#and he's finally a young master of a rich family

[joongdunking]

Joong is back with a new fanfic!!

Inspired by Garnier's sunscreen and Dunk's latest ig reel

"Why did my heart race when he smiled...?" "Now that I've met you in person... You're cuter than I expected" 🫠🫠🫠

[scarlet-star-witch]

The moon and his sun

Aemond Targaryen x Female reader

Summary: People would remember their story. Even decades after they were gone, Septa’s would tell young children about the one-eyed dragon prince and his sweet wife as if they were a part of a fairytale, too good to be true for the harshness real life possessed.

Aemond meets a young girl who quickly becomes his most cherished friend and changes the course of history.

Word count: 11.5 K

Warnings: Fluffy, Aemond finally makes a friend, characters will be aged up next chapter, reader is from a made-up house

AN: This is my first time writing for HOTD and I'm excited and terrified to share this story with you. I've had this idea in my head for so long and decided to finally get it out. Hope you enjoy xx

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Epilogue

~~

He was used to playing for second best.

In his short life he became used to disinterested gazes, murmurs of his supposed cold heart and fits of rage, avoidant steps when he passed, the curse he possessed as the scarred second son. 

But never from her.

She looked at him as though he put the stars in the sky. She looked at him as if he was the reason the sky bloomed with breathtaking colors in the early morning.

He felt himself unworthy of her attention and affection, something she was aware of, and she would hold him and tell him all the love she gave him was very much deserved.

It was a sentiment he always had trouble not disputing instantly. 

She made his miserable heart full. 

Aemond couldn’t believe his luck himself for the sun that entered his world and brightened his life. 

He never believed he was worthy of her love. 

And she spent her entire life trying to prove him wrong.

~~

It was a beautiful, sunny, cloudless day.

A day Aemond was dreading. 

It wasn’t often their family made trips away from King’s Landing. His father was King and most visitors made the effort to come to the Capitol and spare them the effort of a visit, but a sudden trip had their entire family uproot their usual routine and he found himself hating every moment of it. 

Being dragonless, he was left to endure the crashing waves of the sea that made his stomach turn. 

“This place is disgusting.” Aegon said the moment they landed on solid ground. 

“Aegon.” His mother admonished with a steady glare. “The Ixtal Islands are a beautiful place and they’re home to one of the most powerful houses in the seven kingdoms. You would do well to show them some respect.”

“Not like they’ll offer me anything of importance.” He muttered bitterly. Rumors had spread of his mother and father’s desire to wed him to his sister Heleana, his future already planned for him.

His mood was immediately soured at the realization that none of the beauties he saw on the Island shore were his intended, but that wouldn’t stop him from having his fun. 

“Why are we even here?” Aegon whined immaturely, making his mother suppress yet another eye roll in response.

“The Lord of Ixtal is an old friend of your father.”

“I still don’t understand why that demands my presence here.” Aegon rolled his eyes.

“Our council is in need of a new Master of Coin and your father is considering his dear friend. We are here for negotiations and our family is nothing if not loyal. Your father, our King, needs us.” Alicent answered shortly. 

Aemond was excited to finally see the Island he had read so much about. He knew their history, their riches and goods they traded with the entirety of the realm. The Ixtal Islands were the most plentiful and prosperous house in the realm and he was in awe to see his readings come to life before him.

It was the socialization he dreaded. 

Nobles would look at Aegon with respect, respect he didn’t deserve even being the first born son of the King. Helaena would be regarded with reverence, a comparison to the Realm’s Delight. 

But he was nothing more than a second son, easily brushed over.

Daeron was still just a babe, too young to understand the slight they possessed not having been born first, but Aemond understood all too well. 

Their family was escorted into a grand throne room and Aemond was in awe of the intricate ornaments that decorated the hall and he briefly wondered why King’s Landing was where the most powerful man in the realm sat when this place existed.

His wide eyes eagerly took in every sight in front of him, admiring how the vast forest behind the castle casted a mystical green glow on the room from the giant window sitting behind the intricate gold throne. 

“Viserys!” A cheerful voice called and for the first time in a long time, Aemond heard his father laugh, a genuinely delighted sound as he embraced his friend.

Aegon shared a brief look with him, his shock at hearing his father's laughter clear in the way he furrowed his brows in bitterness.

“It’s been too long, my friend.” 

“Alicent, always a delight to see you, my dear.” 

Aemond noted the blush on his mother’s cheeks as the charming lord embraced her. He shifted on his feet as his siblings were introduced. He knew what came next, the flippant dismissal was familiar yet it stung each time. 

He looked up as the Lord shook hands with Aegon and gave Helaena a polite nod, her body language giving him the signal she wasn’t comfortable with anything else. 

As he stepped in front of Aemond, he suddenly felt two feet tall under the man’s gaze. Until he smiled. It was a gesture filled with warmth he hadn’t been expecting.

“Aemond, a strong name for a strong lad.” The lord clapped his shoulder and Aemond felt his body straighten, his confidence reappearing the second he realized he wasn’t going to be passed over yet again.

He looked up at the Lord with a smile, feeling more respected by the stranger in front of him than he ever had from his own father.

“You remember my wife,” The Lord gestured to a finely dressed woman who smiled and bowed to them courteously. 

“My son and-” The lord stopped abruptly, suddenly noticing the absence of the person who was supposed to be next in line and looked to his wife who was already wincing, having expected the abrupt drop in conversation due to their eldest daughter’s absence.

“My apologies, my daughter has lived here all her life yet still feels the need to explore.” The Lady of Ixtal explained, the lack of anger in her voice that gave way to begrudging acceptance made it obvious this was a common occurrence.

Viserys laughed and looked at his friend. 

“You could not possibly think your children would give you any trouble, would you?” He chided sarcastically to the Lord who could only laugh in delight at his beloved daughter’s antics. 

Aemond watched the interaction with wide eyes, intrigued by the sense of ease that surrounded everything. 

If they were in King’s Landing and he was late to an event, his mother would have his hyde.

Suddenly, the great doors slammed open and an armored knight was seen running into the room, his hand latched onto someone small who was giggling in delight.

“My Lord, My Lady, I am so sorry, she wanted-”

“It’s quite alright, Ser Jerrod. I know my daughter could not have made it easy for you.” The Lord dismissed the unnecessary apology and smiled down at his daughter who smiled somewhat sheepishly as she passed by to take her place in line. 

She smoothed her hands down the front of her silk dress and stood straighter, putting on the air of the perfect and primed daughter, as if they hadn’t all just seen her enter in a tizzy five minutes late.

Her mother looked down at her and leaned over her brother’s shoulder to pluck a leaf from her disheveled hair. Her eyes widened slightly, fearing retribution for her antics, but her mother only raised a teasing brow, silently admonishing her. 

The girl brushed her messy hair off her shoulder and finally moved her gaze to their guests, a smile coming to her face as she met the eyes of the silver haired boy in front of her.

Aemond was rooted to his spot, his expression one of perplexed confusion. The smile she sent him, the gesture which was so simple - and usually faked by most at court - was blinding. 

He was taken aback by the fact that she hadn’t looked at the powerful presence that was the King or the Queen faithfully at his side. She hadn’t looked at Aegon, Daeron or even Helaena, the only girl close to her age in the room. 

She looked at him first. 

She smiled at him first.

It was a gesture that wouldn’t mean much to anyone else, but to him, it meant everything, it lifted the veil of neglect he was so familiar with from his shoulders, leaving him to feel lighter than before.

He listened as the Lord introduced his daughter and he ran her name over and over in his head, feeling his cheeks heat, a blush easily coming to his face as she greeted everyone, but her stare came back to him, smiling shyly.

~~

“This place is beautiful.” Helaena spoke dreamily as she took in their surroundings. 

They were granted leave to look around while the servants prepared to set up the welcome feast. 

Aemond couldn't take his eyes off the white sand and the crystal blue water. He breathed deeply, relieved to smell nothing but fresh flowers and ocean water and not the filth that permeated King’s Landing.

“Father should take over this place.” Aegon mused, earning looks of disdain from his siblings, which he easily shrugged off. “What? It’s much better than our shithole of a home.” 

Aemond rolled his eyes at his brother’s crass nature and kept walking, praying Aegon would somehow get lost or at least get bored of his company and leave. 

The sound of a loud laugh caught all of their attention and they walked their way through the lavish gardens to find it. Aemond suddenly became nervous as he saw the children of the Lord and Lady of Ixtal. 

The oldest son was playing some sort of ball game with his younger brother. The youngest sibling was reading quietly with her Septa. But the eldest daughter was nowhere to be found. 

As they stepped forward, the youngest son straightened and nudged his brother to stop. Catching sight of the young Targaryen princes and princess they let the ball they were playing with drop to the ground as they bowed respectfully. 

“Hello.” Helaena spoke brightly and the two young boys were helpless against her sweet nature and they both smiled and greeted her warmly.

“Where’s the other one?” Aegon asked rudely, looking around for the pretty girl from earlier who was missing. 

Aemond grit his teeth, praying Aegon wouldn’t drive her away before he even had the chance to speak to her.

“She’s in her tree.”

“Her tree?” 

The oldest brother pointed to the enormous willow tree behind them. 

He called out to his sister, alerting her to the presence of the royal children and just seconds later, Aemond watched with a slowly growing smile as a lithe form began to descend the ancient tree. 

She was slightly out of breath as she jumped the last few feet to the ground, brushing her already tangled hair out of her face as she practically skipped towards them.

As if her Septa’s teachings and her mother’s scolding from that morning had finally caught up to her, the smile on her face fell slightly, remembering she was in the presence of royalty. She slowed her pace and curtsied slightly clumsily as she came before them. 

“It is lovely to see you all again. I hope you are enjoying Ixtal.”

Aemond felt his face heat with a deep blush at the sound of her voice, the slight accent he heard capturing him instantly and he wished nothing more than to take the book from her young sister’s hands and demand she read it to him just so he could continue to hear the beautiful sound of her voice. 

“Your home is lovely. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Helaena spoke, breaking him from his thoughts. She moved towards the girl, the two of them engaging in easy conversation. 

Aegon began speaking with the two brothers, learning the rules to the ball game they were playing, the young boys instantly getting along. Which left Aemond to stand by himself. 

He shifted on his feet anxiously, contemplating if he should leave and find his mother. He’d at least have someone to talk to then. The pit in his stomach that grew as the familiar feeling of loneliness settled over him broke abruptly at the sound of the beautiful voice again.

“Would you like to sit?”

He looked up, his eyes meeting hers and for a moment, he wondered if she had actually been speaking to him. His gaze found Helaena who was now kneeling to talk to the youngest of the children who was mesmerized by her lavish dress.

Which left the oldest daughter alone and her gaze on him. 

He swallowed against the lump in his throat and stepped forward slowly, his heart racing as he took a seat on the bench next to her. 

“What are you writing?” He asked after clearing his throat, wincing to himself at the nerves that lingered in his words. 

“Drawing actually.” She corrected. “And not very well by the looks of it.” She shifted closer to him to show him the sketches in her notebook, the scent of lavender invading every one of his senses as her shoulder brushed against his.

His eyes looked over the shaky drawings of flowers and the willow tree she had been sitting in just moments ago. 

“They’re beautiful.”

She smiled and the sight was enough to leave Aemond thankful that he was sitting. 

“Do you draw?”

“No, nowhere near as well as you.”

“You must be shit then because these are awful.”

Aemond choked on his breath at her words, his wide eyes looking over at her in shock. She had a carelessness to her that he thought he would’ve found arrogant, it was certainly how he felt about the other ladies at court who were so brazen before him. 

But he found he could only feel enamored by the girl beside him. 

A quiet laugh escaped him, his stomach flipping in ways he had never felt before. 

“They’re not so bad.” He spoke quietly, his nerves reverting him to his bashful nature. 

“You’re quite the flatterer, Aemond.”

No words came to him, he was left to stare back at her, completely taken aback by her easy nature and blinding smile. 

She continued to show him her other sketches, the conversation between them flowing easily, something that Aemond had never experienced. 

Later, as their guards escorted them away to prepare for the feast, Aemond’s ears rang with the sound of her laughter, leaving him to hope he would hear it again before he had to leave. 

He spent the night with a smile on his face, behaving more animatedly than he had in all his life. Alicent had looked at her second son with barely contained emotion, delighted to see him so at ease. 

She was so caught up in her emotions, she hadn’t even noticed how his eyes never strayed too far from the eldest daughter of Ixtal. 

~~

The mischievous island girl was known to walk around the halls of the castle at all hours. It had happened so often for so long the guards didn’t bother to stop her anymore and no one batted an eye when they saw her wandering. 

She made her way to her parents chamber hours after she had been put to bed. 

She couldn’t stop the thought in her head and she had to see it through. 

With a smile to the guard at her parent’s door, she strolled in as if it were her own chamber. Her parents looked startled for all of a second before they sighed in resignation. 

“Shouldn’t you be in bed, Darling?”

“I was.” 

Her father huffed out a laugh. “So what brings you here, Troublemaker?”

She let out a breath, her shoulders straightening, as if portraying herself as proper would help her cause. 

“I want to go with you to King’s Landing.”

Her request did not go over as easily as she wished, she spent the next hour arguing with her parents, pleading her case. She may have overstated how much her decision to learn more about court, but her parents did not need to know her desire lay purely with her need to explore what the Capitol could offer. 

Her parents knew she loved to explore and the chance to see a new part of the realm was too tempting to not indulge her in. Her parents loved her more than anything, they loved and doted on all their children in ways that left Lords and Ladies from other houses to scoff and roll their eyes in disdain. 

They couldn’t say no to her. 

By the next morning, she stood at her father’s side as their ship sailed to King’s Landing, her arm linked through his, her head filled with the wonders of what this new place would have to offer. 

A smile grew on her lips as she pictured the shy boy who had complimented her drawings and her excitement began to grow. 

~~

She was more reserved than she had ever been as she sat beside the table of royals. King Viserys had planned an extravagant welcome feast for the Lord of Ixtal, his new Master of Coin and his daughter to welcome them to King’s Landing. 

She had never experienced so many Lords and Ladies approaching her before, giving her their hand to shake and curtsey before them in greeting. It felt as though she had never truly existed until she made it to the Capitol, where the matters of the court actually held weight and prospect.

Her father had regaled many a knight and Lord over the course of the night, leaving her by his side to sit quietly, the overlooked daughter. She knew the power her house held, she knew the reason most Lords gave their good fortune to her father was to ensure their trade routes would continue prosperously. She knew she was nothing more than fodder at her father’s side.

She picked at her food unhappily, contemplating her decision to venture so far from her home, so far from what was comfortable. Her eyes rose from her plate, surveying the large throne room before her, catching sight of her father in talks with a large group of Lords from around the realm. 

With a heavy sigh, knowing she couldn’t interrupt her father, her eyes moved to the head table where the Targaryen family sat. 

The head seat where the King sat was empty, he was busy at her father’s side. She let her eyes roam over the queen, taking in her quiet servitude and demure presence. Her gaze fell to the heir, Princess Rhaenyra sat with her husband Laenor Valaryon, her brows quickly rising at the sight of the brown haired children sat beside the silver-headed wedded pair. 

Her eyes fell to Queen Alicent’s children, a small smile growing as she caught the gaze of Princess Helaena, the quiet girl sparing her a wave to which she eagerly reciprocated. 

She was never one to fade into the background and she eagerly took the Princess’ gesture as a sign of goodwill, standing from her seat to make her way to the head table. 

Helaena beamed at the girl as she approached, oblivious to her elder brother’s lustful intrigue and her younger brother who sat up straighter as the girl approached. 

“Hello, my Lady, I hope King’s Landing is treating you well.” Helaena greeted the girl happily. 

“It is lovely, Princess. I am sincerely grateful to your father for allowing myself and my father to reside in your home.”

“We are delighted to have you.” Helaena assured her. She fidgeted with her hands for a moment, her face turning bashful for a moment. “The ladies of the court will be gathering tomorrow, you should join.”

“I’d love to.” She responded eagerly, relieved to know her newfound solitude would not be long held. 

“You should join us for breakfast as well. I can show you my collection.” Helaena added excitedly. 

“By the Gods, Helaena.” Aegon groaned beside her. 

“Collection?” She asked, staunchly ignoring the prince sitting next to the blushing princess.

“My insects. I’ve collected quite a beautiful group of them. I’d love to show you.”

Helaena had a lovely innocence to her she was powerless against. 

“I’d be delighted to see them.” She told the princess sincerely, hoping she had found a friend in the eccentric girl. “I’ve also heard wonderful things about your library. I’m eager to read the works about Valryian history and the Targaryen dynasty. There are only rumors where I come from.”

Aemond sat forward in his seat, his eagerness to interject himself finally coming to a head.

“I can show you to the library.” Aemond offered, finally making his presence known. 

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to take you from your duties.”

“You won’t.” He insisted, positive his face was blooming with a pink blush as her attention now lay on him. “There are many books that have not been translated, I would be happy to read them to you.”

He seemed to melt under her gaze that watched him curiously. 

“You would do that?”

“Of course.” He insisted.

“That would be wonderful.” 

He was thankful he was sitting because her smile would have knocked him off his feet. 

By the next morning, as soon as the sun rose, he was sitting in the library, anxiously anticipating her arrival. He didn’t have to wait long until the door creaked open and her eager eyes took in the vast shelves around her. 

She greeted him with happiness as if they were long time friends, causing his stomach to flutter in ways he had never felt before. 

“This is incredible.” She mused, eyeing the many books she had to indulge in.

They spent the afternoon together, her at his side as he read the Valryian texts of their history, stopping every few minutes to answer the many intrigued questions she had. 

Aemond was sure his face was on fire, he had never blushed so hard. No one had ever taken such an interest in him, no one had ever paid so much attention to him, no one had ever bothered to listen to him.

But here she was, this girl at his side, eager to know more, asking question after question, trusting him to give her the answer. As soon as he began to fear he had spoken too much, taken too much of her time she’d drawl out ‘tell me more’ or ‘what happened next’ and he was rooted to his seat, turning to the next page as he explained the history of the Targaryen dynasty to her eager ears. 

He had never felt so important. 

~~

King’s Landing proved to be just as wondrous as she dreamed it. Granted, it didn’t have the luxurious beaches or sprawling forests her home did, but she was just thrilled to be exploring a new corner of the world.

Aemond had quickly become her closest ally. He had taken to showing her every inch of the place he thought she would enjoy, dragging her along to the mazes of gardens, the weirwood tree, the luxurious Sept, but her favorite had to be the library. She had spent many late nights with Aemond at her side, perusing through the many ancient works of Valyrian history. 

It fascinated her, but she couldn’t deny she loved to hear Aemond’s voice as he read to her, enthralled with stories of Aegon the Conqueror and his two sister-wives, stories of ancient dragons and their riders, of wars long passed.

A week into their stay, as she broke her fast with her father, she was practically bouncing in her seat, shoveling her food into her mouth as quickly as she could, eager to get the meal over with so she could meet with Aemond and Helaena, the two of them quickly becoming her closest confidants.  

“Slow down, my love, you’re going to choke.” Her father warned with a chuckle at her enthusiasm. 

“Sorry.” She mumbled through the food in her mouth, causing her father to grimace at her very unlady-like behavior. 

“Your eagerness wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain Targaryen, would it?” He asked slowly, his knowing smile teasing her clear affection for the young boy she was growing closer to each day. 

“Helaena and I are good friends.” She shrugged, effectively dodging her father’s prying. He rolled his eyes and leaned back in his seat, watching her thoughtfully. He had no idea where she had gained such a witty mouth, it certainly wasn’t from him or his sweet, quiet wife. 

She finished the rest of her breakfast at record speed and hopped out of her seat, pressing a quick kiss to her father’s cheek.

“I’ll see you at dinner!” She called out over her shoulder as she skipped to the door. 

“Be safe!” He called out, but she was already racing down the halls. He looked to the guard at the door pointedly who nodded and trailed after the rambunctious girl. 

She slowed her pace once she reached the courtyard, suddenly very aware of the many eyes that would be on her if she was caught sprinting through the halls. She spotted a head of silver hair by the gates and she beamed, throwing all care out the window as she began to jog towards him.

“Aemond!” She called out and watched as the boy turned to her, his own smile growing at the sight of her. 

“Took you long enough.” He jested playfully and reveled in the dramatic scowl she sent him. 

“I’m not late. You are just an insane man that voluntarily wakes with the sun.” 

It was so small, something so miniscule, but it still managed to make his heart race. Knowing she remembered a small detail about him, no matter if it was something that was so inconsequential, was something he couldn’t wrap his head around.

