#[this may differ depending on the muse whose helping him] | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

moonbaby26 · 3 years

Text

Title: A Party and a Spy

Pairing: Loki x Goddess!Reader

Summary: Story set nearer the Viking Age. You were a Greek sea goddess who crossed paths with the god of mischief. Continuation of previous chapter. Loki is forced to return to Asgard to unwillingly participate in the festivities honoring Odin and Thor’s victories in Alfheim. He ends up drunk and in a piss poor mood that he then wants you to help relieve. Your secret meetings also finally attract an unwanted visitor. Super brief cameos here by Sif, the warriors three, and Thor, as well as Heimdall again.

Warnings: Semi smut possibly, but no real sex this chapter. Sorry to tease, will be some next chapter. Here is just mentions of arousal, grinding through clothing. Mention of masturbation. Also some animal abuse, but a magical animal who will be fine I guess. The princes are just jerks like that.

Chapters: Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Taglist: @rosaline-black , @lawfeys , @loveableasshole , @insanitybyanothername , @just-wordsandthoughts , @cringingmemeries

My Masterlist

——————————

You still felt warm, your head just poking out from under the blanket as you stretched a little. Your hand ran out across the mattress after a moment though, contacting nothing to your surprise as you then opened your eyes.

As you quickly sat up, the look on your face must have said far too much as you heard a chuckle from nearby.

“No, goddess, I haven’t left just yet. My, you are expressive though.”

As you turned your head towards the voice, you saw Loki now sitting in one of the two chairs at the small table opposite your side of the bed.

He was still dressed only in a pair of pants you also quickly noted, yourself still so unused to seeing this much of him as your eyes lingered on the lean muscle and pale skin.

“What?” He asked, not missing that stare either, though the sly look in his eyes told you he knew damned well what you were now distracted with. He just wanted you to say it.

“Asgardians really do wear too many clothes, if you are any proper example anyway.” You replied simply though. Why hide so much all the time?

He raised an eyebrow, but was smirking as he taunted a little further. “Oh I can assure you, there is no one in Asgard like me. And you’d prefer this not be reserved just for you then?”

You tried not to look caught off guard. Even if he were only teasing, the implication that he’d still be keeping this type of intimacy for you alone was something that made your stomach flutter slightly.

“Come here.” He said next though, snapping you back to attention, though you still hesitated. Was that a command or a request?

He only rolled his eyes after a moment though. “Oh, don’t waste time trying to be proud now. I do have to leave shortly, it will already be late morning in Asgard by now.” He extended a hand to you. “So come, sit with me.”

You eventually acquiesced, standing from the bed then, though intending just to walk to the other chair. Yet the very moment you were close enough, he only grabbed you by the arm, pulling you down to sit on his lap instead.

He was surprisingly fast and strong when he wished to be, his arms already around your waist as well before you could think to try and stand again.

“There. That wasn’t so hard was it?” He spoke lowly against your ear as you shifted.

But to your surprise he didn’t touch you any further, even though one arm did stay around your waist to keep you steady as his other hand just went back to the table.

“I have a job for you.” He added, then moving his hand oddly as a piece of parchment paper and a writing quill appeared abruptly from thin air. “At least I think it may work. I’m sure the majority of these animals are illiterate. I’m hoping at least the clan chief has some shaman or someone of the sort that understands these runes. It’s the only written language I’ve ever seen in this land.”

But even as he started to write on the paper, your mind was still only fixating on what you’d just seen as you asked abruptly. “How did you do that?”

He seemed focused on whatever symbols he was now putting on the page, but he still answered. “How do I do what? They’re just runes.”

“No, how did you conjure the pen and paper?” Controlling the elements, moving objects by will, or casting illusions was one thing. But forming a very unnatural, man made object from essentially nothing was different than the typical kind of magic you were used to.

Loki paused a moment then, like trying to digest what you’d just said before he glanced back up to look you in the eyes.

“The woman can move the seas themselves and is astonished by a piece of paper?” He mocked incredulously.

Your eyebrows lowered. “Listen, I know good and well I’m no sorceress. That’s why I’m asking. How do you create something like that from nothing?”

He shook his head. “Gods, they really just give magic to anyone these days.”

A joke clearly, as everything you had you had been born with, though learning to control it had taken time. And to be honest, was still an ongoing learning process. But you still wanted an answer as you looked at him pointedly.

He sighed under your gaze. “I really don’t have the time for this. But I know you won’t let it go.” He had continued writing though even as he kept talking. “I didn’t make them, goddess. I brought them with me. You are at least correct in that nearly all instances of magic, nothing can be made without taking of something else. I’m sure when you make those little whirlpools of yours for instance, you’re drawing the latent energy from the water. The currents, the temperature differences, what have you. To truly make something from nothing...well, that would be chaos magic. Which, may or may not even exist depending which of the ancient mages’ tomes you most believe in.”

You could tell he did take pride in his studies and the principles behind them clearly. If he wasn’t already concerned about returning to Asgard, you could probably get a whole lecture on this subject right now. But you couldn’t help but point out again, as you just responded. “Yet you still haven’t really answered my question. If you brought them with you, where were they before?” You glanced down at his pants as if to reaffirm your doubt that anything other than himself had been hidden there as they were relatively tight.

Yet he still smirked at your continued insistence. “On the scale of the things I’m capable of, my dear, that’s just a parlor trick. And if you really care so much, I can teach you at some other time.”

At that, he paused writing again though, placing the quill down momentarily as he then moved his hand again for a long dagger to abruptly be held in his palm. “You see? There are far better uses to this trick.” He flipped the knife just as quickly though, letting the blade’s point stab into the table as the dagger then stood on end.

And as it did so he made sure to look to see your reaction, also asking you, “Do you really just depend on your servants to follow you around at all hours with any weapons you may need?”

Yet you just looked from the dagger, then back to him. Surprised surely, but not actually frightened. “And do you have so many enemies as to always need that at the ready?”

“One never really knows do they?” He answered smoothly, just grasping the dagger’s handle again before it disappeared once more.

It didn’t seem like a threat really. But you felt he still wanted you to know a bit more of what he was capable of. You quieted afterward as he went back to writing for a few more moments.

When he was done, you could tell he glanced over the letter briefly, as if proofreading before he rolled the paper tightly and folded it.

