#but like ... I am staying at a study inn and I know it is just a grade above hostels BUT ...

[angstigone]

btw this isn't an insult because the dirtiest people I have ever met are white but like, each time I go outside of italy, I am reminded that cleanliness is a whole different concept for everybody.

[midnite-c6]

Please please please please, Kim Seo-wan smutty smut... Ever since I read your Seo-wan x Reader I couldn't help but fall in love with that man more than I already was, so... PLS. if it doesn't maik ya uncomfortable obvs (⁠｡⁠•́⁠‿⁠•̀⁠｡"). ((TAKE UR TIME!))

YAYAYSYXTDGEGSYT I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO WANTED TO LET HIM INN BYE ugh i want him (respectfully) added squid game tags since most of you guys watched ddos cuz of roh jae won and i want other ppl to see his role here! <3

kim seo-wan nsfw headcanons <3 || warnings: 18+, cunnilingus, fingering, fluff

∘⁠˚⁠˳⁠° first of all, his daily routine consists of studying, gaming, and being schizophrenic making him not have time for all those romantic, especially physical affection kinda stuff, so you have to convince and show him! it wouldn't be difficult, he's still a guy after all, let alone a guy who plays those "gooner" type of games, and to put it simply: he's a virgin.

when he starts dating you, he'd add a new lesson to his routine: porn. he's already failing his other exams, he doesn't wanna fail you!

no bias guys, but he is a touchy dude, and a kissy one at that. your lips are his revival potion, the taste of your lips is healing his whole being, same goes for your other set of lips, when he found out you make cute cute sounds while he eats you out and make out with your cunny? oh he has defeated that dragon. damn. "y...you like it here, right?" he'd take a small kitten lick on your clit, making a soft moan elicit your lips. his hands on both sides of your waist, holding onto you tightly as if you'd run away from him. "mhm.. there's good.. s'good." he's happy for your praise, lapping his tongue up and down faster, you could feel him mumble a mantra of "you're s'..yummy.." against you, you were so tasty, he loved it so much. he wouldn't even take off his small circle-framed glasses, being pushed all the way to the bridge of his nose. "ah... seo-wan..♡" you could feel the metal frame hit your twitching clit, it was a different kind of feeling.

when you guys are finally comfy, you both know study dates are cute n' all. he'd have his headset on, listening to music, a hand to flip the textbook's pages, and his other arm to be hooked around your waist, holding you securely. you'd be doing whatever too, you liked his company anyway. but whenever studies get stressful and hectic, he won't lose the chance to grope your soft tits, they're the best stress relievers after all. he's definitely a boob guy. "ah.. y/n. move closer, please? .. need ..easier.. access.." i fear he is very touchy, clingy, he doesn't want to let you go.

cosplays!! oh, when you guys save enough money, he absolutely loves to do cosplays with you! he's very grateful your character has little to no clothes, he'd savour your body everytime it's spread on his bed and would treat you like a princess for real. tell him he's super duper strong, it will make him cum in seconds. :< probably accidentally rips off your expensive cosplay too, makes you mad, obviously, but will fuck you as a consolation prize.

he's more of a giver than a receiver, he just wants you to be happy and pleased all the time! ...also makes you overstimulated every session. his fav part on himself is his hands, he knows how fond you are to them, foreplay always takes long because his fingers are stretching your poor hole for hours <3.

again, he barely has the time to do full-on sessions, but when he does, he's gonna make you a squirting mess. holding hands while fucking is sooo real <3.

"mmfh.. don't leave me, okay? stay.." he 'reminds' you, slowly pushing his dick back inside your hole, his thumb pressed firmly on your clit, how were you gonna leave him anyway? he was holding onto you like you'd escape! "i.. won't seo-wannnn..." "ahh... good girl... my healer..." he whispers, kissing you softly, his mind is definitely in another world right now, atleast you're in it. (⁠｡⁠･⁠ω⁠･⁠｡⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠♡

someone requested seo-wan x patient!reader so I AM GONNA FO THAT NEXT HELL YEAH

[skyheld]

plotted starter for @hoboblaidd

It must be because he once lost all that was his old life, all that he knew, that Ameridan now tries to hold on to anything that becomes familiar like he needs things to be just so and cannot bear them changing again. This is not the first time he's sat with Solas at a inn in some small, nameless town and ignored the looks at their backs from the human patrons, and his heart yearns to go back to those days, that year or so, those simpler times—which, of course, were never simple. Corypheus was still threatening to tear open the sky, the Venatori and red templars and countless other enemies were still at their backs. He was in mourning. It's only that he remembers the glimpses of joy between everything else; he sees that year like a tapestry depicting a past event, all the figures lined up neatly, all colours bright and beautiful. A rest at a inn, Blackwall laughing at a crude joke of Sera's, Dhavi smiling into her cup beside Solas.

At that, the tapestry it torn. He remembers a trail of blood on the tiled floor of the Winter Palace, a darkened room with the fire roaring to keep her warm, her sleeve pinned up over layers and layers of bandages. He remembers Abelas confirming the truth she'd been told. Fen'harel. The Dreadwolf. He means to do what Corypheus tried, he's going to destroy us just as surely.

And he's reeling, suddenly, wondering how he can sit here in silence while Abelas lays out the reasons they want to stay together, with Solas if possible, or at least not against him. Never against him. How can he think this is right?

Abelas has done most of the talking—he knows Solas better, or maybe it is closer to the truth to says he knows him at all, while Ameridan never did—so it's not obvious the way he suddenly feels removed from the conversation, like a glass wall shot up between him and the other two. Or not a glass wall but a mirror in which he sees himself, seated opposite a man who is working towards tearing his world apart, who lied to and betrayed his daughter—making pleasant conversation in the hopes that he will be allowed to stay with one of his closest allies.

He squeezes the hand he's been holding all this time, to feel that it's there and real and not on the other side of a glass wall, and Abelas squeezes back. Immediately, without thinking, only to look over a moment later with a small, questioning smile to see if there was anything he wanted. It is that look which reminds him. That support without a second's delay.

"I was thinking—" there was nothing he wanted to say to them, he just wanted to feel their touch, but with the break in conversation he remembers what he meant to bring up with Solas as soon as he had a chance to. "I was thinking Solas and I should talk, just the two of us. As I am sure there are things you two will need to talk about without me."

Abelas studies him for a moment, but they cannot say there is nothing they and Solas may speak of Ameridan must not hear; it has never been so. And while Ameridan and Solas should not have secrets in the same way, it's not in Abelas' nature to question. "I will be in our room until you need me, then", they say. Ameridan leans in to kiss them before they stand up, and gets another kiss to the top of his head once they've done so. As Abelas walks away, they hold on to each other's hands, letting their arms stretch out between them before they let go.

Ameridan turns back to Solas. Once again the chorus rises in his head—Fen'harel, the Dreadwolf—and there is the image of blood on the tiled floor.

"I wanted to ask", there's so much he wants to ask, but very little that he thinks he will get answers to, "about Abelas."

[smile-files]

the hunger of the heart

(a short hurt/comfort fic featuring henry and angela, in the period between the founding of monte d'or and the first appearance of the masked gentleman)

...

it was quite late in the evening, but henry didn't know.

as always, henry was in his study; he'd lock himself in his quiet sanctum for hours on end, buried in paperwork. busy as he was, he often lost track of time, forgetting meals - but duty was stronger than hunger, and so he'd rarely notice having missed breakfast, or lunch, or dinner...

but angela would notice. she always would.

...a gentle rap on the study door.

"come in," henry answered the knock, just loud enough for angela to hear.

angela turned the knob and stood in the doorway, a concerned look on her face. "henry, won't you come to dinner?"

a glance at her, then a glance at his watch. quite late in the evening. having been shaken from his unbroken hours of work, henry realized how tired he was. he shook his head.

"my apologies, angela. i am too busy at the moment." out of nervous habit, he began rifling his fingers through the sheaf of papers he held.

angela's eyes squinted in pain for a moment, still held steady on henry, but her face showed no surprise. this was an answer she'd heard many times before...

it wasn't long after the reunion inn's establishment and monte d'or's founding that henry started holing himself up in his work like he was doing now. granted, he was just as persistent when he himself had risked life and limb to search for randall in those accursed akbadain ruins; this clockwork diligence wasn't new to him, especially when his dearest friend was at stake.

oh, randall... how long had it been since he died?

for angela, the years of waiting had all but blurred together... but she knew henry was keeping track. he kept an internal tally of how many days he had been without randall, as if his ribs were a prison his heart was trapped in.

"will you eat later, then?" angela knew the answer.

henry's reply was curt, but polite. "i will try to find the time. thank you." he always answered as if it were the first time the question had ever been posed to him, as if he hadn't made a habit of going hungry.

when henry first started to skip meals like this, angela had protested, fearing for his health; the same went for him staying up all night, or working through illness. with time, though, as he repeatedly denied her concern, she learned to accept how his dedication consumed him: doing her best to bolster henry as he worked tirelessly for his master randall.

henry's gaze had shifted back to his paperwork, but angela continued to regard him. she saw the dark circles under his eyes, looking like smudges of ink from the pen which wore callouses into his bony, shaky fingers. she saw the sweat glisten on his forehead, wrinkled with countless days of anxiety and frustration, his brows forever knitted. she saw the thin frame of his body... if he'd ever let her touch him, she could surely feel the ribs protruding from beneath his skin...

it had become impossible to bear.

"what do you mean, you'll try to find the time?" angela asked, evidently distressed. "do you not find eating a necessity?" her voice was louder than she intended.

henry was startled, scared even, by her volume and emotion. he tucked in his chin slightly, and barely met her gaze. "i apologize, angela. i did not mean to cause you upset. i can go eat now, if that is your desire."

"is it not your desire? are you only coming to dinner because i'm upset with you?" angela was exasperated. "if not for me, would you never eat?"

"i apologize, angela," he said again, out of habit. his eyes darted away from hers, his voice nearly monotone. "i appreciate that you remind me to partake in meals. in the future i can put more effort into reminding myself."

angela began to truly enter the room, though henry continued to avert his gaze in discomfort. "but why should it be such a labor for you? do you not feel hungry?"

henry did feel hungry. he said nothing.

"aren't you ever hungry, or tired, or sick, or in pain? henry!" angela's voice was plaintive. "aren't you human?"

henry didn't think he was human. he said nothing.

"just look at yourself! how can you expect me to sit back and watch you waste away into nothing?"

henry's eyes widened slightly. her brother... randall... she had seen this all before.

suddenly she was leaning over his desk, gripping him by the shoulders.

"and for what?" angela cried. "just so you can look for a boy who's been dead for 10 years?"

"it's 11." henry's voice was a hush. he closed his eyes.

"...what?"

henry stood up, and angela's hands fell away. "master randall has been gone for 11 years."

it was angela's turn to say nothing. she watched as he began to walk towards the door. her breath was caught in her throat.

"i am going to eat dinner now, angela," henry continued. "i am sorry for causing you to feel concern for me."

angela shook herself. "it's not your fault that i care about you! that isn't something to apologize for!"

henry stopped by the doorway. his face was blank, his mouth taut.