He hadn’t expected it to affect him the way it did.

~~~

She found herself with Helaena in the gardens, finding any bugs she could for the enigmatic

princess. Digging a jittery bug out of the dirt, her nose scrunched in distaste as the many legged creature crawled over her hand.

“What is this thing?”

Helaena peered over curiously and a wide smile beamed on her face.

“That’s a beetle.”

“They’re not poisonous, are they?”

The princess laughed in amusement at the widened eyes that met her gaze and she shook her head. “No, you’re safe.”

The girl nodded and, though still on edge, was less stressed as she held the bug in her hands. 

Helaena, preoccupied with her own bugs, stole frequent looks at the girl next to her, noting the unease in her eyes. She smiled lightly and leaned in close to her.

“You don’t have to do this with me. I know not everyone likes the things I like. I can do this by myself.”

The girl looked startled by her words, a frown growing on her usually bright features and she looked down at the bug in her hands again, her eyes shifting from a look of disgust to one of determination, as if she could force herself to not feel grossed out at their existence.

“I like being here with you.” She said softly. “I don’t really have anyone else here.”

Helaena frowned, the thought of her brother immediately coming to mind and the smile that would grace his usually sullen face every time he was with the Island girl. As if she had conjured him herself, she looked over her shoulder, noticing him coming their way.

“Hello, Brother.” She smiled, though it was futile as his attention was locked onto the beauty beside her.

“Hello.” He spoke, though his eyes never left his sister’s friend. “What are you doing?”

“Finding bugs. Would you like to join?”

Helaena, having expected a ‘no’, given it was always Aemond’s answer anytime she asked him for help digging through the gardens, was shocked as he took a seat among them and dug his hands in the dirt before them without question.

The Princess watched with barely contained delight as her brother and friend immediately started conversing as if she weren’t there, the comfortable ease between them thriving. 

Usually she would feel slighted by such an occurrence, but rather than feeling ignored, she was happy to see her brother, who was usually so serious, look completely unburdened. She worried about him, about how tightly wound he was, but since the Lord of Ixtal and his daughter had come to King’s Landing, she had noticed his demeanor change, as if he could finally take a deep breath and release the things that so often held him down.

Aemond looked at the dirt beneath his fingernails and mourned at what his night routine would be subjected to, but he found he didn’t care all that much. The stolen glances to the girl beside him had all sense of propriety out the window. 

“Do you do this every day, Princess?” She asked the Targaryen who shrugged shyly.

“Most days. I find I prefer the company of bugs over people.”

The bark of laughter that left her had both the siblings smiling, her joyful nature contagious. 

Aemond was transfixed, until he heard his name and he was forced out of his daydreams. He looked up at Aegon who was standing before them, judgment painting his features.

“What are you doing here?”

“We’re digging for bugs, Brother.” Helaena answered innocently, her eyes thankfully locked onto the caterpillar on her finger so she didn’t see how her brother rolled his eyes in disdain.

Aemond glowered at his brother, his mood dampened, his protectiveness for his sister rising involuntarily whenever he was around. He hated seeing Helaena’s eyes dim with every one of his hurtful words.

The Island girl looked between the siblings, beginning to understand just how different they were to her and her own siblings. The more time she spent with Aegon, the more she disliked him. She looked back at Aemond and frowned, noticing the dower expression grow on her friend’s face, and she called his name. 

“Hmm?”

“What are these?” She asked, her dirt covered fingers trailing over the petals of the flowers in front of them, diverting his attention from Aegon.

“Marigolds.” He answered quickly, as if he wanted her to be impressed by his knowledge. “You don’t have these in Ixtal?”

“No. It’s a shame, they’re beautiful.”

Aemond bit his lip, his heart racing as she moved back to digging for bugs. He ignored the nerves that coursed through him and reached out to pluck the flower. 

“Here.”

She looked up and her eyes widened, her cheeks burning as he tucked the flower behind her ear, his shy smile mirroring hers, his hesitance clear, but his bravery clearer.

Aegon scoffed, rolling his eyes at the pair. 

The noise caused them both to glare at the older Targaryen, their eyes narrowed in annoyance. 

“You two are pathetic.”

“It’s not our fault your pea sized brain cannot comprehend the idea of caring for someone other than yourself.” She snarked easily, making Aemond’s eyes widen as he nervously looked between her and his brother whose face twisted in anger.

Thankfully, his brother was smart enough to know not to start a fight with her and he stomped away, most likely in search of more wine.

“You shouldn’t do that.” Aemond mumbled, his worried eyes lingering on his brother’s figure as he stormed off.

“Do what?”

“Antagonize him.” 

“Someone needs to knock him off his high horse. Why can’t it be me?” She shrugged, perfectly content to be the antagonist in Aegon Targaryen’s life.

“Because I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Why would anything happen to me?”

“Because… he’s… it’s Aegon.” He stressed, as if his brother’s existence was enough explanation.

“Yes, and he’s an absolute cock.”

Aemond’s eyes widened, not expecting the vulgar word to leave her lips. Helaena giggled and leaned into the girl at her side. His shoulders slumped and he allowed himself to laugh, amazed yet not surprised at her ability to evade him of his worries. 

~~

A body crashed into her as she turned the corner, almost knocking her off balance, but arms that quickly wrapped around her waist stopped her from falling to the floor. 

She recognized the boy immediately. 

“Aemond.” She greeted breathlessly with a smile. He pulled away from her instantly, taking a step back to create space between them, his head bowed downwards, avoiding her gaze. 

But she saw the tear streaks through the stains of ash on his cheeks. Her smile fell and she stepped towards him, her hands gently lifting his chin, though he vehemently refused and harshly pulled himself away from her. 

“What happened?” She asked, trying to keep the hurt from her voice at his avoidance, something she had never experienced from him.

“Nothing.”

“Aemond.” She admonished gently. She hated when he acted like this, so unlike the kind boy she knew. 

He kept his head down and she sighed heavily, crossing her arms over her chest. 

“I won’t leave you alone until you tell me what happened.” 

Aemond huffed and side stepped around her to continue on his way to lock himself in his chambers and wallow, but she was too quick. She grabbed his hand to stop him and pulled him back towards her. 

He spoke her name, the groaned pronunciation indicating he wasn’t in the mood. 

“I just want to go to my chambers.”

“Fine. We can go together.” She said simply and linked her arm through his as they began to walk.

Aemond let out a long breath, his annoyance flaring for a second, but the moment he looked over at her it faded away into nothing. He brought his arm that was linked with hers closer to his chest, as if needing her touch to soothe his nerves. 

He thought he wanted to be alone. After his mother had brushed off his tears and scolded him yet again for venturing through the dragon pit, he just wanted to wallow by himself, but with her arm in his, her steady presence at his side, he found he wanted nothing but to be with her.

Once they made it to his chambers, he reluctantly let go of her and practically slumped his way to sit on his bed, his head bowed down to his feet, his brother and nephews' latest prank ruminating in his head, causing shame and anger to cascade over every inch of him. 

“Are you going to tell me what happened now or am I going to have to force it out of you?”

Aemond huffed at her words and began to fidget with his fingers, focusing on the sand that lingered on his skin rather than meeting her inquisitive gaze. 

She rolled her eyes and moved to sit next to him on the bed, brushing the sand from his hair. 

“Were you in the dragon pit again?”

He nodded wordlessly and she felt something inside her clench. She would never understand the hole in Aemond’s heart, how his lack of a dragon made him feel so worthless. 

“They said they found a dragon for me.” He mumbled, causing her to look over at him with concern, her stomach sinking at the hurt she heard in his voice, knowing his dreams hadn’t come true that afternoon. 

She knew it could only be a cruel prank at his expense. 

“They gave me a pig.”

Her shoulders slumped, her hand reaching out to grab his, intertwining their fingers with an ease as though she had done it a million times before. She had only held his hand a few times and it made Aemond blush bright red every time, even now as he wallowed. 

“I’m sorry. They shouldn’t be so cruel to you.”

“They’re right. It’s pathetic, a Targaryen without a dragon.”

“Aemond-”

“Maybe I’m not worthy and I’ll never get a dragon, maybe that’s why my egg never hatched. I don’t deserve it.”

“Stop it.” She spoke sternly, gripping onto both his hands in an effort to calm him down from his ranting. “You are every bit as good as any one of them, dragon or no dragon.”

Aemond sighed shakily and moved his gaze back down to his shoes, feeling as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. 

“What if I never find one?” He asked quietly, as if afraid to speak the possibility out into existence. 

“You will. I know you will.” She assured him, though it did little to release him from his sadness. “There are plenty of Targaryens that didn’t claim dragons until later in life.”

Aemond gave her a plain look, to which she just smirked. Serves him right for teaching her about his family history. 

“Aemond, we’re young, we still have so much life to live. It’s not over because you don’t have a dragon yet. You have so much time to find what you’ve always wanted.”

The breath that escaped his lips left him feeling lighter, his hand finally gripping hers back, sending a bashful smile her way, hoping it was enough to convey how grateful he was for her. 

He didn’t think he could ever find the words to tell her. 

“You’d be with me, won’t you? For my first ride?”

“You would want me there?”

“Of course I would.” 

She smiled and he was powerless but to return his own. “Then I’ll be there.”

~~

Aemond’s glare was steady on his face, his eyes locked onto the Strong bastard that twirled her around. 

How dare he ask her to dance, how dare he touch her, how dare he make her smile.

His disdain for his nephews was clear, they certainly didn’t give him much reason to be cordial, but this was the last straw. Seeing Jacaerys’ hands on her made his blood boil. 

Those damned nephews of his had already stolen her away from his side that afternoon. He could only watch helplessly as she played around with the bastards and spoke politely to his half sister Rhaenyra. 

He almost resented how sweet his friend was. He loved her kind heart, he just hated when it extended to his elder half sister and her sons who he despised. 

He hated when Jacaerys and Lucerys stole her away from his side. It was happening more and more as they became closer. He felt like he was losing her, the more times she spent breaking her fast with his eldest sister and her brood, the more he dreaded every moment away from her. 

She was his only friend, the only one he felt truly understood him, or at least made the effort to. Losing her would mean losing the only shred of happiness he’d managed to find for himself. 

He averted his gaze from Jace and the Ixtal girl, the sight of both their bright smiles becoming too painful.

“They seem to get along well.” His father mused, prompting Aemond to torturously follow his gaze to the pair yet again. 

His heart began to race at the insinuation, at the knowing look in his father’s twinkling eyes. 

“Yes, he seems to be quite taken with her.” Rhaenyra noted with a loving smile. 

“They’d make a fine match.” His mother added. Aemond looked to his mother, betrayal in his gaze. His mother knew how much his friend meant to him, she knew someone so precious shouldn’t be shackled to a bastard. 

He refused to hear another word. His chair screeched loudly against the floor as he abruptly stood and made his way out of the room as if there were no air left for him to breathe. They couldn’t take her away from him, they couldn’t give her to that bastard. 

He raced to his chambers, hoping he was quick enough that no passing guards could see the tears forming in his eyes. 

By the next day, he found himself in the gardens, his eyes locked onto the open book in his lap as he read and re-read the same sentence over and over, his racing mind not allowing him to focus on the words in front of him. 

The dread he had been feeling since the night before had not dissipated in the slightest.

“Aemond!” 

His heart leapt within his chest at the sound of her voice. His hopeful eyes looked around the garden before landing on her and a feeling of lead settled within him, bringing him right back down to his dour mood as he noticed Jace and Lucerys beside her. 

She motioned for him to join but he just shook his head softly and moved his gaze back down to his book. 

He let out a long breath, trying his hardest to ignore the bitterness that grew in his heart, one that was all too familiar from before he met her. He startled slightly as a body slumped next to him. He looked up and his eyes widened slightly at the sight of her looking at him questioningly.

“Why are you sulking?”

“I’m not sulking.”

She breathed deeply, as if disappointed by his obvious lie. “Why didn’t you join us?”

He shrugged, he couldn’t very well tell her the truth about how he despised his nephews and seeing her with them was like a dagger to the heart, how he feared losing her, his greatest friend. 

“I didn’t want to intrude.” He spoke softly. 

Her eyes narrowed at his words, her gaze moving to the two Velaryon boys who were talking quietly amongst each other, their curious eyes occasionally drifting to her and Aemond. 

She knew there was tension among them, the way they seemed to side with Aegon and play along in the cruel pranks he would play on Aemond always made her stomach twist. She suddenly felt guilty that she had never considered how it would make Aemond feel to be forced in their vicinity after how they treated him. 

She turned to her friend and shuffled closer to him. 

“You could never intrude.”

Aemond looked over at her, but quickly averted his gaze, finding it just too much to look in her eyes while she sat so close to him. 

“You don’t have to stay with me. If you want to be with them, I won’t stop you.” He spoke quietly. The last thing he wanted was to make her feel smothered by him. 

“I’d rather be with you.”

Her answer left him using all of his willpower to keep himself from marching directly to his father and demanding a betrothal this instant. 

She chose him. 

No one had ever chosen him.

~~

She was bored out of her mind. With Aemond and Helaena gone to Driftmark for Lady Laena’s funeral, she was left without her closest confidants, leaving her little to do in their absence. She wished she’d been granted leave to attend the funeral with them, but her father had never met Laena and had been tasked with extra duties while the King was gone, leaving her to stew in her loneliness.

She was curled up on the settee by her bed, her sketchbook in her lap as she scrawled out an attempt at drawing Dreamfyre, to horrible failure. 

A soft knock on her door made her lift her head and she sat up straighter when her father entered. The look on his face made her stomach twist, dread falling upon her like a crashing wave. 

She got to her feet quickly, feeling unsteady on her now weak legs.

“Darling, there was an… incident on Driftmark.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat, her heart racing. “What happened?”

“I wasn’t privy to all the details but all I know is that Aemond has been injured.” 

The breath was knocked out of her and at the first sign of her face crumbling into despair, her father crossed the room and held her tightly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head as the first sob broke free. 

“Is he alright?”

Her father let out a long breath at her hiccuped words, holding her tightly. He knew his daughter had certain affections for the young boy, but hearing her now made him realize just how deeply she cared for him. 

“The Maesters say he has lost an eye.” 

A shuddering breath escaped her and she suddenly felt faint. She had no idea how, what could have unfolded, who would dare to do something so barbaric to him. 

The next days were spent in agony. She barely left her chambers. Every time her father came to check in on her, he found her sitting by her window, her gaze locked onto the horizon, waiting eagerly for the Targaryen family’s arrival. 

On the third day of her lonely torment, she finally spotted it. Dragons on the horizon. She was on her feet in a second and racing down to the courtyard. She was out of breath and disheveled by the time she made it, but her pace only quickened when she saw Helaena with her mother. 

She called out to her friend and Helaena let out a breath of relief when she saw her, her arms opening for her as she approached. 

Helaena didn’t let many touch her, but she was one of the lucky few she allowed. 

“Are you alright? Where’s Aemond? Will he be ok?” She fired off questions, not even able to get a breath out through her frantic words. 

“It’s alright, my Darling. Aemond will be fine.” Alicent consoled her, placing her arm around the shaking girl’s shoulders.

“Where is he?”

“He’s been taken to the Maester’s solar. He’ll have to spend some time there while he heals.” 

“What happened?” She asked breathlessly.

“What I told him.” Helaena interjected calmly. “He gained a dragon, but he had to close an eye.” 

She looked at Helaena with shock. “He… he claimed a dragon?”

She couldn’t make sense of the despair, relief and joy she had felt all at once. Knowing Aemond and his endless plight to gain a dragon, she knew he would see it a worthy trade, but the thought of him injured, permanently maimed, made her want to crumble to the ground below her. 

After bidding goodbye to Alicent and Helaena, she made her way to the Maester’s wing of the Keep. She was denied entry, but she was determined to not let it stop her. Each day, at the crack of dawn, she’d drag herself out of bed and, before even breaking her fast, would make the trek to the Maester’s wing and ask to see Aemond.

She was refused each and every day, but it did little to deter her. She kept trying. 

It had been weeks since she had seen Aemond. Her heart was aching without the presence of her best friend, without the boy that made her smile like no other could. 

On the fifth day of the third week, as she made the familiar walk to his door, the guard stopped her, as usual, though his words were different.

“The Prince does not wish for any visitors.” 

She frowned. It always used to be the order of the Maesters or Alicent, claiming her son needed his rest, but now it was Aemond himself refusing her. 

She couldn’t pinpoint it exactly, but she knew she had felt her heart crack in a way she had never felt before. 

She walked away from the door with her head bowed in defeat.

The hurt she felt mirrored Aemond’s own. Refusing her made him ache, but the thought of her seeing him as he was and looking at him with disgust was unfathomable and he would delay that inevitable despair as long as he could. 

He sulked in his bed, the dour expression on his face one that had been constant for weeks. 

His mother was by his bedside as she had been for weeks. He couldn’t stand to see her wince or her teary eyes everytime she looked at his ghastly scar. 

She had been trying, in no subtle terms, to get him out of the room, even going as far to bring up his friend, the one he longed to see yet dreaded ever seeing the same look on his mother’s face on hers. 

“It’s been a few weeks. She’s been worrying herself sick.” His mother told him, making his already weak heart more fragile. 

He stayed silent, his frown deepening in despair. 

“Aegon and Helaena will be heading out tomorrow to Ixtal. You should take Vhagar and join them.”

Aemond shifted uncomfortably. He knew his friend was leaving tomorrow, to visit home for her mother’s name day. They had all been invited, but with his father’s fading health and his mother’s refusal to ride on dragonback, it left just Aegon and Helaena to join the festivities. 

“Aemond.” His mother prompted again, the disappointment in her voice clear. 

“I don’t want to go.” He mumbled, one of the few sentences he’d managed over the past few weeks. 

His mother sighed in defeat and didn’t bring it up again for the rest of the night, leaving him to his solitude as he preferred. 

The next morning, Aemond lay in bed, the wound over his eye itching gratingly. He longed to claw at the wicked scar, to scream in anger, to enact his vengeance on that Strong bastard. The fury festered in him like the open wound on his face, red and flaming. 

The soft sound of his door opening and closing made him stir, assuming it was his mother yet again. As he lazily turned his head, dread settled in his stomach, his remaining eye widening in horror at the sight of her, the one he longed for yet resisted. 

She froze in her place at the door, her jaw falling slack, a shaking hand covering her mouth as a hitched breath escaped her at the sight of him. 

Aemond’s face twisted in agony. This was exactly what he wished to avoid. 

“What are you doing here?” He asked angrily, tears forming in his remaining eye. 

“I just wanted- I wanted… we’re leaving soon.” 

It was faint but he heard it. Fear. The stuttering of her words, the quiet, almost docile way she spoke that was so unlike her was like a hatchet to his heart. The look on her face was even worse. She could barely make eye contact with him.

“Get out.” He spoke lowly through gritted teeth.

“Aemond, I-”

“Get out! I don’t want you here!” He screamed at her, tears steadily falling down his cheeks. 

Her own tears began to fall, her face twisting with agony. He hated it. He didn’t want her pity, he didn’t want to see the disgust on her face that everyone would face him with for the rest of his life. 

“Leave me alone! I never want to see you again!” 

She let out a sob and turned on her heel, leaving the room with haste. 

Aemond slumped back in bed, placing his hands over his face, ignoring the way it made his eye ache, and he cried for what he had lost. 

Not just his eye, but his love, his happiness. His everything. 

~~

She stood on the balcony of the banquet hall, breathing in the fresh ocean air. She missed home. She had thought of this moment for weeks, had been eager and excited to finally visit, yet now that she was there, it was bittersweet. 

The sound of the waves weren’t as peaceful as she remembered. The food she ate wasn’t as delicious as she remembered. The music and the dancing wasn’t as exciting as she remembered. 

“Darling?”

She turned to see her mother approaching, concern written across her face as she moved to stand next to her daughter, her arm crossing over her shoulders, bringing her in close to her side. 

“Are you alright? I thought I’d see you dancing all night.”

“I’m fine.”

The Lady of Ixtal looked to her once vibrant daughter worriedly. She was far from the girl that had left all those months ago. From all the letters she had sent, it seemed her daughter was having the time of her life in King’s Landing. The girl she saw now wasn’t the one who had gleaned nothing but happiness.

“Was it not what you expected?”

She stiffened, the need to defend her friends and her new found home rising. “No, it’s- King’s Landing is lovely.”

Her mother sighed. She had gotten a short re-telling of the last few weeks in the Capitol from her husband and she was starting to put the pieces together. 

“I couldn’t help but notice your friend isn’t here.” 

She looked up at her mother, her wide doe-like eyes giving everything away. 

“Aemond?”

She felt her cheeks heat and she turned her attention back to the view before her, focusing on the waves of the ocean, mirroring her breathing with each crashing wave. 