He spoke rather business like then, an odd thing honestly as you still sat so intimately on his lap. “If it wasn’t already obvious, I’d like you to carry this to the village leader while I return to Asgard. I don’t have the time to deal with the mortals right now, and besides, they’re your pets.”

“Excuse me? Have you forgotten whose idea this whole ‘protector’ role was to begin with?”

“Oh, I was willing to let the lot of them be wiped out if you’d chosen not to save them. I’d only need to spare whichever the nicest home was from burning as the marauders moved through, and we still would have ended up with a place to meet regardless.”

The sad thing was, you were actually sure he really meant that too. But he just continued.

“Yet you pitied them, and now here we are. And as the beasts held up their end of the bargain, I agree it’s fair at least to give them some recognition for their work. A pat on the head and a ‘good dog’ essentially, that’s what this letter says. So you see, I’m not wholly ungrateful.”

“A thank you letter?” You asked dryly. Relatively sure it likely didn’t read completely as such.

“Well, essentially. But with a reminder on the rules as well.”

“Rules?”

“Our privacy must be respected. I’ll put a green flame at the end of the trail nearer the village when we’re present. During the night, this place is also solely ours. If during the day there’s no flame, then they can come up and clean and maintenance this tiny wood hutch like good help should.”

“Your staff at your palace must just adore you.” You mused sarcastically. “The mortals are not our slaves, Loki.”

“It’s really an odd thing how you fancy them.” He retorted, though with an air of someone just humoring another person they already thought irreparably deluded. “But I suppose you have nothing else fulfilling to pass the time when I’m in Asgard. Some people like to paint, others like to craft things...you, you have your pets.”

Arrogant god you thought. As if suddenly you had no other purpose outside of him? Surely he saw that insulted look in your eyes as well, because you could see the entertained mirth in his own before he pulled you closer to kiss you suddenly.

And this one was rough again, briefly reminding you of that night in the cave as you felt his hands move down to your hips. His tongue was already in your mouth before you could even consider pulling away.

From last night when he’d only held you, to now seeming so hungry again, the sides of him could change so quickly you were learning.

His hands didn’t move beneath your dress though, even though you thought his fingers may be grabbing you hard enough to bruise as he twisted you to be fully facing him. Straddling him actually with each of your legs now on either side of him as he rested against the back of the chair.

He kept kissing you, and it wasn’t long before you felt that distinct hardness against you even through his pants. As always though, you wore nothing beneath your dress, a matter of practicality really for as often as you were in the water. Who would want any undergarments constantly rubbing and chaffing where you were most sensitive? You liked sheer and loose material in the dresses you wore, so that it moved easily as you swam and dried quickly when you were on land.

But he knew all this by now of course, as he just ground his hips then, that rough seam of his pants then moving between your legs as he drug it back and forth.

He was intentionally trying to work you up. You sensed the trap, but still found your own hands moving across his bare chest soon enough.

Your newfound lack of willpower was really astounding. Finally though, you pulled your head back to break the kiss and warn him. “If you’re just doing this with no intention to actually follow through...”

“If you wanted it so badly, you could have taken it last night.” He retorted though. “I’ve already stayed too long.”

“Why can’t I want both?” You answered, meaning it as well. It wasn’t just sex, nor was it just being in his company. Neither by itself was enough anymore. Each had its own place.

He looked frustrated himself though as you felt him thrust against you reflexively, that bulge in his pants wasted even as it scraped against where you were now becoming wet. “I’m telling you, Odin is back at the palace now. I have to be calculated in the times I come and go. There is some damned ceremony today, likely starting any moment by now for their victories in Alfheim. If I’m not there, they’re going to come looking for me.”

As much as you knew he liked to bend the truth. It wouldn’t make sense for him to deny himself this right now unless it was actually for good reason.

“Well you’re the one who pulled me into your lap and kissed me.” You relented, though your own body now fully flustered and urging you to return to him even as you stood up and stepped away.

“Well you shouldn’t have slept so late.” He grumbled back. Pulling at his pants in some discomfort as he stood as well.

But you watched as his armor manifested then, horned helmet and all as his magic washed across him. What you guessed would now be his attire for the ceremony he’d spoken of. You assumed that clothing and armor had been in whatever void the pen, paper, and dagger had been.

At least with his illusions he could also conceal his arousal if it hadn’t faded on its own by the time he reached the palace though, you thought with some amusement.

Yet, even as he walked for the door, he taunted to you as if sensing your enjoyment of his current predicament. “You’re welcome to get back in the bed you know. Think of me while you self soothe, goddess.”

So crude. But you just fired back before he could close the door. “And is that what you do at night in Asgard? Think of yourself as well to finish things off?” You were trying to mock his evident self importance of course.

Yet he didn’t even miss a beat at the intended insult. “Why be myself when I can just be you? Then I never have to forget how you feel.”

And just to prove that he could, you stared in disbelief as a perfect likeness of yourself then smiled back at you lewdly, thin dress and all before shutting the door unceremoniously.

Gods. That was just unnatural. And you had to sit down at that, arousal now paused at least as your body’s resulting confusion was almost palpable.

———————————

Asgard, not long after

Loki was back to his normal appearance, hurriedly stepping into the small grouping of warriors he’d recognized at once in the rest of the crowd at the palace ceremonial hall.

Sif’s head turned in immediate surprise and annoyance as those golden horns entered her peripheral vision. The irritation was evident even as she tried to keep her voice low with so many others still around them. “And just where have you been!? Thor was looking for you everywhere!”

“I was in the library, did he think to look in the library!?” Loki spat back immediately, knowing that even if his brother had checked there, Thor knew the layout of it so poorly, he could always have claimed to have been in another section.

“Yet why are you breathing so hard, chap? Were you actually running?” Fandral asked as well, also looking Loki over.

“And why pray tell would I have been running?” Loki shot a glare to him next. Could they not mind their own damned business for once?

“Because you were late?” Volstagg offered in that simplistic, yet matter of fact way that was always beyond annoying even on the best day.

“Well I’m here now.” Loki huffed, though not missing the way Hogun was also staring at him critically. “And do you have something to add?” Loki grumbled at him.

But only Sif answered. “Well if you hadn’t been lost in the library,” Her tone made clear how little she believed that excuse, “You’d know that Thor chose you to give the congratulatory speech before-”

“The what?” Loki stared at her, that odd mix of horror and disgust then abruptly clear on his face.

