#Path to Nowhere Victoria

[giltori]

Victoria from PtN to remind people that I draw sometimes

[thebenjiblackwoodexpress]

Love is like the rose thorn

𝔗𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔨𝔣𝔲𝔩 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔡𝔬𝔫’𝔱 𝔰𝔢𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔬𝔪𝔢𝔬𝔫𝔢 𝔱𝔬 𝔨𝔦𝔩𝔩 𝔪𝔢 ℑ 𝔩𝔬𝔳𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲, ℑ’𝔪 𝔰𝔬𝔯𝔯𝔶

Description: The last thing Y/N expected after quite literally falling down the rabbit hole was to wake up in a world where dragons and knights exist. Throw in an incorrigible but undeniably handsome boy called Benjicot Blackwood who won't stop following Y/N around and we have ourselves a regular ol' fairytale.

Disclaimer: Victoria here to interrupt my regularly scheduled Aeron Bracken content with a Benjicot oneshot. This doesn't have any connection with Elizabeth's masterpiece The Blackwood Knight but is an attempt to fulfill a request from @ithilwen-blackwood for a modern reader finding themselves in Westeros. I'm sorry it doesn't match the request exactly as the reader isn't a dragon rider in this.

Loosely based on Beauty & The Beast. There's now a companion Cinderella retelling for Aeron Bracken called Star Crossed

Warnings: swearing, threat of violence, female reader, world jumping reader, Frenemies to lovers vibes, lengthy (I got carried away whoops), Beauty & The Beast vibes.

Y/N woke with a jolt. Dazed, her eyes frantically tried to take in her surroundings. She was disturbed to find she was not in her own bed, but lying on the cold hard ground with ferns lightly tickling her face. She seemed to have fallen asleep in the middle of nowhere, not recognising any land marks, just the vast expanse of green fields, rocky paths and off in the distance the treeline of nearby woodland. She remembered she'd been hiking and come across a strange arch covered in interweaving vines and blood red roses so dark they were almost black. She had felt inexplicably drawn to the arch that seemed to crackle with magic. But she knew that was ridiculous, there was no such thing. And yet she found herself walking towards it as if pulled by some invisible force until she stepped through it...and was met with darkness.

Y/N was pulled back to the present by an intense feeling of panic. None of this made any sense. Nonetheless her survival instincts had kicked in and she knew she couldn't just linger out in the open, she had to find help. So she started forward, opting to avoid the eery treeline of the woods, hoping that she'd eventually come across some semblance of civilisation, even better someone who could help her make sense of what had happened to her.

Y/N felt like she'd been walking for hours, perhaps she had, her bones wearied with exertion. A shining ray of hope came in the form of a beautiful man sat atop a precarious pile of stones. He struck a princely figure, dressed in clothes that looked straight out of a medieval fair, a fake sword hanging from a belt at his hips. His soft brown hair, lanky limbs, and dimples gave him a boyish charm. But his broad shoulders were suggestive of a strong build and the small scar on his nose gave her the impression he'd once broken it, perhaps in a fight. Eyes suddenly snapping to hers, his features rearranged themselves into a cocky smirk and she suddenly felt quite strongly that the man in front of her was quietly dangerous.

Unfolding himself from his slouched position, almost that of a beleaguered sentry, he jauntily approached her. Although he did stay at a respectful distance of a few paces. "Good day my lady, I have not seen you around these parts before. And I admit I do not recognise the colours of your house. From where do you hail?" Y/N found herself scoffing at his roguish tone and bizarre speech pattern. "From where do I hail? Are you heading to an expo or something. What's with the cosplay and fake sword?" The man's handsome features pulled into a slight frown of confusion. It lasted a mere moment before his eyes were oncemore alight with a mischievous glimmer that Y/N found equal parts frightening and exciting.

"Do you jest my lady? I bear the sigil and colours of House Blackwood as is my prerogrative as Lord of Raventree Hall." He bowed his head to her, a hand to his heart. Y/n had to admire his commitment to his costume but it was starting to grate on her nerves that he seemed to talk in riddles when she was desperate for answers. "Right, sure you are. Could you please point me in the direction of the nearest town?" Y/n asked awkwardly, hoping to try her luck with someone not dressed like a knight.  "You do not know where you are my lady?"

"Not exactly. Not at all if I'm being honest. I sort of just walked through an arch and woke up in a field and here I am. Where exactly is here?" The man's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and Y/N detected a trace of concern as his eyes appeared to soften. "You tell a strange tale my lady, and I should be pleased to assist you in any way I can. We are in the heart of the Riverlands, in Blackwood land." Y/N felt a fresh surge of panic rise up within her chest as she struggled to understand any of the unfamiliar words the man in front of her had just laced together. Had she somehow time travelled and that was the cause of their mutual confusion? Trying to maintain a semblance of calm she took a deepth breath through her nose. "Can you tell me what the year is?"

The man's lips turned up in an amused smile. "This close to the borders of Bracken land it depends who you ask. In the eyes of House Blackwood it is the first year of the reign of the true Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, the 129th year after Aegon the conqueror's conquest." Y/N let out a high pitched squeek, the panic that had settled uncomfortably in her stomach finally bubbling up to breaking point as she began to realise she may be farther from home than she'd first realised. The young man seemed positively alarmed at her outburst, his eyes widening as she started taking small steps away from him all the while trying to regulate her frantic breathing. His brow furrowing, he started to close the small distance between them, a placating hand outstretched as if he expected her to run from him.

"My lady, I can see that you are distressed. If I have done or said something to alarm you, I assure you it was not my intention." Y/N told herself to snap out of it. This was likely all some big misunderstanding. That or the stricken looking man in front of her was toying with her. The idea that he would do such a thing when she was so clearly lost, confused, and vulnerable incensed her. Glaring at him she wordlessly turned on her heels to walk away from him at break neck speed. Hearing footsteps she glanced behind her to see him following at a distance. "Are you following me?" "Yes" He said simply as if it was perfectly obvious that he should. "Brazen bastard" she mumbled, unfortunately not low enough for him to miss. A look of surprise as he registered her insult quickly shifted to one of bemusement before Y/N could even begin to worry about him reacting badly. "That may be, but I'd rather not see you walk into a den of savages. And that is the direction you're going in."

Y/n was quite frankly sick of his cryptic messages at this point. Stopping in her tracks to face him, the young man immediately halted, mirroring her movements. She fixed him with a stern glare. "I don't know what you're playing at but it isn't funny. I have no idea what you're talking about. And I'm not a lady so you can drop the act."

Turning so quickly she was sure her hair must have whipped him in the face she continued on the path she'd chosen. If he wanted to drop mysterious messages of foreboding without telling her anything concrete she'd just as well ignore him. That turned out to be difficult as he resumed following her wordlessly. Y/N broke the silence a while later. "Why are you still following me? I thought you said I was going the wrong way. Headed towards savages as you put it?" Seemingly delighted that she'd finally looked at him and was willingly speaking to him he shot her a dazzling smile that almost softened her resolve to be irritated with him. "To protect you of course. I am a knight and you are a lady in distress. The course you set is a dangerous one but if you choose to walk it then I shall walk it with you." His smile did not match the promise of life-threatening danger he was suggesting.

"I can take care of myself and since I can't understand half of what you're saying I'm not sure I really believe you." His smile growing wider, the young man took a couple of steps towards Y/N to close the distance between between them before gently taking her hand and planting a kiss to her knuckles. "I don't doubt it fair lady, you seem seem have a will of steel but I'd rather not risk your safety if its all the same to you." Momentarily at a loss for words at his actions, Y/N quickly quashed the traitorous fluttering of her heart and cleared her throat as she pulled her hands from his and attempted to put him down gently. "That's quite enough of that. Look, I appreciate your concern... " she stopped realising she didn't know his name and looked up at him questioning. "Benjicot Blackwood. Might I Iearn the name of the fair lady in return?" Ignoring his question, Y/N went on "but there's really no need to worry. I'll be just fine on my own."