“He’s not my friend anymore.” She spoke quietly through the lump that grew in her throat. 

“From what I’ve heard, it sounds as though he is going through an awful time, something no one, especially someone so young, should ever have to endure. People don’t exactly act rationally when they are hurt. It is easy to speak things that are untrue in that state.”

She stayed silent, taking in her mother’s words thoughtfully. It was easy enough to explain, but it didn’t lessen the hurt she felt. 

“You can stay here if you wish. The Gods know I would love to keep you in my arms, but I don’t think that is truly what you want.”

She let out a shaking breath, her mind a mess as she thought of her life in King’s Landing, of what she’d be leaving behind. But, if Aemond was being truthful and he didn’t want to see her or be her friend anymore, what would her life be like there?

“I don’t know what to do.”

“You’ll figure it out.” Her mother assured her. “Or else we’ll have a dragon landing on our shores demanding you come back.”

The smile on her mother’s face made the hurt inside her melt away slightly. Her conviction that Aemond would forgive her for her intrusion, that he would bring her back into his life and his arms made her hopeful. 

Her mother was never wrong and she prayed she wouldn’t start now. 

~~

She clutched onto Helaena’s waist as they flew on Dreamfyre back to King’s Landing. No matter how thrilling it was to ride a dragon, no matter that she felt as light as a feather, that she could touch the clouds and feel as though she was in a magical, untouchable realm, it felt wrong. 

Her first ride shouldn’t have belonged to Helaena, it shouldn’t have been with Dreamfyre. It wasn’t what she promised. 

As they dismounted, Helaena’s hand held hers and stayed, holding tightly as they made their way from the dragonpit to the Keep, as if knowing her friend needed the comfort. 

As they parted, Helaena promised she’d spend the day with her tomorrow, knowing she needed the distraction from Aemond.

She smiled, though it wasn’t as bright as usual, and with a wave, they parted. She stepped into her chambers and sighed heavily, mourning what her time in King’s Landing would hold. 

She moved to her bed, content to hide under the covers for the rest of the day, but she stopped, noticing a bundle of flowers on her desk. She frowned, she certainly hadn’t put them there before she left. 

She stepped closer, her fingers gently tracing along the soft petals. They were perfectly bloomed and freshly plucked, most likely just placed on her desk mere minutes before she arrived. 

It suddenly struck her. 

They were marigolds. 

She remembered the flower Aemond had tucked behind her ear, the ones he would bring her on occasion simply because he knew she was fond of them. 

Her heart began to race, her stomach flipping at the merest notion that it could’ve been from her best friend. She picked up the bundle, inhaling their fresh scent with a small smile. 

She noticed the slip of parchment below them, the simple words in familiar handwriting brought tears to her eyes. 

I am deeply, truly sorry.

I didn’t mean a word of what I said

Please forgive me

- Your Aemond

Her breath hitched, her chest feeling tight with sorrow. 

The words he had screamed at her that day hurt her deeply, yet the thought of not having Aemond by her side, not having him as her friend, was unfathomable.

She spent the remainder of the day in her chambers, picking sparsely at the food her father had sent to her, knowing she wanted her solitude. By the next morning, having thought of nothing but Aemond all night, she was determined to see the end of their rift.

She dressed quickly and stepped out of her chambers, determined to march her way straight to Aemond, but she was stopped by her guard.

“The Prince has requested your presence in the gardens.” 

The crease in her brow that signaled her determination smoothed out, leaving nothing but hopeful nervousness as she quickly made her way through the halls of the Keep. She ignored the looks of disdain from the ladies of the court as she raced past them, ignoring the whispers of her undignified behavior. 

They were the last things on her mind.

Her heart was racing within her chest as she approached the gardens. She walked the familiar path, one she had taken countless times, to get to their usual meeting spot. Her feet came to an abrupt stop as she turned the last corner and saw him sitting on their bench, the one they always congregated to over the months together. 

Nervous butterflies fluttered within her as she approached him. 

She called out to him softly, cursing herself for how her voice shook in hopeful anticipation. 

Aemond turned to face her and she was shocked to see the eyepatch across his face, covering the angry looking wound she had seen that morning in his chambers. 

Her heart ached at the sight of the red scar that peeked out from the patch. It looked painful and the reminder of what he had gone through, what his own nephew had inflicted on him made her want to cry. 

He spoke her name in greeting, giving her a small, weak smile. He winced slightly, the pull of his cheeks causing his scar to flair with pain. 

Her chest tightened at the sight of him. He seemed smaller, as if he sat hunched over, trying hard not to take up too much space in the world. 

“I’m sorry.” She blurted out before he could speak. He looked up at her incredulously, his stomach twisting at the despair he saw on her face. “I shouldn’t have just barged into your chambers. I knew you wanted privacy and I ignored your wishes and I’m sorry. I never meant-”

Aemond spoke her name breathlessly, stopping her rambling apology. He had never seen her so frantic before, it was unnerving to him, nothing at all like the lively girl he was used to. And it was his fault.

“You don’t have to apologize.” He told her softly. He looked down at his hands that fidgeted in his lap, shame overcoming him as he thought back to that day, when he had yelled at her so callously. He had replayed that moment over and over again in his head for days and it was torturous each time. 

He couldn’t get the sight of her tears out of his head. To know he was the cause was his greatest shame. 

“I’m sorry.” He spoke earnestly, looking her in the eyes intently, hoping she would believe him. “I never should have spoken to you that way. I’m so sorry I made you cry. I never will again, I promise.” 

She let out a long breath, his words stirring something inside her she couldn’t recognize.

He frowned deeply at her lack of reaction, shuffling over and patted the space next to him on the bench, motioning for her to take a seat beside him. 

She moved slowly, hesitantly taking her seat next to him. 

“I’ve never seen you that angry before.” She spoke, her voice barely more than a whisper as she recalled that dreadful day. 

Aemond sighed and bowed his head. 

“I…” He started but soon found he had no words, no excuses for how he had treated her. Nothing would ever make it ok, never to her. “I hated to see you look at me like that.” Was the only thing he could think to say.

“Like what?”

“Like you were horrified of me.”

“I was horrified.” She said and he felt his insides turn to stone, his throat tightening with emotion. “But not of you. Never of you.” She added quickly, causing him to look over at her, his eye wide and shining with unshed tears. 

“But-”

“Aemond, the thought of what happened to you, the thought of you in pain… it hurts me.” 

The vice around his heart lifted instantly. His mind was spinning with the insinuation of her words.

“You… you’re not-”

She reached out, taking his hand in hers, causing words to fail him.

“I could never be afraid of you. I could never feel disgusted by you, I could never think any less of you, or whatever other horrible thing you think I feel for you now. No scar will change how I care for you.”

The weight that had been suffocating him for weeks now seemed to lift just the slightest, allowing him to feel as though he could finally take a breath. 

He let out a shaking breath and tightened his hand in hers. She smiled softly and leaned in closer to his side, letting her head fall to his shoulder, letting him revel in her closeness.

He hated the stares he got from the ladies at court, he hated the winces, the horrified gasps as he passed them. He hated the worried looks he received, as if he was seconds away from collapsing like a weak mannered child. 

But none of it mattered. 

She still cared for him, she was still by his side, her hand in his.

Even the burning fury he held for his nephew seemed dim in the wake of the pure delight he felt in her presence.

“But, if you ever raise your voice to me like that again I will smack you.” 

Her threat, that held no anger in the slightest, made him laugh and duck his head against hers as his body shook with each breath of laughter. 

His first laugh since the incident. 

From then, they were closer than ever. One was seldom seen without the other at their side. 

The Ladies at court through the two of them were just about the most darling thing they had ever seen. Yet, not everyone was rooting for the threads of young love to flourish. 

Alicent watched her son in the training yard with a frown. Her second son, so dutiful and so smart, was becoming distracted. Her eyes never strayed from him as he neglected his own lessons to play around with his friend, watching with a scowl as the two of them laughed together, as if there was no care in the world.

The sight of the young girl in the training yard was enough to leave her appalled, but her son’s willingness to indulge in such unseemly behavior was worrying. 

“We cannot let this go any further.” Her father spoke from beside her. 

“I can’t very well tell him he cannot be her friend. It would devastate him.”

“Let them be friends, but make it clear that is all it will ever be. Aemond can’t get any ideas about marrying this girl.”

Alicent chewed on her lower lip anxiously. The thought of tearing her son away from such happiness turned her stomach, but the thought of him marrying a girl so unpredictable was just as unfortunate. 

“Would it really be so bad? We could gain leverage with her father.”

“Ixtal is a neutral house. They have never taken a stand in any war, that won’t change now. We cannot risk Aemond allying with a house that could not give us leverage for Aegon’s claim.” Otto hissed angrily. 

Alicent wrapped her arms around herself, her eyes falling back to her son, taking in the sight of his smile while she still could. She doubted it would be a common sight once he was forced away from the Island girl. 

But they all had a duty to perform.

~~

Her arm was looped through his as he guided her past the dragon pit. 

“Where are we going?” She asked, looking over her shoulder at the structure that housed the mighty Targaryen dragons they had just passed. 

“Vhagar doesn’t stay there. She doesn’t fit.” Aemond explained, a slightly smug smirk crossing his features as he subtly boasted about his newly claimed dragon.

Her smile twitched slightly, her nerves suddenly overtaking her. She’d been hesitant when Aemond offered to introduce her to his mount, but the reminder of the great beast’s sheer size had the beginnings of fear creeping through her veins. 

Noticing the subtle shift in her expression, Aemond tightened his grip on her arm. 

“I would never put you in danger.” He assured her. “Vhagar is bonded to me, she can feel what I feel for you and she would never hurt you.”

“If I could hear that directly from Vhagar I might be able to breathe properly.” 

Aemond snickered and led her forward excitedly. 

Soon, they arrived at the crest of the hill, Vhagar’s enormous form coming into view. A shuddering breath escaped her when she came face to face with the historic dragon that fought in wars long before her time. 

She could barely comprehend such a beast of her size existed among them, that the sweet boy beside her commanded her or even willingly approached her. 

“Relax.” Aemond told her softly, moving out of her hold so his hand could take hers, intertwining their fingers. 

The pair of them stepped towards the sleeping giant. She watched, mystified, as Aemond spoke a few words of Valaryian, the dragon's eyes sleepily opening, her large head lifting towards them. 

She felt her body freeze, the blood in her veins running cold as the mighty dragon looked past her rider, her curious gaze landing on her. A low rumble shook the ground, Vhagar’s protest to the stranger before her. 

Aemond soothed his dragon, placing an affectionate hand on her snout as he spoke soft commands. 

She doubted a few measly words would suddenly convince Vhagar that she wasn’t a tasty snack, but she could only watch, her eyes widening as the dragon became disinterested by her presence, laying her head back down on the warm grass she had been slumbering on. 

Aemond looked over his shoulder at her prone form several feet back and smiled, motioning her to come closer. 

She shook her head adamantly, her feet frozen in place. 

He spoke her name, holding his hand out to her. 

She looked to his hand and then to his dragon and back again, contemplating the risk to her life. 

“Do you trust me?” Aemond asked and her tense shoulders sagged. She had no reason to doubt her best friend. With one look in his eye, she knew he would never let any harm come to her. 

She took slow steps forward, her fear not allowing her to move any quicker. 

She reached out and took Aemond’s hand in hers as soon as she was close enough, holding on tightly.

“It’s alright.” He assured her. 

He guided her hand toward Vhagar, watching the girl beside him closely, gaging every expression that crossed her face in a matter of seconds. From fear, to doubt, to disbelief and suddenly to awe. 

A shaky laugh left her lips as her hand softly rested on the rough scales of Vhagar’s side. Pure delight was etched across her face as she pet the mighty beast as if she were nothing more than a house cat. Aemond saw how excited she got when one of the many stray cats that roamed Flea Bottom ventured their way into the Keep. 

The excited smile she wore now as she pet his dragon was the same one he saw when she would cradle those strays. 

The thought made him laugh and he leaned in close to her, letting his head rest against hers. 

Seeing her now, fearless by his mount’s side, only confirmed what he already knew. 

She was meant to be with dragons. Meant to be with him. 

~~

I will hopefully have the next chapter out within the next couple of days! And yes, every chapter is going to be long, I have no control. Hope you liked it xx

[fawninthesnow]

𝐀𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐞: 1 | Maternal! figure | Caracalla & Geta

Summary: You visit the young princes in the palace.

Warnings: Fluff, (slight) angst

Work count: 400~

a/n: Keep in mind they are around 14-16 here and orphaned already. After looking through some deleted scenes from the script, I found that all the boys want is to be adopted and loved. Here is something short for that with the holidays and all.

More on my Master list! + follow & like pls

Caracalla hovered over his brother's slumbering form in bed and gently shook his arm. “Is she coming?” The young man nudged him harder. “Are you awake?”

Geta groaned and turned over. “I am now.”

“Is she coming?”

“She said she would, but I am unsure.” He groaned in the dark of his bedroom. He reached for a candle, “You need to go back to bed. Come on.” Caracalla trailed behind his brother as they made their way down the hall. A noise emanating from the emperor’s foyer piqued their interest. The two boys cautiously approached the source of the sound.

You stood in front of the fire, removing the fur coat from your back. “Yes, that would be perfect.” You replied as a servant offered tea. “Are the boys asleep?” The two peeked into the room from the corridor.

“Yes, the princes are still in their beds.”

“She is here early.” Caracalla whispered with a giggle.

“I can hear you two.” Your voice was rich and velvety as you called the two out. The two brothers stepped out from the shadow of the pillars. “Come here.”

                                                          ****

You held Geta to your bosom as Caracalla lay on your lap. Your fingertips buried in the eldest son’s hair; your opposite hand rubbed Caracalla’s back. “They treat us like we are our father.” Geta murmured.

“The people of Rome should be grateful for you two.” Caracalla turned up, staring at you. “Rome, she will soon see, my boys.”

Geta closed his eyes, breathing in the sweet aroma of lilies and vanilla that surrounded you. Your skin was smooth and sun-kissed, reminiscent of freshly harvested honey. Caracalla nestled against your thigh, soaking in the warmth emanating from you. “The people are now celebrating with their families.”

“Yes, the winter solstice.” Caracalla leaned close, speaking softly into your clothing. Meanwhile, his brother stepped outside onto the open veranda, gazing down at the bustling city square below. The square was alive with people—some joyful, some inebriated, and others lost in dance.

“You both used to celebrate with your parents, yes?” The two went silent. Your fingertips cupped Caracalla’s face. “Well, you can celebrate with me.” Geta accepted your soft gaze finally, looking into your eyes. “Ah, I nearly forgot. I brought gifts from home!” You stood and Caracalla followed you.

From your trunk, you take out a few velvet boxes. “I, I have been reading your…your letter at night.” Caracalla fished for a worn paper from his robe.

“Aren’t you cute…” You present the two of them with a variety of gifts. “I have missed you both so much.”

Part 2 <3 Happy holidays, everyone!!

More on my Master list!

follow & like pls

[i-suggest-scumplane]

Shang Qinghua fixes everything at the tender age of 10

Au where Shang Qinghua doesn’t have a system and decides to take out the plot by its roots, starting with Shen Jiu, then going to Tianlang jun, then finally moving far away and living in peace

The only problem is that he’s physically only a year older than Shen Jiu and while he not so luckily didn’t have parents to stop him from trying, he didn’t think he could break Shen Jiu out of the Qiu manor without getting caught and becoming a slave himself, but with every passing year Shen Jiu’s trauma grows deeper and more difficult to heal and he doesn’t want to just sit and wait until Shen Jiu murders his master and burns everything down!

And so he decides to play the long game. He moves to the town closest to the Qiu manor (not to difficult to do without parents or belongings to move) at around 9 and starts essentially stalking Shen Jiu so he can pretend to run into the boy so they can talk and he can eventually earn the boys trust

He finds the best times to find him alone outside are when he’s running errands or cleaning his wounds (which he has to do outside so that Qiu Huaitang doesn’t see). Shang Qinghua tries to find medicine for Shen Jiu but cant find any that are easy to steal so he settles for helping Shen Jiu with his bandages except he had never bandaged a wound before and he didn’t want to make the wound worse so he ties it way to loose and Shen Jiu has to redo it. This confuses the hell out of Shen Jiu who’s like “why did you offer to help if you don’t know how?” And Shang Qinghua’s like “well I didn’t want to not help! We street rats need to look out for eachother,” and Shen Jiu looks at him like he’s insane before leaving.

Shang Qinghua continues to try and help, or at least be moral support, and also starts joining Shen Jiu at the markets and helps him find the items on his list. This is something he can finally actually do because he memorized the layout of the market out of pure boredom (all the vendors hate him but they’ve never caught him stealing so they don’t put in the effort to keep throwing him out) Shen Jiu is convinced there’s some ulterior motive, like maybe this boy wants something from the Qiu’s and wants to get in through their slave, so Shang Qinghua makes sure to stress how boring being a street rat is without company and how he’d do anything to have someone to talk to or even just pass the time with.

It takes about a year for Shang Qinghua to first suggest they run. “We can find a cultivation sect- I know Cang Qiong takes anyone with potential! They don’t do background checks either!” Shen Jiu looks at him like he’s an idiot

“You think I wouldn’t have tried that already? The Qiu’s have eyes all over this town and the surrounding ones. I wouldn’t make it far and they’d notice quickly because I’m never allowed out for to long,”

So Shang Qinghua is like “oh. Okay so can’t we just kill them then?” thinking he’ll just speed up the plot in that case. Shen Jiu is horrified, having thought Shang Qinghua had somehow been left unmarred by violence despite being a street rat- he knew how dumb that sounded but no one who’s been beaten approaches the slave of a Rich lord! But it turns out this guy has got either be dumb or worse, a psychopath whose killed before and is willing to kill again.

Shang Qinghua is quick to backtrack after seeing Shen Jiu’s face but after that night Shen Jiu can’t stop thinking about it. Because what if they did kill Qiu Jianluo, what then? Qiu Huaitang was convinced Shen Jiu was free so without Qiu Jianluo he could flee without issue. Sure his slave contract would probably be inherited by one of Qiu Jianluo’s family members since Qiu Huaitang was to young but there would be a window where no one would look for him. And if he faked his death no one would ever look for him.

A few weeks later he comes back to Shang Qinghua and they form a plan quite close to what happens in cannon. They wait until Qiu Huaitang is out then Shen Jiu will kill Qiu Jianluo and let his body on fire, if there is nothing but ashes left in the room they’d have no way to tell if Shen Jiu’s body was in there, then he’d grab steal some money and valuables, put them in a basket, walk out of the manor like he was headed to the market, and meet with Shang Qinghua outside where they would start walking to Cang Qiong.

It takes a while and they have to stay in a neighboring town until the entrance test, but they do make it there alive and better, they find Yue Qi! Shen Jiu holds nothing against him since he was pretty clearly trying to save him by working to get a sword and things get a fairytale ending, this post was to long

Unless you want to hear about Shang Qinghua trying to convince more mentally stable versions of Shen Jiu and Yue Qi to help him Su Xiyan and Tianlang Jun but that’d be another post entirely

[hannahbarberra162]

Long Forgotten Fairytale, Chapter 4 (Soft Yan Shamrock x Reader)

18+ MDNI | on Ao3

The other chapters

Thank you to @magnoliandew for the idea about the fashion show! Thank you to @moldychefboyardeecan and @gouraminnow and @alexa-yukiyu for reading through this and helping me name the horse :3 Also, FYI, nothing bad will ever happen to the horse. HEA = Horsily ever after

“Hideous. Next,” Shamrock said with a dismissive wave of his hand as he lounged on a loveseat off to the side. You were standing on a small stool in front of a three way mirror as tailors and seamstresses brought in garments sewn to your specifications. He had outfits made for you at least four times a year and oversaw their execution personally to ensure they were to his taste. He found that if he wasn’t involved, the seamstresses would put you in drab sacks that didn’t accentuate your form, which was of course unacceptable. Other slaves needed to blend in with their environment, for eyes to be able to rove over them without notice, but you were different. You represented him as you passed through the castle, you needed to look your best at all times and to be comfortable while doing it. Otherwise how could you complete your tasks well?

The Figarland family color was deep ruby red, but Shamrock didn’t feel that it did your countenance justice. Instead he had you swathed in green, which was much better suited to your complexion. This time, he was having your dress made for his 18th birthday celebrations. He would soon be a full fledged man, and the castle was having a massive ball to commemorate the occasion. Father would even be in attendance, for a portion of the ball anyway. Shamrock needed you to look as pristine and polished as possible for the event - which did not include an empire waist frilled frock in chocolate brown.  

Shamrock watched as another dress was brought in for you, a lovely princess gown with a sweetheart neckline. It was demure and well constructed, Shamrock noted as it was brought over your head. You allowed the seamstress to fuss about you without complaint, enduring as they continued to adjust the dress to your body. After a few minutes of silence from Shamrock as the sound of cloth on cloth filled the room, the servants turned you towards him.