——————————

“So what more can I say of Asgard’s favorite son?” Loki’s public speaking voice boomed richly through the great hall, the throng of happy faces sickening as he smiled right back at them. What fresh Hel was this really?

“Alfheim counts her graces I am sure to have such noble saviors defend her-” By the gods he didn’t even know what Odin and Thor had done there the entire time. He assumed there’d been skull bashing and the normal heroics. But if they’d been working out peace treaties instead the last few weeks, who knew. He’d been looking for hidden portals to Midgard still on the days they’d held the main debriefings.

“And with peace secured in the realms once more, please join me in giving thanks to the noble Allfather and the mighty Thor!” Loki wasn’t normally one for alcohol. Not in comparison to most Asgardians anyway. He thought it dulled the mind too much. But by all the mages in all the realms...he so badly needed it now, as he took a large swig of the strongest Asgard had, before throwing the glass down to shatter it as was custom. “And let the feasts commence!”

The crowd erupted in cheers. And on any other day, that would have been something he obviously would have wanted. But Loki knew that not one voice was for him as he suddenly felt a large hand and arm go around his shoulders, shaking him roughly before his brother’s voice joined the yells, yet right in his ear.

“HUZZAH!” Thor cried, one arm still around Loki as his other lifted Mjolnir triumphantly.

—————————

And it was so many hours later before Loki had finally escaped. Time and time again as he’d tried to excuse himself from the endless barrage of drinks and food, it was as if his brother had somehow sensed it.

Then there would be Thor again, telling him any one of those same stories over and over as he’d somehow corralled Loki back into the feast room. If he’d had to hear one more time how with one hand forced behind his back, and Mjolnir still in mid air, that Thor had kicked one of the enemies’ bombs right back into their own garrison, taking out an entire enemy troop as more of their stored artillery then exploded...Loki may have finally vomited.

As it was now, he wasn’t exactly walking a straight line either though. Just carrying his own helmet in one hand, his head already throbbing as he made his way slowly through the corridors. His other arm reaching out occasionally, grazing the walls for balance.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d drank so much. Well, more like been forced to drink so much, just to try and maintain his sanity in what was essentially just another gathering of his brother’s sycophants.

Honestly did Thor even see it? Did he really think all those hanger-ons were truly his friends? Perhaps there was some argument for Sif and the warriors three. As thick headed as they all were, they were about cut from the same cloth. And that was not a compliment.

But all the others? It’d be almost pitiable really if it weren’t so damned annoying. Yet maybe it was the alcohol there as well, making Loki linger on so many of these feelings again.

By the time he reached the entrance to his quarters, he was frowning as he pushed the heavy doors open. He still made sure that they shut fully behind him though as he waved his hand to lock them doubly with a spell.

It was not without precedent that in some true late night madness, either Thor, or Thor, Fandral, and Volstagg may still force entry to try and get him to accompany them on some additional drunken adventure while they were still riding so high on their accomplishments.

“Idiots,” Loki grumbled to no one though. Still stuck in that sour mood as he moved across the dark room, losing clothes as he did so before finally ending up in his elaborate bed. The silken sheets were then the only thing against his skin as he laid there in silence, though the room still feeling like it was moving slightly in his lingering vertigo.

But he just wanted to sleep. That and to will this headache and the thoughts that worsened it away.

But instead he only laid there. His drunken thoughts churning louder and louder as the minutes passed, alone in this extravagant, luxurious, and also very empty bed.

Scattered across the palace now, he could only imagine all the couplings likely occurring. Not necessarily in the full sense of the word. But he knew how these types of festivities normally ended.

Thor was likely in an archway somewhere with Sif, pawing at each other with all the finesse of a pair of schoolchildren. Fandral and Hogun would still be at a table, Fandral now showing off his sword to a couple maidens simultaneously with only thinly veiled euphemisms of how it compared to the hidden equivalent. And Volstagg would have his actual wife and children there, somehow still not bored of them yet as they all laughed together.

And that’s what it really was, laughable.

Loki rolled onto his side, glaring towards the balcony and the stars dotting the black sky beyond it. No, he didn’t need any of that farce of companionship. Not just for the sake of it anyway like all the others. He took what he wanted, when he wanted surely. Pleasure was one thing after all, but it didn’t control him.

You didn’t control him actually. Because no one controlled the god of mischief.

But the longer he lay there in silence, the more he could then imagine your fingers soon running through his hair, or the warmth of your lap to lay his aching head in. He’d had bad days before, many times retreating to this very room alone. But he didn’t have to be alone tonight. He didn’t have to be alone at all anymore did he?

“Goddamnit.” He finally hissed. It was foolhardy, dangerous even after just returning from Midgard already once today. But he wasn’t going to sleep tonight otherwise. Not until he had what he really wanted.

——————————

Loki certainly wasn’t going to be walking all the way to the bifrost gate. Not at this hour, and not in this condition. So he’d taken a form that at least no one would have second guessed if they’d just happened to look up as he’d passed quickly overhead.

One of Father’s ravens, or the rats with wings as he preferred to call them. And as he’d landed near Heimdall, then regaining his normal form, the older god just looked down at him, unimpressed.

“She’s returned to the ocean. She already sleeps.” Heimdall spoke unprompted.

Yet Loki’s eyebrows rose mockingly, even if his words took a little more effort right now. “Oh? Making a habit of watching her…even without me then? That’s a bit perverse.”

But the gatekeeper’s expression hardly changed at the insult, still so difficult to goad. “I saw you coming, and your questions to her whereabouts are becoming predictable.”

It was true. Loki had already come here several nights, yes. Mostly to check whether the mortals had finished that structure or not. And it’d finally been a pleasant reward just the other night when Heimdall had confirmed it already done and you there waiting.

“I don’t care where she is.” Loki retorted though. “I’m going to Midgard. Open the gate.”

“You are inebriated.” Heimdall warned.

“And you have a severely itritating penchant for stating the obvious…open the gate.” He commanded more forcefully.

“Anywhere in Midgard particular?” Heimdall answered.

Loki paused though, hearing that slightest change in the guardian’s normal stoic tone with those last words. “Are you…attempting to make a joke?”

“I did not wish to assume or state the obvious again as you said. And you also say you do not care where she is. So do you not care where you should land tonight then?”

