#emerald forrest

[bluecodexs]

i miss them so bad…..

[lucidwonderlust]

I spent the day breathing in air that cleansed my soul.

[bodacious-becc]

[Paldea Arc - Mochi Mayhem] Whoops, looks like Pecharunt got most of our Kitakami crew...

[downthetubes]

Dunfermline Mini-Con offers plenty of free comic fun this Saturday

This Saturday, residents of Dunfermline, Scotland, can enjoy the free Dunfermline Mini-Con, featuring a cracking line up of comic creators, comic sellers, cosplay and more, at Kingsgate Shopping Centre

[youryanderedaddy]

Tw: captivity, obsessive behavior, made up fantasy lore, mind fuck (?)

He never calls for you - he only ever sends his servants, poor, confused little creatures of the night once lost just like you. They gather at your door like an army of darkness, scratching and biting at the delicate wooden frame, howling piteously with full chest until you're faced with the choice of either opening the door, or suffocating yourself with the fluffy white pillow. You give in after what feels like an appropriate time - not too soon as to feed his ever - growing ego, yet not so late that the creatures' heads start to roll under your nose.

You slowly walk down the endless corridor, refusing to look at anything for longer than a second - even as it calls to you with the sweetest voice of desire. Everything is enchanted to the very last candle on the wall. The countless paintings depict wealth and opulence beyond your wildest dreams, an adundance of riches upon riches, of honeycomb amber and pure green emeralds. The silk carpet is as soft as a dandelion just before it bursts open, and the crystal chandelier embarks such a soft light the human eye can never properly adjust to the tender shades of yellow and blue. The castle is tempting you with every passing breath - begging you to stay here forever. Begging you to love it, and everyone inside - especially His Majesty, the Lord.

You try to calm your disheveled thoughts as you carefully open the heavy gates to the throne room. Your breath hitches deep into your throat as your eyes gaze upon the feast spread out before you, and suddenly you're starving like a wolf. By now you should know better than to let yourself be lured in by magic - but the pull is too magnetic and you quickly find yourself stepping closer to the piled up table. You take in the smell with unsatiated hunger - golden apples baked inside fine sugar crystals, tender deer fillet dripping with berry sauce and smokey mushrooms, the sort you can only find inside an enchanted forrest. Cream puffs and mountains of stripped ice soaked in jam and vanilla essence upon stacks of fruit and more goblets of red wine than you can count. And yet he remains ever the centerpiece of the vision.

"You're late, mona grece tide*." His voice slowly fills the room with its overbearing softness, always on the verge of dropping into silence. It's painful to look at him - as if everything about the mythical man was created a touch too symmetrical, to the point where the sharp features all blend together. His lips are too full, his eyes - if the golden slits beneath his brows may be called that, are way too bright under the sun, and they reflect a time you don't wish to remember. And his hair is so long and pale, so very white and smooth, you have to stop your hands from reaching into the wounded transparency of his wild locks, less you want to lose a finger or two.

"Tidea." Khaal snaps his finger more aggressively when you don't respond to his call the first time. You squint in an attempt to block the light coming from the tiny cracks in his face - the birth lines of his dragon. "Sit down. Don't make me come to you."

Tide. Tidea. Love, as you eventually learnt the meaning of the word in Lohemian. My little love, the words still rest on his tongue, because what are you if not a small, fragile human?

"I'd hate to inconvenience you so, my Lord." You eventually bite back, breaking out of the trance. Slipping in and out of consciousness and constantly guessing your surroundings is taking a toll on you, but you'll lose your sanity before you give into his madness. "Touching a filthy human like myself will surely sully your pretty golden flakes." You smile with venom, tearing into the nearest sun-pear. He watches the juice drip down your chin with angry narrowed eyes, and with another swift snap of his fingers he's standing before you, towering above.

"Insolent child, you are." He grips your face carelessly, inspecting it from all sides before finally materializing a clean cloth and wiping you clean. "You're foolish just like any other human." His brows twist together with anger, but his expression remains angelic to the untrained eye. "I can give you everything you've ever wanted. The sun at your feet, the moon on your shoulders. All the knowledge of the world." His fingers suddenly stop rubbing along your jawline and his gaze falls upon your cold, quivering lips. "All I ask in return is your loyalty." His sharp nail begins stroking your lower lip. It doesn't draw blood, but you wish it would. You can't stand the anticipation - the moment before the violence entails.

"Don't let your eyes wander. Gift me your warmth." The dragon king pulls you closer to his chest, and all fight leaves you. His form is perfectly defined with thousand metal - like flakes, one on top of the other like a flawless shield. It's probably a great weapon on the battlefield - but it lacks the naked vulnerability of human skin, and it's so cold it hurts to stand close, much less touch it directly. "Look at me!" He suddenly roars, and you fall back from the sheer power of his voice.

Everything hurts - as if the floor is suddenly melting, you feel like you will never stop falling down.

"I can't. It's too painful." You whisper weakly between hoarse broken sobs threatening to tear off your heart in two. "I wasn't made for this world, f-for your... world." You bite your lips, averting eyes to the ground. "Everything in you wants me dead. Your love will kill me." You whimper, squeezing your left hand to your chest. The dead weight of the broken bone is pulling you down, luring you deeper into sleep.

"I'd like to see you try, mon'tidea." He sinks down to your level, quick as a shadow. Stealing a kiss as light as a sparrow, he pushes you down. "Die as many times as you want. You'll always end up here in my arms." His lips are grazing your ear, warm breath hitting your neck. Another illusion, you realize - his body can't create warmth. It's simply reflecting your warmth back to you. "Because once you enter my realm, there's no coming back."

[scorpioriesling]

A Chance Meeting

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *

Pairing(s): Tamlin x reader

Warnings: fluff

Summary: You were pining over him, plain and simple. After a chance meeting, it turns out you might have a lot more in common with the rather lonely High Lord; in fact, you might be just what he needed.

SR’s Note: I was not prepared to write fluffy Tamlin... lol. However I don't see enough of him on Tumblr, and I tried my very very best. <3 ily all

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *

Charming, handsome, powerful.

That's what they all said about him, and you couldn't help but agree.

After all, they were right.

Thoughts of the handsome High Lord swirled prettily through your mind as you continued on your way, stooping every time you'd come across a bright orchid or an orange lily to pluck it. Your basket was filling up -- but, the more the merrier for the bouquet you were crafting to sit atop your kitchen table.

The warm evening sun provided comfort as you strode along the familiar woods, not too far from your home within them. You had quite some time before you needed to head back, and you thanked yourself for slipping on your swimming garments before heading out today. The long skirt you'd chosen was providing more warmth in the spring afternoon than you'd intended.

You knew of a small stream ahead, a clearing through the wood that was your favorite sitting spot on the warmer days when you resorted to the chill of the water for the cooling you so desperately craved. As you made your way to the spot, a smile smile spread across your face at the sight. It was no wonder you'd always resorted back here -- you could see the Spring Manor perfectly through the clearing in the trees.

You gently set down your flower basket, and began removing your clothes one by one, slipping off your walking boots and laying them neatly next to the folded pile. With a small sigh and a longing glance toward the Manor, you waded in.

It only took a few minutes to get used to, the temperature of the water soothing the heat inside you. You waded around, your hair flowing freely around you in waves. As a cloud passed over the sun, you shivered at the lack of heat warming the water around you. Opting to submerge fully, you went under -- only for a moment before breaking the surface once more.

"You come here often."

You startle at the voice, rubbing at your eyes furiously before opening them wide, searching around for the source. When you finally realize who is relaxing on the grass before you, propped up on two elbows right next to your basket of florals, you can only blink in response.

"Oh, um, yes, I do come here often." You fumble for words, running your fingers through your stream-water wet locks at an attempt to look more presentable. The High Lord's gaze shifts from the Manor to stare directly at you, a ghost of a smirk on his lips.

"I know." Is all he says. You stare back, fumbling with your fingers under the water. How long had he been there? Watching you? How many times had he seen you come here, spying on his home without permission, like some kind of creep?

"I want to apoligize, sir, for, um," you make your way to the edge of the stream, the water skating over your body in small streams. His gaze tracks the movement, then he meets your eyes again. "I... I just like to come swim here, and it just happens that the Manor is, right... over there, and-"

"Don't apologize," he cuts in, and you purse your lips closed. You stand frozen before him, but he holds your gaze, his vibrant emerald eyes so piercing against the forrest around him. "...and, it's Tamlin. Please," he adds. You nod once, glancing down at your clothes. A slight blush creeps onto your cheeks when you realize you are in fact still standing before the High Lord in nothing but a bathing suit, and you move to redress as quickly as possible.

"No need to stop on my account," he continues as you hastily yank on your top. "In fact, I quite enjoy taking a dip every now and then myself." You pause mid-zip on your boot, glancing toward him, only to find him peering into the clearing.

"That's odd," you say. "I've never seen you out here before."

He chuckles beside you as you finish the last zipper and stand, the motion mirrored by him before he strides closer. Your breath catches when he bends slightly, picking up your basket by the handle and lifting it carefully from the ground. When he is stood at full height again, you peer up into his eyes.

"That's because this isn't usually the spot I choose; for I know of a place far more magical than this."

* ✧･ﾟ: *

The walk back to your cottage home was enjoyable, making small talk with your new friend and enjoying his company along the way was a nice contrast to your usual lonely nights in the woods. He also insisted on carrying your basket, though it wasn't heavy, it still elicited a sort of feeling in your stomach -- something similar to the delicate flutter of a butterfly's wings.

"You go to that same spot so often," he says. "But you've never seen the swans?" You shake your head.

"No, never." You answer. His brow furrows and he shakes his head slightly.

"How peculiar, I've seen them quite a few times near that part of the stream," he says. You shrug your shoulders, a small sinking feeling forming in the pit of your stomach as your cottage comes into view.

"Well, maybe when you see them next time, I'll be around?" You offer. Hopefully he will take the bait, you really, really hoped he would. You needed to see him again.

He chuckles, taking the last few steps across the flat stones behind you up to your front door. You turn to face him, a light smile gracing his lips as he gazes up at you.

"Most definitely, next time," he says, and you grin. He hands you your basket of flowers, and the small brush of his fingers against yours sends electricity through your veins. You swear you could've gasped at the feeling, or even more when he slid the basket over your hand and down to the crook of your elbow, taking your hand in his and bringing the back of it to his lips.

"I'll see you again..." his eyes search yours for a moment, and you realize in your excitement you'd never actually introduced yourself.

"Y/N," you offer. He nods slowly, pressing one more kiss to your skin before carefully releasing your fingers from his.

"Y/N... beautiful."

* ✧･ﾟ: *

It was only three days later that a knock came at your door in the early afternoon as you were perched in the reading nook, book in hand, sunlight illuminating the pages before you. None of that stopped you from leaping from your seat, dashing toward the door and yanking it open to lay your eyes once more on a very charming, very handsome High Lord on your doorstep.

One that was holding a bouquet for you of the loveliest peonies youd ever seen.

"Oh, my!" You gasped. He smiled, extending his offerring to you as you opened the door wider for him to enter. "Please, come in!"

He ducked slightly to enter into your home, and you took the beautiful bouquet from him. He followed you along to the kitchen, peering around at the various plants you had sitting on every surface along with your books and candles alike.

"Don't mind the mess," you said, ducking beneath your sink in search of a vase for the flora. When you'd selected a pretty one, you registered his frown at your still very healthy, very vibrant bouquet on your kitchen table from a few days prior.

"I apologize," he starts. "I... suppose it was a ridiculous idea to think you'd be as clumsy with plant life as I am. I'd thought maybe you needed a new one by now," he explains, a light pink flushing his cheeks. Your sympatetic gaze extends to his face, and you place the bouquet on your kitchen counter where a perfect beam of sunlight shines through the window. You pad over to him, and his gaze lifts from the floor when you reach up onto your tippy toes to press a gentle kiss to his cheek. His eyebrows lift high in amusement, the color on his face only deepening in crimson. You pretend not to notice, only satisfied at your sudden rush of courage for the act.

"They look better bathed in sunlight than simply sitting on my table anyway," you explain, motioning to the twinkling glass vase holding the peonies across the kitchen. Your eyes meet his again, and he continues to just stare at you, speechless. "Thank you, Tamlin, really. They're beautiful." You smile. He only blinks, smiling softly at you once more.

"So, did you just stop by to bring me flowers? Or are you up for a swim?"

* ✧･ﾟ: *

You'd continued on for weeks like that, Tamlin showing up on your doorstep in the afternoons to take you on walks, or sometimes to swim, or simply sometimes to help you with tasks around your cottage. You had to admit, having a hand in drawing the heavy water pail from the old stone well was very helpful, not to mention... the sight of him while doing it, his exposed biceps straining in the afternoon sun-

"It looks as though a storm is approaching rather quickly."

You're pulled from your recent memory, shaking your head in embarassment as you train your eyes on the darkening sky above. You raise your eyebrows, as indeed, dark stormclouds were approaching rather quickly.

"Yes," you say, stepping over a row of cabbages toward the handsome male. "We should be heading back inside." Tamlin twists his hands nervously.

"It is getting late, I should probably head back to the Manor to make it before-"

Just then, a raindrop lands on his loose white tunic, the wet drop catching the eye of you both. You shake your head at him, giving him a look and making your way through the garden toward the back door of your small home.

"Don't be ridiculous, Tam," you say over your shoulder. "You can at least stay for dinner."

