#and may had inherited it after she passed

[secretarysong]

for no reason in particular (Lying) i headcanon Mayday's obsession with Kul Fyra to be hereditary. more specifically it was Directly passed down from her mother who owned. like. almost every piece of The Goolings merchandise under the sun; shit ranging from the collectors' edition of their debut album to the drummer's autographed crash cymbal ... it was almost as if the only notable thing missing from her collection was Kul Fyra's Guitar...

[blakellyl]

About Sentry, Void and what they're really like

Sentry, Void and Bob are all the same, they have the same traumas, fears, self-doubts and insecurities, because they are one person. The only difference is that Sentry has powers (he is Bob’s mania; mania – feeling that you can do anything; this feeling + serum = Sentry, who bc of the serum actually can do anything. That’s the only thing he’s confident in – his invincibility, his superpowers, that will allow him to do whatever he wants, because that’s what he is, but that’s it (!), because he’s still Bob). And then there is Void, who’s about absolute loneliness and hopelessness.

Some may be confused by the way they talk about each other, as if they’re separate personalities (for example, Bob calling Void "it", Sentry saying to Val "it's not Robert you need to be afraid of" and when John calls him Bobby, corrects him by saying "you can call me Sentry", Bob not remembering anything (at first) after Sentry or Void take over, or how Void was talking to Bob at the end), SO I’m adding what i wrote in other posts here:

THEY separate themselves from each other, of course they do, they are not his normal self, they are his mental disorder.

A bit more about it:

Bob has mental illnesses inherited from his mother and his own (as a result of a terrible life). The main one is bipolar, almost certainly passed down from his mom.

After he was injected with the serum it was like his bipolar was pumped with the strongest steroids and now his mental illness exists beyond human levels, as Sentry and Void (Mel talked about this, that give a serum to someone like Bob and who knows what will happen. Well now we know).

Moving on to the next one:

the key moment that a lot of people don’t seem to understand: they have never known love or care, never had a single person who was even a little worried about them or genuinely cared for them. They have zero confidence that anyone will ever need them, even more than that, they are sure of the opposite. They are very traumatized, all of them, they suffer exactly the same, because they are one.

I didn't think it was necessary to write about it because it's literally shown in every scene, but I'm shocked at how many people didn't get it at all, so.

With Bob himself, I think it's all clear to everyone, thankfully.

About Void:

He repeats throughout the movie that they (Bob/Sentry/Void) will always be alone, he says this to both Bob and Yelena (even though she hugs Bob at this moment, and yet)

He also says "you think they care about you? you don’t matter to anyone" and "the most shameful thing of all is thinking you could be anything more than nothing".

For him, there is no hope. He doesn't believe anyone will ever stay with them because all their life no one ever did, everyone always left/betrayed/hurt them. He also doesn’t believe that they’ll ever be worth anything at all, that they’ll be anything at all to anyone. The way he keeps confidently repeating that they will always be alone shows that he has given up hope that someone will ever truly love them (and that’s how he’s supposed to be, he’s Bob’s darkest thoughts and fears). He's not a mystical tough guy as a lot of people love to portray. He's a severe depression (literally), an absolute hopeless loneliness (and it’s obvious, it’s all in his name).

About Sentry:

(and all the times we're shown that it's literally just Bob with powers)

1) Desire to be praised and loved

The first person who says a kind word to him, tells him that he is worth something, he immediately follows that person and does whatever he is told, even though he is not sure that he wants to. He does it to please, to be useful, finally believing in himself because of her and wanting to prove her right.

2) Kindness

Him being kind to those who he'd known for a couple days at most, and not even through his “own eyes”.

He listens to Valentina, even when she says she plans to use him so she won't be impeached. He's okay with that. Until she gives him the order to kill the bolts. He doesn't want to do that, even though this is the first time he's interacted with them himself, only having seen them through “Bob's eyes”. He doesn't want to hurt them, and he tells them that. He offers them to surrender and he offers it sincerely, smiling awkwardly and shrugging his shoulders, nodding a little at the thought that it's a good suggestion:

He doesn't even attack them; it's Alexei who jumps on him first, screaming.

And even when they come at him with knives and bullets, he just pushes John, Yelena and Ava away most of the time (he doesn't know Bucky and Alexei, so it's different with them).

All of that screams in everyone’s faces that he's not "I'm going to kill everyone, I'm so badass" (like some people hilariously think) but that he won’t really hurt anyone who isn't a threat to him (even if they kinda tried to hurt him, but he knows their intentions, so he’s not upset with them). He calmly and kindly asked them to surrender, again because he's trying to please Valentina, but also because he didn’t want to fight them (just because Bob knew them for a day and they helped him).

3) Insecurity

As soon as the guys don't even ridicule him, but just ask him what's wrong with his hair and the way he looks, he can't leave this topic alone, he gets all worked up, saying he doesn't like it, even though Valentina tells him to leave it alone and not to let other people's words affect him. 

It shows that his giant ego is only related to his great strength, but he has no self-confidence in anything else.

4) The realization that yet another person is trying to tell him how to live and what to do:

To her "you need to do what i say" he simply asks why. 

He thought they were going to act as a team, but it turns out they want to put a leash on him, and he won't let that happen. He's part of Bob, and Bob has lived his whole life under someone else's commands and orders. 

Sentry is also honestly tells her that she doesn't know what he's capable of, and he's right, she doesn't. 

That’s the only thing he’s so sure of, his strength. (again, ironically, because of her).

5) People betraying and hurting Bob (+Sentry/Void) all his life

This scene breaks my heart every fucking time. 

When she reaches for the button to kill him. 

Kill him because she doesn't care, like all the others before her. 

Look at his face when he realized what she wanted to do.

And his words after, "You were gonna turn on me, just like the rest of them" 

And that says EVERYTHING about Sentry (and Bob, and Void). About all of them and their severe trauma.

They want at least one person in their life who won't betray them or try to hurt them.

Sentry started listening to Valentina when she, again, only said a few kind words to him. He obediently did what she told him to do, even though he didn't want to, all so that someone would stand by him and tell him he was worth something. 

And it ended just like so many times before in Bob’s life – no one cared about him as a person and about what he wanted.

All of Bob, all sides of him, want someone for the first time in their life to be there for them, support them and see their worth.

And the further it goes, the worse it gets:

Bob is hopeful, even though there’s so much pain and sadness in him. 

Sentry is hopeful too, but there's an aggression in him when faced with attempts to trick him, to manipulate him again. 

and Void – no hope at all.

And lastly, I'll add:

when Sentry becomes close to the bolts just as Bob is (as his normal self, not in his mania state), he will be ready to kill anyone for them and to die himself (which thankfully is almost impossible).

Everyone’s screaming that Bob is a sweetheart, but so is Sentry (and so is Void). And that’s a fact, that’s one human being.

They all want to be loved and understood and to matter to someone.

again quoting Florence Pugh

Bob – cute and sad

Sentry – trying and traumatized

and I’ll add from myself

Void – beyond depressed and hopeless

and I love all of them, all of Bob, very very much

[dunmeshistash]

Ryoko Kui Q&A (part of the Autograph event in Shanghai, China)

Here's the full Q&A copied from the post by Minute_Profession_34 on reddit

Original on weibo

About Ryoko Kui

Q: You have created a lot of interesting short manga in the past, do you have any favorite short manga by other artists?

A: A classic choice though, I think it's the collection of short stories by Fujiko F. Fujio. Other impressive works include "Hanshin: Half-God" by Moto Hagio, "Hanashippanashi " by Daisuke Igarashi, "茄子" by 黑田硫黄, "Skygrazer" by Ishiguro Masakazu, and "Tabi (The Journey of Life)" by Irie Aki. However, I haven't really read many short manga compilations.

Q: Do you prefer to create short manga or longer ones?

A: Long manga.

Q: Do you have a game that you highly recommend to fans?

A: Although not a game title, Steam Deck is the best thing I have bought in the last few years.

Q: What kind of music genre do you like?

A: I'm really not a music person and don't listen to music at all. Sometimes I listen to something like Tropical House.

About the creation & worldview of Dungeon Meshi

Q: Is the main storyline of the comics conceived at the beginning? Is the final ending adjusted during the serialization process?

A: I decided everything from the beginning. It may sound overly pretentious to say that, but I am the type of person who cannot move forward with each and every story unless I have decided on the main flow of the story. Of course, there are parts that I changed during the process because I thought, "I was going to do it this way, but it might not be natural," and there are parts that didn't work out the way I wanted them to. However, I think the story turned out to be roughly what I had in mind at the beginning.

Q: Will people outside of the dungeon incorporate the use of magic into their daily lives?

A: It would depend on the region. There are many sorcerers in elven and gnome cultures, but I don't think you will find many in dwarf and most short-lived cultures.

Q: What secrets of ancient magic are the elves hiding? Why would one be punished for doing anything related to ancient magic?

A: It is about the existence of Demon. They restricted that information because they didn't know what effect it would have on the world if the existence of Ddemon became known.

Q: How do adventurers know the time? Is there any dungeon having a different time flow from the normal world?

A: Some people bring things like clocks, but most only use their biological clock. There are also Dungeons where the flow of time is different from that on the ground.

Q: In the world of Dungeon Meshi, how do you deal with natural disasters, what would Laios or Marcille or Canaries do when there's a drought or a storm?

A: I don’t think it is so different from us.

About characters in Dungeon Meshi

Q: It’s about to give the new puppy a name again. Can Laos still beat Falin?

A: 7 out of 10, Laios will win. Or it may be decided by rock-paper-scissors or a raffle.

Q: Who will inherit the Golden Land after the passaway of Laios? The children and grandchildren of Yaad? Or the descendants of Laios? Or will there be a new Devourer?

A: Maybe the descendants of the Laios will inherit it, or maybe it will be passed on to someone with no blood ties at all. Or perhaps the monarchy will be abolished.

Q: Will Laios continue to eat monsters in the castle? And who will cook, maybe someone better than Senshi?

A: Many people in Merini are good cooks, but Senshi's cooking must be special to Laios. He may invite Senshi to cook from time to time.

Q: Where will Falin prefer to travel to?

A: She may prefer places where she can see landscapes and cultures she has never seen before.

Q: Would Marcille befriend a half-elf, such as Fionil? Since half-elves shouldn't think too much about longevity amongst themselves. Or would they not consider race as a factor to make friends but by fate?

A: Because mixed species in this world grow at very different rates and have very different abilities from person to person, there is often not much of a sense of sameness when you first meet them. They may or may not become friends as a result of interacting with each other as we would with any other human being.

Q: Is there any special meaning of Marcille and her mother's ribbons on the neck? And what about Cithis’s ribbon?

A: In elven culture, people with magic tattoos on their necks sometimes wear decorations covering their necks to hide the tattoos (mainly military personnel) This has spread to the general population, and many people wear decorations on their necks even if they do not have neck tattoos. Marcille and her mother's ribbons are just for fashion. While Cithis may have something special.

Q: Why wouldn’t Cithis wear a gorget? Or she’s not afraid of Dungeon Rabbits?

A: Maybe it’s suffocating or simply not liking it? The head-cutting Dungeon Rabbit is a fearsome monster, but it is not the first thing for the rear guard to be on the lookout for.

Q: How will Izutsumi and Falin get along with each other?

A: They may work together if necessary, but I doubt that Izutsumi will actively show interest in Falin (as she does with everyone).

Q: Itsuzumi has a beast soul mixed with a small amount of human soul, and does she shapeshift between a beast-man and a beast form like Lycion?

A: It can be done, but once transformed, she may no longer want to return to her human form.

*This Q&A seems to be strange

Q: What would Thistle do if he attended the former dungeon masters meetings?

A: Perhaps he would feel angry at the incompetence of other masters (their dependence on the devil).

Q: How did Milsiril accept Helki to stay by her side? After all, she hated elves and was bullied by her Canary teammates.

A: In the past, Helki was abandoned by his comrades for various reasons, and she could not leave him alone.

Q: Has Kabru ever had a real relationship with a girl? If so, what race or personality type of the girl was she?

A: I don’t think he cares about race, etc...

Q: What kind of soba will Mithrun make?

A: I hope he can make delicious soba.

Q: I would like to know the name of Mithrun’s brother or his brother’s crush!

A: His brother's name is Obrin (オブリン). I haven't thought of a particular name for his brother’s crush, so I'll name her appropriately now. Hmmm. Sultha (スルスハ).

Q: Since Mithrun used to assist Canary from behind, I wonder what kind of weapons he was good at using? Or was he good at using no weapons? (this is new info from the Korean Q&A)

A: He used a magic staff similar to that used by Pattadol. He was issued with the same one by the team. However, he no longer carried it because he lost it easily.

[hgfictionwriter]

Still Yours

Jessie Fleming x Reader

Summary: Jessie spent years avoiding vulnerability, holding everything in and doing her best to meet everyone's expectations. When she finally cracks, it could cost her everything she holds dear.

Warnings: Cheating. Angst. References to sex (nothing explicit). Language.

A/N: This is the cheating fic. It exists in the G!P universe. It's going to be several chapters that show the aftermath of Jessie's indiscretion. She's aged up in this to fit the storyline I was picturing.

“That’s a wrap.”

The corner of Jessie's mouth turned up just slightly despite the heaviness in her chest at those words.

“In more ways than one,” she said wryly as she mustered up a more fulsome smile.

Put on a smile. It's what she always did. Even when she felt lost and hollow inside.

“You made it through.”

Jessie’s smile grew less burdensome at the comment. She turned her attention to the woman who was now dismantling the video equipment.

“I owe you thanks for that,” Jessie offered. "It's no secret I hate this kind of stuff. But," she shrugged, "this was about as painless as it could've been."

Mia, the videographer hired for this project, shot her a smirk.

“I'm hardly owed thanks,” she dismissed as she collapsed the tripod. She set her eyes on Jessie and gave a light shrug. “It's not every day you get to do the retirement video for one of the country's national treasures. You may say you hate the camera, but it loves you and the fans do, too."

"Hm," Jessie voiced as she offered a tight-lipped smile.

National treasure. The fans. The crowds. The energy. The adrenaline. The stakes. This sport had brought her to tears so many times over the years - tears of frustration, of happiness, of pain - she'd experienced every emotion, every high and low. And now, it was finally coming to a close.

Long ago, she'd said there was life for her after football. She'd been confident of it. But now it was upon her, she didn't feel nearly as sure.

Football had been something she sort of fell into in a way. She was a natural. She worked at it - damn hard, too - but before she knew it, she was getting call ups to the national team when she was in high school. Full-ride scholarships. Drafted to top-tier teams across the globe. Record-setting transfer fees. The captain's arm band. Inheriting a legacy and doing her best to carry it forward.

She didn't plan all of this, but it became her life nonetheless. It became who she was. Expectations upon expectations being layered on year after year. At this point, she could hardly remember a life - or an identity - outside of it.

The trajectory had been thrilling and a blur. She was on automatic in a lot of ways - her next steps laid out for her by her parents, by agents, by coaches. Success came on hard and fast. From a skinny, awkward little teen running onto the pitch for Canada, to quickly earning medals and lifting trophies. To now - to riding the bench, missed shots, missed passes. Her mind could visualize everything she needed to do, but the body was no longer willing.

She didn't want to retire like this. The hope was always to go out strong and on top, but instead, it felt more like a whimper.

After her missed penalty resulted in Canada having another early exit in a major tournament - one more thing in what felt like a too-long line of misplays and shortcomings - she made a decision.

It may have seemed a bit of a knee-jerk reaction, but deep down, this had been nagging at her. It felt a long time coming. The highs of her early, even mid-, twenties, felt like a lifetime ago sometimes.

She'd spent most of her early life being a prodigy. People had nothing but high hopes and expectations for her since she was a teen. Praise and accolades raining down even if she shied away from it all. Still, she did her damnedest to be perfect. It nearly killed her sometimes.

She had expectations to live up to. And they could be crushing. Not that she let on. Even when she could no longer meet those expectations. Working herself to the bone to be the best, to be all the things people said she'd be.

Sure, on paper she'd achieved a lot. But in many ways, she felt like she didn't quite meet the highs laid out for her. She'd spent all these years chasing those expectations. How could she explain that she'd achieved the things she did, but still felt like a bit of an imposter. A disappointment. Unsettled.

She couldn't explain it. And she didn't.

Not even to you. Especially not to you.

You'd sacrificed so much to support her and her career. The travel, the time away, uprooting your life as she moved from one team to another, concessions within your own career to give hers space. Giving her a family - two beautiful girls, and raising them and taking care of them while she travelled around chasing her dreams. And you did it all with a loving smile and tender words.

She hated disappointing you the most. The thought terrified her. She loved you so much and wanted you to see the best of her. For you to feel like all of your sacrifices were worth it.

So whatever anxieties clouded her mind - and no matter how much you inquired - she did what she'd always been good at, setting them aside and carrying on. She gave a winning smile, was steady, and kept moving forward.

“Hey-”

She nearly startled as Mia's voice pulled her from her thoughts.

“-here’s that lens you asked about yesterday,” Mia announced as she handed it to Jessie.

“You should check out Wileton park before you go. There's incredible foliage and landscape there. Right up your alley, I think. You'd get some great shots," Mia went on. Jessie found herself giving her a smile of gratitude.

"That sounds great. I'll look it up," she said. "And, um, thanks. You know. Throughout this project. I appreciate, you know," she paused as she searched for the right words, instead just gesturing between the two of them, "this. It's been a relief to not have to dissect my career or next move every second."

"I got you," Mia offered with a quick wink as she swung her bag over her shoulder. "I'll see you in a few for the wrap party."

"Mm, can't wait," Jessie deadpanned with a facetious smile at the prospect of another big to-do.

The evening was about as casual as Jessie could've hoped for. Still, the crew made speeches about her and she had to speak as well. As kind and well-intentioned as it all was, it just felt suffocating. She may have grown more accustomed to attention over the years, but attention under this context stung worse than she anticipated.

She had a drink to calm her nerves. And another. And another.

She found herself gravitating towards Mia, yet again. And as expected, Mia just let her be. Didn't talk about retirement. About plans. About glory days. None of that. It was easy and the reprieve she needed.

"You know. This is your party. You don't have to sit through it if you don't want," Mia relayed with a smirk as she nudged Jessie with her knee.

"If I leave first I'll just disappoint the crew," she said with a brief chuckle, but dormant emotions and thoughts tugged at her in this state. Her smiled faded as her gaze grew unfixed.

"It's hard...having so many expectations." She gave a breathy laugh as sensations in her chest began to rise. "Yeah. It's hard. I don't...I don't like disappointing people," she finished with a smile that very much didn't reach her eyes.

Mia gave her a slight frown. "Who are you disappointing?"

"Mm. I don't know," Jessie with another small laugh. "Everyone, it feels like."

Jessie didn't know how it happened. All of a sudden, all of the worries that had been weighing on her that she'd kept so tightly contained started to spill out. The other woman just listened as Jessie began to vent. She didn't even get that far into it before she just stopped - emotions teetering on the edge. She felt fidgety. She needed to get away. To distract herself. Stop whatever these feelings were.

"Want to go?" Jessie asked, vaguely surprising herself with how much she wanted Mia to say 'yes' and to aid her escape.

"Oh, yeah, of course," she said as she quickly set down her drink.

Jessie hurriedly settled the tab, again, confused by her own unsteadiness - the way her hands shook as she paid. Must be the alcohol.

Before she knew it, they were heading upstairs from the hotel bar and were at Mia's door.

"Thanks for listening to me," Jessie said with a nervous laugh. Mia made a face.

"Don't mention it. I'm happy to," she said. "You're dealing with a lot."

"Yeah," Jessie replied distractedly, her eyes inexplicably drawn to Mia's lips.

Something was building inside of Jessie that was foreign to her, but tempting in a way. Some kind of pull that promised greater reprieve. Greater escape.

There was so much going on in her mind all the time. She just wanted it to stop.

Then, her lips were upon Mia's. A charge went through Jessie's body. It felt amazing. It was strange, it was dangerous, and it felt so enticing.

"I've been wondering what that would be like," Mia said with a smirk as Jessie pulled back. Another rush went through her at the encouragement and she dove back in for another kiss, now pushing Mia against the closed door and loving the way the girl subtly moaned into their kiss.

"I have to admit I wasn't expecting this from you though," Mia eventually said. This did nothing but egg Jessie on. It bolstered some kind of defiance within her.

"I don't always have to do what's expected of me," she countered.

"Are you sure about this?" Mia asked, eyes searching Jessie's. "You're married."

There was a cacophony of noise inside Jessie's head. It banged around inside of her until it nearly formed a dull ringing in her ears. Her heart was pounding. She couldn't think - didn't want to think. She just wanted to get away. Not be in this moment. In her own skin.

She kissed Mia again.

"I know."

--------------

Jessie woke with a sharp breath. Her eyes flew open to reveal a darkened room. Her heart began to pound and her breath grew deep and heavy, but it took her mind several moments to catch up.

Panic began to flood her system. Her breath quickened. She continued to stare up at the ceiling as memories and misguided decisions fell into place. Her stomach was in knots and her temperature spiked as she willed everything to just be a bad dream. But she knew it wasn't. She forced herself to turn and look.

There was Mia - some girl she'd worked on and off with over the past few weeks - a girl who was very much not her wife. There she was, fast asleep, naked and tangled in sheets.

Jessie's chest rose rapidly as she rubbed agitatedly at her face. What did she do?

She curled her fingers into her skin, nails digging in, but she couldn't even register the pain she was so entrenched in her thoughts.

Images of the past few hours filled her mind. Vivid. Graphic. She knew exactly what she'd been doing. She knew as she did it again and again. She remembered the feeling - some twisted kind of disassociative satisfaction - vaguely aware as Mia moaned in pleasure under her, how the girl writhed as she came.

It felt like an out of body experience at the time, but, there was no denying that she very much knew what she was doing.

Jessie climbed out of bed in a rush, but as carefully as she could to not wake Mia. She gathered up her clothes with jittery hands and slipped them on as silently as possible, fumbling several times over with how numb she felt.

Her legs hurriedly carried her down the hall to the elevator and to her floor. Her throat was tight and she sweat as her heart pounded violently inside her rib cage.

She fumbled with the key to her room, stumbling in and slamming it behind her. She unsteadily made her way to the bathroom and gripped the counter desperately as she began to gasp for air.

What little cognitive thought remained was begging and pleading for her to calm down, but her throat continued to constrict and her pulse grew stronger. She could hardly hear any thoughts above the rapid sound of her heartbeat and ragged breaths.

She clumsily turned on the tap, cold water rushing out and she pooled handfuls of it in her palms before splashing it onto her face. It felt good and she splashed more of it on her and rubbed her skin so roughly and vigorously that it hurt.

She finally looked - really looked - in the mirror. Her complexion had grown pale, but she had red splotches and welts from where she'd been rubbing. Her eyes looked bewildered and scared.

She hardly recognized herself. And she hated what she saw.

How did she get to this point? What had she done? And for what?

She pictured you.

Emotion crashed over her and she stifled a sob. She clutched her hand, desperately gripping and caressing the silicone wedding band she'd hardly ever taken off since she put it on 10 years ago.

She remembered worrying that you wouldn't like it, but instead you said it was sweet that she wanted to wear the band so much. She remembered clearly the way you smiled as you slipped it onto her finger that first day. She remembered the way her chest felt like it could burst she was so happy to be yours; how happy she was to put her ring on you, that you were hers.

Self-loathing began to course through her veins. How could she do this to you?

She loved you. She really, fucking loved you. If there were two truths in this entire world - one: she loved her kids, and two: she loved and adored you.

She'd seen so many relationships crumble. So many sputter and never really come to life. But you - your relationship, your love - it was special. And she was so grateful for it. You two built a beautiful life together.

And now...

She belatedly realized she was gripping the counter again, now with so much force that it left bright red imprints in her skin.

She stormed out of the bathroom and paced around the room. She grabbed her phone and clutched it in her hand. She couldn't think straight. It hurt to breathe.

All she knew right now is she wanted to hear your voice. She needed to talk to you. She needed you.

How fucked up.

Her hands still shook as she called you, lifting the phone to her ear and using every tactic she'd ever learned to coach herself to calm down.

The ringing of the phone stopped mid-tone as you picked up. Jessie's breath caught in her throat and her feet abruptly rooted themselves to the floor.

"Hey, baby." Your voice filtered through with a pleased laugh, sending goosebumps across Jessie's skin. "What are you doing up? Isn't it like 4 am over there?" You asked with another soft laugh.

A lump formed in her throat so large that when she opened her mouth nothing came out at first. She tried again.

"Oh, yeah, I-I couldn't sleep. So. I thought I'd call you," she said, attempting to laugh, but nothing more than a feeble huff came out.

"Aren't you sweet," you teased with a sweet laugh and it felt like a knife through her heart. Her jaw clenched painfully. "Any reason you can't sleep?"

Her eyes screwed shut as her mind snapped back to Mia beneath her, the girl's hands on her, her moans in her ear. She swallowed hard.

"I don't know," she responded quietly.

"Well, you have a quieter day today, don't you? Did you finish filming yesterday?" You asked.

"Yeah," she responded dully. Her hands shook again and she tried to will away the lump that persisted in her throat. She blew out a silent breath and forced herself to start walking around the room again.

"You finished and you didn't even tell me!" You said playfully. "You must've been celebrating too hard, you didn't even text me," you added with a laugh.

Jessie's gaze shifted up to the ceiling and she dug her fingernails into the palm of her hand in an ill-attempt to ground herself.

You legitimately were joking. There was no malice or resentment in your tone. And how did she repay you?

She racked her mind to come up with a response, but mercifully you went on.

"Hopefully you can rest a bit later today," you said.

"Yeah," she repeated quietly. She shook out her head. She needed to recover. Reset. "So, um, how was your day? How are the girls?" She asked, tone curious and anew.

"Well, I texted you earlier about Josie quitting. So. That sucked," you relayed matter of fact.

"Oh-right," Jessie said as she brought a hand to her face and sat heavily on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry. I remember now."

"It's fine," you said mildly. "I know you're busy," you offered graciously.

Another pang went through her chest.

"Ky presented her science project today. Ky! Come tell your momma how it went!" Despite the immense weight churning in the pit of her stomach, Jessie smiled as you called for their daughter. "Here, she's coming," you said more softly. The call muffled as it was handed over.

"Momma, I got an A! And Mr. Jensen said my project is one of the ones going to the finals!"

Jessie's eyes welled with tears immediately upon hearing her daughter's voice. "Oh baby, that's so great. I'm so proud of you."

"You helped me," Ky laughed.

"Not much. You told me what you wanted and I just helped put it together. You did the hard work," she insisted.

Kylen, her oldest - eight years old and wise beyond her years already. She had a knack for science and loved to learn. She was quiet around new people, but once she was comfortable she could talk a mile a minute.

She continued to regale Jessie with updates until another voice chimed in from the background.

"Is that Momma? Hey, I want to talk to her, too! Let me talk!"

Jessie smiled again. Harper. Her youngest at six years old. She inherited the creativity genes. She loved music and dance. And while Ky was a bit more internal with her emotions, Harper hardly ever was.

Jessie couldn't help but laugh as she heard the two begin to bicker over the phone until you interjected. Harper soon came on.

"Momma, will you be home for my recital this weekend?" Harper asked.

"Of course, sweetie. I wouldn't miss it," she said as she quickly wiped at a tear falling from the corner of her eye. She tilted her head back as she tried to stop herself from sniffling.

"Okay, good. I've been practicing every night like you told me to," she relayed very proudly.

"That's great, baby. I can't wait to see you on stage," she said.

"Mommy's going to do my make-up," she told you.

"Yeah?" Jessie said. "Sure you don't want me to?" She managed to tease.

"No!" Harper giggled.

As Harper talked, the weight of Jessie's actions continued to mount. Self-reproach was coming on strong and hard, polluting every second of what should've been a sweet call with her family. Instead, she felt sick to her stomach and the harsh voices in her head were growing louder and louder.

She had a beautiful life. And she knew it. She never doubted it. Yet she risked destroying it like it was nothing.

She was stuck in her head when she heard your voice in the background, drawing her attention back.

"-five more minutes and it's bedtime, okay?" She heard you say.

Both girls started to pout and complain, saying they wanted to talk more. You reminded them that Jessie would be home in a day.

Eventually, you came back on the line after she said goodnight to the girls.

"Well, that was certainly a nice way for the girls to end their night," you said. "They've missed you."

"I've missed them too," Jessie said, doing her very best to hold her voice steady.

"Kay, baby," you went on gently. "You should try to sleep again. You could probably still get an hour or so."

