great witch against all expectations. She didn’t care if Luz was a real witch, or if she had been, or Eda or Belos or anyone for that matter. It wasn’t that she had given up on searching for an answer.

It just gave her a certain kind of satisfaction to leave this task open, as the only one, to leave all possibilities open as well. She had no idea what kind of witch Luz would’ve become in the future, and she had no idea where her path would be leading after all this.

She knew damn well, though, that she was proud of both Luz’s and her accomplishments.

Part of her had contemplated setting a neat little check behind the first task, but leaving it undone left all uncertainties for the future. Had she checked that off in the beginning, she had never known that ten years later, she would emerge victorious from a revolution. Who knew where she would be ten or twenty years from now?

Checking it off felt restricting to her, so she had refused to deem it a complete task.

She had no right defining what a real witch was.

With Willow holding the Azura book up that had helped Amity and Luz bond, she put the list down on it and checked off the very last task on the list. Make a legacy.

Luz had laughed, she had learned and danced and snuck into peoples’ hearts.

She had changed the world, she had changed Amity’s life and touched so many others. She had been the cause for this revolution and Amity would see to it that her name would appear in the history books.

Luz had changed the demon realm, by touching everything with her light and joy, and she had given magic to magicless demons by rediscovering the ancient ways.

This was her legacy.

Willow placed the book in the box which contained Luz’s Grom picture, her cat hoodie which hadn’t entirely washed out all the blood from her attack, and some other personal items, as well as locks of hair from her mother Camila, Eda, and her closest friends Amity, Willow and Gus.

As the last thing, Amity put in the bucket list, with all the checks but one.

Eda stepped forward and put a preservation spell over all the things in the box to keep them from falling apart and rotting, then she pressed a soft kiss to Amity’s forehead.

Smiling, she felt a tear rolling down her cheek while watching Matt closing the box and sealing it with another spell.

The box was placed in a hole they had dug at the foot of the statue and buried before a heavy stone slate was placed over it and sealed in place. For a moment, they stayed silent, before Amity turned to the people to lift her fist, propping herself up heavily on her crutch that she had gotten back from Willow.

“For freedom!”, she exclaimed, and the Bonesborough citizens repeated a thousandfold with their chant back, deafening cheers filling the whole city before Amity turned back to the monument.

Her friends accompanied Eda and Camila in the descend down the stairs, while Amity stayed back, just before the stone slate they had just fixed in place.

A wave of emotions overcame her, with the cheers of Bonesborough behind her, that she slowly placed her crutches in front of her and propped herself up heavily, before lowering herself down.

She didn’t see how her family and friends jumped, before freezing in place upon realizing what she was doing.

The chants died out when her knee hit the ground, her hands still holding onto the crutches as she lowered her head.

The city got silent again before a wave of rustling and some steps sounded.

Everyone started copying her, everyone lowering themselves to one knee and keeping their gaze downcast, while Amity kneeled.

She didn’t realize any of this.

Droning out everything around her, she breathed, slowly, before smiling to herself.

This was Luz’s legacy. She wouldn’t be able to dance with her anymore, but she could remember it. She could remember Luz’s smile and her light whenever she would talk or think about her and keep her alive that way.

Finally, she lifted her head again and softly groaned in pain, but finally, she felt free of her burden. The tears welling up in her eyes would most likely stay, as well as the lump in her throat, but her burden was gone, and she knew, she had freed Luz.

Smiling to herself, she blinked the slight blur from her vision.

“I love you…”, she mumbled while looking up to Luz’s distinct features, “I never stopped.”

The twenty-four-year-old witch slowly rose to her feet again and turned, looking over the kneeling population of the isles, before giving a small smile as she remembered how she had experienced Luz ten years ago.

“For Luz.”

---

Let me know if you liked it and if I should open suggestions for you guys?

#toh #the owl house #home series #bring it home #fanfic #amity blight #willow park #gus porter #eda clawthorne #lilith clawthorne #edric blight #emira blight #raine whispers #camila noceda #revolution #sadness #legacy

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bangtan-dreamland · 4 years

Text

A Fairy Tale’s End [Chapter 2]

Pairing: ot7 x reader; jjk x reader; myg x reader

Word Count: 17,790

Rating: pg-15

Warning: reader is even more stressed, a brief meltdown, several confrontations, several curse words, someone drunk picks a fight with them

Genre: some angst, hurt/comfort, fluff, e2l, fantasy!au, elf!seokjin, fae!yoongi, dragon!hoseok, wizard!namjoon, vampire!jimin, kitsune!taehyung, mermaid!jungkook

Summary: You wanted, for once, to be someone important, someone needed- to be wanted and appreciated, to love and be loved. Well, you should be careful what you wish for.

AN: asdhjbasd first of all sorry for the long, long chapter bUT I swear future chapters won’t be as long,,, this is just really heavy on wordbuilding and plot with some character development ^^;;;

Also if anyone has noticed yes the ‘echo flowers’ are from Undertale uwu

A big, big thank you to @shadowsremedy for beta reading this!! I was losing my mind and he went and helped me make it so much better >w< Another thank you to @dee-ehn too for making the gorgeous banner above, likE LOOK AT IT IT’S JUST *insert flailing* wow my heart T^T

masterpost // previous chapter // next chapter

Taglist: @btsxdoll, @mspjm, @barbikatherine, @xxqueenwxtchxx, @catsandstrawberries, @bangtan-bestofme, @bubbletae7

»»————-　♔　————-««

The start of the journey was- quiet, and yet also quite loud, to put it one way.

It was terribly obvious, from one glance, that you were only a group of people forced into travelling together. Or at least to you, it was. For one, the way that none of you really bothered much with conversation, how each one was tense and on guard against each other- well, as much as you could read the others, anyway.

The horse under your hands whinnied as you ran your hands through its mane, and you found yourself looking at the others again in an attempt to, well, do something. Travelling, as far as you found out, was actually quite boring. Or. Well, it seemed to be, as you were only riding a horse. Admittedly, while a part of your attention had to stay on both the road and the horse, it didn’t take much before you found yourself desperate for something to do.

As it was, you were even contemplating starting up a conversation. You. Start a conversation. With them.

You sighed.

Really, when you first learned about them, your biggest worry was that you would be spending time with people like those at the castle, who, by now, you believed worshipped the ground you walked on, as creepy and arrogant as it sounded.

But… That moment then, at the castle, after introductions had been made, and your moment of panic ended, Namjoon had been the first to approach you, a genial smile on his face- but then the one from before, the vampire (Jimin, right? That was his name? You weren’t quite sure since half of your attention was spent trying not to visibly freak out while they were being introduced) strolled up to you, a smirk on his face.

“Lady Y/N,” Jimin’s voice was smooth as butter (and knowing now that he was a vampire now made the events when you met him make so much more sense), that coupled with his appearance made it easy for you to believe he was, well, a vampire. He gracefully bowed to you, extending a hand as well. “A pleasure to finally meet you.”

You forced a smile on your face, regarding him warily.

"... A pleasure to meet you too."

"Who would've known I would have had the blessing of an encounter with our ever so lovely saviour that night? Though," he sighed, his head dipping briefly to kiss your hand- the hair on the back of your neck standing upright as he lightly nipped it. The feel of what had to be his sharp fangs on your skin was not something you liked, that was for sure. "I regret not being able to have a longer talk with you."

"Park," the person (fae? The stark contrast of his bright, mint hair was quite distinctive enough, anyway) you met at the garden before- he spoke up then, his voice was low, the warning clear. Jimin only smiled innocently, his eyes like crescent moons as he obligingly stepped away from you.

"I was merely paying respects," he purred.

"Yet you do so in a manner most unrespectful," Namjoon cut in, brows furrowed as his gaze switched over to you in turn. He took a step forward- and the light frown on his face became a small smile. He bowed.

"Although we've already been introduced to each other... Heir to the Kim Coven, Kim Namjoon, at your service, Lady-"

"Lady Y/N? Who would have thought it?" You heard a new voice say your name then, before golden eyes that seemed to almost glow appeared in your line of vision. Familiar, mischievous eyes and a distinctive low chuckle- you hastily took a step back, immediately glaring at him.

And then another joined.

"You're the one I met at the inn!"

Even just remembering the chaos that erupted then made you wince. Several of them immediately started arguing- the loudest being Jimin (who cracked up and began teasing the other) and Jungkook (who looked close to actually, physically fighting him), though Namjoon and Taehyung came close, Namjoon's words getting sharper and sharper as Taehyung only continued to egg him on, throwing a few words at Jungkook as well- who, actually, you couldn't remember why he'd been fighting with Jimin... Though, it wasn't as if there was any use remembering now...

Your only saving grace then was that Yoongi and Hoseok didn't join in, and just when you were about to start speaking up (you couldn't let it go on forever, there was a limit to how much even you could take, after all)-

"Quiet." The voice, as stable as it seemed to be, growing not a single decibel louder than the others, was enough to affect everyone. The effects of his reprimand was instant- the four men instantly falling quiet, seemingly intimidated.

"If you're all done bickering like children, maybe we can continue on with why we've been assembled." Seokjin's voice was frost embodied as he swept his glance over you all. "Or are your ages only for show?"

Nobody moved- his gaze not letting up. In the wake of the silence, he looked at you. "Y/N."

You almost jumped, not just from surprise but also from how everyone's attention turned to you then. "Y-Yes?"

"Do you have any plan or information in place to start us with?"

"Y-Yes! Um..."

You suppressed the urge to run and hide, instead choosing to focus on the paper in your hands. A week's worth of research was written on it, as much as you could have gathered anyway.

"A-As elusive as, the- the Tower of Babel is, um," you took a deep breath, even as you stuttered, and told yourself to continue. "The first step to take in tracing its, um, its current location would be to, well, investigate the last confirmed area it was in. Especially when we consider that there's little information to go through, discounting rumours and myths."

"Therefore, I think that our first location should be R-Rivermouth. There should be the ruins of the old tower remaining there- it's at least a more solid clue than anything."

Icy brown eyes turned away from you, and you felt yourself sigh in relief. Was he testing you just now? It certainly felt like one- and one that you hoped you passed.

That point then on forward seemed to be a little bit of smooth sailing then. As much as the others seemed to have their own opinions and arguments, it only took a few, pointed words from Seokjin to get them moving.

And thus you all set off.

»»————-　♔　————-««

Which led to where you were at the moment, currently bored out of your life.

The first few days had been nerve-wracking, admittedly. You didn't know what to expect. You didn't know how to act around them, but soon enough, it became clear to you that you weren't the only one apprehensive about travelling with other, unknown people. The tense silence that covered you all attested to that. No one tried to speak up much, nor to do anything than follow along Yoongi (who led the way on account of being the second most experienced not only when it came to travelling, but also to fighting), though a part of you suspected it was mostly because Seokjin positioned himself at the back, where he had perfect view of you all.

It was for the best, you supposed, thinking over what you'd learned about them so far. Which, while it wasn't that much, and you still weren't quite sure what to think of them, it was obvious that you had your work cut out for you.

Hoseok was one of the few that was alright so far, you thought.

He was the one with the least amount of presence in the group, since the quest had started- something which, while initially surprised you (after all, he was a dragon, right? The thought that a dragon could be, well, quiet and wary of others when they'd been portrayed the exact opposite in media back home was a source of never ending confusion), gave your initial encounter with him at the tower make sense. Even when the fighting broke out at your first, official meeting with the others, he'd stayed out of the way.

If it weren't for the way you were hyper aware of the others, really, you would have forgotten all about him.

Still, compared to the others, that was practically a blessing.

Compared to Jungkook, that was.

Jungkook, who, in turn, was one of the loudest members so far- and a source of your never ending headaches since the quest began.

Considering your meeting at the marketplace, and how he was currently acting, the word that came to your mind most often was... Well, that he was a brat.

An attention-seeking brat, you added. Trying to show everyone that he was just as good as them, but then getting worked up over the littlest of insults (Jimin), trying to prove them wrong (or calling Jimin out on his height in retaliation to the latter calling him out on his age). Falling for sucker bets (again, Jimin, though sometimes Taehyung would join in), and getting tricked. Naive to a fault, and failing to think through his actions most of the time.

Still, considering he was apparently the youngest out of everyone...

Speaking of age... Your eyes briefly glanced over to your right, meeting crimson eyes- you quickly averted your gaze, ignoring the smirk directed at you.

Jimin, though, was a bigger pain in the ass to deal with. It only took you a day to determine that there was just one thing that kept him going in life.

It was to mess with other people.

He, you quickly deduced, was someone who got off on teasing others, enraging them, charming and using them, all the things that, if you were back home, you had no doubt you would ask if he was still in kindergarten, or what. Especially with the way he seemed hell-bent on riling up Jungkook to kingdom come over every little thing (though Jungkook would give his best to retaliate), something that he never quite succeeded at because every time he'd come close, Seokjin would promptly freeze them with a glare.

Really, it made you wonder just what the hell whoever sent him had been thinking, but then...

The flicker of a flame appeared at the edges of your vision, though you tried not to look all the same.

Then there was Taehyung, who, on the other hand, was a different kind of chaos.

The first time you met him had given you enough clues to realize that he was someone who probably took a lot of fun in pranking other people- and then watching the ensuing panic occur. The type to arrange buckets of flour atop every doorway, the type to ice over floors and watch people slip and fall, the type to drive people insane with just his words...

... or the type to let loose pigs in a castle and laugh afterwards.

Admittedly, though, ever since you'd set out it seemed as if he'd calmed down and took down the intensity of his mischief, but it still didn't take away the fact that he was still doing them in the first place.

You'd be doing something menial, like maybe set up the tents. You would be absorbed in your task- then you'd see feel something crawl near your legs, and you'd stifle a scream at the sight of a snake (lest you alert the others and make a bigger idiot out of yourself), and you'd hear the faint echo of laughter- and you would tamp down the urge to murder that ass as much as you could.

The most infuriating part about it too was how he seemed to hone in on you, setting you as his target. Taehyung felt like a whirlwind that you’d somehow caught yourself getting pulled closer into, and the only thing that kept you from truly getting sucked in was the equally intense storms the others were.

... Well, as much as Taehyung annoyed you on a daily basis though, it made having Yoongi a little bit better.

Yoongi was probably the second member of the 'not so troublesome' part of the group of men. He was mostly quiet, and calm- always pitching in to help reign in the others when they grew too rowdy, sharply scolding Jimin or Taehyung, even Jungkook.

Still, though, as much help and rational as he seemed to be, you couldn't quite bring yourself to fully relax around him, because, as it was, he seemed to be quite on board the 'Lady Y/N, our saviour!~' ship too.

Though, admittedly, it was in a reserved way- what with how he subtly looked to you for guidance, letting you make the decisions, even when you didn't have the faintest clue what to do. It wasn't exactly something you would have advocated for, or encouraged in the slightest.

Then again, it wasn't quite as bad as Namjoon.

You didn't think you needed to explain that statement anymore than you did- the reminder of not only your first meeting, but every encounter after spelling it out quite neatly in your head.

'Lady Y/N, is there any way I can-'

'Lady Y/N, do you perhaps need help-'

'Lady Y/N, I assure you, I would love nothing more than to-'

'Lady Y/N-!'

You groaned even as you remembered the numerous events, his voice ringing in your head like a puppy yipping and yapping for your attention, as horrible as it made you sound like.

With all that in mind... While at first you never would've thought it, Seokjin was probably the person you appreciated the most out of your companions so far.

Oh, he made it clear to you, not just from the moment you met that he didn't think much, if at all, about you, as the leader of the quest- something which, while you didn't like the way he told you about it you did agree with.

Still, him taking over the reigns as you all set out on the journey had done you a huge favor, even if he didn’t intend it that way. Especially when you didn't have the slightest clue how to make the others listen to you- and no, you didn't count Namjoon in, or Yoongi.

It had been Seokjin who'd seamlessly got the rest to listen to him, and make camp, who'd assigned roles without the others raising much of a fuss, and, to your never-ending relief, seemed to be really proficient in catching wildlife and gathering herbs to eat.

After all, you all had to set out lightly, carrying only basic necessities and emergency supplies with you as you were supposed to always be ready to move in case of danger. It was something you had no trouble agreeing with, remembering your first day.

With his help, no matter how rowdy the others could be at times, so far, it'd been quite peaceful... If you didn't take in the aforementioned headaches your companions gave you, that was.

A week couldn't go by any faster, although eventually, you all arrived at your destination.

Rivermouth.

»»————-　♔　————-««

The town, you first thought as you approached it, was aptly named. Built around a huge river that seemed to snake through the town’s roads, leading into the sea at the end- Rivermouth, situated at the foot of the mountain was well off in how they had access to not only the bountiful forest to their north, the sealife to their south but also the roads that made them a popular stop-by, as they were directly on the way to the capital.

Or so you heard from Namjoon anyway.

It was hard to appreciate the town and all that it had to offer, when the moment you all arrived, you felt the familiar pressure of reality weight down hard on your shoulders.

You gripped the reins tighter, eyes darting around nervously- at the unfamiliar dirt streets, the wooden houses, the crowds of people in the streets (although thankfully, no one pointed out to you guys).

It was easy to forget, for a moment, as you left the city and traveled. It was easy to think, to feel, that you were back home. It was easy to think of the whole experience as a dreaded camping trip where you had to endure travelling with strangers, most of which were weird as hell.

Back at the capital, it was hard to run away from the situation in any way- everywhere you looked, it only served to remind you of where you were.

But out in the wilderness? It was much easier. It wasn’t as if the others were keen to show off the fact that they weren’t human either, and if you ignored all the extra appendages they had (and actually getting used to them after a while), then it was easy to see even Taehyung’s illusions as pranks. Elaborate pranks, but pranks nonetheless.

Now again, though, you were harshly brought back to reality. Your new reality. Your momentary, all-too-real-you-might-die reality.

You released a low whine at the back of your throat, resisting the urge to hide away from the public’s eyes lest they somehow realize who you were.

"Are you alright, Lady Y/N?" The tremble that ran through your body was not lost on Namjoon, who gave you a concerned look. "If you feel unwell in any way, I-”

"No!" You almost yelled the words out. Even though they hadn’t been the best company so far, you really didn’t want to know what the others would say or think if you all had to stop now because of you. The mere thought of it made your stomach even sicker with nerves. "No, no, sorry, um, I'm alright, just-" you faltered, voice coming out weaker. "I'm not, um, I'm not good with crowds..."

"... Our first priority is to get to the inn," Yoongi offered, eyes assessing your form, before he turned back with a grimace at the streets. "Though the crowd is really thick."

It was then that Jungkook perked up, instantly cutting in with a confident tone in his words. "I could easily locate the inn, and then return to lead us."

You tensed up, then, preparing yourself for the response that seemed to be almost a routine by now-

"Really now. And how, do you think, will you be able to pass through the crowd?" Jimin's giggle was mocking as he regarded the younger with a raised eyebrow. “Here comes the puppy again, ever so obediently wagging its tail.”

You sucked in a hiss of breath as the two started arguing again, cringing.

For some reason, as much as Jimin was an ass to you all, he seemed to focus most on Jungkook. That whenever the younger would speak up about something or offer to a task, he would instantly be there butting heads with him. And it wasn’t rare to hear Jungkook make snide comments about Jimin being a vampire either. It always gave you a huge headache, and the fact that it’d become a common thing to the point where you all expected them to argue whenever one of them spoke up was really-

Well.

You tried to stay out of it, though. Even if you wanted to stop them, there was always the what if lingering in your mind. What if they refused to listen to you? What if they got mad at you instead? What if you failed, causing an even bigger problem, and the others would know?

It was much easier to leave them be and endure their bad moods afterwards.

Even if currently, the growing volume of their voices made you wince.

“better than a bloodsucker who just idles around without contributing anything-”

"-’contributing’, you say- aren’t you always so eager to please, do you really crave their praise so much-"

Jungkook’s hiss was full of repressed fury, just about to break through. "Hypocritical of you to say when your entire race is but a collection of power hungry animals desperate for others’ attention, as though someone who has to resort to using trickery to charm others has room to talk. No one would trust a vampire with anything, and why would they?"

Jimin’s responding laughter was soft, airy, but the look in his eyes then could have frozen a man over.

“Perhaps, but still, it’s better than a bootlicker currying favor by doing even the most menial work. Or perhaps, you do them because it’s all you can amount to? After all, it’s obvious that you don’t have much, if any experience dealing with the human world. Really,” his lips curled in a sneer, even as his voice remained soft, “it only makes your efforts all the more pitiful. Laughably pathetic.”

That seemed to have broken the proverbial last straw on the camel's back then, as, with a snarl, Jungkook leapt forward, his arm raised into a fist- one that would have hit Jimin, if it wasn’t for Seokjin suddenly holding him back. It was followed by a brief glance at you, one that seemed to say, ‘well? What are you going to do?’.

You looked back at him with wide eyes, and then at the situation- what did he want you to do? Could you even do anything? Hell, you barely even knew them and you weren’t a match at all for them in any way!

You barely saw him purse his lips at your inaction, turning instead to give his attention solely to the almost fight.

“Calm down,” he sharply scolded Jungkook. Restrained, the younger furiously fought against Seokjin’s hold, but the latter only held him back even tighter, until Jungkook could only squirm. When the younger slumped forward, finally out of energy, only then did he let go. Jungkook fell to his knees then, though he got back up not a second later, the fury in his eyes visible to everyone.

You could sense the hush that had now befallen the street, especially when Jungkook was let go by Seokjin. Any words in your mouth died as the amount of attention on you all increased, your heartbeat doubling and then tripling in anxiety. You took a small step away from the scene, all parts of you screaming to hide away from the prying eyes of the crowd-

Jimin’s gaze locked on to you and you stilled at the sharp look in his eyes.

“... I’d hate to be the cause of a bigger disturbance. I believe no one will mind if I leave for now, hm?” The smile that graced his face then was different, sharper and darker- you shivered and leaned away, having to physically stop yourself from taking another step back. The small motion didn’t escape his attention and he scoffed, before turning away and leaving, the crowd turning to look at his figure before it was swallowed up.

Your stiff figure didn’t let up until the crowd’s attention on you guys dispersed, and even then your movements remained jerky, the feel of their gazes on you remaining like ants crawling on your skin.

In the silence that followed, surprisingly, it was Taehyung who made the first move, not even a few seconds after Jimin’s departure.

“I’m going to go after Jimin,” he didn’t offer so much as he declared, immediately setting off in the same direction that the other left in.

You opened your mouth to speak- then thought better of what you were about to say. In the end, you opted to just nod your head weakly. “I- um, okay. We’ll- we’ll, um, we’ll be heading straight for the i-inn then...”

And that was that.

»»————-　♔　————-««

When you went to look for them hours later, after arriving and settling down at the inn, it was to another fight.

Which. Really. How was your luck so bad that you kept getting dragged into the one thing you hated most row after row?

The voice of the man yelling inside the apothecary could be clearly heard even from outside, but it wasn’t that that alerted you to the whereabouts of the people you were looking for- it was the crowd that had formed around the door.

It only took a look inside to confirm your guess. You apologetically pushed through the crowd, wincing with every complaint from the people you passed through.

When you arrived at the scene, it was to the sight of surprisingly just Taehyung, face blank, though the tense form of his body and the pursed lips gave away his irritation. Across him, a man, obviously drunk, was shouting slurs at him.

“-damned creatures! Your presence brings nothing but trouble, and I’m not having it!”

A growl, one that you interpreted with a jolt of shock, to come from Taehyung. What the hell…?

“Showing your true colors, aren’t you?” The man sneered, before spitting to the side. “You may look like a human but everyone here knows you’re just a greedy mongrel-”

“Stop!”

The word fell from your lips automatically, even as you inwardly berated yourself for just stepping in without a plan.

The two men turned to look at you, both startled, one suspicious and the other one… Curious? Shocked? Whatever emotion passed through Taehyung’s face then was gone too fast for you to even see properly, but whatever.

You focused your attention to the drunken man, hoping to appease the wild cannon before it erupted.

“Sir,” you started, unsure exactly what to say, but going on ahead anyway. “Can you please calm down? What happened?”

“Calm down!” He yelled, agitated. “Calm down she says! Why, there’s a bloody yokai, a kitsune in here and you’re asking me to calm down!? I just about caught him stealing, and he denies it and I’m supposed to calm down!”

You hissed quietly, eyes flickering from Taehyung’s now scowling form, several bottles of what you presumed to be ingredients in his hands, to the man’s self-righteous posture, a bottle of beer in his.

“I’m sure it wasn’t like that,” you assured him. “But, if you really think so, then I’ll pay for whatever you think he took. Okay?”

“What, are you with him?” He glared at you, the acrid stench of his breath making you want to recoil away. “Bah, whatever. Pay and then get out quickly. We don’t need his kind in here.”

You gritted your teeth at his words, but still you inched closer to the counter anyway, pulling out your money, setting out several coins until you felt it was enough.

At the shopkeeper’s shaky greeting and ‘thank you for your purchase’, you finally heard the man move, steps shaky, grumbles leaving his mouth from behind you.

“Don’t ever let me see you in here again, dog,” he hissed out, to Taehyung, you thought, before finally stumbling away, still drunk as hell.

You looked behind you then, feeling yourself relax a little as you saw the crowd disperse now that everything was over. Grinning, you turned to Taehyung-

“... What was that for?” He snapped at you, and you stared at him, stunned.

“Wha-” Any word you could have said then died as he stepped forward, closer, the brunt of his anger suddenly falling on you. “W-What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean,” he narrowed his eyes at you, the irritation thick in his voice. “Meddling in without a thought, and even going so far as to pay for what I supposedly ‘stole’.” Taehyung laughed then, but it was without mirth.

“I-”

“Did you think, perhaps, for a second, that you could have asked both of us what happened?” The growl that was still present in his voice, accentuated by the low timbre of his voice made his words all the more intimidating. “That instead of instantly accepting his words as the truth, you could have taken another look and not just sided with him, but also asked me?”

“Or do you really believe us to be what he said?”

“I-” you stammered, your voice leaving you as he towered over your form. You wanted to protest, defend your side, but the look in Taehyung’s eyes paired with the angry feel to his words made you tremble. “It wasn’t- I mean…”

Your voice came out weak, and even then it was only because of the rising indignation in your chest. How could he think for a moment that you agreed with that man? You didn’t- it didn’t even cross your mind at all! You just wanted to deescalate the situation before anyone got in trouble, and he was being all pissy now? He didn’t even let you explain your side! “I didn’t think that at all, okay? I just wanted to stop the fight.”

“Did you?” He bit out. “Well, I suppose congratulations are in order then, Lady Y/N. For once, you accomplished what you wanted to do.”

You clenched your fists at the patronizing tone of his voice. “Yeah, I did, but now I have to deal with you being like this. I guess you’re right, I shouldn’t have butted in.” If you were annoyed by his attitude towards you, well. It was one thing to feel guilty for messing up- but getting angry at you for no reason? That was one thing that you hated, more than anything. And wasn’t he being hypocritical?

I know when I make a mistake, because I do it all the time. But now you’re insisting it’s my fault- and you won’t even hear me out.

Silence enveloped the two of you then, the two of you glaring at each other, Taehyung’s glare venomous- still, you held your ground, unwilling to give way. He wanted to be like this? Fine, but you knew unlike the other time, you’d actually tried to help. It wasn’t your fault he wanted to be- that he just assumed stuff!

“... You know what, forget it.” He eventually stepped away, a bitter undertone to his words. “I’ll thank you not to interfere in my problems the next time around. We’ll be at the inn tomorrow on time; don’t bother looking for us until then.”

You kept quiet as Taehyung swiftly pushed past you, his body tense and the scowl on his face made all the more intense with the sharp looks he sported, not unlike an angry god.

When the doorbell rang, you let out a small sigh of relief, even as you felt a wave of sharp discontent and frustration rise in your chest. You dithered where you were then, wanting to leave, to go somewhere else, but after what happened just now…

“Y/N? The Saviour, Lady Y/N?” The sound of the shopkeeper’s voice made you jump.

You cringed, the anger leaving you as anxiety replaced it. Your hands immediately pulled your hood up, as though that would help you now that they’d probably seen you and confirmed who you were and oh god why did you even go after them-

The shopkeeper only stepped away after seeing your reaction, an apologetic look on their face.

“My apologies, milady. I should have realized- well. I really do apologize. Especially after the scene just now...”

You sighed, relaxing a fraction when you realized they weren’t about to mob you or anything. “No, um, it’s fine. But- I, um, I should go…”

It was when you were a few steps away that you heard them say softly.

“Milady?”

You hesitated, before slowly turning around.

“Going by what I witnessed just now… If you’d like some privacy, there is a beach known only to us villagers. Outsiders are forbidden from taking a single step on it, but- of course, you are the exception, milady. It’d be our honor to have you use the beach in any way you need it.”

That made you linger where you were for a moment. Maybe you’d take them up on the offer. What wouldn’t you do for some peace right now, after all?

You smiled shakily at them. “Thank you- um, for the offer.”

And then you left.

»»————-　♔　————-««

The next day had come all too fast, bringing another set of troubles alongside the first. Coming back to the inn after your altercation with Taehyung, you didn’t know what to expect when you saw both men again- but the next morning, as you set out for the ruins, it was as the events in question had never happened- both men seemingly the same as before. Or, at least for Jimin,- Taehyung had turned to ignoring you.

Still, you felt that the silence was better than the alternative, unsure how to clear up the misunderstanding without getting past a confrontation.

“So this is where the tower was, previously…” You murmured as you walked through the empty remains of a hall, the stone weathered and crumbling under the weight of not only time but the local flora.

“Or so the texts say,” Namjoon confirmed from ahead of you, an open book in his hands as he read while walking. “It’s quite a sight to behold, isn’t it?”

“... It really is,” you agreed. You bit back the frown that threatened to form on your face at the sound of someone scoffing behind you, a mutter following that, while not loud enough to make out was still audible. Even now, or maybe especially after yesterday’s events, the tension amongst you was thick as hell. Not really something you liked or appreciated, but…

You inched closer to Yoongi.

“I don’t think I have to repeat it, but I’ll say it again, in case there’s anyone who wasn’t listening earlier,” Seokjin’s voice carried over easily in the ruins, echoing off the walls. “Although I don’t think they still exist, this place used to be full of traps in the past. Be careful.”

Currently, Namjoon and Yoongi were set ahead of you all, Yoongi’s expertise in sensing magic combined with Namjoon’s vast knowledge giving them an upper hand in recognizing anything. You were positioned somewhere between the back of the group with Jimin, Jungkook and Seokjin, and Taehyung and Hoseok who were a little ways ahead of you.