“Is this to your liking, Young Master?” the chief seamstress asked, her eyes averted from his own as befitted her station. Shamrock made a circular motion with his finger, which you correctly interpreted to turn in place. He sighed heavily, sitting upright and rising to his now towering height. The other servants cowered and shifted backwards as he walked towards you but you remained in position, your hands folded neatly in front of you as you waited. Despite the fact that you were the only slave among servants, you were the only one not afraid of his presence.

“Acceptable. Leave,” Shamrock commanded. The seamstresses and servants bowed before scurrying away from the room like vermin, only you and Shamrock remaining after a moment. He circled you slowly with his hands behind his back, admiring you like you were one of the precious statues in the many hallways of his palatial home. 

“Do you find this dress suitable?” Shamrock asked, stopping for a moment to rub the rich green brocade between his fingers.

“Do you, Young Master?” you replied, waiting patiently for his answer. He frowned as he dropped the fabric back down.

“It is slightly less hideous than the other options. It will have to do, I suppose,” Shamrock replied with a sigh, giving you one final glance over. With you standing on the stool, your face was much closer to his own as you calmly watched him consider you. Shamrock had the fleeting urge to wrap his arm around your emphasized middle, and pull you to his front. Instead he gave you a languid smile as he reached into his pocket.

“You look rather…unadorned,” Shamrock drawled, his eyes twinkling. Since you didn't have a birthday, he decided to gift you a bauble on his own. Better to share the day with you than his fool of a brother. Shamrock pulled out a thin golden chain complete with a small emerald pendant dangling between his fingers. Your eyes widened but you waited for him to elaborate. Shamrock held the necklace in front of your face, allowing you to examine it with your eyes for a few moments.

“Thank you, Young Master. It is better than I deserve,” you whispered, your eyes entranced by the gem. 

“Move your hair,” Shamrock requested softly as you obeyed his command. He carefully placed the necklace around your neck, ensuring the clasp met with a soft snick. 

Though it looked rather plain, Shamrock had spent a significant sum on it. The chain itself was of course gold and the pendant a precious gem but the high cost had come from paying the Lock Lock devil fruit user to enhance the clasp. Once it was put on you, no one would be able to remove it except for Shamrock himself. Some slaves wore collars all the time, this would be no different, he had reasoned to himself. Just a finer caliber of collar, one that he could bear to look at daily. It really was a fine addition, Shamrock thought as you admired the jewel now flush against your chest. You shivered as he picked up the gem with one finger, testing its weight before letting it drop back to your skin.

“Change into your normal attire, I will remain here,” Shamrock said with a wave of his hand to dismiss you. He lent you his arm to step down from the stool, afraid you’d trip on the long skirt that had yet to be tailored to perfection. Stepping back, Shamrock gave you one survey before plopping back down on the couch, making it scootch backwards with the force of his fall. You bowed deeply to him before leaving the room, heading towards the servant’s antechambers that where you’d left your daily clothes. 

As the servant’s door shut softly behind you, Shamrock’s awareness prickled. Twisting his head towards the main door, Shamrock’s eyes widened slightly as he saw Father staring into the room, his eyes boring into his son’s. Father said nothing and kept walking, but Shamrock took the meeting for what it was.

A warning.

A few days later and the castle was abuzz with the upcoming event. Shamrock’s birthday and subsequent celebration was the following day and despite the late hour, servants and slaves alike were running about the castle in preparation for the event. You’d been sent to your closet early that night, Shamrock was anticipating a tiring string of “surprises” and presents and he’d be requiring your presence for all of it. The only thing that kept him from leaving the events or avoiding them entirely was the knowledge that you stood calmly behind him, tacitly reminding him to behave in a manner befitting the only son of Saint Garland and not the petulant child he no longer was.

The upcoming schedule made Shamrock feel restless, his leg bouncing as he sat during dinner. After locking you into your closet and securing the key once more around his neck, Shamrock had gone riding with Titus under the light of the moon. Shamrock naturally excelled in all manner of sport, fighting, and educational matters, but horseback riding was one of Shamrock’s favorite activities.

He’d gotten Titus as a young man, picked him out personally from the live auction. Father had requested Shamrock to select another slave for his retinue, but he hadn’t been interested. First of all, Shamrock had you for all his purposes - he didn’t need another slave - and certainly none as sloppy as those they saw at the auction. Besides, Shamrock wanted a horse all his own, one that would consider only him to be the master. He’d ridden all the horses in the stables, and for as grand and fast as they were, they weren’t his.

Titus had stood out to Shamrock immediately, his proud bearing in stark contrast to the various whip marks trickling blood over his fine red coat. He was huge - larger than any other horse for sale that day - and completely wild. Shamrock had nearly begged his father for the horse, warned by the current owners that the horse was defiant, proud, and would be difficult to train.

And he was - the horse was haughty, arrogant, and all around a pain in the ass. Shamrock loved him immensely.

Everyone expected him to whip Titus or starve him or engage in any number of cruelties that were used to break horses. Shamrock did none of that. He simply visited the horse every day, brought it apples and carrots, and treated it well. Once the horse grew tolerant of Shamrock’s presence, he threw a blanket over its back for the day. The next he added a saddle but didn’t sit upon it. When the horse kicked an errant stable boy, Shamrock did not punish the horse. Everything he did in the company of the horse was to put it at ease. Shamrock had it eating out of his palm within a week and was riding it the week after.

Titus liked only Shamrock but seemed to tolerate you well enough. You’d been in the background of every visit, inuring the horse to your scent. Shamrock had forced you to feed Titus by hand, grabbing your wrist tightly to remain in place as the horse ate apples from your palm. You didn’t put up much resistance, though you were frightened by the gigantic stallion. He’d even had a stable boy show you how to maintain Titus, though that wasn’t part of your regular routine.

The sound of hooves pounding the packed dirt was barely perceptible as Shamrock pushed Titus faster and faster over the familiar paths, jumping hedges and riverbanks with learned precision. Shamrock’s mind was able to calm when he was riding, focusing only on the path that lay directly ahead. He’d been trying to shake certain thoughts and ideas that kept cropping up - namely about you. How it thrilled him when he was able to make you smile, how soft your eyes became when you looked at him in the privacy of his chambers, how you’d read to him or tell him stories at night just as you always had since you were children, how he longed to smooth the slight wrinkle between your brows when you were unsure or frightened, how your figure grew ever more luscious by the day…Shamrock needed a few hours away from you to stifle these thoughts and regain focus on his training.

Finally, after a long and exhilarating ride, Shamrock returned his stallion to the stables, patting its red flanks gently as the stable boy took the reins. 

Despite his mind still mulling over the upcoming celebrations, Shamrock paused before bursting into his private chambers. A barely perceptible sound - the tinkling of bracelets if he guessed correctly - was unfamiliar and incongruous. He was glad he already locked you into your closet, it might buy you the precious few seconds you needed until he was able to kill whoever was lurking in his chambers. 

Using his haki, he felt the person inside was a woman, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t dangerous. Shamrock drew Cerebus soundlessly as he opened the door to his chambers, scanning for the threat. To his surprise, the woman was sitting on the edge of his bed rather than in a fighting stance.

“Welcome back, Master Shamrock. Care to join me?” she asked, her painted smile mouth quirking up at the corners as she patted his bedspread. Shamrock did not return the smile, nor did he resheath his sword. 

“You dare enter my chambers in my absence?” Shamrock said quietly, his angry presence filling the room without the need to yell. The woman’s smile faltered but she regained it quickly as she brought her arms in front of her, pressing her impressive breasts together for Shamrock’s perusal. 

“I was sent as an early birthday present by your father,” she said with a languid smile. Inwardly, Shamrock groaned. He couldn’t send the prostitute away without engaging with her in some kind of way lest he displease Father.

“Am I not to your liking?” she pouted, sticking her lower lip out like a spoiled child. This time Shamrock did scoff loudly. There was no way to avoid the scenario, so he might as well get it over with.

“Barely tolerable. Undress me,” Shamrock demanded, securing Cerebus back within its scabbard. This was some kind of test from Father, Shamrock was sure of it. He needed to play along, at least for a while, until Shamrock figured out his next move. 

“I’m more than tolerable , I’m the most expensive, beautiful courtesan-” the woman began huffing at Shamrock whose frown had deepened.

“A whore is a whore. Undress me,” he stated in a bored tone.  She flicked her eyes over him, clearly not expecting this reaction. She quickly shifted her gears and gave him big doe eyes, now playing the ingenue. Her shoulder slumped forwards in a show of submission as she tried to work her charms over him. Shamrock resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

This wasn’t his first sexual experience - servants and other nobles had been throwing themselves at him since he could remember. Sometimes Shamrock would allow himself minor dalliances when he was interested - as long as you weren’t in his presence. He’d gained a reputation as an excellent lover, though he truthfully didn’t care either way. But tonight he was in no mood for such matters and wished he could dismiss the woman entirely.

“Of course, Master,” the courtesan cooed, rising to cross the room to where Shamrock waited. His eye momentarily flicked to your door, wondering if you could hear the ordeal. He didn’t want you to hear him speaking so crassly but there wasn’t much he could do to avoid the situation. Her soft hands began removing his riding outfit, her garishly painted nails gently scraping his skin where it was bare. Your bare nails were clean and buffed, not needing a coat of red to make them presentable in his eyes.

“I’m happy to serve your every need,” the courtesan purred, removing his riding jacket and throwing it carelessly to the ground, running her hands over his shoulders and back. You never threw his clothes, Shamrock thought, you always folded them carefully to avoid further sullying them. The courtesan slowly unbuttoned his undershirt, her fingertips grazing his chest as she worked. Shamrock felt like yawning, the artifice of seduction had never been of interest to him. He preferred earnestness and awkwardness over beguilement and learned charms but he could work with nearly anything, he supposed.

Now half naked, Shamrock allowed himself to be led back to the bed, though he yanked his hand away from the woman as soon as they reached it. She leaned back, her nearly translucent robe opening down the middle as soon as she spread herself on the bed.

“How can I please you, my Lord? May I rub your-”

“By shutting up,” Shamrock replied tersely, pushing her back onto the bed. The woman bit her lips but nodded, removing her robe completely and awaiting his next move. Shamrock acknowledged that she wasn’t bad looking, she was beautiful as she had claimed. Her breasts were tipped with rosy colored nipples, budded in the cold air of his chambers. There was no hair on her body anywhere below her head and her skin was finely oiled and scented. Really, she was a lovely looking package and most men would be thrusting into her already. 

“Turn over,” Shamrock commanded, removing his belt from his pants. Perhaps if he didn’t have to look at her he would be able to stomach the experience better. The woman dutifully turned over onto her stomach and hoisted herself to hands and knees and waggled her rear end. He should have told her to shut up from the beginning , he thought.

Fisting his half hard cock in his hand, Shamrock began to pump himself in preparation for entering her. He didn’t really care if she enjoyed this or not, this wasn’t for her - or him -  to enjoy. It was just something he had to do if he wanted things to go smoothly with Father. Shamrock closed his eyes as he trailed his fingers over her soft skin. 

He tried to imagine something erotic, something that would make him want to pound into this stupid courtesan. He tried thinking of the other servants he’d had before, or even some of the noble women who were attractive but nothing was sparking his fancy. After a moment, Shamrock’s mind drifted to his favorite fantasy, the one he thought about every night - the one that featured you . In his mind, Shamrock would be alone in his chambers and would go to your door, unlocking it to see you shivering with fear. The fantasy didn’t always start there, but he knew very well what his mind would play next. 

You’d look up at him, your eyes wide with admiration, as he extended his hand to you. You’d take it and he’d pull you to standing.

“Don’t be afraid,” Shamrock would say. You would nod your head and place your hands gently on his shoulders, pressing your front to his. He’d feel your breasts and puckered nipples through your thin shift as you waited, licking your lips in anticipation. Shamrock would wind an arm around you, pulling you closer. Your breath would hitch and he’d see the raw desire in your eyes but the persistent fear you’d have to make the first move. 

“It’s alright, I’ll always protect you,” Shamrock would say, tilting your chin up even further with two fingers. You’d swallow but nod again, trusting in him completely as your lips parted with a small gasp. Shamrock would slowly lower his face to yours, kissing you softly. It would be the first time you’d ever been kissed, he’d teach you everything he liked. Your fingers would grip onto his shirt as you breathed quickly, your heart fluttering in your chest. 

“Just like that,” he’d murmur, leaning down to kiss you again. He’d move on to kissing your jaw, his hand coming to cup your face. You’d tilt your head to the side, trusting in him to make you feel good…

Shamrock felt his cock harden in his hand as he continued to stroke himself. If the sex was to be at all pleasurable for him he’d have to tend to the woman, he begrudgingly admitted. He found her clit with one hand and lazily started rubbing it while continuing to stroke himself  Closing his eyes again, he returned to his fantasy of you.

He’d sweep you off your feet and set you on the bed gently. Your brow would be furrowed, your nervousness getting the better of you. You’d never laid on his bed before and certainly didn’t have any romantic or sexual experience. He’d lay you down on his pillows then tenderly start to remove your shift from the bottom hem, running his fingers over your legs as he moved it upwards. Your face would be flushed and your chest heaving, even these activities would have your thighs trembling with anticipation. He’d ruck your dress up to your waist, leaving you only in your plain cotton panties. He would be able to see that they were soaked, practically drenched in your desire as you watched him with hooded eyes.

He’d remove his own shirt quickly, unable to bear a single more moment of not touching your skin. He’d place a hand between your thighs and gently pry them apart to slot himself between them, leaning over you once more to continue kissing you. He’d slowly trail his fingers up your inner thigh as you shut your eyes, the embarrassment too much to handle as your face flushed all over again.

Shamrock’s vision was broken as he heard a high pitched moan and saw the courtesan was now rubbing herself against his fingers. She was wet and wanting, her cunt practically dripping. At some point in the fantasy, he had started reenacting his movements in real life and teasing the whore. Deciding she was ready enough, Shamrock pulled her back to him as he aligned his cock with her hole. After shoving himself in, he heard a lewd low moan, making him scowl. He could do it, all he had to do was pretend that it wasn’t some random woman beneath him, that it was you. 

Shamrock fisted her hair in his hand, pulling hard as he began fucking her from behind. He smacked her ass a few times, eliciting a pleasure fueled whine from the woman. He wanted to do such things to you, he did, but not for the first time together. He’d teach you everything you’d need to know about pleasuring him. The slap of his thighs against hers had Shamrock trying to imagine you again, his eyes sliding closed once more.

But it didn’t work this time. Shamrock couldn’t block out the woman and focus on the one he wanted to picture in his mind. 

Her hair wasn’t the same color or texture as yours, her skin not roughened with days of hard work, her voice not the one he was accustomed to morning noon and night, her smell not of laundry soap and tea but fragrant incense from the New World. 

She wasn’t you.

“Get out,” Shamrock growled in the woman’s ear as he pulled her head back towards him by her long hair.

“Wh-what?” she asked, her face reddened from where he’d been fucking her into the mattress. Her eyes were glassy and distant as she tried to continue rocking on Shamrock’s cock. 

“Get. Out.” he snarled into her face, pushing her off of him. Her reverie broke as she fell face first onto the bed but quickly scrambled off, her face draining of blood as Shamrock’s haki started sparking. He didn’t need haki to scare the weak woman away but his mood was so volatile he couldn’t control it. The woman grabbed her robe not even covering her nudity as she fled. 

Shamrock sighed heavily and collapsed on the now mussed mattress. Rolling onto his back, he rubbed the heel of his palm against his forehead and closed his eyes. He’d be able to tell Father he’d fucked her, he’d completed enough of his duty. But there was a bigger issue at hand - Shamrock couldn’t ignore his feelings for you any longer. Yes, he wanted you physically, that was no grave sin. Masters often were with their slaves sexually, it was practically expected. But his feelings ran deeper and he’d been in denial for so long. 

Allowing you to speak to him. Having you watch him during practice. Changing his decisions for you. Keeping you safe from others. Changing your quarters to his room. The branding. Teaching you to read. Giving you new clothes. The necklace. 

All of it was one large sign pointing out his greatest vulnerability - you. 

Even now as Shamrock lay in his bed, his skin itched with the need to remove the scent of the interloper. He wanted you, not just in body but in spirit and soul as well. You were his and he’d be yours - there would never be another for you as long as he was alive. He could never articulate these feelings to you - you’d be executed and he would be punished, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t true. Shamrock wasn’t sure what to do about the revelation, his nerves already fried from Father’s “gift.”

Shamrock reached over on the bed and found his pants, putting them hastily over his legs. The key to your door laid heavy on his neck as he padded quietly towards your door.

Shamrock unlocked the door with shaky fingers, pulling it open slowly so as not to startle you. You were there, watching him with doleful eyes as you moved to a kneeling position in front of him. 

Shamrock didn’t know what to say, how to tell you that he didn’t want to have sex with that woman, that he couldn’t bear another moment with her when all he wanted was you in his arms. 

“Change my sheets. I am going to bathe,” he ordered. You didn’t reply, just nodded your acquiescence as you always did. Shamrock offered you a hand as you stood on wobbly legs, as unsure as a newborn calf. Once you were up, Shamrock left for the bathroom as he had said he would. Only now it carried the shame of retreat.

Shamrock came back after a brief bath and a change into clean clothes, pleased to see that his bed looked now like it always did, the interlude with the whore erased from his room. You were by the door to your room though you hadn’t gone back in, standing at attention while pressing the nail of your thumb between your index finger and thumb. Shamrock knew all your tells - you were nervous and scared. 

“Don’t be afraid,” he said softly, coming closer towards you. As he reached you he saw your red rimmed eyes - you’d been crying.  Shamrock wrapped his arm around you and pulled you close to his chest, your smaller hands fisting into his shirt in surprise. You looked up at him, uncertainty flickering across your face. You blinked rapidly and stiffened in his arms - he’d never made such a bold move before. 

“Do you desire this? Desire me?” Shamrock asked into your ear, his thumb roving your cheek gently. You bit your lip as a flush spread from your cheeks to the tips of your ears and you nodded mutely. Putting his two fingers under your chin, Shamrock was about to fulfil his fantasy when a knock resounded outside his door.

“Saint Garling requests your presence, Young Master.” Your breath caught as Shamrock held you even closer for a moment, squeezing you against him. 

“It’s alright, I’ll always protect you,” Shamrock murmured, kissing your forehead. Letting go of you, Shamrock put on his clothes unhurriedly, as if this was a common occurrence. In truth, he hadn’t been summoned by Father in years but it likely had something to do with the whore from earlier. Shamrock affected his normal bored look as you fixed his hair. All too soon, Shamrock was ready to leave for Father’s summons.

“I’ll be back shortly. Remain in your room,” he said by way of goodbye before throwing open the door with a flourish. A sinking feeling in his stomach warned him this wasn’t a congratulatory brithday wish.

A few moments later Shamrock was in Father’s office, standing in front of the Adam’s wood desk as he had when he was younger. The opulent office always made Shamrock trepidacious, as Father had always administered his cruel punishments within. Father was smoking his ever present pipe and facing towards the windows. Shamrock stood silently, awaiting whatever Father had to say. 

“Your toy is well polished, Shamrock.” Father let his sentence linger in the air, though Shamrock didn’t answer. He’d had enough conversations with Father to know he wasn’t done speaking yet. Pungent smoke wafted away from Father as he continued.

“It follows you about like a well trained hound. It wears a bejeweled necklace now, as well as fine dresses and shoes. It looks almost pretty, does it not?” Father swiveled to face Shamrock, a raised eyebrow alerting Shamrock to remain quiet.

“You didn’t even enjoy the whore I sent to your room for your feelings towards the slave,” Father continued. Shamrock’s mouth opened before Father gave him a look. “I inspected her personally,” Father said with finality. Shamrock shut his mouth with a snap, his hand unintentionally seeking the pommel of Cerebus.

“It is time to put away your toys. You’ve grown too attached to this one and spent far too much time with it. You’re a man now, not a child. It can’t be anything more for you than a pass time, a bauble to enjoy momentarily. Starting next month you will be training to be a God’s Knight. Your pet may not join you,” Father intoned, his eyes flashing with ill concealed anger. Father waited a moment as if in thought.