He was! He was mocking him. Loki growled, pointing his finger for emphasis. “Now listen here…it has been a god awful, long day. Quit trying to dissuade me. Send me to the village, gatekeeper!”

“Any village?”

Gods. “My village, her village, whatever you want to call it. But do it or I’ll use the damned sword myself!”

With one last cheerless look down at Loki, Heimdall turned the sword then, opening the gate even as he warned a final time. “Do not fall from the bifrost, Prince. The universe is vast and does not suffer the careless well. Do remember as well that all things done have consequences in the end.”

But Loki had no time to search for deeper meaning in the words, just ruffling more as he walked towards the light. “Is that a threat?”

“Only a truth and a caution.” Heimdall again answered, just before the other disappeared back across the bridge.

———————————

And as the light left him again, Loki was once more in that dark forest. Yet, the ground far lighter colored than normal as to a little of his surprise, his boots now found fresh snow. Winter had finally arrived to this part of Midgard apparently.

He cursed, realizing it would have been far smarter to have told Heimdall to deposit him directly onto the beach this time as he’d now had to navigate back down the hillside and to the trail that led between the cliff face.

It had started snowing again as well as he walked, the large flakes sticking in his black hair by the time he reached the ocean’s edge. He should have told you just to stay at the cabin this morning. But he didn’t expect to be standing here again so soon either.

Loki didn’t care about the water at this point though, the waves rushing up around his feet and over the top of his boots as he trudged forward to call out. “Hear me, sea beasts! Hear me and bring your mistress to me!”

And it didn’t take long of course before he saw two feminine looking torsos rise just where the waves were breaking in the distance. Not quite human, but expressive enough that he could see the skepticism in their body language.

“She’s asleep!” One called back over the waves.

“Then go and wake her!” He only hissed back as if scolding an insubordinate child. Why did everyone feel the need to test him tonight?

But the two nymphs just looked at one another. The other then speaking. “What is so important? Are you claiming injury again?”

He scoffed at the jab, voice easily sliding into its darker range then, even in his continued drunken state. He did not have time for this. “Do not forget your place, water sprite.”

And as he made a move as if to step further into the water, he was pleased to see them both shrink back at that. When they disappeared not long after, he knew all he now had to do was wait.

—————————

You didn’t fully know what to expect. Why was he back so soon? Not that you should complain, but he’d made such a point about having to return to Asgard this morning, and he’d never come back so quickly before. Even though it was now dead of night.

The nymphs also said he’d been acting strangely, even a bit ruder than normal. They insisted you bring your spear, and so you had as you broke the surface only to find him sitting at the water’s edge. Though not even far enough onto the beach to stay dry as the water now ran around him and then pulled back with each successive wave. His pants and cloak were clearly soaked, snow also dotting all over him to your surprise.

“Loki?” You asked, concerned but cautious. Normally the rare sight of snow would have distracted you in its own right had you not been so focused on him. The north was still unique to you for all its differences.

“The cold doesn’t bother me either.” He said abruptly, seeing that worry in your eyes. But he didn’t stand out of the water. “You really should reprimand your servants…”

“It’s not quite that kind of a relationship.” You replied, though not defensively as you still tried to realize what was wrong with him. “Are you alright?”

“No.” He said simply.

If it was just another trick, it was a good one. But you felt you had no real choice but to behave as if he was sincere. You only laid your spear down in the water as you then moved to sit down beside him.

He looked over at you as you did, and you could see how tired he looked even in the darkness. So close to him then, that was finally when you smelled the scent of alcohol, impressively strong even over the salt smell of the ocean.

He was drunk.

“Loki…” You said again, unsure at all what would have driven him to this kind of excess. “Do you want me to help you to the cabin?”

He leaned closer though, as if to either kiss you or lay his head against yours. He did nuzzle your face slightly though as he whispered in your ear. “I want him to get closer first.” Before you could react though, he’d then grabbed your chin to keep you from looking away from him. “He can’t hear us over the noise of the sea…but don’t look away.”

And he did kiss you then, that heady taste of the alcohol almost as distracting as the nonsensical words. His hand was moving up your thigh as well as his other moved around to your back. It all seemed like only the beginnings of foreplay before just as suddenly, he then pushed you down beneath him. His hand that had been on your thigh pulled back simultaneously to throw a dagger violently out into the darkness.

You heard a distinct sound of a hit, a creature screech, and then chaotic flapping in the sand and snow somewhere near the cliff’s base.

Loki was now laying on top of you, your back still pressed into the wet sand as the water rushed back up around you both. He glanced back down at you then, ignoring the confusion in your eyes as he kissed you roughly several times more before finally pulling back again. “We’ll have to get back to that tomorrow…” He all but purred, mood shifting suddenly to satisfaction as he stood once more and offered you his hand.

Utterly baffled, you still took it, letting him help you up before he let go of you to walk off towards the distressed sounds you still heard near the cliff. You only hung back long enough to grab your spear before hurrying to follow him.

You didn’t know what kind of beast to expect from all the noise, and only found yourself more surprised as a pitiable looking black bird finally came into view. It flapped even harder upon seeing Loki, but with one wing clearly mangled and blood spattering the snow and sand around it.

“Oh, you over dramatic twat.” Loki fussed, snatching the hapless creature up with little fanfare as his other hand reclaimed his now bloody dagger, disappearing it again with his magic. “And which one are you?” He asked, holding it roughly near his face as it now continually tried to bite him in defiance.

You didn’t know what he was looking for, and you were about to say something about how harshly he was holding the poor animal before Loki smirked in recognition.

“Well…Muninn, you little vermin. You saw me leave the palace didn’t you? Did you really think I was your other half? Couldn’t leave well enough alone could you?”

What? So this was one of Odin’s ravens? But, Loki had just stabbed it! Was this not treason? Treason that you were now a party to? You had so many questions as your inner panic began to grow.

But Loki only kept smiling, talking with condescension to the injured bird. “Yet, for you to be here so quickly, then you’ve found my door for me. There’s a rift between Asgard and Midgard somewhere nearby…and for that you get to keep your other wing tonight, you little spy.”

—————————

As you passed back up the trail to the cabin together, you saw Loki had indeed kept his word about signaling to the mortals when you were here. A green flame floated, ethereal in midair at the edge of the tree-line.