Her throat was dry and taut and she wiped at a fresh set of tears.

"Yeah," she said and failed at holding back a sniffle.

"You okay?" You asked, confusion and concern evident in your voice.

Jessie shook her head as her eyes fell shut. Her lip trembled and she pinched the bridge of her nose harshly.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine," she tried to reassure you, though she knew her voice betrayed her some. She sniffled again as her upset with herself grew greater. "I'm just missing you guys," she added.

It wasn't a lie.

"Aww. We miss you too, babe. But, we'll be getting a lot more time with you soon. Not too soon though," you said with a soft chuckle. Even if Jessie hadn't been forthcoming with you about her insecurities and stress, you at least knew it was somewhat bittersweet for her. As far as she ever let you know though, above all, she was ready and she was good.

"I love you," Jessie said, hating the way her voice quaked.

"I love you, too, Jess," you reciprocated. "Get some sleep, baby. You sound tired."

She didn't respond. Her body felt so heavy and she just stared blankly at the carpeted floor as her pulse pounded loudly in her head.

"Jess?" You inquired.

"Hm?" She voiced quietly, barely audible.

"Sounds like you're falling asleep already," you chuckled.

"No," she said simply, feeling inner resentment starting to boil again. She blinked back more tears, sitting up and steeling herself. "I just miss you and love you a lot."

You laughed softly into the phone and it was sweet and painful all at the same time.

"Someone's getting sentimental in their old age," you teased lightly.

Normally, she would've laughed. Cracked a quip of her own. Instead, it upset her.

"I've always loved you," she said resolutely, almost in defiance.

"Okay," you responded slowly, a bit of confusion creeping into your tone. "I was just teasing you, babe. I miss you and love you too," you said gently.

Jessie wiped irritably at her eyes. She was a mess. She didn't know what to do.

"Okay. I just want you to know that," she said simply, voice now timid and meek.

"Alright, love," you accepted. "Well, if you aren't going to try to get more sleep, I at least need to make sure the girls are getting ready for bed. I appreciate you calling though. It's nice to hear your voice. Keep me posted on everything, okay? And we can't wait until you're home."

Jessie had her head hung in her hand and her mouth quivered as she fought back more emotions. She nodded, working up the will and control to respond.

"'Course, baby. Kiss the girls goodnight for me. And have a good sleep tonight. Text me when you're up." She swallowed hard. "Can't wait to see you, too."

[mainstreamangel]

IM A SURVIVOR

Platonic!UCONN x Fem!Reader P. Bueckers x Cheerleader!Fem!Reader

Summary: You were deemed the team mom, always showing up for games and when problems arise they know they can count on you to take care of it.

Genre: Fluff

Warning(s): mentions of small injuries like papercuts, mentions of illness, inaccurate medical terms, religious mentions (just prayers).

A/N: Based off of Reba's song not Destiny's Child

WC: 4.7k

I was born three months too early.

Your mother had a home delivery and it wasn't planned. Now you were born under certain circumstances and when you were finally taken to the hospital and delivered to the PICU, the doctors had given your parents the rundown.

"Your child has suffered a few respiratory issues due to premature birth and there is a chance that she could have a weaker immune system since she was born so early. There is also a chance for seizures, intraventricular hemorrhage. This mean she could suffer brain bleeding and neurological damage. We would like to keep her for a bit to watch her over and make sure she's okay. This will also allow us to closely monitor and catch potential issues that may be caused by premature birth." The doctor explains.

Your parents' worlds shattered. They weren't sure what to do. Their baby was born so early and the doctors hadn't delivered good news.

"You should sleep. You must be exhausted from giving birth. I'll stay up to make sure we don't miss any information." Your father says to your mother.

"Alright, I'll try." Your mother wanted to say she was fine and she needs to be up but she's exhausted and can barely function.

She lays down on the uncomfortable bed and tries to catch some sleep.

The doctor gave me thirty days.

A little bit later a doctor comes in holding a tablet.

"Sir? Do you have a minute?" She asks.

Your dad jolts up and slowly walks towards the doctor.

"Your baby is beautiful, she is truly a gift, and I hate to deliver this to you under such circumstances. But because of how early your baby was born... It is likely she will pass give or take 30 days." The doctor says professionally.

Your father just stands there with a horrid expression. How was he going to break the news to your mother? Especially after everything you two went through to have this pregnancy. It was a miracle you weren't a miscarriage. It was difficult to get pregnant and by some miracle you were conceived under the moonlight.

He thanked the doctor and she went off to attend to another patient. Your father slumped back into the uncomfortable hospital chair staring at a random spot on the floor.

He tried to wrap his head around how this could've happened. Was it him? Was there something wrong with him genetically?

When your mother woke up from her sleep, she could see the distressed look on your father.

"What is it?" She mumbled.

"I... While you were asleep a doctor came in." He swallowed hard.

"She said our daughter only has 30 days to live."

Your mother broke down. Her shoulders shook and her sobs rang out. Your father tried to console her but he was pretty broken himself.

"We haven't even given her a name." Your mother cried.

"Well what were you thinking?" He asked.

"I don't know!" She threw her head into her hands again and cried harder.

Your father didn't know what to do. He tried to be strong but he just couldn't. He silently shut his eyes and looked down. Praying for a miracle. Anything that could turn this nightmare into well, anything else.

Your father mumbled a small prayer and then, a name popped up. Randomly in his head he took it as a sign. He said the name that had appeared in his brain.

"What?" Your mom asked.

He said it again.

"It's perfect." She smiled.

That's how you had gotten your name. As you fought in that PICU you had gained a few traits from your parents. Your father's determination and strength, your mother's will and empathy. Also, you had inherited her need to always be prepared. You had inherited her motherly love which you hadn't known you were going to use for a certain group of girls.

Time went by and your mother had been discharged from the hospital. They would go home and rest, recharging for everyday activities and then they would come and visit their sweet baby.

That day was like no other, work went on and then they would come and see their child. They had expected no progress and they had gotten even more solemn as it neared the passing date.

"Ma'am, Sir. There is something I'd like to discuss." The doctor said.

They had become a regular and had created a tight bond with your doctor. She had taken them to a quiet room as they sat down next to each other, your doctor across.

But I must have had my mama's will. And God's amazing grace.

She opened her tablet and turned it so it faced your parents.

"I don't understand?" Your father looked at the doctor for a better, verbal explanation.

"Your daughter is showing great signs of improvement. She's going to be alright and she will a live a healthy life.

Your parents start crying. They had prayed for a miracle and whatever they had done, they were granted that gift.

"She's going to be alright." Your mother hugged your father.

So I guess I'll keep on livin'.

The doctor stood with a bright smile, the joy she felt when families were going to be alright could never be matched in any different field.

By day 30, you were released from the PICU and were taken home and raised like a normal child. Your parents had loved you unconditionally and been there for every first. They spoiled you and treated like their princess because, well, you were their princess. A gift from God, and a miracle that only the special few get to experience.

Even if this loves to die for.

You had made it through elementary, and then middle school, you even got the chance to graduate from high school. All the schools you attended were local. Close to home and close to your parents.

Until college rolled around. Now you didn't really know where you were going to go. You never thought you would get the chance to get this far. Your parents had explained your situation and you were sad to hear about the things your parents experienced but you had ultimately agreed that you were happy that you got the chance to live.

You weren't sure what you wanted to do in the future and that made it difficult to choose which university to attend. You looked at different majors and read their descriptions trying to make some sense of it all.

Your parents were there every step of the way. Told you to consider things like can you see yourself doing said thing in the future? How's the pay? Will the field make you happy for a long time?

That's how you landed on the University of Connecticut. You were going to major in elementary education. You wanted to teach young children and change the lives of them at a young age. Help them grow, and shape their future selves.

'Cause your bags are packed and I ain't cryin'.

Your parents were in tears when you packed your bags, getting ready for the long trip to Connecticut. The journey was filled with laughter and solemn moments and relived memories. But nothing lasts forever. You arrive on campus and your parents help you settle in.

You're walking out and I'm not trying. To change your mind 'cause I was born to be.

"My baby's all grown up." Your mother cried again and you gave her another hug.

"I know you don't want to leave and I'll miss you too, but mumma you gotta go. It's getting late and I know how cranky you get when you don't get enough sleep." You murmured.

"Come on," Your father tears her away and they both say their goodbyes.

You take a deep breath and you look around your empty dorm. It was nice. Being alone. But it was also scary. Your roommate was supposed to be here before you but they had got transferred to a different university and now you had your own place. Double the luxury.

You literally spent the whole night making your dorm your new home. From cute fairy lights to posters of your favourite interests. You arranged furniture and made it a comfortable space.

It was about 2 AM and you finally finished. You didn't bother getting ready for bed, you kind of just crashed.

But your one goal was to join the cheer team. And through determination and a little bit of luck you were able to claim your spot with a good team who loves and supports not only you, but each other.

The first game you cheered at was the UCONN Huskies' women's basketball team. You wore a proud smile as you moved in your uniform. Your hair pristine and tidy and your energy full of life.

Paige noticed you immediately. It's not like she always looked at the cheer team, she never really gave a shit. She would just focus on her game and her team. But something about your energy stood out from all the boring cheerleaders.

You brought more to the table.

She came over to you after winning the game and you instantly hit it off. At the after party you two got drunk and she introduced you to her friends. They loved you and you loved them. You grew close to your girls even though you participated in different sports.

Because you inherited your mother's love you tend to rub it off on other people. Including your basketball friends.

Only 2 years have passed since then and you had grown closer to your girls. Especially Paige. She had asked you out after knowing each other for a bit and you two have never been better. In every waking moment of your time at UCONN, you've cherished and loved. They had deemed you the team mom, always tending to their needs and being the support that they can rely on. Your love is unconditional and you're always prepared.

That brings you to now, and a few times your "team mom" skills come in handy.

1. Azzi's papercut

You were in the library, a few books that were cracked open. Azzi had decided to join you even though you two had different work.

"Snoopy says it's time for a dance break! Snoopy loves a good dance break." You said sweetly.

You were tasked to practice reading out loud without stuttering and stumbling. You held up the book showing Azzi the pictures. She was your test subject and she was attentively listening to you. Kind of.

She was multitasking, pretending to be interested in your little story time and doing her work at the same time.

"He dances with Charlie Brown! He dances with Lucy! He dances with Linus." You add enthusiasm to each sentence and continue to practice your eye contact.

"You don't have to add little quirks it's just me." Azzi jokes

"I'm treating you like a child for the sake of practice, now listen." You laugh.

"I guess I am a child. Since you're the team mom, we're just your super energetic but amazing children." She says proudly.

"I wouldn't say amazing."

"Oh, so you hate us."

"Maybe." You try and say with a straight face but a small smile cracks on your face.

She shakes her head and picks up a loose paper.

"Fuck. Jesus." Azzi dropped the paper abruptly.

"You alright?" You asked, slowly lowering the children's book.

"Papercut. Fuck it stings."

Your baby cannot be in pain. Not on your watch. You dig into your bag and pull out a small travel first aid kit.

"Are you bleeding Az?" You ask, popping the lid open.

"No it's just open."

You nod and take her hand, assessing the damage. You hold her hand as you apply some healing cream and a bandage that fits the cut.

"That feel better?" You asked, looking at her.

"Yeah, thanks MOM." Azzi jokes.

You lightly hit her arm.

"Hey! I am an injured woman. I'm not sure I can play basketball anymore."

"The team would still function the same." You joke.

"Hey!"

You laugh and pick the book back up, where you left off. Azzi got back to your homework and thankfully you two were able to finish up in the library without any other "life changing" injuries.

2. Kaitlyn's fall

You were sitting against the wall as you wrote in your journal, occasionally watching your girls practice. It was a very squeaky environment, from the sound of voices constantly talking and the squeaking of sneakers on polished floors. It was a miracle you were able to get anything written in that book.

But you were used to the noise. Your girls were very noisy you had to say. Some more than others but you were not going to hold it against them.

A yelp cut your thoughts up as your head snaps as you see Kaitlyn Chen laying on the court holding her ankle. Quickly, you bolt up and race over to the girl. Her teammates were circled around her but not doing anything.

"Move." You pushed Paige out of the way.

"Hey, ma. Chen just had a nasty fall.

You get on your knees and look at the girl.

"Are you hurt? Does anything hurt?" You asked quickly.

You took her wrist and started to measure her pulse.

"Heart-rate's good." You lean down and closer to her mouth.

"Breathing's good."

"I'm fine." Kaitlyn laughs.

"Thank God. Does anything hurt?" You ask again.

"My ankle feels a little sore." She sits up with the help of KK and Paige.

You scoot closer to her ankle and take her shoe off. You peel back a bit of her sock and press around it. She winces at some spots and you let go.

"It's a little bit swollen but nothing too bad. Not twisted, cracked, sprained, or anything. It's going to be sore for a bit so just sit around, rest a bit and it should be better before game day. Avoid mass pressure for long periods of time."

You put her sock back on and help her put her shoe back on too. The girls help move her to the wall and she just sighs, thankful for a break. Auriemma had been pushing them more since their last loss.

"Damn, went all doctor on her, ma." Paige smirks.

"Again, there's a reason she's the team mom." Ice states, tossing a ball towards the net.

"Just trying to support where I can." You shrug. "She's all clear!" You shout at Geno from across the court.

He gives you a thumbs up and starts directing again.

"P, you better get back in there." You smile.

"Hold on, I just was wondering if you wanted to grab a bite after practice?"

"Sure, babe." You lean up and give her a quick kiss before sending her back out on the court.

3. KK's bedtime

KK and Paige were live, doing some fuckass dance featuring Paige's bad singing.

You shook your head and close your laptop.

"Alright, I'm going to bed. You two better keep it down." You stated.

Standing up, you walked over waved to the camera and gave Paige a light kiss on the head.

"You coming to bed soon?" You asked her.

"Yeah, soon, ma." She smiled.

UCONNIC5: they r literally so cute omg

PBNJ: i wanna be either of them idc who

azzifuddaround: their mom making sure they behave lol

You nodded and bid the two goodnight. All nice and ready you fell asleep quickly but were suddenly awakened by a loud crash. Looking at your phone's clock you noticed that it had only been 2 hours since you fell asleep.

When you get awakened from your sleep, you are not happy. You throw the covers away, your body soaking in the cold air. You wrap a blanket around your shoulders, the fabric following like a billowing cape.

You walk into the general area and still see the two on live. Now this time before you fell asleep, everything was fine. But now? There was furniture moved, new stains on the countertops and still 2 energetic children entertaining a bunch of people, virtually.

"What. The. Fuck." You furrow your brows.

The music they were playing stops abruptly and the pair turn to look at you.

"Hey, baby..!" Paige chuckled nervously.

"You said you were going to be in bed soon. Why did I wake up to an empty bed?"

"Lost track of time I guess. Sorry, I'll go get ready now." She hangs her head low and sulks. She gives you a quick kiss on the cheek and walks into your bedroom.

Now it was just you and KK.

"Hey..." She smiles, lopsided.

"You need to go to bed. You have practice in the morning and classes after. You're going to be exhausted." You scolded.

"It'll be fine." She dismisses.

"KK." You say, lowly.

You can literally feel the fear radiating off of her, with your tone.

"Going now. Goodnight." She scrambles away and shuts the door to her room.

You sigh and start to clean up. Move the furniture back, clean up garbage and wipe down surfaces. You were exhausted too, but it had to get done or else your brain would have started your day off as bad.

Finally, you were ready to go back to bed but realise that KK's phone was still propped up and on live. You furrow your brows and roll your eyes.

Comments still flooded the screen and you scanned them quickly.

opalopaque: damn she got that mama bear in her

tiredhipreplacement: if i got told off like that id want the ground to swallow me.

grandpounded: paige is lucky to have such a strong willed woman

You smiled at the loving comments and quickly say your goodbyes and goodnights. Ending the live you knock softly on KK's door.

A faint "Come in." was heard and you opened the door, carefully.

"You left your phone." You hand her the device.

"Thanks."

You sit on the side of her bed while she's snuggled under the covers.

"You doing okay? You know I only used that tone so that you would get a good nights rest."

"I know, and I'm grateful for that because I know I will literally die without sleep tomorrow."

"Just doing my job." You smile and rub her arm softly.

"Good night KK."

"Night."

You turn off the lamp beside her bed and shut the door with a soft click. Padding back to your room and saw Paige laying in bed, scrolling on her phone.

"Hey P."

"Hey, baby. Time for bed?" She put her phone down.

"Yeah."

You climbed back under the covers and then you decided that the space between the two of you was not good enough. So you shift closer and you put your body next to hers.

"It's nice that you care for everyone."

"I'd do it again, anytime."

"You'd be the perfect mother, you know."

"I fill the role because I know everything will crash down if I don't." You joke.

Paige turns the lamp off and you two lay there, winding down from the day.

4. Ice's jersey

You were getting ready to head to your final cheer practice before the big game. The huskies also had practice just in a different area of the facility. You were doing your hair before a knock at the door.

"Come in!" You shout.

Ice Brady walks in, her figure broad as she watches you curl your hair.

"Have you seen my jersey?" She asks.

She always misplaces her jersey before games and you have taken it upon yourself to make it a routine.

"It's hanging in the closet by the entrance."

"Thanks." She gives you a smile and walks off.

You hear more shuffling and the sound of her jersey being taken off the hanger. A moment of silence loomed around you as you counted up to a minute. Like clockwork she called again.

"Where are my-"

"Theyre under the shoe rack." You call again.

She finds her pair of sneakers and thanks you again. You shook your head as Paige pops into the bathroom.

"Do you know where my hair tie went?"

You sighed. This one was new. Paige had usually always kept responsible tabs on her belongings but not everyone can be perfect I guess.

You pull open a drawer and fish one out before handing it to her. Also, you slide her hair gel over to her so she can do her signature slick back for practice.

"Hey! Do you know where my-" Ice yells.

"Your keys are in the dish with everyone else's keys. You know this!" You roll your eyes and Paige laughs.

"Thank you for keeping track of our belongings, ma."

"Yeah, yeah. Don't know what you'll do without me when I'm gone."

"I don't plan on letting you leave that easily."

You smile and give her a soft kiss.

"Hey!"

You break the kiss and let out a frustrated groan.

"Your ID is literally in your pocket. It's where you always leave it. I'm literally going to start making you a list so you remember." You stormed out of the room.

Paige shakes her head and starts to do her hair. She also wonders what she's going to do when she leaves UCONN. What you two will become.

5. Cheering them on

Game day had arrived like clockwork and you were hyping up the crowds. Loud voices filled the court as fans from all over had come to watch the national champion game. UCONN v. USC it was an anticipated match and there were a lot of people rooting for both sides.

You pranced around in your uniform, your hair perfect as always. Your smile was bright as you cheered on your girls.

They were currently warming up and stretching as you did your routine.

By the time the game started you had finished the routine and now it was time for your girls to bring home the championship. The score was tight, 78-64, but your girls had managed to pull through.

Confetti rained all over the court and over people. You were ecstatic. You knew they had worked so hard to get to this point and with Paige's last year, you knew this meant so much more to her than you could ever imagine.

That's why, you stepped onto the floor and she came bolting through the crowd until she picked you up and kissed you in front of everyone.

Now your relationship was public but it was more on the back burner than the main focus of Paige's career. Sure it brought her attention but she stated specifically she wanted to be known for her skills on the court and that the moments with her close group was just a bonus.

"You did it, P." You mumbled in her ear.

"We did it." She kissed you again and put you on the floor.

"That hat looks good on you babe." You smirk, tilting it down slightly so it covered both of you.

"Yeah? Gonna keep it on later." She winked.

You lightly hit her and she ran off to go bug Auriemma.

You stood with your team and smiled happily as you basked in the win.

You really wanted to get home but unfortunately Paige had been stopped for a bunch of interviews and pictures.

You didn't mind though, she deserved it. She signed autographs and talked with fans. Now, you weren't as popular or famous as her but there were times where they wanted you in the picture or you signature and you happily obliged.

"So, Paige, what can we expect now that your time here at UCONN is up?" A reporter asked, pointing the mic towards Paige.

"Uh, hopefully enter the draft as the no. 1 pick and have my friends and family with me as I continue and hopefully improve my career." She smiles, looking at you.

"It's said that it is also your girl's last year here too? How will you two cope with the upcoming draft?" She asked.

"Our bond is so strong nothing could tear us apart. Whatever she wants to pursue, I'll support her and I know she'll support my dreams too." She smiled and waved at you after you waved first.

"Thank you, Paige. And good luck."

Paige walked back over to you and gave you a hug.

"You know, we wouldn't be here without you. Taking care of us and what not."

"It was a team effort then."

You smiled and leaned in, capturing her lips in a sweet but savoury kiss.

6. Paige's draft

The 2025 WNBA draft had arrived sooner than either of you had expected. Paige had shown up in a custom fit as she took the carpet. Her energy was attractive and her hair was alluring. Reporters and photographers shouting to get just one moment of her time.

"Paige, what team are you hoping to get picked by tonight?"

"Paige, we see you're rocking a nice outfit. Who's it by?"

"Paige, I see your girl is here to support you. Will she be in the crowd this evening?"

"Paige! Paige! Paige!"

Your girl handled it all with ease. Like it naturally came to her and you were so proud of her. Then you noticed something. There was a bit of red fuzz on her suit, promptly matching your red outfit for the draft.

Quickly, you walk up to her and brush it off her suit, and fixing her hair that was out of place. You leave a soft kiss on the corner of her lips and you wave to photographers before leaving.

In the time while you were gone, she had apparently got mic'd up and she warned you that she was.

"I'm mic'd. I'm mic'd." She smoothed her suit, this time a black suit, compared to her brown one she debuted on the carpet.

"Alright, P." You laughed.

You saw your friends in the crowd and gave them a little wave.

Paige's former coach, Geno Auriemma had taken his seat at Paige's table and you gave him a slight wave. You two had a good relationship. It wasn't as close as Paige's to him but it was still good. You both held respect for each other and you believed that was all that mattered.

"And with that, the first pick of the 2025 WNBA draft, the Dallas Wings select..."

You held your breath and waited in anticipation.

"Paige Bueckers, University of Connecticut."

You smile brightly and stand up along with the rest of her family. She turns and gives you a hug first and you give her a kiss on the cheek.

"You did it baby," You mumbled.

"All thanks to you, ma." She gave you one final hug before hugging the rest of the people at your table and going up to receive her jersey.

You pulled out your phone and started recording like a proud mother who just watched their child accomplish a major milestone. To you, she had.

"Paige Bueckers' girl is out in the crowd tonight. Looks like she's recording like a proud mother." One of the announcers says on TV.

"I'm sure she is very proud, along with herself and her teammates. The public can't wait to see what Paige accomplishes during her time in the WNBA. Her collegiate career had been phenomenal, there's no telling what she will do in the bigger leagues."

"As the no. 1 pick overall, she will be ensured to be a positive contribution to the Dallas Wings and furthermore."

Paige had sat back down and you gave her a proud smile.

"I'm so proud of you baby."

"Thank you. I love you."

You gave her a soft smile and held her hand under the table.

"With the second pick of the 2025 WNBA draft, the...." You continued to listen as best as you could but you couldn't have felt prouder of your girl.

She was on the road to greatness and you knew you would be there by her side.

It was time to retire the title, "Team mom" and start a new era as just... you. :)

A single mom who works two jobs. Who loves her kids and never stops. With gentle hands and the heart of a fighter, I'm a survivor.

[hisui-dreamer]

we are one

Characters: Trey, Ruggie, Rook, Sebek

Synopsis: You shared a night of passion with your lover before you left for the other side of the mirror, but fate's cruel hands strike once again as you realise you have to raise his child alone in your original world. Thankfully, your child is incredibly drawn to magic, and they opened a portal...?

Tags: slight angst, fluffy end because im a sap, fem reader, reader gives birth to a child, reunions

Word count: 4.5k+

Notes: im sorry this took so long lol, but part 4 is finally here!!

Part 1✧Part 2✧Part 3✧Masterlist

A few months passed as you settled back into your routine at home. Eventually, with the noticeable changes in your body, it dawned on you that you were with child—his child, your lover from the other side of the mirror whom you could no longer reach.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turn into months. You had adapted to the trials and tribulations of parenthood. Juggling the responsibilities of work, childcare, and household chores was no easy feat, but you found solace in the small moments of your child's growth and development.

Your child was a true joy to behold, a mirror image of their father in many ways, and you often see the ghost of your past lover in them. Having inherited his magic, your child experimented with their powers, leaving you to support them with what limited knowledge of magic that remained from your NRC days.

On one such experiment, your environment started to shift as a wave of magical energy engulfed you. When you opened your eyes again, he was there, right in front of you—

Shizuka (靜菓) with 静 meaning "quiet, still, calm" and 菓 meaning "confectionery, sweets, pastry"

your daughter had silky green hair the colour of fresh matcha and golden yellow eyes that were reminiscent of fresh honey

you named your daughter after her father's dislike of noise and his culinary abilities that never failed to amaze the whole of Heartslabyul

she's rather a quiet child, not very loud but too quiet either

she gets along with other kids perfectly fine, and she doesn't mind sharing or taking a step back at all, always choosing to go with the flow and not get worked up over small things

honestly she's really a mature kid

also just really good at being a peacekeeper and stopping other kids from getting into big fights

buut she does have a mischievous side and may tease her friends when she's in the mood to

at home, she's pretty obedient and will listen to you, but there are moments when she sneaks around

loves helping you with cooking, and her eyes sparkle when she's baking with you

she loves sweets and desserts, but thanks to your warnings about her dental health, she does stop herself from eating too much sugar

is slightly freaked out about cavities so don't you worry, she'll never need any reminding about brushing her teeth or late night snacks

when it comes to school, she doesn't put in too much effort, but you can tell she'd be excellent if she cared more about her grades

which is clearly shown when fixates on learning magic, always so focused that you'll have to call her twice before she snaps out of her trance

you can't blame her for giving it her all though, after all, you've never seen her more excited than when you told her how amazing a person her father is, calm and soothing like a gentle summer rain

once she puts her heart to it, there's really no stopping her

so on another normal evening, as you were cooking dinner while she was studying on the kitchen counter, you found yourself enveloped by a soft light

when you open your eyes, you find yourself standing outside a charming bakery, the fragrance of roses engulfing your senses

and peering through the bakery windows, was the man you had yearned for all these years

It was just a normal day of running the bakery for Trey. With the sun on the verge of setting, he began preparations for closing, when the soft chime of the bell announced a new customer's arrival. He turned around, catching sight of you. His eyes widened in surprise, mirroring the disbelief in your own.

Before words could be exchanged, Trey rushed past the counter. The warmth of his embrace enveloped you as he pulled you close. The years melted away, and the two of you were transported back to a time when you always had each other.

"Is this real?" he wondered aloud, your hearts pounding in sync.

You nodded into his shoulder, tears flowing freely down your cheeks. He pulled back slightly, brushing away your tears as his gaze softened, a warm smile gracing his lips.

"It's been a long time," he whispered. "I missed you so much."

he's just holding you tight, crying as he thanks the heavens for being so lucky to have you in his life again

trey returned to his hometown after graduation, helping out and eventually inheriting the family bakery

he loved incorporating your favourite foods into the store's selection, adding some new desserts from your world that you taught him, and always reminiscing on those tender moments when it was just the two of you in the kitchen

he always knew you had to go home eventually, but that didn't stop him from wishing you could be his life-long partner, supporting each other through thick and thin

so he's beyond grateful and excited to know you and his daughter(?!) shared the feelings even though you were apart

he's rather surprised about said daughter, but there would be no denying how similar they looked

shizuka is a bit nervous, tugging your skirt as she stares curiously at her supposed father

but Trey very quickly makes her feel at home, his warm smiles and even warmer hugs melting away all her nervousness!

he closes the bakery for a few days to help the two of you settle down a bit

this involves reunions with friends and of course, the clover family, who welcome you and their granddaughter with open arms

the clovers are just really really glad their son finally has someone in his life and that he seems a lot more energised now

Shizuka is very quickly introduced to uncle riddle!! who is very surprised but delighted by the behaving little girl who seems to stick to him a lot

uncle deuce and ace also get along with her wonderfully!! especially when Shizuka wants to play around with riddle for a bit hahaha

don't forget uncle cater who flies instantly to meet his new adorable niece and show her off on magicam!!

the three of you settle into a nice rhythm and you help out trey at the bakery now

Trey is very very affectionate with you always, pecking you on the cheek or nuzzling into your neck any chance he can get

Shizuka loves helping out whenever she can too!! she loves learning from her papa and sometimes will just spend hours watching him work

all in all, a blissful, simple family that Trey had always dreamed of, but never would he have believed he was so blessed to have the two of you come back to him

Trey gazed at the young girl, her silky green hair catching the light in a way that seemed surreal. With a heart full of emotions, he approached her hesitantly, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"Shizuka, was it?" he spoke softly, the name lingering on his lips like a prayer. "It's so nice to meet you."