“Where shall I send it? Perhaps to Saint Sommers? Saint Saturn? Or shall I have it killed? It is not worth much, though it does have its charms, ” Father asked with a sickening grin, tapping his pipe against his lip. Shamrock kept his mask of impassivity on his face despite the anger threatening to consume him - any reaction would give Father further ammunition against you. Shamrock didn’t think he’d send you to any other Saints - you knew far too much about the goings on in his household. If anything, Father would kill you in front of Shamrock as a test of devotion. Father watched Shamrock intensely, setting his pipe down against the rich brown desk. 

“May I speak, Father?” Shamrock asked in a blithe tone after a few moments of silence. Father nodded as he sat in the fishman leather chair behind the desk. 

“You are right, it has outlived its usefulness. I would like to kill it myself before I leave for training. I don’t like sharing my possessions,” Shamrock drawled, putting all his weight on one leg. Father’s face split into a wide grin.

“Excellent. I await its head. It may live through your birthday celebrations if you wish.” Father said, steepling his fingers. Shamrock bowed and turned to leave - the conversation was over.

Shamrock left Father’s office with his back straight and head held high. He reached the closest restroom and vomited into the porcelain sink, the bile continuing to rise even after there was nothing left in his stomach. After a few minutes Shamrock rinsed his mouth and wiped his face on the back of his hand. Looking at himself in the mirror, he made a vow. One that he'd keep for a lifetime.

He would always protect you. He just needed to figure out how.

Taglist: @mfreedomstuff @rebeccawinters @sanjisleggy @nerium-lil @unwillingstars @ceramic-raven @retardhaven @srisshh @yunheadlings @dolychan @petuniasmd

[diariesofthelover]

Wayne Brothers’ Gala Girl

synopsis: Bruce Wayne’s galas are held every once in a blue moon, but when they did occur, every Gotham socialite was sure to attend. The eldest sons of Gotham’s favorite billionaire always wound up in some trouble to entertain themselves, this time the brothers’ idea of fun was a beautiful woman who looked almost as bored as them.

notes: Jason Todd & Dick Grayson x reader, 3rd person pov, little bit 🌶️, inspired by the painting above.

The Eldest Wayne brothers found themselves in the quietest corner of the gala, bored with no idea of what they can get into this time around to beat last gala’s “performance” as they would call it.

“We could set off the fire alarm,” Dick suggests lazily to his younger brother.

“What are we twelve? Most of the people here already think we’re still fifteen.”

“No, they think you’re still fifteen because you were legally dead for like four years.”

“Shut up, dickwad.”

“HER!” Dick exclaimed, “Her, her, her, her!”

“You were Robin not a fucking parrot, her what?”

“That beautiful beautiful woman right there that looks even more miserable than we do with those tuxedo vultures circling her.”

Tuxedo vultures was spot on. These rich pigs had her trapped, all trying to win her attention one at a time, attempting a better pitch than the last guy. Any kind of manners that were instilled in her from an early age couldn’t apply after the third man insisted that he was the perfect man for her, actually, the perfect man for any proper woman, brains or not. All of the men here were the exact same, they believed their money and family were enough to flatter any woman here, that having any form of a likable personality or distanct traits besides snobbery was, “not something women really wanted.”

The woman couldn’t control her eye roll after the second attempted joke was made, averting her gaze where her eyes landed on the two men who already had their bright eyes on her, Bruce Wayne’s oldest sons.

She didn’t have a problem with the Wayne Family of course, she was after all attending their gala, it was just some of the guests that she wasn’t so fond of.

“What about her?” Jason looks over to who Dick was fawning over. Jason wasn’t blind, actually his vision only got better after he was resurrected, he too thought that the woman was beautiful, maybe one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen, which is why he immediately shut Dick down, knowing what he was going to try to do.

“No, Dick. No chance, leave her alone.”

“I don’t think she wants me to,” Dick replies as the woman returns his famous flashy grin with a soft smile.

Dick had been trying to get Jason…well more out there after the whole dying, coming back to life, and then out in the public eye again thing. Jason died young, he barely got a chance to live his teenage years so whenever Jay’s attracted to someone, he starts acting like a teenage boy but at the age of twenty instead of sixteen.

Dick, make every girl swoon over him since his Robin days, Grayson mastered the whole girl thing by now and is trying to be his not so little brother’s tonight’s wingman.

“Follow me,” Dick whispers to Jason, not taking his eyes of the beauty across from him.

Dick and a hesitant Jason make their way over to the group of men that were all secretly jealous of their father, probably jealous of his sons too, interrupting the lifeless conversation and taking all of her focus off the vultures and onto him and Jason.

“Good evening gentlemen, how are we doing tonight?” Jason almost gagged at his at his brother’s fake politeness, he was always the better one at socializing, his charming personality didn’t stop at women.

“Richard Grayson, boy you’ve certainly grown up since I last saw you!” An older man around Bruce’s age greets him stirring up the rest of the men.

“Dick Grayson huh, pleasure to finally meet Gotham’s new prince.”

“I hear you’re very popular with the ladies,” the group erupted into laughter, these men really love any jokes to do with a woman don’t they?

“And you must be Bruce’s other son, Tim is it?” Jason’s takes his eyes off the woman to give the man a slight scowl, he promised Bruce he’d behave tonight.

“No, no, that’s Jason the one that…” one of the men tries to begin to tell the epic tale of Jason Todd.

“Say, we would love to stay and chat but our date has been waiting for us for quite a bit now,” Dick quickly interrupts him before Jason pulls out any kind of weapon on these men and offers his hand to the woman.

She places her hand into his thinking that she’d rather be a damsel in a in distress in need of saving by a knight, or in Gotham’s case a masked vigilante, instead of spending another moment with some men that are old enough to be her father thinking about how’d she make the perfect trophy wife and the younger who simply want to get laid after the gala. As Dick pulls her away from the hungry drunken men, she offers her hand to Jason who gives her a confused and flustered look.

“If I’m not mistaken, Mr. Grayson said our date,” she says to him in the most soothing and charming voice Jason’s ever heard.

Forcing himself to snap out of this teenage haze, Jason takes her hand earning a smile from both her and his brother.

“I hope you don’t mind us whisking you away like that, you just seemed like you weren’t enjoying yourself,” Dick started, never dropping his darling smile.

“I don’t mind at all, I needed an excuse to get away from them,” the woman looks back at the men as they watch the brothers walk away with their “prize” in envy, “god they’re pathetic,” she sighs.

“Tell me about it,” Jason mumbles beside her.

“All night I’ve been surrounded by these people that only talk about their money, their jobs, their mansion and penthouses, it’s a bit exhausting, they really can’t think of anything else to discuss. It’s fascinating that they really think that’s the way to win over a woman.”

“Well I can promise you we’re a lot more interesting than that,” Dick laughs, “We also have access to all parts of the manor, how about Jason and I give you a little tour?” Dick states rather than asks earning a questioning look from Jason about what he’s planning.

“If you insist.”

Jason knew how Dick wanted him to jump into the dating pool. He frequently tried to set him up with either other vigilantes so he wouldn’t have to worry about his partner 24/7, or an ordinary Gotham citizen where Jason could escape from Gotham’s criminals and Red Hood duties to enjoy a semi-normal life. What Jason wasn’t understanding was why Dick had a chosen a woman that he was madly attracted to as well.

As Dick began his small tour of the manor, Jason stood awkwardly alongside the woman who was attentively watching his older brother and the places he showed. Jason didn’t know if he should join in or take over, make some small talk, he was sort of frozen in place and shy. You’d think that the big bad Red Hood who always had a mouth on him since he was Robin and would break Batman’s moral code would be the last person to get nervous around a pretty girl, maybe Red Hood wouldn’t but Jason Todd would.

“And this is the library, Jason’s favorite place in the manor,” Jason was snapped out of his thoughts when Dick mentioned his name, “once he comes in here you won’t see him for hours.”

“Big reader?” It took a moment for Jason to realize that the question was for him and not Dick.

“Yea, um, yes, I love literature.”

“Really, would do you love to read?” She was now fully focused on Jason who was struggling to maintain eye contact as his cheeks and ears were colored red.

He couldn’t keep his cool physically but he could try verbally, “classics,” he responded simply, not adding more to his portion of the conversation to which Dick internally sighed to.

“Dostoevsky, Shakespeare, Austen?” The charming woman tried to get something out of the boy.

“All of them, and more of course,” Jason gave her a shy smile.

She heads towards the leather chair that Jason always sits in, making herself comfortable in his spot.

“This where you sit, get lost in all those stories you read?”

Something about her sitting in his chair made his blood rush. The way that she had made it look twice the size bigger being half the size of Jason, the way she relaxed into his chair, sinking into his molding. The boy was so mesmerized he forgot to answer her question.

Dick noticed and decided to swoop in, “Mhm, right here,” Dick drags now standing over her, “he’s a very smart guy you know with all the books he reads, runs in the family.”

She slowly shifted her gaze from Jason to Dick who was getting closer and closer, “I guess the looks do too, interesting for adopted brothers,” earning a smile from both boys.

“Excuse my brother for his shortness, we usually occupy ourselves with stunts at these galas, not beautiful women,” Dick says switching the attention back onto Jason, “he can get pretty shy.” Normally that statement would earn a punch to the shoulder or at least a nasty remark but Dick was right, Jason was pretty shy around pretty girls.

Dick and the mystery woman were now smiling at Jason who was leaned against the wall, close enough to where he can see the rise and fall of her chest, but far enough from engaging the way Dick was.

Dick gently tilts her head up with his large calloused hands forcing their gala girl to look up at him, “What do you think of my brother?”

Now it was the woman’s turn to be painted red, “I think he’s one of the most handsome and intriguing men I’ve ever seen.”

“And me?” Dick pouts.

“I think you’re one of the most handsome and charming man i’ve ever come across,” she says in a sultry tone that lures the boys in like sailors to a siren.

Both Dick and Jason’s blood is rushing, relishing in the fact that this goddess of a woman found the boys to be worthy of her attraction, that nobody else at the gala was as good as them.

“Tell me something, both of you,” she starts, “why stray from your usual chaos and shenanigans to show me around your manor?”

“You’re much more intriguing than anything we had in mind,” says Jason surprisingly boldly as he moves closer to her.

“You’re the most entertaining here tonight, baby,” adds in Dick who quickly got back his confidence after a brush to his ego.

“I heard I was beautiful too,” she teased, trying to get the higher ground again.

“I bet you get told that a lot, don’t you angel? You think that’s what those pigs were telling her Jay? How much of a pretty girl she is,” It was too late though, once Dick Grayson got wound up, he got complete control, “Now you tell me something doll, did they tell you how sexy you look in that dress of yours?” She shakes her head no, any kind of witty and teasing responses wiped from her pretty head, “Aw, well that’s just wrong, Jason tell her how good she looks in that dress.”

Both eyes are on Jason, waiting for his compliment, “She looks—you look stunning in that dress,” Dick was waiting for more, he knew Jason had the vocabulary he just needed the push, “You suit my color, red’s my favorite,” now they were getting something out of him.

“I’ll be sure to think of you when I wear red again,” god she was good. Dick had to bring the power back to him and Jason again, this all quickly became a game to him, his real entertainment for tonight’s gala.

“And what if we got rid of the red,” Dick slips the strap of her dress off her shoulder causing her to shudder, he’s in control again, “how’s that look?”

“Fuck,” Jason whispered under his breath.

“I think Jason feels the same way about it as I do,” with how quiet it was in the library his whisper was heard easily by the two, “what do you think pretty, you think it’s better?”

She felt like how Jason felt in the beginning, mesmerized and stunned. From Dick talking to her so confidently and his usage of pet names, to the way Jason was losing his fucking mind over her.

“Y’gonna answer me or are you gonna keep looking at Jay with fuck me eyes?” Dick wasn’t jealous, he was trying to tease the two, get them riled up.

Before she gets to respond there’s a knock at the door, “Master Richard and Master Jason, Master Bruce requests your attendance for at least another half hour.”

“We’ll be right out Alfred,” Richard quickly answered before Alfred could barge in on the scene, “shall we?”

Dick heads towards the door as Jason and their gala girl slowly fix themselves up, avoiding any kind of eye contact with each other.

Dick stops Jason before they head back out to the gala, “You’re welcome, Jaybird.”

[relenafanel]

The wangxian business proposal (kdrama) au idea I was discussing the other week:

wwx goes on blinds date on NHS’s behalf. NHS is going on blind dates on NMJ’s behalf. It’s trickle down economics of rich heirs not wanting to go on blind dates

They have this whole system where WWX goes pretending to be NHS, and is so off putting in various ways that the other rich families stop trying to set up their sons and daughters with the Nie.

NHS and NMJ are very grateful (NMJ for not having to alienate the other families by bluntly turning down their sons and daughters, NHS for not having to do anything at all)

WWX enjoys the scheme. It’s fun to act outrageous and get paid for it, and he gets a free meal at a nice restaurant + new designer clothes as a perk. Win/Win! (plus, he was raised as a rich young master even if he only gets to use those etiquette stills in knowing exactly how to break them to greatest effect) 

LWJ is newly returned from working at the New York branch; his return is heralded by LQR finally stepping down as deputy CEO and handing the position to LWJ. His first order of business is firing their chief financial officer in his inaugural speech for misappropriation of company funds. There’s a slideshow of how egregious the fraud is. It’s marvelous.

WWX has worked for Lan Industries for 5 yrs and has never seen anything as glorious or petty in his life. 

The Lan Industries board of directors is less pleased. This is the kind of situation that should have been handled quietly, but since this was the third time it was supposed to be handled LWJ doesn’t give a shit what they want 

Except he’s made life hard for his brother; LQR is told to find LXC a life partner. LWJ agrees to go instead, only to realize within moments that LXC played him into being social. Well, the joke would be on LXC because LWJ would just marry whoever his brother had been set up with and be done with it.

It goes like this: LQR reaches out to NMJ, NHS filters the request to himself, accepts it and sends WWX. WWX says yes, he has his next restaurant and outfit request already picked out. LXC also accepts with the intent of doing it on behalf of LWJ. 

LXC and NMJ end up being end-game as the secondary couple so this is huge irony.

At no point is WWX told his date is a Lan. Author personally likes to think NHS does it on purpose. NHS would vehemently deny involvement.

This is leading up to: WWX is sitting in the restaurant sipping on a lovely glass of wine, wearing a delightfully slutty outfit and nothing on his mind but what he'll order and that since he has no info on who his date will be he'll have to improvise. He hopes they're the type of person to be insulted by his outfit and not enjoy it. He does have some very boring outfits in his closet designed for people who would find a slutty outfit compelling.

That's all to say that when LWJ walks into the restaurant and is led to his table, WWX recognizes him as his very attractive and very petty boss.

Fuck.

Bonus:

WWX is still in his heterosexual era, which makes it a very big issue that LWJ tries to arrange marriage immediately. It makes it a bigger issue that he'd tried to get rid of LWJ by aggressively getting in his personal space and now they're escalating quickly past third base.

(LWJ is a secret third option as someone who looks and behaves as though the slutty outfit would be off putting but is deeply into it. WWX wouldn't have seen that coming even if he knew who his date was)

WWX is still LWJ's employee, and he thinks if LWJ gets a good look at work!wwx's face he'll know immediately. It's too bad WWX is excellent at his job and LWJ wishes to discuss his ideas. work!WWX starts wearing glasses, a known effective disguise. 

WWX doesn't know LWJ has seen work!wwx's face, has figured out the ploy, and keeps arranging office meetings for the rapidly escalating disguises (amusing) and excuses wwx makes (petty) and also because he enjoys being near him both romantically and intellectually

(basically things start moving very fast, wwx doesn't know what's going on but he's not having a good time)

(he's having a very good time)

Bonus bonus:

LXC and NMJ meet to discuss their younger siblings getting married. NMJ knows it's not actually NHS. LXC knows NMJ was who LQR originally tries to set him up with. The most awkward part of the evening is when LXC leaves the next the morning and meets the real NHS, and then has to decide how to tell LWJ.

[blackcat-star]

Lost Spirit.

Sung Jinwoo x Ghost Reader

« Chapter 6 ✭Chapter 7: Jinah's teacher.

________________________

"Where are we going?"

"To the bank. I need to check the amount of money I have, then we'll go shopping a little."

The first place Jinwoo and his friend went after leaving the house was the bank. He was curious about the money he got from the mana stones.

'I don't have the time to check it.'

Jinwoo left the management of the magic cores to Jinho. The boy said that the magic stones after each raid were sold out, and the money earned was transferred to Jinwoo's account. But he didn't discuss the specific numbers.

'Jinho, this kid. Always reports everything clearly. It seems like he doesn't care much about money.'

Perhaps it was also due to his life circumstances, but Jinho rarely cared about financial matters. The topics of conversation only revolved around raids, celebrities, music, or movies. It was the kid who started the conversation, but Jinwoo just nodded silently.

'Hmm, that's strange...'

Recalling the times he heard the 'storyteller' Jinho confide, the kid had never talked about his family.

Before he could think more, Jinwoo was already standing in front of the bank.

'Such a day...'

Today, all the ATMs were under maintenance.

Jinwoo and you couldn't do anything else. He picked a number and sat there waiting. Meanwhile, you kept complaining about how he had interrupted your revenge.

"Really, if you had let me play a little longer, I could have earned some more money for me."

Jinwoo's face was blank. "Really? It looks like you're constantly losing. Besides, where would shadow soldiers get money from?"

You laughed innocently, "Aren't they your soldiers? The money came from your wallet. As a good master, shouldn't you pay for them?"

Jinwoo: >:0????

"Not that easy!"

Finally, after a 'not too long' time, he was able to go to the counter. "Hello!"

A clerk with short hair and a bright smile. She bowed to him and asked back. "How can I help you?"

"Could you please take a look for me?"

"Of course!"

The clerk took the notebook from Jinwoo's hand with a smile. He looked around the bank while waiting. Even though it was a weekend afternoon, there were still quite a few people coming to do transactions. Meanwhile, the bank clerk was extremely surprised when he looked through Jinwoo's notebook.

'Oh my god!'

[Account Balance: 1,482,920,000]

She carefully read it again, counting each zero, yes, it was definitely more than a billion. And this book was not a savings book. According to the transaction history, all the money was earned in the past week.

'He's so young, how could it be?'

Jinwoo was also surprised that he could earn so much money.

Meanwhile, you looked at the amount of money Jinwoo had, your smile gradually losing its humanity. 'Hehehehehehehe, he's rich! I heard the food in the mall is quite good.'  You rubbed your hands together briskly, clasped your hands and made it look like you were formulating some kind of plan or scheme.

Suddenly, Jinwoo feels an icy chill run down his spine, an unease that settles in his mind and grips him with an icy chill. He had a bad feeling about something, related to his money.

Jinwoo turned to you, seeing your eyes looking at the passbook as if it were a piece of premium Wagyu beef sprinkled with gold and a 'free' flag.

"Y/N," he leaned in, his voice wary, "what are you thinking?"

You smiled, sweet as honey. "Nooooooo~ thinking nothing~ I'm just admiring your hard work!"

Jinwoo narrowed his eyes. "The kind of admiration where you rub your hands together like you're about to buy a three-floor mansion?"

"You're wronging me!" You clasped your hands together, then muttered, "But, a mansion doesn't sound too bad..."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing!"

Jinwoo sighed, taking the passbook back from the clerk who was still reeling from the numbers. "Thank you."

"Ah, yes, yes...have a nice day!" The clerk bowed quickly, thinking to herself 'He must be a hunter! Only hunters can make much money like that!'

Leaving the bank, you walked beside Jinwoo, your heart still as light as the sky.

"Jinwoo," you began in a coaxing tone. "I want a bank account too.."

Jinwoo looked at you, doubtful. "For what?"

"So I can be independent! Financially independent! Have a place to...to...send my monthly salary!"

"You don't work?"

"You can pay me!" you said. "I can support you when you fight, I'll clean your house, and I'll be your roommate and emotional manager for the shadow soldiers. Doing three jobs at once, no pay is against the labor law!"

Jinwoo: "..."

You: ":)))"

"What kind of labor law is that?"

"Law....Shadow Associate! Makes sense right?"

"..."

"No."

"Come on-"

"No."

"You're really... stifling the dreams of youth!" you said sadly.

"You're an adult!"

"Oh no, I'm the one who died but half alive again... but I still don't have my ID card, so you have to raise me!"

Jinwoo: "............"

Why don't I leave you in the tree?

____________________________

After failing to seduce Jinwoo, you gave up on your 'dream'.

"Can I at least buy something to eat at the mall?"

"...Just a little."

You saluted. "Yes sir."

After withdrawing the money, Jinwoo took you to a nearby shopping mall. At first, he only intended to buy a formal suit to meet Jinah's teacher. But things took a different turn from the moment you entered the first store.

He didn't expect that after he got a haircut and bought a new suit, your eyes would suddenly light up dangerously, forgeting your purpose of eating.

"You look so handsome!"

"...Thanks?" Jinwoo was a bit doubtful, instinctively taking a step back.

"Come with me!" - you pulled Jinwoo's hand and rushed into the fashion store chain as if you had a speed buff.

"Wait a minute, we're just going to buy one outfit and then go to Jinah's parent-teacher meeting-"

"No, since we're here, we have to try everything on!"

And so...