It had a haunting look to it, but you said nothing, still so focused on Loki’s rough handling of the injured raven. And by the time you’d entered the woods, you could no longer contain yourself.

“Please don’t hold him by the chest like that. It makes it too hard for them to breathe. You’re going to suffocate him!”

At your outburst, Loki seemed to have a genuine moment of surprise, looking over at you before his normal superior expression returned. “Just because you can become a bird….doesn’t mean you should give a damn about this one. Don’t waste your time on kindness. Despite your bleeding heart, his loyalty lies only with the Allfather. He’ll snitch you out regardless.”

“But, he has lost a lot of blood. We can’t let him die, Loki…” You still kept on, worried the alcohol had truly made him lose all sense of judgement.

Again he just gave you the oddest look before outright laughing though. He shook the bird a little, making it squawk again, before continuing. “This rat and his brother are imbued with Odin’s magic. They cannot perish so easily as long as Odin still lives.”

Yet, that was still not comforting to you in the slightest. In what possible way could torturing a favored pet of the Allfather end positively for the two of you?

But Loki didn’t miss the way you still stared with disapproval, just rolling his eyes as you finally made it to the cabin. “Do you know how long we’ve dealt with these little pests? When Thor got his first slingshot as a boy, what do you think he practiced it on? When I learned my first spells, what did I test them on? There is nothing new to this…”

“That’s awful.” You grumbled, though watching as Loki did this odd movement with his shoulders, his magic shifting over him so that he was suddenly dry again.

As he walked inside, you had to shake the snow off yourself the old fashioned way. Your dress and hair still damp from that and the ocean combined as you followed him inside, leaning your spear against the wall before closing the door. “So you could do that the whole time,” You commented as to his drying trick, though not really surprised by anything else right now.

He smirked a little, knowing what you were thinking. With a wave of his hand a couple of the candles also lit. “Oh, I didn’t do it that night in the cave. You were supposed to take pity and ask me to take off some of my wet clothes…of course they ended up off anyway didn’t they?”

You crossed your arms, just frowning as he unceremoniously opened the chest on the floor next, tossing the injured Muninn into it before slamming it back closed.

“I’ll deal with you in the morning,” Loki threatened in response to the resulting angry squawk, giving the chest a light kick before the noise inside silenced.

When he turned to look at you again, he only offered a dark smile. Though still looking tired as he started to remove his clothes.

You tried to keep your disapproving look strong even as you realized he was using no magic at all, removing his vestments piece by piece as if to taunt you into further watching.

But looking away would have just goaded him too wouldn’t it? Letting him know the sight of his body still did things to you. You couldn’t win either way as all of his clothes finally laid piled on the floor, no neatness this time as he went lay nude in the bed.

You stood there a further moment, really not knowing what to do. He didn’t deserve to be rewarded right now in your mind. But were you just supposed to walk right back out the door? You didn’t have the willpower for that either, not anymore.

He watched you lazily too, waiting. His voice was quieter now though as he did speak again. “If I’d wanted to sleep alone…I would have just stayed in Asgard.”

Your shoulders lowered a little at the softer words, but you didn’t know how much you really believed him. You finally did approach the bed however, removing your wet dress, and not missing the way his eyes moved across your body before you climbed in under the blanket beside him.

But you could also tell he was in no condition for love making, even as you felt his hand encircle one of your wrists, himself then pulling your hand up so your fingers fell into his hair.

He gave you an imploring look, making his intention clear even if unexpected. It was so strange, but you complied, starting to rub your fingers through his hair and along his scalp gently.

The way he clearly relaxed into the touch reminded you so much of a placated animal truly. And he even closed his eyes as you just continued stroking, letting the black hair work repeatedly between your fingers.

To drunkenly cross the vast breadth of space just for this minor affection, also risking exposure by his Father’s informants, was it telling you that he really was so reckless after all? Or…was this becoming a real need for him?

Were you becoming a need in his life?

You felt him line up his body with yours, flesh to flesh as he got further comfortable.

“Thank you.” You heard him say at last. Surprising you enough that you could find nothing to say in return.

You just kept on with your soft touches though, comforting the troublesome prince all the way until he finally fell asleep in your arms.

——————————

(Continued in next chapter here)

#loki #loki fanfic #loki smut #loki fluff #loki x reader #loki x y/n #loki x you #loki x oc #loki odison x reader #loki odinson #loki layfeyson x reader #loki lafeyson #loki laufeyson #loki laufeyson x reader #loki odinson x you #loki odinson x y/n #loki laufeyson x you #loki laufeyson x y/n

178 notes · View notes

homesteadchronicles · 3 years

Text

Original Writing Excerpt: “To Me”

Hello, my homies! I have an unexpected piece of writing to share with you all today, one not related to my known WIPs. Instead, this comes from the world I detailed here, one I’ve now been given permission to flesh out into a full-fledged story.

You don’t need to know the world in order to read, but I’ve provided the necessary context below in order to dive on in!

CHARACTERS:

Ero “Del’Gris” Idess: An intergalactic music idol in service to her agent, Kiladian Wellthane, who enlists her help in exposing his enemies’ corruption. Yoselle of the Starsea (”Ghost”): Ero’s bodyguard and long-time employee of Kiladian Wellthane whose unspoken feelings for Ero grieve him.

CONTEXT:

Ero and Yoselle have been dispatched by Kiladian to the Polaris Nightclub in order to secure information on the corrupt CEO of a pharmaceutical empire. When Ero botches her mission, she seeks comfort from a source both she and her target know can only lead to complications.

THE EXCERPT:

You are a specter: ethereal, immaterial, insignificant. She is a spotlight: illuminating, enticing, unyielding. These two halves cannot hold one another. These pieces fit different puzzles. But she needs something to elucidate and you did not hallucinate her invitation to centerstage. Still you skirt around the sidelines, flirting with shadows, fearful of exposure. She stands, a beacon in the clubhouse, awaiting your answer.

You refuse to reply.

Polaris, you convince yourself, requires better surveillance than the shoddy bodyguards provide it. Expensive liquor, lavish decor, and a distinct lack of security – the omen of emergencies. It was everything you loathed and Ero loved.

She didn’t seem to mind now, not that she ever had before. Why would she? She has you. Needs you. Wants you, a part of you thinks, hopes, refutes. Ero plays her role without shame. Flattery reserved a permanent space in her mouth and her lips make use of their eternal inhabitant to elicit information even when her hips were in motion.