He catches up to you in two easy strides, his warm, long fingers wrapping around your wrist. You turn, your eyes meeting his at the simple touch. Rain begins to fall more steadily now, the tops of your heads beginning to glisten with the mist.

"Did we even gather enough..." he glances down at the basket of various vegetables in your hand -- the one he is still holding. You grin coyly up at him.

"We've gathered more than enough. Now let's get inside before we melt, hm?"

* ✧･ﾟ: *

He watches quietly from your table as you prepare the soup, listening to you hum to yourself in contentment. You can barely steal a glance at him, nearly catching his eye each time, but his sudden voice interrupts your humming.

"Y/N, I'm really glad I met you."

You stir the stove pot quietly for a moment, not wanting to ruin a moment you weren't sure what direction was leading quite yet.

"I... am really glad I met you too, Tamlin." You look to him, offerring a small smile. He only looks down at your table, and you feel concerned as you lift the spoon to your lips to taste the concoction.

"I don't have many friends, so... what we... have, I mean, what we are, or... I don't know what I am saying. I apologize." He sighs, his shoulders rising and falling. "You're just, quite special to me-"

"Oh, shoot!" You drop the spoon back into the pot, settling your hands on your hips and shaking your head. He rises immediately, striding over to you and placing his hands on your shoulders in concern.

"Is everything okay?" He asks, and if you were paying more attention, his proximity and sultry tone would've shaken you to your core.

"No, no, no," you huff. "I forgot the parsnips, those damn parsnips-"

"Where are they?" He asks, already making his way for the back door.

"I left them out in the garden near the row of cabbages -- wait, Tamlin, don't go running out there, its' quite literally-" Just then, a huge bolt of lightning rips through the sky, illuminating the kitchen and making you jump with the loud crack that follows it.

"...Storming." You look toward the back door; its swinging shut, void of the blonde male who should still be very much dry and very much still inside.

You sigh, rubbing your hands over your face before leaning on the counter to peer out the kitchen window. Of course, there he is -- soaking wet, running out into the garden. You shake your head, making for the back door and quickly tugging on your rainboots with a huff.

* ✧･ﾟ: *

"Tamlin!" You shout over the howling wind. Rain pelts at your arms, the exposed skin against the chill of the air creating goosebumps all over. Your too-big rainboots are making it near impossible to run to keep up with his long legs, and you see he is already reaching to pick up the last of the ingredients you said you needed. When you finally reach him, he is standing up, an armful of parsnips held close to his chest.

"What are you doing out here?" He shouts over the wind.

"Me? Why would you run out here?" You call back, the rain whipping your soaked hair across your face. You peer up into his deep green eyes that stare down at you in concern.

"You... said you needed these!" He yells, and another sharp crack of thunder sounds in the distance. You both flinch, and when you look to him again, he... smiles.

He truly, fully smiles. You smile back, and his shoulders shake lightly, his teeth revealing against his perfect lips, a small laugh escaping. You can't help but chuckle, his beauty so enrapturing and his rare, true smile such a sight to be withheld that you wish to bask in the sight for as long as you can.

* ✧･ﾟ: *

"You have to trust me -- it tasted much better with the parsnips."

Tamlin chuckles, taking another bowl from you to clean in your sink as you help to clear the table.

"Oh, I believe you; I'm just not sure I've met a female who'd go after a male in a wild storm like that," he replies, and you blush. You bring over the last of the cups and spoons, placing them in the basin, and your fingers lightly brush his. His gaze slides to yours for only a second.

"I've never met a male who'd go into a storm like that for me in the first place." You peer up at him. His eyes widen only slightly, and he takes a deep breath before continuing his scrubbing, working particularly hard on making sure your dishes are clean. You smile to yourself, hoping you were playing this the right way, still not fully believing you'd somehow gotten the High Lord in your home, gotten him to like you so much, gotten him to be your friend. It all just didn't feel real.

As he dries off the last few appliances, he straightens his shirt and clears his throat. You lean against your table, and he looks out the window at the continuous falling rain.

"It is late," he mutters. You raise an eyebrow.

"It is." You state.

"I should..." He takes a step forward.

"Stay," you finish, stepping in his path. He stops before you, sighing deeply.

"Y/N-"

"It's still raining," you explain. "You can't travel all the way to the Manor this late in the evening, especially with weather like this," you say. He shakes his head slowly at you, gazing out the window once more. You place your hands on his arms, pulling him rather close. His eyes meet yours again.

"Could I... use your couch?" He asks. One of his hands finds yours on his arms, and you struggle to keep your breathing even as you make the difficult decision not to move too fast and scare him off.

"Nonsense, you can use my room. I can use the couch."

* ✧･ﾟ: *

At the first signs of morning light, you slowly blink your eyes open, snuggling deeper into the warmth of your bed. You move only an inch before registering the large, strong arm wrapped around you, holding you against a rather comfortable chest.

You're not sure how this happened... well. Maybe you remember. But, you would simply chose to be happy about it.

As you turn to face Tamlin, you smile a bit, watching the rise and fall of his bare shoulders as he sleeps contently in front of you. In your bed.

Your bliss is short-lived as he shortly awakes, his emerald green eyes meeting yours as he takes in his surroundings. Your heart rate picks up, not knowing if he will bolt, be angry for ending up in here, perhaps never return?

His arm around your waist wraps tighter, pulling you even closer, and your heart warms as you are close enough now to practically share breath. His eyes drift closed for a moment more

"Good morning," you whisper.

"Good morning to you," his gravelly voice sends a fuzzy feeling through you that you try to ignore... for now.

"Did you... sleep alright?" You ask hesitantly. His eyes open slightly again, and he leans close, pressing a small kiss to your forehead.

"That is the best I've slept in months, Y/N." He closes his eyes again, a ghost of a smile on his lips. You blush furiously, at a loss for words. You only hoped this would continue, you could progress from here -- you knew getting your hopes up was silly, he was the High Lord, after all.

"Do you have plans today?" You ask after a few beats of silence. He grins, nodding his head. You frown, wishing you could spend more time with him.

"Oh,"

"I planned to show you one of the most magical places I know."

* ✧･ﾟ: *

You walked anxiously through the forest, following behind your friend willingly as he showed you his special spot. He'd only gone back to the Manor for new clothes and bathing shorts, and left you to change into proper swimwear before the journey.

"Maybe the swans will be here today," he says, looking to you with a wink. You look up at him, adjusting your small woven bag on your shoulder.

"The swans frequent your special swimming place too?" You ask. He shrugs, slowing his pace as you approach a thick brush of vines in your path.

"Not necissarily frequent," he says, sweeping the vines to the side and gesturing for you to move forward through them. "But, I've seen them here before."

As your eyes adjust to the sunlight again, your mouth drops open. "Here" is quite literally the most magical place you'd seen -- he was right. A clearing among the high growing trees allowed a halo of sunlight to stream in, perfectly illuminating the golden pool of starlit-water below. You gazed in, eyes roaming over every swirl and fractal of gold within.

"Oh... Tamlin this is..." you shake your head in bewilderment.

"...I'd hoped you'd like it." He smiles sheepishly, shucking off his boots and trousers near the pool's edge. You lay down your bag, slipping off your flats and skirt as your eyes are still glued to the golden bath before you. You almost miss the gorgeous man beside you pulling his tunic off, every upper-body muscle flexing as he tugs on it before tossing it aside. He looks to you, his eyes unashamedly roaming along the length of your esposed legs before focusing on your eyes.

"Ready to get in?" He asks. You simply nod, unlacing your top and shoving it in your bag. He steps in, wading in waist-deep before extending a hand to you. You feel every butterfly flap furiously inside your stomach as you take it, and he gently pulls you in, the delicious golden liquid twirling around you and engulfing you in full.

"This is... just... magical, Tamlin," you admit. He grins, reaching to take your other hand in his. You gaze up at him. "How did you happen upon this place?"

He shrugs, the movement sending the water rippling around him as he moves the two of you deeper in, the water encircling your upper-arms. "Everyone has their special spots, I suppose."

You look around, taking in the scenery, and when you focus on him again, you blush seeing he's only been gazing at you. You swim back for a bit, floating on your back, allowing your hair to swirl around you. You feel so relaxed, but wouldn't close your eyes for a moment here in fear you'd miss something so beautiful.

"Y/N... I need to be honest with you." His gaze hardens, and you place your feet on the pond floor once more, returning your stare to his.

"Oh, of course," you nod. Your heart rate picks up, and he draws close to you again.

"When I returned today... to the Manor," he starts. A knot begins forming in your stomach. Here it is. Here it comes.

"I... in my absence, everything was able to run as normal, and though being a High Lord is not what I would have chosen to do with my life," his hands find your hips, and he pulls you flush against him. Your breath catches, and you stare intently up at him.

"I need you to know that I've felt more fulfillment in these past few months than I ever have in my lifetime." He says. Your eyes widen, realizing what you're hearing.

"Tamlin... I don't know what to say, I've only dreamt of something like this, I just wonder about the court? Your subjects at the Manor-"

"They don't need me at the Manor," he says. "I could just be with you, in the cottage, all the time, Y/N. Just," he holds you even closer, his hands sliding over the curve of your spine. Your fingers instinctively slide up the length of his arms, eventually wrapping loosely around his neck. "...just me and you, all the time." His tone is almost pleading, his eyes searching yours in desperation.

You don't hold back any longer, closing the gap between you and pressing your lips to his. He breathes in deep, his hands pressing you impossibly close as he moves his lips slowly against yours. You slowly wrap your legs around his waist, and one of his hands moves over the fabric of your stretched bikini bottom to the underneath of your bum. He continues to kiss you, parting his lips and allowing you in to expore as his hands roam over your skin, feeling each inch and sending fireworks through you as he does.

When you pull back after a few minutes to breathe, he rests his forhead against yours, his beautiful, perfect smile coming out once more.

"You're beautiful, Y/N," he whispers, his gaze fixating over your shoulder.

You turn to see what's caught his eye, gasping at the sight of two swans nesting quietly near the edge of the golden pool.

* ✧･ﾟ: *

[orcasoul]

The Lesser of Two Evils

Chapter summery: You begin to doubt your preconceptions about Marcus. Your actions last night catch up to you with dire concequences.

Chapter Warnings: Swearing, threats of rape, sexual harassment, violence, detailed injuries, angst, enemies(ish) to lovers, slow burn.

Word Count: 5,214

Chapter 3 Friend or foe?

Dawn breaks hazily over the ancient woodland. Morning mist blankets the emerald foliage in tiny dew drops, which glisten when the sun manages to seep through the clouds. You've ridden all night, mostly in silence. For hours your mind has been stuck on an endless loop; blood, the feeling of flesh tearing, the life you ended. It was then you'd realised you had left your fathers knife embedded in Adhelms chest. Your heart sank to your stomach. That knife was all you had left of your father and now a part of you feels like you've lost him all over again.

Fresh tears tingle in your eyes under the crushing feeling of loss. Marcus' voice snapped you out of your thoughts. "We should stop for a while and rest the horse. She's been carrying us all night." Poor Inga. You'd been too lost in your own head to pay her any mind. "Okay." You gently squeeze the reins, bringing her to a stop. You dismount and turn to help Marcus down. "Thank you," he nods and limps to the nearest tree, plonking down, rather ungracefully. You tether Inga's reins to a low branch so she can lower her head to graze.

Placing your bag on the floor, you sit, cross legged in front of it and begin to rummage inside, pulling out a cloth filled with cured meat. After dividing the it evenly, you wrap up half and toss it over to land on Marcus' lap. "It's not much but it's better than nothing." "Appreciate it," Marcus says with a small nod. You both eat in silence for the next several minutes, the sounds of Inga grazing and the birds chirping are amplified in the otherwise still forrest. You decide to break the silence. "How's the leg?" you ask, tipping your head to his wound. "It's sore, but it'll be fine." "I should check it." You open your bag to gather fresh bandages, balm and your water skin.

"There's no need," Marcus shrugs and lays his head back against the tree, closing his eyes. You roll your eyes at his stubbourness. "No point you making it this far just to die of an infection now. Just let me check it." Marcus sighs and slowly opens his his eyes. He holds your gaze for a moment as if he doesn't want to admit you're right. "Very well," he grumbles and shifts onto his side, exposing the wound to you. He hisses as you peel the blood soaked rag from his skin. He must have bled while riding. The balm you apply stings as it makes contact with his raw skin. "Sorry..." you suck in through your teeth, "It won't take much longer."

Through the sting Marcus can feel how delicate your touch is, how you are careful to not add too much pressure. The sensation becomes somewhat soothing as the pain eases. He's almost disappointed when you finish wrapping his leg, coldness replacing the warmth of your fingertips. "All done," you sighed, voice flat and drained. After packing your bag, you too sit against a tree, head back and eyes closed. But the crystal clear image of Adhelms shocked face flashes before you, taunting you. Your eyes shoot open, unable to bare the sight. You bring your knees to your chest and lay your head on them, shaking it as if the motion could expel the mental picture from your head.

"You know he didn't give you a choice, right?" Marcus says with caution. "It was either kill or be killed." Your shoulders tense as your head snaps up. Shame has you turning your head from Marcus' gaze. "You did nothing wrong," he continues. "You defended yourself." "Can you just...!" You let out a defeated breath, still unable to look at him. "Can you not speak of it... please?" Your voice cracked on that last word and Marcus suspects that you've never had to kill anyone before now. He remembers with clarity his first kill and how it haunted him for so long, so he can sympathize with the inner turmoil you're feeling at this moment.