30 minutes later, Jinwoo sat absent-mindedly on the bench, next to six different bags of stuff. Jinwoo looked at the pile of bags beside him and then looked up at you – who was busy choosing another long coat, your eyes shining like LED lights from inside. He sighed.

"We have to go to Jinah's school," Jinwoo muttered, but you didn't seem to hear him.

You turned around, holding the coat and trying it on Jinwoo, tilting your head in thought. "Hmm, it's kind of outdated. Right? For a parent-teacher conference, you've got to dress a bit more formal."

"But we don't have to try on, like, eight coats."

"Don't be so stingy," you nudged Jinwoo. "We're living in the age of images. If the teachers see you dressed sloppily, they'll think Jinah isn't well-groomed."

Jinwoo was silent. It made sense. But that reason made him wait for another twenty minutes, with a total of twelve bags.

Finally, when you decided you had enough clothes, the two of you decided to leave the mall. Jinwoo lazily threw all the bags into his storage.

You walked beside him, singing and whistling like a free spirit, occasionally turning to look at Jinwoo with sparkling eyes.

"Are we going somewhere tomorrow?"

"No."

"We can call it bonding time! Like teammates!"

"No."

"Come on~"

"...I think I should buy some noise-canceling headphones."

You laughed loudly, then nudged Jinwoo's arm. "Nevertheless, you will listen to my words."

Jinwoo shook his head but the smile in his eyes was not hidden.

"Alright, I'm going to see how long I can last."

____________________________

Jinwoo stopped in front of a store when he saw his new reflection in the mirror. It looked pretty good. 'At the least, it assures no negative impression would be made or left behind.'

He glanced at his wristwatch, saw that the hands were at 4:20.

'Jinah told me to be there at 5...'

There was still plenty of time.

There was no need to rush, Jinwoo and his friend hailed a taxi and leisurely headed to school. Jinah was waiting for him in front of the gate.

"Hey Jinah!"

The girl didn't notice Jinwoo approaching.

"Oppa?"

Jinah stared at him with a bewildered expression.

"Excuse me, where's my oppa Sung Jinwoo?"

"Don't tell me you don't recognize your oppa?"

Jinah looked him up and down again and exclaimed with undisguised surprise.

"You look completely different!"

"So you think I'm wearing a T-shirt and slippers to meet the homeroom teacher?"

"Wow..."

Jinah was surprised by her usual simple brother. Then she noticed you standing next to him.

"Who is this? Oppa, do you have a girlfriend?"

Jinwoo hit Jinah on the head. "This is Y/n, and she's not my girlfriend."

You happily went over and held Jinah's hand. "I'm Y/n, nice to meet you! I'm Jinwoo's associate, and for whatever reason, I'm crashing at your place for a little while. Hope that's cool with you!"

Jinah smiled happily. "It's okay, I'm happy to have another sister. Living with my brother is not fun at all."

Jinwoo rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I'm going in first."

The two of you ran after Jinwoo. He had studied here 5 years ago, so everything was already familiar. Jinwoo knew that the meeting would take place in the conference room, not the homeroom teacher's office. He walked in that direction. His pace increased as he walked.

"Oppa, wait for me!!!"

Jinah also hurriedly ran after her brother.

"Hello, teacher!"

"Oh, hello!"

On the way, Jinwoo and you bowed to each teacher. But everyone was quite surprised when they greeted him back.

'Who is that?'

'Is that a former student? I don't remember there being such a student in the school.'

'Is he a new teacher?'

And it wasn't just the teachers who turned their heads.

"Whoa...so handsome!!!"

"Who is he?"

"Why is Jinah walking next to him?"

"Who is the woman that walks beside him?"

'...'

The whispers rang out. Jinah felt extremely excited. She listened to everything with a proud expression, then nudged Jinwoo's side with her elbow.

"Oppa, look at how everyone admires you!!!"

"Jinwoo is so famous" you teased him.

But Jinwoo didn't seem to mind.

"But don't betray Y/n unnie, or I'll hit you!"

Jinwoo didn't let the little girl off this time, he pinched her cheek. "I told you, Y/n isn't my girlfriend."

"Ah, I'm sorry..."

Jinwoo let her go. Jinah rubbed her red cheeks. You giggled.

While walking and arguing, they arrived. Jinah turned around before pointing at the room.

"It's here, oppa, unnie..."

As she was about to enter, Jinwoo suddenly turned to her sister.

"What about you?"

"Only the guardians and teachers are talking to each other! My mission is over here, goodbye oppa and unnie."

You wondered, "I can come in too?"

Jinwoo nodded, "It's fine, I can't leave you outside anyway."

"I heard that Jinah's brother is a hunter, right?"

Her eyes became serious.

"Yes, teacher!"

"If Jinah goes through the awakening stage, do you want her to become a hunter?"

"Definitely not"

Never.

Jinwoo answered decisively, and definitely without thinking. As if he had known the question and had prepared the answer. Her face fell slightly.

"As I expected..."

The teacher was hesitating, and Jinwoo gave her a skeptical look.

"Do you mind if I ask you for a favor?"

________________________

To be continue.

_________________________

Chapter 8 »

________________________

tag: @weaponxgames @sky2lar @snowy-violet @joannthebish @fackeraccount @tanspostsblog @perkypeony @ssolarsystm @winter-soldier-101 @delusionillusion3322 @o-qi-shisme @soft-dots @snowlycanroc

(let me know if I forget to tag anyone)

Everything I write is fiction and for entertainment purposes, please don't take anything seriously

[twinkkisserrr]

One thing I love about Armored Core is that it kinda consistently has you massacre characters who should be the protagonist. Because no matter how special you are, some rookie be it through sheer luck or through hellish undertakings one after the other, is gonna wind up beating you.

A lot of games have special people… That you inevitably kill, as some random ass mercenary. Sometimes you too are special, Masters of the Arena had their family killed by Nine Ball, damn if that ain’t an origin story, IDK what else is… Oh wait, now who you played as is the final boss in the sequel… And you just killed him…

I’m not going to pretend I know everything of the series. So I’ll go over the last 2 ish gens for the cases I know well by heart:

- Rusty (AC6): An experienced AC pilot with his own theme song, iconic mech and has a rich story with many other characters in the verse and is himself a turncoat agent waiting for the right moment to turn on Arquebus and help free Rubicon. In the Fires of Raven route, he goes against you, a new mech, his wolf emblem unmuzzled with its fangs bared and he’s coming at you with everything he has, even getting a second wind when all his repair kits are exhausted. You still kill him in the end, even when you play the role as an antagonistic extremist.

- Magnolia Curtis (ACVD): Descendent of Fran Curtis (AC5’s main operator) following the legend of the Dark Raven (AC5’s player character) and quite possibly their descendent too. Doubly whammied, first she’s crippled and loses the ability to fight after being defeated by Reaper Squad Leader, J, after many years of being undefeated. Then, turned into a digital consciousness, literally sacrificing her soul so she can fight again, a very familiar second wind occurring even with her AC’s arm blasted off and in critical condition… You still defeat her.

- J (ACVD): A soldier bred for war, very likely from genetic material from either Joshua O’Brien or Anatolia’s Mercenary (AC4’s player character), he’s even given an all powerful NEXT in the final battle where he (very edgily) states he is made solely for the purpose of warfare. And yet he falls to a lone mercenary.

- RD (AC5): Not much explicit to talk about here other than theoryboarding, RD is implied to have some degree of Lynx pilot in him as there’s suggestions his paranoia is related to AMS capability and furthermore his last name a callback to the “Dominant Theory” in Last Raven, even the AI Chief thinks he has genius talent and potential. He’s the classic case of cowardly young man who has a lot more strength than he realizes… But in the end, in the height of his ego and embracing of his special nature, the player’s character fells him one on one.

All these special characters with blessed genes, great potential or borderline main protagonist built stories are gunned down by an up and coming merc for whatever motives your player character has, your un special player character who often starts the game in a mass produced mech composed of scraps that claws there way to victory.

Unfortunately, being special does not equate to being invincible.

[simp-for-love]

Tainted touch p.2

Mattheo Riddle x femReader

It was supposed to be simple — just physical, no feelings, no attachments. That was the deal Mattheo made with you, and for a while, he let himself believe it was enough. But then he felt it — something hard, unwanted, and unwilling. Emotions were never meant for someone like him, so he did the only thing he knew how to do: he ended it. And now he's facing the consequences.

Warnings: still angst, jealousy, swearing, self-loathing, emotional repression, friends-with-benefits dynamic, unspoken feelings, Mattheo being a self-destructive mess as usual.

Part 1

A/N: you've asked for the second part, but no one asked for the happy one, hehe. But who knows what will happen in part 3?

Mattheo felt restless.

Ever since that realization had hit him during some meaningless hookup, he just couldn’t shake it off. He was feeling something for you — something unwanted and utterly unwelcome. Emotions and attachments were weaknesses, but ignoring them would only leave him in an even more pathetic and vulnerable position. So he decided to bear with it till it would be gone.

Knowing your weak points is always beneficial in a fight. You learn what parts of yourself need the most protection, where to put up the strongest guard. His whole life had been not just a fight, but a constant struggle — a struggle for survival. And, damn him, if he hadn’t mastered the skill of hiding his weaknesses.

But he still knew he could never have you. Why would he? What could he possibly offer you besides a good fuck? The pleasure of seeing his face? The broken and twisted mind of his? The messed up boy who only knew how to survive? Ridiculous.

Nobody in their right mind would want him. Not all of him. He brought misfortune to everyone around him. He was a bad omen, tainting people’s lives just by existing.

Who did he really have? A bunch of friends? They were all in the same sinking boat, judged before they even spoke, labeled as young Death Eaters just waiting for orders from their parents. Never mind that most of them were now rotting in Azkaban or in their graves — no one cared. The girls constantly clinging to his arm? They were only after him for two reasons. First, he was rich and famous. Despite his family legacy, plenty of them could overlook that as long as Mattheo Riddle had a big account at Gringotts and a pretty face. Like he was some sort of pet to be owned. Ludicrous, he scoffed.

And the second reason? The thrill. He had lost count of how many girls he had fucked — the ones who looked so innocent and proper in the hallways of Hogwarts but, deep inside, craved the rush of doing something forbidden. They wanted the 'bad boy' experience, the danger. But he didn’t really care about their reasons as long as their goals aligned with his: a good fuck and then going their separate ways.

So what could he possibly offer you?

His fork poked absently at the eggs on his plate as he sat in the Great Hall, only half-listening to the voices of the boys rambling around him. His eyes wandered across the room, almost out of habit, searching for you.

What could he give you? A brilliant witch who was currently deep in conversation with some Ravenclaw girls — because even those nerds knew you were smart enough to debate with them. His gaze lingered on you as if seeing you for the first time. Observant eyes traced over your silky hair, slightly disheveled from constant fixing, over your cheekbones — sharp enough to belong on a Greek statue — over your slightly upturned, delicate nose, your furrowed brows as you focused on the discussion, the way your eyes sparkled with confidence and intensity as you spoke, and finally, your lips. Lips he knew all too well. The taste of them, the feeling of them on his skin, around his...

"Mate, are you even listening?"

Theo’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "You've been acting even more like a reserved fucker lately. What's the deal?" he asked, leaning in so the others wouldn’t overhear.

Theo was always like this, Mattheo thought. He could act like a complete jerk most of the time, but he still noticed when something was off. None of them really knew how to care for someone properly, but Theo came the closest to 'normal' when it came to showing concern.

"Fuck off. I'm fine," Mattheo muttered, dragging his gaze back to his plate. The eggs in front of him looked even more miserable than he felt. He sighed, setting his fork down. He had eaten enough. Or at least, he had pretended to.

Mattheo pushed his plate away and leaned back in his seat, rubbing his temple with two fingers. He could still feel Theo's eyes on him, sharp and questioning, but he ignored it. He didn't have the energy to pretend right now.

The murmur of the Great Hall buzzed around him, but his thoughts were elsewhere — on you. Fucking hell, why couldn’t he just stop? Why did his gaze keep finding you, why did his chest tighten every time he saw you smile, why did his mind replay your touch like a goddamn broken record?

He exhaled slowly, pressing his tongue against the inside of his cheek. He needed to leave.

With a sharp scrape of wood against stone, Mattheo pushed back his chair and stood up. He barely acknowledged the few glances thrown his way as he strode out of the Great Hall, the weight in his chest making it harder to breathe with every step. He needed a cigarette. Or a drink. Or a fucking distraction.

The corridors were quieter, only a few students lingering here and there. He took the long way toward the dungeons, wandering in the hallways, hands shoved deep into his pockets, jaw clenched. Maybe he could sneak out to Hogsmeade later — find someone, anyone, to get his mind off you.

But deep down, he already knew how that would end. Just like the last time.

He hadn’t even realized how long or where his feet were leading him until he turned a corner — and there you were.

But you weren’t alone.

Some Gryffindor guy stood beside you, leaning in slightly as he spoke, his voice too low for Mattheo to hear. He was a chaser in the lion's team. Mattheo remembered that he'd thrown him off the broom once. Should have hit him harder. Because you — fuck, you were laughing. It wasn’t a forced or polite laugh, either. It was soft, genuine. The kind of laugh you used to hear with a friend or with a close ones. Was this fucker hitting on you? Had he already asked you out? Or were you two already together?

Something in his chest clenched, sharp and brutal, at these thoughts. His stomach twisted as his gaze traced the way you absentmindedly tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, the way your lips parted slightly, tugging in a sweet smile.

Anger boiled inside him, rising too fast, too intense. But beneath the fury, there was something else. Something dark and biting. He had only felt this once before — when he was eleven years old, standing on Platform 9¾ for the first time.

He remembered watching the other kids, their parents fussing over them, laughing, hugging them, kissing them goodbye. And he had been alone, despite being surrounded by a group of pureblood friends whose parents were too busy to come. He had clenched his fists back then, jaw tight, chest burning with something dangerous and sour.

Envy.

Seeing something he couldn’t have. He hadn’t felt it in years. And now it was back, but burning his insides ten times harder. Because of you.

You must have sensed his stare because your gaze flickered up, meeting his.

Mattheo froze.

For a split second, neither of you moved. His heartbeat slammed against his ribs as your eyes locked onto his, unguarded, questioning. There was no trace of sadness, no hint of heartbreak — just quiet surprise. Like running into an old acquaintance rather than the person who had shared his bed, his body, occupied his fucking mind.

That realization sent a fresh wave of rage through him.

How could you look so… normal? How could you stand there with someone else, laughing like nothing had happened? As if you hadn’t been tangled with him in the dark, whispering his name like it meant something? As if you weren’t haunting his every goddamn thought?

Right, Mattheo thought. You didn't even know. He started it, he ended it. There was no reason for him to blame you. He had no right. Neither to have you nor to feel this way. 'Do you remember who you are? Do you remember what you are? You can never be what she needs. Let her go,' he repeated in his head.

His expression hardened, wearing the usual mask that was inherited from his father. His fingers curled into fists inside his pockets.

You blinked, lips parting slightly as if you were about to say something.

But Mattheo didn’t wait to hear it. He just couldn’t.

He turned on his heel and walked the other way, his pulse roaring in his ears, fingers searching for the pack of cigarettes in his pocket.

Because if he stayed, if he let himself look at you any longer, he knew he’d do something reckless.

He would beat the shit out of this bloke. Or even worse — he would say something to you.

Something he could never take back.

Something stupid.

[joooooniecore]

After all this time - Chapter 9

Your friends have been successful enough to drag you out of your workaholic routine for a vacation out of country.

The only problem? Your long term crush who actually used to be your best friend is also going there. And he is bringing his girlfriend, your ex-female best friend.

What could go wrong? Right?

✧˖* pairing: ex-bestfriend!mingyu x f!reader

✧˖* chapter count: master-list

✧˖* genre: ex-best friend mingyu, friends to strangers to friends to lovers, fluff, angst, slow-burn, smut.

✧˖* playlist: spotify playlist

✧˖* full work warnings: resurfaced old feelings, toxic relationship(not between the main characters), angst, confusions, resentments, past misunderstandings, a very slow burn

✧˖* explicit warnings: penetration, explicit language, cursing, bodily fluids, praising, body worship.

✧˖* author's note: i hear some insane fight incoming. this might seem like a rash decision from y/n's side but she did what she had to. and i am sure the comeback will be boss like. she gave her own peace more importance than anything else and i am glad i wrote it in this way. afterall, we all need some spice in the plot. lets see how this one goes down. only two chapters left!

--- love, artemis.

✧˖* tag-list: @ana-marais98 @hellosighsophy-blog @ppaia @mingyuisthevictimofsvt @tokitosun @iarayara @cheolliesvt @seungcheolsblackcard @alohacrispyrn @minhui896 @callmemadhatter @xxluvzrrrx

COMMENT TO BE IN THE TAG-LIST!<3

<< chapter 1 | chapter 2 | chapter 3 | chapter 4 | chapter 5 | chapter 6 | chapter 7 | chapter 8 | chapter 9 | chapter 10>>

The next day was solo trip day. Each one of your friends have planned their own ways to spend the day. You were determined to visit the museum in the Prague Castle. You have always found museums interesting. Walking through rows of history and living the past as if you were a part of it. It was the quietness in these places that you yearned the most. Your life has always been chaotic. From learning how to live yourself to finding a meaning in life. You have always been the responsible elder daughter, trying to earn for your family and being the mediator when there are fights. So, in the stillness of certain moments, you found peace.

“I will return before lunch.”, you informed Seungcheol as you checked your purse one last time to make sure that you had everything.

“Don’t be late, young lady.”, Seungcheol said with a teasing glint.

“Yeah of course dad.”, you rolled your eyes but still laughed when Seungcheol gave you a disgusted side eye.

“Yah only I can call him that.”, Jeonghan screamed from somewhere in the kitchen.

“I never wanted to know that.”, Seungkwan said with an audible groan as you stifled a laugh.

“I will be leaving now. Bye.”, you finally said as you wore your shoes and were immediately out of the door.

The sun was up and shining bright. A contrast to the amount of snow that fell last night. It was a beautiful scenery as the white snow sparkled beneath the sunlight like diamonds. You took in the surroundings as you decided to take a tram to the castle – the easiest way there. The tram was mostly empty as you took a seat and listened to music on your earphones. It was the day after Christmas and most of the people were at home, taking a slower morning than usual.

After reaching the destination you decided to get some tickets only for the museum. The tourists were scarce as you easily went through the entire process of getting tickets and security checks before you entered the beautiful gallery of the Convent of St. George, a beautiful building that now houses the National Gallery's collection of Czech art.

You started exploring the building bit by bit, taking in the beautiful architecture and the walls filled with artifacts that signify a rich history of Czech Republic. It was beautiful. The exhibition halls going on and on as you found yourself getting lost in the impressive array of art.

There were several gothic and even modern pieces. The paintings holding so much more than what is just perceived by the human eye. Artists have given their entire life making these masterpieces and you loved every minute of it. You found it beautiful that someone as humane as you can make something you could never have imagined. This just proves how abundant we humans can think if we try.

As you explored the hallways, you almost felt lonely. You sat down on one of the benches and started thinking about everything that went through over the past couple of days. You rarely journal but you always carry one with you. It has been your companion since you started living alone. You thought about the way your friends always care for you. You thought about the way you were able to make Jeonghan fall in love again. You thought about the way Jihyun and Seungkwan has always been there through thick and thin. You thought about the little stories, the endless giggles and the insanely cringey jokes. It was all that was there. The dynamic you shared with them. And then unwillingly your mind went to the one person you swore you would never think of. Mingyu.

He has always been there, though a little farther than you wanted. You must have been foolish for never confessing in the most normal way. Instead, you wrote a letter that he never responded to. He never even talked about the letter and went along his day as if it didn’t matter. You have always found it sickening. Mingyu has been a little nonchalant but this degree of nonchalance has always made you annoyed. You really wanted him to at least reject you on your face or even write a letter back but no, he didn’t. He ignored as if that might have made everything go back to normal. And then dated Maya, which you don’t exactly regret. You almost feel offended that Maya was brutal enough to date someone you loved. Maybe you still do.

You don’t want it to affect the way you see him now. It has been ages and probably a joke among them both. You have done something childish and egoistic once but now is not the time to confess. Even if Mingyu breaks up with her, it would never be your place to be in his life. Mingyu has always been so delightful. He is tall, handsome, talented, intelligent and high status. He can be with anyone he wants and that would never be you.

As you walk out of the history of the museum, you somehow leave a piece of you behind. A piece you never want to return to. A piece that you want to bury deep inside you. You have always thought that you have moved on from Mingyu but guess that is not the case. And now instead of avoiding the concept, you have decided to embrace it and love him from afar. Maybe move on. Maybe be his friend again. Because no matter what, you will always need him in your life in some kind of way.