Once again Y/N turned from him and continued to walk towards whatever mythical danger the man had portended. When she didn't hear his footfalls following her immediately a smile of self-satisfaction ghosted onto her face before she realised she was almost dissapointed. That was until she heard them at a farther distance this time. Glancing behind her but this time not stopping she shouted back to him. "Are you still following me" He had to shout too for her to hear him though there was mirth in his tone "yes my lady, you still seem dead set on barrelling head first into danger. And you have not yet given me your name" he responded playfully. Y/N groaned audibly "Why can't you go bother some other poor girl and leave me alone?" Y/N fumed to hear him laugh. "Because then, fair one, I might actually have to bother, as you say, ladies who like my company. And where would be the fun in that when I have you to shout at me?"

Y/n gaped at him in disbelief, this man could not be serious. Shaking her head at him, she decided to just go back to ignoring him. Perhaps he'd get bored of following her or, if she was really lucky, fall into a ditch. They walked a little while longer before an arm suddenly shot out around her waist, the young man having hastened his steps to step in front of her. "A step further and we're in Bracken territory. I beseech you to turn back with me. I will take you to my halls and we can discuss your predicament further." Y/N felt a growing sense of fear at Benjicot's seriousness.

Perhaps she'd been too quick to write his warnings off. No sooner had she thought this than she heard approaching footsteps and spotted four other men dressed just like him, except for the golden colour of their cloaks where his was a deep red. She didn't like the angry looks on their faces and was ashamed to find herself cowering slightly. Taking in her fright the young man shot around and positioned himself more fully in front of her, arm lightly outstretched behind him as if to shield her.

"Get back from the border Blackwood, you're in breech of the assize."

"Fuck the assize. This is Blackwood land and you know it." Y/N didn't have a clue what the two men were arguing about as insults flew back and forth, but her ears perked up as the man closest to her red knight levied the next one at her. "Take her with you. Is she fucking stupid, or is she so bold to think she can waltz around wherever she likes? Typical Blackwood bitch." The Lord of Raventree as he'd called himself earlier snarled out a reply, stepping forward to shove the golden Knight harshly in the chest. "You craven bastard. You dare insult a lady under my protection?" Y/N should have been panicking at the impending threat of violence, but her anger at the man's insults, so blatantly laced with misogyny, rose up so fiercely that she heard her own voice among the din before she could stop it. "Don't you dare call me a bitch. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth? I don't know anything about an assize or why you're so obsessed with rocks and not crossing them but you can't just go around calling people names. Have some respect."

Seemingly stunned into silence, perhaps not expecting her to challenge him so brazenly, the golden Knight just stared at her in stony silence for a few moments before ignoring her entirely and turning back to her red knight. "Control your woman Blackwood." Through gritted teeth, Benjicot bit back "Speak another word about the lady and there will be violence." The golden Knight drew his sword, pointing directly at her red knight's chest. Ok, so not a fake sword then. Surprising her by laughing tauntingly, Benjicot walked right up to the tip of the sword. "You wouldn't dare." Y/N told herself she shouldn't find his passionate defence of her attractive, but in the current circumstances she felt she could be forgiven for being irrational. "Come on, just leave it" one of the other golden knights piped up. After a tense few moments the golden cloaked man lowered his sword and and stalked away, followed by his friends.

Shoulders tense, her defender did not turn his back to the knights until they were out of sight before turning around to look at her, eyes immediately softening from the aggressive glare he'd just been fronting. "Are you alright my lady? I had hoped to avoid such an interaction." Y/N flip flopped between finding his evident concern sweet and being irritated that he seemed to think this was her fault for not listening to him. "You think I'm to blame then? You're the one who kept dropping veiled hints about my impending doom and refusing to clarify what you meant!" Y/N could not for the life of her understand why the infuriating man in front of her was smiling at her. "Why are you smiling at me? Do you enjoy fighting with me?" "You mistake me my lady. I am merely gratified to know that you are well enough to shout at me. I was concerned that you would be shaken and frightened."

When Y/N didn't respond, mouth opening and closing trying to find a response, Benjicot assumed that she must be in some state of shock after all. "Please allow me to take you to Raventree. It would go against my conscience to leave a lady wandering about the riverlands alone when you seem so confused." With that he held his arm out for her to take, an antiquated gesture that seemed to confirm to Y/N she was really not in kansas anymore. Weighing her options, she considered that Benjicot Blackwood had teased her and followed her, but he had not harmed her and had in fact protected her when he could have walked away. Making her decision, she lightly placed her arm on his. "My name is Y/N." Benjicot grinned at her as if she had given him a star rather than her name, placing his other hand atop hers as it rested on his arm and began directing them in the opposite direction "a beautiful name for a beautiful lady." Blushing fiercely with embarrassment, Y/N squeeked out a "Thank you."

Benjicot must have been chasing Y/N around the Riverlands for quite some time, as it took them at least an hour to reach the impressive fortress he called Raventree Hall.

Once she'd gotten over the initial shock of realising she had in fact jumped from her world into another, Y/N actually found herself settling in to life in Westeros. It had taken some convincing for Benjicot to believe her story and stop assuming she was mildly insane, but he had all the while insisted she stay with him in Raventree Hall, gifting her with her own room and beautiful gowns in the colours of House Blackwood. She'd only had her hiking gear on when she was unceremoniously plucked from her world into his, and she sought to avoid similar looks of curiosity to the one he'd shot her when they first met. Y/N grew to love Raventree and the people who lived there.

Benjicot had practically forced his friendship open her and as incorrigible and cocky as he could be, encouraging a healthy back and forth banter between them at all times, she could not be anything but grateful for it. Each day he would show her something new, always hoping to amuse her, whether it be a new room to explore in his ancestral halls, a book he thought she might like, or the rose garden tucked away in the grounds, which had become her favourite haunt.

The roses reminded Y/N of Beauty and the Beast, her favourite fairytale from back home which Benjicot had made her tell at least a hundred times, listening just as attentively, a hand cupping his chin and eyes never leaving hers each time. She supposed that her own situation did somewhat resemble her favourite tale, down to her very own castle and beast. Benjicot had always been a gentleman with her, but she had heard the stories of Bloody Ben whispered by his servants and seen first hand his willingness to resort to violence to protect her when they first met.

More often than not it was Benjicot, or Benji as he seemed to insist only she call him, who came to her, always seeking out her opinions. But today it was Y/N seeking him out. She'd been growing more and more homesick of late and wanted to be with the one person she felt could truly understand, eventually finding him in the armoury, wielding his sword in different formations. Hoping to sneak up on him, and having taken fencing lessons herself back in her own world, she quietly tiptoed over to the swords. Grabbing the lightest one she could she walked soundlessly back over to him before he suddenly turned and clashed his sword against hers. "Sorry Y/N but you should know that I'd recognise your footfalls anywhere and you're not as quiet as you think."

"Rude" she huffed back, sliding her sword down his and shoving him away from her. He grinned at the challenge. "You didn't mention you'd handled a sword before." "Only a little."

He parried a fresh blow from her, easily blocking the next. 

"I can see that" He teased, earning a snarl from her though it did not have any true aggression behind it. He continued to block her blows, but seemed reluctant to attack and she used this reticence against him to lunge and place her sword close enough to his neck to refute any delusions he had about her lack of skill. But he was prepared for this and swung his sword upwards to block her again, before taking hold of her waist and spinning her around, her back hitting his chest. His sword hand wove around around her shoulders, as he kept the blade at a distance from her body, while Benji gently trailed his other hand down the side of her bodice, his touch feather light and searing all at once. He leant down to whisper in her ear "You left yourself open here when you lunged."