"Alright." he responded, gently. "But if you ever feel the need to talk abou-" "I don't!" you snap, frustration evident in your voice. Marcus says nothing more, much to your relief, but the silence that follows is now heavy. A part of you feels compelled to say something, anything to lighten the atmosphere, but at the same time, you just haven't got the energy. And besides, he's a Roman and you are of the Gutones. Its not like you're here to befriend him and vice versa. You're both using each other for one common goal; to get safely to Rome, and once Marcus has fulfilled his promise to grant you citizenship you will both make your own paths in life. You're not sure how much time has passed while being stuck in your own head, worrying about the arduous journey and all the uncertainties ahead of you, when Marcus rises somewhat unsteadily to his feet.

"We should press on. We don't know if we're being followed." He steps in front of you, offering you his hand. Reluctantly, you take it. As he pulls you up, you unintentionally make make eye contact and for the first time you notice how the rich brown tones of his irises blend together and your breath catches in your chest. After a moment, you realise you're still holding his hand and you quickly pull yours away, still feeling the warmth of his palm on yours. You offer a small, awkward smile and make your way over to Inga. Marcus limps behind, wordlessly, climbing up behind you and you're sure you can sense the same awkwardness from him that you'd just felt.

*****

Hours pass before you stop to rest again. The last of the rations have been consumed but it shouldn't be a problem. If all goes well, you'll reach the Roman encampment tomorrow. You both ride on until the evening sunshine begins to slip below the horizon, casting an almost eerie haze across the ancient landscape. It's no wonder that settings such as this gave rise to tales of encounters with otherworldly creatures such as the Irrlicht, Aufhocker and Fevermann. It's almost as if the forrest itself has eyes. Just before dusk blends into night you reach the river Isar. You are only a few miles from the encampment now and you would have insisted on travelling through the night if it wasnt for an approaching storm.

A nearby cave has become your saving grace for the night. Luckily, it's quite small and doesn't stretch back far, meaning it won't house any preditors. It has just enough room for the three of you to shelter from the elements. Do you t-think it's safe enough to l-light a fire tonight?" you ask through chattering teeth. Of course it's too risky out in the open - the light and smoke would be a beacon to anyone pursuing you - but inside the cave entrance should be okay. Marcus is silent for a moment, weighing up the pros and cons. Finally, he decides. "A small one, just to warm up for a while." As if the gods had been aiding you all along, you just so happen to find some dry sticks and kindling further back in the cave. There had obviously been some nests in here in the past.

You gather them up and place them in a pile in front of you. Marcus takes two stones in hand and in no time at all a warm and welcoming fire lights up the dark cave. It's amazing how simply having a fire can lift your spirits and bring a sense of calm, despite the grave situation you are in. Outside the wind has picked up, whipping the rain sideways. The howling wind makes Inga restless, so to calm her you smooth your hands down her neck while humming a tune quietly. After a few minutes she relaxes enough to lay down. When you turn to walk back to the fire you see that Marcus had been watching the whole interaction, only now turing his head back to the fire as you sit next to him - but keeping a respectful distance.

Holding your hands over the fire, an involuntary shiver ripples through your body as the warmth begins to seep into your bones. "That song... it sounded nice," Marcus said, still staring into the flames. "Yeah..." you nod. "My mother used to sing it to me whenever I had a bad dream." After a moment's silence Marcus asks, "What happened to your parents?" Judging by your now rigid posture and tense jaw, this is a... difficult subject for you. "Nothing," you replied, sharply. Marcus sighed exhasperatedly. "Alia..." You turn your head to face Marcus at the serious tone of his voice. "I do not wish to pry into your past, but I need to know why you fled; what these people did to drive you to turn away from them." You narrowed your eyes in response. "You don't need to know that." "Yes, I do," Marcus insisted, eyebrows set in a firm frown.

"I'm involved now and I need to know what I'm bringing back to my men, to Rome. If I'm going to vouch for you, I should know everything." An indignant scoff rose up your throat. "That wasn't part of the deal. The agreement was I help you escape and you take me to Rome!" The audacity of this man to change the terms now. Your cheeks become flushed with ire as you stare in disbelief at the now impassive face of the general. "That was before I realised you're hiding something. And if it could compromise my legion or my honour-" "You really thInk I could be dangerous?" you laugh, devoid of actual humour.

"You tell me," Marcus eyed you warily as if he was trying to figure you out. "What did your chief mean when he said you couldn't be trusted? Why did he call you evil?" With a frustrated sigh, you roll your eyes closed and shake your head. He's not going to drop this! "You want the truth, fine. Everyone in my village believes I'm a Seer..." "A Seer?" Marcus questioned, raising one eyebrow. "Someone with... unnatural abilities." "You mean like a witch?"

You nod briefly, lower your head and continue, "My mother was considered to be a bit odd in the community just because she kept to herself. She also helped people with various ailments. For a long time people appreciated her contribution, but one year the harvest failed and when people got hungry and angry enough they blamed her. One night a large group came to our house and my..." You pause to take a breath and blink back the threat of tears. "My father was killed when he tried to protect her... and then they burned the house down with my mother inside it." Your head has turned away now, tucked into your shoulder, waiting for the inevitable fear? hate? rejection? There's no way he'll allow you to remain with him now.

So you're a bit surprised when he calmly asks you, "How old were you when it happened?" "Eight," you mumble, quietly. "I'm sorry," Marcus whispered, softly. You slowly lift your head and take in the look of sadness and sincerity on his face. His large eyes seem to shimmer in the glow of the fire and there's a hint of disbelief in them. A heaviness settles in your chest, causing your throat to tighten and your chin to tremble. This is the most kindness you've been shown in years. You quickly wipe away the water blurring your vision and turn your attention back to the fire. "No child should ever have to endure something like that." You nod and exhale, "I think the only reason I was spared is because I was a child."

The air has now become oppressively quiet, as if neither of you know how to steer away from such a dark revelation. Marcus then clears his throat, "Let's get some rest. We leave at dawn." You whip around to Marcus in surprise. "You mean I can still come with you?!" Marcus' brow scrunches at your incredulity. "That was the deal, was it not?" "Well, yes but..." Marcus shifts to fully face you now. "But...?" "I just assumed you'd want to be rid of me, knowing the truth." Marcus scoffed, shaking his head. "I don't believe for one second that you're a witch, or that your mother was." Stunned, your jaw hangs low as your mind scrambles to process what you'd just heard. "So... you don't fear me?"

"No," Marcus stated, with no reservations. "I am not a superstitious simpleton, and you didn't deserve what they did to you." Marcus' words struck you deeply, completely upending what you had been led to believe about Romans. You had been told nothing but horror stories of rape, torture and unspeakable brutality that befell anyone in their path. That they are an unstoppable force that thrived on terror and carnage, yet the first actual Roman you have met is nothing of the sort. He hasn't attempted to harm you in any way and even now, after learning of your past he intends to keep his promise to you.

In a small, wobbly voice you say the only thing you can think of, "Thank you." Marcus nods to acknowledge your appreciation. He can sense there's so much more to your gratitude that you can't articulate at this moment. They say the eyes are the window to the soul and now, in your glassy eyes he sees the weight of all you have suffered, but also a flicker of hope. A part of him feels contented that he could bring you said hope, even if it's just the smallest morsel. The feeling is strange to him, a satisfaction he rarely feels. It's settling and unsettling at the same time. "You get some sleep," Marcus offers. "I'll take the first watch." You give him the faintest hint of a smile before laying down by the fire. "Goodnight Marcus," you say, softly. "Goodnight, Alia."

You wake just as the sun begins to brighten the early morning sky, the birds' melody bringing you back to the world. The cold air sends a shiver through your body as you roll onto your side, noticing the fire has reduced to embers. On the other side of the fire, Marcus snores lightly. Why the hell didn't he wake me? A shuffling outside the cave makes your heart jump up into your throat. Tip Toeing to the entrance, you release your bated breath when you realise it's just the horse grazing. You walk over to where Marcus is fast asleep. Crouching down, you gently touch his shoulder to rouse him.

The moment your fingers brushed him, Marcus' hand shot out, lightening quick, gripping your wrist so tightly you would have cried out, if not for his other hand squeezing your throat. Before you even realise it, you're on your back, Marcus pinning you down while his eyelids blink rapidly. "Fuck!" he gasped as he realised his mistake. He released you as if your skin had physically burned him, throwing himself off of you. "Forgive me," he stuttered, panic evident on his face "I didn't- I thought... Shit! Are you okay?" He reached out to comfort you as you lay gasping and coughing beside him, rubbing your tender throat.

But as soon as he made contact with you you recoiled sharply, looking anywhere but at him. "I'm sorry," Marcus held his hands up in a gesture of surrender. "I didn't mean to hurt you." "It's okay," you answer fearfully, voice raspy from coughing. "I just wanted..." cough, "to tell you..." cough, cough, "I'm going to take the horse to the river to drink." Your throat burns with every word. "I'll... be right back." You quickly get to your feet, grab your water skin and make a quick exit. Marcus watches you leave, a part of him wanting to call you back, to make sure he didn't hurt you. Guilt gnaws at him as the image of your wide eyes and red face refuses to leave his mind.

He rubs a hand over his face in exasperation, cursing himself for falling asleep. If he'd woken you as he'd intended, this never would have happened. The last thing he desires is for you to fear him. He rises, his leg stiff but feeling a bit stronger and limps to the cave entrance, ready to follow you to the river to make amends. He walks out into the gleam of the morning sun, shielding his squinting eyes with his hand when it happened. The wind is knocked out of Marcus as he is tackled to the ground, pain shooting through his back with the force of the impact. His attacker quickly rolls behind him, gripping him around the neck with both arms.

"Hold him still!" another man yells as he approaches with his sword drawn. Marcus, now on crouched legs, fights to free himself from the headlock but the grip is solid. "You and that little bitch are going to pay for what you've done!" the man restraining Marcus growled into his ear. A burst of fury and determination overtakes Marcus. Damn it, you'd both made it this far. He won't let it end like this now. Not when you're both so close to safety. With his uninjured leg, he kicks out at the man in front of him, hitting his kneecap. The sound of crunching bone is almost drowned out as his would be executioner wails in agony, dropping his sword and falling to the ground.

The man holding Marcus freezes in shock, giving him the opportunity to strike. He throws a hand over his shoulder, digging his thumb into the mans eye. He looses his grip around Marcus' neck, screaming as he falls onto his back, hands over his bloodied eye. Adrenaline pushes Marcus to his feet, despite the pain in his leg, and he swiftly grabs the sword. Moments later both men lay dead, blood pouring from their open throats as Marcus drops to his knees, catching his breath. But he doesn't have long to compose himself. Your shrill scream echoes through the trees causing Marcus' heart to seize with dread. Gripping his sword tightly he pushes up and limp - runs as fast as he can towards the river.

*****

Sunlight dapples on the slow moving river, the splashing and burbling of water crashing against the rocks along with the smell of wet earth and moss invoke an atmosphere of calm and stillness to an already tense start to the day. You lead Inga to the waters edge, gently patting down her side as she begins to drink greedily. Crouching down, you begin to fill up your water skin, enjoying the feeling of the cool water on your fingers. Your throat and wrist still ache and upon closer inspection you can make out a faint ring of purple bruises already forming on your wrist.

It's clear what happened was an accident and that Marcus feels bad about it, but this incident reminds you that those who are stronger than you - both physically and mentally - will always have the upper hand. Last night you had seen a softer, more compassionate side to Marcus and foolishly, you had allowed yourself to lower your guard, just a little. The wake up call you gave him was also a wake up call to you. You can't put your trust in anyone. Marcus seems to be a man of honour and because of that, you've no doubt he will fulfil his promise to you, but if you ever get on his wrong side...? You shudder to think. He is a soldier after all, crafted on the battlefield; violence and brutality as much a natural part of him as everything else. And because of that, you cannot afford to underestimate him, ever.

You hadn't even realised you'd zoned out while contemplating until Inga began to shift nervously, heavy breath flaring her nostrils. A snap behind you has you spinning around, only to be met with a fist to your jaw. Shock pulses through you, both from the pain and the freezing water you now find yourself submerged in. A pair of hands squeezes your throat as you attempt to fight back, desperate for air. With the water distorting your vision all you can make out is the rippling face of a man above you. Just when your empty lungs can take it no more, you are roughly pulled out of the water, a furious Bardulf snarling in your face, teeth bared and spittle forming at his mouth.

He eases his grip just enough for you to suck in some much needed air. "You murderous, evil witch!" Raged Bardulf. "You killed my father, your chief in cold blood!" "Please!" you cry as he drags you from the water. "And then you run like the snivelling little coward you are!" He throws you to the ground, then flips you onto your back, straddling your hips and pinning you in place. Bardulf is joined by another man, a short, stocky man you've always seen lingering around him like a loyal and pathetic hound. "We should kill her now," he sneered. "No!" Bardulf snapped. "That's too quick, too merciful!" Bardulf grips your wrists as you attempt to claw at his face, pushing them to your sides and trapping them under his knees, leaving you completely defenceless.

"You thought your life was bad before? You have no idea what's waiting for you once I get you home. You will suffer like no one ever has before. I'm going to show you exactly what I'm capable of." Bardulf reached to his side and pulled out a knife. But not just any knife; your fathers' knife! "You forget something..." he smiled maniacally as he traced it lightly along your throat. "Thought you might like it BACK!" You watched in terror filled slow motion as he brought the knife down, sinking it into your shoulder. The scream that tore through your throat hurt even your own ears as white hot pain flashed through your upper body. Bardulf gripped your hair, forcing you to look him in the eye. "This is only the beginning," he threatened, darkness swirling in his horrid eyes.