Your placements as Seokjin had dictated turned out to be effective in halting any fights. Yoongi and Namjoon had no trouble working with each other, and Taehyung was the same with Hoseok. While Jimin and Jungkook still had their problems with each other, with Seokjin acting not only as the rear guard, but also as chaperone, the most that they had been acting out was with pointed glances and glares.

Still, you knew it was only a matter of time before something happened- that it wouldn’t take long for another argument to break out.

You were right.

You didn’t even know what started it, but before you it could even register in your mind-

“Jungkook. Jimin.” If before Seokjin’s voice was ice, now it was steel. “Should we have left you two at the inn?”

“He started it!”

You resolutely kept your attention on the walls before you, even when Jungkook exploded, frustration thick in his words.

“I didn’t so much as start anything, so much as I was pointing out facts,” Jimin nonchalantly said. “Is it really my fault Jungkook reacts like a child throwing temper tantrums when he hears words he doesn’t like hearing, even if they’re the truth?”

At that, even you had to wince. It didn’t take long to know that if there was something Jungkook hated, it was being likened to a kid, something that his age didn’t help, being the youngest. But before it could dissolve into another brawl-

“I believe I’ve found a clue!” Namjoon’s voice shouted in the distance.

You could have slumped forward then out of sheer relief at the sudden interruption, the yell getting the others’ attention. You could hear them all pause, before the sound of movement echoed, until the area fell silent again, as you were the last one remaining in the room. You sighed, turning around-

Your steps faltered.

Where the hell was Jungkook?

You instantly began looking around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the missing member, when-

Aha.

-you caught glimpse of the edges of a cloak disappearing into one of the corridors.

… Damn it. You internally groaned when you realized just what he was doing. Still, you knew if you didn’t come after him then, no matter what happened he’d get scolded by the others (though mainly Seokjin or Yoongi). Which, you could leave this small problem up to them, but…

You sighed as you remembered their stances on Jungkook’s behaviour.

You instantly took a step forward in that direction, glancing at the others quickly, if only to make sure that they weren’t about to stop you or come after you-

“... And like a child he goes off sulking, never minding if he gets lost like one,” Jimin drawled ahead of you, before side eyeing you. “If you desire to go after him and deal with his temper tantrum, please, be my guest.”

“... Well-” you started, your voice quiet. “It’s not exactly like that. But- I mean… Someone has to bring him back, right?” You didn’t mention how it felt as though the fight was partially your fault- though you knew there wasn’t really much you could have done. At this point, it felt as though the words themselves were like a broken record in your head. You couldn’t have done anything. Why would they listen to you? They hate you, and they don’t respect you, why do you think that they’d even give you a second to speak at all?

Still, the expecting and disappointed looks on the others’ faces seared themselves into your mind, replaying every time.

You didn’t even know why or how you thought it was okay to after him (seeing as there was still the possibility of traps in the ruins)- but still you did, following him through several turns, a few times almost calling out (and then hastily shutting up because every time you did, it either didn’t feel like the right time, or you forgot what you rehearsed yourself to say), as he went around the ruins. He was seemingly searching for clues in his own way too, though to no avail, until you reached what seemed to be a dead end.

Then you winced at the frustrated grumbling you could hear even from where you were, a thread of disquiet forming in your stomach.

“Jungkook,” you hesitantly called out his name. His head snapped up, doe eyes wide, before they narrowed as he caught sight of you.

He crossed his arms, frowning. “What do you want?”

“I-” you faltered, confused at his words. “W-What do I want? I came after you because you- um, you suddenly left, I was worried. I mean… Didn’t Seokjin, um, say that this place was, well, filled with traps back then?”

“I can handle myself,” he grumbled. “On the miniscule chance that I would activate a trap, the possibility that I would get hurt is very little.”

“That’s not the point,” you argued softly. “I’d- well, I’d like it if you didn’t take, um, chances in first place. And- I mean, the others might be looking for us, or, um, we might get lost…”

You fidgeted. “Besides, when I went after you, Namjoon found something. I know, um, that- you’ve been-” you dithered over the words in your head, unsure which to pick without coming off as weird in any way, “-worried, about the quest, but- I mean, you don’t have to push yourself so hard!”

Jungkook’s lips pursed, fists tightening even as he remained quiet.

“I don’t want to hear that from you,” he started. “You, who has to be the most useless one, despite being the leader,” he said bitterly, taking a step away from you, and closer to the walls.

The unsease you were feeling grew, and you couldn’t stop yourself from taking a step forward.

“Since the beginning, in what way have you ever truly acted like a leader? When have you ever benefited the search? Yet even if you do nothing, still they flock around you.”

You took another step.

“I… I know,” you said. Jungkook’s words hurt, but then again, none of it was really new to you in any way…

And another.

“And yet it’s as if you don’t care at all, while I have to do so much just to receive acclaim-”

And another.

At this point, the distance between you two was only a few feet now. Your every sense locked on to the area around the two of you, feeling something off. A sense of danger, so to say.

“I- okay,” you slowly said. “But, still, why don’t we just-”

“- and anothing thing, don’t tell me what to do!” Jungkook bit out, taking another step backward- the tension you sensed in the air sharpened to the point where your instincts overtook you.

“Jungkook, watch out!”

With only a single foot between the two of you, you quickly pulled him away from where he was, a wave of fear and surprise cascading over you- even if now that meant you and him had switched places you didn’t regret it at all.

It was the small tremble of the earth that alerted you to something wrong- then the shadow covering you- before the rough force of something tackling you settled in.

Your head rang as something loud echoed through the open space only a moment later, even as it felt like eternity, something like the fall of a boulder- but, that couldn’t be. Where would one even appear from?

Your last thoughts as you fell under the sweet spell of unconsciousness was that whoever pushed you sure could move fast.

»»————-　♔　————-««

When you woke up, it was in a familiar situation, to the sight of unfamiliar sheets. For a moment you could only linger in between the land of the living and that of the asleep, but even so you eventually forced yourself to get up.

And then the events of the day before sunk into your mind.

You shot up with a gasp, hissing when the pain hit you.

“Lady Y/N!”

You flinched away at the loud sound, your ears ringing- then the sound of murmurs filled the room, ones you recognized to be Yoongi’s and Namjoon’s.

“Namjoon?” You eventually croaked out as your senses readjusted to the world of living. “Yoongi? Hoseok?”

Namjoon, standing by your bedside- Yoongi, sitting behind him, and Hoseok in the corner opposite you all... You looked around, wondering where the others were.

You felt yourself physically wince as you met Seokjin’s eyes, for once unable to read anything in them, not even the displeasure he’d maintained with you ever since you met.

You immediately averted your gaze, choosing to focus on the others instead. “W… What happened? Where are the others?”

“After the two of you left, we went after you when Namjoon pointed out you were both missing. Thankfully in the nick of time too. Jungkook activated a trap in the ruins,” Yoongi was the first one to speak up, and you looked back at him. “It shouldn’t have worked anyway, but it did. A piece of the archway fell and almost hit you. Would have, if it wasn’t for Hoseok getting you out of the way.”

“I’m sorry,” Namjoon’s face, filled with shame appeared before you. “I should have known that the traps might still be active.”

“No, no!” You immediately rebutted, before dithering for something to say. “Don’t be sorry- um, if you’d known you would’ve told us, so…” You winced at your words as it seemed to have the opposite effect of what you wanted. “That is, I mean, Hoseok saved me so it isn’t as if I was hurt in the end, right?”

Something passed over his eyes then- though you failed to see it. Still, at the sight of your distressed face, he fell silent, before nodding. “I… I suppose that’s true.”

You turned to Yoongi. “That said… Um, I can remember that much- but what after?”

“You fell unconscious when the rock fell,” he continued. “We had to go back to the inn after that. Namjoon treated you, and we began to debate if we should go back and search without you, or if we should wait for you to take up. Still… Jungkook and Jimin had an argument. Taehyung took Jimin’s side, we attempted to break up the fight… But Jungkook ended up leaving.”

“No one knows where he is. The same goes for both Taehyung and Jimin.”

You heaved a sigh.

Great. What a disaster. Remembering the state of your group as you’d all set out to the ruins, the fight with Taehyung, and to an extent Jimin- not to mention Jungkook.

And now you were all too aware of Seokjin’s stare on your back, the thoughts you’d been trying to keep down suddenly rushing up again, whirling in your mind.

Don’t do that don’t do that don’t do that (I know what you’re thinking I know I fucked up I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m trying my best can’t you see that please please pleASE-)

You slowly breathed out.

“... We should-um, go on ahead with the plans. We’ll- we’ll meet back up here in a few hours, just…” You trailed off, trying to keep your voice even, though you knew your current mood was all too obvious. “B-Be careful. We’ll- er, we’ll set out again soon, o-okay?”

You resisted the urge to take in deeper breaths, resisted every urge to just let go of the building emotions in your chest.

“... Alright, Lady Y/N,” Namjoon hesitantly agreed. Hoseok fidgeted with his hands, shooting you concerned looks, and Yoongi’s eyes remained on you. Still, all three followed your request.

The door closed shut- and you let out a sigh.

Seokjin’s voice was even- though you could still sense the hidden tone under his words. “Aren’t you going to go after him?”

“I-” you faltered. “I can’t. I mean...”

(-he’s right everything he said was true-)

You kept your gaze stuck on the floor, then, a part of you beating painfully fast as the conversation continued.

“Really. Why not?”

“W-Why…” You cringed, your mind immediately scrambling for reasons to offer. But Seokjin’s voice remained calm, as if he hadn’t just suggested something ridiculous to you. “I’m not sure if you heard what he said, but-”

He smoothly cut you off. “Are you talking about how he said that you’re the most useless one, despite being the leader? Seeing as he all but screamed those words, yes, we heard them.”

You fell silent at his words, the familiar fall of your mood making itself known.

(-I know I know I’m sorry please-)

“... It’s not like- I mean, it’s not as if he’s wrong anyway, so...” you murmured, gaze falling down to the sheets that covered you. “I-I haven’t been exactly useful or helpful in any way since we started…”

And wasn’t that the truth?

(-please please can’t you just drop it-)

“You think I haven’t noticed?” He countered, before adding, “so you’re just going to give up like that.” You could practically imagine him raising an eyebrow at you then, unamused. “Without even putting up a fight.”

You avoided his gaze, afraid of the reaction that would be on his face. You’d faced that tone too many times to not be familiar with its matching expression- disappointment. “Yeah, well- what can I do anyway? That’s not something I’m good with at all, so… I-I mean, I’ll just make it worse, so… um, It’d be best for me to leave it alone, isn’t it?”

(-I can’t, I’m sorry, I hate that I’m letting you down-)

“Hah.” The mockery in his voice was clear.

“This again? Even though I knew I shouldn’t have expected anything…” Faint- but clear, but present, all the same it was there and it was said.

You winced. “I’m doing my best, okay?” You protested weakly, though, even as the words left your mouth, you knew it was the wrong thing to say- Seokjin’s gaze turning frigid.

“... Do you?” He spat, his gaze sharp. “Even now you aren’t trying at all, you’re just running away again! Even from the start, and until now, all you’ve been doing is running away. Do you think that you can solve every problem like that?”

“Ever since we left, every incident that we’ve encountered, I handled it- not because I wanted to, but because I knew that if I didn’t, you certainly weren’t going to do anything about it. I thought that maybe with time you’d step up- but I guess I was mistaken.”

He scoffed. “You’re a disappointment.”

(-pleASE JUST STOP I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW ALREADY)

All at once, you felt the strain of the last few days finally breaking you down, having pushed you again and again until you just. Couldn’t. Take it.

You fully snapped, your fists clenched tight against the bedsheets.

"What," you gritted your teeth, your voice shaky as you glared at him, caution and dread turning into fury and a mix of other emotions that you couldn't separate, "is your problem?"

"What part of 'I never asked for this' do you not understand?" You snapped at him when he opened his mouth to rebut. "No, shut the fuck up and listen!"

"You're disappointed that I'm the one who came to this world, that I'm the one who came to be the 'saviour', but guess what," you hissed, viciously jabbing a finger in his chest. "I never wanted to go on this quest either!"

"I never wanted to be- to be worshipped like some kind of god, I never wanted to go with a bunch of judgemental, overgrown kids who think that they're all so high and mighty, that they're-"

You hiccoughed as a fierce swell of emotions made itself known.

"I didn't- I didn't ask to wake up here in this world and lose everything ever familiar to me," you choked out, your voice thick with unshed tears. "I’m sorry if you think I’m always just ‘running away’ or whatever but I can’t, okay!? I don’t- all of this, I’ve never even done anything like this, and I just- I just want to go home. I just want to see my home again and go back to the life I had. I miss feeling at ease alone, miss cooking and eating food that I love, miss the late nights where even if I'm not as happy as some people want to be, I'm content and I'm- I'm-"

You crumpled then, folding in on yourself as the cries became too heavy to speak through, your frame trembling as small whimpers and sobs left you. You did your best not to show how close you were then to fully breaking down, though you doubted you succeeded.

When your muffled hiccups and sniffles dried down, you looked up.

tired

tired.

You were so so so tired.

You just wanted out.

You wanted out of everything, out of this quest and out of this world.

But you couldn't. You couldn't, so you had to do what you could do. You had to play along, you had to move on and you had no other choice but to do what the story wanted and finish the damn quest.

"S-So," your voice cracked, and you had no doubt you looked like a mess then. You didn't care though, your eyes only set on one person. "So, don't you dare look at me like my very existence is a disappointment, because I assure you, if I had a choice, I wouldn't be here at all," you laughed bitterly, remnant tears now spilling down your cheeks and unto the ground.

For a moment you savored the hush that fell unto the room, letting yourself breathe-

And then you stood up, pushed past him and slammed the door.

»»————-　♔　————-««

As soon as you were at a distance away from the room, you released a shaky exhale, letting the familiar sting of tears come. What were you going to do now? You knew, when you started that it’d take a miracle to complete the quest- but so soon, not even a week since its start and you had already botched it up badly. And now the confrontation with Seokjin…

A fresh batch of tears began to roll down your cheeks.

You didn’t want to think about it, think about how you didn’t know why you were even chosen, nor how did whoever did thought you could ever lead these men-

Forward, you forced yourself to think as you took in deep breaths, trying to calm yourself down. I have to keep moving forward, because that’s the only way I can go.

No use moping. If you had energy to cry, then you had energy to think of a solution, didn’t you?

You slipped out of the inn, your hood pulled up as you stepped through the back door. You winced as the loud noise of the bustling life of the town reached your ears- before you ducked your head as someone passed by. You still weren’t sure what you were going to do then, but you thought- well, you had to leave, if only for a little bit. Take a small break, alone, truly alone. You didn’t want to stay in that room for a second longer with Seokjin, nor did you want a chance for any of the guys coming back to check in on you or what.

Still, where would you go though? As you stepped out of the room, you had to acknowledge- there was no privacy, no peace and quiet to be had in the small town. It wasn’t as if you knew where to go either in the search of a place to think.

But.

If you’d like some privacy, there is a beach known only to us villagers. Outsiders are forbidden from taking a single step on it, but… of course, you are the exception, milady. It’d be our honor to have you ruse the beach in any way you need it.

Could you? You hesitated, not wanting to rely on your ‘saviour’ status, but then the chatter of the crowd reached your ears-

“Have you heard? The saviour is in our town! Our town!”

“What, only that? I’ve seen them walk around! Why, one of the vendors told me he even had the honor of meeting them when they bought food from him…’”

“I’ve also seen the saviour’s companions wander around… what are they looking for, I wonder?”

“Ahahah, is there any point thinking that- we’re just villagers. Our role is only to support them- no need to be too nosy!”

“True, true…”

… Tired.

It hadn’t even been three full days, yet you were already tired. Peace and quiet… You just wanted respite from the heavy gazes your ‘status’ put on you.

You tapped a nearby villager on the shoulder. “... Excuse me, do you know where the apothecary is?”

»»————-　♔　————-««

As you stepped onto the sand, your feet sinking down, you had to admit- they were right.

The beach, seemingly devoid of all life at the moment was like a safe harbor for you- for once, no attention was put on you, no eyes following your every move. The area was still and quiet, and if you didn’t know any better, you’d think that you were truly far away from all life- but you knew that wasn’t true. The village was only fifteen minutes away from where you were.

Still, it was a nice, rare, feeling that you indulged in for the moment.

You walked over to the coastline, feeling the gentle lap of waves around your feet. The water was cold and heavy, that even though you only came close enough for only your feet to be submerged, you still felt the chill travel through your body.

Looking up, you saw the sea. The time was still too early for the sky to be anything but dark, yet you could see the colors slowly start to lighten up. Daybreak would come soon- but for now, the sea only looked forbidding and mysterious. Your mind wandered over to Jungkook at that.

How did a kingdom look under the sea? How did they live?

An entire race of people who lived down there… You couldn’t even begin to imagine it. All your mind could bring up was from movies you’d seen before, and you wondered if their kingdom was anything close to that. It’d been three days- but you still hadn’t adjusted to your now reality. You didn’t think you ever could, really.

You were brought out of your thoughts when you heard the telltale sound of footsteps, your body instantly tensing, wary of enemies- only to deflate at the sight of hair the color of mint and a smile, amusement visible in their face.

You turned back to where you had been- viewing the sea. A part of you wanted to ignore Yoongi- you came here alone so you could be alone, for crying out loud. But-

You sighed as he sat down next to you, close enough that you could feel him near but not actually close enough for your shoulders to touch. For a moment you wondered if he’d speak up, but he only remained silent as he hummed lightly, the tune reminding you of the flute he’d played once. The two of you sank into a comfortable silence, the tension that had built up in you with his arrival seeping out.

“What do you want?” You eventually asked. “And how did you find me?”

For his part, Yoongi only gave a shrug. “It was easy to ask around the places we’d visited. Not to mention, after that fight… I thought you’d want to go somewhere you could be alone.”

"... You heard us?"

"I stayed near just in case," he admitted. "The two of you don't have the best track record together after all."

You cracked a small smile at that. "True. Still, you knew I wanted to be alone, and yet, you’re here.”

“Someone has to though,” he pointed out.

You let out a wry laugh. “Yeah, but still, that doesn’t change much, really. I mean, if you heard us, then what are you here for then? I mean, it’s not like he was wrong, was he? I don’t even- I don’t know what you want me to say. I’ve been trying to tell everyone that I’m not what you’re looking for and this happens and-”

You shuddered, for a moment wondering if you really were going to cry again- but you’d already done that, and even when you tried to grasp for any emotion inside you felt numb.

“-and I… I don’t know, I guess. Sorry,” you added, before burying your head in your arms, letting the fabric muffle your hearing and sight. For a moment you let the illusion of you being alone envelop you like a blanket, seeking comfort. “Just, um… Sorry.”

You stayed quiet after your speaking, dreading Yoongi’s response. You returned your gaze to the sea again, a part of you noticing that they’d become even lighter than before- you could slightly see the sand below

He sighed- you withdrew tighter into yourself.

“Look at me.”

Which was why when Yoongi spoke next, then- it was the gentleness in his voice that surprised you.

Despite the way that Yoongi’s words were a demand, the tone in his voice made it feel like a request instead- and so you looked back at him, still feeling timid. When you met his eyes though, you couldn’t find any judgement or disappointment. Instead, Yoongi’s eyes were kind- sympathetic. “Everyone possesses their own skills, their own strengths- and weaknesses. Maybe it’s true that you haven’t been able to show your skills since we began this quest… But, you know what? We’ve only started. You don’t need to be so harsh on yourself.”

You smiled bitterly. “... Okay, but what if I don’t know what my strength is? If I don’t have one?”

Yoongi only smirked. “Then you simply have to look for it and define it yourself, of course. And if you don’t have one, then you could make one, couldn’t you?”

You looked at him, stunned. His cheeks reddened, but he continued all the same.

“Anyway… I don’t believe at all that you’re useless. If you were, you wouldn’t have been able to come on this quest, much less become the leader,” he continued, the smile remaining on his face as, for once, you began to really take in his words. “I guess what I’m trying to say is… I believe in you. Even if you don’t think that you can be what we need, and maybe you can’t now- but I know you’ll grow into your role. Therefore, even if it’s just a little… I want you to believe in yourself too. Give yourself a chance.”

You fell silent once more as you mulled over his words, the quiet of the air around you broken only by the rhythmical lapping of the waves. You reevaluated Yoongi’s behaviour since you met, for once seeing them in another light- when he subtly, simply accepted you being the leader of the quest, even when you hate it and everything associated with it. Instead of continuously letting yourself go along with everything, believing that your efforts would only be useless- maybe you just try, at least, first.

Maybe there was some truth in his words.

“... Believe in myself… even just a little, huh?” You exhaled, watching rays of light slowly cast a gentle glow over the ocean waters- the sky turning to beautiful colors of red and orange, a pink glow appearing as well. The sparkles of light reflected into your eyes, combined with the stunning view of the daybreak- for once, since your arrival, you felt a rush of comfort and ease settle down in you.

“... Give myself a chance.” You murmured.

“... Thank you,” you eventually told Yoongi, before breaking out into a sheepish expression. “Come to think of it, I think this is the first time we’ve actually had a serious one-on-one talk since our first meeting… You’re, um, actually really nice.”

“I’m not nice,” he deadpanned, before he frowned. “Wait, then what did you first think of me then?”

“That you were way too nosy and interested in other people’s lives,” you cheekily replied, a smile coming on your face for once, small it was as he rolled his eyes. “Although, hmmm, let me guess, everyone sees you as cold and intimidating?”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re not far off the mark.”

“Well,” you slowly started. “Now I know that isn’t true though. You’re actually quite kind.”

Silence covered the two of you once more- this time, only broken by the chirping of the birds- and you got up, thinking over your next actions. As Yoongi followed your movements, you found yourself hesitating for a moment- before you grabbed his hand, and, drawing him into a hug, you lingered for a few moments as you spoke. “I think... I think I needed that. S-So, um, thank you for talking to me,” you flushed, hurrying over your words before you grew too embarrassed to get them out. “That said, um, I should- I’m going to go after Jungkook and apologize- so, um, bye!”

Before he could react, before he could do more than tentatively hug you back you drew back you began to run away. “I’ll see you later at the inn- I’ll be back quick!”

You could only hear a low chuckle from behind you.

»»————-　♔　————-««

Where could he be?

It was only minutes in your search that you realized a glaring flaw in your plan- you couldn’t talk to Jungkook if you didn’t know where he was- and you didn’t even have a clue.

All that you could remember was that he’d left the inn from the others, and that he wouldn’t have left Rivermouth- but, still. The town was still, well, a town, one that you were unfamiliar with. You let out a heavy sigh. You didn’t quite think it out when you left, did you?

You slowed down your steps, unwilling to just run without a destination in mind- when you caught sight of black hair. You held your breath- before the man turned to the side, and you saw a familiar face.

“Jungkook!” You cried out his name, running over as quick as you could before he decided to get away, or something. “Wait for me, I need to talk- what is that?”

Halfway through your words you looked at him in astonishment as the glint of the metal in his palm stole your attention- a hairpin that held a familiar set of pearls.

It was obviously delicately crafted, the wooden part of it long and slender, the end decorated with what seemed to be small, white flowers that you immediately recognized to be tulips. Numerous, and yet even more amazing was that each had pearls in the middle, making it glimmer in the sunlight. The amount of work put into making it clearly had not just been a little- what with the flowers being so detailed that you could have mistaken them for being real.

But that didn’t eliminate the question of why Jungkook had it- you looked up.

Jungkook’s expression then was similar to yours, wide-eyed in surprise as well before he averted his gaze too, red quickly rising to his cheeks.

“... For you.” In a manner that reminded you of the time you met him, he thrusted the hairpin into your hands. “... As an apology. No woman will turn down jewelry, right? ”

“... For me?” Your voice came out as quiet, bewildered, and when you turned back to Jungkook, you found him nervously nibbling on his lips, a furrow on his eyebrows as he looked at you with- determination?

“I-” he paused, before seemingly gathering his courage. “Yes, it’s for you. Is it possible- I mean, I wish to- may I talk to you? Alone.”

“Um- okay,” you agreed, feeling equal parts relieved and confused. “I wanted to talk to you too, a-anyway.”

Jungkook’s lips curled into a slight smile.

»»————-　♔　————-««

So here the two of you were, at the pub- which, early enough in the morning was quite sparse, the only people inside ones eating breakfast. The two of you had sat down to order food as well- though, you noticed with a degree of amusement, that Jungkook had ordered a wide array of dishes.

While waiting for your order, Jungkook began to speak, his voice low.

“I was at fault earlier,” he started- shaking his head firmly at you when you moved to protest. “It is. No matter what others say, I put us all in danger by being childish… and I apologize for trying to run from the blame.”

“Especially to you, who I almost killed,” he murmured, contrite.

You looked at him, stunned. You didn’t expect Jungkook to apologize- what more, to actually look and seem ashamed of his actions. You hesitated, the words you’d originally been preparing to say vanishing as you carefully thought over what you wanted to tell him. The kanzashi in your pocket felt heavier now that you realized its significance.

“... You’re- uh, forgiven,” you murmured, relishing in Jungkook’s reaction then. Apparently, he didn’t expect you to just so easily say that. Still, you continued forward, your voice trembling a little but pushing on all the same. “I… know I don’t have much to offer. Even if people say that I’m the ‘prophesied one’,” you huffed at the title, a wry smile on your lips. “And… I know it isn’t that obvious, but I just want everyone to succeed safe and sound.”

“... I realize that,” he hesitantly offered. “I... I heard from the citizens that you saved Seokjin when you first came. And… That moment, at the ruins, you saved me as well.”

You wince at the reminder, falling silent again.

“I’m sorry,” he bit his lip. “You don’t- it was not a smart idea to bring up that topic, I realize.”

“No, no,” you immediately waved your hand, sighing. “It’s okay. I guess I was just a little worried about us as a team. I mean, this just reminded me that, just- we’re all still wary of each other, right? We really didn’t have any time to get to know each other. As a team. And- um, yeah.”

“... A team, huh?”

“Yeah? I mean, in a way, we’re, um, comrades or team mates, aren’t we?”

“I believe you’re the only person to call us that,” he murmured, amused, though he slightly smiled at you after. “But I like it.”

The conversation between the two of you was cut short as a waiter approached, in their hands your order. You both started eating- and then you snorted, chortling at Jungkook.

“Whoa, slow down.” You laughed as he continued to devour the food in front of him, a happy smile on his face. “You can always eat it again sometime. Maybe in the next town. Aren’t you even full already?”

“You don’t know that though,” he huffed, stuffing a loaf of bread in his mouth after. “Besides, I’m still growing. An abundant amount of food and nutrients is needed.”

“You’re going to get sick eating so much so quickly,” you pointed out. He side-eyed you, raising an eyebrow in mock offense.

“I wouldn’t. I’ll have you know that I’m not that weak,” he rolled his eyes, making you laugh again- what was the connection between being weak and not choking on their food? Jungkook, however, seemed to take your reaction as a challenge instead. “Here, I’ll prove it to you.”

Digging into his food with even more energy than before, he began to clear dishes at a faster speed- you readied the glass of water beside you.

Indeed, it only took a few moments before Jungkook began to suddenly cough, tears welling up in his eyes from what had to be a reaction to the food. You pushed the glass of water towards him- he chugged it down instantly.

You stifled the laughter building up in your throat at the indignant look on his face.

“Not that weak, huh,” you couldn’t help teasing him. Jungkook scrunched up his nose- you cracked up.

“How was I to know that food would have such a weird flavor, especially when mixed with other foods?”

You blinked at him in confusion. “What do you mean- um, have you… Have you never tried this before?”

His lips twitched, and dare you say it, Jungkook seemed to be pouting, a light blush on his face. “No, not really.”

But this is a common dish in the kingdom. The maid’s words from before resounded in your head, and you frowned, hesitant to speak up about your guess. While it was true that the meals served back at the feast were fancy and probably something only the royals normally ate…

“Jungkook, have you…Is this your first time on land?”

Even as you spoke the words, you knew they were true, at least to some degree- Jungkook’s head whipped to you in surprise, doe eyes wide.

“Wait, really?” You blurted out. “But, I mean- aren’t you like the prince of your kingdom? Royalty?”

His lips twitched into a smile at your naivety. Jungkook seemed to calm down then- pausing for a few moments, before he sighed. “I’ve never left the comforts of my kingdom before, unlike now,” he confirmed your guess.

“But…”

“Mermaids…” He started explaining, “While we are not solitary creatures, we still don’t mix well with those on land. Our bodies… our history, and our culture were made for the watery depths of the ocean. More than that, we’ve never-” He paused, shrugging. “Never needed help from any other species.”

“So when-” You hesitated to say Jimin’s name, not wanting him to get angry. “-when it was said that you don’t have much experience in this…”

“Yes. I’ve never even met a human before this quest,” he admitted. “I was barely able to keep up with the different etiquettes and customs not only humans, but also other races have.”

For a moment he fell silent, eyes lowering to the table. And when he spoke again, his tone was different- more vulnerable.

“I- what happened at the ruins… I’m not sure if you were told about it, but Jimin and I had an argument,” he revealed. “He called me naive, ignorant, childish… Really, it was only the usual. And while I reacted the way I always did, this time… When I ran away, I began to think over his words. And I realize…”

His cheeks flushed pink as he looked up at you. “I have been acting like a child, haven’t I? Rushing headstrong into every task just to prove that I could, assuming that I knew what to do, being stubborn…”

"I... I promise to be better."

Jungkook's voice was barely a whisper then, low enough that you wondered if you were just hearing it. You looked up- eyes stared straight back at you- though you wondered how long his gaze would hold, with how red his face was.

"I mean-" He faltered, hands shooting up to partially shield his face, before he set them down again abruptly. "I mean, that."

"That...?" You gently prodded him, unsure where he was leading.

"That I'll be more mature!" He almost yelled, before his head thudded on the table as he, in your view, tried to become one with it. You bit back the laughter forming in your throat.

Still, Jungkook groaned as he looked up, a pout on his face. "Can't you refrain yourself from laughing," he sulked. "I'm doing my utter best to be serious with you."

"I know you are," you reassured him, feeling the beginnings of a smile settle on your face anyway. "I'm listening, I really am."

He sighed. "You… To tell you the truth, when I joined this quest, it was because I wanted to prove to everyone that I could be someone great… But, honestly, now I wonder if I haven’t been too hasty. It seems all I have done is nothing but to bring trouble,” he sighed despondently, frowning at his plate.