"i know how much you care for randall. i care for him too. but won't you please..." she sobbed. "won't you please care for yourself?"

henry inhaled sharply. "i regret to inform you that i have other priorities."

"henry..."

angela loved randall, but she barely believed henry when he insisted on his survival. what she believed for sure, though, was that she could never live with herself if she let henry kill himself.

even if their marriage was a mask, she still loved him.

she softly, slowly stepped towards henry. he edged back slightly, but otherwise made no attempt at fleeing. he let her embrace him; he did not reciprocate the motion, merely allowing her arms to hold him.

angela sighed. "i wish you would tell me what you feel," she murmured. "i want to help ease your pain. and i know there is so much of it."

henry was so thin, angela's arms could easily wrap around his body. she could feel his ribs.

"there is nothing for you to worry about," henry said, his first words in a while. the tremble in his voice was nearly inaudible, but angela heard it anyway.

"i will never believe you when you say that," angela whispered, "for i know you've been waiting to cry for 11 years."

she held him against her for a silent moment, eyes closed, her chin over his shoulder.

then she could feel it, she could hear it: his body shaking, his sharp breaths. spots of cold falling on her shoulder.

"oh, henry..."

suddenly, desperately, henry clutched her close, fingers clinging to the fabric of her dress like those of a scared child. he convulsed with sobs, the tears collecting in his eyes for over a decade finally allowed to fall. henry cried.

henry had always been sensitive. he'd cried a lot as a child. angela was relieved to hear him cry again.

angela held him tight and smoothed her hand over his back. neither said a word.

when the last of his tears had escaped him, henry slowly released her and turned for the door, which he opened.

"please," he said in a low voice, "let us go to the dining room."

angela smiled softly, looking into henry's eyes for a moment, rimming with teary pink...

she walked out of the room.

but henry was not behind her. only the door, which was now closed and locked, leaving him within and her without. he'd placed his heart back safely behind his ribs.

henry wiped his eyes and sat back down at his desk. nobody would ever touch his heart again.

[vampirewritesvampirewrongs]

Ptolevania

The stranger continued, unfazed. “The Count himself has promised leniency to the peoples of Treskh and Brakovi in exchange for the loyalty of the noble houses. That same offer is now being made to you here in Ptolemaea. In fact… in your case, he could even be persuaded to extend his protection to your quaint little village.”

“In exchange for what?” Andrei asked.

Costin raised an eyebrow as his smile twisted in to a cruel grin. “In exchange for the Lady Alina’s hand in marriage.”

The Lady Alina Doriana meets a mysterious stranger, and thus begins a dark chapter in her short, mortal life.

Rating: 18+/Explicit Contains: m/f, noncon/dubcon, vampires, stalking, and many other things that I haven't gotten to yet. Word Count: 2.7k

Author's Note: I have found myself fascinated with Count Corvys and his interest in Alina, who was mentioned in the previous story. This is the account of their... shall we say, courtship. Nothing explicit in this chapter, my dears, but do prepare yourselves for the next one.

There was never sun, but there was still rain.

Perhaps it was the mere instinct to survive deep within her psyche granting Alina this small happiness. Where there was water, there was life. And right now, in the rain, despite the aching chill cutting all the way into her bones and the thundering clouds above, she felt alive as the cold droplets fell from the sky and on her warm tawny skin, in her dark auburn hair. She allowed herself the barest hint of a smile before pulling the hood of her cloak over her head as she exited the shop with her basket of essentials for tonight’s dinner in hand.

She sidestepped a rapidly forming mud puddle, just barely enough to avoid dirtying her skirts, and nearly slipping when a hand reached out, grabbing her arm to steady her.

“Do be careful, miss,” came the smooth baritone of an unfamiliar voice. “It would be shame to see such… a lovely young lady like yourself hurt.”

Alina jerked her arm back, startled, as she examined the strange man before her. His tall, slender frame was clad in the tattered, threadbare clothes of a traveller- perhaps an adventurer, she reconsidered upon seeing the simple dagger at his side. A black hood concealed most of his face, but given the weather, she felt obligated to forgive it. She tried her best to force her emerald eyes to meet his. “Thank you, sir…?”

The man waived his hand dismissively. “My name is not important. I am simply passing through.”

A shiver ran down her spine; from the stranger or the cold, she knew not. “Then at least let me see your face, sir, so I may remember the kind soul who helped me today?”

“Alright,” the man sighed, removing his hood.

Alina nearly recoiled from just how pale his face was, a stark contrast to the black hair loosely tied behind his head. His eyes were indiscernibly dark below sharp, upturned brows, lending to his haughty gaze.

“Not what you expected, miss?”

“Oh, no… pardon me, but are you well? I can show you to- oh!” She gasped as a gust of wind blew the hood of her own cloak from her head.

“That will not be necessary, I assure you, but your concern is appreciated…” He tilted his head to the side, seemingly studying her. Perhaps the sudden flash of lighting had played some trick upon Alina’s mind, but she thought she saw a predatory, red gleam in his eyes as they landed on her face. “Apologies, young miss. I seem to have forgotten my manners. My name is Costin Fieraru. May I know yours?”

“Lady Alina Doriana. A pleasure.” She curtsied as she replaced her hood.

“… the Lord Dorian’s daughter?”

“The very same.”

Costin squared his shoulders. “Then it seems a greater apology is in order, my lady. Forgive me, I had no idea.”

“All is forgiven. If you are looking for a place to stay, the inn is just north of the town square. Please, do not let me keep you in this dreadful weather.” Alina moved to step around him, but he remained in her way.

“Allow me to escort you home, my lady,” the man pleaded. “Amends must be made for my behavior.”

Alina narrowed her eyes. Running through the muddy street to rid herself of this stranger was hardly an option, but allowing herself to acquiesce to his proposal… she remembered the handful of boys who had fancied her in youth, and none of them inspired such a feeling of revulsion as this man. She eyed the dagger once again. “Where are you from?”

“Just outside of Treskh, my lady.”

A long way from home, she mused. Ptolevania was full of monsters. How he managed to survive all the way here… alone…

Lightning flashed again, followed closely by the rumble of thunder. As if by instinct, Costin raised the edge of his cloak to cover Alina.

Something stirred in the back of her mind. A memory? It vanished just as quickly as it appeared.

“It is quite dangerous for you to be in this storm, my lady.”

“If you must…” Alina resigned herself to the unwanted company. She marched forward, ignoring the mud splashing onto her dress and likely Costin as he followed just behind her.

Within just two long strides, he was right next to her. “How fares your village this year, my lady?”

Alina sighed. “I take it you heard about the attack on the castle.”

“Everyone has heard about it by now.”

“Good. Then I hope others will not repeat our mistake of allowing such a needless sacrifice in the future.” She turned her gaze to the mountains, where the spires of Red Moon Castle could be seen above the treetops. “We lost good people. It is unlikely we will ever recover from this loss in our lifetime.”

Costin followed her gaze. “I take it your feelings on the lord of these lands are not entirely positive, my lady.”

“My feelings on my father’s leadership are nothing but supportive, I assure you.”

“I beg your pardon, my lady, but that was not the lord to whom I was referring.”

“You meant the Fiend of Red Moon Castle, I am aware.” Alina glared back at the man. “Does that answer your question?”

“Indeed… my lady.”

“Then if you are done with your questioning, I should prefer to continue our walk in silence.”

“I did not mean to offend, my lady. You see, I have been trying to learn all I can from our neighbors. We are all in a sorry state and I wish to see Ptolevania improved. The only way to do so would be to share what information we have with one another.”

Alina did not respond, but he continued regardless.

“I have learned much from my travels. If you would like you hear about it, I could tell you. Better yet, my lady, if you could put in a good word with your father—”

“You have a terrible understanding of the word ‘silence,’ sir. If providing me with a safe escort in a storm was merely a pretense to gain an audience with my father, then you have most certainly failed in that endeavor.” She stopped before the steps of a weathered mansion. “We have arrived and you may take your leave. As I said before, the inn is just north of the town square. I wish you safe travels.”

Before he could answer, Alina dashed up the steps, opening and slamming the front door behind her. She hadn’t realized how much her heart had been racing during that encounter and leaned back against the door to catch her breath. Damn that man and everything about him…

“Alina?”

In her rush to get inside, she hadn’t noticed her much taller, older brother standing outside their father’s study. “Hello, Andrei.”

“You had us worried!” Andrei rushed forward to help her out of her soaking cloak. He took the basket from her trembling hands. “Let me handle these. You go change and warm yourself by the fire before you catch cold.”

“I need to talk to Father.”

“Father can wait. Go.”

Alina rolled her eyes, ignoring him, and trudged into the study anyway. “Good evening, Father.”

Lord Dorian held up a single finger as he scribbled away on a piece of parchment, the gray of his thinning hair gleaming in the light of the roaring flames of the fireplace. Alina merely plopped herself quite unceremoniously into the nearest chair by the fire, shivering as its warmth reached her skin through her damp dress. Her eyes wandered among the many books lining the shelves along the east wall, full of titles she had memorized long ago but comforted her nonetheless. The scratching of the quill pen ceased as Dorian finally raised his head and his wizened brown eyes lit upon seeing her.

“Alina, you’re finally— gods above, child! You’re soaking wet!”

“I got caught in the storm,” Alina answered through a shiver. “I have something important to tell you.”

“More important than your health?” he asked, rising from behind his desk to wrap the wolfskin blanket from his lap around her.

“Stop fretting and let me talk. I met a stranger in the village on my way home. He called himself Costin—”

“Fieraru, yes, I met him while you were gone.”

“You met him?”

“He said he’s been travelling Ptolevania since the attack on the castle last year and he wishes to discuss his findings with me. A stoic fellow, seemed a bit arrogant.”

“And incapable of taking no for an answer?”

“Indeed. What did you make of him?”

“I didn’t like the way he looked at me.”

Dorian nodded and leaned against the mantle of the fireplace. “I already agreed to hear him out. He’ll be here tomorrow afternoon. Should I not?”

Alina slumped back in the chair. “I don’t see any harm in the act itself. I just don’t trust him.”

“Then I certainly don’t either, my dear.” Dorian shook his head. “It’s a shame how that fiend has us pitted against one another, that is better for us to distrust our neighbors than to rely on them. I had hoped that one day… ah, don’t waste your time listening to the wasted dreams of an old man. Go upstairs and change. We will speak more of this later.”

Alina rose and returned the blanket. She placed a kiss on his cheek. “I love you, Father.”

“I love you, too, child. Now go, before you catch your death,” he said, knocking on the wood of the mantle three times.

The next afternoon, Alina found herself back in her father’s study, leaning against the wall behind his desk with her arms crossed and staring down the man she had met the night before. Andrei stood next to her, seemingly disinterested, though Alina knew better; his amber eyes watched the stranger just as closely. He absentmindedly scratched at his blond hair neatly plaited behind his head. Alina elbowed him in the ribs to remind him of the half hour she spent working on it.