"Heeeeelp!" "Scream all you want, bitch." Bardluf twisted the knife, clearly getting a sick kick out of your pain. "That Roman can't hear you now." Bardulf then stood up, kicking you in the ribs so hard the force rolled you over only to receive another hard kick from his friend. Your ribs feel like they're about to collapse from the unbearable force. Your instinct is to scream, but the constant blows mean you can't inhale. All you can do is lay there while they extract their pound of flesh. You honestly don't know how much more you can possibly withstand when suddenly a guttural roar swallows the men's laughter and you open your eyes to see the end of a sword protruding from the short mans chest, blood oozing from the laceration and from his mouth.

When he drops, Marcus is standing behind him, blood sprayed over his face and breastplate, swinging the bloodied sword in his hand. Bardulf unsheaths his own sword and lunges at Marcus. Marcus meets each blow time and again. Even in his weakened state, he can tell this fool is lacking in comparison. He has the skill but not the stamina. In his peripheral vision, Marcus can see you trying push yourself to your knees. Bardulfs attacks are becoming more sloppy and careless the angrier he gets. In a moment of fortune, Marcus seizes his oppertunity, disarming Bardulf with a quick twist of his sword.

The sword falls to the side, Bardulf throwing himself to the ground after it, stopping just out of reach as Marcus sweeps at him. Just before Bardulf can reach it, Marcus sees you grab the sword and toss it into the river, collapsing afterwards. "No!" Bardulf explodes, leaping up. He spins to see Marcus advancing on him, ducking out of the way of his sword at the last moment, and backing up. "This is far from over, Alia!" he warns before running off into the woods. Marcus drops the sword the moment the coast is clear, slumping to his knees beside you. It's only now he notices the knife lodged in your shoulder. A small whimper accompanies your laboured breathes, tears streaming down the sides of your face. Marcus feels sick at the sight. He should have gotten here sooner.

"Alia..." he calls but your tormented eyes are fixed on the sky. "Alia!" his tone is more commanding now as he gently grips your face in both hands, giving you nowhere to look but at him. "Look at me and listen carefully. You're going to be okay, do you hear me?" Marcus looks again at your shoulder, grimacing. "The knife doesn't appear to be too deep, but it will hurt to remove it. I have to take it out-' "No!" you beg, desperately, gripping both of his hands. "I have to and when I do you need to keep pressure on it. You can do it!" "No no, please!" Marcus has to swallow the lump forming in his throat. He's seen many injured people in his time but seeing someone like you in this situation - kind and soft and completely undeserving of such cruelty - hits him right in the center of his chest.

He rips a long strip of fabric from his own clothing and turns his attention back to you, wrapping his hand around the handle of the blade. "On the count of three," "No don't," "One..." "No!" "Two..." he continues trying to not focus on the fear in your voice. "Oh nononono!" "Three!" "ARRRRRGH!" That almost inhuman scream is one he hopes to never have to hear again. He quickly places your hand over the gushing wound. "Keep it there," he orders as he begins to wrap the fabric around your shoulder, only moving your hand when he's ready to tie the makeshift bandage. "It's all done," he soothes pressing his hand on your wound. "You were very brave." You wince as he keeps the pressure on you. "I'm sorry," he whispers, regretfully. "I'm going to help you up now." Marcus slips his hind under your back, supporting your weight, slowly pulling you to sit up. Your breath catches from the pain. "Where's the damn horse?!" Marcus grumbled looking around the immediate area, realising she must have panicked and ran off in all the commotion.

"We have to go. It's not safe here now. The horse has fled so we'll have to walk." Your head lolls to the side, colour draining from your face. "Hey!" Marcus taps your cheek. "Did you hear me?" You nod slowly, as your regain focus. "Good. Which way is east?" You point behind you. "Okay, let's go." Marcus groans as he pushes himself up, his leg now flaring with sharp jolts as warmth trickles down it. He must have pulled all the stitches during the fight. Seeing your father's knife beside you, you grab it and tuck it into the waist of your trousers. Marcus places your arm around his neck and pulls you up, holding you tightly around the waist and you both begin to head east.

*****

You've both been going for what feels like forever now, every step gruelling as Marcus struggles onward, half dragging you beside himself. His leg continues to bleed, the pain increasing as time wears on. As a soldier he has endured pain and injuries all of his adult life and has come out of it stronger; this time will be no different. With steely determination and the stubbornness to match even the most wilful mule, he ignores the persistent burn and staggers forth. "Marcus...?" you mumble, voice so quiet he doesn't hear you. "Ma... Marcus," you whine. "We n... need to stop." "No, we're not... far from the Castrum (army encampment). I... recognise this area. We should," urrgh, "come across a patrol soon." "Please," you implore. "I can't... walk anymore." Every breath, every step, every sway of your body shoots straight to your shoulder. You didn't know it was possible to feel fire under your skin! But that's how it feels; like a river of flames coursing through your chest and arm. Marcus stumbles on unsteadily, seemingly intent on ignoring you. You can tell he's tiring as his steps begin to falter.

"Leave me," you pant. "I'm slowing you down." Marcus' hold on you tightens, his voice low and gravelly. "Now you hear me. You did not come this far just to," urgh "give up now. I won't.. have it. There's strength in you, I see it." "I-" "No," Marcus cuts you off. "No more talking, just... walk. That's all you have to... do now. Just keep going." You haven't the energy to argue so you do as you are told. Time feels inconsequential right now. You don't know if you've been walking for minutes or hours. Through the constant ringing in your ears you notice Marcus' breathing has become heavier. Your steps have slowed to a snails pace, but then you realise it's not your steps that have practically stopped, but Marcus'. Up until this point you've just allowed yourself to be lead .

He suddenly collapses to his knees, taking you down with him, exhaustion weighing heavily on both of you. Marcus is clearly in great pain. You look to where his hand reaches behind his leg and gasp when his fingers come away red and shiny. "Your leg!" "It's fine," he grits between clenched teeth. "You should rest," you insist. "No time..." Marcus shakes his head, "We're nearly there." Marcus groans as he tries to stand, falling to the side. "Marcus!-" "Halt!" The booming voice makes you jump, aggravating your wound. "Who goes- General!" the roman before you exclaims in disbelief, lowering his sword. "God's be praised! We thought you had died sir!" "He... help her," Marcus rasped. "Yes sir. You two..." he points to two men in the patrol group, "help the General, you..." he points to another soldier, "Go on ahead. Inform the Medicuses and bring them to the Praetorium (Generals' tent).

Your head is spinning, consciousness becoming harder to cling too. When you feel two large hands grabbing you, you cry out in alarm, trying to shift away from the strange man, who is even larger than Marcus. Marcus' hand finds yours and you can instantly tell the difference, his already familiar touch grounding you. "He won't hurt you, I promise. We're safe now." Marcus' encouragement were more than just words to you; they're a comfort, a reassurance that your spent body can rest, knowing that whole dreadful ordeal is finally over. The soldier bends down and scoops you up, and with the adrenaline now dissolving from your system, your whole body slumps into the mans breastplate. Two soldiers drape Marcus' arms over their shoulders and pull him up, taking his weight as you all make your way to the Castrum (army encampment).

Series Masterlist Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Ch 4 Ch5 Ch6 Ch7 Ch8 - coming soon

@myownwholewildworldwhole @imherefordeanandbones @picketniffler @h0w-1-wanna-l1v3 @chrissy-forfucksakes-wakeup @meetmeatyourworst @yorksgirl @joeldjarin @echo-ethe @whirlwindrider29

[nyctoaerah]

⋆♱⋆WISH GRANTED CH: 1

⋆♱⋆SYPNOSIS In which Eyeless Jack developed an infatuation for a grade A detective and ends up granting her wishes in a twisted way.

⋆♱⋆WARNINGS Infidelity, Death, Yandere Behaviors (duh) Other triggering stuff.

⋆♱⋆PAIRINGS Yandere! Eyeless Jack x Fem! Detective! Reader

⋆♱⋆NOTE Hearts and Reblogs are greatly appreciated<3.

⋆♱⋆MASTERLIST

TAKING OUT A PICTURE of someone who was reported missing from your briefcase, you smoothly placed it on the table. With a quick movement, you grabbed a red marker from your briefcase and decisively drew a bold ‘x�� across the person’s face.

“Another missing person that got killed,” 

 You let out a weary sigh as your eyes remained focused on Jhenicca, your closest confidant and fellow detective.   Both of you were dedicated to solving crimes together, forming an inseparable partnership in the field.   However, it was important to note that you held a higher rank and possessed more experience in comparison to your junior colleague, Jhenicca.

Jhenicca’s brows creased as her emerald green eyes bore into your [E/c] ones.

 “Seriously? Another one?”

Jhenicca let out a deep, anguished groan expressing her displeasure at the fact that an increasing number of individuals were disappearing, only to be discovered lifeless later on.

“Yeah, seriously.” You uttered those words, your face devoid of any emotion.

“Ah, well, it doesn't really matter anyway.”  Jhenicca uttered in a low voice, her eyes wandering aimlessly, diverting her attention from yours.

“Just give the damn information, [N/n]” Jhenicca asked for the necessary information and specifics during your conversation. You set the red marker down, signaling the start of a conversation that was about to take a somber turn.  

“The victim was named Katarina Smith. She vanished four days ago after entering a forrest. Her lifeless body was discovered in an abandoned building inside the forrest,"

You revealed the information.   As an exceptional and highly skilled investigator, you were entrusted with leading the inquiry into the mysterious disappearances, wherein the victims were consistently discovered with horrifying injuries or their vital organs, such as the kidneys, inexplicably gone.  This disturbing pattern of events has persisted over the course of the last four months, leaving you feeling increasingly weary and overwhelmed due to the sheer volume of cases being assigned to you.  

“We can go to the crime scene later and look for some evidence.”

You suggested and jhenicca nodded solemnly.

“So what do we know about the previous victims?” Jhenicca questioned you as her brows knitted, obviously disturbed.

You reached into your briefcase once again and pulled out a file containing the information you had gathered so far.

“There have been fifteen victims before Katarina,”

You began, flipping through the pages. “All of them went missing under similar circumstances—last seen entering a forrest, and then found dead on different sides of the Forrest.”

“Fifteen.”

Jhenicca breathed out and slammed her fist on your table, creating a loud banging sound and you sighed in exasperation, placing your hand on your forehead as your brows creased and your jaw locked.

“I know, i know.”

You mumbled, exasperated.

“Fifteen fucking people have been going missing for about 4 months now and we still can’t fucking get a single trace or clue about the perpetrator!”

Jhennica’s  seethed with anger, clearly expressing her deep disappointment regarding the sluggishness of your progress.   However, it is hard to deny her feelings, as you yourself are also disappointed with the current situation.  

“Calm down.”

You tried to calm her down.

“What do you mean calm down?”

Jhenicca glared at you, running a hand through her blond locks.

“[Name]! We can’t go around relaxing when people are going missing and dying!”

Jhenicca exclaimed, causing you to feel increasingly frustrated.   However, despite your annoyance, you made an effort to maintain your composure. Deep down, you acknowledged that Jhenicca had a valid point. It wasn’t as if you were idly lounging around; in reality, you had been pushing yourself to the limit, tirelessly working nonstop in order to achieve any sort of progress—And you were tired, so fucking tired.

Feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, you let out a heavy sigh, massaging your temples with your fingertips to alleviate the mounting tension.

“I know, i know” You spoke incoherently and indistinctly, barely making any audible sounds.  “However, it is essential for you to regain composure initially, for it will enable us to thoroughly evaluate the circumstances at hand and make an accurate assessment."”

With a slightly narrowed gaze and furrowed brows, you expressed to her, causing Jhenicca to let out an exasperated huff and divert her gaze from you.

“Calm down my ass,”

She mumbles.

You experienced a sudden involuntary contraction in your eye, causing it to twitch.

“Cease behaving in such an immature and obstinate manner, don’t be a fucking brat”  Feeling exasperated by her obnoxious behavior, you let out a disapproving sound while your level of professionalism momentarily dissipates. Jhenicca, in response, disdainfully looks away, disregarding your reaction.

“Fuck you.”

She glared at you.

“Fuck you too.”

Jhenicca releases a sarcastic laugh, displaying her annoyance towards the unexpected and abrupt eruption of emotions from you.

“Okay, whatever, but we still need to find any pattern or connection between these victims,”

Jhenicca made a suggestion, her voice hinting at a lingering annoyance. In response, you scornfully chuckled, casting your gaze downwards.

Taking a moment to collect yourself, you took in a deep breath before quietly uttering a small apology for your earlier outburst.

However, Jhenicca breezed past your apology, choosing to disregard it completely as she proceeded with her speech.

“Do you think it could provide us with valuable clues regarding the murderer's identity?   Is there anything notable connecting all of the victims that you've observed?” she asked.

Once you regained a sense of inner tranquility, you visibly expressed your agreement by giving a reassuring nod. Resting your hand gently upon your chin, you directed your gaze towards Jhenicca, deep in thought.

“The victims share several similarities among themselves.   Firstly, they all belong to the young adult age group, specifically individuals in their twenties. Secondly, they had a common habit of visiting and spending time in the same forest.   Lastly, their disappearances occurred exclusively during the weekends, further emphasizing this pattern of occurrence.” You provided a clear explanation.