You stood outside of the building for what felt like hours before you decided to eat some street food and then return to the house. It was almost lunch time and Seungkwan would have your head if you don’t return on time. You know that Jeonghan will be in the market with Seungcheol. Seungkwan definitely doing some sport activity. Chan has his own work to do when we are not bothering him and Vernon, well he will simply be at home. Jihyun has decided to visit someone she knows. You didn’t have any idea about Mingyu and Maya. Probably on a couple’s day out and you seriously didn’t want to think about it.

You returned home after a while and found the house empty. You slowly walked in calling out Seungkwan’s name followed by Jihyun’s but no one responded. They probably hadn’t returned and it made you snort. You were going to scold them now. The thought made you extremely happy. As you sat down on one of the dining chairs, there was a shuffle somewhere and you looked up to find Maya standing there.

“You are early.”, she said as she settled in one of the chairs.

You hummed in response as you didn’t know how to talk with her about anything.

“Vernon is upstairs though.”, Maya said as she stared at you.

“I see.”, you said as you felt uneasy.

“You think this is a joke, right?”, Maya said in almost an accusing tone.

“W-What?”, you looked at her wide-eyed.

“You being here. Trying to win him back.”, Maya said with a scoff.

“I am not trying to win anyone back.”, you gritted your teeth.

“You are. You have always been like that.”, Maya accused as if it was supposed to hurt you.

“I don’t know what is in your head, but I don’t want him back.”, you said in your commanding tone. The tone you only use when you are leading a group.

“But you do love him still, don’t you?”, Maya said with an obvious smirk.

“I-I don’t.”, you hated that you stammered as you visibly saw the way Maya gave a triumphant smile.

“I know you do. You have always been like that. Sappy and annoying.”, she said with a smirk.

“It doesn’t change anything. I don’t want him back.”, you said and it almost felt like you are assuring yourself.

“He doesn’t want you either. And I will make sure that he never does.”, Maya threatened.

“Do as you please. I have nothing to lose.”, you snarled back as she got up and left you alone to replay whatever happened. You really thought she was here to clear everything out. Honestly, you would have given her a second chance as you all were a bunch of immature kids back then and misunderstandings can always be fixed. But Maya definitely never thought it that way. She has decided to hate you and nothing can change that.

As you sat there, a little shaken, you heard the front door open and Seungkwan barged in along with Mingyu. They were huffing and breathing heavily which meant that they both have gone on the trekking thing. You quickly wiped your tears as you greeted them with a smile.

“You are late.”, you said with a playful smirk.

“I knew you would say that when I checked the time.”, Seungkwan laughed as he sat down.

“I will get some water.”, you said as you got up and bought two glasses and a jug filled with water and placed it in front of the two men.

“So how was the trek?”, you asked enthusiastically.

“It was beautiful. The trek itself was hectic but once we reached the top, the scenic beauty was insane.”, Mingyu explained excitedly.

“Did you click pictures?”, you carefully asked, as you felt a guilt seep in.

“I did! Wait I will show you.”, he said as he got the camera out of his backpack and handed it to you.

“Right now?”, you questioned and Mingyu just shrugged as he placed the camera in your hands.

You shakily turned it on as you scrolled through all the pictures he has taken of the scenery. Seungkwan was long gone to torment Vernon and through the corner of your eye you saw Seungcheol enter the door followed by Jeonghan. Your eyes never left the pictures as you felt your heart stutter. Mingyu was an awesome photographer and the pictures explained that very well. The way he has captured the beauty of nature was insanely good. The only thing that bothered you was how nonchalantly he allowed you to see the raw pictures. Mingyu never allows that.

You scrolled through the pictures of today before you found yourself scrolling through all the pictures of the trip. There were the monuments he captured, your friends laughing, the food that you guys ate and a very cute picture of Seungcheol and Jeonghan. As you scrolled further, you stopped on a picture of you. It was a candid. You were laughing about something Jihyun has said and he has captured the moment mid-laugh. Your eyes were sparkling with pure joy and you have never seen yourself this radiant. Your cheeks red as you tried to control your laugh from being too loud. Then you scrolled further and found more pictures of only you. You were wandering around the castle and there were pictures of you in every place you visited with them.

You peeled your eyes off the camera to look at Mingyu and you saw him already looking at you with an unreadable expression. It was as if he knew you would scroll further on the camera. He knew you would find the pictures and yet he allowed you to handle the camera. A silent confession that he trusts you. He has never allowed anyone to ever see the raw pictures and this here was Mingyu’s way of saying you that you still matter to him.

It felt overwhelming as you slowly handed the camera back and complimented his photography which he appreciated with a smile. You didn’t know what to say so you just stood up and with a soft ‘excuse me’, left the room to clear your mind.

The rest of the afternoon went in a haze as you sat down for lunch and quickly ate it before going to your room to rest a little. Your legs were tired from all the walking so you needed to rest before your friends decided that you weren’t allowed to sleep. You lied down in bed as you decided to read a book to clear your mind. A lot had happened today and you were not sure if you trusted yourself to make the right decision. Maya has been vocal about how much she hated the closeness of you and Mingyu and Mingyu? He was silent but, in the silence, he has loudly proclaimed that he always trusted you and that you mattered to him which was a huge thing.

“You are thinking too hard.”, a soft airy voice brought you out of your thoughts.

You sat up to find Jeonghan sitting on his bed as he looked at you intently.

“I am so confused Jeonghan.”, you said with a sigh as you got up and sat beside him. Jeonghan was known to give the best hugs as he wrapped his arm around you and patted your back warmly like you were his kid.

“Aigo is my friend sad?”, Jeonghan said with a teasing lilt as you rolled your eyes.

“What’s wrong?”, Jeonghan finally asked.

And the dam broke. You told him about everything. Every little conversation, every little thing that you noticed. You told him about what Maya has said to you and what Mingyu has silently shown you. You were almost desperate to know answers and Jeonghan was great at giving solutions.

“Wow. That’s a lot.”, Jeonghan finally said as he softly smiled.

“I know. I feel suffocated.”, you said with teary eyes.

“I think I need to punch Maya.”, Jeonghan grumbled and you stifled a laugh.

“It’s not required Jeonghan-ah.”, you assured him as you wiped your own tears.

“But seriously, if Mingyu is willing to be your friend then why not?”, Jeonghan asked.

“Because it isn’t that easy. Can’t you see? I can never be his friend.”, you said with an exasperated sigh.

“I know. Maybe give it some time? See how he reacts once we get back home. Maybe it is the close proximity that’s making him say these kinds of things. You never know.”, Jeonghan stated.

“Okay. I will give it time. I won’t think about it for the rest of two days.”, you said with a sad smile and Jeonghan somehow understood the turmoil inside your mind.

“Don’t worry. If he tries to be an asshole, I will make Seungcheol punch him.”, Jeonghan teased and all you could do was laugh. Jeonghan always had a way to make you giggle even in the tensest situations. Sometimes you felt glad to work with him in office because he even made the boring corporate life a tad bit better.

As the sun set down, and the evening settled in, there was a distinct knock on the door of your room. You got up to open the door and found Chan standing there.

“What is it Chan-ah?”, you asked.

“Everyone is gathering in the backyard to start a bonfire. They asked me to bring you there.”, Chan informed.

“Okay hold up.”, you said as you slipped into your jacket and followed Chan out of your room and then out of the house, circling the entire plot to the backyard. There were no direct doors that led to the bonfire area so one has to go around the house to reach there. The air was a little chilly but the snow has subsided and the warm glow of the bonfire almost called you in. As you reached there, you were quite impressed by the bonfire that they have created. It was bright and huge and gave off warmth that made you want to snuggle in.

Beside the campfire, there was a grilling machine and Seungcheol was grilling some meat to serve. There were even marshmallows and chocolate to enjoy. A couple of beer bottles and other drinks from which one could choose.

“This is like the whole package.”, you couldn’t help but say.

“It is!”, Jeonghan said with a soft smile as he patted the seat in between him and Jihyun. You quickly sat there, allowing the warmth of your friends’ body to make you feel all happy.

“Who made the bonfire?”, you asked.

“Mingyu did.”, Seungcheol replied as he grilled meat.

You almost mentally scolded yourself for being this enthusiastic. Of course, Mingyu has built the bonfire. He was always good at stuffs like this and now you needed to compliment him or it would feel weird.

“It’s nice.”, you said without maintaining eye contact with the man who was sitting right across from you.

The conversation stretched along as you soon found yourself laughing and enjoying the time with your friends. Seungkwan would do something silly and everyone would laugh. It was as if you were content with the way things were and didn’t want to return to your life back home. You all decided to have dinner right there and then enjoy the marshmallows as dessert. The beer bottles were brought out next as everyone laughed and bickered. Chan sang a song very much off tune and Seungkwan almost tried to give him vocal lessons. Vernon shared an embarrassing story about Jihyun and you mentally made sure you would tease her later about it.

“Let’s play truth or dare.”, someone threw in the suggestion and you all seem to agree.

The games began; light-hearted and fun questions were thrown. The dares were ridiculous but funny as you all toppled over laughing, half-drunk with beer and half-drunk with happiness.

“It’s ____’s turn!”, you heard Chan scream and you rolled your eyes.

“Go on. Truth!”, you said but realized that it was a big mistake because Maya was the one to ask you a question.

“Is there anyone in this circle you had a crush on?”, she asked and you stiffened. You knew she was going to pull this move.

“Yeah. Seungcheol.”, you nonchalantly replied because it was the truth.

“Huh?? What?”, Seungcheol looked at you wide eyed.

“Don’t worry lover boy, it was way back. Probably only for a few weeks when I first met you.”, you explained.

“What happened then?”, Seungcheol asked.

“You opened your mouth.”, you said with a straight face but burst out laughing when you saw the way Seungcheol glared at you.

“This is gold.”, Jeonghan said as he laughed along with you.

The game continued and after a few more spins, it again settled between you and Maya.

“Did you have a crush in college?”, Maya asked and Seungkwan visible groaned.

“Why are you being so persistent?”, Seungkwan asked.

“It’s just for the game.”, she said nonchalantly.

You were not going to give in so easily. You knew what she wanted you to say and probably embarrass you in front of everyone. She might have tried to seed the thought of you as a villain in Mingyu’s head, but you somehow knew that Mingyu wasn’t going to hate you ever again. This push and pull game had taken enough toil on you and you would never again allow Maya to step on you like that.

“You really are persistent huh? Fine. It was Mingyu. I had the fattest crush on him in college. Satisfied?”, you snapped back

You saw the way Mingyu’s eyes widened. You saw the way he looked into your eyes as if trying to find if you spoke the truth or not. You felt the silence that fell on the entire group as the truth came out of your mouth. You saw the way Seungkwan gasped. You saw the way Jihyun looked at you in an almost horrified way. You felt the way Jeonghan’s hand on your shoulder tightened. But worst of all, you saw the way Mingyu’s eyes felt betrayed and that was what broke you. You realized the way he never wanted to lose you for something as strong as feelings and now that it was out, he will distance himself.

“You are pathetic.”, Maya said and that was it for you. You got up and left the place. You needed to calm down.

You heard Mingyu scold Maya probably for being insensitive but you didn’t care. You heard Seungkwan yell for you but you didn’t dare look back as you speed walked around the house and into your room before locking the door. No one came to knock on your door and you assumed that Jeonghan has slept with Seungcheol. At this point, you didn’t care.

Around 3 am, you got up because you were unable to fall asleep. After shuffling around the room for a bit, you decided to do something extremely insane. You packed your bags quickly. It was something you needed to do. You needed to prove Maya that you were done with her bullshit. You are strong enough to ruin her and so you decided to leave. You sat up quickly and checked the flight status. There was in fact an early flight for the next morning. You packed everything quickly and decided to at least inform Seungkwan before leaving.

You lied down for a bit and then got up at 5 am, freshened up and slowly walked to Jeonghan and Seungcheol’s room first. You softly knocked and hoped for them to wake up. The door opened with a soft click and Seungcheol looked at you with a shocked expression.

“You are leaving?”, he softly asked and all you could do was nod. You saw Seungcheol’s expression soften and you somehow knew that you needed to go away to fix this thing.

“I will wake him up, come in.”, he ushered you in as you sat on the edge of the bed where Jeonghan was sleeping peacefully.

“Jeonghan, wake up.”, Seungcheol softly nudged him and your heart melted at the sight. Jeonghan has always been the mischievous one who always shows off how he is unbothered. His partners took advantage of this and behaved harshly with him from time to time. But the way Seungcheol was so gentle and soft with him, made you extremely happy and you were sure that they both have found something unique in this bond.

“Hmm, what?”, Jeonghan groggily answered as he slowly opened his eyes to find you sitting there. He quickly sat up.

“Y-You? What? Where are you going?”, Jeonghan asked with a puzzled look.

“Home. I need to.”, you softly said as you placed your hand on his.

“Did you book a flight?”, he asked and you knew that he got his answer. You nodded and smiled.

“Okay. Text me when you reach airport. Call me before the flight takes off and call me when you get in the taxi back to your apartment.”, he strictly commanded which warmed your heart.

“I will.”, you said with a wet laugh as he engulfed you in a hug. You got up and was again embraced in a warm hug by Seungcheol.

“You two are truly acting like my parents.”, you chuckled.

“Good. Someone has to.”, Seungcheol grumbled before he helped you with your suitcases. He took the key of Chan’s car off the hook and walked out of the door along with you.

“Did you inform Seungkwan and Jihyun?”, he asked as he pushed your suitcases into the boot of the car. You didn’t even resist against him driving you to the airport because you knew that Seungcheol won’t listen.

“I texted them and asked them to call me when they wake up. Even texted them the flight details.”, you answered honestly as you sat inside the car.

“This feels like a bad decision.”, Seungcheol grumbled but still buckled in.

“I have to.”, you softly said and Seungcheol nodded.

“Did you text Mingyu too?”, he finally asked as the car was out of the garage and on the dirt road that led to the main highway.

“No. I don’t want to.”, you said with a sigh.

“I hope that idiot understands the hint.”, Seungcheol grumbled and all you could do was laugh softly.

Your flight was at 8 and you had to reach the airport by 6. It took almost two and half hours to reach the airport. Seungcheol helped you put all the luggage in the carrier and waited there till you have checked in and were waving at him from inside. Somehow his presence was enough to give you strength to get through the security check and to the main waiting lobby of the airport.

This was not a goodbye. This was what you needed to do. You needed to put a stop on the way she tried to put you down, mock you. Your friends would understand you. They have known you for ages. You were confident enough about this.

The only thing you hoped was for Mingyu to understand. He has always been someone who understood you without you even saying a word. And even after all these years, you somehow trusted him for understanding the way your mind works. If he really wants to stay in touch with you after everything, then you won’t turn him down. But even after all that, you knew you have to move on. Mingyu might become your friend but you are not sure if he would ever have the love that you have for him.

click <<here>> to go to chapter 10!

✧˖* end notes: posting every monday! do suggest me ideas if you have any. also do like and comment!! it gives me motivation to write better.<3

[miss-dollette]

Vladimir Makarov and the closest he’d feel to love - Headcanons.

A/N: Realistic, slightly OOC Vladimir Makarov headcanons. This is a fantasy. Also, I wrote this, like a year ago and forgot to post it. Here y'all go.

Look, y’all - this man is a true psychopath, through and through. He is completely incapable of love. If he existed in real life, I don’t think there would be anyone he would be romantically involved with… if it doesn’t serve his purpose. He’s an extremely violent man. No lover boy here. I don't approve of any of his actions or ideologies.

TW: Implications to rape. Obsession and mistreatment.

A “relationship” with Makarov would be one built on obsession and possession, completely out of the realm of love. Love is kind, love is patient - and Makarov does not care for any of that.

Instead, you’ll be met with prickles at the back of your neck, and turn towards the source of your discomfort, only to make eye contact with eyes so dark and empty, like two black holes that swallows all light that crosses its path, and is never fulfilled no matter how much it feeds.

You weren’t sure what you did to get such a man’s attention, but you had it, and it wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon.

Everyone was an object, a tool to be used and discarded when it is no longer in need. The old granny on the train, retiring after scrubbing floors of the rich all day, the exhausted mother and her three children returning home from the grocery store, the young man bringing flowers to his first love - all sacrifices for his idea of what was the greater good.

But you? You were more than a pet, but less than a lover. Between the two of you, it was more like a master-slave relationship. You’ll have no freedom, no sense of will and definitely landlocked in some hotel or apartment. Kept away like a favorite toy, occasionally brought out to be played with and then be shut away until he feels “playful” again.

Until then, the limbo of time blurs into nothingness again. His visits held no pattern of recollection. And when he visited, it would be more like being stuck in the center of the Pacific Ocean, with a bleak-eyed shark circling the infinite waters beneath your flailing feet.

You were there to fill a void. To make up for something missing. No family, no friends (Yuri is his friend. But even he couldn’t fulfill that need) and no one waiting on him. Then you came along, and suddenly something in him clicked.

He lost it all. His purpose. His sense of identity. Even his country. And then you came along.

Make no sudden movements - he’s unpredictable. Lashing out with harsh words and threats, backhanded slaps across your face when you raise your voice, bruises at the hollows of your neck, and sticky sperm trailing down your thigh after he teaches you bodily lessons.

Every plan of escape would be thwarted, and thoroughly punished. He’s not above severing your hamstrings to make sure you stay put. Don’t push your luck, for his forgiveness should not be abused.

On a shallow level, he does understand your suffering, but that’s about it. Knowing a song, but not being able to sing it.

One day, your mind may finally break to cope with its new reality and conjure up a semblance of love - but what would it matter to a man who’s soul is but an empty room.

[amyhayanora]

KHOC WEEK 2024 Day 2 - Past

the things for my OCs are now the only ones I do, so, off with the annual @khoc-week appointment.😂

The protagonist of this post should have been Aspis, my little Anguis kid, but since Aspis is deeply connected to another character, it's probably better that I start with some headcanons I have about the Foretellers. Between those and the designs, at this point they feel a bit like OCs too. even tried to do a Nomura-esque version for the occasion.

The assumption is that the Foretellers were one of the many attempts on the chessboard of the Master of Masters to face the Darkness. He gathered under his protection a group of lonely and desperate kids, with a tormented past, acting in the grey area more than out of affection. He bet on them. He sought out children who possessed specific flaws of distinct deadly sins, trained them, and made them his apprentices on a journey designed to make them overcome their "sin" and use it as a virtue that will be essential to their future "roles." For example…

Gula, who lived on the streets as a feral child, has known hunger, and food is also how MoM attracted him. Gula suffered from bulimia and nervous hunger for years, before managing to direct his anxiety towards logic and study, becoming an analytical boy "hungry" for knowledge.

Ava, sold away by her once rich family fell in disgrace, wanted EVERYTHING back. everything she had lost, or that she wanted but could no longer afford. Mom was the one who has bought her, she's too young to understand the extent of the family tragedy. that's why she later was the perfect one for the task of choosing any wielder she desires or attracts her eye, without limits, collecting the Dandelion.

Aced has always used his muscles to win easily, alone, without effort and without ever really try to improving himself, until carelessness cost him his tribe and an eye… he is now a loyal follower and uses his strength to defend the group, the arm of the law under Ira.

Ira, balances strength in combat and intelligence, which are also the qualities of his union. stubborn and rebellious, as an angry teenager he ran away from home, losing his path. He was the first one found by Mom, and he owes him his life. He learned to control his anger because of him, obtaining determination, willpower and the courage that made him choose as Leader.

Luxu carried the burden of being an unwanted child, the result of an affair, from an early age he felt cursed by that because of a big birthmark on one eye that vaguely resembles an X. shy, insecure and reserved, people pleaser, until life with his apprentice companions brought out his mischievous and creative personality. His being a people pleaser made him incredibly attentive to the behavior of the people around him and the ideal candidate to infiltrate among people and live their lives, one after the other.

Finally, Invi.

like all the other foretellers, her name is more of a title. Her real name is Nivea, and she was isolated from her village because white hair was considered a bad omen. The resentment of having to survive alone, with a little brother to support, he too with lighter hair than was welcome, soon turned into Envy, gnawing at her insides every time Nivea stopped to observe the normality of other families, lurking and hating everyone but her brother Aspis.

MoM saved both, proposing a deal to Nivea: he would take care of them, they would have a roof over their heads, education, a future, as long as she studied under him.

With no other real choice, the children accept out of desperation.

Nivea and Aspis initially lived together, but as they grow older she is forced to uphold her end of the bargain, spending more and more time at the clocktower. Aspis and Nivea's relationship is ruined irreparably, as Invi begins to enjoy her studies and the company of her peers, spending less and less time with her brother "for a higher purpose".