Y/N had always found Benjicot attractive, even when he teased and irritated her, but she'd tried to quash any romantic feelings for him so as not to ruin their friendship. But his closeness to her now, her body pressed against his, was intoxicating and she struggled to think coherently. Suddenly releasing her, Benjicot smiled widely and bowed. "I shall see you later my lady, I am off to attend to my duties." Throwing his sword carelessly over his shoulder, he turned and exited the armoury, leaving Y/N to stew over the unwelcome feelings their impromptu sword fight had brought to the fore.

Later that night, Y/n could not help the wave of sadness that threatened to crush her under the weight of it from sending her into a spiral of homesickness. Soft sniffles and sobs echoed about the room as she tried to square the new life she now loved with her feelings of guilt over leaving her family behind. The rattling of her bedroom door knob sent her flying from her bed in alarm as she quickly grabbed a small blade form the wooden desk and hurried to conceal herself behind the door. As the intruder entered she wildly swung around to jab the point of her dagger into their ribcage. The intruder stiffened and she looked up to se that it was just Benji, whose brow was quirked up in amusement. How could he act so nonchalant about her nearly spearing him like a fish?

"What's so funny? I nearly gutted you!"

"With a letter opener?" She looked down to find that what she'd thought was a dagger was indeed just a letter opener, not likely to do much damage. She forced out a laugh that ended up sounding much more like a sob, and Benji's face immediately fell once he took in her tearstained appearance fully. Y/N couldn't bear his look of concern, certain it would just make her cry harder and so she broke the silence. "What brings you to my room at this time of night anyway to give me the opportunity to spear you in the first place?" She'd hoped to diffuse the tension and make him laugh but his expression remained just as serious, eyes filled with worry. "I heard you crying."

"Oh." He had come to check that she was OK. His gentle concern for her sent forth a fresh wave of tears and when Benji opened his arms to her she immediately fell into them, her forehead hitting his chest as his hand came up to stroke her hair in a comforting gesture. "What ails you my lady. Whatever you need I will see it done."

His kindness only made her crying worse and he kissed her sweetly on the crown of her head, rubbing soothing circles along her spine. "I miss my family and my home." Benji stiffened as if he were expecting a blow but he let her continue. "And mostly I feel guilty that I'm not sure I even want to go home. Truthfully I love Raventree and your friendship has meant everything to me."

Benji took hold of Y/N's elbows and lightly pushed her away from his chest so he could look into her eyes. "It gladdens my heart to hear that you feel this way about my home. I should like you to consider it your home too. You will always  have a place here with me." Kissing her forehead tenderly, he held Y/N's head against his heart again as if she were made of glass or something truly precious to him he was scared to break. Little did she know how true this was.

Weeks later, Y/N found that her homesickness had begun to dissipate to a dull ache. But her feelings for Benji had grown and spread like the vines of the rose bushes she loved so much, wild and uncontainable. It was difficult to even be in his presence without wanting him to touch her and hold her as he had the night he'd found her crying.

Sitting with her in what he'd come to refer to as her rose garden, he kept shooting furtive glances at her as she read from a tome on his house history. "Why are you staring at me?" "I'm not?" "Try that again without the question mark"

Benjicot surprised her, shifting in his spot next to her to turn to her fully, their knees touching, before taking both of her hands in his. "I have not been able to look away from you for more than a few moments ever since I first laid eyes on you. I must admit that I am desperately in love with you and wondered if, by some chance of fate, you might feel the same way?"

Y/N's jaw fell open in shock. " You love me?"

He squeezed her hands "most ardently."

Her mind spinning, she threw caution to the wind and flung her arms around Benji's shoulders to kiss him. He reacted instantly, pulling her as close towards him as possible until she was in his lap, his hands grasping at her hips to pull her closer still as if he couldn't believe she was real.

Breaking the kiss for oxygen, Benji began to trail a line of kisses down Y/N's neck, leaving her breathless, one hand pressing her back closer to him. "I wish you to be my wife, to become the Lady of Raventree Hall and House Blackwood."

Butterflies erupted in her stomach.

"Future Lady Blackwood am I?"

"Should you permit it, I will protect you, cherish you, and love you for the remainder of my days or for as long as you will allow. I humbly offer myself to you as your husband, with all the love I possess for you."

"And what if I disagree with you and challenge you. What if we argue constantly?"

"We do not argue my love, you scold me and I listen" He shot back with a playful grin.

"And if I decide to change all the tapestries pink?"

Benji sighed, tilting his head to her eye level so she could read the sincerity in his eyes.

"I want all of you, including your thoughts and opinions. They're what made me fall in love with you. I want you to share them with me even if they challenge mine, especially then, even when I hold you in my arms. As to the tapestries, I'm rather partial to my house colours but I would try to bear the change if it would please you."

Y/N giggled at that before planting a tender kiss to his lips. "Then I consent to be be your wife and Lady. You can't take it back though. You're stuck with me now."

Benji pressed their foreheads together, cupping the sides of her face to brush her lips with his. "And how grateful I am for it." He spoke against them before pressing his lips to hers in a kiss he hoped expressed his undying devotion to his lady.

A face I'd go to war for. The title is based on the line 'love is like the wild rose-briar' from an Emily Bronte poem I love called Love and Friendship.

[vikwrites]

Body Electric - Tony Stark

Summary ➣ You and Tony work through your insecurities, together. Pairing ➣ Tony Stark x Reader Word Count ➣ 1.4k words Warnings ➣ Mature, Body Insecurity, Mild Nudity. Request ➣ Ask Author's Notes ➣ Requested by @welldonekhushi, Unbeta'd, all mistakes are mine. However, if you're interested in beta-reading, please let me know!

You winced as the edge of your Louboutins scraped against your flesh.

Your once pristine skin, now an angry shade of red, was revealed as the heels were carelessly discarded onto the carpeted floor of Tony’s bedroom.

You always prided yourself on being flawless and put together, but in this moment, you couldn't deny the pain caused by the sight of the shoes. On one hand, they encapsulated Tony’s adoration for you, how he was willing to buy you anything you’d ever desired. On the other hand, they were a symbol of everything you tried to cover up—your looks, your desire to appear mature, your self-doubts. 

As you kicked them off onto the plush carpet, you couldn't help but feel conflicted about the persona you had forced yourself to maintain. The persona who used her appearance to mask her insecurities, and who constantly sought to cover up any minute flaw as if they were parasites, latching onto your skin. Even now, as you undressed under prying eyes nowhere to be found but your own, you couldn't shake off the feeling of this uncomfortable façade. 

Compared to Tony, you felt like nothing, a shadow in the glow of his perfection. Tony was everything you yearned to be—charming, confident, and most importantly, effortlessly attractive. His character only magnified your insecurities, the chasm between who you were and who you pretended to be.

In front of the multitude of cameras and paparazzi, it felt like every minute action and detail was analyzed by the media. You recalled the first time you had gone out with Tony in public, it had not been more than a day before almost every news outlet caught wind of it.

Each headline felt more painful than the next, some accusing you of being with Tony for his money, some poking fun of him for dating a ‘normal’ woman and not some Victoria’s Secret supermodel. It felt like everybody was criticizing every part of you, breaking you down into nothing but imperfect pieces to dissect. 

Spending hours in front of a vanity became second nature to you, fingers blistering from the scalding hot curling iron accidentally burning your skin, applying layers upon layers of makeup. Just to get ready to attend some gala, while adorning Tony’s arms like the multitude of watches that lined his suit cuffs. 

You stood in front of the large window, overlooking the dark horizon over the ocean. Your soft reflection was staring back at you. You frowned, despising seeing yourself devoid of any makeup.