“Based on the autopsy reports, it seems that their kidneys were removed post-mortem, suggesting a potential organ trafficking angle. However, the brutality of the killings indicates a possibly cannibalistic tendencies as well.”

You have provided an explanation regarding the reason behind those individuals having their organs removed. It is feasible to consider the possibility of a cannibal being involved, particularly since you had previously delved into the topic through various cannibal documentaries during your college years.  

“We need to gather more evidence and dig deeper into the victims' backgrounds.”

You said, tapping on your chin.

“We need to find any connections they might have had, both among themselves and with potential suspects. We’ll also increase surveillance on houses that are close in that forrest, for they frequented in the hope of catching any suspicious activities.”

You informed and you were taken aback when, out of nowhere, the entrance to your workspace abruptly swung ajar, unveiling the presence of your beloved partner, Earl.

Earl is also a skilled investigator who happens to be employed within the same institution as you. He had a pile of papers held in one hand while balancing some cups of refreshing iced coffee in his other hand.

“Good morning, Love”he greeted with a pleasant tone, his words carrying warmth and friendliness.   With a gleeful expression, he curved his lips upward, directing his gaze towards Jhenicca with the intention of acknowledging her presence as he nodded approvingly.

“Good morning to you too!”Jhenicca extended a warm welcome.   You let out a frustrated breath and directed your gaze towards Earl.

“Kindly knock on the door to gain permission before stepping inside the room.” Shaking your head in dismay, you expressed your disapproval through scolding, while Earl nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders, revealing his indifference.  

“* apologize for the interruption, but I have something of utmost significance to share,” your partner apologized politely, presenting you with a substantial collection of documents and carefully arranging them on the surface of your desk.

“Really?”  Jhenicca’s eyelids fluttered momentarily, as a reflexive response to stimuli.   

“What is the matter?”

You inquired, fixating your gaze directly into the deep, mahogany irises of Earl.

“There has been an increase in the number of individuals who have disappeared, and upon closer examination, it is evident that the specifics align with the characteristics observed in the previous instances.”

 As your eyes briefly skimmed across the pile of documents placed right in front of you, a complex blend of unease and exasperation manifested on your face.

The news you were presently receiving was far from ideal, pushing against your desire for a different outcome, particularly since you and your diligent team had invested an immense amount of time and effort into probing the perplexing string of disappearances that had preceded this moment.   Jhenicca, noticing the identical emotional response on her own countenance, mirrored your sentiments precisely upon digesting the given information.

“Anyways, i brought some coffee for you, love,”  As you observed, Earl gently placed the refreshing iced coffee onto your desk, and a sense of appreciation washed over you, causing a grateful smile to adorn your face while simultaneously feeling a soothing wave of relaxation engulfing your being.

“Thanks love—”

You initiated speaking, however, Jhenicca interjected, causing you to immediately cease speaking and keeping your lips sealed.

“No coffee for me? I’m feeling left out you know?”   Jhenicca’s eyebrow arched in amusement as she voiced her playful disappointment regarding the lack of coffee being offered to her. As you observed the situation, a flicker of surprise crossed your face, signaling that you were starting to grasp the peculiarly close bond between Jhenicca and your boyfriend. A peculiar sense of discomfort started to take hold of you, yet you struggled to identify the exact source of this unease. 

‘Since where were they this close?’

You pondered quietly as you watched the two interact.

Earl couldn’t help but chuckle in response to Jhenicca’s witty remark, as he placed yet another refreshing iced coffee on the desk, hoping to soothe her slight disappointment expressed through her adorable pouting expression.

With a wide smile, he uttered,

“Here, don’t sulk.” Jhenicca beamed with happiness as she conveyed her appreciation. Earl emitted a light-hearted laughter, brushing off the situation, which left you with an indescribable sense of being left out, lingering persistently within you.   Earl comfortably took his place on the nearby chair, gently resting his head on your shoulder as he curiously asked,

“Anyway, love, Can you provide an update on the current status of the situation?   Have there been any advancements in identifying and apprehending the person responsible for the incident?”

He asked and as you were preparing to articulate a response, Jhenicca abruptly interjected once more, causing a subtle expression of displeasure to form on your face.   It became increasingly apparent that since Earl’s arrival, Jhenicca had consistently been interrupting your attempts to contribute to the conversation.  

“Welllll”

Jhenicca said, making sure to stretch the word.

“Nope!”

Jhenicca’s wide grin appeared on her face, attempting to portray an endearing demeanor that caused you to cringe internally; she resembled someone who was seeking attention—a fucking pick me.

It would have been more appropriate for her to exhibit a serious demeanor, considering the gravity of the topic at hand.   It perplexed you how she could switch from being angered to acting as cheerful as a ray of sunshine. The sudden shift in her behavior left you contemplating whether to request her to remain silent and allow you to express yourself, but you opted to restrain from doing so.  

“Unfortunately, we’ve been giving it our all, but we haven’t found any leads,”

You finally explained with a sigh and Earl frowned once he heard that information, he felt disappointed.

You then took a deep breath.

“However, I do have a theory. It’s possible that the serial killer is also a cannibal.”

Earl blinked in disbelief, but he considered the idea.

“Really? That’s quite an unexpected twist.”

Before you could elaborate and explain all the details about your theory, jhenicca interjected once more so you just chose to remain silent, a tinge of annoyance crossed your expression but it quickly disappeared.

“I agree! I’ve been thinking the same thing.”

Jhenicca said.

“Ah right! Do you know that there are similarities between the victims?”

Jhenicca began to converse with your boyfriend and as you sipped on your refreshing iced coffee, Earl glanced in your direction, expressing his acknowledgement through a subtle nod.  Soon after, the two individuals initiated a conversation which took a meandering path, encompassing diverse topics.

However, a significant portion of their discussion revolved around the various homicide cases you had been diligently investigating.  As you attentively observed Jhenicca and Earl engrossed in their dialogue, it became apparent that a strong connection existed between them.   Unexpectedly, the serenity of the moment was abruptly disturbed by the sound of your phone ringing, breaking the tranquility in the air.    Jhenicca’s eyes blinked, briefly closing and opening again.  

“I thought you had your phone on do not disturb?”Jhenicca inquired, and you shook your head.

“Not quite. As a detective, every call or text holds significance, you should be aware of that,” you responded, slightly exasperated. Setting your coffee aside, you retrieved your phone from your pocket, and your eyes widened as you read the message. your eyes suddenly lit up and a faint smile made its way to your face.

Finally, an evidence, after four fucking months, there was finally an evidence.

“Ouch, so harsh.”

Jhenicca's expression turned into a pout at your stern words.

Your eye twitched in annoyance, caused by the tone she adopted. Normally, she spoke to you in a different manner, but this time it was almost childlike, which bothered you without any clear explanation as to why she was behaving that way.  

Earl curiously asked, “Who is it?”

“It’s the headquarters. They’ve discovered some evidence at the crime scene,” you informed, and Earl hummed thoughtfully.

“That’s wonderful.”

Earl said with a smile.

“Really? That’s an excellent news!” Jhenicca beamed

“Yes, I’m glad too”

You replied with a closed eyed smile

Then suddenly, a  phone call interrupted,you looked at your phone to see who called and it was the headquarters, perhaps they had something important to say and you couldn’t risk missing it.

 “The headquarters is on the line,” you  announced.

“Oh.”

Earl seemed disappointed since he wanted to talk to you more while jhenicca didn't have a reaction.

“I need to have a private conversation with them, so I’ll leave you two here,” you informed, gently shifting Earl’s head from your shoulder before standing up.

You planted a tender kiss on Earl's cheek, eliciting a smile from him.

“I won’t take long, don’t worry.”

You reassured him because you saw his disappointed face and Earl’s face lit up from your words.

“Alright, Stay safe,” Earl said, returning your smile as you made your way towards the office exit.

However, from the corner of your eye, you caught Earl discreetly wiping off the kiss, causing a frown to form on your face. And the way Jhenicca glanced at your boyfriend was different, stirring a sense of unease within you.

Your intuition was telling you that something was wrong.

Tension pervaded the atmosphere within your office, akin to an unuttered secret that lingered ever since your departure to answer the call from the headquarters. Earl’s face carried the weight of guilt, mirroring the guilty conscience that resided within him, while Jhenicca appeared unbothered, portraying an effortless and carefree demeanor that juxtaposed the tension.

It was astonishing to earl that he and jhenicca had embarked on this path. The hidden relationship between him and Jhenicca had been going on clandestinely for a significant period of nine months. Initially, it had been a mere coincidence, encounter in a bar where their paths crossed unexpectedly.   However, as fate would have it, the influence of alcohol led them to hook up that night. From that moment, their connection deepened, and it evolved into an ongoing affair, causing Earl to experience overwhelming guilt for cheating on you.

“We are truly betraying [Name] by engaging in secret meetings,” Earl whispered, causing Jhenicca to recline comfortably in her chair, propping her feet up on the desk without a care, even if it meant potentially crushing important documents beneath her soles. 

  With a piercing gaze, she interrogated, “Between the two of us—Me and [Name], whom do you love more?   Me or her?" 

  Feeling his throat tighten, Earl mustered the courage to respond, “You.”

  Jhenicca let out an exasperated sigh, her frustration apparent as she exclaimed, 

“Then what’s the big deal? We love each other, don’t we? Don’t worry, [Name] will never find out.”

...

...

...

...

As their conversation fell upon your ears, tears began to well up in your eyes, their meaning hitting you with full force.   Suddenly, everything started to make sense.   Their closeness, the way Jhenicca gazed at Earl with adoration, it was all clear now.   They had been hiding their secret involvement from you, deceiving you right under your nose.   The pain that came rushing over you was nearly unbearable, as the person you once loved and cherished had betrayed you with none other than your best friend. The mere thought of Jhenicca turning out to be a backstabber had never even crossed your mind.   Clenching your fists tightly, you fought against the overwhelming urge to burst into the room, confront them both, and scream at them.

In that moment, your heart seemed to shatter into innumerable fragments, completely consumed by an uncontrollable whirlwind of emotions—anger, sadness, and most of all, a profound feeling of betrayal.

As you clutched your chest, your face contorted with pain, the weight of their conversation pierced your heart like a sharp knife.   Earlier, you had received a brief call from headquarters, urgently instructing you to gather important documents and return to your office.   Obediently, you started making your way back, determined to fulfill your responsibilities. However, fate had different plans for you that day.   Along the corridor, their familiar voices reached your ears, luring you in with an irresistible curiosity.  Against your better judgment, you couldn’t resist the urge to eavesdrop on their conversation. 

  Little did you know, the words exchanged between them would shatter your heart into countless irreparable shards.

The shock and disbelief hit you like a ton of brick.  Anger immediately surged within you, a fiery mix of self-blame for not recognizing the signs sooner and directed towards those who had so callously betrayed you.   It was all becoming too much to bear. 

  Overwhelmed with a whirlwind of emotions, tears welled up in your eyes and streamed down your cheeks uncontrollably.  The pain you felt was indescribable, as if your entire world had come crashing down in an instant.   Without a second thought, you hastily abandoned the familiar surroundings of the police station, leaving your colleagues behind.   Although they called out to you with genuine concern, their voices only seemed like distant echoes in your ears. 

  Racing through the chaos of your own thoughts and emotions, you let instinct guide your trembling steps. The city streets blurred into a haze as you hurriedly made your way through the crowd.   Every footfall was a desperate attempt to escape the anguish that threatened to consume you entirely.   People glanced in your direction, their curious gazes fleeting, yet you were oblivious to their existence.   All that mattered at that moment was finding solace. 

  Filled with a potent blend of frustration and exasperation, you hastily made your way towards the vast expanse of the parking lot, an irrefutable reflection of your inner turmoil.   As your trembling hands grasped tightly onto the cold metal of your car keys, a surge of determination propelled you to forcefully insert the key into the lock, unleashing a resounding ‘click.’

Seeking solace within the confined space, you were driven to hastily enter your vehicle, forcefully slamming the door shut with an air of finality.   Unchecked tears cascaded down your face, a poignant manifestation of the amalgamation of anger and heartbreak that tightly gripped your soul.   “Can’t believe i’m so fucking dumb that i didn’t even get the hint,”

“I helped you, i was there for you, and this is your way of showing gratitude?” you exclaimed with sheer rage, your jaw clenched and your hands firmly gripping the steering wheel.   The deluge of intense feelings engulfed every fiber of your being, causing your eyes to well up with tears as you were overcome by an inconsolable fit of sobbing.

“After two fucking years of our love story, you threw it all away as if it held no value or significance?”  You were consumed with intense anger and frustration, directing all the blame towards jhenicca.   Your anger escalated to such a level that it led you to harbor a desire for something that, upon reflection, you didn’t knew you would later deeply regret.  

“I wish you two die in a painful way.”

𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃

You eventually drive away and returned home, consumed by anger, and unleashed your fury by destroying everything in sight: vases, picture frames, and the gifts Earl had given you. You smashed the vases, threw them on the ground and the wall, tore the pictures apart and ripped the gifts to shreds, you even trew your chair on the ground, and The room was now littered with shattered remnants of your rampage.

After four hours of relentless tears, your eyes were swollen and dry, leaving you devoid of any more tears to shed. Your throat felt parched, and fatigue washed over you, making you drowsy. Your break down caused too many destruction. And In the midst of this overwhelming exhaustion, your phone rang.

you grimaced.