On the other hand, Aspis, who has always remained silent about a subtle hostility from the inhabitants of Daybreak Town due to his bad temper and sharp tongue, is left almost alone. His only wish was not to be a burden to his sister, who therefore always believed everything was fine and let him go without regrets. Aspis is full of resentment towards Mom, blaming him for brainwashing his sister, now obsessed by Light and darkness, when she clearly only wanted a better life for them.

Aspis and Invi do not hate each other, but the lack of communication makes it difficult to make peace, they will miss their chance before the War.

Aspis eventually made some friends along the way, that made his loneliness bearable. he is in a sort of trio with Lupe and Leonna, and a little girl who for some reason adores him like a big brother, Velcia (she's @alchemist-of-thebes 's oc). he'll never admit it, but he would die for her.😂

concluding this post with some old foretellers art dump xD

[hansrkive]

THE WOMEN OF HANNAM-DONG (C.SC — 18+)

CHAPTER 2 — AN HEIR TO A THRONE

The neighborhood of Hannam-dong, or as tourists would call, "the land of the rich", is a place where you can visit and relax. You would think, a small neighborhood like Hannam-dong wouldn't hoard any dark secrets. That everyone that lives there were innocent. Well you're wrong. In this small neighborhood, everyone knows everyone. If you think your secret is safe, you're wrong. They'll find out, whether you like it or not.

THIS BOOK HAS MULTIPLE CHAPTERS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF IT BECOMING A SERIES. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

౨ৎ PAIRING: choi seungcheol x song hyeri (afab!oc)

౨ৎ GENRE: angst, thriller, and murder-mystery.

౨ৎ TAGS: mentions of death, murder, gossip, blood, cursing, and more.

౨ৎ NOTES: check “the women of hannam-dong” masterlist here!

౨ৎ HYPERLINKS: pinned post, ko-fi, seventeen’s master-list, seungcheol’s master-list, and the women of hannam-dong chapter list.

౨ৎ WORDCOUNT: 1.06k for chapter 2.

“So, Hye-ri, how’s your work?” My cousin, Hong-seok, asked out of the blue. Making me turn my attention to him.

“It’s good. It pays the bills.” I said. It’s not good, Hong-seok. I hate my job.

“That’s good, you know. You’re doing what you really love.” He spoke. As if I would believe that he’s being sincere.

I simply nodded. After the brief interaction I had with Hong-seok, he immediately went on and on about his hobby. A hobby that is famous among old, weird, heterosexual men. Shooting. It was the straightest thing I have ever heard. For decades, the men in my family (except Jin-young, who said that shooting as a hobby was for boring old men) would always go to the town’s shooting range every Sunday. They either shoot cans or, if cans aren’t available, they shoot birds. Which is the most gruesome thing someone could do. So as the conversation took a turn, I looked at my mom and smiled. 

“How are you?” I asked, my gaze fixed on her.

“I’m fine, darling.” She smiled. I knew it was fake. My mother was never fine. But I nodded. Pretending that I didn’t know that she was faking everything.

“How’s Dad?” I asked, looking at my father, who was having a serious conversation with my Uncle Jae-dok.

“He’s still the same, my darling.” She said, forcing a smile as she looked at my father. “How about you? Are you in a relationship right now?”

God, that fucking sentence. A sentence I tried to avoid for the past several years. Two boyfriends. I only had two boyfriends since high school. The first one was Il-sung. He was that emo kid in our school. Then the second one was Nam-jun. He’s the guy you would a call a dumb jock. Other than those two, I never had the time to seek love or even flirt.

“I’m single, mom.” I chuckled. As I left my mother’s gaze, I quickly saw Seung-cheol’s eyes fixed on me. “Is there any problem with that?” I asked, the cow dying a second time as I roughly sliced it.

“Nothing,” he laughed. “I was just wondering why a beautiful woman like you is single.”

Are we in the 1970s? Last time I checked, it was 2023. “Did I hear that right?” I gritted my teeth.

“It was just a joke.” Seung-cheol laughed again, but this time, his eyes were fixated on mine. “I heard you were managing a firm in Busan?” he asked.

“Yep,” I say quietly. “It’s just a small one.”

As everyone at the dinner table conversed with one another, it felt like Seung-cheol and I were alone, just the two of us at this big table. My mother, who immediately noticed that my focus was solely on Seung-cheol, smiled and took it as a cue to talk to someone else. “What about you?”

“I freelance,” he said coolly. “Sometimes I work at my family’s business, sometimes I don’t.”

“Everyone, I’d like to thank each and every one of you who came here tonight. My children, grandchildren, and our closest neighbors.” My grandmother stood up and spoke, breaking Seung-cheol and I’s conversation. “As you all know, my husband and I are slowly retiring. We both want to enjoy our lives.”

“Do you think mother will finally do it?” Aunt Ha-neul whispered to my mom, a worried look washed over her face.

“I don’t think so,” my mother replied. “She’s too weak.”

The crowd went silent, listening intently to what my grandmother had to say. “That’s why over the next few months, you’ll see a new person in charge of every business we have. My children are not the only ones in the running — my grandchildren as well.”

“What?” Uncle Dae-won yelled, surprising everyone. “I can’t believe this. I worked hard to get that position, and you’re telling someone in their 20s can snatch that from me?”

As Uncle Dae-won stood up, my grandfather, who was trying to keep his cool, also slowly stood up. “I’m sorry to our guests, but if you’re not a part of this family, the helpers will escort you out.”

“I guess we’ll have to continue our conversation another time,” Seung-cheol smirked as he left the table, not waiting for a response.

After non-family members left, Uncle Dae-won and his siblings all yelled at each other, clearly angry at what my grandmother had said. My grandfather tried to calm everyone down, but failed miserably. Everyone aged 40 and up stayed at the dining table. I, on the other hand, left quickly and took my old sedan for a spin. As I stopped at a nearby coffee shop, I gently turned off the car and lit a cigarette to ease the nerves.

Smoke quickly filled up my car as the raindrops lightly tapped the glass in front of me. I tried opening the window, but much to my dismay, it was stuck. “Fucking hell,” I whispered, the cigarette hanging loosely from my mouth.

“Excuse me, this parking space is for paying customers only.” A staff member knocked on the glass. “Are you going inside to buy?” he asked politely, to which I replied with a simple ‘no.’ Embarrassed at the fact that I just got told off, I quickly turned on the engine and left.

“Where do I fucking go now?” I whispered. As much as I want to go back home, it’s probably a bloodbath there by now. My uncles are having a pissing contest on who should be the new chairman while their wives try to stop them from having a stroke or something that could kill them. “Hey Siri, call Ho-sook.”

“Hello?” Ho-sook spoke.

“Hey, it’s Hye-ri.”

“Oh, hey, unnie,” they laughed. “I’m sorry I wasn’t at home to welcome you. I had to finish up some work.”

“It’s fine. Just be happy you weren’t there.”

“Why, what happened?”

“Halmeoni announced that she and Halbeoji are retiring.”

“Are you serious?”

I laughed, trying to suppress any more unsolicited information. “Yup. Be home by tomorrow and I’ll tell you all the details.”

“I’ll try, unnie,” Ho-sook said. “Mom said the neighbors were also there. That’s awkward if it’s true.”

“Yeah, the Choi family was there.”

“Oh, so you’ve met Seung-cheol, then.”

“You know him?”

“He introduced Yu-na to me,” Ho-sook said. “And who doesn’t know the infamous Seung-cheol?”

[meganx]

Just One Weekend // Lando Norris x OFC // Part Seven

Summary: Alice has been a Formula One fan all her life. When the opportunity came up to enter a competition that could mean attending an actual race, she pounced on it. When the news finally came that she had won, she was cautiously optimistic about what the experience would hold. Lando, on the other hand, would rather eat fish than spend an entire weekend entertaining a stranger.

All My Works

Series Master List

Previous Part

Next Part

Part Seven

Alice had always loved Sunday mornings on race weekends. Her house was filled with buzzing energy, and she and her dad would talk for hours about their predictions. More often than not, her mother would make pancakes drenched in syrup, and Rory would be doing her nails at the coffee table. The last few years, Mia would also join in, adding comments and asking a hundred different questions.

The feeling she got on race weekends was tripled when she walked between the motorhomes. The energy felt thick, almost tangible, and she could feel it down to her bones.

The McLaren garage was alive with anticipation. The sound of machines whirring to life and engineers scattering to complete last minute fixes created a heart beat and she was addicted to it. A part of her feared she would never be able to enjoy race weekends at home the same again.

When she arrived in the hospitality area, it was brimming with people. Athletes from all corners of the world were gathered on the balcony, looking over at the track. Against the feature wall stood a group of young women, all of them looking as though they had stepped right out of a magazine, taking photos. Between the two groups fluttered a host of VIP guests that were rich enough to afford tickets, and actors and actresses that Alice could never have dreamed of seeing in person.

Standing in the middle of it all, Alice felt invisible. Like she had been swallowed up whole. And, she loved every minute of it. She was a fly on the wall to conversations she really didn't belong in and could be seen in the background of photos reaching millions of views.

She relaxed quietly on one of the bar stools, sipping on her iced latte, just people-watching. She was absorbed in a conversation about an unreleased movie when her phone vibrated in her pocket.

Mia: You're on TV! (image attached)

Alice chuckled when she opened the image. It was of her walking into the paddock this morning in her white blouse and papaya orange linen shorts. She could tell Mia took the photo from her family's house and she could see Rory's head in the bottom left.

She didn't reply. Not because she didn't want to, but because Lando grabbed the phone from her hands before her thumbs could start typing.

"Morning, Alice. You look absolutely wonderful today."

Alice narrowed her eyes as she looked at him. Everything about him in that moment radiated mischief.

"What did you do?" she asked. She reached for her phone but he just lifted it out of her reach.

"Oh, Ali. Are you accusing me of something?" he teased. "Come on beautiful, we have places to be."

He began walking backwards towards the hospitality exit, dangling her phone like a carrot on a stick. She didn't really care about having her phone taken, but the curiosity of what he was up to ate at her. So she stood up, ice latte still in hand, and followed him. His smile turned triumphant when she started walking and he turned, walking at full speed now.

She followed after him hurriedly. "Where are we going, Lando?" she asked.

"Shush, Ali. You're going to ruin the surprise."

Her heart skipped a beat as the nickname reared its head for the second time. No one had ever really given her a nickname.

Their footsteps were absorbed by the ground and unnoticeable against the intense noise of the paddock. She followed him until they reached the other side of the hospitality suite. Lando opened the door, ushering her though, and as he shut the door the silence thundered in her ears.

"I wanted to say thank you," he said. "For your help yesterday. And for staying with me."

She nodded her head. "Anytime."

"I wanted to get you a gift, but I didn't really know what," he explained. He walked over to a square-shaped something leaning against the back of the couch, an orange towel draped over it. "I came up with this idea at like 2AM."

He pulled the towel off, and a large frame came into view. Inside the frame were pictures of all the drivers from this year's grid. She took a step closer and blinked once, hard, making sure she was seeing clearly.

Lando had gotten every single driver to sign under their picture.

"Lan -," she started. Her voice choked before she could say another word.

"You like it?"

She nodded viciously and launched towards him, wrapping her arms around his neck as his wrapped loosely around her waist.

"Thank you, Lando." Her voice cracked slightly, but she continued, "I love it."

"Good, I'm glad. Don't worry about getting it home, I'll have it shipped to you. Just send me your address."

She stepped back and smiled, eyes darting between Lando and the frame. He smiled that wide, toothy grin, and as he looked at her she swore she could see something in his gaze shift.

__________

The day was long and drawn out as she followed Lando and Oscar from debrief to media event to another meeting she didn't understand. But the excitement from the morning came back tenfold as the race was set to begin.

The cars were carefully lined up on the grid. Alice's eyes were glued to the television from where she sat in the garage. An engineer she barely recognized slid a pair of headphones into her ears and within seconds she could hear Lando's radio.

The lights flashed on, one after the other, and then she heard the characteristic voice of David Croft echoing through the speakers. Lights out and away we go.

Lando made it through the first lap unscathed and two positions up. The cars roared through the circuit, and the stands were alive with sound, and she savoured every minute of it.

By lap 25 Lando was in P5. Most of the drivers had already pitted, opting for a one-stop strategy in light of the dry weather. He weaved almost effortlessly through the corners and straights, and by Lap 50 the only driver in front of him was Oscar.

They raced a beautiful, clean race, and on the final lap, Lando managed to steal pole position from Oscar. Seeing him cross the line in first, wearing the helmet that she had designed, filled Amelia's heart with an indescribable pride.

The garage erupted, and engineers rushed to watch the podium ceremony. Alice stayed firmly seated, happy to watch the champagne spray from the comfort of the garage.

A small voice in the back of her mind reminded her that less than twenty-four hours ago, she had made a pinky promise, and she needed to deliver.

[yoshi-love]

A Night In June

Tags: Dead Dove, Affiliated! Sukuna x inspiring lawyer reader, age gap romance, sex work, angst, suggestive language, use of nicknames, NSWF, MDNI. Synopsis: Young, broke, and hungry, she's willing to do anything to reach her goal. A life of peace and comfort is all she asks for, so when passing the bar exam and becoming a litigation lawyer seems to be the ticket out of this shitty lifestyle, she goes running headfirst into destiny. Until another opportunity with a dirty past, pink hair, and deep pockets presents itself. You're willing to risk your present for an unforeseen future. An: Hope you all enjoy! Prologue - Chapter 1 - ...

Chapter One 

Bullshit. 

That's the only way I can describe this shit show of a lawsuit my “brother” has put on me. 8 years younger than me and trying to challenge me, hah, the fact that he thinks he can even step to me proves I've been too soft on him. I cant believe father called me harsh. 

I need a fucking vaction.

I swing my head back, sinking into the cushioned leather seat of my office chair. What I would give to have some competent fucking employees and something soft wrapped around my finger.

My eyes shut, imagining a life where there was something to look forward to, something to find pleasure in, something to please me. It does sound selfish, but there is nothing else I can hope for, other than something to comfort me in a world full of people who constantly pray for your downfall. 

The black abyss behind my eyelids is broken by the sound of a knock at the reinforced door of my office. 

Knock knock 

“Enter,” I grumbled as I began to reposition, sitting straight up.

“Mr. Sukuna, there's a Mr. Nanami on the phone for you as well as your upcoming court hearing in 20.”  Uraume, my “helper” since I was 17, spoke softly, clutching a coffee, paperwork that needed to be signed before we arrived at the courthouse, and my cellphones. 

Getting up from my seat, I grab my coat. Taking the lead behind Uraume in hopes that they'll have to address the daily rapid-fire of grievances and needs by the ensemble of idiots, more focused on kissing their supervisors' ass to get promoted than actually doing work.

Walking past them into the black, illuminated marble hallway that travels throughout the Crimson Spire. A luxury legal firm filled with people too rich to follow laws and wolves that are willing to advocate for anyone with pockets deep enough to pay consultation fees, no matter the charge.

To be frank, our firm's ability to win so many high-difficulty cases, especially considering the cases we've had to defend against, is outrageous.

But hey business is business. 

As the morning introductions passed, Uraume and I were finally able to get into the elevator, and as the doors began to shut, Uraume cleared their throat.

Great, whenever they do that, it means they have something to get off their chest, and I won't hear the end of it until it's resolved. 

“Yes uraume” I huffed out displeased at the forced conversation when I really wanted a little more peace and quiet before being subjected to the unpleasantries of life. 

“Well, Mr.Sukuna, I find it very unsettling how you refuse to acknowledge your brother's case.” An irritated tone is laced through their words. Uraume must be sick of having to micro-manage our senior attorneys at the Ryōken Law; they are stuck-up bastards, craving for dominance within the company.

They're not working because they don't want to pick sides in a family duel.

Selfish ingrats. 

“Listen, those stingy old bastards aren't going to do jackshit about it and try and settle it under the table, but I think the young master deserves a lesson for his ignorance and absolutely absurd treatment towards his elders,” Uraume murmured in aggravation. 

Uraume has always been "headstrong" about respecting elders, not biting the hand that feeds you, and so on. Having been adopted from what people in my line of work would call an iron nest, uraume can be intense about respect.

“Mhm, okay, I'll handle it, just calm down before you pop a blood vessel.”  The doors of the elevator open, greeting us to the gaping cathedral arches above the multiple entry ways, matte black walls with accents of white and gold trimming, and glistening chandeliers that reflect the light pouring in from the lobby's glass door. 

“Sir, we only have 10 more minutes until the hearing”. A familiar tinge of pain shoots down my back at the thought of having to waste an entire morning on my brother's idiotic, one-sided bickering. 

This banter will only cost me more time on my plan, and now that Father is 6 feet under, shit can only get more complicated. Sliding down into the lux seats of my Quattroporte Maserati. I checked what to see how late I was going to be for this fuck ass hearing. 

7:00 

My shoes echoed across the marble floor of Courthouse A. The polished stone, the gaudy chandelier, the stale perfume of justice — all of it pretending to be something it’s not. Like my brother.

The courthouse is oddly lively; there are what seem to be college graduates waiting outside the door of a testing room. My eyes scan the area around, watching as the students flutter and flip through pages of notes, muttering to themselves while pacing back and forth or rocking in their seats. 

Seeing things like this reminds me of my younger years when I was like them, running to anything that would prove I was ready to take over the family business. A  business that has now halted the progression of what I really want. 

As we walked further down the hall, there was only one who sat seemingly unfazed with a quiet confidence that radiated beautifully around the 6 dozen jittering college grads, a young woman with beautiful, a few strands scattered and framing your face, with full cheeks and lips that looked edible. The light from the window beside her  lit her face up in a way I only thought was in movies. 

Shes fucking breathing taking.

Her eyes looked sweet like a warm pot of honey, all while having a smug smirk, a soft tug at the corner of her lips as if she's about to go in that test room and come out on top. The most alluring thing about her has to be the way she holds herself even as the nerves slowly pick away at her. Small jumps in the pretty heels around your feet. 

“Um Mr.Sukuna, the courtroom is ready.” with a breathless huff i remove my eyes from her,  straighten my collar and brace myself for this maniacs antics. 

***

Courtroom 4C.

The lights were too bright. The bench was too polished. Everything there was Monet to the idea of civil justice. Me and brother both knew the only real way to settle this is in the streets, where a result will truly be seen for what it is past the rose colored glasses of high-society thinking and expectations. 

My brother, jin, was already seated at his table, arms slung over the back of his chair like he owned the courtroom. His tailored navy suit was too tight, too modern, like a man trying too hard to look effortless. No tie, no tradition — not even a nod to our father's legacy. Just a smug bastard.

"You’re late," he said without looking at me.

I smiled. “You’re early. You must be desperate.”

Uraume slid a file across the table, their voice low: “He’s added a new exhibit — anonymous reports about your downtown businesses.”

I rolled my neck slowly trying to ease the climbing irritation. "Let him. He thinks sex clubs and restaurants mean weakness. Let’s see if the judge agrees."

The bailiff called for order. The judge, a graying man with sharp eyes and sharper boredom, took the bench.

“This hearing will determine the validity of the remaining asset transfer claims per the late Mr. Itadori  will. Counsel, proceed.”

Jin  stood. 4  attorneys, all new gen hot shots, corrupt, greedy and unworthy . He had to get the most arrogant cocksuckers of all time. Of course he did. 

“Your Honor,” attorney #1  began, his voice dipped in arrogance, “Mr.Sukuna  is no longer suited to carry the name itadori  in business. He’s chosen to abandon the family legacy for nightlife ventures, scandalous enterprises, and... let’s just say, questionable partnerships.”

He turned to me with that smug grin — the kind that screams I’ve been waiting years for this stage. My jaw clenched tight enough to break diamonds. 

“Meanwhile, I’ve run our father’s four most profitable companies since his illness. Successfully and Transparently.”

Transparently. That’s rich, coming from someone who registered three fake subsidiaries last spring and funneled contracts to companies tied to the Ashikaga Group.

I stood slowly. Calm.

“If this is about moral standing,” I said, “I’d be happy to unseal your procurement records from the past year. Shall we talk about the construction firm you sold to — the one that doesn’t exist on any government database?”

Jin stiffened. He didn’t expect me to know.

“You want to play CEO? You want the heart of the empire in your hands?"I stepped forward, voice still. “Then come correct. Because this—” I gestured to the courtroom “—this is theater. But the truth? The truth is in the profit . And you know you’re not capable to take one of dad’s business’s, imagine the shit show you would create with 4 of them.”

The judge raised a brow. “Gentlemen. This is not a boardroom. Keep it civil.”

“Of course, Your Honor,” I said, and sat down. Uraume handed me another file, silent but burning. I could feel Jin’s eyes on me, calculating his next move. He’s always been a persistent little cunt. Constantly looking for ways to one up others, too bad he has no real skill.

I glanced once toward the hallway. Wondering if that sweet flower was in her seat, pen in hand, chasing her own salvation. 

The bailiffs voice drowns in the hum of my own thoughts as I smile to myself, trying to figure out how a woman that fine got caught up in a career that so dishonest. It makes me question what type of person she might be.

I hope to find out.