“Costin Fieraru. You say you are from Treskh, correct?” Dorian asked, peering up through his glasses from some papers.

“Yes, my lord.” Costin kept his hands folded behind his back, his spine straight, and eyes fixed on Dorian.

Alina took a deep breath and shifted her weight, feeling restless. Andrei’s gaze flicked down to her and back with the slightest cant to his brow and a rising tension to his shoulders. And with a concealed grin, she tapped the top of his foot with her own in a mock stomp to make him think she was fine. He relaxed at her response in the familiar silent language they shared, but stood closer regardless.

“And, as you so insisted to myself and my daughter yesterday, you have news of Treskh and Brakovi. This is also correct?” Dorian picked up a quill and began to write some notes.

“It is, my lord.”

“And what, pray tell, do you have to share with us?”

Costin gave a thin smile, that haughty expression Alina hated returning to his eyes. “We are all aware the attack on Red Moon Castle last year was unsuccessful, resulting in many… needless deaths. As the Lady Alina so kindly informed me last night, you lost good people. Your village may not recover from such a loss for decades. The same can be said for the village of Treskh and the town of Brakovi.

“Therefore, in an attempt to prevent further losses, their noble houses have all agreed to bend the knee… to Count Corvys von Sanguivich.”

Alina’s eyes widened. She had only heard legends of the mysterious ruler living in Red Moon Castle, enough to know him as the Fiend. Perhaps the rumors that the failed attack on the castle had awakened him were true…

Dorian slammed the papers on the desk and stood. “How… dare you speak that name in my house! How dare you come into my house, to suggest such an act of treachery against my own people!”

The stranger continued, unfazed. “The Count himself has promised leniency to the peoples of Treskh and Brakovi in exchange for the loyalty of the noble houses. That same offer is now being made to you here in Ptolemaea. In fact… in your case, he could even be persuaded to extend his protection to your quaint little village.”

“In exchange for what?” Andrei asked.

Costin raised an eyebrow as his smile twisted in to a cruel grin. “In exchange for the Lady Alina’s hand in marriage.”

Andrei stepped in front of Alina as she gasped, allowing her to retreat behind him. He looked to their father, whose fists were shaking in anger.

“Get. Out. Out of my house!”

“That is no way to treat a guest, my lord.”

“You are no guest. You are nothing but a liar and an agent of the fiend who lives in that godsdamned castle!”

“Am I now?” Costin chuckled. “Oh, I am far worse than that, Lord Dorian.” His form shifted as his worn clothes faded into regal black and burgundy garments adorned with intricate gold embroidery. The tattered cloak around his shoulders grew into a black, fur-lined cape that trailed behind him. The dagger at his side began to shine with a gold hilt. An ornate, jeweled brooch was pinned to the left side of his jacket over his chest, featuring a large, round ruby above a gold castle tower.

The seal of Count Sanguivich.

Alina screamed and covered her mouth. If this man was the Count… then was he the monster the legends said he was…?

The man stepped forward, fully smiling to reveal pointed fangs. The fangs of a vampire. “You have had the fortune of leading your village without my attention this past century as I slept. But Ptolevania now requires my attention once again, since it seems that you petty mortals will indeed rise against me should I slumber for too long, thinking me too weak to defend my own realm.”

“We did no such thing, your Lordship,” Dorian spat, refusing to be intimidated by the man that now stood before him. “I could not stop them. It was that mage, that madman who put the idea into their heads. You have had their blood- leave my daughter out of this! She is innocent!”

“It does not matter what you say. You will bend the knee,” the count retorted. His eyes glowed a molten red as he directed his gaze to Alina. “And she will be mine.”

Alina trembled behind her brother as she tried to steady her breathing. The count’s eyes had her pinned in place- whether by magic or simply her own fear, it did not matter. She could not move even if she wanted to.

“Fret not, my dear lady.” His voice had dropped to a gentle murmur that somehow reverberated through her mind. He held her gaze as her breathing slowed. “I will return for you. They will not keep you from me.”

She felt that something stirring in the back of her mind again. A memory threatening to break through the surface tension of her consciousness.

“Leave her alone,” Andrei warned.

The glow vanished from the count’s eyes as he turned his attention to Andrei. “It is for the sake of my future wife that I do not kill you where you stand, boy,” he said, his voice hardening. He looked back to Dorian. “Give her to me willingly, and I will give you all that I have offered and more. Refuse, and I will visit upon your village plagues the likes of which have not been seen in Ptolevania since the land fell to darkness. I will be generous- you have ten days to make your decision. I will not show you, Lord Dorian, such a mercy again.

“But know this: with each passing day, my patience will grow thin. And I will secure my heart’s desire by any means necessary.”

A flash of red light, and Count Sanguivich was gone.

Alina fainted.

[tsukikoayanosuke]

One's Dazzling Light - Ruikasa Week 2024

Day4: Fantasy

Rui always thought that the world was cruel. That happiness doesn't exist in his play of life. The curtain rose to reveal a dark wood where he lived since he was born. A poor peasant couple; the toy maker husband and the housewife. In a world where magic surrounded the air, what could a pair of magicless humans do? 

Neither of them could raise a child of magic. Not just any magic; the Pure Darkness. A magic of jinx and curse. A magic that could bring ruin to the world. 

A magic bestowed on the only son of the poor Kamishiro family. 

His parents tried their best. They did. They loved him more than anything in the world and he lived him back. His father taught him about crafts and his mother taught him about flowers. 

But Rui was a child. A lone child who only wants friends. 

And yet no children his age wanted to step onto his stage. They shun him for having the cursed magic. He could count on one hand the children who eventually accept him the way he is; a shy mermaid named Nene who accidentally swam too close to the beach when he was practicing and a knight-in-training named Mizuki who had been outcasted for being too feminine. 

Those four people are the people Rui kept close to his heart.

And the world decided to take them away almost immediately.

"I got accepted!" Nene said to him, happy tears streaming down her cheeks. "Phoenix Orchestra. I get to sing and travel the world."

He didn't have the heart to beg her to stay.

"I'm going to the Knight Academy next year," Mizuki said to him. "Do you want to join in as well?"

He just shook his head, knowing he had no place there.

"We'll be home in just a week, okay kiddo?" His father ruffled his hair.

"Don't forget that we love you." His mother kissed his forehead.

They never came home. Their carriage was attacked. It was not an accident, Rui knew that. The punishment of being the parent of a cursed child. 

They tried to kill him as well, but a burning house could never hurt him. He sent it back to them, burning them to the bone. After all, Pure Darkness magic could increase misfortune. Perhaps he accidentally cast it upon himself. But he no longer cares. 

If the world tries to kill him, then he'll destroy them first with his own hand. 

"I understand you," the spotlight shone upon a lady in black with pink hair who smelled like death. She offered a hand toward him. "There are many who seek justice, to restart the world with a blank canvas. With your power, we shall bring salvation to those who seek." 

"What must I do?" 

"There are people who are the opposite of you; four people hold the power of Pure Light. Find them, bring them to me, and with the power of Pure Darkness, we shall create a Utopia." 

Rui, who has nothing left to lose and a desire to see the world crumble, took the hand. 

The title 'Alchemist' was bestowed upon him.

The world trembled before his title despite never seeing his true appearance for his illusion magic. In his search for those Pure Light, he brought judgment upon evil. Those who commit crimes will receive punishment from him. Those who wish for revenge upon their enemies, he shall fulfill it. The true Utopia may not come sooner, but he shall bring a little salvation to the people.

*****

In the small provincial town of Phenny, Rui had found one of the Lights. He had sensed a shift in magic the moment he stepped into the town. It was warm, inviting, peaceful... It was everything that Rui wasn't. A Pure Light, such presence they had.

It brought him to an inn. Rather crowded this late in the evening, filled with drunkards and knights off-shift. Rui schruched up hin nose. Could the Light possibly be here in this lowly place?

"Rui? Is that you?"

Rui turned toward the voice and saw a familiar pinknette, now dressed in a silver uniform. "Mizuki..."

"Hey, man!" Mizuki ran toward him, not hesitating to hug him. "It has been a while!"

"I thought you were still studying at the Knight Academy."

"I am. I'm in my final year, so we had a one-year service thing."

"Who are you servicing to?"

"Oh, just some guy." Mizuki didn't look at him as they waved their hand nonchalantly. A gesture of avoidance. They were hiding something and Rui had his guesses.

"Mizuki!"

There it was. A Pure Light walking toward them. Taking a figure of a young man dressed in simple, yet elegant, clothes at the same time; a suit, blue hat, a bow as a tie, and a coat over its shoulder with constellations. Hair as gold as sunset and eyes that shine with innocence.

The Light widened its eyes. "O-Oh. Hello! Are you a friend of Mizuki?"

"You can say that." Rui smiled just for pleasantry. "I'm Kamishiro Rui. And who might you be?"

"Tenma Tsukasa. But you can call me Tsukasa." It offered its hand and Rui took it. Such power radiated from that hand, sending shivers down their spines. "Are you a traveler?"

"You can say that."

It smiled. "Well, I hope we see each other around."

For a prey to invite its predator into its nest, perhaps the Light was more gullible than Rui thought it was.

*****

Passing Akito's room, he could hear the sound of him humming. It wasn't an unusual occurrence, the Wanderer is often one who announces his presence with either a whistle or a caw of his eagle. 

This melody, however, sounded more cheerful, more passionate, and filled with excitement.

"What are you humming about?"

Akito raised his eyebrow from his spot on his bed. Book perched on a thigh and a pencil in his hand. "Why do you care?"

"Just curious."

Akito rolled his eyes and looked back to his book before writing something. When Rui thought he had decided to ignore him, Akito said, "It's just something Kohane taught me."

"Kohane?"

He paused. His gaze shifted to avoid Rui. "I mean, the Light."

Rui chuckled. "Oh, aren't you getting too chummy with it?"

"Shut up. It just happens we have the same interest."

He jumped off his bed and pulled his hood. "Where are you going?" Rui asked when Akito walked past him.

"Meeting-" He stopped himself. "I mean, keeping an eye on Kohane."

"Sure you are."

For a Darkness and Light to be friends... 

How ridiculous.

*****

Phoenix Orchestra arrived at Phenny. It was said that this small town was the birthplace of the most well-known orchestra in the entire country. The same orchestra that Nene joined. Thus their reunion happened in Phenny.

"Rui!" Nene was never one with physical contact, but she leaped into his arms. Even in his cold heart, Rui couldn't deny returning it. "It has been too long."

"I'm glad I can see you again."

"Me too." Nene pulled back. "Oh! I need to introduce you to someone!" She pulled him toward a small pinknette with a smile so wide. "This is Emu. She's the daughter of the head orchestra."

"Hello!" Emu took Rui's hands and shook them hard. "It's nice to meet you! Nene told me a lot about you!"

"She did?"

"Yup! I would love to get to know you!"

Rui couldn't help but chuckle. "Likewise."