Tony was still cleaning himself up in the bathroom, you had already taken off your dress, in its place—an ashen silk Brunello Cucinelli evening gown that Tony had bought for you, claiming it ‘accentuates’ your eyes. 

“Hey.” You heard Tony approach you from behind as you felt his touch on your smaller figure, you felt the warmth of his skin against yours through his black tank top and sweats. The musky scent of his cologne graced your senses.  

His fingers traced a deliberate path down your sides before settling on your waist. His touch was gentle yet possessive as he pulled you closer to him, pressing you into the softness of his chest; his chin resting on your shoulder. You could feel the steady beat of his heart beneath his shirt, accompanied by the faint buzz of the arc reactor embedded in his chest. 

Tony’s lips found your neck as he grazed the skin with his teeth, a soft sigh escapes you as his teeth dragged along your pulse point. The soft sensation of his kisses against your skin sent shivers down your spine. You could feel his breath; hot against your ear. Your fingers reached down, intertwining gently with his. While your other hand brushed through his hair, strands of chestnut brown fell between your fingers as you savored the bristly texture.

Tony’s warm body was a comforting contrast against the cold room. As your bodies moved together, he led you to the bed, where he carefully laid you down as gently as possible, as if any false move would shatter you to pieces. His delicate movements were always so contradicting to his persona outside the blanket of intimacy.

He lowered himself for another kiss, his strong arms braced on either side of your head as his lips met yours. You tasted the slight hint of whiskey, still lingering on his tongue—sweet and bitter. Your hands traced along his jaw, feeling the prickly stubble of his salt-and-pepper goatee against your palm. 

"I love you." Tony's warm breath tickled your lips as he whispered and gently pulled away, his million-dollar-smile lighting up his face. But a small part of you couldn't help but wonder if those three simple words were truly enough.

“Love you too.” You handed back the statement but Tony could feel something was amiss. Your eyelids drooped and your tone was hesitant, causing a knot of unease to form in his stomach. 

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Tony's hand, warm and gentle, glides through your hair with a tentative touch. He tucks a loose strand behind your ear, his gaze soft. You feel a pang of guilt wash over you as you see the slight crease in Tony's brow. A heavy silence hangs between you as the weight of your inhibitions settles in your gut, “You know you can tell me anything, right?” 

“I just—don’t know what you see in me, Tony.” You frowned as you spoke, your words barely audible in a hushed whisper. 

“Angel,” Tony whispers, “You’re beautiful—so fucking beautiful.”

“You really think so?” His words nearly caused tears to spill, you sniffled. The edges of your eyes tearing up.

“"I know so," Tony's warm smile lit up his face and he gently caressed your cheek with his thumb as he tried to cheer you up. The motion of his touch felt so soothing, easing the tension in your heart. Without even realizing it, you found yourself mirroring his contagious smile. "I wish you could see how perfect you are, you’re the most important thing to me, baby. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

"It just feels like you're, y’know—Tony Stark, confidently striding through life with all the grandeur and charisma, while I'm just me," you admitted, self-deprecation evident in your tone.  

“Please don't compare yourself to me, your flaws and imperfections are what make you perfect in my eyes.” An idea suddenly came to him, “Let me express my love for you; lay back and let me show you how much I love you.”

As you rested your head on the soft silk pillows, you couldn't help but feel a wave of shame wash over you. Your nightgown was discarded, leaving you exposed in only your undergarments. In moments like these with Tony, you always found ways to hide your body; dimming the lights, covering yourself with sheets—anything that would conceal yourself. But this time, you couldn't bring yourself to do it. 

“Look at me, my love, don’t be shy.” With gentle insistence, Tony's hand guides your chin back to meet his gaze. 

The warmth of Tony's hand enfolds yours once again, strong and sure. His other hand trails gently along your exposed skin, sending shivers down your spine. As he presses his body against yours, the weight is a comforting pressure that grounds you in the moment. He starts with soft kisses on the tips of your fingers, before trailing them up and back down your arm. Each touch leaves a trail of goosebumps in their wake. 

You closed your eyes, losing yourself in the moment as his hands explored every inch of you with a reverence that made your heart ache with longing. Tony’s hands moved with purpose, exploring every curve and contour of your figure as if he were trying to memorize every inch of you. 

As the lights were gently dimmed, he reached out and wrapped his arms around you, pulling you closer until your bodies were pressed together, his arms wrapped around you as your foreheads met in a tight embrace, your bodies pressed together as if trying to merge into one. It was quiet, the only noises were your synchronized breaths and the pulse of the reactor, and in that moment, it was as if the whole world had faded away, leaving only you and Tony at its center. 

“You’re my everything, I love you, so, so much.” 

⎊ back to masterlist

[whiteraven87]

The Flame that never Fades is a story of forbidden love, born in a world where there's no room for it - the ruthless realm of Formula 1, where perfection, milliseconds, and cold calculation rule the game.

Victoria Lorenz, the only woman on the grid, is a fierce spirit and the shining gem of Mercedes. Young, ambitious, and blindly in love with one man - Toto Wolff, the Mercedes Team Principal. He - married, powerful, experienced - sees her at first as an escape, a desire, an obsession he wants to control. She gives him everything, naively hoping he might one day love her back.

What starts as a calculated affair slowly transforms into a storm of passion that breaks all boundaries and changes everything. It's a story of feelings that burn through the soul - of a love that begins as an illusion, only to become painfully real when it might already be too late. Of devotion that knows no limits, and the price one pays to be loved… even if only for a moment.

This is a passionate, painful and full of illusions story. A tale that doesn't promise a happy ending, but stays in your heart forever…

============================

warnings: age gap (28 years), forbidden romance, obsession, desire, dark romance, smut, infidelity, emotional manipulation, dominant older man, angst, longing, possessiveness, emotional pain, toxic dynamics, no promise for happy ending.

💥 For mature readers 18+ – due to intense emotion, mature themes, and erotic content.

word count: 37k

read on: AO3 - Wattpad - or read below

===========================

There's no one like you I can't wait for the nights with you I imagine the things we'll do I just wanna be loved by you J2, Coleen McMahon (Scorpions cover)

Song Playlist on Spotify:

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Hello, my Dear Readers

If you found your way here after reading the Unstoppable series, then I know you carry traces of Miriell and Toto within you — their struggle, their tenderness, their love and their pain. Thank you for walking that path with me.

If you haven't yet discovered their story, I wholeheartedly encourage you to explore The Unstoppable Series — a tale of strength, perseverance, and a love forged in the fire of pain and passion.

Link: The Unstoppable Series - Masterlist

But now — it's time for something entirely different.

The Flame That Never Fades is not a continuation, It's a standalone and a completely new story, set in the same world of Formula 1, but with an entirely different emotional weight.

This is not a classic love story. This is a dark romance — filled with tension, obsession, illusions, and choices that cannot be undone. With desires that know no boundaries.

It's a story that doesn't lead to easy answers. But perhaps that's why... it stays with us.

I'm glad you're here. We're about to begin a journey that will hurt. But it will be real.

cheers, WhiteRaven87

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Prologue 1: Middle of the Night 2: Frozen 3: Shameless 4: Lilith 5: Ruthless 6: The Machine 7: Ride 8: No One Like You 9: Sad Girl 10: Summetime Sadness 11: Un-break My Heart 12: Blue Jeans 13: Too Deep 14: Into Dust 15: Born to Die 16: Dark Paradise Epilogue

-----------

Prologue

She always said she didn't need anyone. That she had grown used to solitude — to the echo of silence in an empty house, to the sound of her own thoughts bouncing off the walls. But the moment she looked into his eyes for the first time — dark, full of gravity and experience — she knew that loneliness would never be enough again.