Shizuka's gaze flickered from Trey to you, seeking reassurance. With a gentle nod from you, she turned her attention back to him, her eyes studying him intently.

Trey knelt to her level, his heart racing. "I know this might be a lot to take in, but I'm your father."

She took a small step forward, cautious but curious. Trey extended his hand tentatively, offering a warm smile. Without a word, Shizuka reached out, placing her small hand in his.

A soft smile graced her lips, mirroring the warmth reflected in Trey's eyes. With a tentative but genuine embrace, Trey enveloped his daughter in his arms, tears cascading down his cheeks. Shizuka, feeling the sincerity in his embrace, wrapped her arms around him as well, a sense of belonging beginning to bloom within her.

Kenji (賢至) with 賢 meaning "intelligence, wisdom, cleverness" and 至 meaning "to arrive at, to reach, to come to"

Kenji (賢至) with 賢 meaning "intelligence, wisdom, cleverness" and 至 meaning "to arrive at, to reach, to come to"

your son had the softest hair the colour of wheat, and blue eyes that reminded you of cloudy skies

you named your son after how clever his father was, and his endless determination to reach his goals

he's a really sweet kid, always eager to help around and even others when he notices they're in need

you've heard about the many experiences his father had when he grew up, so you've tried your hardest to make sure Kenji wouldn't have to go through them, knowing it's what your hyena would've wanted

but even then, he's never complained about not having enough, there's a subtle wisdom to him that really mirrors his father

though he differs from him in that he's always willing to share, because he knows not everyone can be so lucky

he may not be too good at haggling prices, but his puppy dog eyes work just as well!

he loves doing chores with you, always smiling and laughing that familiar laugh as he helps you sweep the floor while he tells you about his day

he loves cuddles and kisses!!! his favourite part of the day is climbing into your warm bed to wrap his arms around you, asking you for a goodnight kiss and sometimes even bedtime stories

his ears and tails are a bit of a problem, so you keep his hair a bit long to hide the ears, or just say they're fun accessories

you've told him how his father's determination to support his family and community shined through even in unfortunate circumstances, the resourceful and intelligent man he became and you fell in love with

his blue-grey eyes almost resembled a clear sky when he listened to you, asking you more and more questions about this amazing person

he'll try learning more to be like him, but his kind nature stops him from being too schemey

he's not exactly academic weapon material, but he's pretty quick at absorbing information and putting it into practice

and with lots of determination and practice, he somehow manages to manifest the very thing the two of you wanted, and before your eyes was the man who never failed to make you laugh with him

As Ruggie's eyes adjusted, your figure slowly came into focus, revealing the very person who took his heart with them. "Prefect...?" He whispered, his voice a mix of disbelief and overwhelming joy.

His usually carefree expression shifted to one of disbelief, and then a bittersweet smile spread across his face as the tears welled up in his eyes. Without a second thought, he rushed towards you, sweeping you into a tight embrace.

"You're here... You're really here, right?" Ruggie mumbled, his voice choked with emotion.

You nodded furiously, comfort washing over you at his touch. "Yes, Ruggie, it's real. I'm really here."

His hand reached up to thread his fingers through your hair, cupping the back of your head. "I'm so glad... So, so glad..."

he's holding onto you as tightly as he can, so afraid that you'd disappear into the light if he let you loose for even a bit

after graduation, Ruggie followed leona to become his official attendant, what with him knowing how leona likes to get things done, and his ability to pick up etiquette cues

he's also a great information gatherer, so he's perfectly able to assist leona with his foreign affairs

it's leona's voice that finally breaks the two of you out of your trance, him rushing over to investigate that weird light

the two of you pull back and you almost wouldn't notice it, but leona's smile has softened a bit from the image you had in your memory

Ruggie never expected himself to be a father, and things are going a bit faster than he'd like, but there's no denying he's absolutely grateful to have you and your kid at his side

almost immediately the next day, he takes you back to his hometown so you and Kenji can meet grandma and the neighbourhood

grandma bucchi welcomes the two of you so warmly, she even gets a little teary eyed when she sees Kenji, with him looking so similar to the very hyena she raised

leona and Ruggie delegate a room for you in the side palace, where they also live, so you'll be able to see familiar faces often

Kenji loves following his father around, picking up his mannerisms and wanting to learn more about being more schemey

Ruggie's a bit conflicted his angel of a son wants to learn his ways but even he can't deny those puppy dog eyes

uncle leona and guard jack also love spending time with him! though one of them pretends it's annoying

leona shows him magic tricks and jack will teach him how to fight! he'll be getting great lessons all around

Kenji is very eager to learn more and explore this world, so sometimes you'll have to hold him back a bit just in case he gets hurt

but you suppose with the splendid man his father is, you don't have to worry too much

Ruggie's schedule can be a bit hectic and he pulls a lot of late nights, but he always tries to make time for his family

they're the most precious thing to him in the entire world, did you think he'd let them go that easily?

"Dad!" Kenji exclaimed, darting over to grasp at the fabric of Ruggie's pants. "You're my dad, right?"

Ruggie blinked in disbelief, shifting his gaze towards you. "Is... Is he?" he asked, hope saturating his voice.

You affirmed with a nod, and Ruggie redirected his attention to Kenji. "Yeah... I'm your dad..."

Instantly, Kenji wrapped his arms around Ruggie's legs. "Yay! I've always wanted to meet you, Dad!"

Ruggie couldn't help but marvel in awe at the bundle of joy now clinging to his legs, realizing that this spirited kid was the product of your love.

Ayaka (斐佳) with 斐 meaning "elegance, beauty, grace" and 華 meaning "flower, splendour, brilliance"　

Ayato (斐斗) with 斐 meaning "elegance, beauty, grace" and 杜 meaning "forest, grove, woods"

maybe a part of you should have expected it, with how unpredictable your beloved hunter always has been, but you ended up having to raise twins

the two had luscious golden locks that rivalled sunlight and sharp green eyes akin to the forests in the summer

you named the two of them after their father's love for all things beauty and his love for forests and nature

the two are well-behaved children, though they can be surprisingly sneaky and mischievous

Ayaka is more outgoing and is always fascinated by the pretty things in her vicinity

while Ayato is more introverted and quiet, often silently following his younger sister and nodding along to her ramblings

he definitely appreciates beauty, but he's less vocal about it

and whereas Ayaka is more fascinated by gems and cute plushies, Ayato is more interested in nature, finding beauty in the moss, the trees and the insects

the siblings are just really really curious about the world and they love observing the little details, from catching beetles to keep as pets, to planting flowers they found on a hike

they really do reflect your hunter's wide range of appreciation

the twins love sticking to each other and they're rarely arguing

though they do fight a bit over who helped you more with chores or who you love more

they're very helpful and efficient, and though they may complain about not wanting to work because the other twin is lazing, they'll still get the job done

they love watching tv shows and dramas, often acting out scenes in the shows or in fairytales

and oh the way their eyes sparkled when you told the fascinating man their father was, a man who could control his own heartbeat, keep track of time so accurately, and with such incredible eyesight, who devoted himself to spreading joy and beauty

almost immediately they doubled their efforts in studying, wanting desperately to meet the man to learn his ways and see for themselves just how interesting he is

and just like that, the dazzling light gradually subsided, unveiling a world that you thought only existed in your dreams

you remember the villa, it's where he took you on vacation for the first, and supposedly last time

You hesitantly knocked on the weathered wooden door of the villa, the echoes of your anticipation mingling with the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. As the door creaked open, memories flooded back to the first time you entered this place with the man who had captured your heart.

Rook's usual stoic expression shifted, replaced by a mix of surprise and unspoken emotions. "Mon amour... You're really here," he murmured, his voice a tender whisper that hung in the air. Without uttering a single word, he enfolded you in an embrace, as though afraid you might slip away like a fleeting dream.

"I missed you so much," you whispered back the tears flowing freely now that you've felt as you savour the warmth of his touch and the comforting scent of his cologne.

He pulled back, soft brushes of his fingers wiping your tears, his eyes lingering on your face as if trying to capture the essence of the time that had passed. "I missed you too, so dearly..." he admitted as tears threatened to spill from his eyes, a rare vulnerability in his gaze.

this was the most emotion you'd seen from him, even when you said goodbye he kept a smile on his face

he's holding you so delicately, as if you were going to fade away if he applied just a bit more pressure

he's surprised by the children, but he instantly warms up to the idea!

he's remained a pursuer of beauty even after graduation, sponsoring artists while he makes a living through hunting and his film critique

he was taking a break in the family villa for old times sake, but it's almost as if the universe planned it all along

he's very affectionate with you, even more so than before, which you didn't even know was possible

always a warm hand on your waist, an occasional peck on your cheek, and every once in a while he'll feel the urge to pull you in for a hug

he tries to do everything for you so you don't even have to lift a finger, breakfast in bed, waking the children, even cooking and cleaning

he loves spending time with the twins!! teaching the two of them how to hunt and explore the forest safely

he'll show them pretty plants, and interesting fungi, all while explaining what properties they might have and whether or not they're poisonous

the twins are so fascinated by everything, their excitement and energy are seemingly endless

and who's a father to deny his children? he spoils them rotten

he also loves showing the kids a certain idol he's supported...

as well as films of vil!! occasionally talking over the movie to express how perfect a scene is or how flawless his acting is

and when the twins get to meet the vil schoenheit, they're beyond thrilled

asking questions, throwing compliments, all directed towards vil, but they're quiet the moment he tells them to shush

uncle vil loves talking to his niece and nephew, but only when they're... calm

uncle epel also loves popping by and giving the twins some apples so they'll get proper nutrition!

really, you'll have to step in to prevent your kids from being spoiled rotten

but you'll indulge Rook for a while, he's just blissfully happy with his family after all

"Are these...?" he began, his voice trailing off as he looked at the children with a mix of awe and wonder.

"Ours," you answered, a gentle smile gracing your lips as you delicately wiped away the tears that had welled up in your eyes. "Meet Ayato and Ayaka."

The hunter knelt down to their eye level, his usual face softening into a loving. "Ayato, Ayaka," he said, his voice gentle, "It's so nice to meet you. I'm your father."

The children exchanged glances before Ayaka stepped forward. "Hello father!" she exclaimed, throwing her tiny arms around him.

Ayato, the quieter one, followed suit with a nod, a shy smile on his face.

The hunter embraced them both, a warmth in his eyes that spoke volumes. "Such angels... Mon amour what a blessing you've granted me...," he sighed as he held them close.

Atsuki (惇貴) with 惇 meaning "sincerity, loyalty" and 貴 meaning "precious, valuable, honourable"　

your son had curly hair with the softest shade of light green, and piercing golden eyes with slits that reminded you of reptiles

you named your son after the chivalrous values his father had devoted his life to

he's a rather loud and excitable child, always forgetting to control his volume when he gets too emotional

doesn't really get along with other kids, but it doesn't affect him much, he's just happy to have his mama with him

if he's done something wrong, you don't even need to yell at him really, most of the time he's already holding back tears at the thought of disappointing you

very into sports and is also really good at several sports, he's earned a couple of medals and trophies already

he's not the best at magic, and you're also not too sure how his dark fae blood affects that, but he's still pretty good at making progress

he really is just a good kid who tries hard at everything and tries to make the right decisions, but he's quick to get disappointed when things don't go his way, and suddenly you're faced with a very familiar and endearing puppy dog face

so a lot of times, you'll just have to pull him in a hug, and remind him things almost never go the way we plan, and it's okay to accept defeat and learn from it

but there's nothing he's more motivated about than learning more about his dad, who in his mind, is an honourable, talented knight straight from the fairytales who devotes his life to protecting the people important to him

so much so, that you'll find him swinging around the toy sword you got him for training

he'll also start putting even more effort into learning magic, wanting to connect to his amazing papa in a way

and then on one night, you're not sure what triggered it, but he's incredibly emotional and crying about how he can't help you and you're always taking care of him and he just wants to have his dad in his life and it's all so unfair why his mama is alone and-

he starts emitting bright light, so bright you can't keep your eyes open, but you reach to hold him in your arms

when you no longer feel the bright light, you tentatively open your eyes, only to find yourself standing in the dark, spacious throne room of Briar Valley

and standing there, right next to the throne, was your knight in shining armour

Standing next to the grand throne, was your knight in shining armour, Sebek. He, along with Silver, stood in positions of defence, but the moment his eyes met yours, the mask of composure crumbled, and he rushed toward you with an urgency that mirrored the longing that had lingered in his heart during your separation.

He enveloped you in a fierce embrace, his arms securing you but also gentle to not hurt you with his armour.

"I thought... I thought I lost you," Sebek's voice was a shaky whisper against your ear, his grip on you tightening as if trying to confirm that you were indeed real.

"I'm here, Sebek. I found my way back," you reassured him, feeling the softness of his hair against your cheek.

"I never thought I'd see you again," he admitted, his words a whispered admission of the fears he had harboured, pressing his forehead gently to yours.

he's a mess the instant he sees you, and he melts completely when you're finally in his arms

malleus and silver are also immensely happy that you're back, calling lilia to join the family reunion

Sebek's pretty overwhelmed with your presence on its own, so silver and lilia have given him a gentle push to actually function and introduce himself to Atsuki

he's grown to be less awkward with his affection, and particularly with how long you've been away, he doesn't hold back too much

his hands are always inching closer to touch you, his forehead resting on your shoulder every once in a while, it's all really endearing

but his parenting style is a bit awkward

Atsuki really admires him, but that also makes him ever so slightly afraid of him

meanwhile, Sebek is nervous because he doesn't want to do anything that ruins the image of a perfect knight for his son

so they're a bit awkward, but with you as the middle person they can get along pretty well!

they bond over training, with Sebek teaching him sword fighting (with you reminding him not to push him too hard)

Atsuki also really enjoys sparing with uncle silver, who always lets him him, but Atsuki just wants him to fight for real, so it's just silver being "this is real??"

uncle malleus taking him out for gargoyle studies (Sebek is jealous lmao)

and of course, uncle lilia who cooks extremely nutritious meals that always end with Atsuki puppy dog eying you to save him

sebek's family is also very very happy to have you two!!

grandpa baul grumbles around a lot, but he keeps note of Atsuki's favourite foods to prepare them when he visits

also comments on his sword fighting and stance when he feels like it

mom and dad also adore you guys!! mrs. zigvolt loves giving you gifts and talking about sebek when he was younger haha

all in all, sebek's so incredibly grateful you could come back to him, and though he's still awkward with his affection sometimes, he'll never stop trying his best to love the both of you

Atsuki's eyes widened as he took in the sight of his father, the mythical figure he had only heard tales of until now.

Sebek's gaze shifted from you to Atsuki, and his breath caught. His eyes softened as he knelt down to be at eye level with the child who was undeniably his son. "Hello," he said, his voice trembling with a mix of joy and uncertainty. "I... I'm your father."

Atsuki's eyes flickered with a mixture of awe and excitement. "Papa?" he questioned, his voice barely above a whisper.

Sebek nodded, his hands trembling slightly as he reached out to gently cup Atsuki's face. "Yes, little one. I'm your papa."

The room seemed to hold its breath as father and son locked eyes for the first time. Atsuki, still processing the enormity of the moment, broke into a wide, joyful smile. "Papa!" he exclaimed, launching himself into Sebek's arms.

Sebek, overwhelmed with emotion, held Atsuki close, a mix of laughter and tears escaping him. "I've missed so much, haven't I?" he murmured, his heart swelling with love for the son he never imagined to exist.

Part 1✧Part 2✧Part 3 ✧Masterlist

if you liked this post, don't forget to reblog!

[acesw]

Disabled Characters in Reverse: 1999 - Part 1

Hello! With the new patches having been announced over the course of time, I figured it was time to renew an old lore-post of mine. This is the list of disabled characters in R:1999.

I posted these on twitter last week, but I decided to wait until the release of 2.2 so that I could uplift some spoilers for the game. Some minor spoilers ahead for 2.3 and 2.5 are ahead!

From the length of the entire text alone, I've separated it by 3 posts. This post here will guide you in the known characters who are physically disabled. I now have 14 characters in the main spotlight here, and I hope you enjoy reading this incredibly long post. So now, let's get started.

Chronic Illness: Cristallo, Rabies, Erick, Semmelweis, Barbara

Cristallo was born prematurely, with an added condition that makes her physically fragile. As seen in the game, she needs a life-support system to maintain her health when she’s outside. It’s also implied that her condition may be a recurrent cancer, as her arcane abilities are tied to a machine that provides cobalt therapy, a known advancement in radiotherapy in the post-WWII era.

In Sotheby’s anecdote, it’s been noted that Cristallo needs extra accommodations to her room, and it’s crucial that the electricity is kept running; she would risk having episodes like seizures otherwise.

Rabies is an odd case. In his stories, it’s stated that Adam Miłosz cured Alicia of rabies through unknown means, at the cost of contracting the disease himself. However, instead of the virus being acute and guaranteed to be fatal, it became a chronic illness to Rabies due to the abundance and use of arcanum.

Since the rabies virus attacks the brain, his cognitive capabilities and ability to recall things before the present had been impaired, making him rather docile and animal-like in nature as a result.

As revealed in her anecdote, Erick has a hereditary blood condition that came with her arcane skill. While her arcane skill grants her insane strength, overusing it will accelerate the effects of her blood condition to the point that it can turn fatal. To prevent this, she also inherited an armband from her grandfather, Harald. The armband suppresses Erick’s ability to use arcane skills, but by extension it also prevents her condition getting worse.

Semmelweis’ journey in the roguelike has been very clear that she suffers from the Beyond disease, a parasitic and incurable disease that mainly affects the brain by heightened hallucinatory symptoms paired with vampiric-like symptoms. The disease has a high fatality rate, but survivors tend to be granted abilities and urges equivalent to that of a vampire.

Semmelweis keeps her symptoms at bay through Lorelei’s arcane skill, and maintains her urges with sweets such as chocolate. While the Beyond Disease is most known for being passed on via contact, (e.g. biting) it has also been found to be genetically carried by some people.

(Bonus mention: Valentina is also a canon survivor of the Beyond Disease, having become a full vampiric-like being. She was the one that bit and infected Semmelweis)

Being born as a cross of 3 different beings, Barbara was born with a delicate body and she suffered a multitude of conditions growing up. Among them, asthma and insomnia were the most prominent. These conditions were incredibly debilitating for her growing up, and they continue to persist til her adulthood. Because of these medical scares (and her instinctive tendencies), she also has anxiety. For this—and strangely enough—her conditions can be alleviated with stuffed toys and the country music that she keeps on her at all times, much to her chagrin.

Amputees: Shamane & Willow

Shamane lost his left arm as a punishment for his previous failures. But after having lived without it for 20 years, the lack of it doesn’t bother him anymore. In fact, he finds pride in his loss, claiming it as a “token of bravery.”

Prior to the events of 1.3, he crafted his prosthetic arm as a means to avoid scaring kids. In his I2, we see that he was provided with a more modern prosthetic, likely provided by Laplace.

Willow is mainly characterised by her ability to perform in floor gymnastics having a prosthetic leg. Even when she lost her leg when she was younger, it didn’t stop her from performing to the best of her capabilities and reworking her skills in floor.

Blindness: Urd, Ms. Radio, Argus

Urd, despite her mysterious presence in the story, is most notable for her blindness. Throughout all her appearances, she's always found with a covering over her eyes, and has been referred to as the “blind woman” throughout the game many times even prior to her reveal. She also has recurring partial amnesia, with the “Storm” being the main cause of it.

She still chooses to travel across cities despite it, documenting her travels and insights about each place as the “Friend From Afar.”

Despite all the awakened lacking any eyes, Ms. Radio is the only character that has explicitly stated that she does not have any eyesight. She uses her body vessel and the radiowaves to be able to sense things around her, and is a generally sensitive entity.

Argus is notable for her vision impairment and partial blindness due to an untreated injury paired with her arcane skill. She struggles to see at nighttime, and has to activate her arcane skill to be able to do work. She tends to use picrasma candies to keep her arcane skill running for as long as possible.

However, Argus will tend to overexert herself and her arcane skill, which can result in her having temporary complete blindness. She refuses to have her injured eye treated nor be provided a prosthetic either.

Others

Mobile Disability - Noire

Our new character here, Noire, is most known to be a wheelchair user! Whether she was born with a disability or not, this aspect is incredibly important for her and I’m excited to see how that will go for 2.5.

Speech Impediment - Balloon Party

Balloon Party as a child had contracted an illness that caused her to have a persistent high fever. In the end, she awakened her arcane skill this way, with her being able to cough up balloons that can be harmful or a cure to anything. However, it might have also affected her speech because of the physical strain that comes from coughing, it results to Balloon Party’s speech being slowed and having abnormal pauses before she speaks again. 

Burn Scarring - Joe

Being a blacksmith, Joe gained a lot of burn injuries due to his work. He developed his skill over time, but it came at a cost; these scars became a part of him. Considering that Joe very likely never went to get proper treatment due to him growing up less privileged, it’s also likely that these scars crudely healed and can cause some pain. His scars are most prominently seen in his face, but they extend down the left arm and even both his hands, which are bandaged.

Albinism - Windsong

Windsong has indicators that she may have albinism; from her white hair, pale skin, and differently-coloured eyes. It can be assumed that she has Type 1 OCA, which leaves her to have the aforementioned features. There isn’t much beyond that mainly due to this being a popularized headcanon among the fandom, so what other symptoms she might have is open to interpretation.

Honorable Mentions

What is this section? The honorable mentions list is meant as a list for:

-Characters I realized I should've added here but it was too late

-Characters who have some headcanons/insights from other users from both Twitter and Tumblr, and I took it to consideration

I hope you enjoy these ones. :)

Oliver Fog - Depression, Arthritis/Chronic Pain (credited: @space-magician on tumblr)

Early on in childhood, Oliver had been exposed to how the London fog takes a heavy toll on his family and has experienced grief early on due to his father passing away from overexertion. It prompted him to start working as a (greatly desensitized) Fogwalker, feeling an unbearable weight on his shoulders metaphorically and even literally with how he struggles to get up in certain weather conditions. It hints towards him having chronic pain/arthritis due to the intensive nature of his work, as well as depression stemming from his grief.

Loggerhead - Short-Term Memory Loss

Loggerhead has short-term memory loss as an aftereffect of her awakening, causing her to slowly lose memory over the course of 3 days. However, Laplace provided her with a special film that allowed her to maintain her memories for longer.

Last Notes

Of course, these are only the first batch of this list, and I hope you'll have fun reading the next two installments here once linked. :)

Psychologically Disabled Characters

Neurodivergent Characters

Thank you!

[jzprncess]

threads of the past ౨ৎ

pairing : charles leclerc x reader

face claim : various people

main summary : Y/N and Charles grew up together in Monaco, sharing a close bond until her mother took her away after a family conflict. Many years later, after a loss she had to endure, Y/N returns to Monaco to fulfill a promise. There, she unexpectedly reunites with Charles, now a successful Formula 1 driver

part 2 previous

word count : 4,874

warnings: some designers do not exist in this au since i might take their fashion pieces!

note: my writing motivation is back. i honestly have the next part written out in my head. i hope you guys enjoy this one like you did the last. you may think this one is lacking unlike the last one but its the simple lore that was needed to build the story.

────୨ৎ────

Y/N sat frozen, her mother’s words from the letter echoing in her mind like a whisper she couldn’t ignore. Her fingers clutched the edges of the paper, creasing it as tears blurred her vision. She felt an overwhelming mix of emotions—grief, confusion, and a deep ache for a past she had buried but never truly let go of.

Go back to Monaco.

The words hit her like a tidal wave, crashing over her carefully constructed life in New York. She stared out the rain-speckled window, the city streets below buzzing with the endless motion of taxis, hurried footsteps, and life moving on. Her mother’s absence left an unbearable stillness, a void that no amount of city noise could fill.

New York was home now. It had been her mother’s dream to build a life here—a dream she had passed down to Y/N like an inheritance. It was where they’d built their routines, their traditions, their tiny world above the deli. It was where her mother had taught her to sew late into the night, where they’d baked cookies on Christmas Eve, where they’d danced in the kitchen to old jazz records on lazy Sunday mornings. New York was more than just a city; it was their sanctuary. How could she leave it behind?

But then, Monaco…

The memories were so vivid they felt tangible, like the scent of saltwater and fresh lavender carried by a Mediterranean breeze. She could see her father laughing as he helped her balance on a bike for the first time, hear the distant hum of the harbor as she and Charles raced down cobblestone streets, their carefree giggles echoing in the air. The warmth of those moments wrapped around her like a long-forgotten blanket, stirring something deep in her chest.

Y/N squeezed her eyes shut, guilt creeping in. She had tried so hard to move on, to create a life that didn’t revolve around what was left behind. But her mother’s words reopened wounds she thought had healed, forcing her to confront the parts of her life she had deliberately ignored.

Her thoughts wandered to her father. She had spent so many years trying not to think about him—about what they could have had if life had been kinder. There were pieces of him scattered in her memories, fragments of love and laughter that had faded over time. Now, her mother’s letter made her wonder: had she spent too long running from his memory? Had she missed out on understanding who he really was, or who she was because of him?

But it wasn’t just about him. It was about everything she had lost. The years she could have spent in Monaco, the friendships she could have nurtured, the life she could have had with Charles if things had been different. It all felt like a distant dream, one she wasn’t sure she could return to without breaking herself all over again.

And yet… what if her mother was right? What if Monaco was the missing piece of the puzzle?

The thought scared her. She had spent the last ten years building something here, something her mother had been proud of. She had grown roots in this city, and tearing them up felt impossible. Could she really pack up everything she had built, everything her mother had worked for, and leave it behind?

Her gaze fell to the letter again. Her mother’s handwriting, once so familiar, now felt like a message from a world that no longer existed.

“I don’t want to leave you, Mom,” Y/N whispered, her voice trembling. Her chest felt tight, the weight of the decision pressing down on her. She knew that going back to Monaco would mean facing everything she had avoided for so long. It would mean confronting her grief, her regrets, and the pieces of herself she had tried to bury.

But it would also mean honoring her mother’s wish, fulfilling a promise that had been made before Y/N was old enough to understand it. It would mean reconnecting with the parts of her that she had left behind, no matter how much it hurt.

Her tears fell freely now, landing on the letter in her lap. She took a shaky breath, her hands trembling as she folded it carefully and set it aside.

“I don’t know if I’m ready,” she admitted, her voice barely audible. “But I’ll try. For you.”

The decision wasn’t final—not yet. It would take time to gather the courage to face everything waiting for her in Monaco. But for the first time, Y/N allowed herself to imagine it. To picture the streets, the harbor, the life she had left behind.

She wasn’t ready to pack up and leave just yet. But in her heart, she knew the first step had already been taken.

Y/N tucked the letter into the top drawer of her desk, her fingers lingering on the handle for a moment before she pushed it shut. Her room felt smaller now, like the weight of her memories had made the walls press inward. She leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling, her mind still racing.

Hours passed in a haze. She busied herself with tasks she didn’t need to do—organizing her closet, rearranging the kitchen shelves, watering her plants even though she’d done it yesterday. Anything to avoid the gnawing ache in her chest.

By the time the sun began to set, Y/N found herself on the fire escape outside her window. She sat there with a mug of tea, the metal cold beneath her as she looked out at the city she loved so much. The skyline was painted in hues of orange and pink, the soft hum of life below serving as a constant reminder of why she had stayed.

Her phone buzzed beside her. She hesitated before picking it up, half-expecting a message from someone from Monaco who had heard the news. Instead, it was a simple text from her best friend in New York.

gracie : Hey, just checking in. You good? Let me know if you want me to bring over some food or just sit and scroll TikTok with you. Love you.

A small smile tugged at Y/N’s lips. Gracie always had a way of knowing when she needed a little grounding. The thought of her best friend showing up with her oversized hoodie, a random array of snacks, and the determination to turn any bad mood around made Y/N’s chest ache in the best way.

She glanced back at the letter, then at her phone.

y/n : I’m okay. Just… processing. But thank you. I love you, too. 

It was a lie—she wasn’t okay, not entirely. But how could she explain the turmoil in her chest? The memories of Monaco tugging her one way and the life she’d built in New York pulling her another? How could she tell Gracie that her heart felt like it was caught in a game of tug-of-war with itself?