"Oh! Oh! Now it's my turn to introduce you to my friend!" She pulled them toward the inn where Rui was now staying. And upon entering, he could hear the sound of a piano. A beautiful melody; soft and inviting. The Light sat there, eyes closed and smiling softly. Fingers glided down the keys, foot pressed the pedal to a ringing tone. A harmony that left Rui speechless. 

"It's just something Kohane taught me."

Was this what Akito felt when he met his Light? To hold a melody close to his heart and cause a change of heart.

When the piano stopped, Rui craved for more.

"Tsukasa!" Emu leaped into Tsukasa's arms, almost causing him to fall from his seat. 

"Emu! I didn't know you were coming back."

"We'll be here for a couple of months! Keisuke is thinking of holding another audition soon. You should try in." 

Light smiled and patted Emu's head. "I'll think about it."

"But you always said that!" Emu pouted.

"It's a hard decision, Emu."

"And why is that? If I may ask," Rui asked.

Light looked at him. His gaze softened and sighed. "I have a personal reason. I don't want to be a bother."

"You'll never be a bother," Emu said again. "Everyone will love you. I just know it! You'll be a star! Don't you want that?"

"I did." He sighed again. "But that was just a phase, Emu."

Emu stared at him with a slight sadness and Rui was curious about that answer.

Thus, when one night came as Emu, Nene, and Mizuki hung around at one table, Rui walked up to the piano where Light was playing once again. Even after a couple of times listening, Rui could say that he was quickly attached to Light's playing.

"What do you mean 'it was just a phase' last time?"

Light smiled. There was a hint of melancholy in his gaze. "I always know my time is limited. I can't let myself indulge in dreams." He glanced at him. "Aren't you here to take it away quicker from me?"

Rui hummed. "So, you know."

"Pure Light and Pure Darkness always resonate with each other. I've never met with you fellow, but I had sensed you the moment you arrived here."

"Are you going to fight me for your life?"

Light paused his playing. "Tell me, Rui." He fully looked at him. "Do you know what it means to bring salvation to the world?"

Rui didn't answer. The question haunted him in his sleep.

*****

"Rui, do you think we're doing the right thing?" Shizuku had asked him one day.

Rui turned to her. "What do you mean?"

Among the four of them, Shizuku had always been the most compassionate. She loves humanity, which includes her sister who she hadn't seen for a long time. The secret of her being the Pure Darkness was spoken and the guilt of leaving her sister behind always burdens her. 

"Minori told me," Minori was the name of the Light assigned to her, wasn't it? "that maybe we're heading to a decision that we couldn't go back anymore." 

"We are aiming for a Utopia. It's only normal that once the world is rewritten, everything won't be the same."

"I know that." She looked at her hand as Pure Darkness danced between her fingertips. "But still." She brought up her hand to her chest and smiled. It wasn't like the cold smile of the Songstress who charmed her victims. But it was Shizuku's smile; a smile filled with warmth. "I think I want to try to live in this world with her for now."

*****

The Light - Tsukasa - stood in the middle of the plaza, surrounded by children. There was a hint of jealousy blooming in Rui's heart. How funny that he hates the sight of children playing around him. He had gotten close these few days under a self-reassurance of building trust. His conversations with Tsukasa about their daily days were pleasant. In the evening, Tsukasa would play at the bar for his part-time job. Rui had asked once why he even bothered to have a job. Tsukasa just answered with, "I just want to experience life."

That was also a thing that Rui was confused about: the desire to live. Rui had given up on life for he had nothing else to do other than wait for salvation Lady Death would bring. Watching Tsukasa going on with his daily life (buying cute stuff for Mizuki with his own money, attending Nene and Emu's rehearsal, inviting Rui for stargazing), Rui wondered if he could do this as well in the new world. Perhaps, if he ever met Tsukasa again, they could live together and experience it.

...

What was that thought again?

"Do the magic, Big Brother Tsukasa!" One of the kids cheered. "Do the magic!"

Tsukasa giggled. "Alright, alright." Tsukasa looked up to Rui, smiling and offering a hand. "Come and give me a hand, Rui."

Rui frowned. "Me?"

"Yeah, come on." Tsukasa skipped to pull Tsukasa into the circle.

"Is he magic too?" One of the kids asked.

Tsukasa nodded. "Yeah, and a great one." He turned to Rui, still smiling at him.

"Are you sure?" Rui whispered. "Pure Darkness brings destruction."

"And Pure Light brings creation." Tsukasa opened his palm and Rui's keen eyes could see magic dancing on his palm. "When combine..." Tsukasa brought Rui's hand closer. "A miracle can be created."

Their hands joined together and Rui could feel their magic intertwined. It felt so right. The wind picked up underneath their feet, fluttering Tsukasa's coat and Rui's robe, carrying white and black feathers. The children cheered from the spectacles. When they reached for the feather, it burst into fireworks and bubbles. 

It was beautiful...

A feather landed on Tsukasa's head and it burst into bubbles. Tsukasa giggled and Rui's heart skipped a beat.

*****

"Luka, I don't want to do this anymore." 

Lady Death didn't even look surprised when Mafuyu stood up from her seat. The table felt so empty after Akito and Shizuku's departure, leaving only a pot of a single black lily in their seat. 

"Kanade had told me everything. You lied to us." 

"You trust the Light more than me?" Luka commented. 

"You never told us anything about sacrificing us all!" 

"What?" Rui looked between the two. "Mafuyu what are you talking about?" 

Mafuyu turned to him. The Marionette had always been emotionless, but at the moment Rui could see the great anguish in Mafuyu's eyes. "In order to create a new world, you need to destroy the first world before creating the new one. If Pure Light is the power of creation, what is needed for the destruction?"

"Darkness? We already know that Mafuyu-"

"The Pure Darkness is tied with our own soul. The same goes for the Pure Light to Kanade's. Once magic tied with one's soul, it became harder to extract." She turned back to Luka, glaring at her. "Any attempt of extracting Pure Darkness or Pure Light won't only result in death, but also the erasure of our existence."

What?

"What... What are you saying?"

"We won't be able to enjoy this Utopia is we disappear for good!" Mafuyu curled her fingers into a fist. "The only one winning here is Luka! She's just using us to get all the Pure Light and later killing us to get the Pure Darkness!"

No...

"Luka..." Rui stared at her. "Tell me this is not true... We're not going to die, right?"

Luka never answered them. But her silence was enough.

"I don't want to die..." Mafuyu lowered her head. Rui couldn't see her face, but he knew the devastation feeling she felt. "I don't want to leave Kanade... She's the only one I have..."

*****

"Sacrifices need to be made to reach one seemingly impossible goal," Tsukasa said as they stared into the sunset from the hill of white lilies. It was a secret place that even Mizuki wasn't told about. And yet Tsukasa showed it to Rui out of all people. "Four Light. Four Darkness. For one utopia that we won't be able to enjoy. Is it worth it?"

Rui turned to look at him. "Are you saying it's better just to let evil roam around this Earth?"

"No." Tsukasa shook his head. "Evil can't roam freely if law and order exist is being held up high." He looked up to the orange sky. "If a Utopia is a paraside where people can do whatever they want, then what's stopping them from doing evil again? Light and Darkness, good and evil, will always be there. One cannot be there without the other. How can one judge that something is evil if good doesn't exist? How can you say you've done a good deed if you don't know what evil doings are?"

"So, what do you suggest?"

"It's a tough question." He reached to snap a lily of its stem, bringing it closer to his nose to smell the scent. "But I don't think bringing the end of the world is a good solution." He giggled. "I still love this world and the people in it."

Tsukasa looked at him with a smile as soft as the sunset as he tucked the lily behind Rui's ear. His fingers lingered on his cheeks for a second too long. Rui caught his fingers, pressing Tsukasa's palm onto his cheek as he kissed it.

"I don't want to die," Tsukasa whispered.

"I won't let you," Rui answered. He leaned into Tsukasa's face and pressed their lips together.

He understood now. He understood why Akito resonated with Kohane's music, why Shizuku wanted to live together with Minori, and why even the thought of leaving Kanade brought Mafuyu to tears.

Rui always thought that the world was cruel. But the simple action from Tsukasa, his Light, made him want to stay in this world together with him.

*****

The city was empty when Rui arrived and immediately he felt dread.

Luka is here.

No no no no no.

Rui ran.

She wasn't supposed to be here. She wasn't supposed to be here!

The inn was empty when he barged in. Not even the sound of the creaking window. The bartender who usually already working on his order, was nowhere to be seen. Rui could feel the darkness coming from upstairs inviting him, challenging him.

Rui ran up and slammed the door open.

There, under the moonlight that shone through the window, Luka stood in the middle of the room. With an unconscious Tsukasa in her arms.

"You really think I would let walk out of our deal that easily?" She smiled at him. "Out of all the Pure Darkness, you were the last person I expected to betray me. I guess all those big talks about hating the world are just for shows."

"Luka..." Rui knew he had the power and yet he felt utterly hopeless under the gaze of Lady Death herself. "Let him go."

"Didn't I tell you?" Luka glanced down at Tsukasa, eyes gleaming with greed. "We need the Pure Light if we ever going to create Utopia."

"But you also need us Pure Darkness."

"That's true. But you'll come." She stepped back, separating Tsukasa from Rui even further. And Rui couldn't even lift a finger. "You will all come. All of you are attached to those Lights. And I'll be taking everything."

A portal appeared as the wind picked up again. Rui could feel the world shift, returning to its original form before being visited by death herself.

And Tsukasa slowly opened his eyes, dazed. He didn't even register that he had been captured. All he knew was that Rui was standing there, just a few feet away from him. "Rui..."

He reached out for him. And Rui snapped as if a freezing spell was finally being lifted from him.

"TSUKASA!" He ran toward the pair, arm stretched to reach his Light. But before he could even graze a finger, Tsukasa was gone.

He's gone.

Tsukasa's gone.

Luka caught him.

He's going to die.

All because of Rui.

"Rui!" He didn't even realize Nene was there, clutching his shoulder and shaking him, because Tsukasa was gone. Luka has Tsukasa. He's gone. Rui couldn't stop her. She's gone with Tsukasa.

"We'll find him." Nene clasped his cheeks, grounding him. "We'll bring Tsukasa back."

Bring Tsukasa back...?

"We'll bring him back." Mizuki knelt beside him, hand on his shoulder. Emu gave him a determined nod. "Not just to stop the end of the world."

Right. They can Tsukasa back.

Rui looked at his hand. A hand that could bring disaster with his magic. But Tsukasa believes that he's a good person, even if his hand is cursed.

Rui would believe him. He clenched his fingers into a fist, feeling Pure Darkness flowing in him.

"Wait for me, Tsukasa…"

[stellastia]

[ zip up ] sender assists receiver with zipping up a piece of clothing

Aether does nothing in halves.

Though it’s something he knows, the rapidly escalating situation unfolding in front of him is…amusing. Zhongli radiates nothing but patience where he stands, observing the artfully preserved tapestry in the room where the blonde is staying. True to form, the Wangshu Inn has collected many marvels over the centuries – he is prepared to spend the next few hours studying each elegant stitch.

In his peripheral, a vital piece of silk falls where it’s tied, likely improperly, and the process begins again.