***

She met them at the brightest moment of her life. Young, ambitious, stubborn. A girl from nowhere. An orphan from Poland whose sheer determination and extraordinary talent had led her to the top of the junior rankings. When she entered the Mercedes academy, she was only twenty-two years old, with a gaze that said just one thing: no one will ever break me.

That was when Susie — elegant, warm, with grace and strength that Victoria instantly admired — reached out to her. And behind her came him.

Toto Wolff. The team principal. A man whose name was spoken with both reverence and fear. Tall, impeccably dressed, with eyes that could see right through a person.

"Victoria Lorenz," he said simply, looking at her. "A name one remembers. And the eyes of a warrior."

In that moment, her heart — locked away for years — stirred for the first time.

***

She quickly proved to be more than just a young girl with a wild temperament. She stepped onto podiums with an elusive smile on her lips, won against all odds, never showed weakness. In the paddock they whispered about her: "Mercedes' diamond," "the fury of the track," "as beautiful as a dream, as fast as lightning."

She was named the sexiest athlete of the year, fans went wild, sponsors lined up.

But her eyes always searched for just one gaze. The one she carried in her heart, even though she had no right to it.

To Toto, she was like a daughter. A child without a family, whom he and Susie took under their wings. They invited her to their home for Christmas, visited her forest hideaway in Masuria, where Toto carried wood for the fireplace and Susie cooked dinner. Jack, their young son, called her "Aunt Vici," curled up in her arms and ran to her with every joy and every scraped knee. She was his confidante.

And at the same time — a lonely woman, who each night fell asleep with his father in her thoughts.

Sometimes, when Toto hugged her in a fatherly gesture, feeling like a protector, Victoria froze under his touch, soaking it in with all her being, like parched earth drinks in the rain. When they sat side by side in the motorhome and their knees brushed by accident, she felt it physically — an electric sting that would later haunt her in dreams.

She had no right to love him.

But she did.

Madly. Silently. To the point of losing herself.

She knew every tone of his voice, every gesture, the scent of his cologne, the way he ran his fingers through his hair when he was tense. She knew when he was tired, even if no one else saw it. She knew him better than anyone.

And she knew she was just Victoria to him — the girl who had no one, whom he and Susie had decided to protect.

So she stayed silent.

She hid her feelings beneath a mask of irony, strength, and nonchalance.

She called him boss with that mischievous smirk that disguised the trembling of her heart.

But the truth in his eyes... was still to come.

Because every mask eventually falls. Every desire demands release. And even the purest intention can turn into sin, when it ignites between two hearts that were never meant to come close.

-----------

Next -> Chapter 1: Middle of the Night

-----------

[razi-el]

⛛ PATH TO NOWHERE ⛛

▽ MIRAGE ▽

BAI YI

HEKATE

VICTORIA

NINETY-NINE

LISA

DREYA

(other's you can find in ETERNAL NIGHTMARE'S)

[lavender-at-heart]

Could you write Bella swan x tall fem vampire reader? I need reader to feed on humans that are criminals and almost always smokin a cigarette

Omg yes gay Bella is the best version of her. THIS FIC IS NOT COMPLETED, I FELT BAD FOR TAKING SO LONG SO HERES A SHORT VERSION, I WILL ADD TO IT SOON WOTH A MUCH LONGER ENDING!!!! if you want to be tagged in the finish product lmk. Also there are themes of sa (think alleyway scene in first movie) and I know that's an uncomfortable subject so I kinda glazed over and left out detail for that part.

Bella Swan let out a huff of boredom as she walked down the dreary street. An attempt to regain her friendship with Jessica ended up with Jess being spooked. Bellas new tastes were too "extreme " for her and now Bella was left alone, outside the movie theater in Port Angeles. A little miffed but not unpleasant to be alone again, she decided to not make waste of the evening out. Unsure of where to go, she headed forward, down the dark path of concrete, narrowly missing a chance ride on a motorcycle. Bella was in a dark place. Mentally, always, but right now her mind led her to enter a particularly dingey alley way. Her heart seemed to pull her towards the dark abyss before her, much like how her heart pulled her towards biology class on her first day at Forks High.

As she neared a turn in the path a sinking feeling began to creep up her spine. A feeling she had not felt since...

There was a man. Smoking, head turned pointedly towards the ground. He stood there like a beacon to Bella.

Something to make him see me

The man looked up, with that familiar look. Sinister comments laced with something sickly sweet, and Bella knew he'd come running. He had to have, surely he would. The man was not shy in his approach, and Bella did her best to stay calm. Every seccond her safety grew thin. Every minute she took one apprehensive step back. Until there were no more steps to take. Just keep it up for a little while longer, she told herself. He'll be here any moment.

But that moment never came. The sinking realization that Bella was alone with this man, and Edward was nowhere to be found made her stomach drop.

Just when she was about to really try to scream and run, the man was shoved to the wall opposite to Bella, the speed of it whooshing in her face. She knew what it was, the who was not certain. Her headt skipped wildly.

He came! After all!

These thoughts were cut short after she quickly realized her saviour was female. Maybe Alice had seen her in danger and come to the rescue. But this was not Alice. Not Alice, not Esme, not Rosalie, not even Victoria.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you it's impolite to harass pretty girls?"

The metallic tone dripped from the vampires lips, before a crunch was heard. This was no vegetarian, that's for sure. Bella stood, stuck to the wall like flies in a glue trap. Not afraid as she once was, but she knew how crazed normal vampires could be.

Once she was done drinking she turned around with a cool look on her face.

"Thanks" the human girl replied with ample sincerity.

The vampire held a quizzical expression. No fear? No running? No concern or confusion? Seeing this, quiet Bella made an attempt to explain.

"I've been around vampires before"

"Ah" was all the ethereal woman said. The way she said it reminded her of him.

She reached into her old denim jeans and retrieved a cigarette of all things. How odd, Bella thought. She let out a huff of laughter. The flame from the lighter contrasted with cool toned skin, followed by a drag and blow of smoke. The woman looked at her cigarette and spoke again.

"Started as a human, was never able to kick it. Not like it can kill me anyway." She outstretched her hand and offered Bella the cigarette. Bella looked meek and wide eyed. Not wanting to seem "uncool" She took it and gave it a try. She inhaled wrong, she exhaled wrong and then coughed too much. The woman laughed and gave her a pat on the back, red eyes crinkled with amusement.

"you're just a baby aren't ya?"

Bellas face turned beet red. "No I'm not, I just, just never had one before." She stuttered out.

"Breathe in a little, hold, breathe out."

Bella tried to listen to the advice given to her but all she could focus on was the way her voice hit the air. A warm feeling filled her despite the cold weather. A parasitic curiosity filled her. Who was she? Where was she from? How old? Name? Favorite this? Favorite that? Bella wanted to know everything and anything about her, immediately. She knew she would follow this woman to the ends of the earth, and Edward could go fuck himself.

[cloudyovergatorsky]

Palm Trees on Lord Howe Island Took an Evolutionary Path Darwin Never Expected

One of Australia’s most biodiverse offshore islands enjoys the company to two palm trees that despite appearing quite similar are actually different species.

That this happened: that two species evolved from a common ancestor despite no geographical separation, means biologists have confirmed that “sympatric” evolution is possible on Earth.

To explain exactly what that means, here’s Dr. Vincent Savolainen from Imperial College London’s Department of Life Sciences.

"Imagine a few humans on an island for 100 million years, no-one would think they would evolve into a different species, but actually plants do,” he told ABC News Australia about the palm trees on Lord Howe Island, 600 miles off the northern coast of New South Wales.

“Although they are not geographically isolated, they become reproductively isolated because of the flowering time difference which is due to some interaction they have in the soil with microbes.”

This is in direct opposition to the conditions that led Charles Darwin to develop the concept of natural selection. When he was exploring the Galapagos, his breakthrough that species evolve through exposure to different environments came after collecting various specimens of finches on the archipelago’s islands.