The truth was, she didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know how to face the idea of returning to Monaco, a place she hadn’t called home in years.

Her gaze fell on the letter again, her mother’s handwriting looping across the page. The words “find your way back” seemed to glow, as though they were written just for her, meant to haunt her in this moment.

Gracie would understand—she always did. But this? This was something Y/N wasn’t sure she could explain to anyone.

Y/N stared at the stack of stationery in front of her. She hadn't written a letter in years—texting, emailing, and social media messages had long replaced the old-fashioned art. But this time, there was something different. Something final.

She had made her decision, but that didn't make the weight of it any easier to bear. She needed to say goodbye. To all the people who had made New York feel like home, who had helped her heal, and who had been there for her in the quiet moments of grief.

The pen felt heavy in her hand as she began writing.

Dear Leo,

I don't even know how to begin this, or if it will even do justice to how much you’ve meant to me. When my mom and I first moved to New York, we didn’t have much. You let us rent that apartment above your deli, and for that, I’ll be forever grateful. It wasn’t just the rent you helped with—it was the kindness, the way you checked in on us, and the warmth you always offered with your sandwiches. You were like family to us, Leo.

I remember the way you’d smile when I’d sneak into the deli just to say hello, how you’d ask about my day as if you had all the time in the world. I’ll never forget those moments. You became a part of our life in ways you may not even realize.

I’m writing this because, with everything happening, it’s time for me to say goodbye. I’ve made the decision to return to Monaco to deal with the past. It’s hard to leave New York, especially with all the memories of my mom, but I know it’s time to face what’s waiting for me.

I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for everything you did for us. Your generosity and the way you opened your door to us—it meant more than words can express. I’ll always cherish those memories.

Wishing you all the best,

Y/N

⋆

Dear my fashion connections,

First off, I just want to say how incredibly thankful I am for all the opportunities you’ve given me. Working with you, learning the ins and outs of the fashion world, and seeing my designs take life has been a dream come true. From the custom pieces to the small fashion shows, you’ve helped me grow as a designer in ways I never expected.

I’m reaching out because, as difficult as this is, I’ve made the decision to return to Monaco. The decision has nothing to do with my passion for design—it’s about facing my past and moving forward with the pieces of me that I’ve left behind.

I want to reassure you that I’m not stepping away from design. Fashion is part of who I am, and that won’t change. I’ll still be working on my pieces, growing, and pushing my creativity.

I hope we can continue to stay connected, and who knows what collaborations the future might hold. I’ve learned so much from you, and I’m excited to see where our paths may cross again.

With gratitude,

Y/N

⋆

Dear Gracie,

I don’t even know where to start. You’ve been my best friend for so long, and the thought of writing this letter makes it all feel so final. But here we are. I’ve made the decision to return to Monaco. I know it’s hard for you to hear, and it’s probably hard for me to say, but it feels like the right thing to do.

It’s been over a week since I opened the letter from my mom, and I’ve been battling this inner war—do I stay in the place I’ve built for myself here, or do I go back to the place I left so long ago? It’s not that I want to leave New York. God, New York has become my home. But Monaco has always been there, lurking in the back of my mind, and after my mom’s passing, I realize I have to face it. There are things there, pieces of myself, that I’ve left behind. I need to reconnect with them, and with the life I thought I’d never return to.

I’ve spent so many years here, with you by my side, making memories that I’ll carry with me forever. From all the late nights working on sketches to those impromptu trips to get ice cream, it’s all been a part of my journey. And now, as hard as it is, I have to say goodbye for now.

You’ve been my rock, Gracie. You’ve been my person when I needed someone to laugh with, someone to cry with, and someone to remind me that life keeps moving forward even when it feels like it’s falling apart. I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve been to me. You’ve made New York feel like home, and you’ve made my life better just by being in it.

I can’t imagine what life is going to look like without you by my side, but I promise you that this isn’t the end of our friendship. It’s just a chapter closing. I’ll miss you more than words can express, but I know that we’ll find a way to stay in touch, even if we’re miles apart. Maybe one day, I’ll bring you to Monaco, and we’ll share the life I left behind with you.

Thank you for being the best friend I could’ve asked for.

With all my love,

Y/N

Y/N had sealed the last envelope and taken a moment to breathe. The letters were sent—her goodbyes were final, and soon, the people she loved would know that she had made her choice. The cab ride to the airport felt almost surreal, like it was happening to someone else. She couldn’t quite believe she was leaving New York. Her home. Her memories. Gracie and Leo, even her fashion connections... everyone would soon understand that she was gone, but they wouldn’t get the chance to say goodbye to her in person.

She had made her peace, but the reality of it all hadn't fully settled in. The taxi sped through the streets of New York, her favorite spots flickering past the windows. Would she miss this? The city felt like it had become a part of her, yet she knew deep down that she had to leave.

At the airport, everything moved in a blur. Checking in, passing through security—it all felt so automatic. She wasn’t ready to face it, but she had no choice. Her bags were already packed, her mind made up. As she walked toward her gate, the weight of the goodbyes started to feel heavier, especially as she glanced at her phone, now filled with messages she wasn’t ready to read.

As the plane began to taxi down the runway, the thoughts of leaving New York began to catch up to her. She hadn’t told Gracie, not fully. The letter would speak for her. She had said everything she needed to in it, but the truth of her leaving felt too raw to say out loud.

It wasn’t just the city she was leaving behind. It was the memories of the life she built with her mom. The deli. The quiet mornings with Leo. The late-night baking sessions that had become so familiar. Those pieces of her life, the ones she had woven so carefully, felt like they were slipping away, but there was no going back. She had made her decision.

Her phone buzzed again, and she glanced at it for just a moment before turning it face-down in her lap. It was too late. She wasn’t turning back.

By the time the plane reached cruising altitude, the weight of the decision hit her in full force. The moment to reflect had come and gone, and now there was only moving forward. No more doubts. No more goodbyes.

Gracie would get the letter soon enough. The others too. She knew they’d be shocked, maybe even upset. But it was the right thing to do.

The next chapter had already begun, and Monaco awaited her.

Back in New York:

Gracie, completely unaware of what Y/N had been planning, sat at her desk in the quiet of her apartment. The envelope was plain, just like any other. When she opened it, she smiled, thinking it would be one of those notes from Y/N she always got—something lighthearted and full of her usual sass.

But when she read the words, her stomach dropped.

"Dear gracie," the letter started. "I don’t even know where to start. You’ve been my best friend for so long, and the thought of writing this letter makes it all feel so final. But here we are. I’ve made the decision to return to Monaco. I know it’s hard for you to hear, and it’s probably hard for me to say, but it feels like the right thing to do."

Gracie blinked at the letter, her heart racing. She stared at the words, trying to make sense of them. Back to Monaco? What did that even mean? Gracie couldn’t believe it. Y/N was just... gone? No warning? No final hug?

She read it again. And then again. But the words still didn’t change.

Y/N was leaving. For real.

Elsewhere in New York:

Leo stood behind the counter, wiping down the marble as he always did when the last of the customers had left for the evening. His gaze flicked to the envelope that had just been slid under the door.

It wasn’t unusual to get letters, but this one was different. He recognized Y/N’s handwriting immediately.

When he opened it, the familiar warmth of her words filled him with a strange ache. She was leaving. She didn’t say goodbye in person. Just... a letter.

“Dear leo,” she had written. “I’m writing this because, with everything happening, it’s time for me to say goodbye. I’ve made the decision to return to Monaco to deal with the past. It’s hard to leave New York, especially with all the memories of my mom, but I know it’s time to face what’s waiting for me. I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for everything you did for us. Your generosity and the way you opened your door to us—it meant more than words can express. I’ll always cherish those memories.”

Leo set the letter down slowly, the quiet of the deli suddenly feeling heavier than it ever had before. He knew it had been coming, in a way—Y/N was always so restless. But this was still a shock. A final goodbye he hadn’t been ready for.

Y/N stepped off the plane, the familiar scent of the Mediterranean air hitting her senses immediately. She hadn’t been back in Monaco since she was a child, and everything seemed both the same and completely different. As she walked through the airport, her mind buzzed with a thousand thoughts—some exciting, others overwhelming. She had chosen not to rent the house her family used to live in; it felt too much like stepping back into a past she couldn’t fully reclaim. No, she needed a fresh start. A new place. A clean slate.

She made her way to the car rental desk, the keys for a small, sleek car handed to her without a second glance. The driver in her could appreciate the smooth engine and the way the car hugged the curves of the roads leading up to her new apartment.

Her new apartment was on the quieter side of Monaco, away from the busy tourist spots, but still within easy reach of everything she might need. The building itself had an old charm, the kind of elegance that came with age. But inside, it was a modern mix of comfort and style. A space to breathe. A space to start over.

Her things were already waiting in boxes, ready to be unpacked. But before she dove into the routine of arranging her life, she stood by the window, gazing out at the panoramic view of the harbor below. The water shimmered under the midday sun, the yachts gliding past like fleeting memories.

It didn’t feel real yet. She had made her decision to return, but everything felt like it was in the air, just waiting to fall into place. With one last sigh, she headed toward the boxes, determined to start making this new chapter her own.

Y/N spent the next few days getting settled in. The apartment felt like a blank canvas, and she knew it would take time before it felt like home. The first thing she did was get the essentials—groceries, toiletries, some clothes to unpack—but there were no rush to make the space feel permanent. It was strange, but there was a certain comfort in taking her time.

She spent a lot of time staring out the window, lost in thought. She couldn’t help but wonder about all the things she had left behind in Monaco—the memories of her childhood, the friends she’d lost contact with, and the family she’d once known. It wasn’t easy to push aside those feelings of nostalgia, but she wasn’t here to relive the past. She was here to move forward.

She got to work organizing the apartment, focusing on small tasks to keep her mind busy. Her walls would eventually be filled with art, her shelves with books, and the space would come to life in a way that felt uniquely hers. But for now, it was quiet. Too quiet.

She hadn’t made many plans yet—apart from figuring out how to balance her life in Monaco with the projects she’d started in New York. A little bit of the old Y/N mixed with the new. She still wasn’t sure about everything, about what exactly she was supposed to do next, but she’d figure it out. Like she always did.

Y/N was sitting on her new bed, the unpacked boxes scattered around her, when her phone buzzed. It was Gracie. Her stomach dropped a little—she had hoped the goodbye letter would be enough of an explanation, but now Gracie was calling, and that only meant one thing.

Taking a deep breath, Y/N answered. “Hey, G.”

Gracie’s voice came through quieter than usual. “Y/N... what’s going on? I got your letter, but... I don’t know. I don’t understand. Why didn’t you say goodbye? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Y/N’s throat tightened. She had known this call would come. “I’m sorry, Gracie. I thought it’d be easier this way. I didn’t know how to say it out loud... that I was leaving.”

“Leaving?” Gracie repeated, her voice small. “But... why? You—everything was so good, Y/N. You were... you were happy, I thought. You always told me New York was your home, and now you’re... gone? Just like that?”

Y/N closed her eyes, feeling the weight of the distance, both physical and emotional, that was growing between them. “I wasn’t happy, G. Not the way I should’ve been. I had to leave. I needed a change. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but I wasn’t sure I could. Not yet.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Gracie finally spoke, her voice a little shakier than before. “I don’t get it. Why Monaco? After everything? After everything you built here, Y/N...”

Y/N leaned back against the wall, trying to find the right words. “Because... because it’s where I started, G. It’s where I was happy when I was little. It’s where I’ve always felt a connection to, even if I left. It’s... complicated, okay? But it’s where I need to be right now.”

Gracie let out a small sigh. “I just—why didn’t you let me in? Why didn’t you tell me you were struggling? I would’ve been there for you. I could’ve been there for you.”

Y/N swallowed hard, guilt weighing on her chest. “I didn’t want to burden you. I didn’t want to drag you into my mess. You’re doing so well, G. You have everything going for you.”

Gracie’s voice cracked. “But you were my best friend, Y/N. I would’ve done anything for you.”

Y/N blinked back tears, her hand tightening around the phone. “I know. I know, and I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.”

“I’m not mad at you,” Gracie said softly. “I just... I don’t know. I don’t understand. I don’t know how to feel.”

“I know,” Y/N whispered. “I’m not asking you to understand. I just—this is something I had to do. I can’t change it. I wish I could’ve been more honest with you, but I didn’t know how. I still don’t.”

Gracie was silent for a few moments before she spoke again, the sadness still lingering in her voice. “I just... I don’t know what to say to you. I feel like I’ve lost you.”

Y/N’s heart ached. “You haven’t lost me, G. I’m still here. I might be in Monaco, but I’m still the same person. I’ll always be your best friend. I promise you that.”

Gracie took a deep breath, her voice steady but soft. “I want to believe you. I just... I didn’t expect this, Y/N.”

Y/N nodded, even though she knew Gracie couldn’t see her. “I didn’t expect it either. I wish I could explain it better. But I promise you, I haven’t forgotten about you. I’m still here, even if it’s from a distance. I’ll write, or even better, i'll spam you with emojis everyday. I won’t disappear.”

Gracie was quiet for a moment before she responded, her voice calmer. “Okay. I get it. You had to do what’s best for you, right? I understand that. I’m sad, but I get it.”

“I’m sorry it had to be like this. I didn’t want to leave without telling you everything,” Y/N admitted.

Gracie gave a small, soft chuckle. “You’re y/n. You don’t have to explain everything. If you need to go, you need to go. Just... make sure you take care of yourself, okay?”

Y/N felt a sense of relief wash over her. “I will. And thank you, for understanding. You’re the best, Gracie. I’m so lucky to have you.”

“I know,” Gracie replied, her tone light but sincere. “I love you, and I want the best for you. Just don’t be a stranger.”

“I won’t,” Y/N said, her heart warm. “Love you too. I’ll be in touch soon, okay?”

“Okay,” Gracie agreed softly. “Take care, Y/N. I’m here whenever you need me.”

It had been a few days since Y/N had arrived back in Monaco. The shock of the decision had started to wear off, leaving a quiet sense of resolution in its place. Her boxes were unpacked, her clothes neatly hanging in the closet, and the apartment—though still unfamiliar—had started to feel more like hers with every passing hour.

The mornings here were different—brighter, lighter. It wasn’t just the sun, but something else in the air. There was a strange peace in being back, despite the swirl of emotions that still threatened to overwhelm her. It wasn’t like New York. It wasn’t the same life, the same chaos, the same pace. But there was a stillness to Monaco that made it feel like the right place to slow down for a while, to figure out what she truly needed.

Y/N stretched on the couch, the cool air from the open balcony window brushing against her skin. She had spent the morning walking around, reacquainting herself with the streets she hadn’t walked down since she was little. Nothing looked quite the same, but everything felt just as familiar. The places she remembered in bits and pieces—the ice cream shop with the blue awning, the park with the old stone fountain—had all changed. But that was to be expected. Time did that to places.

Her phone buzzed on the coffee table. She picked it up, seeing a message from Leo, the deli owner downstairs.

“Hope you’re settling in okay! Let me know if you need anything or just want to chat.”

She smiled at the message, grateful for the familiar kindness. Leo had been like family to her and her mom during their time in New York, always there with a warm meal or a quiet word when they needed it most.

Y/N had planned on responding, but the sound of a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. She set her phone down and made her way to the door, her heart picking up just a little. She wasn’t expecting anyone.

She opened it to find a small package on the doorstep, tied with a simple twine. There was no note, just the box. A gift, perhaps?

Curiosity piqued, Y/N brought it inside and sat on the couch, carefully untying the string. Inside was a small plant—an olive tree sapling, delicate but full of potential. A simple, yet meaningful gesture. She ran her fingers over the leaves, feeling a small sense of comfort.

The city had been welcoming her back in its own quiet way.

She glanced at her phone again, then typed a quick message to Leo: "Thank you for the plant. It's perfect."

With a deep breath, Y/N leaned back into the couch. She was still figuring out how this new chapter would look—how long she’d stay, what she’d do next, and whether she’d ever truly feel at home again in Monaco.

But for now, she was here. And that was enough.

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

taglist: @heluvsjappie @awritingtree @steamy-smokey @alex-wotton @ssarqhxo @rainy-darling @mymilkshakefun @hs2016 @linnygirl09 @coral7161

[stars-obsession-pit]

Sam blinked the green light away from her vision and took in her surroundings. She definitely wasn’t in her garden anymore. Had she been summoned somehow? She’d thought that was more Danny’s thing.

Well, she considered as her eyes scanned the bare room around her, regardless of the cause, better to not wait around for things to get worse.

She pulled a small vial of ectoplasm from its hidden spot on her necklace and downed it in one gulp. The powers Undergrowth had lent her may have been temporary, but she and Tucker had discovered that exposure to ectoplasm could briefly return their inherited abilities. And also increase their manias, but who cared about a little thing like that?

Awareness of all the plants around her bloomed into her mind, and she sneered reflexively. Disgusting. Wherever she was, she could immediately tell that the whole area was deeply polluted. Getting home was her first priority, but she knew she’d be returning later to get back at whatever corporations were responsible for that mess.

Her vines began to wind up around the walls of the building, a few slipping inside to wrap around the edge of the door in front of her. With barely more than a thought, the vines tensed, snapping the door from its hinges. She stalked out of the room. She could just leave, but that wouldn’t guarantee that whatever had dragged her here couldn’t cause problems again. So whatever it was, she was going to find it and “convince” it to stop.

But mapping out the building with her plants could only tell her so much. Even with her powers, she could only extrapolate so much detail from the plants. So even with the layout of the building, she still had to pick her way through the rooms herself for details.

And those details were annoyingly vague. Sure, a couple rooms had evidence of experimentation on plants (and maybe even a person?) or strange possibly-ritualistic scribblings on the walls, but she didn’t know how to put it all together. She wasn’t a detective. The strongest conclusion she could draw was just that the people involved needed to be reminded to respect nature. Forcibly reminded.

Suddenly, her search was interrupted by a voice ringing out from the next room over, and she whirled on the spot. That room had just been empty. Where the hell had they come from?

“Ivy? I thought you were laying low– why break that to go after a place like this?”

No time to form an intricate plan. Her vines rushed for the unknown figure. A blade swung through the air, expertly severing all the plants encroaching on them. They entered the room.

A beat of silence passed, then they both reacted with the same question simultaneously. “Who the hell are you?”

[wooyoungmybelovedhusband]

ᴡɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ꜰᴀᴛᴇ

PAIRING: Son of evil queen! Jeonghan x daughter of hades!reader | son of belle! Joshua x reader

WORD COUNT: 6k

⛧ SYNOPSIS: You were supposed to steal the wand, and take over the world – to prove that you were evil once and for all, but over the course of two days, you find yourself taken over by your complex feelings and lust.

CONTENT/WARNINGS: Brother! Seungcheol, Dom! Jeonghan & Joshua, childhood friend! Jeonghan, first love! Jeonghan, cheating, exhibition, fingerjng, degradation, unprotected sex, possessiveness, panty stuffing, spanking.

NOTE: Son of Gaston! Mingyu, Son of ursula! Dino.

JOIN THE TAGLIST: HERE

«"A WHAT?"» You and Seungcheol exclaimed in unison while your mother did not bother to look at you while she shaped her nails. «"A chance to go to Auradon"» She repeats her previous words yet again to you and your brother.

You could feel your insides twisting from the mention of the dreadful place. «"Mother, we are not going to that stinky place where people walk around with bright princess clothes and tiaras"» You say, speaking up like usual. Your mother knew all too well, it would be you who would instantly disagree with her decision. Because Seungcheol had never gone against your mothers words, for she did not give him a mind either.

Your mother always had a profound hate towards your older brother, no matter what he'd try to do to show her he was as evil as her or – the fact that he was trying to be. Maybe that was the problem – it was the fact that Seungcheol was not evil. He tried, tried hard to be what his mother expected him to be, but he just couldn't get himself to shove an old person into an alley or steal candy from a hungry child. He just couldn't be evil.

Or maybe the fact that he had taken after his father's genes and could easily use the power of that powerful ember if he had the chance to pass that barrier, and specially – inherited the radiant dark blue hair.

But you on the other side - well, you had dark purple hair, and you were just - as evil as she wanted you to be.

«"I agree with her, we are not going."» Your head whips around to look at him, your mouth gaping in revelation. Your mother's eyes instantly narrow upon hearing him. Standing up from her chair, she walks closer to where you both stood. Your hands intertwined with Seungcheol's, giving them a squeeze while she stared at both of you, on coming face-to-face with you. «"You both do not have an option, You're doing this for us and yourselves."»

Letting go of his hand, you cross your arms, walking closer to her. You tilt your head slightly, «"How about a no?"»

Her eyes flamed green, making your own eyes mirror hers. The Isle and your mother may have been deprived of any magic for years, but your mother's power to defeat you and your brother was nothing special.

Your usual contest was interrupted out of the blue - surprisingly - by your father.

«"Maleficent"» He moved from his spot on the doorway, while your head snapped towards him. «"You're hurting my daughter with your shenanigans yet again."» Your mother could care less about his comment. She walks away while both of you are approached by your father.

«"Listen, kids. Just think about it both of you, imagine if we do not have this fucking barrier preventing us from our freedom. It's all so simple really, you both go there with the other VKs, steal that wand, let us out of this stinky place and we take over the world again."» Those were the same old shit, repeating over and over from your parent's mouths.

You never had a deplored hatred towards the Auradon Or the ‘King and Queen’ but gosh did you want to avenge them for the childhood that was taken away from you.

Your father takes a step closer towards Seungcheol, his hand firmly placing itself on his shoulder and squeezed threateningly. «“I'm sure my son wouldn't want to disappoint me, would he?”»

‘I was never your fucking son’ - Gosh did Seungcheol just want to spit that out on his face but the hand almost bone crushingly squeezing his shoulder, stopped him. His face lowers down slowly, «Yes, father.»

You roll your eyes, having already expected his defeat against your father. You walk out, going to the only person that knew you inside out.

—

You rest your head against Jeonghan's chest. There were no words exchanged between the two of you, but he knew exactly what was running in your head.

«“I don't wanna go, Hannie”» You say, breaking the silence. «”Hm and why is that?”»

You roll your eyes yet again at his words, lifting your head to look up at him. «”You really are going to make me say it ain't you?”» Jeonghan feigns innocence at your words, «”Hmm I don't know what you're talking about.”» Your hand slaps his chest playfully, «”You know well, I can't be away from you, you jerk.”»

Jeonghan chuckles at your words, «”Tell me my evil little Y/n, did you bother to check who was selected to go to Auradon?”» Your eyebrows knit slightly, eyeing him in confusion. «”What are you talking ‘bout?”»

Jeonghan's lips stretch in a heartwarming smile, «”I'm coming with you too, dummy.”» Your eyes widen in astonishment, and your arms wrap around his neck, pulling him down for a tight hug. «”Thank god I'll at least have you by my side, I can't imagine seeing all those princesses and their glamour, and manage to not puke.”»

Just as you say that, you hear someone clear their throat behind you. Your head snaps back to the person, and you find your brother standing there. «”I still exist you know”» Both of you laugh at his words, running to him while he pouts at the both of you.

—

Your fingers held the handle of your bag over your shoulders, while you waited for the other selected ones. Your expression swiftly turns disgusted when your eyes fall on the tall guy who emerges from the crowd. «”Don't tell me that jerk is coming too, gosh I can't have my life being ruined any more.”» Seungcheol chuckles next to you upon hearing you, knowing well you were talking about Gaston's son.

As if on the talk of the devil, Mingyu approached your figure, you knew him all too well to not guess his next words. «”Aren't you a little too cranky today, beautiful?”» He smirks down at you – god was he just as jerky as his father. You take a small step closer towards him, «”Fuck off before your face is unidentifiable by the time we walk out of the barrier.”» Mingyu scoffs under his breath, walking away from you.

«”He's right though, what's got you so cranky?”» You hear the familiar voice from behind and turn around to find Jeonghan walking up to you, his hands buried in his pockets while his bag hangs over his shoulder.

You let out a soft gasp, as soon as your eyes fell on him, his dark blue hair was turned into long black hair where his bangs fell over his face softly. You barely gave a mind about his words, while letting his arm wrap around your waist. «"What's up with the sudden hair change?”» He smiles smugly, his eyes meeting yours «”You like it? I did it for you.”» Jeonghan winks down at you at the end of his sentence, giggling under his breath when you roll your eyes at him.

«”I guess it looks good.”» You shrug him off before walking towards black limousine as you throw your bag inside.

Just as you were about to plop yourself onto the seats, you feel a tug at the back of your collar. You turn around to find your sworn enemy – Dino standing in front of you. His lips curl up in a smirk, «”It feels so nice to know that you're coming along, cause I want you to see me succeed at getting the wand before you can.”» You scoff at his words, «”Oh really? I didn't know you were so pathetically waiting for my validation.”»

His pupils dilate slightly in anger, and his hands fly to the collar of your shirt – you mirror him, tugging on his collar harshly.

«“Little girl thinks her parents are going to think she's really evil once she gets her hands on the wand, does she?”» You scoff at his words, but before you could speak anything else you feel Seungcheol and Jeonghan pull you back from his grip. «“So hot-headed.”» Jeonghan tchs under his breath but it was well audible for you. You shoot him a glare while you take your seat next to the window, grumpily.

—

You hear Seungcheol gasp under his breath next to you, when he finally steps out of the car. Completely contradicting you – who stood there with pure disgust and displease in your blood. Jeonghan clearly mirrored your feelings, as he stood next to you. You were met face-to-face with the new crowned prince who stood in front of all of you with a blue perfectly fitted formal suit, a napkin weirdly folded and kept in his pocket.

All the seven of you instantaneously recognized the man. ‘The great Crown Prince’ - the exact words the anchor person said the other day when you had been watching the only ever channel that was broadcasted in the Isle of the Lost.

«“Hi I'm Joshua Hong. The Crown Prince of Auradon.”» He speaks, causing you to snap out of your trance. His eyes turn into crescents when he smiles, and he holds out his hand to you. And you hold your hand out but just before your hands could meet, someone intervenes and shakes his hand. You look up to find Jeonghan, eyeing the man who was the same height as him with a forced smile.

You don't give it much of a thought and stand back. «“I don't think you need our introduction.”» Soon he retrieves his hand, snuggling it in between his pockets. «“Yea, definitely, I hope you make yourself comfortable here.”» He walks off and soon a bright cheerful skips happily towards you.

«“I'm Dokyeom, Fairy Godmother’s son!”» The mention of his mother instantly catches your attention, «“Fairy Godmother? Like the bibbidi bobbidi boo?”» He nods eagerly, his smile stretched ear-to-ear. All of you questioned how he managed to keep that smile so bright. «“Come along, I'll show you the way around!”»

—

Your heavy breaths are almost heard throughout the room in the museum. You sure had gotten lost from the others, but fuck you were lost in his dark brown eyes as he started down at you with gaping lips. «“H-Hannie, what are you doing?”»

You definitely did not expect to find yourself in this position, pinned against the smooth wall of the Museum of Auradon. Breathless and thoughtless under his gaze, his fingers disappeared inside your tight leather jeans while his free hand tucked your leg around his waist. «“Something I've desired to do for a long time, Y/n.”» and with that, his lips were back on yours, your tongues intertwining and he slowly caressed the skin of your thigh ever so softly. His breathing turns heavy in seconds mirroring yours, the sparks caused by the wet loud kisses push away the consciousness of your whereabouts and what you had to do.

You slowly part away with a heavy breath, your eyes meeting him in a hazy gaze. «“I think it's time I finally claim you as mine baby, all fucking mine.”»

Your next response gets caught in your throat and a choked moan leaves your lips as his hand slips past your pants. His fingers effortlessly move behind your panties, cupping you whole. His lips curled against the skin of your neck after noticing how the arousal seeped out of you. His hair tips tickled your ear lobe, as he buried his face into the crook of your neck. «“Looks like someone's as excited as I am.”»

«“Shut up”» Your words cause your jaw to be gripped tightly out of nowhere making you gasp. «“I may keep up with your bratty attitude all the time, but while you're under me, know your fucking place. Got it?”» Your throat runs dry from the way his jaw clenched in anger while his fingers continued to work on you.

«”I need words, baby.”» His stern toned words spark your brain in a way you could never imagine, «Yes, Han!»

Jeonghan innocently shoots you his angelic smile as if his fingers weren't knuckles deep inside you while everyone was wandering off searching for you. You moan into his ear as his fingers relentlessly move inside you, searching for your g-spot so skillfully. His curling fingers found your spot in no time, as he had you gripping on to his blue leather jacket ever so tightly as you parted your legs.

His hands come down to circle your waist in a split second to hold you against him. Your back arched while your eyes rolled back from the pleasure.