“I am certain you aren’t expected to observe tradition,” he says for the second time, tone pitched to soothe. “Though the celebration’s host commissioned this for you, liberties can be taken.” An honored guest, the invitation said of the blonde. Zhongli doesn’t doubt it. The Traveler has a way about him, a kindness that influences every soul he meets. That it’s one of Liyue’s most notable families only warms him further.

When the telltale whisper of fabric speaks of another failure, Zhongli wonders if Aether would rather be late over snubbing the host’s generosity. He paces forward, “I happen to be familiar with this style, if you’ll allow me to assist you.” The fashion is outdated, but every few centuries what is considered old captures the public eye. He tells Aether as much as he kneels, guiding the blonde to hold the fabric steady as he weaves the golden silk around his waist. “…Though I do recall that this particular style fell from good graces as the people favored efficiency over beauty. When it was less common to have an attendant to help you dress. Nonetheless,” It is faster with two, his hands work with expert efficiency, standing at full height to assure himself that there is nothing amiss. After a few beats, he nods, “You wear it well.”

Celebrations, Aether was not unfamiliar with. He’s been lucky enough to make many treasured friends and allies during his journey and that meant many moments of joy to be shared as well. Formal events, however… were less the traveler’s forte. The invitation was accompanied by a beautiful outfit of traditional Liyue design, custom made in the boy’s own colors. It was a resplendent gift and though it might be far from his usual style of wear, it was only right to put it on for tonight. As a show of both gratitude as well as appreciation.

It was just unfortunate that, despite his best efforts, he was unable to put it on properly. Long flowing fabrics made it hard to discern what part of his body went where at first, and even when that part was taken care of there was still the matter of tying everything up properly. “Come on, you can do this…” the boy tried to cheer himself on, a tense look of concentration on his face.

He couldn’t. With but a single tug of his sleeve the entire outfit fell apart once again, elegant fabrics now hanging loosely on the wooden floor. Aether stood there silently for a moment, as if basking in his failure, before sighing defeatedly. It was only the voice of the other man in the room that snapped him out of his frustrated daze.

“I know, but….” He held up his arms, long sleeves draped over them. “They went through all the effort of tailoring this outfit for me… the least I could do is wear it properly for them.” A slightly awkward smile crossed his lips. Despite how capable of a reputation he had, here he was, defeated by clothing.

Aether quickly perked up then at Zhongli’s offer to help. “Oh, please do. This is embarrassing honestly, haha…” as he held up every piece of fabric as instructed, the golden gaze of the traveler landed on the consultant’s dexterous hands, watching as they made quick work of the clothing that vexed him so. It made sense for Zhongli to be good at this, the boy noted to himself. Across the ages, who knows how many formal events he’d have attended?

And not long after they were finished, everything now properly fitted and tied. “Thank you so much, Zhongli.” The traveler’s face lit up with gratitude, the smallest hint of pink tinting his pale cheeks. “You saved me from an awkward entrance. I really owe you one.”

[phanta-soba]

F/oburary day 3: Baking

This.. was supposed to be a lot shorter than it was. That's all I'm gonna say.

Fic specifics:

1300 words

Deidara x Keiharu (oc)

Fluff, swearing, Deidara really can't cook/bake, pre relationship

(fic under the cut)

It was no secret that the Akatsuki didn't like staying under one roof as a group. This is why they typically communicated remotely, staying as far from the other members as was possible. However, there were rare occasions when Pein called everyone down to Amegakure for a group meeting that couldn't be done via alternative means. Whenever this happened either they would get separate rooming in the Ame inn, but there was never enough room for all of them, forcing a few to double up.

While this was nothing new, sometimes someone would pitch a fit over spending even more time in such a cramped space that Pein would give in and let some lucky few stay in his and Konan's home.

However, “lucky” was a subjective term. Being under the leader's roof meant a lot of strict rules that essentially boiled down to “You sleep in the guestroom. The use of any facility other than the bathroom was forbidden.” which meant no use of the kitchen, no washing your clothes (or having to find somewhere else to do it), and no loitering around. Pein was always keen on enforcing these rules, discouraging anyone who valued their life even a little from violating them.

Which begs the question- who in the Akatsuki would be stupid enough to accidentally wreck their gracious leader's kitchen?

The answer is simple, really. By some sadistic sort of luck, Deidara had been kicked out of what was supposed to be his and Sasori's room at the inn. At first, he thought he was screwed, destined to loiter around a highly paranoid ninja village with nothing but the clothes on his back. All of his money-and even his clay- was still back in the inn with a spiteful Sasori. He contemplated seeing if Pein's guest room was still available, but then dejectedly remembered that Konan had already invited Keiharu to stay with them.

He sighed wistfully at the thought. If he was lucky, maybe Keiharu would let him crash with them- despite the fact that this would be a violation of one of Pein's many rules. Upon considering it, they just might let him. They got along really well, and Kei was one of the few people in the Akatsuki who could properly appreciate his art. Unfortunately, there was still one issue.

Deidara had a stupid, irrational crush on the mercenary.

He managed to keep it (mostly) under control when they were together, but that was usually when they were in a group, both of their guards still up. Still, he needed to bite the bullet and ask or he'd have to sleep outside.

Deidara approached the tall building, his hands shoved in his pockets as he steeled himself. Since using the door was for peasants and losers, he scaled the wall until he was at the guest room's balcony on the third floor. For a moment, he hesitated, seeing Keiharu still in all of their usual gear.

When he gently knocked on the glass, their head snapped up, eyes focusing on him. Confusion blossomed on their face as they walked over and opened the door.

“What the hell, Dei?” They asked, a slightly confused smile on their lips.

“Sasori kicked me out.” He explained sheepishly, walking inside the dimly lit room. It was generic but homey, a classic look for any guest room. “Is it alright if I crash here?”

Keiharu gave him an appraising look, their eyes studying his face in a way that made his heart skip. Finally, they laughed.

“The hell did you do for him to kick you out?” They asked with an amused grin, instantly calming his nerves again.

Deidara smiled back, crossing his arms over his chest. “Oh, you know Sasori. He thinks anyone breathing around him is a personal annoyance.” He chuckled, playing off the real reason he was kicked out.

In all actuality, Sasori had been more than patient with him, but had finally grown tired of watching him pining after Keiharu. Deidara truly couldn't blame the man.

“I know he has a permanent stick up his ass, but damn.” Keiharu mused, leaving the room to find the hall closet. Deidara hummed in agreement, following them into the hall like a lost puppy. He kept glancing at the walls, so he wouldn't be caught staring at the back of their head. “I think there's an extra futon here somewhere..”

“I thought this was your first time here?” Deidara asked, surprised. They glanced back at him, a sly smirk on their lips.

“Nah. Whenever there's a slow period for my kind of work, Konan lets me crash here.” They explain, digging through the closet until they found the rolled up mat. They pulled it out, handing it over to Deidara.

“Alright, now you're all set.”

The whole ordeal turned out to be less awkward than Deidara thought. Everything with Keiharu seemed to be- they were the sort of easy-going that almost everyone could get along with. Hell, they even managed to be good friends with Hidan of all people. Still, it only strengthened his fondness for them.

Which is why in the morning, he had the horrible idea of trying his hand at baking.

Riding the high of close, unawkward contact with his crush, Deidara didn't spare a second thought to the fact that he would be baking- an extremely messy process which he has been historically awful at- in his boss's kitchen. The only recipe he was following was the recipe for disaster. The only thing on his mind was impressing Keiharu- who was a very good cook- with his nonexistent baking skills.

To the surprise of absolutely no one, this endeavor failed. Spectacularly.

What was supposed to be sugar cookies ended up looking more like a heinous mockery of any respectable desert. Deidara had managed to scatter flour all over the floors, counter, and walls. There were spots on the counter that were sticky with either butter or water- he lost track of which. There was a broken egg on the floor from rolling off the table. Not all of the dough had even made it to the oven on account of Deidara's hands taking a bite or two (this was also a horrible decision that will later result in food poisoning). And to top it all off, he had burnt the cookies.

Fantastic.

Deidara had only just began frantically sweeping the flour into the trash when a stunned voice caught his attention.

“What.. the fuck.”

His blood ran colder than it would have if Pein had been the one to find the mess. Still he frantically waved Keiharu over.

“Please, I know I fucked up. Just help me before our leader wakes up!” He pleaded, looking absolutely wrecked. His hair was dusted with flour, barely tied back anymore. Even his eyes were wide and pathetic.

Keiharu sighed deeply, assessing the damage. After a moment, they grabbed his hand. His eyes widened, focusing on their face.

“Fuck that.” They said sternly. “We need to get as far away from here as physically possible.”

And with that, they pulled him towards the window. There was a look in their eyes that he could only identify as manic glee as they grinned at him.

“Brace yourself.”

Deidara might not have impressed Keiharu with his lackluster baking skills, but he did get to jump out of the third story window of his boss's house with them. It was a good morning after all.

(The Akatsuki lost guest room privileges entirely after that.)

[yunessa]

Owlcatober 25: 'Smooth'

Spoiler free Kenabres excerpts of Ramien and Yunessa.

“I was starting to wonder if you were all part of my imagination Ramien. If you had kept your hood up I wouldn’t have been able to find you.” The Aasimar priest sat in the forges, his metallic hair gleaming in the warm light of the smithy. In his hands was a cup of coffee still steaming. 

Ramien gave Yunessa a smile. “You should see when I tried to dye it a year ago. It was a disaster.” He started to rise. 

“Stay seated Ramien. You look tired.” The smithy was small- one the inn used to rent out to adventurers- but was well kept. The glowing embers in the forge kept the space comfortably warm. “I wanted to see how you were doing.”

“I’ve been doing whatever I can. Comforting people, healing them…” He smiled sadly. “... but unfortunately Desna has not allowed me the power to return the dead. With the demon attack repelled and your victories in the city, it seems to have calmed it a little.”

“And how are you doing yourself?” Yunessa asked. Ramien’s sad smile faded with the look he gave Yunessa, one of wry humour.

“You know me already. As for myself- I’m here and doing what I can to help. There have been a few problems- cultists sneaking in, an attempted murder in the Inn’s basement- but nothing Commander Tirabade hasn’t handled.” He took a drink from his cup. “She’s handled it so well I only heard of it after the fact.” 

Ramien’s eyes were as unusual as Daeran’s. But his eyes looked like jewels. The purple shined and gleamed in a way that only jewels only caught the light, the colour rich.  Daeran’s were pale, like the greenish-topaz stones in the ring he gave Yunessa as payment. If violets could be jewels…

“You’re staring.” Ramien wagged a finger at Yunessa. There was amusement written on his face.

Yunessa felt their face heat up, but not from the forge. They coughed. “Sorry, I was studying you-”

“Staring intently at my eyes while you studied?” Ramien asked, his smile sly. “How studious.”

“Alright Daeran.” Yunessa rubbed at their jaw as Ramien chuckled. “But to answer you right- I haven’t met many aasimar. You and Daeran are one of the only three I’ve seen and talked to so I was studying you.”