The finches were slightly different in relation to the challenges and opportunities available on each island. In contrast, Howea belmoreana and its cousin, Howea forsteriana, evolved divergently, side by side, isolated for over 1 million years on Lord Howe Island; something Darwin thought as being an “unlikely” scenario for evolution to occur.

Having never seen a human footfall until about 1700, when whalers began using it as a storehouse, the island eventually saw use as a nursery for these palm trees, with H. forsteriana becoming particularly well-liked by Queen Victoria.

Called Kentia Palms, Professor Savolainen is part of a study team examining how it is that these palms found enough evolutionary elbow room on the small island to speciate into unique trees.

The study’s conclusion and working hypothesis is that a common ancestor arrived from Australia about 1 million years ago and gradually spread across the island. Over time, the palms developed different flowering periods based on whether they grew on sand or basalt.

The key is that each of these substrates house different mycorrhizal fungi, and that the interactions with these soil microbes caused the speciation.

“What we are discovering is the plants and the fungi can make a specific partnership that allows them to survive stressful conditions,” Professor Savolainen said. Rather than challenging Darwin’s work, the discovery has demonstrated that environmental conditions can drive speciation even in the absence of geographical separation.

In other words, it’s in update to Darwin’s theory.

Lord Howe Island is in some respects akin to the Galapagos or Madagascar: unique islands where evolution drives remarkable diversity of life. Recently cured of a terrible infestation of rats and mice, this UNESCO Natural Heritage Site is cloaked in endemic foliage found nowhere else on Earth.

“What is unfolding is an ecological renaissance, since the rodents have gone, the catchphrase is: ‘I’ve never seen that before’,” Hank Bower from the Lord Howe Island board told the Sydney Morning Herald, in 2022.

Back in the 1950s, the island government made the decision to cap visitors at any given time to 400 people, a decision that has been retained now that the island’s reputation for unspoiled wilderness has been restored.

[lefossile]

Orihime Inoue [Bleach]; Ratcatcher 2 [Suicide Squad]; Rain [Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmaron]; Shalom[Path to Nowhere]; Sonmi 451 [Cloud Atlas]; Victoria Seras [Hellsing]

also y k what? i'm taggin' my brethren in cyborg and not from the top of my head bc idk why not, it's fun: @lonestarss @razzmothazz @ghostlude @ingatorp @dreamfluxes @angel1040

og template under cut

[elysiancaim]

✧ WANTED CHARACTERS/SERIES.

✧ Bleach ✧ Hades ✦ Meg ✦ Persephone ✦ Achilles ✦ Melinoe ✦ Nem ✦ Moros ✦ Eris ✧ Cookie Run Series ✦ White Lily Cookie ✧ Ouran High School Host Club ✧ Ensemble Stars ✦ Tsukasa Suou ✧ Zenless Zone Zero ✦ Astra Yao ✦ Cunning Hares ✦ Section 6 ✦ Victoria Housekeeping ✦ Defense Force ✧ The Witch's House ✦ Viola ✧ Naruto ✦ Akatsuki members ✦ Shinki ✦ Kawai ✦ Sai ✦ Shino ✧ Tsukiuta ✧ Soul Eater ✧ Twisted Wonderland ✦ Trey Clover ✧ Final Fantasy Type-0 ✦ Class Zero ✦ Emina Hanaharu ✧ Servamp ✦ Freya ✦ Kuro ✧ Honkai Impact 3rd ✦ Seele ✦ Fu Hua ✦ Theresa ✦ Wendy ✦ Einstein ✦ Tesla ✦ Himeko ✦ Siegfried ✦ Flamechasers ✦ World Serpants ✧ Path to Nowhere ✧ League of Legends ✦ Zed ✦ Pyke ✦ Viego ✦ Pantheon ✧ Monster Prom ✦ Brian / Vicky / Amira ✦ Dahlia Aquino ✦ Calculester ✧ Dragalia Lost ✦ Alberian Siblings ✦ Ilia ✦ Zena ✧ Genshin Impact ✦ Dainsleif ✦ Yae Miko ✧ IDOLiSH7 ✦ La Dance Macabre cast ✧ Project Moon ✧ Original Characters ✧ Fire Emblem Awakening ✧ Rune Factory ✧ SK8 ✦ Cherry ✧ Persona 5 ✦ Futaba ✦ Ryuji ✧ More Hatsune Mikus ✧ Next Sound of the Future ✧ Pokemon ✦ Sword & Shield cast ✧ Honkai Star Rail ✦ Acheron

Join us in eternity. Death comes for all… But you will find peace.

𝐄𝐋𝐘𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐀𝐈𝐌 is an 18+ Discord MFRP that tells the story of your characters post their “deaths” as their souls have been whisked away by “angels”.

[sinful-lanterns]

RULES

i write both sfw and nsfw! however, i have very specific rules on both of them.

sfw:

this is a wlw and nblw path to nowhere blog, meaning i only write for the path to nowhere women and female or non-binary readers.

i only write for characters who are canoncally or heavily implied as adults.

i don't really enjoy writing angst too much so chances are I will avoid it.

yandere topics are somewhat okay with me, so long as there is a limit.

i don't do fics with mental illnesses, disorders or self harm. i'm not comfortable with that.

i am comfortable with healthy relationships though!

poly relationships are also okay with me!

this isn't a request blog, but i will accept little prompts you have in the inbox and elaborate on them.

an additional rule exclusive to this blog, i don’t like writing chief! readers, as I consider chief a character themselves!

nsfw:

again, this is a wlw and nblw path to nowhere blog, meaning i only write for the ptn women and female or non-binary readers.

reader will always be afab as that is what i am most comfortable with. men and fetishizers dni.

minors will be asked to not interact with these posts. if i see a minor interacting with them i will block them.

racist, ableist, homophobic, transphobic people dni.

minors and blank blogs (meaning blogs with no ages in their bio) dni in my inbox.

i do not like writing dark content, nor reading about it. absolutely no dub/non-con, incest/stepcest, pedophilia/grooming, assault, abuse, cheating, manipulation, etc.

consent is sexy. everything i write will have consent/implied consent.

kinks are fine. so long as it isn't harming anyone too much.

poly relationships are fine with me, so nsfw with multiple people is fine.

not a request blog, but thirsts are always welcome. so long as they follow the rules.

an additional rule exclusive to this blog, i don’t like writing chief! readers, as I consider chief a character themselves!

Also, in case you were wondering. Here is the list of female characters I do not write for in both sfw and nsfw fics:

Hecate, Hella, Horo, Lynn, Summer, OwO, Christina, Victoria, Roulecca, Crache, Mess, Dolly, Nino, Eve, EMP, Letta, Pacassi, Pepper, Thistle, Gekkabijin, Echo, Yanyan, Golan, Hestia, Shrooma and Wuhuanzi

[victo1re]

victoria has a clone prepared in the event of her death. it is hidden in a chamber beneath the silvershield estate that is included nowhere in the building's plans. the auxiliary body is stored in a crystalline container filled with translucent brine, and is a perfect copy of victoria as she was when she created it: that is to say, the copy appears as the duchess did one hundred and twenty-six years ago, following the closest attempt on her life to date. the circumstances of her death are ordained; anything less will not do.

in her ascended path, she returns to this body after she is killed by bhaal. this story takes many of its structural and philosophical cues from cylon resurrection, further examining the role of the body in the realisation of the self. losing ("shedding") the visual markers that tadpoled!victoria used to define her personhood enables her to fall back into, in many ways, her old self.

in her good end, she does not choose to return at all, content to have died for a cause she believed in so strongly (content to be dead, after having caused such pain to so many). withers resurrects her instead, returning her soul to her body by force. this story takes its cues from buffy season six, examining the impact of an unwilling return to life when one has finally been promised lasting rest.