“That’s not true.”

He paused, looking back at you.

“You said it yourself, didn’t you? This is your first time here, so you’re still- um, you’re still learning, so…” You flushed under his attention. “So, I mean- that just means you still have room to grow. So don’t- um, it’s okay to make mistakes. You’ll… learn,” you finished lamely, before groaning. “That was terrible, wasn’t it?”

You hid your face in your arms, slumping on the table. This time, it was Jungkook who burst into warm chuckles. You hesitantly looked up- meeting his warm eyes.

“Maybe a little.” He laughed even more when you pouted, though he soon cleared his throat. “Still, it was clear to me what you wanted to say in the end, so- please, don’t worry about it.”

“Right,” you mumbled. “Right,” you repeated, before you remembered the kanzashi in your hands- carefully putting it in your hair then, twirling your hair into a bun before you inserted it.

You had to admit, you almost didn’t want to use it, afraid that you’d break it, or that you’d lose it, or something- but the way that Jungkook’s eyes widened with surprise, before he shyly smiled… Well, it was worth it. You could only hope you looked good with it.

“How does it look?” You adjusted it- too tight- mindful that moving it too much would cause it to come undone.

“... You look beautiful,” he admitted. You giggled at his response, especially when you noticed the light flush on his cheeks.

“... If the two of you are done having a heart-to-heart then, you should go back and get some rest, don’t you think?” A sudden voice joined in, making you two startle.

You looked up- meeting Yoongi’s eyes as he sent the two of you mildly amused looks. “Considering you-” he nodded at you, “are supposed to be on bed rest and you-” this time he raised an eyebrow at Jungkook, who sheepishly winced, “haven’t been back at the inn since last night.”

“Since when have you been standing there?”

“Jungkook, you haven’t slept at all?”

As both of your voices rang out in the morning air, you kept the frown on your face as you looked at Jungkook with concern, while he nervously avoided your gaze.

“... I, uh... “

You huffed. “We, are going to get you into a bed now. Right now.” As you spoke, you felt your eyebrows furrow even more at the signs of his sleep deprivation that you could see now, the most prominent being the bloodshot eyes that he sported.

When Jungkook appeared to protest, you only stared him down firmly- until he sighed, defeat being practically written all over him. You grinned, and then turned to Yoongi.

“That said, how did you know we were here?”

He only smirked. “I’ve been here from the beginning, Y/N. I was here before you two even arrived. This is the only pub in town, you know.”

You looked down at his table- covered in empty dishes- before facepalming, a groan leaving you. Yoongi only huffed in amusement at the two of you. “If you two are done, we should get going,” he repeated. “Do you know how long I had to wait for the two of you to finish talking?”

“I heard you the first time, old man,” you childishly rebutted. Yoongi raised an eyebrow at you, while Jungkook let out a snicker- and then covered his mouth with his hand with a horrified look on his face.

“Because you act like one,” you explained, a light, teasing smile on your face. “Always quiet, always tired, always exasperated… I also read that faes live the longest after elves.”

He snorted at your reasoning. “And here I thought we were friends,” he said, and if it wasn’t for the slight smile on his face you’d take him at his word- this time, though, you could read him better and you only beamed at him.

“The two of you are on good terms?” Jungkook asked, a curious glint in his eyes as he slowly relaxed, realizing Yoongi wouldn’t get mad at him. You shyly shrugged.

“Yoongi helped me- um, he talked to me and helped me realize some things after earlier.”

“Oh.” Jungkook fell quiet at that. “And then you went looking for me,” he said, the sentence coming out a statement. You nodded.

“... Then, uh- thank you, Yoongi,” he mumbled hesitantly, eyes darting over to Yoongi who only shrugged in response, though you could see him slightly smile.

“Yeah, yeah, let’s get going already.”

»»————-　♔　————-««

“Thank you,” Jungkook eventually repeated as the three of you exited the pub, the sun now comfortably hanging in the sky, the morning sunny but not overly so. “Not only for hearing me out, even as I made all those blunders... And- that is, um, cheering me up,” he added shyly.

“No,” you smiled, feeling lighthearted for once in a long while. “I should thank you, and Yoongi too. You two helped me figure out some things about myself, remember? Maybe- we could do this again?”

“... Eating at a pub?”

“Is your mind always focused on food?” Yoongi shook his head teasingly at Jungkook, who tensed before relaxing again, a playful smile appearing on his lips too.

“I mean… eating out has to be better than staying inside our rooms all day, with that option we at least get to see the town,” he rebutted, his smile growing wider when he saw no real annoyance in Yoongi’s eyes.

“I’m resting, to replenish my energy,” Yoongi rolled his eyes. “Just getting here to this town made me more tired than I’ve been for the past ten years. Looking after you brats is no joke.”

Jungkook snorted, ignoring his last sentence. “For the past ten years, is it? Shouldn’t it be imperative you get more exercise then?”

“I’m a nature spirit, do you think plants move, why would I need to get more exercise-”

You couldn’t help giggling at their banter, reaching out to bump both shoulders playfully as you brought back the topic to before. “Jungkook, we don’t have to keep eating at a pub though, I’m sure we’ll be able to find other places to eat at in the next towns. And Yoongi, maybe we could walk around and explore too?”

“If I have to,” Yoongi sighed, but you could see him smile and you chuckled.

“I’ll look forward to it,” Jungkook grinned.

»»————-　♔　————-««

When the three of you returned to the inn, it was to a somewhat strange sight so far. While the three of you had been out eating, apparently you'd missed something- it would explain Namjoon seated by the table, the map that was laid out before him, Seokjin seated not far off with a cup in his hands.

"Lady Y/N!"

You'd barely spoken up before Namjoon beamed at you, thrusting something in your face. You felt someone tug you back, as whatever it was in Namjoon's hands almost hit you- you glanced to the side to see Jungkook give you a small look of concern, to which you smiled back at him to reassure him. "It was a success!"

"I... Um, what?" You looked back at Namjoon, confused- his excitement waned a little as he realized you didn't quite understand him. He cleared his throat, calming down a little, a sheepish look appearing on his face then.

"Seokjin suggested we take another trip to the ruins, to see if we've missed anything," he began to explain. "The room we chanced upon before seemed to be the very one we needed- when we returned to examine it once more, we found a small patch of echo flowers remaining there."

"Echo flowers?" You looked at him in confusion. Beside you, you could feel Yoongi stiffen for some reason.

"... Echo flowers are magical flora that repeat the last thing they've heard," he murmured.

"Oh. Um, wait, what did they say then?"

Namjoon's dimples appeared even as an embarrassed smile grew on his face. "The next clue to our quest was admittedly quite simple."

It was then that he raised the small box again- the first word that came into your mind then was a music box, but it was obviously not quite the same thing, considering the context of the conversation.

"It's a simple invention of mine- it acts as how an Echo flower would, but- oh, it'd probably be best, Lady Y/N, if you experience it for yourself."

You hesitantly accepted the box, bringing it close to your ears.

For a moment, there was silence.

And then, laughter, warm, as a voice rang out.

"I don't think I could ever forget a second of this, really. But even if I did... I make sure everything is written down, so I don't ever lose even just a moment."

"'Written down'? You didn't strike me as the type of person to keep a journal, Alex."

A chortle. "Neither did I! But here it is, anyway. Maybe after this, though, I'll keep it for anyone who wants to search for this tower too."

"Why would you though?"

"Why not?"

As the last sentence ended, the voice dwindled down, the box shutting close- and you gently pulled it away from your ear, even as your mind raced with possibilities.

"So," you started. "We're looking for this 'Alex's journal'?"

You paused as a thought struck you. "Wait, Alex- isn't that, um, isn't that short for Alexander? I mean, he was the only one recorded to have entered the tower, right?"

Namjoon made a noise of pure glee. "Yes! As expected of Lady Y/N, you immediately understood it."

"The recording doesn't give us much help, though," Jungkook spoke up then. "Unless anyone has an inkling of a clue where we could look for it."

At that, Namjoon's dimples made a reappearance.

"Then the fact that I happen to have a huge clue where it might be should be quite a big help, don't you think?" He grinned as he set out a map on the table, hands smoothening over the edges, before he pointed to what seemed to be a city not too far off from where you were. "The city of Crossroads- known for its history in anything related to the Great War, as it used to be the human capital then. If I'm right, then it should be where Alexander left all his previous items and equipment."

You felt a smile slowly appear on your face. "Namjoon, are you sure?"

"Yes," he nodded. "I'm sure. Please trust me on this."

"Crossroads it is, then," you hummed, feeling a thrill go through you at the unexpected good news. "Thank you, Namjoon! Just when I was worried we weren't getting anywhere."

"I..." He ducked his head then, a red flush appearing on his cheeks. "I'm glad to finally be of help."

Your eyes slid past him then, at the sight of movement at the edge of your vision. It was then that you caught sight of Seokjin- and the quiet expression on his face as he regarded you.

All at once, you felt the giddiness wear off as you remembered something you promised yourself to take care of.

"Namjoon, Jungkook," you interjected. Both men turned to look at you then. "It's- um, it's been a long day... We should, uh, we should all get some rest, okay? We can, um, we can talk more about this on the road tomorrow."

As they started to vacate the room, you kept your eyes on Seokjin- Yoongi's hands brushing over your shoulder in a show of support as he left.

"Back so soon? I thought it'd take you longer. ... What did you want to talk about, then?"

Seokjin’s words remained neutral, not a hint of what had happened before leaking in- still, you had to prepare yourself just to get the words out. "What I said earlier- I'm not- I won't take back my words."

He raised an eyebrow at you, and you shakily let out the breath you were holding, your voice coming out even.

"I won't take back what I said, because it's true," you repeated. "But... I had time to think, and I realize you aren’t exactly wrong either. I haven’t done anything but let others lead the way for me, letting them decide for me, so... I know it's not much, coming from me, and what I've been like so far, but..."

This time, when you looked him in the eyes again, it felt different- in a way, it felt easier.

"... I'll do my best," you vowed. “I’ll do what I can, to make this quest a success.”

This time, it was Seokjin who broke his gaze away first, focus transferring to stirring the tea he was holding. You simply grinned, then- the burden on your shoulders feeling somehow lighter. You turned on your heels, intending to go back to your room-

"I'll hold you to that."

Seokjin's voice, faint as it was, echoed clearly behind you.

»»————-　♔　————-««

You suppressed the urge to squeal, instead opting for rolling around, a grin on your face. You’d done that. You had, hadn’t you? You didn’t think you could, but you did, and you did.

… And then you groaned.

You collapsed on your bed, sinking into the cotton sheets, embarrassment of sorts from what you’d just been doing catching up to you.

You knew it was stupid to get so giddy over something so little. But!

But, at least, you made progress today. Of a sort. That was something to celebrate, right?

You brought out the hairpin that Jungkook had given to you earlier, admiring the way the pearls easily shone under the moonlight. Although you couldn’t wear it often, as travelling on a horse meant bumpy rides- the gesture was still appreciated. More so when you remembered how the pearls in question must have been from when your two first met as well.

So. Really, you’d done something right today, you nodded to yourself. Right. Though...

You exhaled a sigh as you remembered the remaining problem you still had to set right tomorrow- with Taehyung. After earlier with Namjoon and the others, you’d asked after the two, Hoseok as well, wondering where they went. Apparently, while Hoseok came with Seokjin and the others to the ruins, the two had come along (read: were ‘persuaded’ by Seokjin, most likely), and now each was in their own room. A part of you was relieved that even as angry as they seemed to be last you saw them, they were still putting in effort. Somewhat.

You’d set things right with Taehyung and Jimin, and- and you’d properly thank Hoseok as well, for saving you.

You would… You would have to try too. Do better. You would do better.

You couldn’t help the giddy grin then on your face, nor the burst of excitement that came along with the jitters. Really. You should be sleeping, but, as it was…

»»————-　♔　————-««

“Y/N.”

If Yoongi was surprised by your sudden appearance in the kitchen, hours into the night when everyone should be sleeping, he said nothing, only offering a nod

“Hi, Yoongi. Sorry- um, sorry to be a bother.” You returned the smile shyly, accepting the unspoken invitation for what it was as you took a seat across him. The rich smell of tea wafted around the table.

He only shook his head. “I wouldn’t mind some company right now, really. Don’t worry about it. That said… You couldn’t sleep?”

You smiled sheepishly. “Not after today, I guess.”

“I guess the last few days have been kind of crazy,” he agreed, hands reaching out to pour another cup of tea, before he pushed it towards you. You hesitated for a moment, before raising the cup close, the smell of milk distinct amongst the sweet tea. “That should help.”

“Ah, thank you,” you murmured, taking a sip- humming in pleasure as the sweet taste of the tea enveloped your tongue. There was something mellow, honey-like in the taste, with a hint of apple as well. Yet the milk added a creamy texture to the smoothness of the tea. You weren’t quite sure what kind of tea you were drinking, but it was admittedly delicious.

For a moment the two of you said nothing.

If the moment now had happened a few weeks ago, you would’ve been scrambling for an excuse to leave, highly wary and uncomfortable. If the time was shifted to a few days ago, you would have tried to endure it, tense and uneasy. And if it had been the day before… You would have been a nervous wreck.

But right now, it was easy to let the tension slip off your shoulders like a cloak. Even if you and Yoongi weren’t exactly friends (yet, a part of you hoped. You weren’t friends yet), it was at least easy to think of him as something close to a ‘comrade’. Someone who had seen the worst of you, and chose to help you anyway. Maybe that made all the difference, you mused.

“!?”

Though unexpectedly, someone else came down too.

With his hair in a fluffy mess, doe eyes wide and mouth in a small ‘O’, Jungkook, looked- well, like a deer in headlights as he stood by the doorway.

“I guess that makes two of you unable to sleep,” Yoongi lightly commented, amusement visible in his voice, “Sit down, will you?”

And then there were three.

»»————-　♔　————-««

“This moment feels somewhat surreal,” Jungkook started as he sipped his tea, a little smile on his face. “When I set out for the quest, having tea in the middle of the night wasn’t exactly something I envisioned. You both aren’t what I thought you would be like.”

“Really?” You blinked in surprise. “Wait, then what did you expect?”

He shrugged sheepishly. “I imagined it mostly how they describe heroes in stories. It didn’t really help what they told me about when you first arrived… I thought you would appear fully armored, with even a metal helmet, and a sword to boot. Or a bow, perhaps.”

Your lips twitched, and you huffed even as you smiled. “Sorry to break it to you, but I don’t have a deck of armor, and I’m not good with swords or weapons either. In fact, I barely even know what I’m doing here.”

Jungkook shook his head. “That’s alright with me. I don’t know what I’m doing either,” he grinned at you, the way his front teeth protruded out of his mouth reminding you of a bunny. “This just means we can learn how to be better for this quest together.”

You let out a startled laugh, your cheeks reddening. “Huh. I guess that’s true, huh?” You took another sip of your tea before you remembered something. “Well, again, I don’t have anything really amazing or what, but… Well, I do have this.”

You pulled out the item in question from your pocket, laying it out on the table for both men to see.

With a seemingly immaculate golden gleam to it, the key you laid out was simple, unassuming. It could have easily been mistaken for any other key, except the difference between others and this particular key was the beautifully engraved stars alongside the handle.

You were just about to talk about it, when you heard Yoongi mutter in astonishment. “The Key of Eden. The only key known in existence to be able to open any door, no matter if it’s magical or not.”

You looked at him, surprised. “Um- yeah. Kind of amazed you can tell what it is with just a glance, but- um, when they, I mean, when I went into his supposed treasury…” You trailed off, unsure how to word it. “I felt like- um, sorry, I know this is kind of weird but I’m serious- it was calling out to me? Like-” you fumbled, waving the object in your hand as though that would help emphasize your words. “Everything else, it felt wrong to take them what more bring them along, but, um, this key- it felt like in contrast I just had to bring it along. Does that- does that make sense? Sorry.”

“No, it’s alright,” Yoongi shrugged. “But I guess this really proves you’re not cut out for fighting at all, huh.”

You wryly smiled. “I guess you can say that. Makes me feel kind of- well, hopeless...”

“There are still other ways to help,” Jungkook reassured you.

“I know,” you sighed. “But, um, I guess it’s just that I feel like I know nothing? And yeah, I’m learning, and all that, but- I mean, I’m new to all of this, and I don’t even know just why or how magic is so important to anyone in here. I mean, I’ve barely seen it in use aside from when I arrived… I just, um, I just don’t get it, I guess…”

“Weren’t there books on that at the library?” Yoongi frowned.

“There wasn’t much, really…” You sighed. Next to you, you heard Jungkook let out a soft ‘oh’, and you turned to him.

“As a fae, and one who’s lived for so long at that, you could give us an introduction to magic,” Jungkook grinned at Yoongi- who, seeing the hopeful look in your eyes paired Jungkook’s own excitement, only sighed. With an eye roll, he started talking.

Magic, as Yoongi explained it, was simply the result of a person exerting their will on the world, manipulating nature, with varying success. It couldn’t be quantified in numbers, but there were ways to feel how much in relative terms your magic was. Still, it was rarely needed, because… Well, contrary to your belief, magic wasn’t quite the all-encompassing presence you thought it would be in daily life. Oh, it was present, definitely, but it turned out that an elf could have as much magic as a human did.

Races who had longer lifespans also had less capacity for magic than races with shorter ones, Yoongi explained, the only exception being the fae who were tied almost as one to the magic of the world. Elves, and vampires, the ones who lived longest had barely any magic, but they made up for it other ways- elves had their innate knowledge of nature as well as the certain talent for bows. Vampires had their lack of need for sleeping, eating or air. Fae lives as long as elves, however, unlike them they had magic as they were born directly from and with magic itself.

“A way to tell apart pureblood vampires and ones that are turned from other races is if they breathe,” he added. “Because vampires don’t need to take in air like other races, they don’t have the habit of breathing. Their chests are perfectly still, unlike those turned.”

Your thoughts wandered over to Jimin, finally being able to put into words what exactly it was about seeing him every time that made you uncomfortable, more than the others- not just his red pupils, but the lack of human respiration, the subtle tells that told you he wasn’t human, more than the others…

“Moving on, dragon and yokai.”

Dragons and yokai lived for a few hundred years as well, though not as long as the first two. The only magic dragons possessed was their ability to shift between their draconic form and their more human one- you were taken aback to find out that breathing fire and flying didn’t require the use of magic at all, at least for them.

“Not only are the wings of dragons wide, they’re also thick and powerful- enough to lift them up and make them soar despite their weight,” Yoongi explained. “With dragon fire, they have a separate organ filled with a special fluid- when they want to breathe fire, they draw it into their throat, where water mixes with it. The resulting mixture is highly flammable, so much that the moment they open their mouth, the mixture coming in contact with air instantly erupts in flames.”

“Wow,” you breathed out, entranced by his explanation. “So that’s how dragons breathe fire.”

“... I wonder if it’s just oxygen that they need to make the flammable liquid erupt,” you mused, not noticing Yoongi’s soft smile then. To the side, Jungkook looked just as captivated by Yoongi’s words as you were, for once silent, though his eagerness was evident in the way his eyes shined.

Yokai, he told you both, were a mixed race. Some lived almost as long as vampires and elves- but just as much yokai lived lives the length of a human’s. Their only magic was to shift forms too, between their more natural form and ones that resembled humans.

“Only kitsune like Taehyung can easily switch between the two whenever they want, though. In fact, the kitsunes’ main ability to shapeshift without restrictions, and for however long as they want- it’s a huge reason why they’re considered the representatives of the yokai. Though it also comes with its own disadvantages- the source of their magic, a kitsune’s Hoshi no Tama, is separated from them when they’re in human form. If caught, it binds the kitsune to do their bidding.”

Finally, mermaids, mages and humans. All three had an average lifespan of a single century, but in return, they had the greatest potential for magic. Or, at least, mages did.

“It’s a mystery why exactly, but only a very, very small amount of humans can use magic. Most of the populace don’t, even if when we check, they have more magic in their body than dragons and yokai.” You could feel Jungkook’s curious stare almost burn a hole at your side- although, if you were in his position you probably would’ve been the same.

You tapped your finger on the table, exhaustion from the day’s events having dissipated as the conversation continued. “Wait, but I…”

“You were able to do magic, right?” You nodded your head at Yoongi’s question.

“They say your magic was able to blast the pixie to the point of it being severely injured,” Jungkook added in, before turning to Yoongi again. “That means Y/N is part of those who can use magic, right?”

Were you? You turned over the facts in your head. As much as you wanted to believe it, what happened then with the pixie- it was a one time thing. You’d think if you could do magic, you’d see a sign somehow. But no, none.

Then again, you hadn’t tried deliberately using magic...

Yoongi frowned. “That’s actually something I wanted to check right now.”

“Check?” You echoed, confused. He only nodded.

“Can you give me your hand?”

Wordlessly you acquiesced, laying your hands on the table. Yoongi pulled out a small orb, before he placed it in your hands and tapped it gently. You raised an eyebrow, but kept quiet.

Seconds passed, and then a full minute- but still, the item in question remained dull.

“But…” Jungkook gaped. “That was a magic orb, was it not? If so, then it should have lit up, at least a little. Why is there no reaction at all?”

You blinked in surprise. As much as you already expected it, a part of you was also disappointed and confused- could you do magic or not?

“That’s what I thought, too.” Yoongi examined the orb in your hands again for any change, before finally deeming it the same as ever. “I want to try something next. Keep your hands on the table.”

With that said, he grasped one of your hands in his, making a familiar feeling jolt in you. What felt like electric static at first melted away into an easygoing calm, before it felt as though you were slowly being enveloped by pressure, the heavy weight of something serious about to happen-

You couldn’t help squeaking in surprise as the orb, previously still and dull, started to shine brighter and brighter. You pulled your hand away from Yoongi, standing and leaning away to shield your eyes from the light-

- and instantly the light died down.

In the silence that followed, it was Jungkook who spoke up first. “That… That was amazing,” he said, awed, before a look of realization came on his face. “The orb lit up, however, only after Yoongi placed his hand on yours- what does that mean, then?”

Yoongi only shook his head at Jungkook’s question. “I’m about to get to that. Y/N, I want to ask you- did you feel anything when I touched your hand?”

You hesitantly nodded. “Yeah. It felt like I was standing in front of a huge wave, and it was about to crash down on me- before I started to feel like I was controlling it instead?”

“As I expected,” he murmured.

“... I think that time with the pixie too, it was like this,” you added hesitantly, remembering the event in question. “But,uh, unlike with yours, it felt like I was touching something… Something unnatural in every way.”

“Then…”

“Y/N... you don’t have any magic power yourself, but you can absorb and use other people’s magic.” Yoongi’s statement was blunt, sure- and you gawked at him.

“I- what? Really?” You blurted out. He nodded, a small smile appearing next.

“I expected it in the beginning, really. To be honest, no one knows for sure why some people have stronger magic than others. Though the ones with the greatest amount always end up in history books- royalty, commanders, pioneers. Still, the greatest of them all, Alex… he didn’t have any magic power like you,” he revealed.

“Considering their shared position as saviors, I supposed it makes sense.” The awe in Jungkook’s eyes hadn’t disappeared as he peered up at you- only strengthening. “Y/N, that’s amazing!”

“... I still don’t know how to use magic though,” you sighed. “This doesn’t change the fact that the only thing I can use is this-” You pulled out the key again, waving it in the air, “-key. Which, I might not even be able to use, seeing as it needs magic too.”

“I don’t think you need magic to use it,” Yoongi shrugged. “After all, if he didn’t have any magic, but he still used it, don’t you think it’s possible there’s a way for you to use it without magic too?”

“Besides,” he added, a glint in his eyes that made you wary. “If you need someone to teach you magic,” he turned to Jungkook with a playful smile, “she’s in the best hands already, isn’t she?”

“... What do you mean?”

“Oh! Of course,” Jungkook exclaimed with a grin. “Namjoon would love to teach you, I’m sure.”

You wheezed. “No… You can’t be serious,” you groaned, dramatically collapsing on the table. Jungkook laughed at your reaction, while Yoongi only smirked.

After that, the conversation then dwindled. Though, what followed it was a comfortable silence, only the chirping of night owls and crickets filling the air. You didn’t know how much time had passed since you went down, content to just let yourself exist in the moment for one. The familiar solace you found in being awake when the world was asleep, free to just be was one that you were all too happy to indulge in for as long as you could. Even if you were with company unlike before, but- maybe that just added to the comfort of the situation.

It was a sentiment you knew the other two shared, but then-

You yawned, just a little. Still Yoongi’s eyes instantly caught the action, and he set his cup down.

“Alright, that’s enough for tonight. The two of you should go to bed now.”

“And you?” Jungkook protested- was that a pout? You cracked up, giggling.quietly.

“I’ll be up in a moment,” Yoongi shook his head. “I just need to clean up.”

“And before any of you two say something like ‘we’ll help’ the answer is no. Go on, get to sleep.”

Yoongi’s words washed over you, reminding you of the bed upstairs-. You hummed, feeling drowsiness cover your body like a warm blanket. “... Okay,” you easily acquiesced with a yawn. “C’mon, Jungkook.”

With your approval thrown in, the younger could only scrunch up his nose as he followed after you. You journey from the kitchen to the stairs, and then your room was slow. Your thoughts went over the day’s events- you really had done a lot today, hadn’t you? Your bed seemed like heaven now- one you were eager to get into.

It was when you were at the threshold of your room that you heard Jungkook speak up, his voice a mumble as he called your name. You stopped, turning back to face him.

Seeing that he had your attention, he ducked his head for a moment- and you had to strain your ears to hear what he was saying-

“... This was enjoyable. I prefer this much better to what we had before, I think.”

- and oh, your heart stuttered, feeling warm. A small smile appeared on your face at his words.

"I feel the same, Jungkook."

He smiled bashfully, and, without thinking, you raised your hand to brush away the bangs that had fallen on his face, just so you could fully see his reaction then- ignoring the flush that erupted on both of your cheeks afterwards. Immediately you dropped your hand, and you coughed, trying to ignore what just happened.

“Thanks for tonight. Thank you for the hairpin too, I’ll take good care of it even if I can’t wear it often. I… Goodnight.”

“G-Goodnight,” he stammered. You giggled, finally heading inside your room and closing the door. It didn’t take much to get yourself ready for bed, and you collapsed down on the mattress with a sigh.

... Turning your gaze to the ceiling then, you thought, as disastrous as the last few days had been, things were starting to turn for the better.

#bangtanscenery #bangtanhq #bangtanfairygarden #ficswithluv #bts x reader #ot7 x reader #seokjin x reader #yoongi x reader #hoseok x reader #namjoon x reader #jimin x reader #taehyung x reader #jungkook x reader #bts fanfiction #bts fic

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kpop-zone · 4 years

Text

I’ll Always Find You | Jennie

Genre: Vampire AU

Wordcount: 3,163

Request: you’re a vampire and your girlfriend is the leader of the coven, old, regal and powerful. You’ve been feeling out of sorts lately and afraid you’ll lost control. So you made her promise to kill you if it happened because you don’t want to cause any trouble. And here comes the angst: you lost control. Will your gf keep her promise?

You looked at yourself in the mirror. Your eyes were bloodred with little veins surrounding them, making you look like the monster you were. From the beginning you had trouble adjusting to the life as a vampire. You had already been very impulsive as a human, but with your new gained abilities and sharpened senses that impulsiveness had developed to something life-threatening for everyone around you.

But then you had met Jennie. As cliché as it was, after you had been turned, you had thought that you were either doomed for a life as a serial killer or as a hermit, living in the woods. You were struggling, wandering around the city, half-dead, half-alive, because you didn’t want to accept your fate. Your stubbornness almost forced you to your knees. That was until you crossed paths with the most ethereal creature on earth. Jennie.

She had found you while you were fighting the urge to rip open the throat of an innocent pedestrian. As soon as you had seen her, you were mesmerized. Everything about her screamed superiority and power. Nevertheless, she hadn’t ended your lowly life back then. She had actually felt pity and decided to take you in.

You had learned that she was the leader of the oldest coven in the city. Because despite your original believe, vampires didn’t only have to be serial killers or hermits. They had a third choice: hide in plain sight as part of society.

Her coven owned a huge building in the middle of the city and consisted of around 20 vampires. Some of them were living a completely normal life and even had a job, while others decided to spend the majority of their live in the shelter of their four walls. They were like a big family and when you first entered their home, they treated you with suspicion. But because you were under the personal protection of their leader, no one dared to touch you.

From that moment on, your new life began. You became a part of a new family while learning to control your thirst. And in the process, you also found love. Jennie hadn’t left your side during your journey. Therefore, she had won your trust and your heart in no time. She had been an immense help, but soon you found that her affection went beyond that of a leader. For some inexplainable reason she had fallen for you too. It took a while, till the two of you admitted your feelings. But eventually neither of you could deny it anymore and you officially became a couple.

The two of you had a better love story than anyone else ever had and you became the rulers of the city. Together you took care of your family while keeping the other covens of the city in check and covering up any traces that could lead the humans to your secret.

Of course, you had planned your life to go differently. You had never wanted to be a vampire. But now, you didn’t want it any other way. You were meant to be with Jennie. Therefore, you were grateful that you had been turned, because otherwise you could have never been found by the love of your life.

For 10 years your life continued to proceed almost smoothly. Of course, you were at no point in your life the most trustworthy vampire on this planet because of your impulsiveness. But Jennie had given you a lot of useful tips on how to control yourself and you had gotten a lot more careful. Therefore, you were allowed to move freely around the city.

But then something changed.

From one day to the other, you started feeling more and more out of control. You were tensed up all the time and felt an insatiable thirst sometimes out of the blue, leading to moments like this. You were standing in the public bathroom of a mall right now, trying to get your thirst under control again, while your vampire form was clearly showing. Some innocent person could walk in every second now and you didn’t know if you would be able to hold back. Panicked you tried to gain back your composure.

Fortunately, no one came in though and after staring at yourself in the mirror for another couple of minutes while doing the breathing exercise that Jennie had taught you, you were feeling like yourself again. But you knew that it had been a close call this time. You had almost lost control.

It was time to talk to your leader and girlfriend. She needed to know what was going on with you lately.

But because you dreaded the conversation, you wandered around the secluded areas of the city until it started to get dark and you knew that your girlfriend would start worrying about you. Therefore, you slowly walked back to the busy streets again until you stood in front of the old, mysterious building that you called your home. As you entered the house, you immediately ran into Chaeyoung, one of your most trusted friends.

“Finally, Y/N. Jennie’s worried sick about you.”