“Am I that handsome?” He asked coyly and Yunessa pretended to stare at him more intently.

“Wellll…” Yunessa drawled out. “I guess, since you caught me staring I have to say yes.”

“And if I hadn’t?” His eyes gleamed with humour.

“I’d have to say it was close but.” Yunessa made a show of running their hands through their hair and giving Ramien a wink. “You’re not me, so you’ll have to take second place.”

Ramian chuckled, a rich sound that seemed to brighten the forge. “My parents were both elves, I might end up coming out ahead of you.” His smile remained when Yunessa pretended to gasp but continued: “If you haven’t met many of us before then it’s natural you’d stare. We don’t share similar characteristics but we all stand out in our own ways.” Ramien took a long drink from his cup before setting it aside. “Speaking of standing out, how has Daeran been? I was surprised to see him with you.”

“He’s been fine. He’s upset Lann a few times with his words but they seem to be fine- at least the last time we came back they were amicable.” Yunessa answered honestly and Ramien blinked at them. “He has a sharp tongue. But honestly,I haven’t found it bothering me. His knowledge of the city and current events has been very helpful.” -

Yunessa just felt nauseated and tired. Standing in the outdoor air of the courtyard helped as a cold breeze caressed their face. The Eagle Watch and Crusaders were making their final preparations and Yunessa was gathering their thoughts.

“Are you going to the Grey Garrison?” Ramien’s voice came from their right.  The aasimar priest moved to stand next to Yunessa. “It’s a ridiculous question to ask now that I realise it.” 

“It’s allright Ramien.” Yunessa bit back a yawn as a bum of sunlight broke through the clouds. “I am going with them. My companions should be joining soon- I came here early to see the fall weather before we grouped up.”

“I saw you talking to Klaem. Is he going with you as well?” Ramien’s gold hair shined in the daylight.

“He wants to cast a ritual before we start when all of my companions are with me. He says he can manage a haste spell that will last hours instead of minutes.” Multicoloured autumn leaves fell down, dancing when the wind blew. “Irabeth already discussed the plans and right now I think she’s checking the defences. If we don’t come back this place will need to hold on its own until the army arrives.”

“I actually came to offer my help as well.” Ramien smiled. “If I may?”

“What kind of help?” Ramien’s smile turned cryptic at Yunessa’s question, gesturing for them to turn around. 

“Turn around and I’ll fix your hair for you.” His smile remained as Yunessa turned around, moving closer. 

“I didn’t sleep well, I forgot.” Yunessa admitted.

“You know,” Ramien murmured, lowering his voice. “Desna is an unpredictable goddess.” Yunessa almost started when Ramien’s hands touched their hair. “Who knows how she will come to the aide of her faithful children?” His hands were warm as he pulled back Yunessa’s hair. “I had a dream where she sang the demons a little lullaby and they fell into a deep sleep just like innocent babes.”

“Did she?”  Ramien tying their hair for them brought back fragments of a memory. A woman with blond hair over an Inn's kitchen sink. Wet hair. Brush in her hand. Clothes befitting a mage's apprentice. She was angry her braid was crooked when I  braided her hair. Told me to go ahead to- where?  Vague blurry faces, a feeling of sorrow strong enough that it made Yunessa grimace before they shoved the memory away.

“Yes. I’m going to use one of my hairsticks Yunessa, this string won’t hold in a fight.” Reamien reached for the bag at his belt, searching through it.

“Hair like yours and you’d pin it up? You’re doing the rest of us a disservice Ramien.” Ramien’s chuckle seemed to make the space around them brighter. “If my hair looked like gold I’d show it off often.” 

“Your hair reminds me of clouds.” He finished the bun he’d made with the hairstick and string . “But far softer.” Turning their head back Yunessa wasn’t certain if Ramien was joking with them but something in his gaze made them pause.

“You’re-”

“You should go find your companions.” He urged Yunessa on. “I will be here when you return to tend to your wounds- and prepare for the celebration when the Worldstone is saved.” He was smiling warmly at Yunessa as they left, his hands clasped in front of him witha smile on his face.

[harpagornis]

Lightshell Duo

When stepping into Three Tree, Robert felt overwhelmed. Even at the docks, there were so many individuals and species that his upbringing in an isolated rat village could muster. He felt disorientated, and his heart began to race. His mind twisted like a snail's shell, and he was almost tempted to board a boat out of there, were there any availiable for such a task.

"You okay?"

A voice made its way into the snail path of the mind, and Robert's face darted. He was rewarded with a kind face: an otterfolk's, presumably around his age.

"I am now" he said.

He really could help but to stare into the ace of his saviour, and he immediately grew self conscious, looking aside. The fact that the otter snickered a bit only made the rat more embarassed. But, as much as he tried, he couldn't look away.

"Name's Shae" the otter said, extending a paw.

Carefully, Robert shook it, with as much reservation as if it was covered in thorns or venomous.

"R-Robert."

"Well R-Robert, may I invite you in? I know a socially anxious face when I see one."

Robert was distrustful, as typical for a ratfolk. But really, what were his options? He was hoping to stay at an inn or some other hospitable place, but even that might have had too many people for his comfort.

"I'd be delighted" he said, trying not to stutter as before.

***

"Make yourself at home!" Shae said enthusiastically.

Stepping into the raftboat, Robert was amazed by what the open door revealed. So many trinkets and treasures, and even a few familiar possessions like clam shells. He was truly feeling at home already.

"Wow, you have so many things."

"Knew you'd like it. I mean, I know ratfolk like their possessions, so I just assumed."

Robert could feel some shyness from the otter, and that made him more relaxed. They were on more equal footing now. His curiosity was drawn to some of the possessions, which glowed with the might of thunder while still being trapped.

"What are those?" the rat asked.

"Oh, those are spells I caught. You see, we otterfolk store magic in our blinkies, to remind ourselves of the wild rides we have."

He grabbed one, a pot incandescent with blue.

"Here, this was when I chased the typhon python. Over there was when I chased the sun hawk itself!"

"So amazing" Robert said, "I came here to study the weaving of other animalfolk, and your ways are helping my research a lot!"

"Glad to hear it."

"It's only fair I share some of mine."

The rat laid down his sack, and pulled out his most precious heirloom.

"Here, this shell was passed down by my family by generations. Each one of us itterates upon its mind spell, so it becomes easier to meditate and clear the mind. Some of us have also added some other spells of its own. I'd like to add mine eventually, and your trinkets inspire me."

"Oh?"

"Would you like to show me how you gather your spells?"

***

Robert knew it was insane, and yet it was still prefferable to the raucous of the city.

The waves crested as Eluge's influence shifted the wild waters, forming a storm above.

"Ready?" Shae asked.

Robert nodded, and he steered the boat. It was surprisingly easy to learn, and he hoped that the otter's weaving was just as easy as well.

Shae extended his arms, feeling the wild currents in the waters and air. Lightning struck, and he didn't hesitate: wild currents struck his paw, each a conduit, and he released it into the snail shell. Then just as quickly he sealed it shut, and relied on the already existing weaving to prevent it from exploding.

The result was a brilliant blue light framed by a solid spiral. Both Shae and Robert were amazed, brought together by this shared item

“Lightning and snail as one!” cried the rat. “It’s so beautiful!” the otter gasped in awe.

Robert was enraptured by joy, and blurted:

"Not as beautiful as you."

[dany-elwen-ffxiv]

Return to Eorzea

In the calmest seas and skies There is always a motion A beating heart, a blinking eye Hoping, watching...praying.

Months have passed since the memorial service for my mother and father. I spent weeks in Dalmasca - the initial plan was to spend days there, but I spent almost two months there after the service. I encountered countless people that knew my parents, who they called heroes. I worked on honing and controlling the healing power of my relic meticulously, intent on using it for the nation's advantage.

Korven never left my side. A doting and dutiful man, he took it upon himself to stay as well, helping me learn and grow with the culture I had always wanted to know. Together, we oversaw more memorials, and spent the nights bonding, holding each other and talking about our dreams and desires.

Weeks like those, filled with pressure and tears, could break any couple, but for us, they made us stronger. While I mourned my mother, and the father that I never knew, Korven shouldered the burden of easing my pain, and occasionally training in his own skills as a lancer. Elezen were not unheard of in Dalmasca, but they were certainly uncommon, and many were eager to meet him and train with him.

And together, we witnessed Dalmasca begin to come back to life.

But as time went on, Korven began to itch for his homeland. He never expressed it verbally to me - the man is too proud to ever admit to such a thing - but I could see it in his eyes when he talked about Ishgard. I could see it in his eyes when he talked about Eorzea. His shoulders would become more square, his knuckles whiter with a sense of desperation. He would talk with more feeling, more passion.

I knew he was homesick. The Dalmascan desert was just that - a desert. Hot, dry, and certainly not a climate fit for a man who spent his summers breathing cold air.

"Let's go home," I whispered gently to him one particularly-hot night after making love in our moonlit room of a Dalmascan inn. I admired his profile - his blue eyes were so serious, so guarded, and so protective of me. I had never, ever taken it for granted.

He looked at me, his hand brushing my cheek as he moved to kiss me. "I am home, Dany. I am home wherever you are."

"You know what I mean," I said with a soft smile, pulling away and holding his eye contact, and at that motion, he knew I was being serious, and he propped himself up on his elbow as he studied me.

"Why?" he asked. "You have a reason to be here, a past and a future. Taking you away would take those away, as well."

"Eorzea is where I grew up, same as you," I said, moving close once again. "Dalmasca may be where I was born, but Eorzea is my home."

At that, a tiny smile curled along his lips, though he still studied me, still prodded me. "You'll miss it here."

"We'll come back," I said firmly. "And we'll bring our thousands of children with us."

At that, he coughed out a laugh. "Repopulate the whole of Othard."

I laughed too, but got serious once again. "But first...let's go home. If I'm going to have thousands of children, I don't want them to grow up in the desert."

Korven laughed again, moving to tickle me, and I shrieked until he ceased, his blue eyes sparkling. "When do you want to return?" he asked.

"We can go tomorrow," I replied with a small smile, fixing the blankets after I had completely dislocated them in the tickling. "Is that amenable?"

Korven smiled softly. "Yes," he answered. "And I have plans for us when we return."

I knew that included a wedding. I could see it in his eyes. He hadn't proposed to me yet - but I knew he was going to. He was as easy to read as an open book; I didn't know how he planned to do it, but I knew he wanted to.

Still, I played along. "If that includes thousands of children," I said, "we're gonna need a REALLY big boat."

He snorted with a grin and kissed me passionately. "I'll buy the biggest boat in the world," he whispered into my neck. "I just want you happy, Dany."

And I was. I was the happiest I had ever been in my life. I wanted him to know that, but it was so hard to articulate how happy the man truly made me.

And so we returned to Eorzea, arriving back to Limsa Lominsa a week later. We wasted no time in getting back to our little home in Ul'dah, but we didn't stay long; the man longed for the mountains. We went to visit Ishgard, where Korven spent some time reconnecting with old friends and visiting family.