Your place lies elsewhere. Astride. Afar. Procurer and protector both had their parts to play. Separately.

Then why does she keep staring at me?

It is your fifth circuit around the dance floor when you notice her attraction attention. Her gaze ought to be on your target, on Gentarou Hongou, on the mastermind of a corrupt pharmaceutical company. Her hand would bat his chest as her lashes bat her cheeks and he would indulge her as everyone always did. Their mission depended on his entanglement. Did she expect to seduce him with a half-given gaze?

Either Ero or Gentarou comes to the same conclusion, as she discreetly excuses herself to evacuate the floor and he does not even bother watching as she goes. You give chase, coming to a heel behind her as she reaches the dancing’s edge. Stress tugs her brows together. She has disappointed her target. Disappointed herself. Worse, you realize, she has disappointed Kiladian.

“You’re off your game,” you note. A comment and a question intermingle therein, indiscernible.

Ero maneuvers through the crowd with angered grace. Each foot falls just shy of stepping on another’s toes, the click of her heels on the metal beneath like a tongue snapping against bared teeth. “Hongou’s harder than I thought,” she mumbles, “and not in the way I need him to be.”

The bar comes quickly into focus as you follow her. It’s going to be a long night.

Ero glides into the shaky comfort of a barstool. Before you can intercept, she has the bartender concocting something with a name you won’t remember for a price you cannot fathom. Ero’s erratic when inebriated and adamant when infuriated – not a winning combo for their cause.

She beckons you over with a caress of the empty seat beside her and you stiffen. Your place is beneath behind her. But, for a moment, weariness cracks her mask and the lonely soul inside creeps out. “Ghost,” she drawls. Her fingers walk up your chestplate, eyes unblinking in unspoken expectation, and you will indulge her as you always have. “To me.”

The seat is filled before you can stop yourself.

Two drinks slide along the countertop and stop in front of them, one a glittering gray encrusted with crystal and the other a dusty yellow clouded by rising mist. Ero cradles the latter before acknowledging the former. “Oops. Looks like I ordered one too many.” Her tone holds no remorse, only mischief. She nudges the glass towards you. “Guess someone ought to keep me sober.”

You can’t deny that. Deny her. You drink.

Each sip is a burning kiss to your lips, searing all the way down until the sweetness kicks in thereafter. It’s easier to forget the sting when the aftertaste settles in. You swallow again. Again. Again, until you learn to love the flames, too.

Ero only toys with her order. It’s not her usual selection, not her Nightfire. The glass in front of her holds Del’Gris’ favorite - all flash and fruitiness - but no bite. Which means she believes the show must go on. Which means Del’Gris gets an encore.

You need to navigate this delicately. “Hongou gave you the slip?”

“He may as well have. Kiladian’s information was off – Hongou’s not involved.”

“You’re sure?”

Ero dips her head as if to nod before it droops in defeat. “Honestly? I don’t know. Making heads or tails of the man is more complicated than making eyes at him.” She retrieves the cherry inside her drink and rips it clean off the stem. “I’m not myself tonight.”

“That’s not true.” The words slip out before you can subdue them. An unfortunate error, but Ero appraises you with wide-eyed surprise and you wonder whether it was a blessing in disguise. “You were not Del’Gris tonight, true. Del’Gris holds every man captive in her grasp. But you were Ero tonight – and any glimpse behind the curtain is enough to fluster a lesser man like Hongou.”

Ero twists your words around in her mind like the stem she knots in her mouth. When she pulls the stem free, her answer spills out too. “You know me too well.”

Not as much as I’d like, you think. Still not enough to keep you safe. It is an unbidden - but honest - admission. Not one Ero would adhere to half-plastered and wholly penitent. You settle for “well enough to know when you’re not well.”

She scoffs into her cup, a bitter laugh against sweet liquor. “Can’t get any worse”. Ero raises her hand and requests another round of liquid courage: Nighfire on the rocks. It’s a slow burn, she told you once, reeking of booze and other bodies, just the way I like it.

You hadn’t liked it. Hadn’t liked the way her hair ensnared your shoulders, encircling you in her scent as you scraped her offstage. Hadn’t liked the lingering kindling of body heat. Hadn’t liked how much you dreamt of her touch afterwards.

The bartender brings her his poison and she tips it back in one go. Tipsy, but standing, Ero advances towards the dance floor. “Well, if our mission’s botched, must as well bust a move.” Half-lidded eyes hone in on you. “Don’t make me do it alone.”

There’s a plea beneath that tease, but the implications complicate your reaction. To stay would be wise. To go would be wine, a gradual inebriation, a delight today and a mistake tomorrow. A slow burn.

Noticing your hesitance, knowing your heart’s a mess, she approaches. “I’m not the only one unwell,” Ero whispers. Her tender denouncement strangles your judgment. “But we both have to choose health.”

She steps away. The crowd begins to swallow her, enclosing on all sides. Ero extends her hand to you. “Ghost,” she calls out. Her fingers curl inwards, a gambler clutching their stake. “To me.”

Your hand finds hers before you can stop yourself.

Polaris’ patrons shove you deeper into the throng of hedonism. Writhing bodies surround you on all sides, ushering you and Ero closer, closer, closer along to the beat of a song. You can’t make it out – not over the beat of your heart.

But Ero can. She leans into you, giggles sending shockwaves against your skin, and it’s then you realize: the woman on the soundtrack is Del’Gris, but the one in your arms is Ero.

In my arms. The thought locks into place before you can register that your arms are, in fact, around her. Mechanically? Yes. Uncomfortably? Undoubtedly. Neither of you seem to mind, if the way she slides her hands around your neck and nuzzles into its crook is any evidence.

Then again, you always were the problem. After all, what right have you to hold her after haunting her for so long?

“You’re overthinking it,” Ero says. You’re not the only one who knows the other too well. “Maybe I ought to take the lead.”

You both laugh at that, at yourselves, at everything that your twisted lives have led to because if you don’t laugh, you might both break. Then again, at least you’d crumble into one another.

Ero only leans back and leads on. Your hands keep her feet aloft, her back aligned. This imperfect rhythm, this imbalancing act, leaves you both in synchronized breathlessness.