She said with a concerned look on her face and you tried to muster a smile.

“I’m sorry. I just forgot the time. It won’t happen again.”

You lied, quickly patting her shoulder before rushing upstairs.

Jennie had already heard you entering the house, so as soon as you opened the door to your apartment, she was waiting for you with her arms crossed.

“Where have you been?”

She asked with a stern look and you gulped thickly.

Despite dating her and knowing that she wasn’t even half as cold as others always drew her out to be, you were still aware of the fact that she could end our existence without even having to put any effort into the act. She was much older than you and therefore, much stronger.

“I was shopping in the mall.”

You replied nervously and Jennie narrowed her eyes at you.

“Then where are your bags?”

She continued her interrogation, probably already knowing that you weren’t telling the truth.

Nervously you started fidgeting with your fingers, because you didn’t know how to tell Jennie that you were spinning out of control lately. You wanted to be honest, but it wasn’t so easy, because she was also your leader and had responsibility for a whole coven. You were searching for the right words to start your confession when you suddenly felt cold air hitting your skin. When you looked up, Jennie was standing right in front of you and her stern expression was exchanged by a soft one.

“Are you hungry?”

She smiled while already grabbing your hand and gently pulling you into the kitchen. She could truly read you better than anyone else.

You exhaled in relief and sat down at the counter while Jennie put the content of a blood bag into two wine glasses, causing you to chuckle. It was still funny to you how Jennie tried to remain classy and refused to drink out of a bag.

“What? We are no savages after all.”

She joked and you shook your head. You were grateful that she tried to make this conversation easier for you.

Together you cuddled up on the couch and you rested your head on your girlfriend’s chest. You knew that Jennie was still demanding an explanation from you. She had just wanted to give you more time to sort your thoughts. Therefore, you inhaled deeply before coming out with the truth.

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

You started and Jennie’s body tensed up behind you, so you knew that she was listening to you.

“What is it?”

Jennie asked and you could hear the nervousness in her voice.

“I need you to promise me that you will do what I ask of you. There is no other way if you truly love me.”

You explained while continuing to avoid Jennie’s gaze.

“Of course, I love you. And I will comply to your wishes.”

She answered a little hesitantly, but you knew that you could trust her word.

“I’m feeling a little out of it lately. I am unpredictable. And I need you to promise me that you will punish me like anyone else if I should lose control.”

Jennie’s breath suddenly hitched in her throat, and you knew that it was because of your wish. The common punishment for vampires in this coven that lost control, was to kill them.

Finally, you turned your head to be able to look at your girlfriend.

“I need you to promise me, Jennie. If this occurs, the person you fell in love with, won’t be there anymore. And I know that I won’t be able to live with this guilt.”

You explained but Jennie kept looking at you motionlessly.

“Y/N... do you know what you’re asking of me?”

She breathed shakily and you rested your hand on her cheek to stroke it softly with your thumb.

“I know. But it’s the only right thing to do. So promise me. It’s what I want.”

You demanded another time and Jennie closed her eyes, while nodding her head slowly.

“I promise.”

She whispered hesitantly and you pressed a quick kiss on her lips.

“But this case won’t occur. We will start training again. And you just won’t leave the house on your own for a while. It’s just a phase.”

Jennie added quickly and you knew that she was scared despite always seeming like she had everything under control.

Wanting to cheer her up, you nodded, although you could almost physically feel your time running out. Therefore, you cuddled up to Jennie again, because you were aware that moments like this wouldn’t occur that often anymore.

And you would be proven to be right. With every day in the following weeks, you started to feel less and less like yourself. You started to black out occasionally and only came back to your senses after a few minutes. You were a ticking time bomb, and everyone knew it, even if Jennie pretended not to notice it. She simply didn’t want to keep her promise. And until a certain point, she could justify her hesitation by saying that you weren’t out of control yet by her definition.

But then one day, even she couldn’t ignore it anymore. You had followed her order to not leave the house without another coven member up until that point, but one day you just disappeared. Jennie didn’t hesitate to mobilize the whole coven in order to find you.

They searched several hours until Jennie finally stumbled upon you in a secluded alley. You were just leaning over the lifeless body of a poor soul that had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time, sucking all life out of him. Jennie quickly ordered two of her subordinates to rip you away and to check on your victim.

Chaeyoung, the right hand of Jennie, was struggling to hold you back, but because she was older than you, she eventually managed to hold you in place. Jennie slowly made her way over to you and wiped away the blood that was dripping off your chin.

“I’m sorry about this, my love.”

She whispered before cupping your face despite you fighting her hands, indicating that you were still stuck in your bloodlust.

Her soft smile was just bringing you back to your normal self, when your head was suddenly whipped to the side and a second later everything turned black.

You didn’t remember anything following this, but when you woke up again, your throat was dry, and your head was pounding. Slowly you fought your eyes open to be able to scan your unfamiliar surroundings. This was definitely not your apartment. You were surrounded by cold stone walls and metal bars that prevented you from leaving this place. This had to be the dungeon that your coven had in the basement of your building. You looked down on yourself and could see that you were laying on an old bed that was stained with blood, making you remember what you had done.

Tears sprung to your eyes, when you remembered the fear in the eyes of the man that you had attacked. You buried your face into your hands and started to sob loudly, causing you to catch the attention of Jennie who quickly rushed to the metal bars.

“Y/N...”

She called your name and you looked at her in despair.

“Did I...kill him?”

You asked hesitantly. You weren’t even sure if you wanted to know the answer.

“No. He’s upstairs. Jisoo healed him. We will keep an eye on him for some time and then we will wipe his memory and let him go.”

Jennie informed you, making you sigh in relief.

“Everything’s fine.”

She added with an encouraging smile, but you shook your head.

“Maybe this time.”

You said with disappointment resonating in your voice.

You had tried to be strong, but your transformation had made you to a monster. The vampire venom slowly turned you ruthless and once you killed someone, you knew that there was no going back, and you couldn’t let that happen.

“You know what this means.”

You looked at Jennie while tears streamed down your face and she covered her mouth with her hand to muffle her sobs.

“I’m out of control, we both know it. There isn’t any breathing exercise that could fix this. You need to protect the world from me.”

You tried to reason with Jennie, but she kept standing in front of the cage like glued to the spot.

“Jennie, you promised me.”

When she heard your words, her gaze snapped up to meet yours and she reached into her pocket to pull out the keys for the door.

Hesitantly she looked at you again, but when you nodded, she slowly turned the key in the lock and entered the cage.

You smiled at her assuring, but when your eyes scanned her body, you suddenly realized that she wasn’t only holding one but two wooden stakes in her hands.

“Jennie?”

You asked confused, but your girlfriend calmly sat down next to you.

“It’s ok, jagi.”

She tried to calm you down, but you quickly leaped to your feet, backing away from her. Suddenly it sunk in to you what Jennie was planning to do. She didn’t need two wooden stakes to kill one vampire.

“No.”

You stated determined, not wanting to be the reason for your girlfriend’s death.

Jennie, however, stayed calm. She pulled you gently back next to her and wiped away your tears.

“It’s alright, my love. I lived a long life. But I have never been happier than during the years that I was allowed to spend with you. I don’t want to be alone again.”

She explained with a soft smile playing on her lips, causing you to sob loudly. Why couldn’t you be strong enough? You could have spent eternity with Jennie by your side. There were so many things that you had wanted to explore together. The two of had planned to move to the seaside and enjoy a slow life for a while, opposing to the rush in the city. But you needed to ruin everything.

You rested your head against Jennie’s chest, and she placed her hand in your neck to pull you closer.

“Don’t worry, Y/N. Our love is strong enough for five lifetimes. We will meet again, and we’ll start over; grow old together and have the life that we deserve.”

Jennie’s words made your heart flutter and ache at the same time. Quickly you pulled her into a tight embrace and let her wrap her arms around you.

“I love you, Jennie.”

You whispered into her ear in need for her to know how much she meant to you.

“I love you too.”

She responded before pulling back.

Shakily you took one of the wooden stakes and Jennie followed your move.

You looked into her eyes and she smiled encouragingly. Gently she placed her hand on your cheek and the stake against your chest. You wanted to do the same, but your arms were too weak. Therefore, Jennie let her free hand fall to yours and slowly lifted the stake to her own chest.

“Come on, Y/N. You know that I always wanted to go out with a bang. This is the perfect opportunity.”

Jennie tried to lighten the mood, but you gaze was fixed on the weapon in your hand that was bound to kill the love of your life.

“Look at me, jagi.”

Your girlfriend demanded, causing you to eventually look into her beautiful eyes.

Jennie seemed to be calmer than ever, and her aura passed over to you.

“On a count of three, ok?”

She ordered and you nodded hesitantly.

“Ok. 1...”

Your gaze flickered to the stake once again and panic filled your body. You couldn’t kill an innocent person, could you?

“2...”

Jennie continued her countdown and you looked into her eyes again. You remembered how hard this had to be for her. She had wandered this earth for centuries on her own. Eventually, she had found a family, but nevertheless, her heart always ached for more. And then she finally stumbled upon you. The one that she called her soulmate. But now you were forcing her to take your life.

Would you want to stay behind if Jennie asked you the same?

Of course, you wouldn’t. You loved Jennie more than anything and you knew that she felt the same about you. She had told you several times during the time that you were allowed to spend together.

One day when the two of you were watching the sunset from the rooftop of your house, she had even told you that she was convinced that the universe had only made her immortal, so that she could meet you. You had laughed at her back then, but now you weren’t so sure anymore. Nothing had ever felt so right in your life than this love. So wasn’t it more cruel to let Jennie roam this earth alone again? She was merciful enough to end your torture, so who were you to leave her behind to make hers begin. Therefore, you took a deep breath and nodded to Jennie.

“3”

At the end of her countdown, you closed your eyes and pushed the wooden stake as harshly as possible despite the resistance, while you felt pain filling your own body.

When you opened your eyes again, you could see that Jennie’s skin slowly started to turn ash grey. Nevertheless, she looked peaceful, almost relieved and you knew that you had made the right decision. The world started to fade around you until Jennie’s weak smile was the only thing, you could see anymore.

“I’ll find you again.”

Were the last words you heard before your last breath left your lips.

#blackpink scenario #blackpink #jennie scenario #jennie #jennie imagine #girl group imagine #girl group scenario #girl group #kpop scenario #kpop

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n1ghtcrwler · 3 years

Text

This gets long

I found myself thinking about the churches I’ve left behind in my life. What prompted it was a concern that too many of them were over some sort of strife between myself and the pastor, but in retrospect that was a way less common occurrence than I expected it to be (in fact, of churches where I was a member, it only happened twice; there are reasons I expected that number to be higher, but the fact remains that it was not). But in the process I found myself contemplating a lot more about the church I grew up in, and my involvement in the later days of our time there, which I don’t tend to talk about much because it rarely seems worthwhile. I don’t know for certain if I’ve ever told the story here, or to any of you that I’ve talked to outside of tumblr. But I can’t shake the thought of it now, so I thought I’d jot it down.

I grew up in what was officially a nondenominational church, but in practice was decidedly Pentecostal. It was called New Life Covenant Church, which in retrospect is weird because they didn’t hold to covenant theology, but whatever. We were at that church during the Brownsville Revival and the Toronto Blessing, and there was a great deal of interest in us getting in on a piece of that action. We were also there when the “Left Behind” series began coming out, and were absolutely convinced that it was a gospel-truth rendition of what was surely coming any day now. I first started running the sound system there when I was nine, and we had a flag ministry (basically a flagline for worship) that I had joined and, if I may be so bold, kind of excelled at. The church campus had originally been a Christian campground, and our original sanctuary was the mess hall, but by the time I was nearing my teens we had raised funding and built a massive geodesic dome as the new sanctuary and relegated the former mess hall to Children’s Church.

You know. To get a sense of what the place was like.

The church was still being pastored by the planting pastor for a significant amount of my time there, and once he left in disgrace over something that isn’t relevant here, the associate pastor stepped into the lead pastor role. My dad was an elder by then, and sang on the worship team, so he and I would frequently arrive early on Sunday mornings to be present for worship practice, he on the stage and me in the booth. One Sunday morning, shortly after Hugh took over the pastorate, as we were walking into the nearly empty sanctuary, something caught my eye and I stopped to look up.

I saw the dome open up, just completely fold down so I could see the whole sky and many of the trees above and around us. There was fire, raining like water, and slowly filling the room. In the distance, in every direction, I saw a battle raging. Angels were engaged with various forces of darkness, apparently keeping them at bay. I took the whole thing in, and when I understood what it was, it was gone.

So I went to Hugh and told him I’d seen something. When he asked what it was, I told him in as much detail as I could recall at the time about the vision, and then he asked if I knew what it meant. I told him that I did, that a massive blessing was waiting to be poured out on our church, to overflowing, and through us to the community around us. But, I warned, there was great opposition to it, and we had a responsibility to avoid temptation to turn aside from the gospel and needed to stay true in the days of testing that were coming.

Well, of course he loved that, and that morning it was mentioned in the sermon and I soon found myself getting praised for being wise beyond my years and clearly a prophet. This was bolstered by a poem I’d written about missions that the church really seized on and my relative youth in the work I was doing around the church. It was kind of a big deal, or at least I was led to believe everyone thought it was a big deal. I didn’t really know what to do with that, though, so I kept running sound and doing my thing.

But I was already starting to question some of what I was being taught there. As part of the agreement that allowed my cub scout den to use a building owned by a local Presbyterian church, I had attended a handful of services in uniform as an usher, and noticed that their version of Christianity was radically different from the version practiced at New Life. It was so different, in fact, that I had already determined that either one of us was decidedly not Christian, or the list of essentials for what defined Christianity was much shorter than I was being told. I had been baptized probably a half dozen times because I didn’t fully understand that it only needed to be done once, and I was beginning to wonder why they let me keep doing it if I was so clearly unaware of what was going on. And I’d been baptized in the Spirit, which basically meant I stood in the church library with elders praying over me until I started speaking in tongues, but I knew full well I’d just started making random noises to appease them because I was getting hungry. And then there was the time I fell asleep on the floor in the back of the church during a revival night that was running a bit long for me, and when I woke and found people celebrating my being ‘slain in the Spirit’ I realized they couldn’t tell the difference between what was supposed to be a powerfully holy moment and a snoozing child.

I must not have snored back then, I guess.

But over the course of the next couple years things got weird. Chasing the dream of a revival like the ones north and south of us, the services were beginning to focus more and more on music and spontaneous messages and less on the Bible. It reached a point where we didn’t have a single sermon for months at a time, and when we did there was a solid chance it wouldn’t even reference scripture. One famously odd sermon had Hugh preaching from an anonymous blog post he’d found online that seemed prophetically relevant to our body, only to later learn his own wife had written it and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it being read in front of the whole church since it was, in fact, something of a vent post about some people in our church.

People who were very concerned about the declining role of scripture at the church started to quietly leave. We stuck around far longer than we should have, specifically because my dad was an elder and, as such, he felt it was his responsibility to stay on and fight to bring the church back on course. There was a short-lived stint where he had convinced Hugh to let him preach a sermon every Sunday just to make sure there would be one, but it was scheduled for the hour before church officially started for the day.

I knew friends were leaving, and I knew things were getting strange, but Dad wasn’t really explaining the problems he knew about to us. I knew Hugh had challenged the church that anyone who was leaving should come to the mic and tell the church why, and I knew no one had done so. But most of it was something I would learn later, after we left. But before that happened, I had another vision.

One morning, while Dad and I were arriving early again, something caught my eye and I stopped and looked up and saw the dome open as before. But this time there was no fire raining down, and the room was bone dry. Outside, the sky was just dark, with no traces of the angels or the battle that had been raging before. And when I knew what it meant, it was gone, and I went and found Hugh. I told him I’d seen something, and he was positively giddy. “Yes!” I could clearly tell he was thinking, “here it is!” So I told him what I saw. He looked at me confused for a moment, then asked what it meant.

“We did it wrong,” I said, “we squandered our chance and the blessing isn’t coming. This place is and will be spiritually dead.” I was no more than 14 at this point, and as his countenance changed he reminded me of that. He demanded to know what made me think I knew anything about it, anyway, when I was just some arrogant little kid. He stormed off and I stood there a moment, considering what he’d said. Then I went to someone else on the tech crew and told them I was no longer going to be mixing sound and they needed to find someone else. I walked out of the sanctuary, wiped my shoes clean on the carpet, and walked off into a stairway above the mess hall where I sat the rest of that morning reading Isaiah and praying and singing a couple songs by myself.

I didn’t go back. I had to go to the physical church every week with my family, but I would turn aside while they entered the sanctuary and I would go sit in the stairway, or wander the grounds, or sometimes sit in the car. I never saw another service there, until the day my dad told me we were going for our last Sunday and he really, really wanted all of us together when he took Hugh up on the offer to explain our decision. So I went in that day, and as soon as we entered Dad went to the mic and delivered a 40-minute sermon on where the church had gone awry and why we were leaving, and then we all left and never returned.

I’m told the church got down to about six people in the end. As I heard it, Hugh stepped down after admitting to an affair with a younger man, and when his associate pastor took over he either couldn’t or wouldn’t change course, and eventually the church was completely dead and disincorporated. The grounds and everything in the buildings was donated to a local church planting team, and every semblance of New Life Covenant Church was erased.

But what happened the other night, when I first started thinking about these events again, is that I was drawn to a certain detail in the story. See, I hadn’t ever thought back to what the content of those encounters actually was. I hadn’t though about them at all, really, let alone enough to analyze them, but suddenly I really wanted to do that. And I noticed for the first time that the point of that whole thing had been about the way the church was handling the gospel and relating it to mission, and how they were so focused on some other objective that they were sacrificing scripture to get some other thing they really wanted.

And then an assortment of times where I have confronted people, individually or in groups, about the way they handled the gospel and were trying to use it for some alternate purpose, culminating in the fights I’ve been having with people for the last five years about unquestioned and cultic Evangelical support of Trump. And I realized, for the first time, that I got this message once when I was a kid, and have never stopped saying that same thing ever since, often to the exact same people who are still in my life that I first met at New Life Covenant. And I thought, “man, no wonder they’re sick of me.”

But yeah. So now that’s just kinda stuck on my mind, and it keeps just sitting there like I should know or think something specific about it, but I don’t know what. And I don’t know why I felt the need to write about it, but I did, and now you’ve read the whole thing, so thanks for your patience, I guess.

#tim deep lore #I haven't had such an experience since #well I mean I've had some definitely spiritual experiences #they just weren't prophetic or quite like this

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krisrix · 4 years

Text

Writing Tag Game

Thank you for tagging me @angelsfalling16 and @sharkmartini 🥰🖤🥰🖤

AO3 name: KrisRix

Fandoms: now, Carry On/Simon Snow series - previously, Persona 4, Yuri!!! On Ice, and Legend of the Galactic Heroes

Tropes: slowburn (so much slowburn), bed-sharing, confessions, firsts, bloodplay, hurt/comfort, pining, gratuitous hand holding

Number of fics: 13 posted (8 more as WIPs)

Fic I spent the most time on: 5 Times They Half-Arsed It took the longest in terms of hours spent at the keyboard, but most of my WIPs are ones I’ve been working on much longer as far as the calendar is concerned. I started Unconditional on April 16, 2019 🎂

Fic I spent the least time on: Terrible Love or I Choose You. Both were written in one shot, iirc.

Longest Fic: So This Is Christmas (57,557), with 5 Times close behind at almost 55k

Shortest Fic: Terrible Love (1,762)

Most hits/kudos/comment threads/bookmarks:

Hits: 5 Times They Half-Arsed It (y’all nasty, I love it)

Kudos: A Room Just For Two

Comment Threads: A Room Just For Two

Bookmarks: A Room Just For Two (again! this is equal parts upsetting and relieving)

Total word count: 236,743‬

Favourite fic I wrote: So This Is Christmas or Kiss It Better

Fic you want to rewrite/expand on: 5 Times They Half-Arsed It has a sequel in the works. The rest are all fairly contained or sufficiently beat to death, I think!

Share a bit of a WIP or a story idea you’re planning on: Here’s a (long) snippet from a WIP called Wanted, Dead or Alive that’s a bit over 8k at the moment and will hopefully clock in under 15k. It takes place at the end of year ceremony in their 7th year.

I only make it a few metres farther before I hear a different female voice call out my name. I sigh and turn around, glaring at my aunt as she stomps her way towards me. My father is just behind her. They make quite the pair—Fiona, with her aviators and Doc Martens, and my father in his three-piece Armani suit. “I didn’t think either of you would be attending,” I say while Fiona and I press a kiss to each other’s cheek. My father and I shake hands, complete with an elbow touch. Fiona grins. “Didn’t want to miss the look on your face if little Bunce beat you as top of the class.” My father is less amused than I am. “All of the Families are here,” he says pointedly. “I noticed.” I leave the ‘why?’ unsaid. “The Mage has been an extra pain in the arse lately,” Fiona offers up. My father: “He’s been at the club every weekend.” Fiona: “Raiding homes. Running border checks.” Me: “Border checks? Where?” Fiona pulls a pack of fags out of her back pocket and lights one with her wand. “Wales, mostly,” she says. “Some spots along the Channel. Confiscates every interesting artefact he finds.” “He can’t do that.” I’m appalled. “The rest of the Coven—” “The Coven has been bloody useless,” Fiona snaps, puffing on her cigarette. My father steps out of the path her smoke. “They turn a blind eye to all of his tactics. We’ve managed to convince a few members to be absent from meetings, though regrettably not enough that they lack quorum.” “There’s been no success with trying to pick off his Men, either,” Fiona explains. “They’re all young, scrappy, and drinking the Kool-aid. Our side can’t compete in one-on-ones with them.” She’s right. While we’re diverse in age, the Old Families are heavily weighted towards the old side of the spectrum. Pitting a forty year old investor against a twenty year old guerilla soldier is hardly an even match. There are a few of us who are young, but not nearly enough. Besides, only eighth years can be pulled out of school—the rest of us are stuck under the Mage’s thumb as well, albeit in a different manner. “We’re out of options,” my father says, with grave finality. It’s ominous. A heavy sense of dread blooms deep in my gut. I flick my eyes over to the chapel and to Wellbelove standing beside it. Predictably, Snow came to join her at some point. They’re far enough away that I can’t hear them, even with my heightened senses. Still, it’s obvious they’re having some kind of lovers’ spat. Perhaps they’re breaking up. (Temporarily, I’m sure—it’s always temporary with them.) If Snow is single, then I can feel slightly less bad about stealing a kiss from him. After all, it appears that today will be my last chance to do so. The chance. The one I’ve been waiting for, planning for, since fifth year. I take a deep breath and refocus my attention on my father and aunt. “What do you need me to do?”

TAGS: I’ll keep it simple, here’s 5 @carryonvisinata @sourcherrymagiks @ninemagicks @sharing-a-room-with-an-open-fire @fight-surrender

#simon snow #baz pitch #snowbaz #simon snow series #ask meme

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thedailyimagines · 4 years

Text

Imagine Serana finding you during a full moon.

Anon requested: “May I request a Serana (Skyrim) x Werewolf Male Reader? Reader is perhaps this lone wolf that lives out in the deep forests and knows how to defend himself without constantly having to rely on his form. Reader stumbles across Serana one night and they instantly click and become great friends. When a full moon comes out, reader goes crazy and afterwards is afraid she will judge him but she doesn’t and she slips her feelings for him and they get together, eventually they have a kid and happy life.”

This is a long fix.

The reader is NOT the Dragonborn. They are, however, acquainted with the DB.

D/b/n = Dragonborn’s name

~~~~~~~~

It was the sound of y/n’s woodpile falling over and quiet cursing that brought you outside. If he had lived in one of the cities he wouldn’t have bothered looking, but living in the wilderness outside Windhelm had taught y/n to be wary of strangers.

Y/n wasn’t an official resident, he just lived in the shambles of an old hut that had long since been abandoned. Sneaking out the back door (really just a hole in the wall covered by a bear fur), he found a person in a hood and cloak trying to be sneaky. The woodpile was scattered across the ground.

“Who in Shor’s bones are you?” The hooded figure looked up, and instantly y/n could tell what she was.

Vampire, the wolf inside him snarled. Y/n calmed it down and tightened the grip on his sword. The vampire held her hands up in a pacifying manner.

“My name is Serana. I’m looking for a vampire coven and was told that I could find help from a man named y/n.” Not good. Very few people knew y/n’s name, and even less knew his location.

“And who gave you that name?”

“D/b/n. Said they were cashing in on a favor to get you to help me.”

“Asshole.” Y/n sighed and ran a hand through his messy y/h/c locks. “Look, I do owe the soul sucker a favor. If they thought you needed my help, it’s probably serious.”

“It is. This coven stole an extremely powerful artifact from me and I need to get it back. Can you help me?” Y/n weighed the options in his head. On one hand, he could say no and go back to sleep. On the other hand, vampires with powerful magic things usually weren’t good news. A loud sigh escaped his mouth.

“...Fine. But it’s a one time deal, got it?”

“Thank you.” Little did y/n know that meeting Serana would set him on a whirlwind of an adventure, leading to the destruction of his shack and moving to Breezehome at d/b/n’s insistence.

<—>

A red full moon was a rare occurrence. And one that caused y/n much stress. Not because he was superstitious, but because (if legends were true) y/n would lose control of his werewolf and become feral for the night.

Which led him to his current problem: finding a suitable place to hide for the night. Or rather, getting away to find a hiding place.

“Serana, I’m serious. You need to stay here.” Y/n was gathering the last of his supplies he would need for the transformation tonight. Food, a spare set of clothes, his sword and armor, healing potions, and a small pouch of coins.

He wasn’t sure if he needed anything else for a Blood Moon transformation, but he was in a hurry. Y/n could already feel the sharp pains in his abdomen, warning him he would be turning soon. He hadn’t felt them since he was a child, and he certainly didn’t miss them. Maybe they were back because he hadn’t shifted into his werewolf form in almost three months.

“And what if you get hurt? This ‘task’ the Jarl gave you is bullshit.” If only she knew how right she was. There was no mission. It was the best excuse that y/n could come up with to leave Breezehome without Serana.

“Serana. If I felt like I couldn’t handle it, I would being you along. This is just a quick trip out of Whiterun and back. I’ll be home tomorrow.” Home and not a possible danger to you, y/n thought inside his mind. Serana just threw her hands up in frustration.

“You know what? Fine. I’ll stay here while you get your ass kicked. Just remember this when you say I was right.” Serana stormed off to her bedroom in the small home, and y/n set off to find a cave or the like to hide in.

Y/n passed out of the gates of the city, unaware he was followed by more than one set of eyes when he left the safety of Whiterun and traveled into the wilderness beyond.

<—>

“Die damn you!” The silver axe aimed at his head missed by a hair. Y/n rolled to the side and stabbed with his sword, cutting deep into the flesh of the Silver Hand member. Five others surrounded him, all carrying silver weapons and ready to put him down.

A sharp pain coursed through y/n, and he fell to one knee. The Silver Hand who had stabbed him retreated back, their sword bloodied and shining in the torchlight. Shit. Y/n tried to stand but one of the werewolf hunters slammed the hilt of their sword into the back of his head, causing his vision to swim.

Y/n dropped back to the ground and tried to crawl away. A leather boot connected with his ribs, sending y/n tumbling to his side. He was struggling to breath at this point, and the stab wound and his pounding head weren’t helping.

“Shit.” Y/n coughed up blood, out of healing potions and having no skill in Restoration magicks. The leader of the werewolf hunters raised their sword above y/n’s head.

Normally the Silver Hand (or any enemy) wasn’t a problem for y/n. He could avoid them easily enough. Of course, y/n wasn’t usually struggling to contain the beast within. And he usually had a certain vampire companion to watch his back.

Not that she knew he was a werewolf. Just like she wouldn’t know where to find his body. Just like she wouldn’t know y/n loved her.

The thought sent a cold chill down y/n’s spine with a grim realization. He was going to die. He’d die alone in a small dark hole without telling Serana how he felt.

“Time to die, beast!” Y/n closed his eyes and waited for cold silver to separate his head from his neck.

CR-AC-K. The sound of lightning cut through the air life a hot knife through butter. The leader toppled over, the life literally shocked out of him. Y/n spared a glance through his blurry vision, and a small smile appeared on his face.

Serana was terrifying in her fury. She wielded her magic like the master she was, sending the Silver Hand flying with lightning while slashing with the ebony dagger y/n had gifted her.

The fight was over in moments. The Silver Hand might be ready for werewolves, but vampires were a completely different story. All six hunters laid dead upon the floor, Serana surrounded by their corpses. Y/n was relieved that Serana was alright.

The relief quickly left y/n when he realized what Serana has done. She had followed him here with the intention of spying on him. She hadn’t believed y/n’s story for a second. And y/n was going to be turning to his beast form very soon.

“You followed me.” Y/n’s voice broke the silence, pain and a bit of disbelief laced in his voiced. Serana walked over to y/n and helped him to sit up.

“Does it bother you that I’m here?” Serana cupped y/n’s face in her hands, and y/n was grateful for the cool contact against his pounding head.

“No, I—” A sharp pain seized through y/n, and an inhuman growl left his throat. Was he already turning this quickly? “Serana, you need to leave.”

“While you lay here bleeding out? Not a chance.” Another growl escaped y/n, louder than the first. Serana’s face knit together in confusion, but she didn’t leave.

“Serana, go.” The desperation was clear as day in y/n’s voice, but the vampire refused to leave.

“No.”

“I...said...GO!” The last word left y/n’s mouth in a roar, and he was unable to hold the transformation back any longer. A howl ripped through the air and darkness overtook y/n’s vision.

‘I’m sorry, Serana.’

<—>

“...y/n...”

“...get up...guards...”

The y/h/c haired werewolf opened his eyes, the wooden timbers above him unfamiliar. Sitting up slowly, y/n winced as a dull ache ran through his bones. Then everything came rushing back to him.

The Blood Moon. Silver Hand. Transforming. Serana.

Was she okay? Y/n didn’t remember hurting her, but then again he didn’t remember anything from after his transformation last night. Just the sight of the moon hanging low and heavy in the sky like a pool of blood and the wolf side of himself howling at its freedom.

There was the sound of someone moving around in the adjoining room. Could it be...?

“Serana?” Y/n winced at how rough and scratchy his voice was. The sounds from the next room paused.

“Y/n?” The vampire came into the small room, and y/n reached for her. Serana pulled back, anger written on her face.

“You’re a werewolf.” The sharpness of her voice caused y/n to wince.

“...Surprise?”

“Surprise? Really y/n! You lied to me, nearly died, and all you say is surprise?”

“I didn’t think—” Serana cur y/n off before he could continue.

“No, of course you didn’t! I’m a vampire y/n. I’ve lived for well over 4,000 years old! You could have told me you were leaving because of the Blood Moon! I would have understood! Instead I follow you and find you half dead, barely conscious, and then you turn into a werewolf!” Serana threw her hands up in the air, walking over to the window and resting her hands on the sill.

“Do you know how I would have felt if you died? It would have destroyed me. I love you, you hard-headed idiot.” The proclamation was quiet, as if meant only for Serana. Y/n heard it all the same and his heart raced.

“Serana, please. I’m sorry. I didn’t know how you’d react if you knew and I—I never expected you to stay for as long as you did.” Y/n took a deep breath, then stood up and with unsteady steps walked to join Serana by the window. He took her hand in his. “I love you. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to be alone again after meeting you.”

“Y/n, you are possibly the most impossible man I have ever met.” Her hand tightened around his, cold fingers intertwined with his warm ones.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“If you ever pull something like that again I’m going to find you and beat you senseless myself.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

<—>

“So you’re telling me this child asked you to kill an orphanage matron, and you did it?” Serana followed her husband through the winding streets of Windhelm, watching for patches of ice. It had been four years since the events of the Blood Moon, and a few months ago she and y/n had finally gotten married.

“Yes.” Y/n slid on a small patch of ice, but caught himself before he fell.

“And you want to...adopt him?”

“Yes.” A large gust of wind caused the couple to tighten their cloaks about them.

“May I ask why exactly? I know we’ve talked about adopting a child, but...” Y/n turned to face Serana and took her hand.

“Serana, he’s all alone in an abandoned house. He needs somebody to take care of him.”

“Fine. But if he says no then we listen to him. I don’t want him to send the Dark Brotherhood our way.”

“Here we are.” Serana has to admit, the small house above the river was rather dreary. Everything in this city was, but there was something about this house.

Y/n opened the door, quiet as a mouse, and walked up the stairs to the second floor. There was a shivering child curled up in a makeshift bed, and the sight gnawed at Serana’s heart.

“Aventus Aretino.” Y/n’s voice was loud in the cold room. The child shot up like lightning with a knife in his hand, calming down a little when he saw y/n.

“It’s you! But I didn’t contact the Brotherhood...why are you back? And who’s she?” Y/n kept his expression neutral, Serana following suit as the child glanced at her.

“You said you’d go back to Honorhall. It’s been three months since that time.” Aventus fidgeted in his spot, drawing the threadbare blanket closer around his shoulders.

“I know I said I’d go back, but...it doesn’t feel right! I can’t go back. Nobody would want me anyway.” It was now that Serana felt her heart break a little more. She could relate to being alone. All those years in the dark...

“You don’t have to, Aventus.” Serana’s voice held a tenderness that was rare to her. The boy turned to the vampire, confusion on his face.

“Then why are you here?” Y/n took a step forward and knelt down in front of Aventus. The boy seemed paler, and a bit too much on the skinny side for his age.

“This is my wife, Serana. We wanted to ask you—if you were comfortable with it—if you wanted to come with us.” Serana went to stand next to y/n, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. But we would be happy if you did.”

“You��re—you’re serious?” Y/n smiled and held out a hand to Aventus.

“I swear it on the Night Mother.” Aventus suddenly lunged forward and hugged y/n’s neck tightly. Y/n’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Yes! Yes! When can we go?” Y/n laughed and wrapped his arms around Aventus. The sight warmed Serana’s heart.

“Right now if you like. Here, take my cloak. It’s cold out.” The three departed from the house and left the city, headed back towards the warmer climate of Whiterun.