But the bliss didn't last long, and a knock at the door in the middle of the night would change everything. We were staying in an inn, and we hadn't told anyone where we were staying, so imagine our surprise when we opened the door to find a small child. "Korven Delahor?" he asked with wide eyes to Korven, who furrowed his brow.

"Yes, that's me."

"Message for you, sir." A scrawny little hand held out a sealed envelope that bore the a deep red seal. "It's most urgent." The second that Korven hesitantly took the letter, the boy ran away, not even waiting for a tip.

[c-e-d-dreamer]

I had to come here and say how much I loved the Elucien sequel to your regency series so much! All these ACOTAR men are such simps for their wives and made for regency 😍 is there any chance we'll get Feysand next? I would love to see Rhys and his non traditional courting methods 🤭

If I tell you what happens in Regency Feysand, will that count? 👀

Unfortunately, the chances of Regency Feysand escaping what is just my daydreams for now and becoming actual written words are low. And the chances of me taking those written words and actually publishing them with my name attached to them? Even lower.

But here's what happens in my head and daydreams...

Now that Nesta and Elain are married, it leaves just Feyre in the house with their parents, and unsurprisingly, she's like get me the fuck out of here. I cannot be around Mama anymore. So, she decides she's going to go visit Nesta in Glasgow!

Now, Rhys is of course like Feyre, darling, you can't travel all the way to Glasgow alone. I will accompany you. Like the gentleman I am.

And then shenanigans ensue.

For example, at the second coaching inn they stay in, there's only one room and one bed. And Feyre is like aren't you going to offer to sleep on the floor like a gentleman? And Rhys is like didn't you spend the last 2 days calling me a prick and not a gentleman? Didn't you say you want a man who views you as a partner? Why don't you offer to sleep on the floor? Or better yet, why don't we share the bed? And we all know Feyre is stubborn, that she'll never back down. So of course she shares the bed with him. And she swears she hates it!

Also, they're attacked by highway robbers. Because of course Rhys brought his flashiest carriage to impress Feyre but that's now back fired! Meanwhile, Feyre is fighting off these robbers like a badass and Rhys is like seriously. Marry me. I'm in love.

But they eventually make it to Glasgow in record time! Feyre is like after spending days with this man, get me as far away as possible. So she's stalking through the house looking for Nesta desperately. And Rhys is like I wouldn't do that if I were you, we arrived earlier than expected. But Feyre scoffs and swings open the study doors only to find Nesta and Cassian in a compromised position because it's Nessian. What did you expect? It's awkward for everyone except Rhys who's like I told you so.

But it's really seeing Nessian that starts to soften Feyre. In case you didn't pick up what I was hinting in the epilogue of But I'm Only Looking At You, Nesta is pregnant. But even more than that, Feyre is just shocked to see her sister like this. Her cold, stubborn sister, who would only marry for power and never for love is happy. She's wearing her hair down. She's glowing and not just from the pregnancy. She's smiling and laughing. Cassian dotes on his wife hand and foot. Very clearly adores her. Also, he's made her a partner at the MacLeod factories. Feyre is confused by this but Cassian is like Nes is the smartest person I know, of course, she does all the factory books. Feyre is just very much surprised Pikachu at the whole thing and is like is this what a marriage could actually be??? And meanwhile Rhys is in the corner there like yes. Now marry me lol

I haven't reached the point in my daydreams to know what the resolution would be exactly but hopefully reading all that was still fun and gives you the fix you were looking for 🥰

[yandere-flower]

Okay so I’m playing Story of Seasons right now and I love these games so I have to merge and make all the yanderes farming sim!bachelors and bachelorettes:

Desmond: He’s that bachelor that isn’t in town right away, and comes in a later month after working a case and is so aloof and suspicious of you and why you suddenly care about whatever dead relatives farm now. His friendship/love points fill up so slowly, you never know where the fuck he is to give him daily gifts and his first few scenes just seem mean but you can’t help but pursue him. His loved gifts are probably like coffee, S tier milk, and some hard as fuck recipe to make. He’s that guy who doesn’t have his own home and lives in the inn like a sad fuck. After you’re married he helps with feeding the animals.

Zara: She’s the out of towner, she didn’t grow up here but came out for some bizarre forced reason like “you can only get the best dyes with local ingredients!” and runs the tailors shop for you to buy outfits. She’s a bit high and mighty at first, and you’re romance involves making her fall in love with your small farming town. Likes expensive gifts like diamonds or dyed linens you made. I think she would help, but I don’t know what task she would do. Lives above her shop in a luxe modern style room.

Cliff: As I am writing this I am 100% certain my main inspiration for Cliff was Calvin from Animal Parade, because holy hell what a charismatic man who just oozes “lemme treat you princess” vibes. He’s the character who lives in the big house up the hill that’s nicer than everyone’s and his jovial when you first meet him. All his scenes with the other townsfolk are either “he’s so handsome and dreamy, I wonder if he’s single??” OR “I got stuck listening to him talk about is latest lecture please save me farmer”. Easy to befriend, he likes processed gifts like cheese, butter, and other things that require you to spend tons of time and money to unlock. Doesn’t help with anything but does buy you random items.

Ezra: I MEAN OBVIOUSLY THE TOWN BAKER/COOK! He’s the towns pride and joy, his parents never appreciated him or the town and moved away when he was a teen, but he came back and opened up a place, which everyone loves! He’s that sweet bachelor who also seems into you before you even get him to 1 heart, and he is always happy to see you! Lives in a back room of his cafe. Loved gifts involved anything cooked, or any quality ingredients, he’s probably the easiest to romance! Will cook you meals every day when you’re married. For some reason his “Do you want to have a baby” cutscene comes before anyone else....

Olive: She reminds me of Popuri from Friends of Mineral Town! She’s probably works at the registers at the ranch where you buy animals (she thinks they are cute but ew...dirty!), charmed by big city folks like Zara and talks about true love and adventure. She’s that wholesome girl next door romance where you sweep her off her feet and convince her to stay on a farm, but she does have a bit of a controlling streak insisting on dresses the cows up and “marketing” for the ranch. She lives at the ranch, I imagine the ranch owners are family friends who let her stay with them while she works. She probably loves made items like jewelry or desserts! She’ll also give you random items after marriage!

Margo: Mix Flora from A Wonderful life and Candace from Animal Parade and I imagine that would be a good Margo. She’s that awkward townsfolk who works the night shift at the local clinic, helping out with basic treatments while studying and doing her medical research. It’s so hard to build up her points as well, because you have to stay up late just to see her. She lives in a spare room at the clinic that is small but filled with specimen and papers. The towns doctor lives in another room and constantly asks you to watch over Margo. She’s awkward and barely speaks to you, but if you gift her weird stuff you find in the forest she gets excited. She forages random items to help out!

Sawyer: I honestly couldn’t think of how we could incorporate a gang member into Harvest Moon/SOS sooo...but then it hit me...his grandmom and dad! Maybe in this game, they adopted him and brought him to this peaceful town to give him a different life. I bet they run the general store, and when you first meet them they gush about “their sweet boy Sawyer whose so kind, he’s getting product from the big city but he’ll be here soon!” and you meet him and he looks like a punk, but he’s cheery and laughing and his scenes all involve him taking care of his grandmom and dad. He loves gifts that are weird, and when you’re married he takes care of the chickens (although he’s kind of a wild mess chasing after them)

Antonio: He’s the kind bratty bachelor, who lives with his dad in the big house and constantly talks about “getting away and truly living as an artist”...but he obviously loves this town and the people. He probably works part time at the carpenters as the designer options, as he paints the furniture options you have. He reveals in one romance scene that he started it when he was a kid to spite his dad and say he doesn’t need him, but secretly he kinda hates it and wishes he could just paint! Loves gifts that are pretty, likes flowers or linen or something, and his spouse task is he’ll gather wood or rock.

Mizu: He’s that weird fucking townsperson who shows up later as well because he didn’t realize there was a new person in town and he has just been a hermit for the first few months. Another character who doesn’t make a ton of sense being here, but he reveals he grew up here and found out he hated the big city and all the noise so he moved back for the quiet. He doesn’t have a job in town, and it takes a bit to raise his friendship enough to enter his home where he spends 90% of his time. I imagine he also has a room at the inn, but you aren’t able to go in it at all. All the townspeople whisper that they wish he’d come out more, but he is a bit rude at times....always stands in the back and alone at festivals. Likes gifts that aren’t nature related, and loves high quality eggs. He also doesn’t help much around the farm.

[forgedroyalseal]

My Reputation’s Never Been Worse

Chapter 10

A/N: I just reread this entire work and I think I forgot just how much I love this story. Your support of it means the world and I am determined to not let other projects with large fan bases (and therefore gain more traffic) get in the way of this one. This is one of my favorite chapters and I hope you enjoyed. I literally wrote it in a matter of hours today.

Halt was waiting for Will outside of the suite. “You should have told me she was sick.” Will said cooly.

“And when did you give me the opportunity to do so?” Halt replied evenly.

“You should have told me.” He repeated.

“I don’t think you understand how much of a shook it was to see you this morning Will. My mind hasn’t strung two thoughts together since I saw you.”

Will frowned, he didn’t know how to respond to that. Pauline had told him to make peace with Halt, and he would, he had to now. He knew he’d never be able to live with himself if he didn’t honor her wishes. But every time he saw Halt, all he could picture was his face at the trial. The brutal hate and angry directed at him. That face had haunted more of his dreams than he’d like to admit. How did he just let that go? How did he forgive and move on?

Instead of dwelling any longer on his internal debate, he switched the topic. “I should find Nyah and Miles. We need to figure out where we are going to sleep.”

Halt undoubtedly recognized Will’s sudden change of subject, but he went along with it. “There are more than enough rooms for you all here.”

“The last time I spent the night here I woke up to my execution. I won’t sleep within these wall’s tonight.”

“Fine, then stay at the inn.”

Will swallowed awkwardly. “I’m not sure that’s an option for the three of us at the moment. It’s fine, we can camp outside, it should be a clear night.”

“Why don’t you just stay at the inn? I’m sure they have at least two rooms available, it’s not as if there is a special occasion drawing people to the town.”

“It’s not a question of if the room are open, we just, well, Miles and I worked for room and board in Eisel. And Nyah hasn’t had spare coin for as long as I’ve known her.” Will admitted, trying his best to not feel ashamed. He was a hard worker and responsible with money, but any money he had managed to save in the past few years had been stolen when he first came to Eisel. After that, he had to make do with what he was given.

“I see. Well I’d be more than happy to-“

“I won’t take your money Halt.” Will interrupted.

“Why not? What am I going to do with it?”

“Save it for your golden years, they aren’t far off.”

_________________________________

That night, Will, Miles, and Nyah set up camp just outside of the palace’s walls. Miles crashed the moment he hit the ground, the stress of being in such a wildly different environment than what he was used to catching up with him. Nyah stayed awake for a while. She wordlessly studied Will’s face in the flickering light of the campfire. Finally she softly said, “They all love you so much. They, they are your family. There are a lot of people who would kill for what you have here. Don’t let your anger throw it all away.” Before Will could respond, she rolled over, facing away from him, and fell asleep.