[cresvalkyrie]

Seeing a moot post about their oc x canon pairings, so... I'm gonna talk about mine!

Hauyne - she's mainly paired with Erin, although right now they're at the stage where they're both mutually aware of each other's reciprocoal attraction but not pursuing a relationship due to more Urgent™ stuff going on at the moment. Doesn't stop them from sneaking bits of affection under the table every now and then though.

She also has a weird thing going on with Crescent, since in the past they do have... well, Something which went nowhere. It's a sore point for Crescent either way, regretting her inability to make her true feelings known to her before the Storm happened. They still don't know what their relationship actually is, but for now they both agreed to start over on a clean slate as friends and see where it takes them.

Electra - before finding the truth and regaining her memories of her life in the Old World, she actually has a huge crush on Aelita. But then came the inevitable truth, and she... honestly feels disgusted at herself for feeling that way. Why? No one really knows, but it probably has something to do with her brand of survivor's guilt and her misplaced anger on the people of the new world for essentially replacing the world she once lived in messing up her mind. After that point, she basically gave everyone the cold shoulder, which unfortunately ended up isolating herself and that isolation made her already deteriorating mental health worsen further. It's a vicious cycle that ultimately led her down the path of oblivion.

Orion - their current partner is Victoria. I haven't really gave much thought on how their relationship developed to that point in the events of Reborn, but what I do know/have is that by the time the events of rejuv has begun they are engaged to her after dating for more than 8 years. The only reason they haven't tied the knot yet was because they still haven't found their missing sister, and they refused to do so until the search has reached its decisive conclusion (i.e. their sister is found alive and reunited, or proven to be dead).

Iseult - this is a weird one, but her secret partner is Lilith. How these two actually end up together, I'll never know, but I do know that the two met each other shortly after Baron's attack above Celeste City. Lilith was actually the one who offered her a place in the Black Foxes, which she accepted if only for the benefit of having the manpower to track down her wayward sibling and have them keep them safe from harm as much as possible. But with how skilled and talented she is at battling, Iseult climbed up the ranks rapidly of her own merit and eventually became a Black Fox Ace like Amelia, even becoming Lilith's right hand woman. One thing led to another, and the two got romantically involved with each other behind closed doors. In fact, one of the reasons she eventually deserted the Foxes is because of Lilith leaving the group during the events of e5, and Lilith was the only reason she stayed now that her sibling had been found. Following her disappearance at the end of e5, Iseult's been searching for her whereabouts.

[kits-shrine]

Apollo placed a gentle kiss to her forehead and shifted once again so they could return to her bedroom proper.

Lightly touching the flowers down the now glowing path Victoria opened the door seemingly to nowhere to see her room. Letting the shuck through she shut the door before letting out a laugh "Is there a way to get to my clothes still?"

[avatarskywalker78]

📖

The last several months I've been toying with the idea of having Tory be a Barnes - sparked by the fact that I heard that her being Mike's daughter was a theory at one point, and while that appears to have been jossed, and obviously isn't going to be the case in the bad boy 'verse because Mike's happily married with a family, thank you...it doesn't mean she couldn't be a Barnes, especially given that one of the constant facts of my series that Mike is estranged from the rest of his family so he wouldn't know if there were nieces or nephews.

So the story would start before the 2018 AVT - Tory Nichols has just transferred to West Valley High and Elaine can't shake the feeling that there's something familiar about her, though her attempts to reach out over the next few weeks are rebuffed. Then one day she and her brother Alex are sorting out stuff in the attic and she comes across a bunch of old and dusty family photos, including some of her dad and his brothers from way back...and staring out is a young boy who looks remarkably like Tory. They ask Mike about him and he turns out to be Aaron, Mike's younger brother.

Obviously this isn't solid proof - as their elder sister Sarah points out, sometimes people completely unrelated to each other can look similar because genetics are weird like that - but Elaine was taught to trust her instincts, and her instincts are telling her there is something more to this story, and so the Barnes siblings team up and spend the summer trying to find out more information. Which they do - Aaron was married for some years before running off and abandoning his family, with the (ex) wife going back to her maiden name and taking the children with her.

The children being Tory and Brandon Nichols - formerly Victoria and Brandon Barnes. Sarah, Elaine, and Alex have two new cousins, but unfortunately they don't get to reveal that information to anyone before the school brawl breaks out. This time Elaine really does get involved and has to actively fight Tory to try and protect Sam, trying to appeal to her but getting nowhere because as far as Tory's concerned this is just some random girl. Sam doesn't get injured, but Elaine recieves a broken arm for her troubles - and Miguel still falls because he and Robby still end up fighting.

Mike and Leah want to raise hell over what happened, and this is when the siblings tell them what they found out - Tory is family, and they fear that, as she's likely to get expelled (and with Miguel nearly being killed) is going to be angry and upset and possibly seeking revenge. In other words, someone even more easily manipulated by Cobra Kai, as it's unlikely Johnny Lawrence will even return to the dojo.

And, well...Mike remembers being a seventeen-year-old with anger issues, remembers what it was like being part of Cobra Kai, and is aware that if things hadn't ended as they did his life would've ended up on a far darker path, and Leah knows how much having a reliable mentor in her father meant to Mike. At the end of the day, this is a teenager without any kind of good support system, and if nothing is done is going to end up right back in Cobra Kai's clutches.

And so Tory's S3 arc is about to play out very differently...

Put "📓" or some other version of a book emoji into my inbox and I'll explain the plot of a fanfiction that I haven't written but daydream about.

[drunkenelephantmaraonline]

Discover Kenya’s Hidden Game Reserves for a Unique Safari Adventure

When people think of a Kenyan safari, iconic spots like the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo often top the list. But Kenya is also home to lesser-known national reserves and game parks that offer equally thrilling wildlife experiences—with far fewer crowds.

At Drunken Elephant Mara, we specialize in taking travelers beyond the well-trodden path to unveil some of Kenya’s best-kept safari secrets. Here are our top picks for off-the-beaten-track game reserves in Kenya you should explore.

Meru National Park

Why Go: This lush, unspoiled park was the setting for Born Free, the story of Elsa the lioness. Meru is a sanctuary of peace and raw beauty, offering excellent Big Five sightings.

Highlights:

Spot lions, elephants, rhinos, and leopards in a serene setting.

Explore Adamson’s Falls and the Tana River.

Birdwatching paradise with over 300 species.

Best Time to Visit: June to October (Dry season)

Samburu National Reserve

Why Go: Set in northern Kenya, Samburu is home to rare and unique wildlife species not found elsewhere—the Samburu Special Five.

Highlights:

View Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk, and Beisa oryx.

Discover the Ewaso Ng’iro River, a hub for elephants and crocodiles.

Meet the vibrant Samburu people and learn about their culture.

Best Time to Visit: January – March, July – October

Aberdare National Park

Why Go: A misty, mountainous retreat filled with waterfalls and deep forests, this park is a refreshing alternative to the savannah.

Highlights:

Stay at Treetops Lodge, where Queen Elizabeth II became queen.

Spot rare bongo antelopes and elusive black leopards.

Trout fishing and scenic hikes to Karuru Falls.

Best Time to Visit: June to September

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Why Go: A model for conservation, Ol Pejeta is home to the last two northern white rhinos on Earth and the only chimpanzee sanctuary in Kenya.

Highlights:

Visit Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

Join night game drives to spot hyenas and leopards.

Participate in lion tracking and guided bush walks.

Best Time to Visit: Year-round

Shimba Hills National Reserve

Why Go: Close to Kenya’s coast, Shimba Hills is a rare mix of coastal rainforest and wildlife, ideal for those combining beach and bush.