~~~~~~~~

I don’t own the above gifs, all credits go to the owners.

#thedailyimagines #imagine #long fic #male reader #werewolf!reader #lone wolf!reader #skyrim the elder scrolls #skyrim the elder scrolls imagine #skyrim #skyrim imagine #serana #serana skyrim #serana imagine #serana x reader #serana x reader imagine #aventus aretino #the silver hand

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wonderfulworldofmichaelford · 4 years

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Vampire Story OCs

New and improved because the original got deleted! Here’s everyone, alphabetized, sorted, and so on! With a wee bit of info about them as well!

DRACULA’S COVEN

Eric Madden: A member of the coven who was turned in 1987. He’s confident and cocky, but it masks a rather depressed interior. He’s bisexual. He has the power to read movements, however subtle, to detect feelings as well as intentions and actions.

Dahlia Rosemont: One of Dracula’s adopted daughters from the 19th century. She was the child of slave owners who she frequently rebelled against, becoming something of an abolitionist before her parents caught her and traded her to a vampire. She was rescued and adopted by Dracula and his bride-to-be Victoria (my wife’s OC). Her power is incredible super speed.

Macheath Sharpe: A former highwayman from the 19th century who was turned by their jailor. They have the power to shape their body however they please; they choose to present as a lovely woman, but keep their David Bowie-esque British male voice. They work at the Rhyme or Reason Karaoke Bar.

Matthias Dracula: A vampire leader with a long and storied history, whose greatest dream was to have a school to teach young vampires. The former leader of the coven, killed in 1890 by Marianna Cross and her vampire killers. However, there is perhaps a way for him to return...

Nadia Shibani: Age 24 when she was turned. She hails from the Middle East. She was found living a miserable life as a bored, pampered wife to a man she didn’t love. Dracula and Victoria freed her from this slavery, and she ended up being turned by Victoria. She was apparently given away because her father didn’t believe her to be his child. She went into self-imposed exile after the death of Dracula due to feeling responsible for his death, as she had been the lover of his killer, Marianna Cross. Unbeknownst to her, her true father is Amon. She has the power to alter the gravity of any object, allowing her to fly or lift objects or make things even heavier, though she does have limits.

Primrose Beirne: Eric’s best friend from his time as a mortal, they met up at a gay bar in the 80s and became good friends. She enjoys gothic lolita fashion and smoking. She’s a bit snarky and mellow. She is a lesbian.

Rose Milliner: Hailing from the late 18th century, Rose as a mortal had epilepsy and psychic flashes that made her a pariah among her peers, and led to her being abused by stepfather and stepbrother. On her way to being put in an asylum, her stepbrother tried to help her flee, but the two were ambushed by a vampire. Rose was turned, and eventually ended up with Dracula. She has incredible psychic and telekinetic powers, but due to her mental instabilities she as a tendency to involuntarily read people’s minds, which makes her unpopular with others. She has anisocoria.

Sakura Himura: A former samurai who fought in the Satsuma rebellion. She’s loud, brash, and loves to drink and swear. She despises western culture and tries her best to uphold tradition, but she’s a little hypocritical. She’s blind and either uses her sister, a cane, or her radar sense power to navigate and fight.

Yuriko Himura: Sakura’s younger (yet taller) sister. She’s a lot sweeter and more nervous, hating confrontation. She loves western culture in stark contrast to her sister, and converted to Christianity in the 20th century. She has the power to channel healing energy through her hands and into objects.

MARIANNA’S COVEN/EVE’S COVEN (Book 2)

Amon: A very old, very powerful vampire. He serves as Marianna’s right-hand man. He is exceptionally myserious.

Eve: The black horned demon serpent who in an age long past created vampires. She preys on the weak and vulnerable, turning them into vampires so that she might use them later on to fill out the seven seats in the Order of the Black Orchard, her personal bodyguards. She is said to have cut out her heart long ago to escape the pain of heartbreak, and because of this the very beings she created are more easily able to find love. She uses special apples grown in her private orchard known as Black Eden to help create powerful vampires.

Jack Fairchild: Jack the Ripper himself. He has the power to travel through shadows. He is the most hated and feared member of the coven, and he has committed nearly every atrocity you can imagine, gleefully. He views himself as above laws and morality.

Jojo Faust: A young German man from WWI Germany who faked his own death and became an alcoholic following the death of the man he loved in WWI. He was tricked into being turned and was used as a prostitute by Marianna’s coven. He has no idea what his power is, and is kept in line with a special slave collar created by Rhiannon. He is bisexual.

Kristoph Hollenfeuer: A former Nazi who commanded a secret paranormal investigation branch known as Enigma. He has the power to generate tracking bombs from his hands.

Marianna Cross: The leader of the coven. Formerly Nadia’s lover, she gave in to the temptations of power that Eve and Amon offered her, and betrayed Dracula and his coven, leading to Dracula’s demise. Her weapons of choice are sharp-nailed silver gauntlets specially made so she can wear them. She still pines for Nadia, which has led to her neglecting her adopted daughter Gabby (my wife’s OC). She has the power to enter mirrors, which has led to her being called ‘Bloody Mary.’

Rhapsody Von Braun: Hailing from the early 60s, Rhapsody was an artist who had her career derailed by workplace sexism, which led to a car accident that permanently damaged her leg and led to her becoming a drug addict. She spends a lot of her time sleeping, and walks with a cane even as a vampire. She’s rather sweet and pleasant, though she is a bit scatterbrained. Her power is to make drawings she draws come to life.

LOOMER STREET GANG

Jason “Loveless” Leeds: The second oldest of the Leeds kids, he always tried to protect his siblings from their abusive dad. Went to jail for a year at age 20 because he took the blame for their father’s murder. Because it was self-defense, he was only given a year sentence. He’s a bit self-conscious about being seen as a stereotypical angry black man, and is actually a bit of a goofball. Prior to going to jail he was a theater kid, and starred in a lot of productions at his high school.

Lilith Crowley: Venus’ twin sister, Lilith is the dark Goth punk to Venus’ girly girl with a tomboy streak. She has a scar over her right eye from when she suffered a sexual assault in high school that almost lead to her death, but by some unknown stroke of luck she was found, her hair white and scarred over her eye but otherwise unharmed. She nowadays works as a getaway driver in Loveless’ gang, and has incredible skill behind the wheel. Her favorite band is Styx, her favorite food is chips.

Rika Amano: A half-Japanese, half-white girl (she looks more Japanese). After her father disappeared in Egypt, her mother slowly went mad from grief, which her brother Ryo used to his full advantage, tricking Rika into believing a violent assault on her was her mother’s doing to kick her out of the family. Homeless, she eventually found a safe haven in a homeless shelter, where she met her friend David Paine and the shelter’s owner, Lucius White, who she spent much of the next decade helping. She’s very tough, resourceful, and good-natured. She has the power to rewind time a bit, a la Sands of Time, but she only can use this a limited number of times. She has a lot of pale scars on her left arm from self-harming after becoming homeless.

Valentine Leeds: A perpetually cheerful young man who is a skilled acrobatic and looks like Michael Jackson in the 80s. Age 21. The youngest of three siblings. Killed their dad when he was 14 years old (Sierra was 23; Loveless was 20.)

SILVERWINGS

Antoinette LeBlanc: A baker and vampire hunter from the south. She’s sweet as can be. Her three favorite things in the world are baking, sex, and vampires in that order. She’s skilled with a shotgun; her weapon of choice is Ol’ Faithful, a shotgun her father gave her.

Babette Bonheur: A younger member of the Silverwings, she is a sweet redheaded French girl. Her greatest joy in life is painting. She has psychic visions, and she can go into a trance and paint what she sees. She is unaware of Mari’s crush on her as well as the fact she herself is a lesbian. Age 20.

Enrico Luna - Age 47. A dark skinned Italian man with hair that went prematurely white; he tends to keep it in a ponytail. A devoutly religious man, he grew up in the church, but formed his own set of beliefs when he began to see others in his church acting callous, cruel, and intolerant, believing they were not truly following the will of God. Venturing out on his own, he was recruited by his first wife, Lenore, into becoming a vampire hunter and paranormal investigator. The two were a wonderful team for six years, until Lenore was grievously wounded while fighting a werewolf, dying from her injuries. The stress prematurely whitened Luna's hair, but though this event hurt his heart, it did not lead him astray from what he viewed as the righteous path. He soon after joined the Silverwings and rose through their ranks as one of the most skilled members, and his judgment was almost always trusted, up to his recruitment of Amber Yang. He and Amber became as good a team as he was with his wife, and it is a rather open secret he harbors feelings for her, but he is content with leaving it as an unspoken attraction for now.

Gideon Golightly: A nervous, skinny freckled redhead who is nonetheless quite acrobatic. He tends to guard the door to the Silverwings lair.

Harlan Silver: Age 62. The Silver who is currently in charge of the Silverwing groups of vampire hunters. He has carved out quite a name for himself over the years, dealing with numerous dangerous supernatural occurrences quickly and effectively. Despite his age and his injuries, which include a missing eye and an injured leg, he is as formidable as ever. He is a loving father to his daughter Mara, and is perhaps the only person who really tolerates her snarkiness.

Mara Silver: Harlan’s daughter who was recently turned into a vampire by accident while her father was on a mission in Venezia. She’s an albino. She has no interest in the Silverwings and thinks they’re a bit goofy but she loves and respects her dad. She’s a bit brash and overbearing and sometimes jokes a bit too much, which she picked up from her mother. She’s unsure what her power is. She is rarely seen without her white hoodie with a pink heart and her heart-shaped sunglasses.

Mari Noven: The half-Korean, half-white daughter of Dr. David Noven and Dr. Ava Noven, two scientists working with the Silverwings. She is rather skilled at using ice magic. She has a thing for Babette, though Babette is completely unaware. Age 20.

Norman Grieves: Age 44. His parents were in the Silverwings, so he was in the know about vampires and the supernatural from a young age, often studying alongside his parents. He became a hunter at 21, but decided field action wasn’t his forte after meeting Behiti, instead deciding for an important desk job so he could raise a family. He became the library owner and so kept the Silverwing’s lair safe, as well as scoped out potential recruits. He is the adoptive father of Chastity’s children.

St. Jezebel: A fiery-haired saint who was said to have fought Eve in ancient times. Eve ensured that after she was canonized, she would fall into obscurity and be forgotten, though the Silverwings have done their best to keep her memory alive.

Talia Ishtar: An Egyptian scholar and martial artist. She’s a bit snooty and irritable but she has a good heart. Age 26.

OTHER IMPORTANT CHARACTERS

Amadeus Zephyri: A former member of the 19th century Order, he was set up as a sacrifice and so was given the chance to flee by Dracula, which he took. He was a genuinely good guy who seemed content to relax and not kill or be killed, and even fathered two children, Rika and Ryo Amano. He had the power to stop time for eight seconds max. Despite loving his eventual wife dearly, he always ached for Dahlia Rosemont, his first love, but never to the point it stopped him from loving Mrs. Amano.

Armstrong: The owner of the Rhyme or Reason Karaoke bar, and a skilled alchemist. He possesses a philosopher’s stone but refuses to use it, feeling metal into gold is cheating. He is incredibly buff with wavy red hair, looking like someone who could star in an 80s barbarian movie.

Flynn Dangerfield: The son of a vampire killer. He has a jagged scar across his face, from some incident or another. He is good at making sandwiches. He is the least evil vampire killer.

Grigori Rasputin: The mad monk himself. He has the power to regenerate into a new body whenever his current one is compromised or destroyed.

Macavity: Jemima’s right-hand man and best friend. Despite being a muscular manservant, he is fond of poetry and Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals.

Minerva Bright:: Age 35. The daughter of Balthazar Bright, founder of the diner Brightside’s, and his wife Rosa, Minerva was a very cheerful child with a passion for cooking and a love of people. As soon as she was old enough to work, she joined her parents in the diner and took pride in making sure customers were happy and satisfied, and that those in need received help. However, things changed when she was 20; her father was gunned down in a robbery gone wrong, and a few months later her mother took her own life out of grief; as if that wasn’t bad enough, Minerva, who was pregnant, ended up miscarrying due to the stress of the trauma in her life, and her fiance left her as a result when he found out she likely wouldn’t be able to bear more children. Minerva, now alone, took over running Brightside’s, and while she carried on the work her parents started, she grew more miserable, eventually finding ways to suppress all her emotions so that she could keep helping people. At one point, Jemima entered her diner, and the two built up a friendship, which eventually culminated in Minerva working with her, believing that Jemima had similar goals. But over the years she became disillusioned and soon became disgusted by how far Jemima was willing to go and how low she was willing to stoop to leave the city. Leaving Brightside’s in the hand of a trusted friend, she went into hiding with a few other women and formed a group hellbent on taking down Jemima once and for all.

Morag Macduff: The best friend of Chastity (wife’s OC). She’s an assistant manager and works the glory holes at the Den of Sin. She’s in her early 40s.

Remy Delacroix: The owner of the Den of Sin. He’s a bit greasy, but he usually means well.

Rex Hart: Rose’s stepbrother. Pressured by his abusive father into abusing Rose as well, he eventually turned on his father and began protecting Rose after his father killed her only friend: a little puppy Rex had found for her. He did his best to try and save her, but was turned and separated from her for years, becoming an alcoholic and mercenary in the process. Rose found him and the two reconciled, but were again separated when he teamed up with Amon to keep her safe and reign in Jack Fairchild. He has the power to, upon his death, have his body explode with the force of the bomb, with him respawning nearby.

Rhiannon Rhydderch: A vampire from the mid 16th century. She’s a powerful blood mage, and uses her power to make enchanted jewelry. She’s a very sweet and charming woman, and has no idea her jewelry is used for nefarious purposes. She has the power of flight, which manifests as shimmering butterfly wings.

Venus Crowley: Age 27. A free-spirited, fun-loving girl who frequents the Den mostly so she can support her friend Chastity. She’s known for being a bit scatterbrained as well as for being hopeless when it comes to love, with one amusing anecdote being how she freaked out and begged her twin sister Lilith for help after she asked out five different girls on the same day due to how conflicted she was as to who she liked. She loves her motorcycle (which she named Lady) almost as much as she loves girls, but she’s still very much a girly girl. She does street races and all sorts of illegal stunt driving to get her money, though she also has a job doing stunt shows at the local amusement park, Fordlandia.

Vinny Tosto: Owner of the burger joint Vinny’s. Sometimes has Lilith deliver shipments in a quick and timely manner, oftentimes not totally legal ones.

#The Vampirino Story #my OCs

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allicekitty13 · 3 years

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Daughter Of The Moon: Chapter 3

Read On Ao3

Read On FFN

Jasper led Alice down a long hall lit only by candelabras that hung from the walls. She spotted various paintings of men and women, including one of Esme and a large group portrait featuring all of the faces she'd seen in the house and then some. All the figures donned black clothing with their head covered in either a hat or hoods. It had taken her a moment to register what and who she was looking at because of this. A woman in the back row of the portrait seemed eerily familiar. However, Jasper didn't give her much time to examine the decor, gently explaining there would be time for a tour later as he placed a hand on her back, guiding her further down the hall. The pair descended a staircase and ventured outdoors.

The garden they entered was merely a small portion of a large expansive outdoor space. Gorgeous arrangements of flowers decorated every corner, and at the center, a small pond with an ornate fountain decorated in crystals sat in the center. Twinkling lights with no discernable source floating around the fountain illuminated the area, effectively creating a majestic atmosphere and filling Alice with a sense of wonder.

"It's a simple light spell," Jasper spoke up, causing Alice to look away from the orbs to see him standing sheepishly off to the side, still with that nervous expression. "I could teach you if you'd like."

"You'd do that?" She turned fully to face the man, an elated smile bursting across her face. She hadn't expected him to be so immediately open, she'd hoped for guidance, of course, but his offering to teach her something when they'd hardly spoken yet had her so excited Alice felt as though she could float.

"Yeah, of course." He responded, smiling at her warmly, seeming to relax slightly as he took a few steps closer to her position near the lights. However, he suddenly stopped in his tracks turning around to face the house with an annoyed glare. Following his gaze to a window on the second floor, Alice was able to spot Emmett, the blonde woman from earlier, and a red-headed girl squeezed together intently, watching the pair in the garden below.

Jasper, who was now shaking his head at the group, raised a hand, flicking his wrist to the side, causing the curtains to slam shut in the faces of their onlookers.

"So, what was that all about?" Alice asked, amused by the display.

"Some of the members of this coven can be a bit nosey."

"Oh," She laughed a bit uncomfortably, "What exactly were they expecting to see?"

Jasper stiffened at the question reverting to the rigid nervous position he'd held before their short interaction over the lights. A light pink tinge began to spread across his cheeks as he stared intently at the fountain, spraying water over the pond. "So," He finally spoke after a moment, clearly looking to change the subject. "Emmett said you had some questions for me?"

"Oh!" Alice was quickly reminded of the entire reason she was there in the first place. It had been so easy to forget once out in the garden, surrounded by such wonder and beauty. It had felt natural, as though this was where she was meant to be. Standing there, watching the lights with Jasper, should have been overwhelming; it should have been a complete culture shock. She should have felt starstruck around the man, she had at first back in the lounge with Esme. But those feelings had melted away quickly, leaving Alice feeling at ease. Of course, at some point, though, they had to get down to business.

"Emmett thought maybe you would have some ideas on how I could safely practice and develop my magic safely... considering my situation." Alice trailed off at the end of the sentence in confusion. Jasper looked at her with pity, a sympathetic sadness clouding his green eyes.

"He didn't tell you, did he." It came as a resigned statement rather than a question. Alice shook her head slowly, indicating that whatever it was Emmett was meant to tell her had been a subject he'd avoided.

"Of course he didn't," Jasper pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "Leave it to the class clown to avoid the big blows."

A sinking feeling began to develop in the pit of Alice's stomach as she took in Jasper's stance, as well as his tone, both conveying the message that whatever he had to tell her wasn't good news. "What, um... What do you mean?" Her voice came out shaky, fearful of whatever information the man was about to drop.

Taking in a deep breath, Jasper closed his eyes as he thought over how to break the news delicately; he seemed to arrive at a conclusion as he nodded at a marble bench facing the fountain indicating that Alice should take a seat. Feeling woozy, she quickly obliged. "What do they say about me?" He opened, looking down at her tentatively from his still standing position, his posture straight hands clasped behind his back. "I'm assuming my escape caused enough of a commotion to reach the top of the chain."

"Yeah, you're um... kind of a big deal. Like I legitimately had an entire lecture in class about you yesterday. You're on the most wanted witches list, do not approach status. And I..." She hesitated, wondering if bringing up Maria was a bad decision, not wanting to reopen old wounds. Yet, she wanted to be honest, to lay all her cards on the table. "I know Maria personally."

Jasper looked away from her, fear in his eyes at the mention of the name. "Hey no, see, here's the thing." She moved her hair so that it covered only her right shoulder, exposing her witch's mark. She pointed to it as she continued. "This thing gives me a unique perspective. I've always wondered what your side of the story is... I mean..." A blush swept over her cheeks, suddenly feeling awkward and embarrassed. "If you're willing to share, of course."

"I hale from the south," He began, leaving no question as to his willingness to share. "I'm sure you've been taught about the state of things in that region."

Jasper looked to Alice as though questioning if more explanation on that statement would be necessary. Alice nodded to indicate that she knew very well what life for a witch hunter was like in the southern portion of the country. At the academy, geography was less of a class on the layout of the world and more and instruction on the practices of the various hunter's associations. Living in Salam, where their headquarters were located, as well as being the leader's daughter, allowed Alice even more insight.

Alice had no questions about the intensity of the situation. She was fully aware that during the Salem witch trials, while most accusations were false, vast amounts of actual witches fled south for safety. Of course, it hadn't taken long for hunters to catch on, taking the battle with them and leaving what history knew of the situation in Massachusetts.

In the present day, it was still a bloodbath, daily casualties occurring on both sides. Hunters in the region were highly skilled, applied vigorous training in their academies, and only accepting the highest-scoring applicants to their ranks. Leader's in those states going so far as to keep an eye on grades nationwide. Even at her young age, Alice's own sister was being scouted for a position in Lousiana at the heart of the conflict.

The nod seemed to be sufficient information for Jasper as he continued recounting his tale. "My mark appeared in my pre-teen years, on my shoulder. I thought I was lucky; it's an easy enough place to keep it hidden. I decided to play my cards carefully, continuing to train to the best of my ability until I could make an escape. I focused all my energy on being at the top of my class, partly to prevent suspicion as well as to have an edge in defending myself were I ever found out."

Jasper paused a moment, staring intently into Alice's eyes as though he wanted to drive the next points of the story home. "I'm glad I did because one day, during a particularly intense sparring match, my shirt ripped, revealing my mark. The very second everyone in the room realized what they were seeing, I was immediately, viciously attacked. My own friends, my family... The hunter's creed runs thicker than blood; it doesn't matter to them who you are, what kind of person you are. If you have the mark, they will kill you."

Alice felt her throat tighten as realization took hold. Jasper didn't need to continue, Alice was a quick learner, and his point was clear. Sooner or later, she would slip up, be it carelessness or an event outside her control, whether it be carelessness or an event outside her control. It wasn't of a question of if she would be found out. It was a question of when. Considering her grades and resulting lack of combat skills, she would be a goner.

"I have to leave," She looked up at him. "I have to leave as soon as possible, don't I."

"For what it's worth," His words came with sincere sympathy, "I'm sorry. I know what it's like to leave your entire world behind."

Alice leaned back against the bench, suddenly feeling woozy; she'd known what Jasper had meant with his story. Yet to hear it confirmed had caused her to feel like the world was spinning out from under her. Leaving had been her dream for so long, but now it was all happening so fast. There were so many questions floating through her mind flittering through so fast she struggled to focus on just one. How could she do this safely? What was she supposed to do? Would Esme allow Alice into her coven, or would she have to strike it out on her own. Being associated with Edgar made Alice a relatively prominent figure; people would come looking for her.

Alice hadn't realized she was crying until she felt an arm wrap around her shoulder in a sort of half-hug. "Hey," She looked up to see Jasper had taken a seat next to her on the bench. "It's going to be okay. I know it's terrifying; I've done it before. But we're going to make a plan we'll get you out safely without a fight. I promise."

"We?"

"Alice," He chuckled lightly, a comforting sound that Alice couldn't help but smile at despite everything. "You're one of us. Esme would never leave a witch behind, and I would never want to see you go through what I did. I was lucky; most of us born into the society don't make it out. But I swear to you I'm not going to let that be you."

"Thank you," Alice choked out between shaking breaths as she wiped at her tears with the long sleeves of her sweater. She was still terrified, but Jasper's tone and presence made her feel safer, more calm. She may have only just met the man, but she believed every word he uttered. "How do we move forward? Where do we go from here?"

"Well, let's start by introducing you to your new brothers and sisters?" Jasper removed his arm from where it rested around Alice's shoulder, and she found herself immediately missing his warmth and held out a hand that she gladly took.

Jasper led her back inside, never releasing her hand as he guided her through the main rooms of the enormous house. Inside a room on the ground floor, they found Emmett sitting on a couch with the blonde woman who was disinterestedly watching him play video games. Upon their entrance, Emmett paused his game and stood to offer Alice a hug. She released Jasper's hand for the first time since taking it in the garden to accept the sign of affection from the man who had quickly become her friend.

The blonde woman was quick to introduce herself as Rosalie, Esme's apprentice who would take over the duties as coven leader one day. Emmett went on to make sure Alice was okay after her conversation with Jasper in the garden knowing full well the subject matter discussed. Their conversation was cut short by Jasper, who had been having a silent discussion with Rosalie held only via facial expressions and eye-contact.

"We should move on with the tour Alice." The tall man spoke in a tone of mild annoyance, reaching once again for Alice's hand. The small action causing Rosalie to let out an exasperated huff as she turned back to Emmett and his playthrough of Skyrim.

Jasper lead her back into the hallway, remaining quiet and tense as indicated by the slight scowl he now wore. Alice wanted to ask about his interaction with Rosalie, wondering why it had left him in such a sour mood. She felt, though, that it was none of her business as she had only just met the man. It wasn't her place to go prying into his personal matters, especially when he'd already been so forthcoming about his past. So she bit her tongue as she thought about the nervous glances the man had kept sending her way throughout the duration of that silent conversation.

"You alright?" Jasper asked, pulling Alice from her curious thoughts. He'd halted their tour in front of yet another of the numerous doors of the enormous house. "You've been quiet, and you're holding my hand like a vice."

"Just overwhelmed." She responded, trying to keep her voice light. Jasper didn't need to know she had been mentally analyzing his prior interaction with Rosalie. Besides, her response was partially truthful. The night had been quite a lot to take in.

"We can do this another time... if you want to go back home and process all of this."

"No, I'll be fine. The sooner we get through everything the better right? Emergency evacuation plans and all that."

Jasper nodded in silent agreement and proceeded to guide her through the door he'd stopped in front of. On the other side was a large well-stocked kitchen lit brightly by the shining in through large floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking the well cared for garden Alice and Jasper had been sitting in earlier in the evening. Standing at a granite counter, chopping vegetables, stood a smiling blonde man.

"Carlisle," Jasper nodded to the man, something Alice was beginning to notice was a common habit of his. "Meet Alice."

The man, Carlisle apparently, wiped his hands on a nearby towel before crossing the room to shake her hand. "I'm happy to finally make your acquaintance Miss Brandon.

"Carlisle is Esme's husband," Jasper informed. "He's also an expert in healing magic."

"I would love to learn more about that subject someday, sir."

"Please, Alice, call me Carlisle; we're all family here. As much as I'd like to sit down and get to know you, I'm a bit preoccupied at the moment. Once you're more settled, I would be glad to speak to you about my practice." With that, Carlisle returned to his cooking.

The final room Jasper directed Alice to was an expansive library easily rivaling the size of any she'd seen on the hunter's base. Shelves filled with countless books lined the walls. Alice, knowing those volumes would hold the information she'd been looking for, found herself excited at the prospect of one day having the opportunity to devour every text.

In the far left corner of the woman with fiery red hair, Alice had caught a glimpse of from the window back in the garden sat studiously in front of a piano tapping away at a classical piece. Jasper pointed over to her as he spoke in a hushed tone. "That girl over there is Edythe; it's best not to disturb her while she's practicing.

It was the other inhabitant of the room, however, who caught Alice's attention. She instantly recognized the woman sitting at a table, paging through a book as she twirled strands of her long brown hair around her fingers. It was a sight Alice was all too familiar with as this exact woman had been the one to help guide her through the academy library in her search for information.

Although new questions sprang through her mind, old inquiries suddenly made complete sense. Of course, Bella had bought her flimsy excuses and hadn't alerted any superiors in their organization. Her loyalties didn't lie with hunters; she was one of the witches.

"You!" Alice exclaimed, dropping Jasper's hand to make her way over to the table. "You're the librarian, from the academy!"