You probably didn't hate him in your whole life except for right now when he retreats his hand from your pants when a low «“Gonna cum”» slips past your lips. «“We gotta go before we get caught baby”» Jeonghan shoots you his smile yet again, with not an ounce of guilt in him. All you could do was stare at him with your tear glossed eyes, and let him manoeuvre your body out of the museum

—

Your hands clutched onto your books while you walked into Auradon Prep. You find Jeonghan sitting on the bleachers next to your brother, with his arm hanging around Seungcheol's shoulder. Before you could walk past him, you feel a familiar arm wrap around your waist. «“Where do you think you're going, sweetheart?”»

If you had heard the same words from Jeonghan just a day before at the same time, you would have elbowed him instantly. But you would be lying if his low voice did not give you butterflies from the way the name fell off his lips. You quickly free yourself from his embrace, your cheeks flaring red, but your body and his arms do not let you get any further away from him.

You look up at him in mock annoyance but his lips curl up around the corners. The bare distance between the both of you caused your memory to flash in front of your eyes, of last night. The fact that you had to take care of your little problem thanks to his antics. «“Don't try to get away from me.”»

All your movements come to a halt at his low order, and you huff in annoyance. But before you could speak to him any further, you hear a loud, «“Y/N!”» and you turn around to find Dokyeom and Woozi – Aurora's son, walking towards you. With all the strength you had, you break free from Jeonghan’s hold which was loose around your waist and fix the nonexistent curl in your outfit.

«“Hey! Would you like to join us for the preparation for Joshua's coronation?”» «“Sure!”» You never expected your voice to come out so high-pitched which would make Jeonghan snicker under his breath if he hadn't heard their request. Jeonghan shoots daggers down your figure while you walk away with Dokyeom.

—

«“So,”» You trail off, catching Dokyeom and Woozi's attention, «”It's not even been a month since I'm here, why'd you pick me?”» Dokyeom shoots you his infamous smile, «”Because Joshua hyung wanted one of the VKs to give their ideas since you're also a part of Auradon Prep. And well certainly, he suggested you would be a great option.”»

You hesitantly smile from his words, not quite sure what was going on, and what your reaction was supposed to be. «”How's everything going on?”» You flinch when you hear an oddly familiar voice behind you, and you look back to find Joshua towering over you.

«”Gosh, you scared me!”» You exclaimed at him to which his eyes turn into crescents as he lets out a little giggle. «”Oh I did not mean to.”»

You step away from him, so he could talk to the two in-charges. Your bottom lip juts out in boredom while you stand there. Your trail of thoughts is interrupted by Joshua mentioning your name out of nowhere, only for you to look up at him to find him looking at you with questioning eyes. «”Would you care to join me in my office, Y/n? I would like to have a conversation with you.”»

His gentle tone and voice contradicted Jeonghan's teasing tone and low voice, but it sure made you flustered either way but you mentally slap yourself before you could be so.

—

«”What'd you want to talk about, Joshie?”» The man looks at you, quite caught off guard by the nickname but he proceeds to his seat nonetheless. «”Joshie?”» He questions only to be met with your unbothered expression while you take your seat in front of his desk.

«“So why'd you bring me here?”» You decide to get straight to the point, without beating around the bush for long. You cock your eyebrows at him only to be met with a quite surprised expression.

«“Well, do you know for a fact that we have cameras installed in all the buildings owned by the king and queen?”» You suddenly straighten your back from the topic, «“Yea?”» Joshua breathily giggles a bit before leaning forwards on the table. «“Did you know we have hidden cameras installed which are not quite accessible to everyone?”» You furrow your eyebrows slightly. «“What do you mean, Joshua? Get to the point.”»

«“Alright then, could you explain this?”» He turns the laptop in your direction, the image of your figure being pinned against the wall while Jeonghan has his hands dipped inside your pants. You were too startled to notice the fact that Joshua was now behind you, with his torso leaning down next to you with his hands in his pocket. «“I have a lot of questions, princess. But god could I not help but want to make that pretty face scrunch up like that for me.”»

The irony of the nickname and his words go straight down to your cunt. «“Oh how I would love to wrap my hand around that neck of yours baby.”» A low moan gets caught in your throat. «“Fuck! Isn't this wrong?”»

«“Did not know the evil little girl cared about what's wrong or what's right.”» Although the man towered over you from behind you, you could hear the smirk in his voice. His words cause your demeanour to change in a split second. You raise yourself and rest your bottom on the edge of his desk. Your fingers wander off to pull him by his collar, and you click your tongue before whispering, «“Oh Joshie, wouldn't your people be so disappointed in you for this? Imagine what they're going to do if they find out their crown prince is fucking a VK”»

«“You're quite bold for a slut who was rubbing her thighs just from meek words while she watched herself .”» Saying that, Joshua’s hands move to grasp your wrist in one hand before he's turning you around and bending you over instantaneously. His large hand covers your ass almost completely, as he caressed the soft skin over the leather.

You yelp when his hand comes down on your ass, catching you off-guard. «“Mhm let's see, you think your little lover would be excited to know the fact that you're bending over with your ass out for another man?”» His words look down on you, but gosh you were not supposed to get wetter as each word left his mouth. So instead of giving into the low whine threatening to escape, you decided to taunt him. «“Really? Cause what are your-”»

You barely get to finish when his hands come down to slap your ass again. «“So fucking fiesty aren't you?”»

Joshua's fingers tuck under your pants, swiftly pulling off your pants with your panties. He tears away your panties hastily, leaving behind a red mark on your inner thighs from his rough move. «“Josh-”» Your words are cut off from his fingers pushing the soaked fabric into your mouth. «“At least that's gonna shut you up for some time, wouldn't it baby?”»

Joshua held your hands behind your back with one hand while his other hand undid the zipper of his own formal pants. «"Do you think you can handle my cock? In this tight fucking pussy?”»

Joshua's hand slap against your smooth skin yet again, before sliding down to your heat. His thick fingers plunge right inside you within seconds thanks to your dripping arousal. Your moans came out muffled as you pushed your ass desperately into his touch. Your body and voice box betray you as soon as his fingers thrusted them deep inside you. «“Look at you moaning already, you like it don't ya?”»

You whine at the way his thick fingers stay still inside you while being knuckles-deep. You move your hips over his hand only to be welcomed with a slap over your ass. «“So darn impatient, darling.”» Joshua's tone came out sounding annoyed, but God would he be lying if he said he didn't like your bratty behaviour. Contradicting his words, his actions made it seem obvious how much he needed you to be what you are when he pressed his rock-hard cock against your ass.

Unexpectedly for you, his free hand moves forward to pull the fabric out of your mouth. You barely have any mind to question the way he stuffed your panties inside the back pocket of his pants before his fingers curl up inside you.

«“Let's give you what you want, shall we?”» His fingers thrust forward inside you, and your hands fumble to grab the corner of his desk before he is scissoring you open. «“Or should I leave you hanging like he did yesterday?”»

A loud ‘no’ escapes you, followed by a series of ‘please’ and ‘let me cum’. The thought of having to be edged again made your brain turn jelly, and you push your hips back into his hand yet again. Joshua's dick twitches in his pants from your bratty move, and his hand comes down to hold your hips in a bruising grasp.

«“Be nice, or else I might as well just use your mouth instead of this slutty cunt.”» The alternative change in his words and tone did something to your whole body. The way he spoke to you in such a soft tone with praising words, to change it downright degrading and condescending.

Your thighs shook convulsively with everything going on, and your inner walls clenched around his fingers. You moan out loudly when you feel the cold metal of his fingers touch your inner walls, showing you just how deep he was, getting you cumming around him in seconds.

Joshua pulls his fingers out, and instantly groans at the sight of your own cum seeping out of your hole. «“As much as I'd love to just fuck your mouth right now, I'd rather fill this cunt of yours with my cum.”»

Without a second thought, Joshua pushes his cock inside you. A loud gasp erupts from you, and the way his girth stretches you out causes you to lift your legs off the ground. «“Josh!- fuck- Slow down- nngh”» Your words are cut down by his two of his fingers which invade your mouth harshly. His thumb presses down on to your tongue, «“I get to fucking decide what I do, you're gonna take what I give like the pretty girl you are, alright?”»

Your eyeballs are rolling back in pleasure when his hips slap against your ass, his thrusts so fast it makes your vision go blurry in seconds from tears. The heat radiating from your body has the glass under you, foggy.

His hand which pressed down on your tongue moved to grip your hair locks. He yanks your head up, and your eyes are – yet again – met with the lewd image of you and Jeonghan playing on the screen. But the things he was doing to you right there was incomparable to what played on the device. But God forbid, the dirtiness of the whole scene had you dripping down onto his balls and your own legs.

«“Yea, go ahead, watch yourself. Watch how fucking slutty you can be for some dick. Wonder what your lover's going to think about this.”»

Your hazy brain could – neither comprehend his words nor – realise that the video was playing on loop. Low words of ‘harder’ and ‘please’ are released from you between your moans. And Joshua was more than ecstatic to comply. His hips almost leave behind marks from the way they met so harshly with the skin of your ass, you were closer to your edge than you knew.

With a loud scream, your walls pulsated around him as your orgasm came crashing down. Joshua grunts and groans behind you, riding out his own orgasm as he stained your walls with his cum.

You both take minutes before Joshua's hips cease to move, and he pulls his now-soft cock out of your abused hole.

You slowly push your body upwards, your hands moving to brush through your hair to make it look tad-bit presentable.

«“Not going to lie, that was so fucking hot. Didn't know you'd have this side to you.”» You say right after you finish zipping your pants. Joshua's lips curl up, looking so innocent that it makes you doubt if he was the one who had your legs shaking just now. «“I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it.”» You take slow steps towards him, getting closer towards him. «“Looks like the future ideal king for the people has a nasty little side to him.”»

Your eyes slowly trail down to his plump lips, mirroring his own eyes. Your eyes linger on his perfectly sculpted lips for longer than you'd expected, longer than you'd wanted. But your head is swift to turn to the side when he leans down to try and connect your lips together. Causing his lips to be met with your cheek.

Your eyes closed shut when as you stilled in your place, Joshua pressed his lips against your cheek a little more before pulling away. You surely did feel bad for that, but the image of Jeonghan and the feeling his lips left on you, had you chasing that taste more than anything.

Your eyes open ever so slowly and they widen when they find Jeonghan's figure watching through the glass window from afar. You could barely make out his expressions but your heartbeat turns uneven and your eyes blare green. Joshua, who had moved steps away from you, looks at you, meeting your glowing eyes.

«“Y-Y/n your eyes-”» before he could finish his sentence, you're running out of his office.

—

You pace around in your room, there was little to no light illuminating across the roomroom, just how you usually liked it and wanted it to be. Your radiant green eyes flared up every second, you felt like everything was coming crashing down. The inner voices inside your brain screaming at you for everything, you could currently care less about the fact that the whole reason you were in Auradon was to steal the wand. At least not when your first love and your only comfort person is probably going to leave you.

You hear a single knock on the door and your body stills in your tracks, a low pathetic sound escapes you. You take slower steps than ever, knowing exactly who was behind the door. You barely open the door a few inches before the door is slammed open. You flinch from the loud noise, but the man in front of you could care less. (He couldn't)

His hand covers your neck whole while he pins you against the door. «“You liked that huh? Getting your cunt fucked by someone else which wasn't me?”» There was a faint blue glint in his eyes, while his black long strands fell over his face ever so perfectly. His jaw clenched in anger, but the hand around your neck just held you in place. «“Jeonghan, I-I can explain.”»

You choke on your words, and a tear slips out of the corner of your eye. And Jeonghan's face instantly becomes soft, and the hand around your neck swiftly cups your cheek. His other hand pulls you into his embrace as he circles his arm around your waist. «“I-I'm so fucking sorry Hannie, I-I didn't- I-I'm so sorry, don't leave me, please don't”»

This was probably the second time he ever saw you cry this hard in his embrace, and he had known you for his life. Jeonghan's heart clenches from the way tears rolled down your eyes. His hand squeezes your cheeks a little, «“Baby, stop crying, look at me please?”»

If Jeonghan was honest, he wasn't really phased by the fact that you had fucked with Joshua. But what infuriated him was the fact that you'd let him cum inside you. But he would he lying if he said it didn't turn him on when he saw you getting fucked by Joshua, his dick twitched in his pants when he realised what kind of effect he still had on you when he saw your reaction to the clip. So maybe all that anger was just for show so he could fuck you dumb.

By the time your tears had stopped rolling down your eyes, you looked up at him slowly. «“You didn't let him kiss you, did you?”» You eye him in confusion, «“What? No-”» Your lips were met with his soft ones in a split second. Your eyes closed and your body melted in his embrace. You hum into the kiss, a low moan from you being swallowed by him as you place your hands around his neck.

Pulling away, Jeonghan looks down at your lips. The bare few seconds of kissing them harshly got them all red already, making him curse under his breath. «“I'm not angry, angel,”» Never had you expected yourself to get flustered over that unlikely nickname but unexpected things happen, right?

His lips are back on yours before you know it, but with more chastity, his tongue invades your mouth while he groans into your mouth. You moan around his tongue, letting your hips grind on his thigh unconsciously.

Jeonghan pulls away slightly, his lips still brushing over your lips, «“I'm fucking jealous that he got to fuck this cunt of yours before me.”» There was a seductive glint in your eyes when you tightened around his neck «“Then fuck me till I forget he was ever inside me.”» His parted lips curve into a smirk, «“Oh fuck I will.”»

His arms move you towards the bed, his figure manhandling you to lay on the mattress, before his hands instantly come down to spread your legs apart. Jeonghan barely wastes any time before pulling your purple leather pants down your hips and off your legs. The cold air hitting your bare pussy had you wincing. He presses his thumb over your clit, applying slight pressure while rubbing slow circles.

You groan from the stimulation, already having fucked one, your legs soon started shaking due to the pleasure. «“So sensitive aren’t you? He fucked you so hard, you can barely handle this?» Jeonghan’s tone was humiliating, making slick seep out of you.

Your lips part widely in a silent gasp when his index and middle finger push into you in a swift move. Instantly curling up as they thrust into your G-spot, his lips tug at the corner from the way your face scrunches up in pleasure – which wasn't such an unfamiliar sight for him but gosh did he want to savour it so badly.

And your sensitiveness soon had your thighs closing around his hands while your own gripped the sheets with your nails digging into the fabric as you came around his fingers.

As much as Jeonghan yearned to sit back and watch your fucked out face while your pants bounced off the walls and filled his ears – his patience ran thin and he was soon undoing his pants, pulling his boxers off to free his cock.

«“How about this, angel? Let's see how many times I can make you cum till I imprint my dick inside that tight little pussy of yours”» His words had you clenching around nothing while his hands came down to grip your wrists together.

Moans guised as gasps leave your mouth when you feel his length slide in between your folds, teasing you with his slow movements before he slammed his cock into you.

Jeonghan’s grip on your wrists tighten, while he leans down to lock your lips with his. His teeth tug on your bottom lip, almost leaving behind a bruise. Skin-slapping sounds resonate through the room as his hips meet yours harshly for every thrust.

Pulling away, Jeonghan moves down to kiss your jaw slowly while whispering – «“Gonna fuck you till you fucking forget his name, babygirl.”» The nicknames, along with his long fingers sliding over your skin and gripping it so bruisingly all while his dick managing to hit all the right spots in you had you floating in your headspace.

Your mind felt clouded from the pleasure as Jeonghan had you cumming hard around him in minutes. Nevertheless, that didn't stop his hips from slamming into you at a faster pace. His hands come up to move the hair strands that stuck to your forehead due to sweat, out of the way. «“You're mine, angel. And we're gonna win this together.”»

—

The next day when you woke up, you found yourself in a position no different than that you slept the last day – your face nuzzled against Jeonghan’s chest, his arms secured around you.

But soon the both of you make your way to the main hall of Auradon prep due to the loud announcement that told you to. Your heels clicked against the stony path as you made your way next to Seungcheol with Jeonghan following next to you. You look around the surroundings, and your eyes froze on the person in the table right next to you – the same blonde head and the same brown eyes from yesterday.

Your eyes stay on his before you are pulled back into the present by the King’s voice.

“Good morning Auradon Prep, this will come as quite a surprise for you, but three weeks from now, The Royal Cotillion will take place. The preparations will begin from today onwards, and so will the proposals for the Royal dance.” His next words are almost drowned out as you take in the information.

Jeonghan turned around to grasp your hand – mirroring Joshua who had moved a few steps closer to you. “Y/n will you be my date?” The two voices echoed in your way – all while you stood there, absolutely dumbfounded about how you found yourself in this situation. How had you forgotten your main goal along the way? Was this what you were fated to? But most importantly, who were you going to choose?

[soelstress]

It May Have Started As An Act

Pairing: Lee Bodecker x female!reader

Summary: When you suggest a fake relationship to benefit you and a local deputy, little do you know how real it will become.

Word count: 7.3k

Warnings: 18+ Minors DNI , non / con , minor language , minor violence , Lee Bodecker being an absolute sweetheart

A/N 1 - This is my submission for @gremlin-girly’s 20 questions challenge

A/N 2 - Prompts

Quote - “Do you ever shut the fuck up?”

Character - Lee Bodecker

Trope - Fake dating

A/N 3 - Do not Steal, Copy or Plagiarize any part of my work - I created the banner on Canva and the pics were sourced either from Pinterest or Google - credit to original creators - divider by the talented @firefly-graphics

A/N 4 - Please let me know if I've missed a warning, knowing me it's more than likely. Hope you all enjoy ☺️

“Knockemstiff is a Podunk backwater town where greed and corruption are fueled by political influence and powerful people looking to benefit.” Not once in your life had you ever doubted your parents' wisdom. Until now. It was your disbelief that led to your current situation with a sapphire stare burning into your soul.

Your mother was born and raised in Knockemstiff and said that nothing had changed from the time she was born to the day she left after becoming engaged to your father. They moved to Columbus while your grandmother stayed in Knockemstiff. Over the years your grandmother would visit for a brief escape and relish in the progressive city where your mother thrived in the updated fashions and attitudes while teaching you to speak and act as a lady should but never to let anyone mistreat you.

Twenty years that had been filled with laughter, lessons and love. Your mother taught you how to be true to yourself but also how to be a good wife to a loving husband, which was something your father exemplified. He in turn taught you to stand up for yourself and how a true husband and father should act. One day you hoped to find a husband with whom you could have a marriage like your parents.

It was something you held on to when you lost both of them in a car accident. A drunk teen had been drag racing and crashed into their car. Only days after their funerals a lawyer called to advise that your mother’s will stated that you had inherited your grandmother's house since she had passed when you were a teenager. With no other family to consult, it fell to you to decide what to do with the house which your mother had rented out. Though you weren’t sure if you wanted to stay in Columbus, you were reluctant to move permanently to Knockemstiff and decided that the best choice would be to rent out your parents‘ house for a few months while you spent time in Knockemstiff to consider your choices. The earnings you made from working part-time and the money that your parents had saved would allow you time to do this. After notifying your employer who bid you good luck and finding a tenant for your parents house you made the journey to Knockemstiff.

Almost a month had passed since your arrival. Almost every word of the warnings your mother gave was accurate. What she hadn’t warned you about was the difference in treatment you’d receive. There were a few of the elders who remembered your family were one of their own and treated you with kindness. Because you were from a big city where the fashion and attitudes were more advanced than the local ideals the women either treated you with condescension or with concealed fear as if you were a seductive temptress who would steal their men and corrupt their youth. To the men you were a challenge. Several of them had attempted to ask you on a date with some being more persistent than others.

One such man was the Sheriff’s son. Johnny Morton relished in his father’s position of authority knowing any misdemeanours would be overlooked. His confidence in his situation was so powerful that it carried over to the rest of his life. It was no secret that women were disposable to him though some foolishly hoped he’d look their way again. But instead his focus was now on you. Like today when he’d ambushed you working at the local library.

“Aw c’mon doll. Let me take you for a ride in my new wheels. I promise to give you a good time.”

Morton’s tone made your skin crawl followed by his lecherous gaze raking over your body. It took all your self control to hold in the shiver he created as you didn’t want him to know he inspired ANY kind of reaction within you. Unfortunately because he was the Sheriff’s son it also required every ounce of civility and propriety to address him.

“Unfortunately I have plans.”

His dismissive laugh just continued to rile you and that last thread of civility was barely hanging on to your last shred of patience.

“Toots I haven’t even said a day. We could go to a passion pit and play back seat bingo.”

Either he was really oblivious or just didn’t know when to quit. But either way you’d had enough. You’d spent weeks turning him down and still he was determined to change your mind. Or more accurately make you his latest conquest.

“I believe the lady said she’s busy.” The smooth drawl relaxed you instantly, knowing that you’d be able to escape this uncomfortable encounter with a witness.

Though his smirk wavered, Morton's eyes never left you. “This don’t concern you Bodecker so go bug someone else. Maybe you can bug someone to dance with you at the Fourth of July party?”

“I’m already goin’ with someone but that doesn’t change the answer.”

A muscle twitched in Morton’s jaw. “And what’s she busy doing?”

His arrogant attitude pushed you over the edge. “She is washing her hair.”

A snort disguised as a cough made your lips twitch though you saw a flash of teeth over Morton’s shoulder. Before he could answer you cut him off. “I also have a date to the party. Now if you’ll excuse me I have somewhere to be.”

You were glad for another presence as you suspected Morton would linger if you were alone but instead he grunted and stalked off. You turned to face your saviour. “Thank you Deputy Bodecker though I’m sorry you had to get involved.”

His blue eyes followed Morton as he turned out of sight. “Some men don’t understand the word ‘no’. Especially those with situations like him.” The scowl on his face melted as he faced you with a small smile. “I suspect you could’ve handled him just fine on your own. But after all the bellyachin’ he’s done and bragging about how he’d wear you down eventually… Couldn’t help myself Miss.”

Bile rose in your throat as the lack of consideration and arrogance of Johnny Morton. You had no intention of exchanging anything but polite words when required. But this just reaffirmed your parents' warnings. You shook your head before offering a smile in return.

“So who’s the lucky girl attending on the arm of the most gallant man in Knockemstiff?”

Deputy Bodecker blinked in surprise before rubbing the back of his neck. “Not so sure I deserve that title Miss. And there’s no dame. I said that to get him off my back. The Fourth of July party is in a few weeks and all the other deputies already have dates.”

You cocked your head in confusion. “And there’s nobody who wants you to take them? Beggin’ your pardon Deputy but that sounds unlikely.”

A shrug answered you. “There’s some ladies who want me to ask. But they just wanna be seen with potential Sheriff candidate Deputy Bodecker. I wanna ask someone who wants to know Lee Bodecker.”

Sympathy and pity flooded you. The Deputy seemed a good man, wasted in this cesspit of a town. “Forgive me if I seem forward Deputy but I’d like to know what Mr Bodecker likes to drink so I can thank him for fending off unwanted advances.”

Red coloured the deputy’s face and he ducked his head shyly. “Cola or lemonade would be swell. But I couldn’t allow you to pay Miss. My momma would skin me alive God rest her soul.”

Feeling brave you winked at him and giggled as his blush deepened. “What if the locals were the ones who paid?” You walked into the back of the library to open the icebox and pulled out two bottles of cola.

“Thank you Miss.” He held out his hand to pop the bottle cap before handing it back to you and doing the same with his own. You watched as he took a hearty swig and gasped in delight. “That’s so good.” He licked his lips and tilted his head at you. “Didn’t you say you needed to be somewhere?

Warmth filled you as you realised he had actually listened to you. “That was so Morton would make like a banana and split. But I should lock up.” The deputy made to stand. “Don’t rush on my account, Deputy. Please finish your drink. I’ll be a few minutes yet.”

As you walked around completing the last minute tasks you could feel his gaze on you but not once did it feel uncomfortable. If anything it felt reassuring. As you closed and secured the doors you turned to find the Deputy waiting on you and took a moment to look at him. Dark hair was closely cropped to his head which only seemed to emphasise the cherubic cheeks you made blush. His eyes had turned arctic when Morton was around but now those baby blues shone softly in the sun. Pink pouty lips tugged into a soft smile. He wasn’t slight like some of the men in town who looked like manicured bodybuilders. Broad shoulders and muscular arms lead to a belly that looked firm with just a hint of pudge continued down to thick thighs.

The man before you was a good looking gallant gentleman. He deserved to go to the party with someone who appreciated that. Suddenly your brain sparked with an idea. It was risky but could benefit both of you. “Deputy… would you mind walking with me for a bit please?”

“Beggin’ your pardon Miss. You want to do what?” The Deputy’s brows shot up so fast they almost flew off his face while his blue orbs now resembled owl eyes with how wide they’d grown.

“Pretend to be a couple for the next few weeks until the results of the election. First, I think it would help with the election if you were seen to be an upstanding citizen and traditional man with a sweetheart.” Your logic couldn’t be refuted. “Second it gets Morton to leave us both alone.” Another valid point.

His brows had lowered and were now furrowed as Deputy Bodecker tilted his head. “I guess that might work. But why would you want to be seen with a slob like me?”

You couldn’t help the feeling of pity that filled you at his question. Was this really how he saw himself or had Morton and his ilk somehow influenced him? “You said you’d like someone to look past the potential Sheriff. I’d like to know more about the man who’s shown me the first bit of kindness since I arrived.”

Lee shuffled his weight nervously. “And after the election? We can’t keep this up forever.”

You stepped closer and looked up to meet his eyes. “Deputy, I’ll be here until a realtor sells my house which I was told would take a month at least. But I’d make sure the blame wouldn’t fall on you. I’d say I was missing home or something.” Lee nodded in understanding. “One condition, Deputy. If I hear so much as a whisper you’ve been seen with one of those streetcorner girls-”

“No Miss, no chance of that. I’m all in.”

Over the next few weeks you and Lee played the part of a new couple. First you both went to a diner in the next county so you could talk freely away from prying eyes and find out about each other. Armed with basic information that one would be expected to know about their sweetheart so began the first step of your plan.

It started small with Lee bringing you a single flower every time he came to visit you at the library to which you reciprocated by offering a cola or another drink so he would have an excuse to stop and talk for a few minutes. Soon he’d offer to take you on walks in your lunch break and treat you to an ice cream if it was a warm day. Your momma had taught you that the way to a man's heart was through his stomach so you soon brought him food to the station if his shift differed to yours. He had been blown away with the tasty treats you brought him which varied from sweet to savoury and snarled at anyone who dared to try and sneak a bite for themselves.

It had become apparent very quickly that “Miss” or “Deputy” weren’t appropriate sentiments for a loving couple. But you hadn’t felt comfortable calling him Lee unless you were with other people. It felt wrong to use his name in such an intimate manner when it was just a ruse. Lee had readily agreed. Since you enjoyed making him blush you changed his pet name constantly to see which ones he’d react to so fiercely. When you called him “Hotshot” Lee’s reaction had you worried for a moment. He seemed to choke on thin air and his face turned white from lack of oxygen instead of the pinkish hue you’d come to expect from teasing. After a brief panic, Lee couldn’t seem to take his eyes off you and kept you close by for the rest of the day. He in turn called you ‘Pixy’ after you introduced him to your favourite candy.

During this time Lee had been nothing but a perfect gentleman. Not that you expected any less. His gallantry knew no bounds. Holding open doors, opening and closing his cruiser door for you, always offering his arm and being respectful with his carefully placed cheek kisses.

Though being in the public eye was the main intention of your arrangement it was unspoken how both of you seemed to enjoy each other's company and wanted time together without having to pretend. It was during these times that you told Lee about your parents and how you wanted so badly to have a marriage like theirs. Lee’s face had flickered slightly when you first told him that you had never wanted to settle in Knockemstiff but his face then transformed with slight envy as he heard the happy tales of your childhood.

Lee then told you that his father had walked out upon finding out his mother was expecting his younger sister Sandy but his mother had raised and instilled good values in them both. Even after their mother died Lee continued to look out for Sandy and followed her to Knockemstiff after she had a shotgun wedding to local boy Carl Henderson. But life had changed when both were killed in a home invasion gone wrong. He’d joined the police force in the hope of maybe being able to catch his sister’s killers but also to try and make a difference. Your heart bled hearing this. Lee had been dealt a terrible hand but remained a good man despite it all.

Though you knew that Knockemstiff was not where you wanted to spend your future, your stomach and heart sank at the thought of leaving behind the man who had completely changed your visit and so you spent every possible moment with him wanting to create lasting memories. But it was more than that. There were moments when you felt truly safe and cherished with Lee. The crinkle of his eyes when he saw you. The little strokes over your knuckles with his thumb if he held your hand. The way his drawl would become a soft whisper when he spoke to you.