“Probably that cheating bastards.” you muttered angrily, retrieving your phone and reluctantly opening it. The harsh light caused you to wince, but to your relief, it wasn't Jhenicca or Earl on the other end, but rather the headquarters.

With a mix of apprehension and frustration, you answered the call. A chill coursed down your spine as you listened to what they had to say.

“Your Boyfriend and Best friend was found dead.”

[noh07]

list of mixed name ideas (nov 5, 2024)

in this list, there's any type of names (mostly for english-speaking people though): typical first names, noun names, mythology names, etc.

i sorted them into three categories: androgynous, feminine and masculine.

if you have more ideas of names for trans folks, writers, etc, just lemme know! (Can also be not-so-cool names for the writers, we need them for the asshole side characters :3)

i update the list every time I have a lot of new name suggestions. this is not the newest version, but you can find it under the tag #updated name list on my profile.

(alphabetical list with 712 mixed names under the cut)

--- androgynous ---

Addie/Eddie

Aki

Alex

Alexis

Alli/Allie/Ally

Am/Em

Amethyst

Ares

Ari

Artemis

Ash

Asher

Aster

Azure

Basil

Beluga

Bennie/Benny

Bermuda

Bev

Beverly

Billie

Blair/Blaire

Calypso

Caramel

Cat

Cave

Celeste

Charlie

Chrissy

Coco

Crimson

Crow

Diamond

Edie

Eli

Ellori/Ellory

Emerald

Emerson

Emi/Emmie/Emmy

Evie

Finn

Forest/Forrest

Frances/Francis

Garnet

Gem

Goldie

Gray/Grey

Hayden

Hunter

Indigo

Jackie/Jacky

Jade

Jamie

Jess

Jessie

Jupiter

Lark

Lenny

Lori/Lorie/Lory

Lou

Louie

Mag

Maggot

Mars

Mauve

Max

Meadow

Mercury

Mika

Miko

Mizu

Moss

Neptune

Noah

Nori

Nyx

Ollie

Onyx

Opal

Paris

Quinn

Rafa

Rain/Raine

Raven

Reg

Remi

Remu

Robin

Rocky

Ronni/Ronnie/Ronny

Sage

Saturn

Shilo/Shiloh

Silver/Sylver

Sky/Skye

Snow

Val

Venus

Vin

Vinny/Vinnie

Wilson

Wither

--- feminine ---

Abby

Abigail

Adelaide

Adeline

Agatha

Aileen/Eileen

Aimee/Amy

Alana

Alena

Alessia

Alexa

Alexia

Alexandra

Alice

Alissa

Alli/Allie/Ally

Alura

Amalia

Amber

Amelia

Amelie

Amethyst

Amity

Andromeda

Anela

Angela

Angelina

Angeline

Angie

Anika/Annika

Anisa

Anita

Anna

Ann/Anne

Annie

Anastasia

Andrea/Andreea

Antheia

Arabella

Artemis

Ashley

Astra

Atlanta

Audrey

Aurora

Autumn

Azura

Bailey

Becky

Bella

Belle

Beluga

Bettie/Betty

Beverly

Billie

Brenda

Brie

Calypso

Candace/Candice

Caramel

Carla/Karla

Carmen

Carol

Carolina

Caroline

Catherine

Celeste

Celestia

Celina/Selena/Selina

Celine/Selene/Seline

Charlotte

Christina/Kristina

Christine/Kristine

Claire

Clara/Clarah

Chloe/Chloé/Cloe

Cindy

Cissy

Cora/Corah

Dana

Daniela/Daniella

Danielle

Dalia/Daliah

Daria

Darla

Debbie

Debora/Deborah

Delilah

Diamond

Diana

Dianne

Dora/Dorah

Dorothy

Eburia

Eclipse

Eda

Elena

Eleanor/Elenor

Elisa/Eliza

Elise

Elizabeth

Ella

Ember

Emerson

Emery

Emi/Emmie/Emmy

Emilia

Emilie/Emily

Emma

Esme

Esmeralda

Euphemia

Euphoria

Eva

Evie

Evelyn

Felicia

Fenya

Finya

Fia

Fiona

Francisca/Franziska

Freya

Fuchsia

Gaia

Georgia

Gina

Ginny/Jeanie

Hanna/Hannah

Harmony

Hazel

Heather

Hecate

Helena

Helene

Hera

Hestia

Holly

Hope

Iana

Irena

Irene

Iris

Isa

Isabel/Isabelle

Isabela/Isabella

Ivonne/Yvonne

Ivory

Ivy

Izzy

Jade

Janice

Jasmin/Jasmine

Jenna

Jennifer

Jenny

Joelle

Joelina

Jolene

Julia

Julianne

Julie

Juliet/Juliette

Juniper

Kaia/Kaya

Katarina/Katharina

Kathy/Katy

Kelly

Kira

Lana

Lara/Larah

Laura

Lauren

Laurel

Lavender

Lena

Leia/Leya

Levina

Levinia

Lia

Liana

Liara

Lilac

Lili/Lilli/Lilly/Lily

Lilian/Lilien

Lilith

Lisa

Liv

Livi

Livia

Liz

Lizzie/Lizzy

Loanne

Lola

Lorelei

Lori/Lorie/Lory

Louisa/Luisa

Louise/Luise

Luce/Luz

Lucy

Luna

Lydia

Maggie/Meggie

Meg

Madeline

Maira/Myra

Mara/Marah

Margaret

Marge

Marla

Marlene

Maria/Mariah

Marie/Mary

Marina

Mauve

Melanie

Melissa

Mellie/Melly

Meryem

Mia

Michelle

Milly

Mina

Minerva

Minnie

Miriam

Mona

Monica

Naira/Nyra

Nancy

Natalia

Natalie

Natasha

Nellie/Nelly

Nessie

Nina

Noelle

Nora/Norah

Nori

Nyx

Oliv/Olive

Olivia

Ollie

Paris

Pascale

Patricia

Paula

Peggy

Penelope/Pinelopy

Penny

Petunia

Philippa

Pia

Pippa

Polly

Poppy

Queenie

Ramona

Rania

Rebecka

Regina

Robin

Rose

Roxana

Roxanne

Ruby

Safira/Saphira

Sandra

Sara/Sarah

Sari

Serena

Silvia/Sylvia

Sofia/Sophia

Sofie/Sophie

Stella

Stephanie/Stephany

Tara/Tarah

Tatiana/Tatyana

Tess

Tessa

Tia

Tiana

Tina

Valerie/Valery

Vanessa

Vela

Venus

Vera

Veronica

Victoria

Viola

Violet/Violette

Viona

Vivian

Viviana

Willow

Xandria

Xenia

Yana

Yasmin/Yasmine

Zehra

Zoe/Zoé/Zoey

--- masculine ---

Achilles

Aiden

Aion

Alex

Alexander

Amon

Angelo

Angelino

Anthony

Anton

Arcturus

Ares

Asher

Audrey

Ben

Benjamin

Bennie/Benny

Benson

Bill

Billie/Billy

Bob

Bobby

Brendan/Brendon

Brian

Bruno

Calvin

Carl/Karl

Chad

Charles

Charlie

Chase

Chester

Chris

Chrissy

Christopher

Conan

Damian

Dan

Daniel

Dave

David

Davon/Devon

Dionysos

Don

Donald

Dorian

Dylan

Elia/Elijah

Elio

Eliot/Elliot/Elliott

Emerson

Emilio

Erion

Evan

Felix

Fred

Freddie/Freddy

Gian/Jan

Gus

Hannibal

Harald/Harold/Herald/Herold

Harry

Hendrick/Henrick

Henry

Hunter

Ian

Icarus

Jace

Jade

Jack

Jackie/Jacky

Jaden/Jayden

James

Jamie

Jasper

Jay

Jeremy

Jerry

Jimmy

Joe

Joel

Joey

John

Johnny

Jona/Jonah

Jonas

Jones

Julian/Julien

Julius

Jupiter

Justin

Kevin

Lance

Larry

Laurence/Lawrence

Lee

Lenny

Leo

Linus

Logan

Lori/Lorie/Lory

Louis/Luis

Louie

Lucc/Luke

Lucas/Lukas

Luigi

Marc

Marco

Mario

Mars

Max

Mercury

Michael

Mickey

Mike

Milo

Nathan

Neptune

Nick

Nico/Niko/Nikko

Noah

Noel

Oliver

Ollie

Orion

Paris

Pascal

Patrick

Paul

Pete

Peter

Philip/Philipp/Phillip

Ray

Raymond

Reg

Reginald

Regulus

Remi

Remus

Rick

Ricky

Rob

Robbie/Robby

Robin

Ron

Ronald

Ronni/Ronnie/Ronny

Rubeus

Sam

Sammy

Samuel

Saturn

Sean/Shaun/Shawn

Sebastian

Simon

Sirius

Stephan

Steve

Steven

Theodore

Thomas

Tim

Timmy

Toby

Tom

Tommy

Tony

Valentine

Victor

Vince

Vincent

Wilson

Yan

Zach/Zack

Zeus

If you want me to add meanings, origins, etc., just tell me ^^

[theincantation-if]

THE ROYAL FAMILY; The dynasty of the royal family of Alazar spans back nine centuries. The kingdom was founded through a war when King Elyss betrayed the former Emperor of Sanakeen over the treaty with the fae of the Taegoria Forrest.

THE CURRENT ROYAL FAMILY —

THE KING; Yousef Alazar is the king of Elyssia. Although he has the honor of being the eldest son, this path to the throne was not an easy one. His father, the former King Weslyn, had formally declared that one of his children must marry a high-elf to officially be declared heir. Yousef despised the idea, having witnessed his own mother’s death at the hands of an elven coutier. However, when his younger brother agreed and prepared to marry Eulalia into their house, Yousef killed him and married her the same day.

THE QUEEN; Eulalia Alazar is the Queen of Elyssia. Eulalia was born to the oldest elven noble House of Galanodel in Elyssia. Her father was an intendant to the kingdom, hoping that Eulalia would follow in his footsteps until she caught the eye of King Elyss’ youngest son. On their intended wedding day, both her father and fiancé were killed, leaving her with no option but to marry Yousef.

THE CHILDREN; Together, the king and queen have four children. The line of succession follows the order of birth, however, regents have the ability to change it if they deem their children unworthy of the crown. This has only happened four times in the Kingdom of Elyssia.

The birth order of King Yousef and Queen Eulalia’s four children is as follows. Yareli, Lorien, Evander, and Anwen.

NEXT IN LINE; Yareli Alazar is the eldest daughter of the Royal House of Alazar and next in line for the throne. She spent much of her life in preparation for the crown. Her father separated her from her siblings, except Lorien, to the best of his abilities, only allowing her to see them at formal events. At seventeen, her father had her married to a noble, Zanden, of the House of Graystone, and together they had a son, Yarrow. She is thirty years old.

SPARE HEIR; Lorien Alazar is the second-to-last daughter of the House of Alazar. Princess Lorien has been declared next in line if something were to happen to her older sister, but Lorien always pursued more artistic endeavors. Often, she dreams of a day she would disappear from the restraint of the crown. Until then, she avoids all political scheming much to her father’s exasperation. She is twenty-eight years old.

YOUNGEST PRINCESS;  Anwen Alazar is the youngest daughter born into the House of Alazar. Being the last child of the crown means that Anwen has spent much of her life in the background, she has found this to be a blessing and a curse. The freedom to get away with anything she wants and the loneliness of knowledge to know that not everyone cares to stop her. She is eighteen years old.

THE FAMILY LOOKS; Queen Eulalia is a high-elf by blood. All children of the king and queen are half-elves by blood, however, only Evander and Anwen are classified as half-elves by looks alone. Evander and Anwen have inherited elves' sharp features and pointed ears. Yareli and Lorien have softer human features and ears with little to no points. Yareli and Evander have their father’s raven black hair, whereas Lorien and Anwen have their mother’s moonlight silver blonde hair. All children have their father’s emerald eyes, a sign of royal blood in Elyssia.

EVANDER’S DYNAMICS; Despite Evander's similar looks and height to his father, his eleven features have caused his father to reject him as a son of the crown. The King has always shown a favor to his daughters for their more human disposition, believing they represent the greatest of humanity.

The Queen, Eulalia, has taken up the parenting responsibilities for their son. She always feels a disconnect from him, she’s a scholar and a mother of girls. She knows nothing about how men work outside of her own husband, her father was abusive, and she fears any evil that lives in her from him will be passed down to her son. She knows this to be illogical. That does not stop her.

Evander’s relationships with his three sisters are loving and often the only comfort he could find with parents who often ignored him. Yareli spent as little time with him as their father allowed, but she loved him all the same. Often, she would find a way to leave him notes in places he’d never expect to find. Lorien did her best to care for Evander when their parents failed him; she would sing him to sleep when he was scared, and buy gifts for him that reminded her of their bond. Anwen believes that Evander is her favorite person in her family. She remembers the days he would tuck her in to sleep when she was little, and how he still stays up late with her on days she feels lonely.

[a-fantastic-time]

Tired of being unnoticed for what felt like the umpteenth time by Jaune, Pyrrha decided to blow off some steam. She grabbed her scroll, and sent a message to a certain someone she had turned to for comfort in the last few months.

[Emerald Forrest. I need it bad. Hurry or I'll let some Grimm have a little fun]

The text rung on Udo's scroll. A laugh leaving the Pangolin Faunas's lips as he shook his head. "Damn, does this girl never take a day off?" He said immediately making his way over to the Emerald Forest. The two had been hooking up nearly every day this month since the festival started.