"Yes, I'm a scout for the coven," Bella responded as she closed her book, carefully placing a scrap of paper between the pages to make her spot. "I keep an eye on things from the inside and relay the information I dig up on your people back to Esme. It's one of the ways we stay one step ahead. I'm glad to finally speak with you without a cover. You have no idea how many times I just wanted to spill."

"That's amazing," Alice found herself in awe of the woman. "You've got such a dangerous job."

"It is, but it's an important one, so I'm glad to do it."

It was at that moment the large grandfather clock in the back of the room chimed three times, signaling that it was now three in the morning. As much as Alice wanted to stay and continue talking to Bella if she wanted to get any sleep before school tomorrow, it was time to go home.

#Jalice #Twilight #alice cullen #Jasper Hale

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cartoonfangirl1218 · 4 years

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Winner’s Curse Ch. 18

Another long one but I felt it was needed to flesh out Jade who is basically a blank slate in the books, and it was fun to dive into the family dynamics of Aladdin villains. TW: abuse. Enjoy!

“All right let’s go” Uma commanded as Gil ran off at his captain’s behest/ The group began walking when Jordan stopped to ask the figure still standing by the balcony. “Aren’t you going with them?”

Uma audibly sighed, showing her irritation but Jade flopped back down on the ottoman to listen, she was curious, besides she hated the political meetings. It was all just infighting and boundry setting and for people like Uma to fight who was more powerful.

“No. My mom wants me to be the high priestess of Opar, not it’s princess. I’m not needed for political meetings if I’m not destined to rule.” Lala’s tone was all nonchalance but Jade sensed it was a lie.

And a lie she found when she searched her face, and saw the tall tale sign. Several signs actually. She was examining her nails rather than looking them in the eye, licking her lips and clenching her teeth.

Liar, liar, liar.

Sooo obvious too. Jade had learned to control those revealing twitches when she was like 7.

“Aziz can join me. You can watch me practice the magic of ancient Atlantis. Lost to all time and elusive to all.” Lala swung her arms dramatically, her accent becoming more pronounced and loud, mimicking her mother’s self-indulgent proclamations.

Seeing that Aziz was about to walk out beside Lala like he was a regular every person of equal standing and not the slave boy they were trying to sell him as.

Honestly did these people not know how to sell to a lie. They had to make it believable!

“Hey!” Jade threw an arm out, “Few steps behind. You’re not a prince here, slave boy.”

She added her trademark wicked smirk to soften the words. Well she hoped it made the words gentler. Sometimes the wicked smirk backfired and people misinterpreted it as her rubbing it in. Or other times when she was trying to goad someone like the Gaston twins and they thought she was flirting. Ugh it was so annoying that she couldn’t control the reaction to her smirk.

At least Aziz seemed to understand her intent and mockingly bowed to her, “So sorry princess.” He turned to Lala and grabbed her hand and kissed the back of her hand as he followed her out, “My priestess.”

With that settled the genie girl went back to her bottle that Calix was holding and they set off in silence which unnerved Jade.

Silence was never a good thing in her experience. It always signaled an impending ambush.

“He didn’t kiss my hand.” Jade fake pouted thinking of the first thing that came to mind as they stalked through the long dark hall.

“Yeah yeah, let’s just go to the Coven meeting before Nerissa complains that we’re late again.” Uma rolled her eyes, picking up the pace, and Jade bristled. She knew people tended to underestimate her friendly, joking attitude. That’s what she wanted, it made people drop their guard low enough for her to steal but still... it was annoying how people thought they could just roll their eyes in front of her.

She was the best thief on the Isle. She had skills and they knew it even if her attitude didn’t always reflect how serious she took her pickpocketing. Come on, she practically stole every one of Captain Hook’s pirate hats without getting caught by his rowdy, drunken crew. She was not to be underestimated.

They didn’t need to roll her eyes when she talked as if she was an insignificant idiot.

So she pushed past Uma who was in the lead and strutted her way to the large half circle table that Morgain Le Fey had suggested to be their meeting table to avoid even more fighting. The adults sat on the interior and their kids on their interior so they sat across from each other with a clear view of the rest.

Jade slowed her swaying hips as she approched her seat across from her mom whose lips were already turned down in disgust. Her mother was forever exasperated when Jade did things like flirting or strutting or simply acting nonchalant, seeing it as more evidence that she had no ambitions and was too flighty to make something of herself.

Not that she cared. At least she had to remind herself that she didn’t care. It was part of her new “Keep yourself sane” plan ever since Mom decided to take an interest in her life and make her into a sorceress like she was.

15 years of neglect, only paying attention when Jade was in trouble and now she wanted Jade to make someone to be proud of?

No way. She would try to learn sorcery just to get her mom off her back and hold off the rain of punches but she wasn’t going to waste her time acting the part of evil sorceress to win her mother’s approval.

She gave up a long time ago the hope that her mom would ever change her mind to love her. Or her mother would change in general.

Jade looked around at the rest of the room. Most of the people were here. Like Celia and Dr. Facilier were at the right end of the half circle playing some sort of bakor card game and next to them were Zevon and Yzma crabbily whispering to each other. Well Yzma was whispering and pulling at Zevon’s ear while Zevon just cowered. Yzla was no where to be seen which made sense. Yzla usually ditched anything that involved spending time with hercrazy, hairball hacking mom, preferring the chance to concot chemistry explosions in the secret lab without her family’s interference or unneeded advice.

Next to Yzma was Uncle Jafar, polishing his staff and brushing Iago off his shoulder wheneverthe ornery parrot got too close to take a look at his beak. Jay was still a hypnotized statue, standing in front of his chair, waiting to be instructed on what to do.

Jade had to resist the urge to command him to sit down and generally not ignore him. But it wasn’t her place to.

They were just cousins and on the Isle that was the same level of trust and caring as a sidekick and his boss. There was none. She couldn’t act like she gave a damn about Jay’s well being, not if she wanted to have her mom kick her bleeding heart out of her chest like she was always threatening to do.

The seat next to her mom was occupied by a brooding Mozonroth, tapping his fingers impatiently as he stared at the empty seat across from him/next to her that should be occupied by her nephew. Strange that he hadn’t arrived yet. Antiqam was so like his father being meticulous and punctual and methodical in everything he did. Being late just wasn’t him.

It was just as well. If there was a relative that she didn’t give a damn about. It would be her half brother, Mozonroth and his equally repulsive son, Antiqam.

Her half-brother just creeped her out with how he always sounded like he was flirting with everyone. The suaveness belying his ruthless demenour underneath and Antiqam followed in his footsteps being too touchy-feely with groping someone’s chest as he described how he wanted to stab them in the heart.

Most people were in awe of their ruthlessness, hoping to aspire to them like those who wished to be the next Mistress of Evil after Maleficent. Or they feared them for those same reasons. But, she, she saw nothing to fear and nothing to idolize. Just hate.

And if she was being honest, a part of her dislike toward them was pettiness because they were her mother’s favorites. Like it was her fault that she was born on the Isle and she had had no chance to take over any area in Agrabah. Even if she was to conquer some place on the Isle, what would it be? The garbage shack on the South Side? What a score.

She looked to her left, hoping to distract herself from thinking of annying family members and saw thst Uma was absentmindedly drawing words and drawings on the table, no doubt planning out the next steps of whatever it was they were doing. Her mother was boredly finishing off a plate of fish and chips from her resturaunt and Mother Gothel and her daughter were simultaneously admiring themselves in grimy mirrors. The rest of the left side was crowded by the mothers without kids around like Queen Grimhilde, Queen Nerissa, Maleficent, Queen La, and Morgain Le Fey with Circe and Calix rounding out the end, not speaking to each other.

She had heard the loud fights between them in the parlor next door to her room. The unofficial area to air out secret plans and have family fights. From what she could hear through the walls, Calix was still an Auradonian good guy through and through and trying to convince his mom to leave the Coven and help them fight when the time came while his mom was all onboard the revenge train and didn’t trust the Auradons after they sent her to the Isle and tore her away from her home.

It was very very interesting. Almost as good as the soaps Jade sometimes caught when she--

“Have you’ve mastered levitation yet?” Her mom’s reedy voice cut through her thoughts.

“Um I was..” Jade took a small breath in and smiled sweetly to her mother who scowled, “I was getting a nice foot massage from my new slaveboy. It’s important to use our enemies and degrade them.”

Nasira rolled her eyes, angrily huffing through her nose. Jade instinctively leaned away from her when she saw that. It never ended well for her face.

Shockingly, the person she least expected to be thankful for came barging through the doors, red with rage.

“Who the hell stole my genie!” He bellowed, his black robe billowing around him and dark hair dishelved and plastered against his forehead in a rare image of him at his least presentable.

“Zevon did it.” Uma said cocking her head toward the oily wannabe emperor who was sinking down in his seat.

“Why would yaaargh? She’s mine!” Antiqam lunged at Zevon who fruitlessly tried to squirm under the table but Antiqam was faster. He pounced on the teen like a coyote, twisting Zevon’s high collar around his neck causing blue veins to bulge around his forehead to match the angry red one throbbing at Antiqam’s temple.

This was one example where Antiqam strayed from being exactly like his father. Antiqam was cool and calm, scarily collected most of the time with all his ‘I”s dotted and “T”s crossed. But when his plan was derailed, that all snapped.

Jade looked out of the corner of her eye to see how her relatives were acting to this, all expressing various levels of exasperation as Antiqam thrashed Zevon around on the table.

Uncle Jafar was looking gloatingly at her mother as if to say, “So that’s how you grandparent?” and Mozonroth was facepalming, vexed at his son’s unchecked anger and violence.

Even the “accomplished and perfect” Antiqam disappointed his father by not keeping control of his emotions. How satisfying.

Jade personally thought it made sense. Antiqam acted so calm and suave all the time, and repressed all his emotions like annoyance and anger. So when he reached the breaking point, he became a incoherent rage, letting it all out on the poor fool.

Similarly, Zevon had no parental support on his side as Yzma rubbed her temples, “I’m so disappointed in you.”

“Antiqam. Tawaquf.” Mozonroth punctuated his commands with two sharp raps on the table with his armored gauntlet, grabbing his son’s attention who promptly dropped a bedraggled Zevon to the floor.

Antiqam didn’t say anything. He just inhaled deeply and brushed some invisible dust off his shoulders as if that would draw attention away from his outburst that left a bruised Zevon who was on the floor groaning and grappling to get back on his chair.

“He shouldn’t have stolen my lamp. What did he want it for?” Antiqam hissed through his teeth, his anger still audible but starting to retreat under his usual self possessed attitude.

“What you wanted it for. Genie sex.” Calix answered with obvious disdain, earning him a glare from Zevon across the table for ratting him out.

“How do you know all this?” Antiqam turned to look suspiciously at him.

“We caught him.” Uma said, referring to herself and Calix.

“Then give i the lamp to us.” Mozonroth’s dark eyes seared across the table belied by his strained smile that revealed he was refraining from bashing someone’s head himself.

Antiqam cocked his head, a cat-eating-the-canary-smile playing about his lips, “Wait, aren’t you friends with my genie? Circe said she knew their family back in Auradon? Have you’ve been hiding her from me? Protecting her?”

Jade flinched. She knew the punishment that would ensue if they were found protecting someone.

“Even after you two said you’d join and obey the Coven?” Queen Nerissa finished the train of thought that was forming in everyone’s heads.

No, no no, no. This was bad. Very bad. Why did Uma and Calix say they’d infiltrate from the inside? If either of them stepped a teeny bit out of line, they’d be done for. No one here would trust a former Auradonian or the sea witch that left the Isle for months. They were viewed too much as invaders. They had something to gain if the Coven failed.

But she… people thought she’d have everything to lose if the Coven failed and that was why Yzla chose her as the perfect double agent.

Time to prove to Uma that her breezy attitude was nothing to roll her eyes at.

The adults’ voices were beginning to raise in anger and confusion with Circe’s cutting through the noise with the fierce proclamation,

“Don’t you dare accuse my son of anything. He is a loyal person unlike you backstabbers.” Circe hissed.

Hmmm maybe there was hope for getting the Grecian sorceress on their side. Hope enough that even if she didn’t actively help them, there’d be hell to pay if someone hurt her son.

“Oh, Queen Nerissa, you must be really insecure about your intimidation if you think two former goody goodiness would disobey you.” Jade laughed, jumping up to wrap her arms around Uma, “They’ve been far too busy the pleasures of being in the Coven to even think of ever going back to such sacherrine goodness. After all, they don’t have me in Auradon.”

To make her point, she kissed Uma’s neck and was promptly pushed away with a hiss, “Don’t touch me!”

Ursula looked disbelievingly at Jade, and Jade shrugged, “Yeah, it only happened once. Can’t say Uma really knows what she’s doing in the bedroom. Too uptight.”

Uma clenched her fists, mouthing some obscene threat but Jade rolled her eyes at her. Ha!

“As for this guy,” Jade walked over to Calix and planted a deep kiss on him, relishing in the surge of performance as everyone watched their tongues tangle, completely oblivious to her fingers wrapping around the lamp that Calix had been holding under the table.

She pulled away from Calix, smiling at the slightly punched drunk gaze she left him with. Slipping the lamp into her long sleeves that almost fell to the floor.

When she returned to her seat, her mother was the one facepalming while Uncle Jafar looked surprisingly impressed at her manipulative seduction abilities. Uncle Jafar always prided manipulativeness while her mom didn’t.

Her mom preferred more direct action and said that her brother had his priorities messed up if he did everything manipulatively. Maybe if he was more direct, he would have made sure to kill Aladdin so that street rat wouldn’t have defeated him in the end.

She turned to Antiqam holding the lamp to his face, “You’re being overdramatic for no reason. I have the lamp, dear nephew.”

“Why didn’t you return it to me once you caught Zevon, dear aunt?” Antiqam asked tersely.

“Because I wanted wishes.” Jade smiled, inspecting the pretty brass object for the first time, tracing her figures across the curling cuticles.

It was so ordinary. Brass was one of the easiest metals to find on the Isle. And lamps like these were utterly useless to beat back the cold, windy winters on the Isle. She’d thought if a genie had a lamp it would be something sparkly and shimmering with a thousand encrusted jewels or sparking off like a firework just like the genies were themselves.

But it also fit. Jade mused to herself. Something so unsuspecting and ordinary could change her life.

“Jade, I know listening isn’t your forte, but we went over the plan. When we take over Agrabah, we’ll each have a genie. Jafar will have the male, your mother will have Eden and we’ll have this one.” Mozonroth explained slowly, smiling at her as if she was a child.

“I did listen. But I wanted wishes now. And unlike Zevon, I am actually thinking out what my wishes will be and not going to get tricked out of my genie.” Jade said, “I have plans of my own.”

Her mother looked up at her curiously, a strange smile spreading across her face.

Pride.

A proud smile. Her mom had a proud smile for her!?

Jade couldn’t stop the hopeful lurch of her heart at the sight. She never thought she was capable of making her mom proud of her.

After all her heists, the wrestling matches she won, this was what made her mom proud? Stealing genie lamp from her grandson?

….Or was it the “I have plans of my own.”

How many times had she heard her Mom lecture that she should have plans of her own.

Her mom was sure proud of her. For echoing her. Not for Jade’s own actions.

“Jade should have the wishes.” Her mom said, interrupting whatever retort that was about to come out of Mozonroth’s mouth. “What?!” Jafar, Mozonroth and Antiqam stared at her mother, the rest of the Coven sporting similar shocked looks at the small family drama unfolding.

“She’s already been using Aladdin’s son as her slave boy. I’m sure she’ll think of something equally degrading for the genie when she makes her three wishes.”

“Thank you, Mom.” Jade clenched her jaw tightly to prevent any traitorous sound of glee from coming out of her throat.

She didn’t care. She didn’t care. She didn’t care. She had to keep reminding herself that. She was not about to do things for her mom’s approval. And if she accidentally recieved her mom’s approval she shouldn’t be happy about it. It was like fool’s gold Shiny and wonderful but temporary. It would not last or provide any substance later on.

“Well then, I’ll go spend my wishes now!” Jade said brightly, deciding to add to her mother’s newfound pride, “And I’ll go study magic now too.”

Hey, might as well keep her mom off her back for the rest of the day.

“Wait, we’re making plans!” Queen Nerissa called out, “This is a Coven meeting not an episode of As the Crown Turns.”

“Oh I love that show! Did you see the latest one where the mermaid found out her husband slept with her twin sister?” Gothel cried.

“I saw that coming from a mile away.” Queen Grimhilde hooted, “Why wouldn’t he. I mean the girl’s a fish. At least her twin had legs to-”

“Ladies.” Queen Nerissa shouted, until there was calm once more. “I’ll get this over quickly since some people claim they have “better things to do.”

The plan will commence on next Sunday at the height of summer solstice. We must start our preparations on Monday and work throughout the week. That means no one is leaving the castle or exiting,” she made a significant side-eye to Uma and Calix. “All magic user must rest and save their strength for the takeover. Remember we strike to kill. No more of this “make them suffer first” nonsense. That allows them time to think and take over and that’s how you all failed the first time. Think on that. That’s all. You’re dismissed.”

Jade jumped up and ran to the door where Uma and Calix quickly met her. “Give me.” Calix grabbed the lamp possessively and Uma pushed her back, “What the hell was that out there?”

“One, I can’t give this to you. It’s called committing to the lie. And two, it’s called kiss. You clearly haven’t had much experience with that, Shrimpy.” Jade shot back.

They didn’t have much time to talk more since Circe and Ursula swept by, taking their kids with them.

“Congratulations.” Celia grabbed Jade’s arm and gently shook it.

Jade felt herself melt a little seeing Celia’s sincere congratulations and genuine smile.

It was a stupid, sentimental feeling but she preferred kids to people her own age. She didn’t have to act cool. She was older, she was automatically cool. So that was one less stress on her life.

Kids were the opposite of everything she prided herself for. They didn’t know how to hide their emotions that well. They didn’t feel the need to act cool and were very eager to praise others when someone did something cool. They couldn’t lie very well which was annoying when she was among her peers but when kids did it, it was adorable.

And Celia was a pretty cool kid if she had to call a kid cool. She was feisty, sassy, and was always quick with a scam. If there was one thing that bought her respect was someone who knew how to make a quick buck.

Also since she joined the Anti Hero Club, her respect for Celia had elevated a bit. Not only could she con people out of their money, but underneath the Facilier smoothness was loyalty.

She knew she should have expected it since it was a club for secretly heroic kids despite the confusing name but to see it in action brought an unfamiliar yet comforting feeling to see people that were capable of trustworthiness and loyalty and that if succeeded, she could meet other like-minded people. Instead of being constantly on guard and acting casual among villains who’d be willing to stab her in an instant to rot when all she wanted to do was be alone and safe.

Yzla informed her it was called hope. She was pretty sure that was also a good guy thing. Another strike against her if her mother ever found out she was capable of feeling such goodness.

“Thanks. Bye!” Jade waved as Dr. Facilier grabbed Celia’s hand to take her back to their shop.

Jade headed toward the stairs where the dungeons were, watching as the rest of the family headed up to the rooms.

“Jay follow me!” She clapped to get hypno-Jay’s attention and wiggled her fingers at Antiqam’s scowl. If she hadn’t been on Antiqam’s radar before she knew she was on it now. Hell, she may have made his hit list by getting to use the wishes before he did.

But she repressed those concerns to the back of her mind. She’ll deal with it later when the time came. Hopefully never.

She reached the dungeon floor, it’s dank smell of blood, and seared flesh filling her nostrils as she entered the hallway. The only open door was at the end of the hall, the one leading to the torture room and she could already hear the faint gurgling sound of someone choking.

She winced and moved quickly through the hall, opening each door as she went.

Each Coven got their own magic workshop, each styled for their specific magic and decorated so people wouldn’t get confused since all the doors looked the same.

She checked each room, opening it fully to the one that smelled of blood lilies and the walls were dusted with sand from her attempts at levitating.

Jade stared at the book that was still left open on the table and sat her chair. Jay standing at the door staring blankly at her.

“To levitate an object, one must “flap and clap” your arms focusing on your third chakra. Fire is needed blah blah blah.” Jade read outloud and shut the book in disgust. She read those words like thirty times this morning, she practically memorized it but that didn’t help her in actually doing the magic.

The closest she’d come to levitating the sand was by throwing it against the wall in frustration, and then her mom checked on her and..

Jade slumped in her seat and tried to get herself to focus on the book again. She had to learn something. She had to show her mom she could do something or else.

A wave of phantom pain washed over her as she thought what would happen if her mom decided to stop by to observe her progress.

The beginnings of a migraine were pounding in her temples as her mom’s distinct hiss bounced around her head. “You can’t do anything? Nothing! What is wrong with you, Jade? No, don’t answer that. I know exactly what is wrong with you.”

Jade instinctively flinched, feeling the invisible blows her mom pounded on her.

“You have no discipline! No ambition! You’re acting like a slut with no wants in life! You are a waste of space! Nothing is in your head! I should have left you to die in the desert like I did after I had Mozonroth! He made something of himself. Here, I am telling you to do better and you do nothing!”

She had managed to speak a little. That she was a good thief. More like a whisper, but her mom with her cold calculating senses picked up on everything, “A thief? That’s what you want to aspire to? You’re descended from sorcerers and you want to be a fucking thief! You’re disgrace!”

Her voice raised and lowered in random intervals, as if Nasira couldn’t think of whether to laugh at such foolish, unambitious dreams or be even more enraged. She chose the latter, Jade remembered. She had the marks to prove it though she didn’t remember much. It went by in a haze, her mom’s face contorted monstrously as she yelled. The persistent, never ending hits to the stomach and face.

She could feel a heavy weight press down against her just like when her mom leaned over her. Pressing all her weight and bony knees into her chest that Jade was sure she was going to puncture it. Her spindly fingers clawing into Jade’s mouth, drawing blood on her tongue to stop her “ear bleeding screeches.” Those screams were just the sort of thing that showed people how weak she was. She needed to toughen up.

Jade cursed herself internally. She knew this lesson already. Just act happy, just act casual, act nonchalant, act angry. Her casual attitude may irritate her mother but she would usually leave her alone. It was when she acted sad or scared her mother would get vicious. When she sensed weakness, she attacked.

Her throat closed and her thoughts jumbled into one overarching message, “She was a failure and her mother was going to kill her for it. She was a failure and her mom was going to kill her. ShewasafailureMomwasgoingtokillherShewasafailureMomwasgoingto killher.FailureDeadDeadFailureShewasgoingtodie.Uselesswasteofspace.

Jade experienced these sorts of panic attacks before. She needed some water for her throat. Her lungs were heaving with sobs and air that fought to win over her tired body. Her hot tears streaked down her face and the overwhelming pain, sadness and hopelessness within that threatened to engulf her. She needed to get out of this room with its levitating spells and reminders of her mother.

“Hi Auntie Jade!” A cheerful voice giggled and Jade slowly turned her head to see the chubby small form of her little nephew, Malik. “Antiqam wanted me to check up on you.” Despite the swirling thoughts in her head and the overwhelming waves of panic, some seperate part of her melted at Malik’s complete inability to lie and that, out of all people, Antiqam chose to send his 5 year old brother to spy on her despite the kid being incapable of spying or understanding the bigger chess game they were playing.

The kid was too young to do subterfuge and even if he did, he was too sweet. He wasn’t corrupted yet to hate her.

“I’m great,” Jade gulped past the lump in her throat, lurching unsteadily to the door, “I need the bathroom.”

The migraine made the rest of her body feel heavy and unsteady when she walked to the bathroom in the middle of the right side of the hall. Once she approached the bathroom she threw up into the sink.

It disgusted her. Not so much the contents of her stomach but the fact that she did it. Just thinking about her mother's abuse and this is what she was reduced to? Throwing up in fear of what the witch would do to her.

She knew she could handle it. It was practically predictable at this point. Curl in a ball as she hit and kicked and scratched, hide in her room, do makeup, act like nothing happened until the next time she did something wrong. Even now she felt ashamed that that was her strategy in dealing with her mom. She could grapple with the Gaston twins with no fear, but with her mom, she just froze up. She had survived the pain of living with her mother for years, why was she so scared now?

Maybe it was like Antiqam's rage? She’d been repressing it so long, all the anxiety and fear was hitting her now.

Whatever it was, she didn’t need it at this moment. She had important things to do for the Anti Villain Club. She couldn’t fall apart now.

Jade trembled against the cold tiles of her bathroom and clenched her fists in an effort to still her quaking body. Her breath was coming in short desperate pants and it took all of her willpower to remember to focus on her face in the mirror, watching herself as her breath became slower and slower.

She blinked rapidly to try to clear her eyes of the tears that were still threatening to fall and scrubbed at her face with some of the brown water that came out of the rusty faucet. Even though the Coven had their powers, and were able to create jewels, transformations and shadow spirits out of thin air they still weren’t able to magick up some way to get better pipes for fresh water. They would get those sort of things when they went to Auradon.

Jade patted her cheeks, making sure the blush wasn’t rubbing off and noticed with distaste the smudgeness of her mascara dripping down her cheeks.

Then Lala walked out of the other stall, her ever-present leopard staff under her arm as she washed her hands, and Jade froze.

Quickly splashing water over her face, she rubbed the remnents of her makeup off and reached into the small pocket she had sewn into the underside of her sleeve for emergency makeup supplies.

She sniffed and forced herself to smile. That’s what people expected of her. She was the flirty thief with no care in the world.

Maybe it was time to work on Operation: Future Friendship with Jungle Girl, part 22. Concentrating on other things usually helped her to not dwell on the memories.

Jade was used to getting what she wanted. Whether it was a one night stand or Queen Grimhilde’s youth moisturizing cream. She was going to get this girl to warm up to her if it was the last thing she did.

She couldn’t believe she was trying so hard to do this. A mere 3 months ago, she would have laughed at such an idea of working to be friends with someone on the Isle when they were bound to betrayal.

But three months ago she wasn’t part of the Anti Heroes Club, working to undermine the Coven and her mother from inside.

It all began when Yzla invited her to the Anti Heroes Club, and they'd gotten closer to the hope that they’d get off this forsaken place that she started considering the idea of a real friendship.

Yzla introduced the concept to her first. She had been practically salivating over the idea of unlimited fresh food when she said, “Imagine. We could actually act like friends instead of claiming we’re just an alliance.”

Jade was taken aback by Yzla’s outspoken proclamation and admittance that she wanted to say she was Jade’s friend, one simply did not say they were friends after all it was a mushy princessy feeling, but then again, Yzla was more progressive than other Isle kids, being a budding scientist and researching all those newfangled theories.

Jade hadn’t been sure how to respond. Sure at the moment she smiled and agreed, keeping up the friendly facade she usually kept among people, but she still had to think about it. And when she did, she realized Yzla was her friend.

With Yzla, she didn’t feel the need to act like the edgy yet friendly dreamgirl she was with everyone. She was just comfortable with Yzla, she wanted to hang out with her just to talk or rough up some pirates on the docks. Hell, that’s why she joined up on this mysterious club so quickly. If Yzla said it was legit, it was legit.

Beyond their first meeting, Jade hadn’t hung out with her with the intent to steal. She had been careful never to express any personal, emotional topics, they always edged around the “too real” conversations but she had come close a few times. Almost admitting that she wanted to stay at Yzma’s house so as not to go home and face her mom who may or may not be in a bad mood.

But if they were friends…. if all the Isle rules about being tough and no honor among thieves was gone… then she’d tell Yzla in a heartbeat. And she’d want to hear hers about Yzma’s insanity and Zevon’s bullying in all its gory details.

She felt safe with Yzla. They mocked each other at times but ultimately, they had each other’s back. That was a rare thing to feel but if that’s what friendship brought to her life, she wanted more of it.

She supposed she could count herself friends with Gil LeGume too. She also enjoyed hanging out with him, and she knew he would never hurt her on purpose. But he was loyal to Uma’s side. Which she could respect. But she had no idea why he’d want to voluntarily hang out with such a bossy sea witch.

Although she was still a bit insulted by his suggestion that she join their crew for protection. Protection! As if she’d go crawling to them for help like she couldn’t handle her mom on her own.

Well she couldn’t handle her mom to be honest, but others didn’t need to help her either. She had been just fine surviving alone all her life.

So though she wasn’t enthusiastic about the idea of joining a crew or gang, yet from the few friendships she had seen, it didn’t make the people in it look as weak and manipulatable as her mom claimed.

Uma’s Crew for example.They were so in sync they were unstoppable. And it was Jay’s bond with his three friends that allowed them to stay in Auradon and defeat Maleficent. And she might as well start planting the seeds now and get one jump ahead.

So that’s why she approached Lala and tried to talk to her, she figured having a trained warrior would be a great asset in her future friend gang. Especially if she hadn’t really fought anyone else on the Isle so people wouldn’t be familiar with countering her moves. But it turned out Team Genie or Uma or whoever the leader was already got her on their side before she defected out of fear of her mother.

Jade wished she couldn’t relate.

She wanted to get Lala back on their side, and actually join the fight. She had a feeling they would need the experience fighting skill. And if she ended up getting a genuine connection out of it. Bonus for her.

However, her usual tactics to chat Lala up hadn’t been working. Even though no one trusted anyone here, most people were easy targets to her charm.

A bit of flattery, admiration, acting like she wanted to be friends with benefits with all the trust and intimacy and Auradon-like crap. But none of that was working. Lala was too reserved and solitary. She didn’t get any of her sarcastic jokes and when she did it was a light laugh like she was about to cough.

Jade supposed being raised in a jungle probably accounted for the poor socialization still…..

How can this girl not fall victim to her and her flirty, friendly girl talk? She was everyone’s type!

She thought she got the jungle girl to warm up to her a little when she suggested Aziz become Jade’s slave boy. It had been clear when they saw Aziz in the dungeon that Lala wanted to help him out of there but didn’t know how. After all, why would the daughter of Queen La care anything about the son of Aladdin whether he lived or died.

However, it made perfect sense for Jade to want the son of her family’s enemy to suffer. That’s why she suggested they let him live to serve as her slave. Uncle Jafar had been all in for the plan and even her mom grudgingly approved of her idea to degrade his morale.

That’s why Yzla dubbed her the unofficial queen deception. Make it to look like she was satisfying her family legacy of evil while secretly protecting Aziz. Albeit with a few perks like the free massages and feeding her grapes. To make the lie convincing, of course.