Neon lights illuminate your mingling skin in a patchwork of discordant colors. They rise to wreath Ero in a heathen’s halo: green envy, violet ire, scarlet lust. The crowd around exalts her alias - “Del’Gris! Del’Gris! Del’Gris” - but Ero has only ever worshipped you.

Always the star, you muse, and I am but the planet trapped in orbit.

“They’re calling for their queen,” you tease.

“They’re calling for Del’Gris,” she clarifies, “but I believe someone requested Ero.”

“You must have heard a ghost.”

Whatever impish inclinations Ero might otherwise maintain were exorcised in an instant. Seriousness seats itself in place of playfulness, mouth thin and eyes taut. Her hand rises to graze his cheek. “Ghost you may be to everyone else, but you’re always Yoselle to me.”

You have been brutalized by mobsters, held for ransom by hitmen, and crushed by an atmospheric crucible more times than you can count, but nothing has ever taken hold of your heart half as hard as that. “I never mind playing the specter if it means shadowing you.” And it’s true. You would spend the rest of your days in obscurity if it meant skirting around her radiance.

But Ero has never been one to settle for second best.

“Oh, is that so?” That ruinous mischief reclaims her lilting smile as she presses herself inward, upward. “In that case,” she whispers and her breath is a phantom promise against your lips. “Ghost, to me.”

Your mouth finds hers before you can stop yourself.

#writing excerpt #original writing #my writing #writeblr #writers of tumblr #writers on tumblr #writer things #writing things #original wip #writer #writers #write #wip #my wip #project: falcrux #also yes #there is a blatant nonary games/zero escape reference in here #iykyk

32 notes · View notes

sami-at-ciela · 3 years

Text

Prompt 4: Baleful

Or: “MEN HAVE COOTIES. *Cooties not confirmed with certainty.”

Or: “Momma said there’d be days like this.”

Spoilers for Shadowbringers. Again. Because That’s where I am guys.

When Minfilia woke up that day, she was paralyzed by a feeling of dread, not even wanting to leave her bed due to a distinct hunch that terrible things were going to happen. Not extremely terrible, but terrible enough to make a girl not want to leave her room.

The group would move on eventually. This stop at the Crystarium was supposed to be brief. Terrified of the nebulous badness as she was, she knew she would have to leave her room eventually.

The first thing she did was open the door into Thancred’s face.

“Oh no, I-I’m sorry,” Minfilia stammered. Thancred wasn’t quite the type to explode into castigation, but sometimes the coldness she got from him was enough.

Thancred grumbled and rubbed his nose. “Maybe don’t open your door so fast next time?”

“I’m sorry,” she repeated. But how could I have known you were walking by?

“Fine.” Thancred dug into a pocket and dug out a bag of ammunition that had to be twice as large as usual. “Your homework for today.”

Minfilia accepted the bag and immediately noticed the heft. “How much is in here…?” she asked, even though she knew she shouldn’t have.

“Enough for the next mission,” Thancred said. “Go on.” With that, he walked off, looking stormy as ever.

Though the exchange hadn’t been completely negative, Minfilia couldn’t help but shudder. She was used to people being cold or thorny to her, sure, but the sting never quite dissipated completely. Shaking her head, she went to find a place to wait and imbue bullets for the next hour or so.

That place ended up being the stairs in front of the Ocular. It was a decent vantage point to people watch without being too distracted by commotion. Sighing, she took the first of many bullets out of the bag, called aether to her fingertips, and began to work.

Said work was swiftly interrupted by a racket from behind her. “You can’t throw me out of here! What’re you gonna do next time you want a private meeting? Look, you can’t even body block me, I could jump over your head!” The diatribe was followed by a shriek of “Who gave you permission to have me dragged out by security?!” and the slamming of the Ocular door.

Minfilia turned around to see Rhea still shouting insults at the Ocular door. “What, did you crap crystals out sideways this morning?!”

The door opened, the Exarch stuck his head out, said something that she couldn’t quite hear, and slammed the door again.

Rhea finally abandoned the Ocular door after a veritable roar of frustration, veritably fuming as she walked down the stairs, at least until she spotted Minfilia. “Oh, hi, Minfi. Sorry about the ruckus, but someone woke up with a crystal stick all the way up his-”

“Minfi?”

Calling out the nickname jarred Rhea out of her diatribe. “Er. Minfilia. Sorry. I just thought you deserved a cute nickname.”

Minfilia paused and mulled it over, a small smile coming to her face. The idea of a nickname was nice, a small bit of personalization for someone whose path was all laid out for her, even if that personalization was still from someone else. “I like it.”

“Good!” Rhea reached out to pat Minfilia on the head, and thought better of it. “Uh. I want to give you head pats, but do you even like them? I saw Thancred do it, but he too has a giant crystal stick somewhere unpleasant, so.”

“I don’t mind it.” Minfilia decided that was truthful; those occasional head pats from Thancred were something of a blessing. They felt nice, and for a brief moment, she wondered who else had been fortunate enough to receive a gentle touch from such warm hands.

“Fair. If I pat your head too hard, just let me know, okay?” Rhea administered two quick, measured pats.

“Oh!” Minfilia wasn’t expecting the pats even though she was. “Um, that wasn’t bad. Just different.”

“Also fair,” Rhea said. “I’ll give you better ones when I’m not contemplating blasting a hole in the Ocular door.”

“Why would you do that?”

Before Rhea explained, she peered in the distance and saw a familiar figure striding up to the stairs. “Hey, Alisaie, over here!” she called out with a wave.

Alisaie pivoted to face Rhea without missing a beat. With a remarkable quickness, she was in front of the duo on the stairs. “Rhea, Minfilia. Having a stair-sitting party today?”

Minfilia shrugged. “I thought it would be a nice place to work,” she said as she gestured with the bullet still in her hand.

Rhea gave a huff. “Yes. It’s in protest. The Exarch woke up cranky as crystal cat litter today, summoned me to argue about something stupid, and then kicked me out even though he started it. So he’s going to see nothing but my backside today.”

Alisaie snorted. “A lover’s quarrel?”

“What? No.” Rhea jolted, and the words fell out somewhat by accident. The truth was more complicated than a flat “no,” but she wasn’t going to go into that at this moment. “Maybe I should strip naked and dance in front of the door… except I think he might enjoy that, just a bit.”

“Right, lover’s quarrel it is then,” Alisaie said with a cheeky grin.