Two days before the party you returned to the diner for a third meal. During the meal you learned that the Sheriff from an adjourning county would be attending the party to meet the hopeful candidates but also to try and build a good working relationship between the two counties. Supposedly it would be him and two deputies. Knowing it was vital for Lee to make a good impression you both discussed and reviewed any potential scenarios that may arise. From the Sheriff questioning him to the local ladies approaching him or Morton approaching you. Everything had gone well so far and you were determined to support Lee as much as possible.

After dinner Lee walked you to his cruiser to open your door and frowned when you didn’t get in. “Pixy, you ok?”

Nerves suddenly enveloped you and you ducked your head before nodding shyly. Quietly you reached into your bag and held out your hands. You heard rather than saw him approach and gently take your offering. There was a moment's silence.

“Pixy… why’d you do this?”

You gulped softly. In his hands Lee held two tickets to a horror movie he’d been talking about wanting to see. After the way he’d treated you and refused to take a cent for any dates you knew you had to do something for him. “I wanted to do something nice for you. Something that was for you alone.”

Lee smiled and offered you his hand which you took before squeaking when he pulled you into a brief but firm hug with respectfully placed hands. For a split second you were dazed by the calmness that Lee's touch left you with. All too soon he pulled back with a big smile and gently ushered you into the cruiser before heading to the drive in. At first when the movie played you were fine until tension built and you found yourself inching closer to Lee. When the monster appeared screams echoed throughout the lot but you were pressed against Lee’s side, face hidden in his neck with one hand gripping his leg while the other had a white knuckle grip on his shirt.

“Is it over?”

When the screams resumed you burrowed further into him. Once the screams stopped for a few minutes your breathing resumed normally and the scent of Lee’s cologne filled your nostrils. For another long moment you let his essence fill your head, heart and lungs before freezing. You weren’t sure what was more terrifying - facing Lee or watching the movie. But when you slowly tilted your head back you found Lee looking right at you, his eyes crinkled from the grin he was wearing.

“You’re safe Pixy. I got you.” One of his hands unwound yours that gripped his leg and entwined your fingers with his while the other squeezed the one that clutched his shirt. “You sure you wanna stay?” When you nodded slowly he turned back to face the screen. Every time you flinched or jumped he would stroke your knuckles or squeeze your hand. Butterflies erupted thick and fast in your belly and continued to flutter even after he drove you home and bid you goodnight.

The feeling lasted through the next two days up to when you were getting ready for the party. Lee had let himself in after knocking as instructed by you.

“Just a moment, Stud!”

All at once the butterflies were joined by shaky hands and a dry throat. Why were you so nervous? It was Lee for goodness sake. You figured the nerves were due to knowing so many people would be watching you and Lee tonight.

As you walked into the living room Lee turned around and your breath caught in your throat. He wore a gray suit with a white shirt and blue tie that hinted to how broad and strong he was while the colour made his eyes pop. His hair had grown during the last few weeks so the ends were starting to curl slightly and your fingers itched to stroke them.

Your heart skipped a beat in surprise. Had you really just thought that? It wasn’t till Lee cleared his throat that you realised you had been distracted by your musings.

“You polish up nicely, Deputy Bodecker. Heads will be turning tonight.”

“You’re correct there Pixy but those heads will be turnin’ for you.” Lee gulped softly. “I think every man will fight for a dance with you.”

Warmth flooded your face and heart while the butterflies calmed considerably.

“Can I count on you to protect me from those hoodlums?” You teased breathlessly.

Lee held out his hand which you took and gasped when he brushed a kiss over your knuckles. “Always Pixy.”

Once you picked your jaw up and collected the food you had made for the party Lee then escorted you to the cruiser and drove to the where the party was being held. When both of you entered the noise level dipped slightly before whispers broke out like hissing snakes. Hairs rose on the back of your neck when you felt dozens of glares aimed your way. Though you weren’t sure if it was because you ‘stole’ someone else’s chance to attend with Lee or because your dress, though modest and conservative by Columbus standards, was more revealing and form fitting than those worn in Knockemstiff.

Your grip on Lee’s arm tightened slightly and he smiled at you with reassurance before spotting a few unfamiliar people standing with Sheriff Morton. Since Knockemstiff wasn’t a big town you figured this was the party from the neighbouring county.

“Deputy Bodecker, good to see you. This is Sheriff Wallace from Pickaway.”

Sheriff Wallace shook Lee’s hand and nodded politely at you with a smile. “Pleased to meet y’all.” You watched as he introduced his deputies before a woman wearing a dress similar to yours stepped out from behind them. “This is Genevieve who works at our station.”

Genevieve giggled softly. “I couldn’t pass up the chance to visit our neighbouring county especially when there’s a dance.”

Lee tilted his head and introduced you to the strangers. This was a chance for Lee to impress the party so you decided to step away. “Honey, I’m going to find the food table. Can I get you anything?”

Lee winked. “You know what I like.” Surprised by his response you blushed and ducked your head as the men chuckled softly. Perfect. It was vital they believed in your charade. You walked over to the food table and placed your offering on the table.

“Oh honey you cooked these yourself? How brave.”

You recognised the voice belonged to Dolores. She was a backstabbing busybody with a holier-than-thou attitude that affirmed her position as the town gossip. Only a slight twitch of your brow betrayed the fact her very existence repulsed you as you set the food you’d prepared on the table.

Dolores’ sweet words were laced with venom. “Oh, little chicken pot pies. That’s… memorable.”

Instead of immediately responding you prepared a plate for Lee which contained your chicken pot pie before looking at her. “My recipes are tried and tested by my Momma who taught me everything. She and Daddy were together twenty-five years before they died and he never ate from any plate that she didn’t make for him.”

Dolores gave a simpering smile. “And just what did your dearly beloved Momma teach you?”

“That the way to keep a man was to fill his belly and empty his balls.”

You watched in satisfaction as Dolores choked on a sip of water and spluttered as her face burned red. For her to try to put you down was one thing but to insult your parents? Ire flicked through you at her audacity. When a small giggle sounded further down the table you saw Genevieve who had followed you quietly.

“Everything ok here?” Lee and the Pickaway men had arrived when they heard the commotion.

As you looked at Lee you couldn’t help the grin spreading across your face. “Yes sweetheart. Dolores here just bit off more than she could chew.” Lee’s brow raised but you saw his mouth twitch slightly.

“If it was this chicken pot pie I can't blame her.” Dolores triumphant smirk faltered when Sheriff Wallace started loading his plate with more. “This is incredible! What angel made this?”

Lee’s arm wound around you tightly. “That’s my girl's recipe.”

Even if it was an act you couldn’t help the pride that flooded you at Lee’s declaration. As you nuzzled into his side you couldn’t help feeling envious of the woman who would one day be lucky enough to take his last name after this ended and you left town. She certainly would be blessed with a kind devoted man like him.

Sheriff Wallace tipped his hat to you. As you blushed slightly Genevieve approached and smiled warmly at you and Lee. “Do you dance, Deputy?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“This is my favourite song. Would you mind?”

Lee glanced at you nervously. This was a situation neither of you had prepared for. On spotting a ring on her third finger he relaxed slightly but was still uncertain. “As much as I hate to disappoint a lady, I’d hate to offend her husband more.”

Genevieve giggled, a sentiment that was echoed by her party. “She’s been married a few years and her husband is a level headed fellow. I promise as long as you’re a gentleman you’ll have no qualms with him, Deputy.” Sheriff Wallace winked at her fondly.

Lee glanced at you again. You knew that the point of this whole thing was for Lee to make an impression but you were reluctant to share him with another woman regardless if she was married. With all eyes on you there was nothing you could do but smile and let him go. You watched as he offered his hand and led Genevieve to the dance floor before placing his free hand with careful deliberation on her hip before slowly gliding around. There was a swooping sensation in your stomach followed by a horrible twisting. Why on earth were you feeling this way?

“Seeing as your Deputy has done his duty I should do mine. Miss?”

Sheriff Wallace offered his hand. Though it was the last thing you wanted to do you politely accepted and allowed him to guide you first to the dance floor then around with graceful movement. Your gaze flickered around until you saw Lee smiling at Genevieve who was speaking softly to him.

“Deputy Bodecker seems like a good man.”

A blush stained your cheeks. Of course your mother had taught you dancing etiquette and that your focus should be on your dance partner, single or not. Though you didn’t think her teachings quite covered this scenario.

“I beg your pardon, Sheriff Wallace. That was rude of me.” You braved a peek and saw what appeared to be an understanding expression on his face. “But yes, Lee is a good man. Though it might be a bit prejudicial to ask the woman he’s seeing. Especially when I’m new to the area. You might be better asking the local folk.”

Sheriff Wallace shook his head as he twirled you gently. “Miss I’ve been a Sheriff for three years and an officer of the law for nearly three times that. I find that I learn more about a man in a position of power by how he treats his inferiors rather than his equals. From what I’ve observed Deputy Bodecker is polite and courteous to most, barring those who don’t deserve it and I cannot say they are undeserving.” Something crossed the Sheriff’s face. “I think he would make a fine Sheriff especially with someone like you supporting him.”

Your face heated as your heart twisted at the kind words. This was a means to an end. But it was promising that Lee was being recognised.

“I think I’ve kept you from him long enough.”

You glanced up in surprise and squeaked when he suddenly turned so you were next to Lee and Genevieve.

“Your sweetheart is a good dancer” she smiled at you. “But I think it’s time I returned Romeo to his Juliet.” They somehow moved effortlessly so you were now dancing with Lee as they swayed next to you.

“Miss me Pixy?”

Glancing up you saw the polite smile for Genevieve evolve as Lee’s face lit up as you started dancing with him. Instead of answering you hid in the crook of his neck. Lee kept swaying but one arm moved across your back to rest his hand on your waist while the other secured your free hand over his heart. As you felt the gentle thud of his heart you melted against him and inhaled the mixture of his cologne and the soap he used. As the song's final notes played you leaned back slightly to see Lee very close to you, his lips a mere breath away.

“Pardon me, would you mind coming with me to powder my nose?”

Despite the fact there were several officers in attendance you could have quite happily committed murder for having your moment interrupted. Lee looked slightly lost but smiled and grazed his lips across your knuckles before turning to face Sheriff Wallace. Cursing inwardly you smiled at Genevieve and followed her towards the restrooms.

“Sorry for interrupting your moment but I really wanted to talk to you.”

Any response was cut off with a growl when you saw the swarm of women descending on the two Sheriffs. They might have been cooing like pigeons but all you could see were a bunch of vultures. When you saw Dolores rubbing Lee’s arm you were seriously considering strangling her.

“I wouldn’t worry about those harpies, honey.” You blinked with surprise at Genevieve’s words. “That man is head over heels for you. Looked like someone had kicked his dog when he saw you dancing with Sheriff Wallace.”

She laughed and guided you towards the restroom. “I wanted to ask you two things. First, I can have that chicken pot pie recipe because it was divine. And second I liked what you said to that witch about how to keep a man.”

Blood rushed to your face. “Oh. I um-”

She laughed as she applied her lipstick. “It’s true though. I’ve been married three years and it’s how I’ve kept my man. He’s never had an appetite for anything another woman has ever offered. My Momma also taught me that.” She flashed a grin at you and winked with approval.

Suddenly a hand wrapped around your throat as you left the restroom and forced you outside. Despite your best efforts no amount of wriggling and fighting lessened the iron hold on your neck. Once at the edge of the property you realised it was Morton holding you captive and glanced over at Genevieve who was also struggling with one of his corrupt friends.

“Let her go Morton.” When his hand tightened around your throat you gasped “She’s with the Pickaway police. You hurt her and I bet they’ll raise hell for your daddy.”

There was a pause before Genevieve was released. When she glanced your way you smiled in reassurance and she took off before you looked at Morton. “What the hell do you want?”

He chuckled mirthlessly. “Heard what you gals were saying about how to keep a man. Wanted to see how well your Momma taught you.”

“Why don’t you take a long walk on a short pier?”

Suddenly your cheek stung viciously and you slumped to the ground from the force of his slap. Tears sprung to your eyes from the stinging but above that rose anger. Your parents had never laid a hand on you. Who the hell did this parasite think he was?

“Listen honey, the moment you arrived I called dibs. I tried being all sweet on ya, offering to take you for rides and I got the royal shaft. Now I hear that you’re easy for that wet rag Bodecker? Nu-uh. Not in my town.”

“Do you ever shut the fuck up?”

Morton stood with a twisted smirk on his face and his hands resting on his belt as his friend roughly lifted you to stand before Morton.

“Stop with the bit. Now you’re gonna show me just what your momma taught you honey. Do a good job and my friend here will go easy on ya. He loves leftovers.”

You shuddered slightly at the sound of slurping lips but stared Morton down. “Sit on it Morton.”

His face twisted with anger. But before he could raise a hand a grey blur blew past you and tackled Morton into the shadows. From the slivers of moonlight you could barely see but then a growl rose from the dark.

“Don’t. You. Fuckin’. Touch. Her.”

With each word Lee punched Morton who tried to escape but it wasn’t until his friend stepped in that you launched forward to help Lee by kicking and scratching where possible.

“Woah woah woah! Wuss goin’ on here?!”

The loud voice cut through the chaos and you all separated though Lee quickly shielded you behind him. One of his arms was thrown out towards you as if warning you to stay back so you gripped his wrist and squeezed it to reassure him.

“Hey! I asked what’s going on here?!”

It was the person you knew was least likely to help. Sheriff Morton. He glanced around as if expecting an answer but when he saw you behind Lee he hummed softly.

“I see. Well I think that’s enough fun for one night so you oughta head home.” He turned to Johnny. “Son, why doncha-”

“No.”

It took you a moment to realise that Lee was defying his boss. For you. And the elder Morton didn’t look happy with it.

“Cool it Bodecker. Johnny here can run her home while we talk about that scuffle.”

Indignant that Sheriff Morton seemed to imply Lee was at fault you spoke up. “He’s the one who started it because he couldn’t deal with bein’ clutched!”

Lee shifted closer to you as Sheriff Morton took a step forward. “Now you listen here-”

”Trouble in the ranks, Sheriff?” A quick glance revealed one of the Pickaway deputies walking forward.

Sheriff Morton eyeballed you before waving towards the deputy. “Just a lil misunderstanding son. I’ll handle it.”

”Well I’m sure it’s nothing a lady needs to see.” You detected an edge to his words but you were too busy watching the Mortons. When the younger didn’t meet his father’s eyes the Sheriff nodded reluctantly. “Miss, why don’t you come with me?”

When you didn’t react Lee tried to tug his wrist free but you held on. “Go with ‘im Pixy.” Lee didn’t face you and instead kept watching the Knockemstiff men. Your grip moved to squeeze his outstretched hand and relaxed slightly when he squeezed back. “Go on.”

The deputy escorted you to a car where Genevieve was waiting. “C’mon Miss. We’re gonna take you home.”

You shook your head in confusion. “No, I can’t leave him. He-”

“Wallace knows” she murmured softly, catching your hands. “We’re all too aware of how things work here in Knockemstiff. I promise he’s gonna help your Deputy. But we don’t know how long that’s gonna take and you don’t need those harpies judging you. We’ll take you home and you can wait for him there.”

Silently you knew that it made sense and allowed them to take you home. On arrival you began to pace back and forth with uncertainty whether to try and find Lee but you didn’t want to risk crossing paths with the Mortons. As the name crossed your mind you cursed them, Everything had been going so well before the younger interfered. What would happen to Lee now, especially as he had refused a direct order from his boss for you and fought the Sheriff’s son?

You heard a soft tread on the steps and held your breath. Three gentle raps. You knew that knock. Bolting to the door you yanked it open and gasped. Lee had a split lip and the shadow of a bruise forming on his face. Guiding him inside you quietly sat him on the couch before getting a chilled bottle to place on the bruise and gently dabbed at his lip. He hissed slightly but didn’t move apart from his eyes which swept over you a few times.

“Are you alright Pixy?”

Blinking you stared at him before letting out a laugh of surprise. “Me? Have you seen yourself Deputy? What happened?”

“Morton got in a few licks before his daddy arrived.” Lee’s eyes darkened. “They thought they’d get to keep goin’ once you’d gone…”

Lee never once turned as he heard you walk away, his glare at the three men before him never lessening as they watched your progress. Only when their eyes landed back on him did he concentrate on his own current predicament.

“Startin’ a brawl over a girl Bodecker? I expected more of you.”

“He’s whipped. Little hussy has him on his knees. Or maybe she’s the one on her knees for him.”

“You’re cruisin for a bruisin, Morton” Lee snarled, his fists flexing restlessly.

“And you’re done Bodecker. You can kiss the badge and your job goodbye.” Sheriff Morton smirked at him. ”Might wanna take care with those public displays you have with your little sweetheart. Could get you both into some trouble.”

Over the derisive laughter and taunting threats from the other two, Lee felt a thud of panic. Not for him. But you. How could he protect you from his former boss and his sleaze of a son without his job?

“I think you’ll find that you’re the one in trouble, Sheriff Morton.” Lee turned to find Sheriff Wallace with his remaining Deputy standing close by. Both wore identical grins.

Sheriff Morton straightened as his eyes narrowed. “All due respect but this ain’t your concern nor your county.”

Sheriff Wallace chuckled though there was no humour in the sound. “I think you’ll find that it is my concern. Who owns the maroon ‘49 Mercury?”

“It’s actually Midland Maroon. That’d be my ride.” Johnny’s chest puffed out, not noticing the warning glare his father shot. “Ain’t she a beauty?”

Wallace grinned and tilted his head. “Sure is. You wouldn’t forget that in a hurry. Especially when the passengers are engaged in repeated acts of public indecency. Unfortunately it always seemed to vanish by the time the police arrived.” His grin widened when he saw Johnny freeze with realisation lighting his face. “So I asked all Sheriffs in the surrounding counties if they knew about this vehicle. And most tell me they have the same issue. Except you, Sheriff Morton. You said you’d never seen it before. I wonder how well you can do your job if you can’t see what’s right in front of you?”

It was abundantly clear that Wallace’s words held heavier meaning and belied his knowledge of the true corruption in Knockemstiff.

“We’re gonna take your boy to our station. He’s in a lot of trouble.”

His deputy walked up and cuffed the younger Morton who was threatening about what the elder Morton would do. But Sheriff Morton’s face just paled. This was a man whose palm he had never greased and from the sound of things would never even have the chance to try.

Wallace’s eyes softened when they landed on Lee. “Walk with me Mr Bodecker. We need to talk about what happened with your lady.”

“I don’t know what lies that little hussy told you but she’s been leadin’ on my boy since she arrived here!”

Wallace’s brow raised. “Which hussy do you mean? Mr Bodecker’s girl who’s been a delight compared to the scum I’ve seen, or my wife who told me that this lowlife here manhandled her out of the bathroom for his own pleasure? Only the fact that she’s from Pickaway saw her being released. My other deputy heard the threat about leftovers.”

Wallace then slapped a pair of cuffs on Johnny’s lackey. “You best get these boys a good lawyer, Sheriff.”

Lee fell into step as they headed towards a cruiser with a Pickaway sign. Once the two were settled in the back, Wallace turned to Lee. “You ok son?”

Lee nodded, unable to believe what had just transpired. But suddenly it was like a fog lifted from his face. “Sir, my-”

“She’s safe. Gen and my other deputy took her home. I trust him with my life and Gen’s. I promise no harm would’ve come to her.”

Sheriff Wallace smiled at the man before him who didn’t seem to know which way was up.

“You got caught in a brawl and lost your job yet your first concern is for your girl. That’s commendable. That’s what I’d like to see in a fellow Sheriff.” Lee ducked his head from the praise, unused to hearing such a glowing review. “Mr Bodecker, I know you were set on becoming Sheriff here. How would you feel about becoming joint Sheriff for Pickaway county?”

Lee’s head snapped up. “Sir?”

“My deputies are happy in their roles. None of them want the job, not that I blame them. But I’ve been wanting to step back for a while and try for a family with Gen. I wanna be able to take days off and see my kids be born and grow up.”

Sheriff Wallace placed his hands on his hips. “I reckon come our next election you could be wearin’ a Sheriff’s badge. Whaddya say?”

”I need to think about it.”

“WHAT?!” Poor Lee looked startled by your raised voice but you couldn’t believe what he’d said. “Please tell me you didn’t say that. You’re wasted in this town! Why on Earth would you stay?” You frowned as a smile began to grow on Lee’s face and banished the dark look he’d arrived with.

Lee chuckled softly. “Sheriff Wallace asked me the same thing.”

You were baffled. “And what could you possibly have said in return? Lee, I swear-” When his pearly whites flashed your exasperation grew. “Why are you smiling like that?”

Lee shifted closer to you. “That’s the first time you’ve said my name when we’re alone.” His blue eyes sparkled as he murmured. “I said that I couldn’t leave without knowing you were safe. But it’s more than that. I want you to come with me.”

You opened your mouth but he took your hand and hushed you gently. “Pixy… This may have started as an act… but I fell for you. And I think you fell for me too.”

He nodded towards a box that sat on the coffee table. A box where you’d stored keepsakes of your time with Lee - the ticket from the drive in, every flower he’d given you carefully pressed and lovingly preserved.

“I want that future with you, the one that your parents inspired. And I don’t care if it’s Pickaway or Columbus or even the moon… but I want to be with you.”

As his free hand cupped your cheek his eyes darted between your eyes and mouth as he leaned in and kissed you softly. Surprised by his confession you froze momentarily. Mistaking your lack of response Lee almost pulled back before your free hand gripped his shirt and held him still before pressing your lips against his.

In your little bubble your senses were all centred around Lee - his cologne, the faintest metallic tang from the cut on his lip, blue orbs gleaming as he slowly pulled back and the reverence of your name leaving his lips as he brushed his nose along yours.

When Lee’s thumb brushed over the apple of your cheek you squeezed his hand affectionately. As you let him pull you into his hold and press a kiss to your forehead you giggled quietly.

“What’s so funny Pixy?”

You tilted your head back and found Lee’s sapphire gaze piercing you and filling every inch of you with warmth. “I wasn’t looking for love but I found it in the place I least expected.”

[bbymoonarts]

i made this on my laptop, not my tablet, so the style is a little diff.... ANYWAY PUTTING MORE OCS INTO @thiscatdraws EXILEVERSE AU!!! HUZZAH!!! YUPPIEE!!!! YIPPIEE!!!! (canon ocs different)

crystalline truth and her husband pomegranite burst (yes it's a play on both fruit AND rocks) are ponies who reside within the crystal kingdom, leading established careers in jewelry related fashion and a wine tycoon respectively.

both grew up in homes where they weren't treated properly, crystalline truth in one that exploited her talent of seeing the occasional vision and pomme in one where his mother spent more time worshipping than listening, so his voice didn't matter.

neither of them wished to be this way moving forward, establishing their lives as far away as their parents as they could possibly manage; the crystal empire.

crystalline truth established her own boutique as a jewelry smith, abandoning her third eye as it had forsaken her entire upbringing, only using when it forces her to, to keep herself and her husband as safe as she can. she utilizes the natural abundance of minerals in the surrounding caves, making gorgeous pieces that go for hefty prices, boasting about how her pieces are going to be the "next it thing" and they should be bought to stay relevant.

pomegranite burst inherited his father's business after his untimely passing, managing the orchard and wine tycoon from his new home, making frequent trips to keep an eye on things. when he is away, he has another point he hoof-appointed to manage things. he sells his products at local farmers markets, large events, and wherever he can in between.

the both of them keep to themselves, balancing their work the best they can with their social lives and contemplation over possible incoming "familial" matters. they often struggle to write back to their other friends, causing some guilt for not being able to reach some of their more... anxious, shut-in friends, causing them to worry about their well-being. (be that as it may, crystalline truth seems quite aloof but under the surface, she is just as emotionally unbalanced as her husband!)

[alabasterpickles]

I am no stranger to making oc’s for the fandoms I engage in and most of them I rarely talk about so let me give y’all a quick breakdown of one of the gals I’ve been playing around with the the last few months

I was talking with my sister about how strange (and sad!) it is that Sidon and Mipha’s mother is mentioned maybe *once* in passing and how funny it is that neither of them look remotely like their dad, so naturally this sparked a desire to explore what she may have been like/looked like!

I’m going to guess she was close to Yona’s size (she’s my main canon adult Zora woman reference point) which still makes her itty bitty compared to Dorephan. And also I headcanon that both kids take after her — which is why they both had special “Sage” abilities and Dorephan does not, it’s all on mom’s side of the family! The second drawing was me trying to figure out their approximate size difference (which would’ve been comically large anyway), featuring young Dorephan!

I know the “dead mom” trope is a major plot device in this particular series, but it’s nice to think about all the pre-tragedy family stuff.

Anyway! Her name is Sola!

Enjoy these little doodles!!

ALSO for the record, Sidon inherited his winning shark smile from mom in my mind

[edenesth]

The Duke's Weakness

Pairing: duke!Yunho x dancer!reader

Word Count: 1.2k

'Crazy Form' Comeback Special Series | Hongjoong | Seonghwa | Yunho | Yeosang | San | Mingi | Wooyoung | Jongho |

ATEEZ Masterlist

"May I have the pleasure of this dance, my lady?"

Your eyes widened when you turned around to see none other than Duke Jung Yunho, the second most eligible bachelor in Wonderland after the recently engaged crown prince.

In surprise, you quickly curtsied and replied, "But sire, you mustn't. I'm no lady—"

It was against the rules for you to dance with any lords or noblemen at the ball. After all, you were simply a hired dancer meant to entertain at such grand events.

Yunho, undeterred, smiled cheekily as he extended his hand, waiting patiently, "Not a lady, you say? You do possess the anatomy of one, though, don't you?"

Blushing, you stammered, "W-well, of course, I do, my lord. But that's not what I meant—"

Amused by your flustered response, the duke gestured towards his outstretched hand, "Then please, my lady, I wish to dance with you. Unless you refuse, I will respect your decision."

In a panicked state, you shook your head and quickly placed your hand in his, "N-no! It would be an honour, my lord."

You couldn't ignore the watchful gazes fixed upon the two of you as Yunho gracefully led you into his embrace, twirling you around the grand hall. Sensing the scrutiny, you squirmed slightly, acutely aware of the potential controversy surrounding a man of his status dancing with a peasant like yourself.

"Hey, look at me. Only me. Don't mind them; none of these people matter as long as I'm here," His reassuring words made your heart skip a beat, and you responded with a breathless, "Yes, my lord."

His words had a magical effect, diverting your attention from the envious glares of women and the judgemental stares of men.

As you locked eyes with his gentle gaze, you wondered why people labelled him as the strict and cold-hearted Duke. Yunho inherited his father's title at a young age, and he hasn't been the same ever since. Ruling with an iron fist, he defied societal expectations by refusing to marry despite the persistent stream of candidates presented to him each year.

His reputation preceded him, and your knowledge of him was limited to what most people knew. You've encountered him multiple times at events, you as the performer and him as a distinguished guest.

Tonight, however, he played the role of the ball's host, an attempt orchestrated by his mother to find him a suitable bride. But he remained steadfast in his defiance, his attention solely fixed on his favourite dancer who had captured his interest at every ball and ceremony—you.

In truth, Yunho's struggle with his identity began in earnest after his father's passing, burdening him with responsibilities far too heavy for a child. Forced into the role of a duke, he became little more than a puppet, dutifully following his mother's directives.

Beneath his seemingly detached exterior simmered a reservoir of anger, a lamentation for the childhood he had lost. Deprived of a voice in his younger years, his subsequent decisions reflected a rebellion against his constrained past, resulting in a ruling style that was borderline tyrannical.

For the longest time, he had lost hope and found it difficult to see the beauty in life. But everything changed when he first laid eyes on you. Beyond your physical beauty, the genuine joy radiating from your eyes as you indulged in your passion for dancing captivated him. He saw something ethereal and was determined to shield the childlike innocence that still sparkled in your gaze from potential harm.

Contrary to popular belief, the duke had a weakness that surfaced consistently in the presence of a mere dancer at every event. Tired of his mother's incessant prodding, he had decided to marry as she wished. But he had a very different plan in mind: he would not be choosing from the noblewomen invited to the ball.

Unable to contain the questions swirling in your mind, you mustered the courage to speak, "My lord, if I may ask a question," He nodded, "Please, just Yunho will do."

Your eyes widened at the informality, "But, my lord—" The duke gently silenced you with a finger pressed to your lips, "No 'buts.' Now, ask away."