Lala looked briefly, dare she say grateful, but although Lala hung out with her and Aziz more, she still maintained an impersonal distance that Jade couldn’t crack. She’d react to Jade’s conversation but she would with monosyllables. As if conversing with Jade was beneath her.

Jade managed a friendly albeit watery smile which Lala responded,

“A break?”

“Nope, meeting’s over. I'm taking a break from magic to redo my mascara. Want some? It would really go a long way to lengthening your eyelashes.”

“Hmmph” Lala sniffed, the highest indicator of someone about to make a bitchy comment, “You should go back to working on your magic. Makeup is a useless vanity. Trying to cover up the fact that you weren’t born pretty. They’re more important things like survival and fighting skills. Makeup doesn’t help anyone.”

Jade inhaled. That was the thing everyone thought.

That makeup was a silly girly thing for beauty-obsessed women like Mother Gothel and the Evil Queen. That on the Isle, she should be focusing on more important things. That liking makeup made her a weak girly princess as if her gender and her less muscular physique wasn’t enough to count against her.

Her mother’s voice echoing in her head that all that makeup made her a slut. A slut who wasn’t even being useful or smart to use her sluttiness to steal from people. She was acting like some sidekick or a future harem girl with no ambitions.

Jade clenched her teeth, her mother’s words fueling anger instead of fear in this instance. Jade told herself over and over that her mother wasn’t right about that. Just because she didn’t share her ambitions, didn’t mean she was devoid of any brains or wants.

And everyone else was wrong too! They thought makeup defined her. Confirmed what they already thought. She was a silly girl, waltzing through life, occasionally pickpocketing. Not a serious person. Not a serious threat. That’s what they think makeup said about her. But they had no fucking clue what was underneath the makeup.

They didn’t see how most of her personality was just an act so she could steal from them. They didn’t see how good of a thief she was. Jay got all the glory for that. Even though he was gone, people still thought he was the King of Isle Thieves even though she was right there!

She could fight as well as Jay too. The years of taking Nasira’s abuse made her faster and more nimble in getting up again while others laid groaning and nursing their wounds.

While Mozonroth and Antiqam and the rest of her family used fear to make people give their money, she worked in subtleties. Acting like a cool friend, and being able to seek out others weaknesses for later blackmail purposes. She made people like her so when she stole from them, they were less likely to go after her in revenge. How was that for intelligence?

And makeup was a part of that. It didn’t make her vain and frivolous. It made her fit the part of a beautiful, charming thief. It helped her survive the Isle.

“Makeup is not only about vanity! Makeup is as much a survival technique as punching someone’s nose. The right shade of lipstick can make you a ravishing seductress or.. or a monster. Makeup makes you invincible.”

Lala snorted but Jade interrupted her before she could speak, her teeth clenched tight to keep herself from the loud volume she wanted to emit. The loudness that she wanted to shout so people would stop underestimating her and her subtle lies.

Subtly that allowed her to survive this long.

Everything went slower. She slitted her eyes like she’d often seen her mom do before attacking. She took in every inch of Lala’s body,, searching for the one thing she could use to make her point and bring the jungle down a peg.

Her face looked fine. Slightly flushed. The rest of her body was also fine she supposed. Jade wasn’t sure since it was all covered with clothes so….

That was it.

“It does make you invincible. Makeup covers all your imperfections and bruises.”

Time for the final blow. She was going to make that girl pay for thinking she was better. She was as weak as the rest of them under the thumb of their parents.

“You look as if no one has ever beaten you in a fight.”

Lala didn’t talk much, she was all action. And what Jade observed of her action was that ever since Lala got a supply of non-animal skin clothes, her clothes covered everything. And she’d stand in front of the mirror making sure it did.

Jade knew that action well.

How many times had she stood in front of the mirror, looking from every angle to make sure her bruises didn’t reveal how weak she was under her mother? That her makeup didn’t let the abuse show?

She could bet that Lala was trying to cover up the same thing despite her superior than thou attitude towards makeup.

“So yeah, makeup is important. And…” Jade made a point of knowingly looking Lala up and down, “You look like you need it.”

It was almost comical to see how Lala froze up in front of her, her brown cat eyes wide with shock that Jade figured it out. Followed by a quick offensive.

“How DARE you!” Lala growled, “I am Que- I mean, Princes- no. I-I’m Ranavalalona! Heir ugh warrior of-“

Crap crap crap! Jade could tell by the tense way Lala clutched her staff that she was about to engage in a major street brawl and this bathroom was too tiny for it to be a fair fight for her.

All the anger she had been building up dissipated in an instant. Time to backtrack to friendly mode!

”Okay calm down,” Jade lamely grabbed her mascara wand and held it in front of her and oddly enough, the small item made her feel safer. She could manipulate the situation. This is what she did, and maybe if she played it right, she could turn Lala into a genuine friend for later purposes.

“Calm down and cut the bullshit.”

The move was a risk but she knew she made the right one when Lala’s grip lessened. Her gut was right. Lala responded to no-nonsense than friendliness.

“Stop the whole “How dare you inferior peasant” act. I know that’s how our parents act but we’ve seen where that got them. Auradonian heroes and us, their kids are rebelling against them. Besides, we can try to act like our mothers all we want but that’s not going to make them any more proud of us or magically decide that we’re worthy heirs. I know how you feel. That it’d be easier to give in and hope that we’ll become their favorites. But it’s never going to happen whether we obey them or not.”

Lala didn’t respond, but she did lower her staff, and she wasn’t breaking eye contact. Jade could practically hear the unsaid dare.

“Prove it. How do you know how I feel?”

So Jade said what she had wanted to tell Yzla, what she never admitted out loud. That she hated being “toughen” up and that even though she didn’t want to follow her mom’s legacy, she hated being the unfavorite. And maybe, just maybe Lala would agree and sympathize.

“My mom wants me to be a sorceress but I suck at it. I can’t even do a “simple” levitating spell. At least Uncle Jafar is proud that Jay is a thief and doesn’t have all these unrealistic expectations for him to become a genie or something.

I’m an even better thief than Jay and no one is proud of me for that. People don’t even realize it! That’s how good I am. People still don’t know their stuff is gone!

But noooo. Mom’s favorite is still Mozonroth because he has magic, he conquered the land of the Black Sand, he accomplished things. That’s not even an accomplishment! No one was living there. He didn’t conquer anything, he basically saw a bunch of sand and put a palace on top of it.” Jade ranted, relishing the chance to criticize her mother’s unspoken favorite since even when Nasira was putting her down, she still wouldn’t declare that she loved anyone. Even her children.

“So yeah, I could try to put effort in doing what my mom wants. But it’s not worth it. She’s done nothing for me and she never will. She wants me to survive life on my own and conquer others, and that’s exactly what I’m doing by taking her down.”

Lala didn’t say anything, she opened her mouth, closed it and then pushed past her to the door.

Jade felt a sinking feeling. Allah, she rambled on for nothing. Now Lala probably thought she was such a weak, needy person who complains about her abuse and..

“Can you find makeup for me?”

Jade whipped her head around to see Lala looking at the floor, but she understood the deeper meaning in the question.

“Yes! Totally!” Ugh need to dial back the enthusiasm, she may have spilled her feelings but she still had a reputation, “I’ll find something when I have time.”

Lala nodded, a little less curt this time and swept into the hallway where Aziz was patiently waiting for her to leave the bathroom.

Jade was so enthused by this new potential ally-ship she decided to neglect her mascara for once and get back to her workspace where Malik was tugging at hypno-Jay’s arm, chattering on excitedly.

“Malik, alhabiba, he can't really talk now.” Jade pulled him away.

“Why not? Why is he frozen?” Malik asked

“Uncle Jafar hypnotized him.” Jade answered.

“Why?”

Jade knew she could go the honest route and explain how awful Uncle Jafar was and how he just wanted to control people. But she knew it wouldn’t go over well for them to find out she was trying to turn Malik against them. “Well, you know how your dad always says to respect your elders. Jay wasn’t doing that so Uncle Jafar decided to make him.”

“Oh okay,” Malik easily accepted the answer, his eager amber eyes already scoping out something more interesting to catch his attention. And his eyes landed on the lamp.

She knew what he was thinking. No doubt his older brother had explained to Malik the power of genies and everything wanted to ask for his wishes.

Though she doubted Malik had started his malicious streak yet. She heard Mozonroth had started grooming Antiqam when he was around 7 so Malik was a pretty innocent kid for now.

Nonetheless, she didn’t want to call the genie out of her lamp for personal wishes. From her weekly Anti Villain lessons conducted by Yen Sid, it was not good to force people follow your command without asking if they wanted to. Which Jade personally didn’t think it made sense in the case of genies. Wasn’t that what they were for?

But Jade was trying to follow the good path and so she wasn’t going to use the wishes for her personal gain, and she wouldn’t allow Malik to do so either.

Though it was tempting. Jade stared at the gleaming brass. So tempting. One rub, one wish and she could be the sorceress her mom always wanted her to be, maybe be even better than, exceed her in power and prestige and pummel her into the ground for once.

But she knew that they could go wrong too. She heard the stories. Aladdin tricked Uncle Jafar to become a genie confined to his lamp. Abis Mal complained that his genie tricked him out of his victory over Aladdin. Zevon being tricked by Jordan via “genie sex” whatever that meant.

Yeah, maybe she shouldn’t touch that lamp.

“Malik, go play with the book. Maybe you can do magic.” Jade suggested, handing him the leathery tome.

“Like Daddy?” Malik asked gleefully.

“Yep, just like your dad.” Jade smiled as Malik eagerly dragged the heavy book across the floor, making blasting sounds as he did, “Woosh bam bam! Pshaww!”

The lamp caught her eye again as the shine glinted off her jade necklace. She shouldn’t touch it but she still wondered.

What would she do if she had three wishes right now?

Jade leaned back to fully admire the lamp and bumped into the motionless Jay.

Jade sighed. Poor Jay. This unmoving hypnotized Jay may have his face but none of his spirit. The real Jay would never stay still this long nor go without inserting his opinion or boast. If he was there right now, he’d waste no time and impulsively rub that lamp.

She turned to fully face Jay and unknot the crisp and perfectly neat manbun from his head. There, his fly-away raven hair was much better. Wild and free like he was.

Even though she and Jay weren’t close like people expected them to be, what with being cousins and making a killer thief duo, she still felt like they were unconsciously close. They had the sqame background, a similar lifestyle, same interests and attitude towards life. She’d hate to be hypnotized against her will just because her mother didn’t like what she was doing with her life and she’d like to think Jay would try to stop it from happening.

And maybe if they had been from Auradon, or if they had had different parents, they’d be a lot closer like she’d seen on tv of Queen Ariel’s sisters all hugging each other.

She remembered the day they grew apart. Unwillingly but they had obeyed their parents and stopped treating each other as close relatives. Barely acting like a friend.

She had been 6. Jay 7. Uncle Jafar had come to visit their tiny shack shuffled up against the block dubbed Hun-Town, since that's where Shan Yu and his armies’ families settled. It had been fun, Jade remembered. Things were usually fun when Jay visited. Their parents were all too eager to not be bothered with them as they bemoaned their forgotten glory days while she and Jay ran around, leaping over fallen bricks and assorted piles of trash and jumping off of roots in early attempts to parkour.

They had run into the living room, at least they called it a living room. It was just half a room with a sheet in the middle to separate it from the kitchen. The only thing that made it a living room was a sagging bean bag chair where everyday some new mutated bug would come crawling out of it.

Jay and her had been play-wrestling. They had gone through 4 rounds at least. He had won 2 and she’d won 2 and they were trying to break the tie.

Jay had her in a headlock, choking off her air and she couldn’t break free no matter how much she shoved and punched at his ribs.

“Mercy.” she cried as per agreed stop word. “Mercy!” She pleaded too loud that time.

Jay loosen his grip slightly giving Jade time to resume her attack again. She punched and prodded at his sides, surprised and delighted when he let out a snort.

“You’re ticklish?” She yelled.

“No-no I’m not! That’s not-That’s against the rules!” Jay laughed trying to push her away while simultaneously getting back at her.

“Tap tap”

They were so caught up in their play fight they didn’t hear the sound of her mother’s approach until

“What are you doing?”

They looked up innocently at her mother whose fierce scowl made her look like one of those broken gargoyles that Claude Frollo used to decorate his home.

Before either could answer, Nasira took a step toward Jade and Jade instinctively scooted backwards.

“Did I hear you ask for mercy? Is that what you do in a fight, give up and hope your opponent will accept your plea for mercy?”

“We were just playing.” Jay’s sole voice piped up but he was young and small and faded in the background compared to her mother’s angry presence that was cornering her against the wall.

The corner of the wall that was becoming oh-so familiar already at the age of 6.

“And what was that tickling and laughter about? I expect you to be better, Jade! If you’re going to play-fight, you need to act like it is a fight to the death. Why did you ask for mercy? Because you were acting like it was a game or you knew you are too weak to win?”

Jade didn’t look at her. She wanted to be invisible.

“Answer me!”

Jade pressed herself against the wallpaper, hoping against hope that this would be the time she would finally blend into it or at least her mother wouldn’t bother snatching her from her corner so she could beat her on the open floor.

She could hear the frustrated snorts as her mother inhaled and exhaled angrily, she could sense her mother’s shadow looming above her but she couldn’t bear to turn her face away from the wall.

There was a pause and a suffocating silence as her mom looked down on her.

Jade’s insides trembled though she kept the rest of her body as still as a rock. She bit her lip, feeling the drip drip of blood down her chin but she wouldn’t make a sound. She couldn’t do anything. She couldn’t. The moment she whimpered or twitched, her mom would strike.

But she was a child and she couldn’t keep still forever.

She didn’t know what she did. Was it an exhale that had signaled her mom to attack. Had her mother noticed her fingers scrambling against the wallpaper? Maybe for once, her mom hadn’t waited for a sign of movement or weakness but simply chose that moment to begin her blitz.

She dragged her by the ankle to the middle of the living room as Jade screamed in a mixture of pain from the rough wool and splinters on the floor and fear for what was to come.

The worst part was how silent her mother was. The only sounds were Jade’s screams which honestly scared her even more because she knew she was the only one who seemed to hear them. That no one was going to help her escape this.

“Look at me.” Her mother hissed. The second most horrible sound next to the silence. Her mother didn’t say words, she hissed them, her teeth constantly clenched together with a little air seeping through. “SS ss ss.”

Jade meekly curled into a ball on her back, her knees up to cover her stomach and covering her eyes with her hands but not enough so she could peek through her fingers at the horrifying sight of her mother’s eyes wild with rage and the rotten wood of her mother’s crude replacement staff poised to bring down blows.

She tensed waiting for the familiar but insufferable pain. Instead she felt something warm, and soft and slightly leather pulling her close like in a hug? She opened her eyes, it wasn't something but someone!

Jay jumped in front of her just as her mother was about to give a blow on her head. Her staff came inches from smashing Jay’s face when she reeled back in horror.

“Are you protecting her?” She screeched.

Before Jay could reply, Nasira stalked off to yell into the kitchen, “JAFAR!”

Jafar came pushed past the sheet, crumbs from the meal of molty apples and spoiled honey staining his pajamas and mixed with his small beard and Iago pecking at his fingers for a bite.

“Look at this! How have you’ve been raising your child? He’s protecting her!”

“Jayal iban Jafar!” Jafar yelled, roughly plucking Jay off of her and cuffed him about the face, “What have I’ve told you? There is no team in I. You do not help others. You don’t protect.”

“But she’s my cous-” “That does not matter. You can ally with each other for stealing but you should not protect each other. It will not help you in the long run. What if one of you gets captured? Are you going to stay behind to help and go to jail too? Ridiculous! Boy, you only got to look out for number one.” Jafar explained with Iago yelling “Yeah!” for emphasis after each sentence.

“Sorry, Aunt Nasira.” Jay mumbled after Jafar’s lecture which Jafar groaned, “Don’t say “sorry,” Jayal!”

“Just take him away.” Aunt Nasira scowled in disgust and glared at Jade, “I hope you listened carefully to that, daughter. That this was a lesson for her to take to heart too. If I see you exhibit such selflessness…” she trailed off leaving Jade to cower and move back to her safe corner. Her mother rolled her eyes and followed her brother and Jay as they went back to the kitchen, and Jade licked her wounds in silence.

Jay looked back at her. His large child-eyes sympathetic for that brief moment they made eye contact but Jafar grabbed his ear and turned his attention away with the promise of an extra helping of food.

After that, Jafar didn’t bring Jay over anymore. Probably at the behest of her mom that they were getting too friendly.

She had forgotten about that incident. Shoved it far down the trove of her memories until she was around..hmm 15 maybe?

She had asked her mother how come Uncle Jafar and Jay didn’t come over? Did they have a fight like the De’Vil siblings?

Mom had replied that they weren’t Auradonians, family wasn’t important, they didn’t have a need to hang out with each other or protect each other.

Protect each other.. That had brought back all the memories. She nearly dropped the costume jewelry she had been holding, they came to her so fast and so vividly.

She didn’t think Jay remembered that incident either. Maybe he hadn’t been as important to him as it was to her? Maybe bigger traumas came to him after? Maybe he also repressed it?

Though she had no proof, Jade had a feeling memory repression was something a lot of kids did on the Isle. With pain coming every day in various methods and forms, it was the only way to cope, forget some of the pain instead of feeling the weight of it all.

The first time they had talked was after an Aladdin-haters club. Mom had already headed home but she stayed behind, hoping to find some good steals for dinner. Jay approached her from the backdoor and gave her a high-five.

“What’s up, Jade? Man, I haven’t seen you in forever.” “Oh you know, items to steal, people to charm, I’ve been busy.” Jade shrugged with her standard reply when meeting up with people she hadn’t seen in awhile.

“Nice. Yesterday, I stole Ursula shell necklace.” Jay bragged.

“Oh, really? For the first time? I took that ages ago.” Jade tried to puncture his pride with a little white lie but he was unruffled.

“I’m not surprised, you always go for the easy targets. I just went because it was a slow day.”

They smiled at each other, waiting for the next one-upmanship when Jay burst out laughing and Jade had to laugh too. They both knew the other was lying. It was second nature and they could either go on like this all night, coming up with more ridiculous and outlandish heists that they supposedly got away with so they decided to drop the pretenses.

“So how’s Aunt Nasira?”

“She’s..” Jade bit her lip, unsure of which of the many adjectives to describe her. Hostile? Neglectful? Annoying? Stranger that I happen to live with?

“Herself. And Uncle Jafar?” “He’s still the Prince of Pajamas.” Jay informed her, “Iago came up with that. Dad loves it.”

“I’m sure.”

“It’s too bad that he and Aunt Nasira had some sort of fight. I’m mean I know they were never close but-“

And that’s when she knew, he didn’t remember.

Sure, he would brag about how he was a lone wolf and there was no “I in team,” but it truly seemed like he didn’t remember how “no I in team” applied to them.

She laughed it off, echoing her mother’s words, “Jay, we’re not Auradonians. Family is not important.”

And so, she kept her distance from him. Yeah, she met up with him for occasional heists and on the odd birthday celebration or other, but she didn’t seek him out. She didn’t want to be too friendly.

Perhaps she was protecting him via avoidance which would be going against what their parents wanted. That they would not protect each other from harm. But she couldn’t help it.

She’d seen her cousin around the Isle with that gang he hung out with. She could tell from the slightly defensive stance and the way he positioned himself at the front of the others. Jay may like to be in the thick of the fight, but he was also protecting the others from receiving the harder blows. It was in his nature to care. Just like he was the first to come roaring with honor and pride when the Gaston twins insulted Jafar for his faltering figure. Jay cared about his family, his father included despite him not being the father of the year. He protected them from the insults of the strangers.

And if given the chance, he’d protect her from the people within their family too.

And so she had to make sure Jay never had a chance to be the protective cousin for her, it was better for him. He wouldn’t have to deal with the fury of her mom and the punches that came with it.

She experienced that enough that she didn’t wish that upon anyone. It was hers to bear alone.

Suddenly a strange tingling came over Jade. Like a hum in the air that something was about to…

“What’s happening now, guahhwhoareyou! Who are you?”

“Ahh!” Malik and Jade yelled, Jade jumping away from her thoughtful standing position to face an unfamiliar stranger in her room that was enveloped in pink smoke.

Jade coughed, flapping away some of the fumes and realized that the strange girl was the genie she had seen justly this morning. Only she looked so normal. What was it she said? Yeah, mortal form. She looked mortal like she could pass as Aziz’s sister.

His very ticked off sibling.

“Why do you have my lamp?” Jordan demanded of her.

“I- I didn’t touch your lamp I swear! I just had it for safekeeping. I’ll-I’ll explain. Malik? Did you rub it?”

“I wanted to see the genie.” Malik said, not taking his awestruck eyes away from the other girl.

Jade couldn’t blame him. She had been very intimidated by the genie girl when she first saw her this morning. In her true smoky pink genie form. She was overwhelming to fathom. The perfect hourglass figure. Looking gorgeous and magical and she was real. In a land of impossibilities and disappointments and broken dreams, a real life genie of myth and legend was standing in front of her with the ability to grant any wish she could imagine.

Jade felt like she was standing at the edge of a cliff as she looked at her. Adrenaline pumping, it was thrilling, and horrifying to imagine all the ways her life could be changed with three wishes. Everything would be in reach. The impossible genie was real and nothing would be impossible for her anymore.

And like falling from a cliff, she had no idea how she’d feel when she went through with it and what would happen to her at the end.

“Hello? Anybody there?” Jordan impatiently waved her hand in front of Jade’s face.

Jade snapped out of her reverie and swatted her hand away, “Ye-Yes I’m here.”

“Is this thing with you stuttering and staring off to space going to be a regular occurrence?” Jordan crossed her arms

What was wrong with her? According to her relatives, genies were supposed to be zany and somewhat annoying with their showboat personalities? Not rude.

“No.” Jade scoffed, annoyed that she had been thrown off her composure. “I’m sorry Malik rubbed your lamp. But he’s just 5, he’s not good with rules.”

“You don’t look like a genie.” Malik blurted out, apparently ignoring the conversation that was going around him, about him.

“And he has a thing to learn about tact.” Jordan raised a sardonic eyebrow, “You’re a lot like your cousin, Jay, little one.”

“Jay’s not his cousin. Wait.. actually yes he is. Just um I think Jay’s his second cousin.” “Huh?”

“Mozonroth and I are Jay’s cousins. Malik and Antiqam are Mozonroth’s kids so they are Jay’s second cousins and my nephews.” Jade explained.

“Your family tree is very confusing.”

“Yeah I want to have a family tree done up after all this is over. My brain hurts if I think about it too much. I mean Mozonroth’s my half brother and Aladdin’s half brother but Aladdin and I aren’t related at all so that’s just weird. And-”

“Can I have my wishes now?” Malik interrupted.

Jordan pursed her lips in what Jade could tell was a suppressed smile as she bent to her knees to answer him, “Yes, alhabiba. First off, some ground rules. No wishing for more wishes. You only get three. Next, can’t kill anyone so if you’re looking to make someone croak” at this the girl transformed into a hopping pink frog croaking, “I cant do it so don’t ask.”

Jordan popped back to human form, “I can’t make people fall in love either but I don’t think we have to worry about that yet.”

“Girls have cooties,” Malik wrinkled his nose, “And they are unholy temptresses that lower weak men to the fires of hell.”

Jordan’s jaw dropped at Malik’s innocent voice proclaiming such a bold, sexist statement.

Jade hurriedly covered his mouth before he could continue repeating the things he heard at night, “He lived next door to Frollo.”

Jordan’s tight smile stiffened, “Charming. So what would you like?”

“You’re not going to trick him right?” Jade jumped in, a sudden fear entering her mind as she remembered the stories.

“Of course not! He’s a child.” Jordan said defensively.

“So? I’m the child of Nasira and you Auradonians are fine with leaving me here to live with her.” Jade pointed out. “I had nothing to do with that. I’m trying to rescue all of you from the Coven and change things a bit.” Jordan said.

“You still-”

“How about you don’t judge me for the mistakes of the adults in my life and I won’t judge you for the mistakes of Nasira and Mozonroth and the others.” Jordan suggested, and turned her attention to Malik, “What would you like?”

“Candy! Unlimited supply of candy!” Malik said.

“Hmm that’s nice but wouldn’t you prefer an unlimited supply of food?” Jordan suggested.

“I want candy.” Malik insisted.

“Food includes candy.” Jordan said.

“You sure?” Malik eyed her suspiciously.

Jordan gave him a genuine smile, and Jade shook her head in amusement. Why were kids so cute like this? He’d be an excellent manipulator when he got older with those big brown eyes of his. People would want to give him stuff.

“Let me think, let me think. How did Mom do this with Dhandi? Oh right. Malik, repeat after me. I wish…”

“I wish,” Malik repeated slowly.

“To have an unlimited supply of food and never go hungry again!”

“Done!” Jordan snapped her fingers and a giant fridge dropped in from one where the door burst open with the sweet smell of fresh fruits, vegetables and yes, several tubs of ice cream.

“Is that cotton candy ice cream?” Jade gasped, her mouth already watering at the sight of Malik digging in. She hesitated for a moment before diving in herself, she deserved it after her panic attack earlier.

“When I deliver, I deliver.” Jordan flipped her ponytail.

Jade ripped the lid off and savored the cold sweetness. It stung her tongue with its freezing temperature but it was so refreshing and delicious she ate through the pain.

“Oo oo can I ush mugh wishto fly?” Malik asked with his mouth full and ice cream dripping down his chin.

“Yes, whatever you want. Just swallow the food first.” Jordan told him.

“I wish I could fly!” Malik commanded.

“A little faith, trust and some pixie dust.” Jordan clapped her hands letting the boy float up and start doing somersaults in the air, nearly crashing into the ceiling.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea to grant his wish to um” Jade paused to swallow past a large lump of ice cream and began to hack.

“Oh it’s fine. He didn’t wish to fly forever. He’ll come down in an hour.” Jordan waved off her concerns and patted her on the back till she got the food down. “He’s so sweet. It’s amazing how you all are related.”

Hmm so much for no judging based on the sins of their relatives.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Jade asked with a false sweetness, scooping another piece of ice cream that trickled down her fingers.

“Oh you know. Antiqam’s a monster. Malik is such an adorable sweetie. You’re...uh I’m sure you’re a nice person. I mean you saved Aziz so..thank you.”

Jade was taken aback by the thankfulness in Jordan’s voice. She had never been thanked before. Not that she remembered. And the sincere meaning held into that one “thank you,” it gave her a warm feeling inside. For a brief moment, she thought if she didn’t gain anything from helping Aziz, she wouldn’t mind. That thank you would be enough.

Heh maybe that’s why Auradonians did good deeds like this all the time? It felt good.

But not as good as the ice cream. On second thought, she wouldn’t be able to live on “thank you”s alone. She wanted the other perks too.

“And Jay’s..Jay’s himself.” Jordan finished lamely.

“Himself? That’s not an answer. What are you holding back?” Jade questioned.

Jordan sighed, “He’s a jerk.”

“He saved Auradon! Twice!”

“Still a jerk. So greedy and self absorbed and a kleptomaniac. He acts too much like his father for my taste.”

“So? You can’t expect him to throw off years of habits just because he lives in Auradon now. He’s saved your kingdom and he’s trying to be good. Is that not enough for you people?” Jade retorted, feeling a deep need to defend her cousin.

What did she know? She was an all powerful genie, she never wanted for anything. She lived with the good guys who never hit her. She never had to scavenge for food or try to survive winter with only the scraps of clothes that she had since she was 8.

“I’m just saying. Carlos grew up on the Isle and he’s incredibly sweet. He’s not into all the fighting and lies like he breathes.” Jordan snorted.

“You’re right, Carlos didn’t really know how to fight and because of that, he got abused by Cruella.” Jade shot back, “If Jay acted like a goody goody all the time how do you think Jafar would react? He was already disappointed enough by Jay when he lived here because he couldn’t get that “big score.” Don’t judge him, you hardly know him.”

“Fine, you have a point. But still, just because he’s back on the Isle, it doesn’t mean he has to revert back to it. He doesn’t have to use people anymore. And lie and make false promises about wish.. I-I mean. May-maybe just think about others besides himself.” Jordan ranted.

“He cares about others! Have you’ve seen how protective and caring he is of his friends?”

“But what about you? You’re his cousin, and he never talks about you. I didn’t even know you existed until we came here. Some caring guy.” Jordan said sarcastically.

“That’s not- that’s not his fault. He would if I let him care about him but..” Jade shrugged feeling a foolish emotional lump gather in her front.

Not again! She wasn’t going to cry twice in one day.

Jade frantically blinked back her tears, “I pushed him away because.. because… We’re better on our own. Lone wolf, all that. You wouldn’t understand. It’s a family thing.”

“You really care about him even though he acted like he forgot about you?”

“It doesn’t matter. He’s my cousin and I care about him enough that I don’t want to see him hurt or used. And I know that even though we don’t spend much time together, he would still do the same for me. He has a family honor that you don’t see. And if he chooses to care about you, there is no other big brother figure you’d want by your side.”

Jordan stared at her curiously but the look in her eye showed that she believed her. “Wow.”

“Yeah well. It’s true.” Jade crossed her arms defensively.

What was with her today? Two emotional speeches unleashing her own baggage in one day.

“Would you say Jay is like your platonic soulmate? Like if you could trust one person, he’d be that person you’d put your trust and well being in? While having the most fun ever?”

It was a weird question but all it took was Jade to look at Jay’s hypnotized face, even though she never let him protect her like a big brother would, she still trusted him to have her back in other ways. He still acted like a big brother of sorts when they did hang out. He inspired her to be more fearless in an effort to keep up with his impulsive activity. Though he didn’t mean to, he comforted her after a bad day by helping her forget.

One particularly good memory she had was Jay’s 13 birthday. Jay never favored one of those lavish parties the other kids had who had delusions of retaining their semi-royal status like Evie or Anthony Tremine. He just spent the day getting into mischief. He bumped into her and she joined him celebrating his day by scavenging Madame Medusa’s pawn shop and then ending it with getting lower back tattoos. He got a striking cobra and hers was a coiled viper.

She had to pay for impulsive her decision when she got home. Her mom hated that tattoo. She thought it was vulgar and unbecoming for her child but Jade felt it was worth it anyway. She was her own person, she wanted a tattoo, and because Jay had a similar one, she felt it immortalized their relationship. Two different snakes form the same family.

So yeah, she trusted him, and she loved raising hell with him. On a way he was her first real friend before Yzla came along. He was her platonic soulmate if that’s what it meant. Only in a lot less sappy way.