Highlights:

See sable antelopes—found nowhere else in Kenya.

Hike to Sheldrick Falls and enjoy a swim.

Encounter elephants, leopards, and rich birdlife.

Best Time to Visit: October – December, March – May

Ruma National Park

Why Go: Located in western Kenya, Ruma is the country’s last refuge for the endangered roan antelope.

Highlights:

Spot roan and oribi antelopes in peaceful surroundings.

Take boat rides on nearby Lake Victoria.

Perfect for a quiet, uncrowded safari.

Best Time to Visit: December – February

Why Travel with Drunken Elephant Mara?

At Drunken Elephant Mara, we offer more than just safaris—we deliver authentic, eco-conscious adventures tailored to your preferences. From world-famous parks to hidden national reserves in Kenya, our expert guides will help you uncover the wild beauty most travelers miss.

📩 Let’s Plan Your Safari! 📧 Email: adventure@drunkenelephantmara.com 📞 Call: +254 738 450 106 🔗 Explore Game Reserves in Kenya

Final Thoughts

Kenya’s lesser-known game reserves and national parks offer a fresh perspective on safari travel—wilder, quieter, and deeply rewarding. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a first-time explorer, these hidden gems promise memories that last a lifetime.

Ready to roam off the beaten path? Book your Kenyan safari with Drunken Elephant Mara today!

For more information, stay connected with us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Pinterest, Threads, Instagram, Tripadvisor, YouTube, and Google Maps.

[im-poltergeist]

Towers and Thorns

Chapter 2

Lenses begin shuttering the moment that I step out into the light. My parents wave to the crowd that has formed outside the gates. I just smile, and breathe. Remember that part Victoria. I think to myself. Crowds have never been my cup of tea. But with my oldest cousins recent scandal it has been worse than ever. One wrong move and the reporters will write about if for weeks.

I continue walking along the gravel path towards the podium where an older man stands with his hands behind his back. He has two bodyguards on either side of him. Mum walks up the stairs, greeting the recently elected president with a handshake. He smiles at her with far too white teeth and bows down to kiss her hand. Next is my father and last, me. I walk towards him with a smile plastered on my face.

"Mr President", I greet him and extend my hand towards him. He takes my hand in a firm grip, a too firm grip. It makes my hand ache but I don't move a muscle. I feel Shadows eyes burning into my back as if he could sense my discomfort. The president lets go of my hand without saying a word and I move to the far side of the podium. Shadow follow suit and stands behind me. His frame is towering over mine and I feel the heat radiating from his body on to my back. It's a strangely comforting feeling.

My mother and The president hold their speech. They talk about how "We need to work together more than ever in these uncertain times" and "With this cooperation we will ensure that both England and The United States of America thrive towards a better, safer, future". I hardly listen. I may look in their direction and smile. But most of their speech fall on deaf ears. I am much too occupied with my aching right hand to pay much of it any mind. I massage the area between my thumb and pointer finger absentmindedly behind my back. That's when I feel a large, warm, hand wrap around my wrist. I twitch at the unexpected feeling before relaxing in to his grip. Shadow twists my hand slowly, checking for any serious damage, I suppose, and rubs the sides of my fingers gently before letting my hand go.

When they had finished speaking and had given the photographers plenty of time to take pictures of them shaking hands and holding their joint hands up into the air, they left the podium. Walking past me on the way to the garden. My mother walking first and The president as well as my father walking after her. All of their respective guards following close behind. Me, on the other hand, walk back towards the palace. It's not mandatory for me to walk with the president through the garden. Even if it would provide a good image to see me speaking with the president, it's best that I don't. You don't need to make a fool out of yourself, Victoria.

I walk down the stairs to the podium but as I reach the fourth step my flat slips off the edge. I feel myself fall forward, my stomach sinking. Two hands catch me by the waist and hip setting me upright on the next step. My eyes widen and I pause before taking the next step down. The smile gone from my lips. I gather myself again and smile towards the crowd outside the gate. I continue walking towards the palace. Back stiff and smile faltering.

"You okay", Shadow whispers. His warm breath hitting my ear through his balaclava.

"Yeah", I breathe and wave to the crowd outside the gate.

This is going to be gold for the news articles tomorrow morning. I can already imagine the headlines. "The princess of England, falling head over heals" and "Knight in shining armor, the princess saved by her bodyguard".

The doors closes behind me and I run a hand through my hair. Well more like half my hair since I used my right hand out of habit and the pain made me tense up. I turn around to face Shadow but he is nowhere to be seen. I swear to god, that man can disappear into thin air. Just as I finish that thought I hear someone clear their throat behind me. There he stands, with an icepack in his hand.

"Oh, thank you", I mumble, reaching out for the icepack.

"Ill do it", Shadow replies, placing the icepack on my hand gently and wrapping it in place with a piece of cloth.

"We don't need you to be all black and blue in time for dinner, your highness", he continued. He clearly didn't trust your medical skills. You suppose that he was right not to since your first aid skills consist of bandaids.

"Right, dinner", I mutter. As if a stroll in the park wasn't enough, we had to have dinner with The president too. Great. More opportunities to make a fool out of yourself. Exactly what I need right now.

"Don't worry, by next week they will have forgotten all about your little tumble", Shadow interrupts my thoughts. Do I have to add mind reading to the list of things that this man seems to be able to do.

"Maybe a few months ago. But after the scandal theres no chance in hell that they'll let this opportunity for more gossip pass them by", I sigh and look down at the floor.

Of all the things that my cousins have done. This takes the cake. My eldest cousin fell pregnant. Under normal circumstances this would be wonderful, but she isn't married. After a text between her best friend and her got leaked to the press, with a picture of a positive pregnancy test, the whole world has been asking who the father is. The most popular rumor, her own bodyguard. Which obviously isn't helping my current situation.

"Letting you fall wouldn't have been a good look either", He says, bringing me back to reality.

"No it wouldn't, I suppose. Im sorry. Im just under a lot of stress right now. Not that it justifies it", I apologize and take a deep breath. I glance up at him. His brown eyes looking back at me. His usually cold eyes soften ever so slightly.

"It's alright, your highness."

I sit in front of my mirror putting mascara on my eyelashes. My right hand feeling considerably better. Still sore but, considerably better. In thirty minutes I need to have dinner with the man who caused the damage, just great. I put the mascara wand back in its tube and stand up from my vanity. The lilac dress Im wearing slides back down my figure, the shimmery fabric contouring my body in the light. My hair is curled and put up into a bun. Everything is flawless, just as it is supposed to be. I sigh and walk to the wall mounted mirror. The gilded frame reflects the dim light. I give myself a once over in the mirror, straighten out my dress around my bust and wipe some gloss out of the corner of my lips. I take a deep breath and turn around, straight into something solid.

"What the-", I look up and meet a pair of dark brown eyes. The eyes are outlined by blond lashes. How have I never noticed that before?

"Better not finish that sentence. Would be inappropriate, don’t you think", Shadow suggests, the corners of his eyes crinkling briefly.

"Sneaking up on me isn’t", I ask tilting my head to the side and crossing my arms over my chest.

"I would hardly call that sneaking", he replies, crossing his arms and leaning forward.

"Oh yeah? What would you call it then",

"Checking up on you", he replies, grabbing my right arm gently. "How’s your hand doing", he continues. I clear my throat.

"Fine, a bit sore still", I answer. His fingers trace over the bones in my hand. I swallow and advert my eyes. They drift towards the opposite wall. Towards the clock. Shit.

"We need to go", I exclaim and wrench my hand out of his grip. I rush towards the door. Purple silk whirling around my ankles as I hurry out the door.

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Chapter 1 🌻 Chapter 2 🌻

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Authors Note:

Next part is out! Let me know what you think and as usual, feel free to point out any mistakes. Until next time! /Polt