Taking a deep breath, you cleared your throat before voicing your inquiry, "Y-Yunho, sire, you must be aware that I'm not a noblewoman of any sort, yes? Why would you want to dance with someone as humble as myself? Wouldn't this affect your reputation?"

He flashed a mischievous grin, tightening his hold on your waist and pulling you closer, your foreheads now touching, "My lady, I won't allow you to belittle yourself like that. Let it be known that I've been admiring you since your very first performance."

Your cheeks flushed at the realisation that he had been watching you from the start, "And now, I find myself admiring you even more for the genuine concern about my reputation. I could use a wife like you."

The final sentence nearly caused your heart to stop, halting your feet and leaving the two of you at the centre of the dance floor, all eyes focused on you, "This isn't funny, Yunho. You shouldn't joke about such matters—"

His hand gently cupped your cheek, interrupting your protest, "I am not joking, my lady. If I were to propose right now, would you agree to be my bride?" Despite your initial disbelief, the vulnerability and sincerity in his eyes persuaded you that he was indeed serious.

Anxiety etched his features as you remained silent; his thumb soothingly stroked your cheek, "I know you're scared and confused, but I swear on my life, I will make you happy. So, tell me, my dear, would you be mine?" Unable to trust your voice, you simply nodded, prompting an instant, wide smile to grace his face.

At that moment, he caught the familiar sound of his mother's approaching footsteps, storming over to intervene, "Yunho, my son—" With a sly smirk, he gracefully dropped to one knee in front of you, drawing gasps from the surrounding onlookers, "My lady, would you allow this duke the honour of being your husband?"

This dramatic gesture served a dual purpose: demanding respect for you as his chosen one and signalling his defiance to his mother and everyone else present.

Feeling the intensity of the penetrating glares, you hesitated momentarily, but the gentle squeeze of your hand reassured you. With a firm nod, you affirmed, "Yes, my lord. I'd be delighted to have you."

Without hesitation, he swiftly pulled you into his arms, his words a whispered promise in your ear, "I'm well aware that my reputation may not be the best, but I will be good to you, my duchess. You have my word." Your heart melted at the sincerity behind those words, and he sealed the deal with a kiss on your lips.

By the end of the night, you would come to realise that your trust in him was well-founded. In only a brief span, this man has shown you more respect than anyone ever had throughout your entire life.

It became abundantly clear that any woman thinking they stood a chance with Yunho was sorely mistaken, for the duke only has eyes for you—his one and only weakness.

Y'all, Wooyoung was initially meant to be the duke. But the more I looked at that photo of Yunho, it was almost like he was telling me this role belonged to him lmao.

Thank you for reading and as always, let me know your thoughts! <3

Tag list: @aurasblue @marievllr-abg @itsvxlentine @minghaoslatina @huachengsbestie01

All Rights Reserved © edenesth // DO NOT REPOST, TRANSLATE, PLAGIARISE OR REPURPOSE.

[sneakyboymerlin]

It’s a shame that the core four’s ages are never confirmed in canon. Arthur’s age is the best we get, and even then, it’s not that simple.

The dragon was captured exactly 20 years before Merlin came to Camelot. This means that Arthur is certainly over the age of 20 in 1x01. I’d argue that he should be over the age of 21 if the Purge had not only been going on for some time, but had already progressed into Kilgharrah’s capture by that point 20yrs prior.

If we take each episode as ~1 month (making each season ~1 year long), then Arthur’s birthday being in 1x09 would indicate about 9 months’ difference from 1x01, meaning that — if Arthur is 20 here — he was born only 3 months prior to the dragon’s capture.

This would mean that it only took 3 months for Uther to 1) wage his war, 2) escalate it so severely that Balinor summoned Kilgharrah to make peace with Uther, and 3) manage to capture Kilgharrah in chains specially designed to keep a dragon. This is incredibly unlikely.

I propose that Arthur is actually 21 in 1x01, giving Uther ~1 year and 3 months to wage war and orchestrate Kilgharrah’s capture.

From there, we can guesstimate Merlin’s age, since his birth is a direct result of this event. 20 years prior to 1x01 is when the dragon was captured, and so too was Merlin’s father. Then, he would have spent a period of at least a few months or 1+ years in Ealdor (long enough for him to fall in love with Hunith, and enough to never love another woman like that ever again). Then, he left Ealdor before he could discover Hunith’s pregnancy (i.e. she was not showing).

Accounting for the time Balinor spent in captivity, then the time spent in Ealdor, and of course the 9 months of pregnancy (which would have had some overlap, but small enough that Hunith was not showing), we get a period of at least one year, possibly even 2 years, after the dragon’s capture (again, exactly 20 years before the events of 1x01).

Subtracting 1 year, or 2, or whichever number we decide is most realistic from that 20 year figure, Merlin could be any of a wide range of ages in 1x01. At the oldest, he is a little over 1 year younger than Arthur (21 - 1.5 = 19.5). The youngest he could be is ~16 (based on appearances and relative age, since the numbers alone don’t place a limit on his minimum age) but it’s safe to say he’s at least 17 when he leaves Ealdor. So, 18 or 18 and a half would make for a functional average.

There is little to go off of for the Smiths, but Gwen is likely to be somewhere right between Merlin and Arthur’s ages since she has romantic plot-lines with both. She is likely ~19 in 1x01, older or younger depending on which figures we’re using. Elyan is implied to be younger than Gwen in 5x06 (when he says that Gwen “practically raised [him]”), so he may be Merlin’s age or younger. Only tangentially related, but Gwen says in 3x07 that it’s been 4 years since Elyan left. This places his departure ~6 months prior to 1x01.

As for Morgana, her age is dependent on when Uther slept with Morgana’s mother. Gorlois was off in battle when this happened, so it may have been post-Purge. However, because Morgana’s magic is an inherited trait (as it is with her sister, Morgause) and she and Morgause have the same mother but not the same father, this makes the magic a matrilineal trait in their family. It is highly unlikely that Morgana’s mother — a woman with innate magic — would have slept with Uther during the Purge. It was likely pre-Purge, and at least a year before Arthur’s birth.

Furthering the latter possibility, Uther having a child out of wedlock would be the evidence he needs to confirm the reason he has no child with his own wife (only his best friend’s wife): Ygraine is the infertile one. (Uther, on the other hand, is a little too fertile for his own good).

Compiling the timelines of these events, with enough time passing for the conception of Morgana to be realized, enough time for Gaius to persuade Nimueh to help Uther and Ygraine conceive, and enough time for Ygraine to complete a full 9 month pregnancy, we’re looking at a minimum of ~1 year and a half, but probably 2+ years if Uther and Ygraine looked into other (ineffective but time-consuming) fertility options first (via Gaius?).

Therefore, Arthur and Morgana might have a good 2 years between them. If Arthur is 21 in 1x01, then Morgana is probably ~23.

So my best guesses for 1x01 ages are:

Morgana: 22-23

Arthur: 21

Gwen: 19-20

Merlin: 18-19

Elyan: 16-18

[painted-flag]

Snow White and the Seven Bandits - Jacaerys Velaryon.

Story I of Between the Pages: a HOTD x fairytale series.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ series masterlist here. main blog masterlist here. .𖥔 ݁ ˖ pairing: jacaerys velaryon x reader .𖥔 ݁ ˖ warnings: depictions of violence and use of poison. .𖥔 ݁ ˖ word count: 11.4k .𖥔 ݁ ˖ note: this is a long one. the others in the series will be the same, perhaps even longer for a few, so would you be interested in me dividing them into parts for the future or just keep them as one text around 10k and release at once?

“It is imperative that you both exhibit the best of manners,” The voice of the kingdom's Queen, Rhaenyra Targaryen, carried throughout the carriage. The wheelhouse held her, Jacaerys, and Lucerys. The youngest, Joffrey, had stayed in Kings Landing with their father Harwin - as he is the prince regent and can act in Rhaenyra’s stead. The carriage rocked as it made its way down a country road. 

“Mother, we are always on our best behaviour,” Jacaerys responded, though it seemed his attention was somewhere else in pure boredom. Lucerys, who had been sitting across from him, sent a look of doubt his way. 

“Be that as it may, the Lady of Stonehill is… sensitive. The Lord of Stonehill lost his previous wife on the birthing bed. A few years after marrying a new wife, he passed. His daughter followed him in death a month afterwards. So please, do not bring up any subjects around Lady Alicent that may offend her. It may have happened years ago, but those scars do not fade.” Rhaenyra pressed the importance of their behaviour for their visit to Castle Stonehill. 

“Yes, mother.” Lucerys gave her a wide smile, the candied lemons he was snacking on made his cheeks puff out. 

Rhaenyra leaned to the side to enter Jace’s field of vision as he stared out of one of the wheelhouse windows. She raised her brow and waited for an answer. 

Jace broke out of his trance and smiled at his mom, though it did not reach his eyes, “Yes, we will be on our best behaviour.” 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎 ༻⊰───⋅

The afternoon sun shone down on the walled-in garden of Castle Stonehill. The white quartzite with streaks of gray reflected the sunlight, casting glittered specks of light across the garden. Songbirds chirped as they flew from tree to tree. The abundance of foliage covered every open area in green. The types of flowers present filled all of the colours of a rainbow and butterflies flew from patch to patch to suck the nectar from the plants. 

It was an area of peace and safety which you frequented often when not working. After the arduous hours of work throughout the morning, you relished the break of rest you got in the afternoon. They were spent in the garden, tending to the flowers that grew there. It was the only place in the castle that your stepmother, Alicent, never touched. 

Your birth had caused your mother to pass, leaving you with your father. He was a kind and gentle man, who often spent more time with you than he should have given his lordly duties. He did all he could to raise you on his own. His gentle voice and demeanour rarely fit his appearance, for the man looked strong enough to snap a log over his thigh. Many years after the loss of his wife, he married again. The woman, Alicent, had presented herself as nothing but a dutiful and godfearing wife - a trick most wicked. While your father had lived, she treated you with kindness. It was a veiled sweetness that covered up the foul taste beneath; jealousy, want, and animosity. 

Never was there a facade more barbarous than a woman who cut another woman down. 

Upon the death of the Lord of Stonehill, Alicent’s cloaked contempt compounded. The inheritance of the castle would pass to you once you came of age, an outcome most ardently rejected by Alicent. She spared your life under the guise of benevolence, should you fake your death and take up a job as a scullery maid in the castle. It was merciful, in your stepmother’s words, to keep you alive. However, the pain of losing your father and your previous life stung the heart that lay in your chest. A torture disguised as mercy.

Through the years your resolution did not sway. There was a resilience in your kindness, both inwards and outwards, that you displayed to the world daily. What had angered you at first became nothing but a small sting. There are worse fates that people could meet. 

The day had been ordinary, inexplicably so. You found yourself in your usual routine, picking flowers and singing in your few moments of daily rest. The knife in your hand cut the stems of some of the flowers and you placed them in a wicker basket on the ground next to you. Upon turning your gaze to one of the hedges, you saw that it appeared down, as though lacking water. You put down the knife and walked over to a well placed at the centre of the garden. 

Your voice continued to carry a tune as you pulled on a rope to lower a bucket down. As you went about your way, your voice carried over the walls and into the courtyard next to the garden. 

Now, Jacaerys had not wished to go for a walk, but quickly upon their arrival at the castle he and Luke were sent away. The adults were talking, and therefore the youth must let them be. A total disgrace, in Jace’s mind, as he was set to become king and therefore felt he should be included. Alas, the stern gaze of his mother had led to him walking aimlessly in a courtyard with his brother and hoping that the day could finish. 

Jace was walking with Luke beside him and the younger brother had not stopped talking. He was explaining his thoughts on everything they had seen during their trip, waving his hands around to emphasize certain points. Jace nodded along to his observations. It was during a particular rant about the knights of the castle's armour that Jace heard a voice in the distance. The tune carried over the gentle wind, gracing his ear in sweet pleasantry. 

“Do you hear that?” Jace interrupted Luke’s rant. 

Luke halted, “What?”

“That voice… it sounds like singing.” Jace did not wait for any response before he picked up his pace, marching across the courtyard. He followed the wall to his right until the voice got louder. 

“What in the seven hells are you doing?” Luke had been confused by his brother's actions. The whole trip he had been unusually bored, often unfocused and inattentive. Now, it seemed that life was breathed into him again. 

“Don’t you hear that?” Jace looked at the thick growing vines on the wall, rapt by the singing. 

“Someone is singing, does it matter?” Luke responded, “We should go back to mother.” 

“In a moment,” Jace spoke. He stepped forward and grabbed onto one of the vines. His gaze swept across the wall as if he was unsure of his movements. Deciding not to question it, Jace tugged on the vine to test its strength. Upon finding the results he wanted, he began to climb.

When Jaceaerys reached the top, he took in the sight. It was a flower garden. Despite the countless different flowers all mixed around, it looked organized and well-maintained. The singing that he heard came from a woman by a well. She was fetching water and dressed like all the maids, in rags made of cloth. However, Jace was not a blind man and could clearly see how beautiful she was. He paused for a moment and debated on whether or not he should disturb her. His mother taught him better, that a proper man should have manners and not disturb a lady. However, there was an enchanting allure from her. 

“Well,” Luke began, “What do you see?” At that point, Lucerys had become intrigued by his brother's actions. 

“She’s beautiful,” Jace muttered. Luke was unable to hear his brother's response and watched as Jace moved to climb down the other side. He stood there, agape at his brother's impulsive nature - a trait he knew he would never get used to. 

“What an idiot.” He muttered.

You were oblivious to the pitfalls of steps coming from the other side of the well; too lost in your song to care. You were pulling the bucket of water up and had it settle on the edge when an unknown voice broke you from your daydream. 

“Hello.” It was not a very deep voice, but the timbre notes were warm, like the sun's rays on a hot day. 

“Seven Hells!” You shout in fear, the pail of water falling back down the well when the rope in your hands is dropped. The man in front of you rushed to the well wall on the other side. 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” He assured. 

You looked back and forth across the garden, scared that Alicent would be looking in. She did not like it when you talked to servants, and you had no idea how angry she would be if she found out you were talking to the prince.

“I am fine,” You did not wish to prolong this conversation any longer than it had to be, so you hoped a curt response would be a hint for him to leave. 

“I’m Jacaerys Velaryon,” The man spoke, “Who are you?” 

You froze at his words. He was the prince. Oh gods, you had just rudely tried to dismiss the prince. There was a moment of rushed thinking, wondering how you could get yourself out of this situation. There was no shame in running, perhaps. Maybe wish for the ground to open up and swallow you whole.

“Nice to meet you, my prince,” You bowed lowly and kept your gaze lowered to the stone on the ground, “I am simply a maid.” Your hands smoothed over the scratchy fabric of your gown, inwardly cringing at how underdressed you were in front of him. 

“Yes, but what is your name?” Jacaerys stepped around the well to be closer. He was dressed like a prince. Rich, finely woven fabric of dark blue matched the silver embroidered embellishments on the ends of his sleeves, around his collar, and down the front of his surcoat. The garments themselves were sure to be made by a multitude of servants, a look of divinity next to the one-colour floor-length dress you wore, which was accompanied by a light beige apron stained slightly from the dirt of cleaning and tending to the garden. 

“I must go, my prince.” You grabbed the sides of your dress and held them out as you moved down in a short curtsey. He looked confused at your insistent need to be away from him, something you were sure he was not used to considering his status. You turned and began your way to a servant's entrance at the side of the castle.

“Wait! I’m sorry if I scared you, truly,” Jace spoke up and positioned himself in front of you, “Please, I just wish to talk.” He looked as though he wanted to reach out but refrained from doing so. There was a certain glint in his eyes that was unrecognizable. You were used to the way men would threaten you with their gaze, an unsaid selfish want, but Jace did not have that look. It was something kind, an emotion you had not been on the receiving end for many years. 

“There is nothing a servant can say, my prince.” You curtseyed again - a signal of a final dismissal - and moved to the small oak door. The heavy metal of the hand felt cool under your grasp. You yanked it open and closed it behind you. The transition from the warm sun-soaked outside to the cold and damp servants' hallway gave a temporary shock to your body. 

Back in the garden, Jace stood defeated. He felt horrible for scaring a woman - something his mother would sharply scold him on if she ever found out, of which Harwin would sure to join. That was not how you were raised… to corner a woman like that, what were you thinking?

At a window far up on the castle, Lady Alicent stood looking out, having watched their meeting transpire. 

He retreated to the wall he had scaled and grasped the vines in his hand. Lugging himself up, he returned to the top of the wall to his brother standing on the other side. Lucerys was close to going for help because of how long his brother was gone. 

“What in the seven hells was your reasoning for that? Mother told us to be on our best behaviour, yet here you are scaling the walls of Lady Alicent’s castle!” Lucerys scolded as Jace dropped down next to him. 

Jace adjusted his clothing as he huffed to catch his breath from the drop, “You should have seen her, Luke.” 

“Seen who?” Luke had his arms crossed and a look of vexation moved across his face. 

“The lady in the garden.A servant. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone like that.” Jace looked sort of dazed. 

“So… you saw some random servant?” Luke said.��

“I’m telling you, there was something about her… she did not act like one.” Jace marched along the courtyard path and to the nearest entrance to the castle. Luke followed closely behind. 

“All the servants here look the same. Rags and all.” Luke dismissed his brother's whims. 

“Rags cannot hide her gentle face.” Jacaerys’ tone left little room for further resistance from his brother. 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

You sat in your room and skillfully embroidered a patch of fabric. The wooden loop was clutched between the fingers of your left hand as the right held the needle. It was a patch of vines being woven, like the ones the prince climbed to get into the garden. It had only been a day since your encounter with Jacaerys Velaryon, yet the memory clung to your mind and refused to let go. He was kind, uncharacteristically so compared to the people you have met in your life. 

The sudden opening of the door to your small chambers had you rushing to get up. The sewing fell from your lap and to the floor. You were frustrated by the sudden disturbance but swallowed it once seeing who was at your door. 

“Lady Alicent,” You bowed to your stepmother and watched as she stood in the doorframe of your room. Her judging eyes moved around the small space, cluttered with books and other belongings - the few you were allowed to keep. A look of disgust twinged at the corner of her mouth. She stepped into the room, her emerald gown glimmering in the small streak of light from the tiny window placed well above viewing height. Your room was ultimately like a cage but disguised as a servant's quarter.

“You have done well with your chores as of late,” Alicent began, “Good work should be met with rewards, I am generous that way.” Her words were short and snippy like it burdened her to even speak to you.

“Thank you, my lady.” You bit back the array of insults boiling within. 

“Ser Erryk will escort you to the woods, where you can pick wildflowers. Perhaps there may be new ones you can add to your garden.” Despite the kindness of her words, the tone dripped with false sincerity. 

“You are very kind, lady Alicent.” While there was an unsettling nature to her gaze, you were excited to go out in the woods beyond the castle. Since your father's death, you had been kept secluded in the castle walls, unable to even venture into some of the halls. 

“Yes, well, you best get ready then,” Alicent muttered before vacating the room as quickly as she could. The door was open still and a guard stood where she once was. 

“Good morrow, my lady,” Ser Erryk was perhaps the only guard in the castle who clued in on your identity. He was only a young man when your father died and his memory of your face stayed with him. When you were allowed to leave your room many years after your staged death to pose as a scullery maid, he instantly clocked into your true identity. He kept it a secret, for fear of what Alicent would do to him if she found out that he knew. 

“Hello, Ser Erryk. Let me just get my basket.” 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

You hummed away as you tended to the wildflowers on a hill. You were taken on a carriage ride deep in the woods. It had been the most excitement you ever had, for the feeling of freedom rippled through your body. Ser Erryk stood by the carriage a few feet away, watching as you went about digging up dirt and roots of pretty colours you have yet to add to your collection. 

A shadow loomed over where you sat, and your head turned to see Ser Erryk had gotten closer. He stood above you with his sword raised in the air. You did not have it in you to scream, for a wave of hopelessness crashed over your body. A sense of betrayal seeped into your bones. One of the only men who had yet to treat you with antagonism or lecherousness had hidden their evil deep below the surface. 

Ser Erryk’s arms had stopped with the sword raised. They shook ever so slightly in his frozen position. His face was twisted, pain and uncertainty carved across the skin. He stumbled back and threw the sword to the ground, curses flung from his mouth. His breathing was laboured and his chest rose up and down. 

“Run.” His gravelly voice hitched slightly. 

You paused, unsure of his display of goodwill, “What?” 

“I am sorry I ever tried, my lady. Alicent has my brother… she said she would kill him. Go, run far from here.” Ser Erryk spoke. 

“And your brother?” You questioned. 

“I will think of something,” He responded. He reached to his side and pulled out a long dagger, holding it out to her, “Take this and go, my lady.” 

You got up on shaky legs and slowly grasped the hand of the dagger. It felt awkward in your hand. There was never a point in your life where you ever held something sharp besides a kitchen knife or sewing needle. It was heavy and unnatural. 

“Thank you, Ser Erryk. I will never forget this.” You nodded to him. You turned to the woods, looking into the looming dark depths. The fear you had felt towards him had now moved to the woods. The dark trunks stood like knights on the ground, their looming presence instilling dread. Whatever nocturnal beasts lurked within the murky bowels of the forest suddenly seemed less frightful than the beast that would be waiting should you return to the castle. 

Death in the woods felt more merciful than whatever Alicent would do to you. 

Steeling your emotions, you surged forward. Your jogged movements quickly picked up to a steady pace. You leapt over each root and bush in your way. There was no path you followed, only faith to guide you from this terror. The trees surrounding you morphed into figures like monsters. The winding branches twisted around and appeared as hands reaching out to grab her. 

Your feet carried you beyond the winding hills and scattered foliage. Tears stung at your cheeks as the cool wind dried the saltwater on your face. What felt like hours, but had only been a single one, passed as you stumbled over a branch and fell. The choked gasps of your sobbing echoed in the forest. You were hunched over and crying. 

When you pulled back to sit on the ground, you looked up and spotted a decrepit cottage in the distance. You had happened across an open space in the forest. A stream cut through and there was a small shoddy built bridge over the water and a path leading to the cottage. It was a plaster and wood building with a thatched roof. A single chimney was seen going from the bottom of one of the sides to the top of the roof. It appeared to be two storeys high. 

You approached cautiously, wondering who may be around. 

“Hello?” You called out and then waited, but no reply came, “Is anyone there?” There was no response. You moved to one of the windows and saw it covered in dust, you tried to wipe it away, but it only smudged. The cottage had been left a long time ago. Your hand reached for the nob and turned. Surprisingly, the door opened. 

You peered in to see the state of disarray inside. What little furniture could be seen was covered in a layer of dust. When you moved inside the cottage, the dust made you cough violently. 

“Oh, this place is dreadful.” You mutter. There was a broom placed beside the fireplace, also covered in dust. You picked it up and shook the dust off, with only one thought in your mind. This is going to be a nightmare to clean. 

You had spent the next few hours cleaning the cottage from top to bottom. Countless tasks were completed as time went on. While it was exhausting, it felt like a piece of freedom. Here, you were cleaning because you wished to and for yourself, not to the demands of Alicent and any of her friends. 

Earlier, in the upstairs area of the cottage - which was more of a loft space - you found seven beds placed beside one another. It filled you with sadness. At one point in time, this cottage had been full of a loving family, something you had little experience with. You could not help but wonder what could have happened to them.

You finished the last of your tasks and sighed loudly. Your hands rested on your hips as you scanned around the open living space. It looked like an entirely new place as if you tore down the old cottage and built a new one. Your exhaustion was something never felt before. The events of the day finally came down on you; the early morning picking wildflowers, Ser Erryk sparing your life, the run through the woods, and lastly your cleaning of the cottage. The beds upstairs in the lofts seemed comfier than ever. You pranced up the stairs and plopped on one of them. The soup stewing over the fireplace could be left unattended for a good long while, so with that worry out of your mind, you drifted off to sleep. 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

It was in the deep stage of your sleep that the door downstairs opened up. A figure stood in the doorway with their sword raised high and scanned the room. Once they entered, six other figures followed behind. 

“The whole place is… clean.” One of them spoke in a sleepy voice. 

“I thank you for your astute observation, genius.” The one in front wielding the sword grumbled, his grumpy countenance exacerbated by his lack of patience. His free hand moved up to adjust the eyepatch on his face. The group moved as one. They surveyed the ground floor and found nothing except the almost extinguished fire and a cast iron pot strung over it. 

One of the men reached forward and pulled the lid off, exposing the wonderful smell of stew. It simmered just barely. Before they could inspect it further, the man sneezed loudly and dropped the lid back on the pot. The clattering sound emanated around the room. 

They all hunched slightly, ready to attack, but nothing came. The one who sneezed rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. They migrated to the wooden stairs and one by one made their way up the steps. Upon reaching the lofted area, a figure underneath the covers of one of the beds was spotted. 

“What the fuck?” The grumpy one spoke in a hushed whisper. He separated himself from the group and approached the bed cautiously. He adjusted the sword in his grasp. Once he stood at the foot of the bed, he reached out with his sword and nudged the covers. The figure shifted. 

Your state of unconsciousness began to wear off. The exhaustion you had felt earlier depleted. A yawn left your mouth as you moved to sit up in the bed. The covers fell to your waist and you stretched out your arms. After stretching your arms, your hands rubbed the sleep from your eyes. Blinking a couple of times to clear your bleary vision, you opened them to see a man at the foot of the bed with a sword pointing at you. Six men stood behind, all with varying faces of curiousness to skepticism. 

There was only one reaction that seemed fitting, which was to scream. When you did, the six men standing at the top of the stairs screamed as well. The one with the sword, who had silver hair and an eyepatch over his left eye, groaned with frustration. 

“Who are you?” He demanded. 

Before you could answer, a man behind him spoke up, “Stop pointing your sword at a bloody woman!” The man had a bashful expression on his face. 

“We don’t know her, Addam.” He responded to his friend and turned back to face you, “What are you doing in our house?” 

“I… I thought it was abandoned.” You responded. Shock still froze your body. It seemed as though wherever you would run, men would always follow. 

One of the men laughed at her words. He looked to be old, with silver hair and a beard. “Well, you’re not wrong about that assumption.” The man stepped forward and to the man with the eyepatch, grabbing the sword from his hands and placing it on the floor, “I apologize for scaring you. My name is Viserys, but most people call me Happy.” 

“Happy?” You questioned. 

“They are our cover names,” Happy answered, “My friend with the patch here is Aemond, but he goes by Grumpy.” 

“Not willingly,” Aemond complained. 

You mulled over their names in your head and thought on it for a moment. For some odd reason, the names felt familiar. They settled at the back of your mind, poking at your consciousness. A heartbeat passed before it struck you. The two names and the fact that there were seven of them in total.

“As… as in the seven bandits?” You gulped a bit of air after you spoke. 

“You’re corre-” The man who spoke up sneezed abruptly, “Correct. I am Laenor, but my nickname is, well, Sneezy.” 

“Let us just all reveal ourselves. Might as well just tell her all of our secrets while we are at it.” Aemond crossed his arms and stared her down. He looked at her as though she was a threat; some hidden weapon made to kill them. 

“You suck the joy out of everything, Grumps.” Another man stepped forward and nodded to you, “I’m Aegon.” 

“Dopey,” Aemond added on. 

Aegon glared at him and crossed his arms, “At least I’m not a killjoy.” Aemond squared his shoulders and stood chest to chest with Aegon, domineering over his frame.

“Well maybe if you were smart for once-” 

“That's enough.” Viserys spoke and placed himself between them, “Both of you can leave if you won’t get along. Stop crowding around the poor girl.” They backed off and joined the other men a few feet away. 

“I’m sorry, truly. The place appeared empty and I thought that I could stay for a while. I will leave.” You push the covers from your body and maneuver off of the bed. 

Viserys raised his hands in a peaceful motion, “Please, do not feel rushed. If I may ask, who are you and why are you here?” 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

Over the seven jewelled hills and beyond the seven falls, you happened upon a home of seven bandits a half year ago. Upon revealing your true identity, they had taken you in - much to the chagrin of Grumpy. However, you provided the skills learned as a maid to contribute to the house and were allowed to stay permanently. After a few weeks of asking, the men had begun to train you in the ways of the sword. 

You were beyond skilled at it, having nicked yourself and a few of the others many times over. It was a learning curve you gradually got over, though you had a long way to go. Despite all your learning, you have yet to join them on their missions. Happy assured you that your talent with the sword was enough, but truly did not feel good to have a woman join them, for he was worried about your safety. 