Smiling at the memory Jade came back to earth and saw Jordan smiling way too happily for her taste.

“What? Do I have ice cream in my teeth?”

“No, you don’t have to say a word, your face answered my question. Let me handle this.”

Jade let the genie girl do her thing because honestly she didn’t know what it was.

Jordan pulled some sort of invisible string that brought Malik down from flying around and making parrot noises.

“Hey, know what would be a fun third wish?” Jordan clapped her hands excitedly, “For your third wish, let’s make Jay fun again. This Jay is boring right?”

“Yes,” Malik nodded sagely, “He’s very boring. He hasn’t said a word in three days and follows others around like the dog he is.”

Jade and Jordan looked at Malik curiously which Malik shrugged innocently, “That’s what Antiqam said.”

“He’s such an asshole,” Jade muttered.

“Alright, so repeat after me, I wish for Jay to be unhypnotized.” Jordan held his hands intently and Malik nodded in agreement, obediently repeating, “I wish for Jay to be unhypnotized.”

“You could have unhypnotized Jay this whole time?” Jade cried under her breath as Jordan settled into a lotus position.

“No. One, I’ve been under Antiqam’s care until now so I haven’t had time. Two, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. I’m a genie. People can do whatever they want from me. But I can’t transform a human or hypnotize him or manipulate him in any way unless he is in my lamp or if he wishes for it. It’s a shitty universal double standard. But now I can since Malik wished it. So shush. I haven’t done a big wish like this before so I need to concentrate.”

Jade stood back with Malik gripping her leg to keep from floating up again, waiting awkwardly for something to happen while Jordan seemed to do some sort of weird yoga breathing as smoke grew taller and taller around her.

“Is Jay unhypnotized yet?” Malik whispered, “Shhhhh.”

The smoke began to build and so did the humidity in the room making Jade’s hair plastered to her face and sweat drip down uncomfortable places on her skin, and she was beginning to feel faint.

Then all at once the heat of the room whooshed out of the room and the smoke cleared.

Jay was swaying uneasily, holding a hand to his head, “Wha? What happened?”

“Jay!” Malik flew to Jay knocking him against the wall much to the teen’s confusion.

Jade felt a wide smile spreading across her face, and she didn’t care at all about her reputation and her promise not to be too friendly with Jay for fear of her mom’s wrath.

Things were changing, and she wasn’t going to wait any until they defeated the Coven to start openly disobeying her mom. She would do it now, and if she got caught and her mom wanted to hit her, she’d figure out a way to get out of it. That’s what she did.

For now, she was going to allow herself to be hugged for once, and enjoy the safety that was Jay and his protective instincts.

“Welcome back to the land of the living, Jayal.”

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troublcmvker · 4 years

Text

TASK ONE: make a new year’s wish.

I. mun based questions.

question one. i’m always open for pain and evil ideas! i Live for drama and wouldn’t be opposed at all. but i also think it’d be pretty neat to sometimes post a general request? especially if there’s a plot where a bunch of characters would fit and you guys could decide who fits Better! and that way everyone gets a chance to be part of Something.

question two. i’d probably suffer a lot but i don’t mind the getting hurt. sometimes actions have consequences and they need to Learn. i’d be cool with that in any way tbh, most of my characters are vampires so... eh, they can just re-attach their arms for all i know. same with elijah but as a fellow human, it sucks to suck i guess.

question three. i would probably need to mentally prepare myself first, i’d get back to you on this one someday.

II. muse based questions.

ASRA - volturi guard vampire. ( pansexual, homoromantic )

i. i have a hc that during his human years there was one person he’d been in love with. the only being in his entire life he’d felt something for. asra never really confessed bc... times were different and their relationship would have been forbidden; but i imagine they were close friends. ofc, after he became a vampire and found out someone killed his family he went on a killing spree & pretty much everyone in his village paid the price. but he doesn’t know for sure if this person was a victim too. imagine if by some chance ( him not actually killing them and accidentally turning them; or them not being around at the time and being turned later by someone else ) they find their way into seattle... and them and asra meet. asra’s dramatic ass being reminded that he does actually have feelings!

additional info: would have to be a male aligned korean fc around the same fake age as asra so... early 20s.

ii. i think finding his singer would be something fun to explore? not in a... romantic sense because i highly doubt he’d even consider that. but more in a how dare you exist and make me feel like a monster for wanting to murder you, kinda way. bc.. he’s not exactly someone that kills for fun, mostly because he has to if he wants to survive ( and he does ); so someone that brings out that... feral? part of him and reminds him that he is, in fact, a killing machine would be fun!

iii. asra is someone that finds humans... very interesting; in the same sense of a zoologist finding animal behaviour interesting. he observes them from afar, never gets too close. what if someone comes so utterly... fascinating ( maybe bc they’re just a trainwreck of a person, or just... so different in the way they act ) that actually makes asra want to see them up close, interact with them or even... gasps care for them? unheard of!

iv. this one is for my vamps out there. it’d be neat for him to find someone that calls him out on his “i have no feelings” bullshit, and gets close to him enough for asra to actually want to open up to them... long story short a friend someone he truthfully cares about. i see this as mostly platonic but it could be romantic if there’s chemistry.

additional info: they’d have to be male for any sort of romantic relationship to happen

v. maybe someone from their old covens ? i imagine he’d been in two before joining the volturi guard. nothing more than that, just someone, or multiply people ( squad ? ) that knows him from a long time ago and he banters with, or fights with, or maybe has a nice relationship with!

vi. vampire he’s hooked up with ? most likely during his newborn days tbh, or before he joined the volturi. bc now it’s Serious Business Only.

additional info: could be any gender.

ALICE - olympic coven vampire. ( pansexual, panromatic )

i. i WOULD LOVE CYNTHIA BRANDON. OR ANY LONG LOST RELATIVE !!! that’d be such a chef’s kiss connection to explore considering she doesn’t remember anything about her human life. if it’s cynthia just imagine her pain of her recognizing her sister but alice having no memories, absolutely nothing in her mind other than a weird feeling of ‘have i seen you before?’ or if it’s a long lost relative... them recognizing alice from really old family pictures and being like ‘isn’t this one of my relatives that disappeared from the asylum? wtf???’

additional info: cynthia brandon/any other relative would have to be at least half korean.

ii. i have a hc that after being turned, as a lost newborn she was found by an extremely nice and welcoming coven that took the time to teach her how to live her new life. i think it’d be cool to either meet her sire or an old coven member again!

iii. when she was just turned alice had no idea what the visions in her mind meant. she had forgotten everything about her life, and had no choice but to start all over again. at first she did everything she could to ignore the images on her head; and focused on simply making the most of this 2nd chance she was given. there was this one other vampire ( could be from that old coven, or just someone else she met ) that seemed to understand her so well. and for alice, someone that had never experienced love before, they were... everything she needed at the time. they helped to shape her into the bright and loving little angel that she is, they were so good to her. but soon enough came this vision, of her surrounded by so much happiness, a loving family and a mate that wasn’t them. a vision she couldn’t ignore. they were good, they understood, in fact they were the ones that encouraged her to seek for them, because it’s what she deserved. and so... she left in order to find her destiny. what if alice and this vampire met again? ( obviously alice loves jasper more than anything and she’s 100% sure he’s her soulmate but... mayb the pain :^) or just that Good Good loving and purely platonic relationship !!! )

additional info: could be any gender!

iv. humans/other vampires/cotm she’s blessed with her fashion knowledge as a fashion consultant ?? idk ! friends !!

GARRETT - nomad vampire. ( pansexual, demiromantic )

i. this dude’s been alive since mid 1700s. always involved in american wars! i feel like in one of them, when there was someome that truly needed it. he turned a fellow soldier to make sure they come back from war. he thought them the basics, helped them through the bloodlust. what happened after they come back from the war is utp. but garrett is their sire. maybe they resent him, maybe they’re grateful. all there is to know is that they’re alive thanks to him.

ii. he’s quite the adventurer so... maybe vampires he’s met through the years on his expeditions? could be friends, could dislike eachother.

iii. i imagine at some point during his long life there had to be someone he was extremely close to. someone that could have been his mate, but for any reason they didn’t quite get there. maybe because at the time one of them ( most likely garrett tbh ) wasn’t willing to settle down, or maybe their feelings weren’t deep enough for that. but they worked well together in any other way. they could have drifted apart, moved along on good terms, or on bad terms. but seattle becomes the city they once again collide in.

additional info: could be any gender!

iv. the idea of a coven... wasn’t the most appealing for a free spirit like garrett. but it wasn’t something he had completely ruled out. maybe there was a time he was a part of one, or got really close to. they come to seattle and find him here, still a nomad, as free as ever. could be fun to explore!

v. this seems like a crackhead plot but hear me out... a human completely oblivious about the existence of supernatural beings. obsessed with american history. finding a similar looking guy in every single picture from all the american wars there have been since cameras were invented. and oh my god? does that tall dude in the library looks exactly like the dude in the pictures too? what the hell is going on? am i on x files?

ELIJAH - human. ( pansexual, demiromantic )

i. any possible platonic relationship you could imagine! childhood friends, high school friends, college friends, training/cop/detective friends ?? legit ANYTHING. i’m always sipping that ‘i love platonic connections’ juice

ii. this one connection is important. but basically... elijah gained his status by making the Right Connections. but there was someone above everyone else that helped along the way. they were together pretty much since they both started college, and they had everything elijah wished to have growing up. their relationship was mostly physical, their feelings for eachother weren’t that deep and they were both aware of that. elijah would get the exposure/connections he wanted; and they’d get the excellent academic status that came with elijah. but the fact that they were pretty much the reason why elijah got the chance to make those connections made them think they held some sort of power above him. and since elijah still wasn’t in a place where he could just let everything crumble down, he’d comply and do as they said. this relationship was toxic, there was no love between them at all. and it was bound to end at some point. there were some nice moments, not including the amazing sex, that would make elijah consider the possibility of a future together; but the bad moments would always make him go right back to his senses. if anything elijah is thankful for them, but he’s also extremely grateful that things ended without any of them hurting the other more than they already had.

additional info: could be any gender!

iii. past hookups ? exes ? there could be lingering feelings from their part.. or not. they could be bitter, or ended up in good terms! ( he’s married, in love AND faithful so it wouldn’t really be anything more tbh )

#equinox.task1 #my brain reached its limit when i got to elijah for plots #i'm Sorry my boy i really do love you

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missnmikaelson-main · 5 years

Text

Who Are You? Part 13

Rebekah’s apartment was in the heart of the upper east side of New York City, and proved ridiculously easy to find. Elena had been expecting more of a struggle after their ordeal with Kol, but having the address proved useful.

The apartment was bright, with dozens of glass windows letting in the afternoon light. Sunshine flooded the living room, making the already large space look massive.

Elena had seen the mansion in Mystic Falls full of its old world charm and new world elegance; the two had merged together and screamed Klaus. The Abattoir was tastefully decorated in supple leather and dark wood; the combination was the embodiment of Elijah. The loft in San Francisco had been chosen by Davina, but the exposed wood beams and open space had still made her think of Kol.

The New York apartment was nothing like any of the other properties she had seen. Every other place the Original family had called home spoke to their roots in some way, but Rebekah’s apartment was different. Everything was sleek and modern, there wasn’t an antique in sight. There was a large bookshelf behind the sofa covered in modern art and housing the latest bestsellers. It was like Rebekah was trying to run from her past and embrace a future without her siblings. Everything seemed cold and impersonal with nothing to tie her to the family she thought she could never see again.

Personally Elena thought the white furniture was a bad idea for a vampire; tempting fate.

“I feel kind of bad,” she ran her finger over the spines of the books; a couple showed signs of wear but most looked like they had come straight from the bookshelf.

“How come?” Lexa unfolded a map over the gleaming floor.

“We just walked in to someone’s home,” Elena stepped lightly around the couch, afraid her heels would damage the floor. Her eyes narrowed when she saw the object Lexa held between her fingers; it was placed on the floor with extreme reverence.

“Technically I own the property,” Elijah glanced over his shoulder, smirking. He maintained eye contact with Elena for a moment before turning his attention back to the street. “Although Rebekah has redecorated.”

Elena chewed her bottom lip, trying not to smile.

“That helps a little,” she tapped her fingers against her thigh, “but you’re not the one that lives here, so I still feel bad.”

“If anyone should feel bad about something it’s me,” Lexa spread sand over her map. “I essentially stole a child’s most prized possession and I’m making a mess on the floor… what are these floors?”

“Granite,” Elijah paced away from the window and came to stand with Elena.

“I don’t think you’re gonna find Rebekah with a map of Western Europe,” Elena cocked an eyebrow.

“I’m not looking for Rebekah,” Lexa sprinkled a little sand over the painting, “because she’ll come home eventually...”

Elijah nodded. He could smell his sister’s perfume lingering in the air. Even after a thousand years Rebekah still preferred the scents she had used as a human girl: lilac and honeysuckle. It was the only link to the past he had found in the apartment, the only thing she still seemed to be clinging to.

Lexa held her hands together over the map and closed her eyes. A stream of sand moved in time with her lilting chant, circling Germany.

She picked up her phone and waited for the video call to connect. Kol’s face came into focus a moment later. He readjusted the angle so the light wasn’t causing a glare and she saw graffiti come into focus behind him; snippets of what sounded like Hungarian reached her ears.

“Hey, I’ve narrowed it down to somewhere in Germany.”

“Didn’t you close in on San Francisco when you were looking for me?” He cocked an eyebrow. There was a hint of a smirk around his mouth.

“Until she stole Hope’s painting she couldn’t get a read on him at all,” Elena leaned down so her face was in the frame.

“The Hollow’s getting desperate,” Elijah frowned, his eyes on the map.

“Odd,” Kol’s picture froze as the connection buffered. His voice continued on, though. “You’ve extracted and disposed of two pieces of her so she’s half way to dead.”

“You’d think she’d be weaker,” Elena blinked at the frozen screen; the picture pixelated for a second before coming into sharp focus.

“Exactly my point,” Kol nodded.

“The logic does stand up, but the fact remains that he and Rebekah are practically impossible to find via locator spells and phone calls.” Lexa shifted so she was sitting cross legged on the floor and tilted her head. “I can’t think of anyone else who would want to hide the Hollow from me.”

“Nobody…” Kol prompted with raised brows. “You can’t think of anybody at all?”

“You seem to have an idea,” Elena pursed her lips.

“One,” he nodded, glancing at something on the street. “What about the hybrid responsible for all of this?”

“Hayley?” Elijah frowned. “What witch in their right mind would help her?”

“Any member of the French Quarter coven,” Kol rolled his eyes. The movement was nearly lost in the glare of sunlight. “They’re not exactly fond of our family, but they do consider Hope one of their witches.”

“We never should have consecrated mother,” Elijah sighed.

“If I was there I would have talked you out of it.”

“Sorry,” Elena swallowed, but refused to bristle under Kol’s sideways stare.

“Considering it was the only way to save the city and everyone in it I don’t think you could have talked us out of it,” Elijah shook his head. His hand landed on the small of Elena’s back. “Also, you are alive again and she has apologized – twice now – so kindly cease with the snide comments and veiled threats.”

“I don’t think so,” Kol shook his head. “It took ten years to get the apology, so it’s going to take at least half of that before I forgive.”

“As long as we have a timeline,” Elena joked. She saw Kol suppress what looked like a smile as his eyes shifted away from her.

++++

Her palms were sweating. Her heart was fluttering. Her eyes were darting. There was a sense of stone cold terror at the base of her spine that she couldn’t explain. There was a voice in her head telling her to run far and fast.

The last time she had heard that voice the opera house had been burning and her father had nearly killed her brother. The last time she had been as afraid as she was now Mikael had been driving a sword through her brothers’ chests moving from Finn to Kol before killing Elijah and Nik; he had moved in the order of those most likely to fight back first, Kol and Finn with magic and her other brothers with steel. She had been last, drowning in her terror; she was the daughter without magic or skill.

She hadn’t known true fear since the night she had looked into her father’s eyes and seen her death, but it was back now and there was no reason for it.

She stood frozen on the sidewalk, Manhattan’s foot traffic moved around her; she was just another piece tree or bench decorating the Upper East Side. She even trembled in the breeze.

There was no logical explanation for her terror, no reason for the prickling at the base of her skull, but it’s there all the same. She can’t shake it.

All she wants to do is hop in the nearest cab and race to the airport, taking the first flight that will bear her away from the city she has started to consider a home – as much as a home as it can be without her family.

A hand landed on her shoulder. She jumped, heart in her throat.

“Ya alright?” Marcel frowned, a line between his brows. The usual grin, always on his lips, was replaced with a look of pure concern.

“I…” She held her throat, massaging her collarbone and feeling the chain, “… I feel like if I go inside I’m gonna die.”

“Okay…” Marcel tilted his head, not sure where she was coming from. “There are only three things in the world that can kill you and most are under lock and key being guarded by your sister.”

“Your bite can kill me,” she crossed her arms, rubbing away the gooseflesh.

“Do you want me to stay out here?” His brows rose. “I’m the only thing anywhere nearby that can kill you.”

She shook her head, grasped his hand. The thought of being alone when she walked through the door was terrifying. She didn’t know who was on the other side, but it might as well have been Mikael with a stake, or Dahlia with ashes, or anyone of her enemies with stolen thorns that would end her life.

“What do you want to do?”

“I want to run,” she stared up at the building.

“Then let’s run.” He moved as if to pull her away, but she stood her ground.

Her blue eyes narrowed, hard sapphires gleaming beneath the rising moon. Every muscle tensed up. She searched frantically for the snooze button on the alarm that blared in her mind.

“I am Rebekah-bloody-Mikaelson!” She gritted her teeth. “I don’t run.”

Marcel watched her fight and internal battle for several minutes before the resolve hardened her features. He wasn’t sure whether she had won or lost when she pushed open the door to the building and strode towards the elevator, but it was her power walk so he took that as a good sign.

She tapped her foot impatiently until the silver doors slid open. Anxiety passed over her features as they rose upwards to the top floor, but she made no move to stop the elevator even though her fingers twitched to do it. She made no sudden movements, hesitant or otherwise, until they were standing outside the apartment door.

The voice he heard on the inside made him want to turn tail and run, but a glance at the flowers in the hall confused him.

They should have wilted.

++++

“You know,” Elena tipped her head back to stare up at the moon, “if Rebekah doesn’t come home soon Kol just might win the race.”

“I highly doubt he will find Niklaus before Rebekah returns home,” Elijah chuckled.

“Hopefully she gets home soon,” Lexa placed the painting in its folder with the utmost care, as if it were her most prized possession and not Hope’s. “We’re going to lose the full moon. At this rate I’ll have to do the spell here which is not ideal because being beneath the full moon helps.”

“There’s roof access,” Elijah pointed to the balcony. Lexa followed his gesture and spotted the fire escape that led up. “There’s a garden up there as well. It’s hardly on par with the Japanese Tea garden, but it does provide a connection to nature. Will that help?”

“It’ll be better than doing it here…”

The sound of the door creaking open drew their attention from the balcony and the moon that was nearly at its apex.

Lexa didn’t recognize the blonde in the door or the man at her side, but she knew the ring on her finger; it was the same one that adorned Elijah’s hand. It was the same ring that Kol wore.

“You must be Rebekah,” she smiled, glancing over her shoulder to the window. “I’d love to give you a full explanation, but we’ve only got about ten minutes before I lose the full moon, so…” she spun on her heel and pushed open the balcony doors and stepped outside, “… follow me.”

Rebekah stared after the witch for a moment before ripping her eyes away and frowning at her brother.

The voice in her head wasn’t telling her to run anymore. It was screaming at her to rip out the young woman’s heart. It was shrieking in the back of her mind demanding she tear Elena’s pretty head from her elegant throat. It begged her to slaughter both of them and bathe in their joined blood.

“I promise you, sister,” he took a step towards her, “I will explain everything after, but right now I need you to go up to the roof with Elena and Lexa so they can banish the Hollow.”

It spoke to the fact the Hollow was indeed weakening when his sister nodded and stepped outside with Elena; hesitation held her back for less than a minute.

Rebekah did her best to silence the voice in her mind because her brother was in front of her. He was there and nothing nefarious had happened. He was there, and the Hollow was not with him.

He was there so she followed Elena. In seconds they were standing on the roof watching the blonde she took for a witch place candles and pour a stream of water into a bowl. A black box completed whatever spell set up was underway and Elena beckoned her to stand over the open lid.

“I assume you’re the one to thank for his memory,” Rebekah frowned at the box. The voice in her head was back. ‘Smash it’ it seemed to whisper.

“And all of this,” Lexa motioned to the box with a grin.

“I said stop him from digging,” she fixed Elena with a glare.

“Actually you said ‘take care of’ him,” Elena held out her hand for Lexa. “That’s very different, and he didn’t remember anything until after the Hollow was extracted.”

Rebekah eyed the two women with shaking breath. She could hear her heart drumming in her chest. She fought the voice and took their offered hands.

“You’ll explain after?” Rebekah stared down at the box; a voice screamed in her mind before she heard the answer.

Lexa’s muscles tensed as she chanted. She pulled the magic out creating a circle of sorts; it started in Elena and poured out grappling with the piece of Hollow in Rebekah until it ripped free. The blue light flowed from Rebekah’s open mouth easier than it had Kol. She thought she knew the reason; with Elijah the Hollow had been arrogant and not put up much fight until the end, with Kol it fought from the beginning, but with Rebekah that beginning fight was weaker.

She dropped to her knees and thought she might have just enough strength to make back down the ladder and collapse on Rebekah’s pristine couch.

“Easier?” Elena watched the light pulse, shifting from blue to violet to crimson.

“And harder,” Lexa stifled her yawn.

Rebekah rubbed her temples to ease the migraine and looked down in time to see the box sparkle like blood. For the first time in what felt like years she was weightless, she was floating.

“What did you do?” Her eyes flitted from Elena to the witch. With a jolt she realized she still didn’t know the woman’s name.

There were dark circles under their eyes. She wasn’t sure about the witch but Elena looked like she could use a litre or two of fresh blood, a hot bubble bath and a good night’s sleep.

“I took out the Hol…hol…hol…” Lexa gave up and succumbed to her yawn.

“I guess getting rid of it tonight is out of the question?” Elena rubbed at her eyes.

“I think I’ve got just enough energy to get down the ladder.” Lexa stood on shaking legs and immediately stumbled.

Elena caught her but staggered under the weight of her friend. Rebekah surged forward and caught them both.

Elena gave up Lexa and let Rebekah pick her up as if she weighed nothing. She bent for the box and blew out the candles; her movement was lethargic.

“I can walk Rebekah,” Lexa lifted her brows.

“Maybe you can…”

“Lexa,” Elena supplied.

“… Lexa, but I’m not gonna let you fall off the ladder,” Rebekah rolled her eyes.

Elena followed her when she jumped over the side of the roof and stumbled on her landing. Strong arms wrapped around her waist before she could fall over. She looked up as Lexa was placed on her feet to see Elijah’s dejected expression.

“It didn’t work,” he frowned.

“No,” she shook her head, “it did work. I’ve just got a little more energy this time.” She held up the glowing box as evidence.

“Oh,” he took the box from her hands, a playful smile on his lips, “how much energy?”

“Enough for this coming conversation,” she smirked, accepting the quick kiss to her cheek. All she wanted to do was curl up in bed and use his chest as a pillow.

“Marcel,” Rebekah steered the young witch towards her boyfriend, “would you show Lexa to one of the guest rooms?”

“Sure,” he offered Lexa an arm.

She hesitated before taking the help.

“So,” Rebekah perched on an armchair as her brother took the sofa with Elena, “start talking.”

++++

He had been concerned that the rumors were old, but Lexa’s locator spell had confirmed some of the quieter whispers he had heard over the last few days. The thought that Nik would go to ground and actually attempt to disappear was not uncommon, but it appeared he was actually somewhere in the city.

There were rumors of murder and mayhem on the Eastern side of the Berlin Wall, and he recognized a few of the names of the dead.

If he had to hedge a guess he would have say it was Nik’s paranoia making itself known through an endless list of enemies who might have had long memories.

“He could have tried being nicer to people,” Kol breathed, standing outside the silent mansion, “or at least left fewer survivors.” His eyes found the source of the blood he could so clearly smell: three dead bodies.

He wondered if there was anyone inside alive, and the reception he would receive.

Tags @rissyrapp20 @eternityunicorn @elejah-wonderland @elejahforever @morsmornte @fandomrulesall @xanderling

#elena gilbert #elijah mikaelson #rebekah mikaelson #kol mikaelson #elejah #elena x elijah #marcel gerard #who are you fic

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usagi-zakura · 5 years

Text

This week on Adventurer’s League

Our regular DM was too busy so we had a substitute. So instead of doing Storm King’s Thunder we ran a Halloween-themed one-shot. (Which he plans to run again so if some of my followers are somehow PART of that group.. don’t read this post. It may contain spoilers.)

It was the usual crew, cuz no one really had time to create new characters (Well I techincally had my spare buuuuut I love Dott and I didn’t bring any spellcards for my spare, who’s a gnome wizard)

- My kobold ranger/rogue Dott and her pet wolf/horse Ttod.

- A tabaxi death cleric who may or may not be a cannibal.

- A tabaxi rogue.

- A human paladin.

- A human bard/fighter.

- A thiefling bard who acts more like a rogue.

And a new player on the table: an elven monk.

None of our bards are the stereotypical «flirt with everything»-bard, but that doesn’t mean they’re sensible human/halfdemon beings. None of our party members are... except maybe the paladin... and the monk. Don’t know much about her.

We were supposed to be ghost-catchers, heading towards a small village to investigate some strange happenings when we were attacked by a walking scarecrow and a large flock of ravens. (Whom the Cleric wanted to eat. She is a cat I suppose so its understandable.)

I was late to the session but came in just as they were fighting the scarecrow.

We managed to fight them off even though we were all on a runaway horse carriage (the horse got spooked by the scarecrow). Eventually we managed to calm down the horse as we reached the village only to be attacked by even more birds...

We ran inside some old lady’s house. She seemed very friendly, even offering us all hot cocoa (which the two tabaxi took as a murder attempt because cocoa is poison to cats).

The Thiefling Bard, paragon of virtue as she is, decided to put up a Leomund’s tiny hut on the lady’s front door... for no other reason than to block her inside the house I suppose.

We ended up taking a long rest, some of the party sleeping inside the old lady’s house, others in the tiny hut at her front door, but when we woke up the old lady was gone.

We heard some commotion outside and went to investigate, it turned out to be a witch trial, the old lady was the accused «witch» (In case you were wondering how she got out despite the Tiny Hut at her front door, there was a back door.)

Their reasons for thinking she was a witch was of course «she turned me into a newt!» and also the suspicious orb that showed up outside her house. (Thanks bard).

The Paladin wanted to try to help the old lady, and suggested using Zone of Truth... forgetting of course that Zone of truth is a spell, thus magic, thus the paladin is a witch too! But the thiefling bard managed to convince the villagers that she was actually a demigod, and they seemed to accept this.

The Paladin cast Zone of Truth (careful to keep the party outside it) but the old lady succeeded her saving throw... Then things went a bit crazy.

The Mayor suddenly slumped over dead, having been stabbed in the back, and two hags appeared, the old lady changed to her true form, she was also a hag. Surprise! They were the witches all along.

Then... the villagers all disappeared and we all found ourselves in a grey-scale version of the town were it was raining frogs, and the village was patrolled by a large frog-like monster covered in tentacles.

The bard figured out we were teleported into some kind of weird pocket dimension, but she told the rest of us we were probably all dead because again...she’s just so darn nice. And with a deception roll of 22 Dott belived her and immidiately panicked, since kobolds belive that if they die they get reincarnated within their clan...but she doesn’t have a clan, they all died... so no reincarnation for her...

After exploring the strange village we found a totem, as we moved closer so did the frog monster. Roll for initative.

It caught several of us in its tentacles, and even ended up eating poor Ttod, but we managed to bring it down. Dott immidiately cut the frog open to save her companion but it was too late...

The DM however didn’t want to basically take away half of Dott’s power as a BM ranger, so he became a ghost. So now we had a ghost-dog.

The Thiefling bard decided to shatter the totem, this immidiately got us sent back to the normal village, where the villagers were still panicing over the sudden death of their mayor and the three hags (who had of course escaped by now).

When we offered to help defeat the hags they told us to go pick up some weapons at at the graveyard, and also explore the basement of their previous herbalist who had apparently been killed by one of the witches.

We went to the basement first, and were attacked by a jar of hands, an undead brain in a jar and a mimic table.

Also the bard got a hold of a fireball wand to Dott’s great displeasure (she has a bad history with fire) and basically burned the whole room down.

Somehow we all made it out alive, and moved on to the graveyard where we had to fight a banshee...she knocked out several of us, including Dott, leading to the first time ever that Dott got knocked out and Ttod wasn’t (given that Ttod has only 27 HP at level 6 that was kinda impressive...)

The paladin was able to bring us back up however and we defeated the banshee.

Next up we went to the pumpkin patch, apparently the witches had been seen around the area.

We saw a zombie in the distance, the thiefling bard just threw a fireball at it and killed it instantly... and then we were attacked by a giant pumpkin. Killed that one too.

We then found the witches’ house. The bard threw a fireball at it. Sadly this did not instakill the witches... they just flew out of the burning house on their broomsticks.

During the following fight Ttod ran around on the ground barking because he couldn’t reach them (despite being a ghost dog the DM would not allow him to fly).

The thiefling bard decided to polymorph herself into a giant ape! But was immiditaly polymorphed again into a sheep... Another character (I think it was the other bard or the tabaxi rogue) decided to shoot the sheep so she could turn back into the ape.

The paladin also tried to throw one of the witches off her broom by using Misty Step, she managed to get ON the broom, but failed to get the witch off.

One of the other witches tried to save her sister by dragging her of the broom (she was badly injured from the fight at this point) but this promted an attack of oppurtunity from everyone within melee range (so the paladin, Ttod and the tabaxi rogue) and she was promptly killed.

This our adventure ended, the other witches got away but their coven was basically ruined at this point, so we considered it a win.

TLDR:

Our thiefling bard is an asshole, Dott nearly died from fright but got herself a ghost-dog, we fought a table and the bard got double-polymorphed.

(PS when I call the bard an asshole, I mean the character is an asshole. The player is just fine in my eyes. Most of us just play morally dubious characters. Because its funny. I love this misfit group, its my favorite to play in out of the three campaings I’m currently in.)

#dnd #adventurer's league #dott

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