She always said it was just to take her mind off of her crush, but lately he had started to feel like she was just using that as an excuse. He looked around and spotted her on that rock from the picture. "Whats wrong, blondie still didn't take a bite of that ass yet?"

[bluecodexs]

emerald and ruby forrest so in love

i was serious about having a photoshoot with them again. i miss them so much (they are canonically dead rn...). ofc i had to use one of my favorite builds i've done for this. wanna do some more honestly..

[littleeyesofpallas]

RAIGER[ライガー] is actually how the Japanese would write LIGER, but also could be leaning into a kind of pun with RAI[雷]: "lightning/thunder" given some of its elemental lightning affinities (although they can't seem to decide if its main element lightning or ice from game to game.) and GA[牙]: "tusk/fang,"(although obvious in the context of the design it probably would refer to the horns) so the name reads like "Lightning Horn."

DAYTONA-REX[デトナレックス] from DAYTONA like the iconic American racecar track? Because of Tiger's general emphasis on speed? But you'd think that would be written DE-I-TO-NA[デイトナ] otherwise it seems to just read DETNA-REX, and I don't know that that means anything.

TOUTETSU[トウテツ] the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese Tāo Tiè[饕餮]: "greedy+voracious" one of the mythic Four Perils.

DAYTONA-CHRIS[デトナクリス] I don't understand.... The DE-TO-NA bit is consistent with the way it's used with tiger/dino but I have no idea how that applies here to "chris/kris/cris". So maybe I just got it totally wrong that first time??? but i don't know how else to parse this...

JAGD-HOUND[ヤクトハウンド] from the German JAGD: "Hunt," so "Hunt Hound." Weirdly it is pretty specifically "hound" and not the German "hund".

AQUA-STRIKE[アクアストライク] straight forward enough

MONO-EYE[モノアイ] again, just what it sounds like

HAM-RAIGER[ハムライガー] from HAM and LIGER

BARON[バ��ン] as in the rank of minor nobility

TERROR-DOG[テラードッグ]

KERBEROS[ケルベロス] from the greek [Κέρβερος] guard dog to the underworld

ECO-NO-KICKS[エコノキックス] I assume ECO-NO like "of Ecology" and not ECONO as in "economy"?? So "Kicks of Ecology" or I guess like "Kicks of the Ecosystem"? It's a weird one...

GINGIRAIGER[ギンギライガー] from GINGIRA[ギンギラ]: "glitzy/shiny/gaudy" and LIGER with the RA syllable shared. scans something like "Sparkleiger"

KAMUY[カムイ] from the Ainu word for spirits/gods loosely equitable to the Japanese word Kami[神]. The Ainu faith holds reverence for most wild animals but the wolf was a notably prominent one before they were wiped out.

SHIRO[シロ] from SHIRO[白]: "White"

KURO[クロ] from KURO[黒]:"black"

GARMR[ガルム]from the wolf GARMR from Norse myth. Possibly meant as a pun on Garum, a popular condiment in ancient Rome and Greece made of fish?

ANUBIS[アヌビス] Egyptian god over funerary rites with the head of a jackal

RYUON[リュオン] LYON?? Can't find a clear reference in this one, but there must be one, right? it's the only one in this set that would be random otherwise...

REMUS[レムス] brother of Romulus, mythic founder of Rome. The two twins were abandoned as children and raised by a she-wolf.

RUBY[ルビィ] because it's red...

FENRIR[フェンリル] from the legendary wolf of Norse myth

DOBER-I.T.[ドーベルIT] from DOBERMAN the dog breed and InformationTechnology.

NYAIGER[ニャイガー] NYAA + RAIGER

SPRINGS[スプリングス] like Spring time and sakura blossoms

FLARE-STAR[フレアスター] just what it says

VOLG[ヴォルグ] ???? no idea what this is supposed to mean. ( It's a character, Alexander Volg Zangief, in Hajime no Ippo??) But the data blurbs mention it appearing like a ship and defeating enemies in oneblow, and gives it the epithet Akaikaze[秋風]: "autumn wind" (a homonym with [赤風]:"red wind") so i looked it up and that was the name of a Japanese destroyer in WWII. It's most noted for war crimes commit aboard it while docked at Wewak in Papua New Guinea. but none of that really leads back to the VO-RU-GE thing?????

BANDERSNATCH[バンダースナッチ] from Lewis Carrol's Through the Looking-Glass, and The Hunting of the Snark.

OCTO-STEP[オクトステップ] a kind of obtuse synonym for "Eight Legs" like an octopus

EMERALD[エメラルド] ironically didn't really take must of the distinctive green tone of the gemstone

SYLVIE[シルヴィー] but maybe meant as SILVY as a diminutive of SILVER or SILVERY, since the name SYLVIE actually comes from the Latin for "Forrest" which doesn't really make sense with the Dullahan subtype here.

HAZEL[ヘイゼル] The color or the nut? probably both considering Momo's net shells

MISTRAL[ミストラル] probably in reference to the "Mistral wind" that blows thru france and teh mediterranean

VOLTY[ボルティー] or BOLTY? Both evoke electricity, but the VOLTY spelled this same way is a model of Suzuki motorcycle.

WAKAKUSAMARU[ワカクサマル] WAKAKUSA[若草]: "Fresh grass" and MARU[丸] a common namifying suffix for boys and ships.

SCARLET[スカーレット]

RAI-BOT[ライボット] the RAI[雷]: "lightning/thunder" in RAIGER and ROBOT.

SLEIPNIR[スレイプニル] named after Odin's 8 legged horse in Norse mythology?? Legendary for it's speed, sure... but it's a horse. Also why not the octopee subtype? They did already name it basically the equivalent of "eight legs" anyway

HELL-HOUND[ヘルハウンド]

YUKI-KAZE[ユキカゼ] from YUKIKAZE[雪風]: "Snow Wind"

KIRIN[キリン] from the KIRIN[麒麟] aka QILIN mythic golden horse or deer like dragon from Chinese and subsequently Japanese myth

And two special variant sprites from GBA2...

IFRIT[イフリート] ifrit[عفريت] from pre-muslim arabic lore. A spirit, often evil, of smoke and fire in the jahannam. I believe that classically they're actually more associated with smoke than anything, where the presence of fire as a source of smoke is incidental, but popculture appearances like Final Fantasy have erroneously aligned their image with fire elementals.

CU-SITH[カーシー] the fairydog of scottish lore

BARGHEST[バーゲスト] a ghoulish monster canine from North English folklore, generally considered to be the same as the Black Dog of more general English lore

NIGHT-FANG[ナイトファング]

POD-DOG[ポットドッグ]

JAEGER-BEET[ジャガービート] from the German JAEGER: "hunter" (same root as the jagd:"hunt" on the old tiger/worm mixbreed.) and BEETLE

HELM-HOUND[ヘルムハウンド]

FRASER[フレイザー] i have no idea who or what this is supposed to be referencing, but it's pretty specific to how Japanese approximates the names FRASER, FRAZER, and FRAIZER. Not that any of those really make much sense...

BASKERVILLE[バスカビル] from the Sherlock Holmes story The Hound of The Baskervilles.

CLOCK-DOG[クロックドッグ]

DANDELION[ダンデライオン] namewise straight forward, because it's yellow like the flower, although the flower is named "Lion tooth" after the shapes of its leaves. But the design is a neat cameo of the MMO's Tiger redesign.

POCHI[ポチ] a kind of cliche dog name in Japanese, apparently it doesn't have a clear etymology

just throwing in two variants of the MMO's Raiger redesign,

X-RAIGER[エ��スライガー]

KAZE-NO-RAIGER[カゼノライガー] "LIGER of (the) Wind" a throwback to the anime using the original RAIGER design

YASHAGAMI[ヤシャガミ] from the Japanese Yasha[夜叉] itself borrowed from Yaksha[यक्ष] carried along from hinduism to buddhism and from india to china and then Japan. And the GAMI from either Kami[神]: "god/spirit/divine" or possibly Ookami[狼]: "wolf." It's subtype is KIJIN, one of the new breeds added to the LINE Monster Farm app

Also I totally neglected it last time because I thought it was a cross promotional character from some other franchise, but actually there's...

MECHA Otou-san[メカお父さん] "Mecha Dad"?

[bodacious-becc]

[Paldea Arc - Teal Mask]

The Kitakami crew. Maybe a trip will be good for her…

[gracec252]

Please read: Baby name lists just from google put into one post don't judge need a way to compact this into a document before changing computer I put so much work into this I need it saved                                                            