Left in silence with his thoughts, Will looked up to the stars. Over the past five years, he had spent countless nights gazing at the heavens. The constellations had become his faithful companions, keeping him company whether he was hiding deep in the forest sick with fever, or being lulled to sleep on the deck of a ship. When he was a child Baron Arald had spent many nights pointing constellations out to the ward children. Horace and the girls had little interest in the evening walks, always complaining that they wanted to go to bed and while George appreciated the time to study the sky, he couldn’t care less about the stories that the Baron attached to each patter of stars. But Will treasured those nights. He’d give Arald his undivided attention, eagerly listening to the tales of heroes and monsters. His favorite was the story of Perseus. Will wanted desperately to grow up to be just like the legend. To protect his loved ones, slay the monster, and save the princess. Staring up at the twinkling constellation, Will felt a tear roll down his face. He had fallen so far from the heroes of his childhood. Now all he saw in the mirror was a wicked monster with black eyes and a blacker soul staring back at him. Seeing Pauline had dug up shame and guilt that he thought he had buried years ago. But her gentle, undying love had melted the ice that had hardened his conscious. She loved him, even when he didn’t love himself. Horace and Cassandra had seen him in Elisel, had seen the darkness that surrounded him like a cloak, and yet they were still holding him close. And Halt seemed desperate to mend the broken bond between them. Nyah’s words echoed in his head all night. Maybe it was possible to come back for good. Maybe their love would be enough. Or maybe, once the novelty of his presence wore off, they’d all realize he had fallen too far from grace for them to drag back to the pedestal they had once placed him on.

Will spent the night tossing and turning, dreaming of running through an endless black forest, skeletal hands reaching out for him. When dawn finally broke, he woke with a searing pain in his hip. His gasp woke Nyah, who hurried over to his side. He was taut with pain and his palms were dug into his eyes.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Hip.” He said through gritted teeth. “Malcolm’s salve. Satchel.” Nyah rummaged through his bag until she found the jar of pain reliving cream Malcom had gifted Will after learning of how severe his pain could be from the old injury. “Hurry up.” He groaned.

Nyah rolled her eyes, “Always so bossy.” Her tone was teasing, but her eyes gave her worry away. She knew that he wasn’t in any danger, just pain, but it still stressed her to see him suffer.

_______________________________

Alyss, Cassandra, and Horace all met at the castle gate just as the sun was beginning to rise.

“Couldn’t sleep?” Cassandra asked them.

Alyss shook her head and Horace said, “I spent the entire night wondering if he’d still be here in the morning. I’m on my way to check.”

The three friends made their way to Will’s campsite. As they approached, they heard a low groan. Hurrying closer they saw Will laying on the ground, arms pressed over his head. His pants were unbuckled and pulled down to his hipbones. Nyah leaned over him, hand disappearing somewhere below his pants.

“I guess they are a little more than friends.” Horace remarked, unsure how to proceed. He glanced over to Alyss, who’s face was bright red and her eyes were cast down to the ground. Cassandra on the other hand had zero hesitation as she marched right up to the pair.

“Good morning to you both.“ She announced loudly.

Nyah’s head whipped up. “Your Highness! We were just, um…” She looked down the Will for support, but he just threw his arm over his eyes.

“It looks like he’s having a great morning already Cassie.” Horace smirked as he walked up besides Cassandra, Alyss staying slightly behind.

“Get your head out of the gutter Horace, it’s not what you think.” Will grumbled. He stood slowly and Nyah pulled her hand back, but kept it hovering by his side as she rose with him. Now that he was standing, Horace, Cassandra, and Alyss could clearly see the angry, knotted scar tissue on his hip, just above where his pants were resting dangerously low on his hips.

“I woke up in some really bad pain, must have slept on my hip.” He gestured to the injury. “Nyah was putting some ointment on it. Nothing so salacious as what you had in mind.” Will’s eyes fell on Alyss, noticing her presence for the first time that morning. A faint blush cast itself on his checks and he cleared his throat. “Anyway, what are you three doing here? Making sure I didn’t make a run for it in the middle of the night?”

“Exactly.” Cassandra affirmed without a trace of guilt.

Will scratched at his brow, “Well I guess I can’t blame you. But I promise, until I know that everything is settled in Eisel, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Except to the breakfast table, I’m starving.” Horace said.

Will pulled a shirt on and readjusted his pants, securing them over his scar with his discarded belt. “We just need to pack up. Nyah, you mind waking Miles up?” Will started to roll up his blanket and Nyah gently kicked Miles’ in the ribs.

“Let’s go find out what royalty eats for breakfast sleepyhead.” She says as Miles rubs sleep out of his eyes.

“Huh?” He blinked up to see Horace, Alyss, and Cassandra hovering around the campsite. His eyes fly open and he scrambles to his feet.

“Oh um, your royalnesses. I mean, majesties, or, something…”

“Horace and Cassandra is fine, that goes for the both of you.” Horace smiles.

Nyah grins at him. “Wow, I’m on a first name basis with royalty? Who would’ve thought?”

“Yeah it’s a pretty big deal.” Horace teased.

Cassandra looks between them. She knew that Horace would never imagine being unfaithful, but they had just walked in on Nyah having her hand shoved down his best friend’s pants, which apparently got Horace’s mind thinking things it, in Cassandra’s opinion, has no right thinking. She laced her arm with Horace’s, an action she saw Nyah clock and take note of the intention. Smiling Nyah took a step back and threw her pack over her shoulder. She offered Cassandra a slight, but meaningful nod of acknowledgement. The interaction surprised Cassandra. She frankly hadn’t expected the girl to be so aware and respectful of Cassandra’s feelings. It made her feel guilty for how she’s been thinking about Nyah, and she determined that she would be better at not reading into Nyah’s intentions.

[iviarellereads]

The Eye of the World, Chapter 28 - Footprints in Air

(THIS PROJECT IS SPOILER FREE! No spoilers past the chapter you click on. Curious what I'm doing here? Read this post! For the link index and a primer on The Wheel of Time, read this one! Like what you see? Send me a Ko-Fi.)

(Staff icon) In which we play catch-up to the timeline.

Nynaeve sees the White Bridge in the distance, and grumbles that Moiraine and Lan don't even seem to notice, and resolves not to let them see her "gaping like a country bumpkin." Moiraine won't answer any of Nynaeve's questions, just encourages Nynaeve to stay at Tar Valon for training, to conquer her temper and learn to control the Power at will. Nynaeve thinks to herself that she's only going along with this to be sure Egwene doesn't get hurt.

If only there was some way to get rid of the woman. Lan would be better by himself—a Warder should be able to handle what was needed, she told herself hastily, feeling a sudden flush; no other reason—but one meant the other. And yet, Lan made her even more furious than Moiraine. She could not understand how he managed to get under her skin so easily.(1) He rarely said anything—sometimes not a dozen words in a day—and he never took part in any of the . . . discussions with Moiraine. He was often apart from the two women, scouting the land, but even when he was there he kept a little to one side, watching them as if watching a duel. Nynaeve wished he would stop. If it was a duel, she had not managed to score once, and Moiraine did not even seem to realize she was in a fight. Nynaeve could have done without his cool blue eyes, without even a silent audience.

Over the days' journey, Nynaeve feels unsettled somehow, and notes that Moiraine and Lan both seem to feel it too. Eventually Moiraine tells her it's the Dark One's gaze, not on them specifically, but on the world. He's gaining power. Nynaeve wishes she hadn't said anything at all.

Until that point, Lan had scouted and chosen their paths, but now Moiraine takes the lead, as surely as if she could see footprints in the air, or smell a memory. Soon they arrive at Whitebridge, where it seems there's been some fire and destruction, at least half a dozen buildings appear to have burned down. The people all seem to lie about what happened, either only knowing rumour or intentionally ignoring the truth in front of them.

They hear tales of trouble coming in on a boat, and leaving on it again shortly after. Moiraine leads them to an inn, and says they were there a day ago, maybe two, and very afraid, but she doesn't know where they left. Lan says there was a Myrddraal there, too. Moiraine says she'll have to help the one she knows has his coin still, and Nynaeve asks what about Egwene?

The Aes Sedai studied the tabletop for a moment before raising her eyes to Nynaeve’s, and when she did, Nynaeve started back from a flash of anger that almost seemed to make Moiraine’s eyes glow. Then her back stiffened, her own anger rising, but before she could say a word, the Aes Sedai spoke coldly. “I hope to find Egwene alive and well, too. I do not easily give up young women with that much ability once I have found them.(2) But it will be as the Wheel weaves.” Nynaeve felt a cold ball in the pit of her stomach. Am I one of those young women you won’t give up? We’ll see about that, Aes Sedai. The Light burn you, we’ll see about that! The meal was finished in silence, and it was a silent three who rode through the gates and down the Caemlyn Road. Moiraine’s eyes searched the horizon to the northeast. Behind them, the smoke-stained town of Whitebridge cowered.

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(1) Because you're falling in love, you poor young woman. Nynaeve's never had the chance before, and though love seemed common enough in Emond's Field from what we saw, she's lacking in self-awareness of her feelings. Anger is easiest to understand because it's always gotten results back home, so it's what she defaults to. (Side note, it's funny that Lan doesn't really take Mo's side in these arguments, huh? But he DOES try to suggest Nyn go back to the Two Rivers, where she'll be safe. Make you wonder what he's feeling.) (2) Did you catch the second layer here? Back in chapter 13, Moiraine said there were two with high potential. We can now guess that Nynaeve, of course, was the one besides Egg, which means Mo's not like to give up on Nyn anytime soon, either, just as Nyn fears.

[rania-athanasios]

Introducing the Innkeeper

Good morning, afternoon, or evening, weary one. Whether you’ve been on a journey for quite some time or you’re just a local who needs a good bite to warm the soul, the Arcane Inn and Tavern will have you covered plenty.

My name is Rania, and I am the innkeeper here at the Arcane Inn and Tavern. I figured it might be a wise idea to introduce myself, give you a little bit to get to know me by. I’m a woman living in the midst of mountains and forests, or, more specifically, a city right on the border. That’s where our little Inn and Tavern is. When not busy here making meals for the customers or helping those who need advising, I’m in the libraries studying wildlife biology. I am, what I like to call, a believer in both science and the supernatural. Been walking the path of learning pagan practices since the tail end of 2020, and while I do very much handle the mundane over the magickal, there are intersects between the two worlds that I have found most interesting and hope to share. Some of my favorite past times include baking goods for the counter, prepping and cooking meals before rush hour, and and the written and visual arts. You might notice some pieces on the walls soon - I need to get some new decorations in here, after all. A little pause to the rush of energy in taverns, or a warm breath in the morning as you savor your stay in the inn.

I’m a friendly person, and have my mailbox open here in the entrance to the inn. Feel free to address me with /ask for all of your curiosities about me or the inn and tavern. It’ll send it right to me. Pleasure to meet you, dear. I hope you enjoy your time here, however long you choose to stay.