It was in this group of misfits that you found a family. While Grumpy was still not too keen on your presence, the others welcomed you relatively quickly. You got to know them all on a personal level and truly understand how fitting their cover names were. Aemond fit the Grumpy name. Viserys was always happy, Aegon consistently had a dopey look on his face, while Laenor sneezed near constantly. Addam had the nickname Bashful. He always blushed when you were around and got incredibly flustered when spoken to, but he was very loyal to his friends. Harrold, another one of the older men, was called Sleepy; something he proved nearly daily because if he was not training, he would be found anywhere around the cottage taking a nap. Corlys, or Doc, seemed to take up an almost leader-like role; even though they all worked together as a collective team.

Doc and Happy built you your own room in the cottage. There was a lot of open area on the downstairs level, so they picked a corner and set up walls for your privacy. That was a month after you agreed to stay permanently, and it felt like the final moment in truly becoming family. 

It was the early hours of the morning. You were making breakfast with the help of Dopey. While he was not the brightest, he followed directions well and seemed just pleased to help. The two of you were working diligently. He went to set the table as the others started to wake. They made their way down like clockwork, each settling down in their designated seats. 

When everyone sat and had a plate of food in front of them, Happy spoke, “We think it is time for you to join us on a mission.” His gaze was directed at you. You lowered your fork and tilted your head. 

“Really? I can come?” You held back the excitement that brewed within. 

“A short raid, you will stay back and only interfere if necessary. It is just so you can watch.” Happy reiterated, but you were already smiling widely. 

“Thank you!” You shot out of your seat and walked to his, wrapping your arms around him in a hug and kissing his forehead. Happy turned a shade of bright red. 

“Yes, well, don’t expect to do much,” Grumpy spoke up, “These rich folks always hire terrible guards. There won’t be a need for you to fight.” You walked back to your seat and rolled your eyes. 

“Rich folk aren’t always bad.” You tried to defend. 

“Like that prince you met?” Bashful asked. You groaned internally. A few months prior you let slip of your encounter with the prince and the kindness he showed, regardless of the rudeness you shoved his way. Since then, the men have teased you about him. 

“Not that. I am rich… well… I haven’t been for a long time.” 

“Once a rich girl, always a rich girl,” Grumpy mumbled. 

The morning was spent preparing for some scout work on one of the main roads. The group would wait for a carriage to pass, one that was obviously belonging to a rich person, and they would rob them. Half of the earnings would be distributed to one of the nearby towns, while the other half would go to supporting themselves. 

You now find yourself halfway up a tree that lined the main road through the forest. All of the other men were scattered among other trees, each within view of one another but not from any on the ground. Multiple people had passed, but all appeared to be townsfolk. It was after a few hours that a carriage began to pass. The wood had been carved delicately and embellished with gold. It was beyond a doubt that the person was rich. The only thing that threw her off was the amount of guards on horses surrounding it. 

There had to be no less than twenty men and you were unsure how your friends would handle this. You had never seen them in action before. They all shared looks and communicated through bird calls. You were still learning the meanings of the calls, but one immediately got your attention. It was the call for an attack. 

You watched as your friends descended from their hiding spots in the branches of the trees. They fell like lightning on the soldiers. Upon a closer look, you recognized the armour of the guards and almost gasped. They are royal guards. 

A figure emerged from the carriage with a sword in hand and prepared to fight. You immediately recognized who it was. There was no way you could forget the face of Jacaerys Velaryon. His unruly dark curls fell to his sharp jawline. His stature revealed how strong his form was. The sword in his grasp caught the light. 

You had to intervene. His soldiers were exceptionally trained and you could not leave your friends unaided. You swung from the rope that helped suspend you. Landing on the ground a few feet from Jace, you were intercepted by a guard. Your sword had only ever been used for practice combat, not a skilled soldier. You unsheathed it and blocked the guard's attack. 

The two of you went back and forth. Each time you struck he blocked it, with the same happening to his strikes. He pulled you in and turned your back to his chest. Just as he brought his sword up to plunge into your neck, you elbowed his face and kicked his groin. Once the guard was on his knees and more on your level, you used the hilt of your sword and swung at his helmet, effectively knocking him out. 

When his body fell to the ground, you looked up to see Jace standing there, having watched the whole thing. 

“It’s you!” He spoke. The two of you stood still, each grasping your weapons and unsure how to proceed. You did not wait to respond and swung first. He stepped back and dodged. 

“You’re that maid!” Jacaerys never swung at you but rather deflected your hits. The two of you were engaged in some kind of dance. 

“I’m her,” You responded. Your strikes got harder and Jace pushed back a few times. 

“I don’t want to fight you. Call off these men and we can go our separate ways.” Jace tried to reason. 

You wanted to do that, but knew it was not possible with your friends, “No can do, my prince.” 

The two of you were so focused on the fight, that you failed to notice one of the guards throw a dagger your way. It lodged itself into your shoulder and you cried out in pain, stumbling in your spot. It was then that Dopey called out your name. You watched as realization swept over Jace’s face. He quickly processed the words. 

“Wait, Lady Stonehill? You’re supposed to be dead!” Jace recognized the name as the lady who was said to have passed a mere short months after her father years ago. The name was unique and he pierced it together with you also having been at Castle Stonehill.

Dopey came up on the back of a horse he stole from a guard. He leaned down to lift your injured self onto the horse. Your stomach lay on the saddle behind him. You and Jace had yet to stop looking at one another. There was an underlying force to look at him that would not yield. You wanted to stay, to make sure nothing would happen to him, but it seemed with your injury your group decided to retreat after seizing everything of value. The point was not to kill, that was something that had been emphasized in your training. 

It was always reiterated that the jobs are a swift robbery of goods and nothing else. With that goal achieved, you repositioned yourself on the saddle and wrapped your arms around Dopeys waist. All of the others had clambered to other horses and swiftly fled down the road. The horse you were on followed. You looked back over your shoulder to see the other guards recovering and Jace staring you down. He did not look angry, but rather confused. You hoped he could forgive you. 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

“I humbly apologize for the raid while on your travel here, my prince.” The words of Lady Alicent rang out through the great hall of Castle Stonehill. “Those miscreants have targeted these parts for years, it is time my men put a stop to it.” 

Jacaerys had arrived at Castle Stonehill for a momentary visit to discuss taxes for the Crown, but the interception on his travel seemed to be the only topic of focus. None of his men were gravely injured, but he had lost a few pouches of gold and jewels. 

“Thank you for your kind words, Lady Alicent,” He paused for a moment, “May we speak in private?” Jace asked. 

Alicent waved off her guards and the hall cleared, “What is it you wish to speak about, my prince?” 

“I mean no offence, but there seems to be no other way to inform you of this. Lady Alicent, I believe your stepdaughter is alive.” Jace informed. Alicent’s face shifted from curiosity to something bordering on indignation and distaste. She blinked rapidly. 

“What, um, what makes you say such a thing?” Alicent’s hands placed themselves on her stomach in an attempt to keep herself calm. Jace interpreted her actions as reminiscing of grief. 

“The visit I made with my mother months ago, well I ran into this girl who I thought was a maid. When the raiders attacked my travel company, she was there as well. One of them called out her name and well, I believe it is your stepdaughter. She matches the description as well. Maybe-” 

“I am sorry, Prince Jacaerys, but I cannot hear anymore. My stepdaughter is dead, that is final.” Alicent stood firm on her words. 

Jace nods, “Yes, I understand. I am sorry for the distress I have caused.” He nodded to Alicent before making a hasty exit from the great hall. He kept thinking back to his encounter with the woman. He finally, after months of thinking about her after their encounter in the garden, had a name to match her face. 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

You shifted uncomfortably to try and grab a broom propped in the living space. The bandages on your shoulder moved and you hissed in pain at the sharp feeling hitting you. In the days following your injury in the raid, none of the men had let you lift a single finger. While months ago that would have been a horrible thing for the chores, you had whipped them into shape and they were able to clean properly. However, you still wished to contribute to the house. 

The group marched down the stairs with weapons in their arms. They were going on another raid, as the last few days they opted out so they could watch over you. You stood by the door and opened it for them. One by one, you hugged them goodbye on their way out, giving each a kiss on the cheek for all the help they had given you. The last one, Grumpy, stood in front of you with his arms crossed. 

“You don’t have to worry, I won’t hug you.” You joked. 

Grumpy tilted his head to the side and hummed, “What I said about rich women that day… you’re one of us, not them.” It was the closest thing to an apology you would ever get from him, to be sure. Instead of acknowledging his apology, which would surely elicit a huff of annoyance from him, you chose another option. 

You move forward and wrap him in a gentle hug. His body went stiff, unfamiliar with such kindness. One of his hands went up to put your shoulder awkwardly. After a moment he huffed as a signal to let go. You backed off and flashed him a smile. 

“You secretly care for me, I know it.” 

He moved out the door and began to walk away, “Whatever makes you feel better.” 

You closed the door and looked back at the empty cottage. Making your way to the kitchen area, you decide that you should get started on making food for them when they get back. With your injury, it was bound to take longer than usual, so the sooner the better. 

Hours passed of you prepping pies with one arm. The other would sting in pain each time you tried to use it, so it would be best to get used to your current predicament in hopes it would speed up the healing process. While rolling out the dough, a knock sounded on your door. You stopped your movements and backed from the table. When you walked to the door, you reached for a long knife placed beside it. 

You opened the door while clutching the weapon behind your back. A man stood in a hooded cape. He carried a cane in one hand and a basket in the other. His leg appeared to be in some bandage, but something about it did not look like a temporary injury. 

“Forgive me, sweet girl, but I seem to have lost my way.” The man smiled, “My name is Larys. Could you help me find the right path to the local market?” 

“Oh, I can help you with that,” You notice the man looked bleary and most likely dehydrated, “Come inside and rest for a while, I can get you something to drink.” You ushered him into the cottage and to a seat while stealthily placing the weapon back in its hidden place. Once you served him a cup of water he thanked you immensely for the help. 

“No need to thank me, sir. Kindness always goes a long way.” You sat across from him at the table. 

“I have nothing to repay you.” The man muttered. 

“Oh, you don’t have to.” You spoke. 

He lifted the lid of his basket that was on the table, “Here, at least take one of these apples. I grow them back home.” He reached in and pulled out an apple. It was the most deep shade of red and covered in a shiny gleam. His hand held it out to you and you decided to pick it up. Holding it in your hand you inspected it. 

“Well, I was starting to get hungry. Thank you, sir.” You took a bite of the apple and relished the taste. Some juice dribbled down your chin and you wiped it away. “Oh, you’re low on water. I’ll get you some more.” 

Just as you get out of your seat, your body swayed oddly. Tingles made their way across your limbs and the edges of your vision dimmed. You stepped forward but stopped when your sight blacked out for a moment. It felt like you were losing control of your body. A sick feeling developed in your stomach. The apple fell from your hand. The sound it made when hitting the floor was muffled as if you were underwater. Your knees buckled under your weight and you felt yourself falling to the floor. Before you even made it there, your vision went black. 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

The band of men strolled merrily down the path to their home. It had been a successful day and they had just given half their share to one of the nearby villages. They joked with one another. Sneezy held Dopey in a headlock and began to mess up his hair, much to Dopey’s protest and Grumpy’s amused smile. 

Doc went to open the door and noticed it was unlocked and slightly ajar. He raised his hand to signal the men to be quiet. They all hushed up and saw what Doc spotted. All of them pulled out their weapons. When Doc opened the door, they funnelled in. The cottage appeared empty. Grumpy took charge and moved in further, but dropped his sword in shock upon reaching the other side of the dining table. 

The other men rushed to him and had similar reactions. Your body was on the floor, collapsed and unresponsive. Doc rushed forward and flipped you onto your back. He placed his hands below your nose but felt no air. He fell back from his crouched position as grief struck him. 

“She… she’s not breathing.” His voice came out in a helpless whisper. While the words were light, their meaning felt like iron chains on the men. They all stood around her body, both shocked and driven to hopelessness. Grumpy moved first, his eye having caught something peculiar. He reached down under the table and came back with an apple in his hand. A single bite had been taken out of it. 

After a moment, Grumpy spoke, “It was Alicent.” 

“We don’t know that for sure-” Doc began but had been caught off. 

“Seven hells, even I know it was her doing,” Dopey chimed in. 

Grumpy placed the apple down and marched upstairs. They followed him to see him rummaging through one of their large chests. Second after second he pulled out varying types of weapons and placed them methodically on the ground. 

“What are you doing?” Happy questioned. 

At first, he did not respond, not until everything from the chest laid out on display, “We are going to Castle Stonehenge and we are killing her for this.” 

“Grumpy, we don’t kill.” Bashful interjected. Some of them shifted in their stances. 

“So Alicent gets away with it?” Grumpy raised his voice, “We stick up for our own, and she was one of us.” 

Dopey crouched down and picked up a longsword, “I’m with you.” 

Grumpy looked at all the others with the hope they would join in. One by one they assembled their own collection of weapons. She may be dead, but there was no way they would let her memory die with her. Now, more than ever, they would fight stronger than they have in the past. Only one mission was left in mind, to avenge her death and spread her story - so that she would never be forgotten. 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

It started as a warmth building in your stomach. It spread throughout your body further, and the more it did the more that heat increased. It clawed its way through your veins, burning the capillaries and tearing through your muscles to burn the bone beneath. Your lungs worked in opposition, for every breath you took seemed to only increase that cursed fever that took hold. It was in your ceaseless torture that dreams spread forth; wicked and wild. 

Taunts of your lost childhood flickered on the backs of your eyelids. What-could-have-been’s propositioned like a devil's deal of a promised future, staked on the trade of your soul in exchange. Given the chance, you may have been persuaded to pray for such a deal. Your father's voice rang through your mind, but it was so faint and muffled you could not make out the words. Truthfully, to the regret and pain of every fibre of your being, you had forgotten his face and voice over time; even more so your mother. 

It was cruel, beyond any punishment that could have been warranted for transgressions in your past lives. Surely, the gods could be cruel, but to be so minacious in their plan for you bordered them on the side of the cursed souls in the seven hells. Perspiration covered your body as it fought off the fever. No amount of ice in the world could aid your affliction. Your mind fought for control, or really for any semblance of consciousness beyond that of the haze plaguing your mind. 

You could feel the thrashing of your body and the hands holding you down. They felt cold in comparison to the heat of your skin and you welcomed it. A voice, as foggy as the meadow outside your cottage and refreshing as the dew on grass in the morning, spoke through your haze. It was familiar, but you could not place its origins. 

“Come back to us, my lady.” 

The depths of the boiling ocean you were swimming in gave rise to creatures below. Faces of evil men in your past voyaged through those depths, like sharks surrounding prey. However, the most fear you felt was in the memories of your stepmother, Alicent. Her cruel sneer and wicked tongue that always seemed to be ready to fire a quip of the most vile of insults coated in a thin veil of sugar; sweetness afflicted with poison, her greatest weapon. 

Time was an illusion. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, and weeks made no sense in your haze. For all you knew years could have passed suspended in this torture. It would not surprise you. But just as quickly as hopelessness seated itself in your soul, the heat was doused in water and you felt yourself clear again. Your muscles ached and your head pounded, but the relief of no longer being under such a curse took priority. 

Your eyes blinked open and struggled to see through your blurry vision. When you managed to get a hold of your sight, the roof of a canopy bed was all you could see. The engraved wood was familiar. It took many minutes to get up, but once you were sat in the plush bed you recognized where you were. 

Your childhood bedchamber appeared to have gone through no change at all since your father's death. You could not even remember the last time you were in this room, having been cast out and forbidden to go in. Perhaps you were dead and this was your afterlife. You had no idea if it was heaven or hell. The happiness of being in this room was undercut by the pain you felt for what could have been. 

It was then that your memories came like an opened floodgate. The man you helped and the sudden feeling of blacking out. The apple… it had to have been the apple. You understood that it must be a plot construed by Alicent. Your placement in the room was not a gift, but one last taunt she made before killing you for good. You’d be damned if you went out without a fight now that you’ve learned well enough from your found family. 

You scrambled out of bed and searched around the room, looking for anything that could be of service. In a drawer in a random dresser, you found a sewing collection with some shears. This will have to do. 

You positioned yourself on the side of the door that would be covered when open and waited with bated breath. Shuffled footsteps sounded from outside and you prepared to strike. The door creaked open and the person walked in. You surged forward with your hand preparing to plunge the knife into them, but a hand caught your wrist with the shears. 

“It would be regrettable to stab me, for killing the crown prince is the most heinous of crimes. I would hate for you to meet such a sudden end on your twice emergence from the dead.” The voice of Jacaerys Velaryon shook you from your adrenaline-filled mind. You dropped the shears. 

“Prince Jacaerys?” He released your wrist from his grip and took a step back to give you space. 

“It’s a relief to see you awake, my lady,” Jace spoke. 

You swayed in your spot, the fear your body ran off of ebbed away, “What…” You stumbled forward and Jace moved quickly to catch you. One of his hands wrapped around your waist while the other supported your back. 

“You should still be abed,” He uttered. Jace guided you back to the bed and helped you sit down. Your back rested against the headboard. The prince grabbed a nearby chair and moved it to the side of the bed you sat on and settled on it. 

“I am sure you have… many questions.” 

You huffed, “That may be the biggest understatement of the century.” 

“You got me there,” Jace smiled gently, “Your, uh, friends stationed themselves outside the room and wouldn’t leave while you rested. There would never be more than two gone at a time. They’re staying in the room across from yours, I can wake them up so they can speak with you.” 

He made a move to get out of his chair, but you interrupted, “Wait, no. Let them rest. How long have I been out?” 

Jace hesitated before answering, “Two weeks.” You gaped at the answer, but he continued, “Honestly, no one was sure you would wake.” 

You looked down at the blanket strew across your lap and traced your fingers over the delicately sewn design of vines. Two weeks of missed time, suspended in that state of burning pain. You blinked back the tears that pooled in your eyes and cleared your throat. 

“Forgive me for my language, my prince, but what in the Seven Hell’s happened?” 

Jace rested his hands on his thighs and leaned back, conveying his openness, “To be honest, my lady, I am not entirely sure. It was a shock. I was having dinner with Alicent when your… friends descended. I still have no clue how they got past both the castle and my own guards. They were a fury to be sure. Hurling such accusations at Alicent.”

You wanted to speak, but violent coughing raked through your throat and had you seize for a moment. Jace got out of his seat and reached for a cup that was placed on the bedside table. He poured the water into the glass and held it out for you. When you went to reach for the cup, Jace grabbed your hand and moved it back down to the covers. He brought it to your lips and tilted it so you could drink. Once you had a sip, he pulled back and waited if you wished for more. You shook your head, muttering a thank you, and he put it back on the table before settling in the chair again. 

Jace continued, “They claimed Alicent faked your death to take your inheritance. That you had been ultimately killed by her with poison. I must admit, I did not believe them at first. But, a knight, Ser Erryk corroborated their story. Only then did Alicent fumble under the pressure, her story of innocence did not match up and began to crumble under scrutiny.” 

You were in a state of shock. Never, in any dream or wish, could you have ever thought of Alicent being seen as the true person she was. That her crimes would be revealed. 

“I had her arrested.” Jace’s words had rung in your head. The picture of Alicent in a cell came to mind, and the relief in that image could not be measured. Perhaps, finally, you may be out of reach from her conniving talons. 

“I… How am I still alive?” You questioned. 

Jace cleared his throat, “Well, I sharply questioned her for information regarding the poison. The castle healer knew of an antidote, but we were unsure if it would work, given how long it took to get to you. I am glad it did.” The corners of his lips turned up slightly. 

“I need to see her.” You spoke. 

“Absolutely not, I cannot allow that, my lady.” Jace shook his head. 

“I have a right to see her. I am the lady of this castle, am I not?” You retorted. Your eyebrow rose in challenge and Jace nodded. 

“You could barely stand for a few moments. When you are strong enough, I will personally take you to her. And yes, you are the lady of this castle so for you and your people, you must rest.” He emphasized the final three words, pausing after each. 

The finality in his tone had you lean backwards and close your eyes. The pounding in your head had yet to cease, but it had eased. You pinched the bridge of your nose and began to breathe in and out. 

“I sent word to my mother. She is coming to oversee Lady Alicent’s trial.” Jace lowered his voice, “Ser Erryk has physical evidence of a box meant for your heart. He was sent to carve it out of you… Um, another man was found, the one who gave you that apple. He is locked up and will be put on trial with Alicent.” 

That day when Ser Erryk helped you felt like years ago. You were a different person then. Naive enough to believe Alicent would do something kind for you for once. While it had been the lowest point of your life, without it you would not be who you are now. A changed woman, with a true family and purpose. 

“I wish to see my family now.” You whispered. Despite the conversation sucking all your strength, you wanted to see your friends. Jace stood up and nodded. He did not say anything further, in case he would stress you more than you were at that moment. His hand gripped the door handle and he opened it. Jace turned back around to you and looked as though he wanted to say something but refrained. His figure went through the door and closed it, leaving you to stew in the overwhelming amount of information you were fed. 

⋅───⊱༺ 🍎༻⊰───⋅

The following week waiting for the arrival of Queen Rhaenyra was spent recovering. The shoulder wound you had sustained in the raid against Jace and his men had almost healed. Your body had fought off the last of the poison days ago, but everyone around you still treated you like glass. It had begun to grind down on your nerves. 

Visiting Alicent had been a decision you turned against. There was nothing you wished to say to her and nothing she could ever say to you that would be worth your time. It would only ever throw you into more distress. Your new family settled into castle life surprisingly well, a fact you often teased them about. However, they still showed some form of distrust towards Jacaerys. 

The prince had become a close friend in the short time spent together. He would visit you often in your chambers as you recovered. When you were cleared to walk, he would escort you around the caste. In his words, he accompanied you in the event that you collapsed, but you knew he did not have to as there were plenty of guards that could have done the job. 

Despite the closeness between you two, some of your friends - mainly Grumpy - were still put off by him. Grumpy had approached you at one point to question Jace’s intentions, a conversation that made your cheeks flush and heart race. After clarifying that Jace was just being a gentleman, Grumpy acquiesced his hostility to the prince but still watched him with a piercing gaze when he went near you. 

It was not just Grumpy that had become more protective over you. All of the men had heightened awareness of every little thing that happened in Castle Stonehill. There was rarely a moment when no less than two were by your side. They went so far as to have you dismiss your night guards and take shifts outside your door. When meals were made for you, Doc and Happy would watch over the cooks in the kitchen. 

It was an unspoken fear they had; of the possibility of Alicent getting someone to come for you. You knew that so long as she was alive in a cell they would continue to act like this. Jace often joked about you having your own mini army, or legion of defenders that safeguarded your every waking moment. You would laugh if it was amusing. At first, their actions were endearing, but now they felt more stifling as of late. 

When Queen Rhaenyra arrived, you were surprised by the soft warmth she brought to whatever room she occupied. She was strong-willed and an excellent conversationalist. Her kindness was refreshing, and you could see the resemblance in personality between her and Jace. Though, you were able to note he must carry more of King Harwin’s looks than his mother. A small piece of yourself was jealous whenever you would watch Jace and Rhaenyra spend time together. They were close, and you yearned for what kind of relationship you could have had with your mother. 

A part of you wondered, had Alicent not been as vain, if you and her could have been close. 

You were in your chemise and struggled to change the bandages on your shoulder. Regret for having dismissed the doctor washed over you. You were standing in your room, with your head tilted to look at the stitched wound. The door abruptly opened. You looked up to see Jace had walked in. Upon seeing your state of near undress, he let out a surprised yelp and turned his back to you. The sound of his startled voice made you laugh. 

“I am so sorry, my lady. I do not know what I was thinking to not knock like that- oh, my mother will be furious. Again, I express my deepest condolences. This-” Jace began to frantically apologise. 

You began to laugh harder, finding this situation amusing.. Had it happened to you months ago, you would have been mortified. Now, it does not bother you. Especially since it was him who happened to walk in.  

“It is alright, Jacaerys. I know you meant nothing nefarious.” The two of you had common ground. When away from the listening ears of court, you could ignore propriety in referring to one another by your titles. It pleased a part of you to hear him address you by name rather than Lady Stonehill. 

He still kept his back to you, “I will, um, come back later.” 

“Could you…” You debated if you should ask, given that it was not entirely appropriate, “Could you help me?” Jace turned around to face you, but kept his gaze in line with your face. He coughed to clear his throat. A vibrant red flush spread from his cheeks to his neck. 

“Yeah, uh, of course.” He moved forward hesitantly. The table next to you had a silver tray with some ointment and wraps. He cleaned off his hands in the bowl of water beside it and took some of the ointment. Standing next to you, the height difference was apparent. His chin when looking down only reached the top of your head. Jace’s breath was calm as he applied the ointment to the stitched area on your shoulder. 

You had cursed yourself inwardly for asking him to do this. Your brain only seemed to focus on his calloused fingertips gently applying the cool ointment. Your mind ran wild and you closed your eyes in an attempt to calm your mind. He methodically wrapped up your shoulder. When he finished, his hands lingered on the skin around the wrap. 

You coughed subtly to get his attention. Jace blinked and backed away, moving his gaze to the floor as he rubbed the back of his neck. 

“Thank you, Jace.” You were unaware of the effect it had on him to use his nickname rather than his full name. You moved behind a room divider for some privacy and began to put on the other layers of your clothing. 

“Are you… okay? With everything going on.” Jace spoked to you from the other side of the wood divider. Today was the day of Alient’s execution. You had ruminated on it for countless hours during the last few days. 

“I thought that maybe I would feel bad about her death… I truly feel nothing but relief. I guess Sir Erryk never needed to cut out my heart, there seems to not be one.” You shuffled your dress over your head and adjusted the ties on your back, having perfected the routine by having to do it yourself for many years. 

“You have every right to feel that way about her execution. Everything she has done to you… you have a heart, I hope you know that.” Jace reassured. You walked out from behind the divider to look straight at him. 

“And you’ve suddenly become an expert in matters of the heart?” You raised a brow with challenge as you teased him. However, Jace did not seem as though he was joking. 

His gaze held an intensity you could not decipher, “Yes, recently so.” 

You ceased your jesting face and came to understand the gravity of his words. It was not a surprise, for this was something the two of you had been blatantly ignoring as of late. The two of you failed to evade one another. It was an invisible force that pulled you together. Jace took one step forward and there was only a few inches from you. 

“Jace, I…” You sucked in a breath. 

“You don’t have to say anything, I will not make you feel forced to. Nor do I wish for you to feel compelled to reciprocate what I feel. But, I know you have noticed it. I only ask for consideration.” Jace’s eyes held nothing but sincerity. He looked down at you and the closeness felt more intimate than anything you have experienced in your life. 

“I feel insane even saying it,” Jace clarified, “It has happened so quickly, feeling this kind of love, but I would not have it any other way.” 

You were finally able to respond, “I will be honest with you. I don’t know if I love you, Jace, I hardly know you. We have spent a lot of time together and I know there is something there, something I do wish to pursue. Why don’t we start by continuing to get to know one another?” 

Jace nodded desperately at your words as if he clung to every syllable. You reached out to rest your hands on his chest because of how close he was. When you did not push him away, Jace took that as a positive sign and moved his arms to wrap loosely around you with his hands resting on your back. He moved his face closer but stopped just short of yours. He waited for a sign of approval from you. When you gestured with your head in approval, Jace leaned forward and connected your lips. 

In that moment, everything around you ceased to be a reality. It was a promise of protection and devotion given by Jace. His lips were warm and soft, a reflection of his personality. His nose pressed into your cheek. The two of you moved in sync with one another. Normally, you are hyper-aware of all of your senses, but with him, they all seemed to fade away. All you could focus on was him; his arms around you, his lips on yours, and the feeling of desire coursing through you. 

Jace pulled back enough to rest his forehead on yours. Both of you inhaled deeply to catch your breath. Upon opening your eyes, you saw that Jace was already staring at you. He held a dazzling smirk on his face. 

“I hope I do not disappoint you.” He spoke. 

You decided to tease him a little, “I don’t think it could be as disappointing as that kiss you gave me.” 

Jace feigned a look of hurt, but it was tinged with a smile. “Oh, so that is how this will be?” 

“Of course, my prince. I will always have the upper hand.” You giggled. Jace moved his hands from your back to wrap around your waist and pulled you flush against him. The feelings that action elicited from you were all too new and addicting. The closeness of your bodies set your veins alight. This was something you would have no shame in getting used to.

“Well then, my lady, I shall rise to the occasion.” Jace leaned back in to kiss you. 

_____________

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ note: that was part 1 of Between the Pages! i am super excited to start off this series, as I had developed plans for this back in 2022. there were entire storyboards planned, but i never got to writing them. thank you for all the support <3

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