A

Aries 

Aylee 

Annie 

Addelyn 

Alexa 

Aspen 

Ainsley

Adelaide

Amberlyn 

Ariella 

Ava 

Ameilia 

Adley 

Alabama

Alma 

April 

Abby/Abigail 

Ally/Allison 

Ambree 

Aurelia 

Aurora 

Alana 

Addison 

Arizona 

Audrey 

Alyssa

Atlanta 

Alexandria 

Ambrose

Athena 

Anastassia 

Alice  

A 

Andrew

Alec 

Axel 

Asher 

Arlo

Atlas 

Arrow 

Alfie 

Atticus 

Archer 

Ace 

Alexander

Austin 

Abel 

Augustine 

Avi

Atlas

Ason 

A

Avery 

Andie 

Ash

August 

Atlas 

Aero

Aj

Area 

Adventure

Ackley 

Aster

Apollo 

B

Brigette 

Bonnie 

Bea 

Bexley 

Bailee 

Bristol 

Betty 

Bay 

Billie 

Blair 

Brixton 

Brynn 

Berlin 

Beverly 

Bloom 

Brighton

Britain 

Beatice 

Brooklyn 

Brinley

Brexley

B

Brandon 

Beck 

Beckett 

Baker

Brody 

Brooke 

Brett 

Bryce 

Benj

Bennet 

Braxton 

Bradley 

Bracken 

Bryson 

Bowen 

Braydon 

Bruno 

Bryson 

Bennett

B

Blake 

Bishop 

Bailey 

Bentley 

Bellamy 

Blaize 

Boston 

Brogan 

Brantley 

Brixton 

C 

Carolyn 

Cynthina 

Cora

Cece

Candace 

Constance 

Clara 

Cameriegh 

Camrie 

Chole 

Callie 

Cecily 

Charlotte 

Cassie 

Clover 

Cordelia 

Cheyenne 

Clementine 

Cecelia 

Celeste

Chastity 

Cleo 

Calla 

Cassia 

Calliope 

Caroline 

Carolina

Cheyenne

Charlotte 

C

Collin 

Charles 

Connor 

Colton 

Callan 

Cash 

Colt 

Cole 

Callum 

Chase

Cohen 

Cooper

Corbin 

Cullen 

Caesar 

Colson 

Crew 

Chase 

Cooper  

Cash 

Castor 

Clay/Clayton 

C 

Camden 

Carter

Caden 

Carlan 

Camryn 

Carson 

Chandler

Channing 

Cory 

Callahan

Cadence 

Corbin 

D 

Della 

Daphne 

Demi 

Dana 

December 

Davina 

Daisy 

Dalaney 

D

Daniel 

Dean 

Delcan  

Diesel 

Derek 

Deaco

Damon 

Dain 

Dalen 

Dani 

Deven

Dakota 

Denver 

Drew

Dagen 

E

Evie 

Evelyn

Everlee 

Ella 

Emmy 

Esme 

Emily 

Eden 

Eleanor 

Ellie 

Ellis 

Elise 

Edith 

Eve 

Ensley 

Elizabeth 

Edith 

Emma 

Eliza 

Ericka 

Erina 

Emerald 

Emely

Eloise

E

Erza

Eric 

Evan 

Emory

Edison 

Elijah 

Edward 

Eaton 

Elian 

E

Everett 

Elliot 

Eston 

Ember 

Emmett 

Ellison 

F

Faith 

Flora 

Fern 

Felicity 

Florence 

Faye 

Fiona 

F

Freddie 

Finn

Finch 

Fox 

Forrest 

Foster

Falcon 

Ford 

Felix 

F

Frankie 

Fenton 

Finley 

Flynn

G

Gwen 

Gabby 

Georgie 

Georgia 

Gemma 

German 

Gianna 

Ginger 

Glory 

Grace 

Gia 

G 

Gabe 

Grey 

Graham 

Gale 

Gavin 

Grant 

Gannon 

Gunner

G 

Gabriel 

Greyson 

Grey

H

Harmony 

Hazel

Honnor 

Haelynn 

Haven 

Heidi 

Hollis 

Hannah 

Hadley 

Haeley

Hannah 

Helena 

Harriet

H 

Hugo 

Harris 

Harry 

Hayden 

Holt 

Hunter

Hamilton 

Holden 

H 

Holland 

Harlem 

Hudson 

Hal 

Harley 

Hartley 

Haslett

Huntley 

Hurley 

Huston 

Hunter

Hollow 

Huxley

I

Isla 

Ivy 

Indigo 

Iris 

Ivory 

Ida

Izzy 

Isabella 

Indie 

I 

Ian 

Israel

I 

J

Jane 

Joan 

June 

Jacy 

Juniper 

Joise 

Jenna 

Jade 

Juliet 

Jaclyn 

Josephine 

Judith

J 

Jack

Jaxs

Joseph 

James 

Justin 

Jacob 

Jasper 

Julius 

Jackson 

Jonas 

Jalen 

Joel 

Jonah 

Judson 

Jayden 

Jagger 

Jett

J

Jamson 

Jamie 

Jo

Jude 

K

Kathleen 

Kennedy 

Kynzlee

Kaylee 

Kora

Kamila 

Kamie 

Kailani 

Kira

Karmen 

Kimber 

Kate 

Kada

Kapri

Kaizlee

Kenley 

Kayte

Kingsley 

Kaelyn 

Kenna 

Kacie 

Kelsey 

Kinsley 

Kiwesten 

Kaleah 

K 

Kane 

Koa 

Kingston 

Kole

Kaleeb 

Kale 

Kash 

Kalvin 

Karlton 

King 

Keon 

Kruz

Kyler

K 

Kai

Kohen 

Kameron 

Karter 

Kasey 

Kassidy

Kendall 

Kody 

Korbyn 

Karson 

Knox 

Krew

L 

Lauren 

Lily 

Laken 

Lana 

Layla 

Lane 

Lia 

Lila 

London 

Leighton 

Lacy 

Lettie

Lydia 

Lilac

Layne 

Libra

Lexie 

Lena 

L 

Louis 

Lee 

Leo 

Laim 

Lucah 

Levi 

Lux 

Ledger 

Lincoln 

Lathan 

Landon 

L

Leighton 

Lyric 

M

Mars 

Mary 

Mabel 

Marie

Mae

Marlow 

Maeve 

Maddison 

Molly 

Mila 

Maisie 

Madeline 

Margaret 

Miley 

Meredith 

Mia 

Marigold 

Mariana 

Marlow 

Mayven 

Macy 

Maelie 

Magnolia 

Madalyn 

Marley 

Meadow 

Mel 

Meilani 

Maggie 

M

Milo 

Maverick 

Miles 

Mathis  

Mateo 

Matthew

Madden 

Malakai

Maddox 

M 

Memphis 

Micah

Morgan 

Mason 

Max

Maxton 

N 

Nova 

Navy 

Norah 

Naomi

Natalia 

N 

Noah 

Nico

Nash 

Nathan 

Nolan 

Niles 

N 

Noel 

O 

Olive 

Oliva 

Oaklee 

Opal 

Ophelia 

O 

Oscar 

Oliver 

Otis 

Owen 

O 

Ocean

Oak 

P

Penelope 

Phoebe 

Poppy

Persephone 

Peggy 

Paige 

Paisley 

Piper 

Pearl 

Penny 

Paris 

Presley 

P

Palmer 

 Porter 

P 

Phoenix 

Parker 

Paxton 

Pierce 

Q

Quinn 

Q

Q

R

Remy 

Ruth 

Ranye

Raelle

Rosie 

Raylee 

Roselind

Ruby 

Rilynn

Reese

Riya 

Rainney 

Rae-lynn 

Rain 

Reagan 

Renee

Raven

Rose

Ruth 

R

Rhett

Reid 

Rayson

Romen 

Rylan 

R

River 

Rory 

Rowen 

Ryder

Ryker 

Romeo 

Rio

Rome 

Reef

Ryland 

Royal

Raiden

S

Stella

Space

Sadie 

Sutton 

Soren

Seattle 

Scotlynn 

Story 

Sage 

Sapphire 

Savannah 

Shiloh 

Skye

September 

Sual 

Sophia 

Scarlett 

Stephine 

Sabrina 

S 

Stephen 

Sillas

Sebastian 

Sawyer 

Spencer 

Shawn 

S

Skyler 

Samson

Shai 

Saylor 

Salem 

Scout 

Storm 

Saint 

Stellan 

Sparrow 

Sloan 

Shane 

T

Tia 

Tayliee

Thalia 

Teagan 

Tallulah 

Tinsley 

Tara

T

Thomas 

Theo 

Toby 

Tanner 

T

Tate 

Taylor 

Tatum 

Timber 

Throne 

Tristan 

U

U

U

V

Victoria 

Vanessa

Violet 

V

Victor 

V

Vale 

W

Willow 

Willa 

Whitney 

W

Wyatt

Wilder 

Winston 

Waylon 

Weston 

Wesley

W

Wren 

Westlynn

X

Xena 

X

X

Z 

Zoey 

Zelda

Z

Zain 

Zayden 

[shadowjax]

Before The Light

Cassandra Vole x M/C, Cassandra Vole x Reader A03 Summary: Did you hear about the recent dementor attack?! I heard it happened to a 4th year? I hear they barely made it out alive. A/n: Oogabooga, I am liking this new season so far. Finally, some more storytelling yippee. Spoilers from the new season 5 *Shares are appreciated* 1.5 words Divider by: @saradika-graphics

Ever since the recent events in the Forbidden Forrest, you’ve felt like something was missing. Perhaps it was the memories the dementors fed off from. As if the International Tournament wasn’t draining enough, now a part of you was gone. Your friends tried to cheer you up but you missed this part that would remain gone. The memory of… of…While you walked the halls, you sensed that people were talking about you. People looked your way and then immediately turned to speak to their friends. 

"Did you hear about the recent dementor attack?" 

"I hear it was ... who snuck out." 

"A dementor?! I thought they were only located in Askaban!" 

"Serve them right for sneaking out at night and heading to the forbidden forest."

Heading into charms class you spot a letter on your desk, you know only one person who used this type of high-quality envelope and paper. The two of you had exchanged so many letters that the writing style had become familiar. Meet me in the courtyard after classes, and after reading the letter you stuffed it in your cloak pocket. Your day went by fast, your attention focused on something else aside from your nosey peers. 

Later that evening, you head to the courtyard, where Cassandra sits on the edge of the fountain. The moment she hears your footsteps, she turns toward you, her expression a mixture of disdain and concern.

“Tell me, are the rumors true?” Her emerald eyes seemed to pierce straight through your soul.

Knowing she would ask this question, you had rehearsed an answer in advance, but when the moment arrived. “I…” 

“You look a mess.” She remarks, her eyes scanning your appearance. Standing there, she exudes a looming sense of intimidation.

“Um…” Now aware of your appearance, you realize your uniform is a mess. Your clothes are wrinkled, with some parts tucked in while others aren’t. Dark circles shadow your eyes, poorly concealed by smudged eyeshadow that had faded hours ago, and strands of your hair stick out in disarray.

“So you did sneak out over curfew, what could possibly make you want to do that?” She crossed her arms and placed a hand under her chin, tapping her foot impatiently.

“Fisher snuck out and I didn’t want him to get hurt. Before I left the castle there was a hooded figure, I lost sight of him. I tried to focus on finding Fisher but I couldn’t. Then I felt this presence behind me, everything started to grow cold. I fired a vermillious charm into the air before I completely passed out. I was mere moments away from the dementor’s kiss. ” The feeling of having your memories taken from your soul resurfaced, everything felt cold and hollow. 

“Why are you always so worried for others when you can’t even look after yourself.” She pondered for a moment, eyes looking at the ground then back up to you. “Is that why you’ve been so mopey lately?” 

“I feel as if something is missing. That memory the dementor stole.” You crossed your arms, holding your chin in your hand trying to remember what exactly was stolen.

While searching for the missing memory a more painful one resurfaces. One that has been creeping in the back of your mind, a certain memory you replayed while you slept in the hospital. A memory that you kept under lock and key, assuming you had simply gotten over it. It doesn’t help that this specific incident happened in the same Forrest. The searing pain of green magic, the heartbreak of seeing someone you care about lying injured on the ground, and the unforgivable curse that escaped your lips.

When did this pressure surround your head as if you were deep underwater? There was this ringing in your ears and the air was thin like when you fly too high. Why was your scarred arm shaking violently? Why did you feel scared? What happened to your legs? Who is pushing you down to the ground? Were you falling? Cass…

“Hey! Eyes on me!” Cassandra was on your right, lifting your upper body off the ground. Your eyes met hers, were those tears? Since when was there a cut on the side of her face? “Can you hear me!” 

Your focus was entirely on her, a sharp pinch tugging at your heart. You lift your hand to the side of her face, tracing the cut that was once below her eye. You moved your thumb and traced the corner of her eye, wiping the tear that was about to fall. 

“Remember your breathing technique. Inhale. Exhale.” She took a deep breath in and exhaled in a pattern for you to copy. Eventually, your breathing returned to normal and you could hear her normally. No longer did it sound like you were underwater. “You’re in the courtyard at Hogwarts. Your friends are safe. I am safe. You are safe.” 

“I am safe.” You wrapped both our arms around her neck, fingers tangling in the curls of her hair. The two of you stayed in this position for a moment. For being the Slytherin Princess she was quite warm compared to your cold body. Eventually, the two of you made your way inside, moving to the Room of Requirement. The two of you sat in front of the fireplace, a bit of space remaining between you two and an awkward silence lingering in the air. 

“Has that been happening recently? I think you should talk to someone other than me.” 

“I can say the same about you.” 

“I’m serious… You could have…” There went the barrier, when she turned the tears had fallen. She was removing her gloves to wipe the tears and not let her mascara stain them. 

“Cass, please don’t cry.” You shifted closer, sitting on your knees and placing both your hands on her shoulders. Her eyes shimmered from the light of the fire.

“It’s your fault you know.” Reaching into her pocket she pulls out a necklace and places it into one of your hands. You gently hold the jewel in your hand. It’s a diamond-shaped green moss agate, on the top half was a crescent with black gems, and a V holding the gem in place. The pendant hangs from a silver chain. 

“When did you get this? It’s beautiful. Thank you.” Your heart fluttered at the thought of receiving such a well-thought gift from someone you, respected. You felt happy, a feeling you hadn’t felt the past few days ever since the attack. 

“There’s no need, I saw this a while ago back in Diagon Aly.” A warm smile on her face surfaced. She took the two clasps and connected the necklace to your neck. 

Wishing for a cup of hot conflate to enjoy a cup magically appeared to the left of you. Shifting into a more comfortable sitting position with your legs crossed you speak first, “I’ll speak to the Headmistress about that night. I can’t let the fear control me any further.” 

“No more going into the Forrest alone. Since you are so keen on saving others at least bring someone to keep an eye on your back.”

Knowing the spell to keep yourself especially others protected, there was a fire of determination within you to learn the patronus charm. 

After foolishly entering the woods by yourself and many close calls later, you miraculously haven’t gotten injured yet. Thankfully you ran into Harry Potter again, saving you from the wave of dementors. He instructed you through the process of summoning a Patronus. You were missing an important key, a very happy memory. His words echo through your mind while you search deep within your soul.

Silence runs and silent gazes. A gentle silence soothes your mind…

Let it all end. But remember the little things that keep you going…

Pain, fear, and loneliness. Deep in your memory, you faintly remember the sound of their voices…

Take a big breath. Your perseverance represents hope. Heroes are simply mortals, but their secrets is to never give up… 

Use your most important memory to focus the last of your conscious thoughts. You are perfect the way you are, beautiful and strong. 

“Expect Patronum!” Holding the necklace in one hand you wave your wand with the other and speak the incantation.

Power surges to the tip of your wand. You are surrounded by warmth. In the darkness, you make out the silhouette of a patronus. 

 A pale blue light dances through the air, transforming into the shape of an animal. The creature circles itself around you and makes its way into the night sky. 

A wave of dementors makes its way down, along the shore you hear multiple familiar voices. The creatures focus their attention on your friends, they raise their wands ready for battle. 

“Expectino patronum!” You shout the spell and wave your wand but feel nothing, no spark of light leaves your wand. Panic begins to surface and you try to look for Harry but can’t in the sea of dementors coming from all directions. Your gaze shifts to the frozen lake beneath you, its surface glistening like a sheet of glass, reflecting the world around it. Searching your mind for any remaining memories, the voice of the boggart also echoes through your mind. 

You are weak.

Happy memory. 

You’re going to fail.

Happy memory. 

You can’t even keep yourself safe

Happy memory… 

Something glimmers in front of you, catching the moonlight in a way that makes it difficult to look away. Your eyes take a moment to adjust and focus on the delicate pale jewel with veins of green hanging on your neck. Suddenly, as if deep within your mind has clicked open, a vivid memory begins to unfold before you, drawing you into its depths. The details were so clear like they had just occurred yesterday.  

“I guess a thank you is for taking care of my rose while I was unconscious.” Cassandra steps closer to you, placing a kiss on your cheek. Flustered she quickly leaves you alone in the greenhouse. 

You quickly glance at the necklace and back to your friends, multiple beams of light firing from all directions. “EXPECTO PATRONUM!” A surge of powerful light erupts from your wand, sending multiple beams rippling across the entire lake. Each wave pushes back dementors in the vicinity, creating a protective barrier around you and your friends. Once the area was safe you made your way to your friends who were unharmed on the shoreline. 

“Was that the patrons charm?” Keven wiped his glasses clean. 

“Yes, that’s quick the difficult spell.” Ivy commented. 

“Woah, I want to learn that spell as well,” Robin asked Kevin about the instructions to summon a spell. 

“Can you summon it again so I can paint it?” Lottie asked, quickly pulling out her sketchbook. 

“I knew you could do it, now can we please get out of this cold?” Daniel pointed in the direction back to the castle. 

“Let’s all get inside now.” Harry Potter cast his patrons to lead the way back, the group now filling the deer. 

Walking side by side with Cassandra she whispered, “You continue to impress me, though next time do so in a less dangerous situation.” 

You knew this wouldn’t be the last time you’d encounter those creatures, luckily you were now equipped with the skills to defend yourself. It’s a shame your memories were taken once again, now that your friends are safe there will be many new memories to flourish.