“Stoppat,” Rhea grunted, deliberately mashing the words together. She looked over to see Minfilia covering her mouth and obviously trying to hold back the giggles. “It’s okay, Minfi, someday you’ll find a man or woman or person in general who you want to punch but also smother in your bosom, just a little.”

“Minfi? Oh,” Alisaie said as she put two and two together. “You’re really not helping your case of it not being a lover’s quarrel, Rhea.”

“Stoooooop,” Rhea whined, reaching forward to teasingly pull Alisaie’s ponytail but thinking better of it because, while Alphinaud would whine and squirm, Alisaie would take her hand off. “Well, anyway, what brings you out here? I’ve explained myself, and I can only assume that Minfilia’s out here because Thancred is being extra Thancred-y today. Right?”

Minfilia looked down, ashamed. “I opened a door in his face today.”

“That’s okay. He’s being a jerk, especially to you, and I’m mad at him,” Rhea said. “You can be mad at him too, you know.”

Alisaie cut in with her explanation. “Alphinaud woke up all aflutter because he had a dream where he had to paint… someone. He wasn’t clear about it but he was clearly disturbed, so I left him to panic on his own.”

“Let me guess, a nude painting?” Rhea asked.

“How did you know? I do believe he mentioned that,” Alisaie mused, raising her hand to her chin in the Leveilleur twins’ signature thinking position.

“Aww, baby’s having his first smutty dreams,” Rhea said before bursting into cackles.

Alisaie scrunched her nose up. “Rhea, that’s my brother. Gross.”

“Oh, to be young,” Rhea said through a sigh. She looked over to see Minfilia scrunching her nose up too. “Sorry. Minfi. How old are you again? I’m afraid I lose all sense of scale when people are younger than 18…”

Alisaie exhaled heavily before taking a seat on the stairs next to Rhea. “So, it seems we’re all having trouble with the boys in our lives today.”

“Boys?” Rhea snickered. “Yeah, boys. The Exarch’s man license is revoked for today.” She paused, her teasing grin fading. “Which, I think, was part of the problem we were arguing over.”

“What did you do to him?” Alisaie asked. “Actually, no, don’t tell me, I don’t want to know.”

On the side, Minfilia sighed and put her still un-imbued bullet back in the bag. “Things really do get more complicated as you get older,” she muttered.

“It’s true,” Rhea said. “But there’s more opportunities, too.” A pause passed as all three women slipped into their own heads, at least until Rhea realized something. “Have either of you had breakfast? I haven’t.”

Minfilia shook her head. “That’s right… all I did was take the bullets from Thancred and come here.”

Alisaie did the same. “I woke up late and took a walk to get myself alert. No breakfast yet.”

Rhea looked at Minfilia, shocked. “That man didn’t even point you to breakfast? Ooooh, he is in for it when I see him next.” At last, she stood up, folding her arms. “That’s it. We’re having a Girls’ Morning. All three of us are going out to breakfast, and then to the markets to window shop, or actually shop depending on your preference.”

“That… sounds nice,” Minfilia said, smiling softly. It sounded like a slice of a normal life, where friends grouped up and enjoyed each other’s company, which made the idea all the more appealing.

“I agree, though I may pass on the markets,” Alisaie added.

“I hear there’s new armor in stock,” Rhea teased. “Or, as they’re calling it these days, ‘glam.’”

“Everyone knows the best ‘glam’ isn’t in stores,” Alisaie countered as she stood up. “Well? Shall we?”

Minfilia stood up in turn and followed Rhea and Alisaie, listening to the two bounce off each other. The sense of dread from her awakening had dissipated, replaced by curiosity and a tentative joy. The respite would be brief, but she would savor the moments.

#ffxivwrite #ffxivwrite2021

9 notes · View notes

expensiveglasses · 3 years

Text

Charming chapter 6

Summary: Prince Jungkook was as infuriating as he was beautiful. In line to one day be king, he requested your guidance in the ways of his people. In turn he will make you laugh, give your family fine gifts, and become an invaluable friend. Unfortunately, he will also make you fall in love with him. But the most unfortunate thing of all was his betrothal…to Snow White

Pairing: Jungkook x Reader

Genre: Fluff, Fantasy, Angst, Snow white/au

Rating: NC-17

Word Count: 4590

Warnings: This is the chapter the warnings have been about. It’s a heavier chapter in the second half dealing with “death” and attempted suicide. Nothing is graphically described, but if you are sensitive to that subject matter, you may want to avoid the last few paragraphs.

Trigger warnings are TW: Major character “death” TW: Thoughts of suicide TW: Attempted suicide.

. .

A month had passed since Else’s wedding and the summer was slowly coming to an end. It made it easier to do chores when the air was cooler; more pleasant to sit outside and do the washing. Though you’d mostly neglected that for the last few weeks.

You hadn’t seen your friend as much since her marriage and so you’d spent even more time with the dwarfs and Snow in their cottage. The prince joined most nights, bringing food and humor with him. You’d quickly learned he was a master of terrible jokes and couldn’t help but like him all the more for it.

This morning your mother had sent you in search of berries. She claimed to want to make preserves, but you were wise enough to know she just wanted to go see a friend and gossip. You didn’t mind so much as you chose to dawdle around the edge of the forest, plucking blueberries from bushes and placing them in your basket.

You saw the prince making his way towards you long before he reached you. The sight of him made your insides feel funny, like little wings sweeping delicately against your ribcage and you bent down to survey a raspberry bush, plucking eagerly at the juicy red fruit.

“Good morning.” The prince greeted as he reached your side and you stood straight to gaze up at him.

“Good morning, Jungkook. You’re out very early today; normally I don’t see you until evening.”

“I finished my lessons early today.” He grinned, something mischievous in his twinkling eyes, and you felt that perhaps he’d snuck out before actually finishing his training.

“I hope you won’t get a tongue lashing for this.” You teased, moving further up the path towards a strawberry bush and plucking one to try. “Mmm, they’re amazing right now. Would you like to try one?”

You moved to take another bite of yours, but the prince was faster, grabbing your wrist and pulling the berry towards his mouth, allowing plump lips to encircle the rest of the berry and separate it from its calyx.

For a moment, everything stilled, your heart thumping wildly in your chest as his fingers remained delicately around your wrist. His gaze was wild; heated on yours as he stepped towards you. Heart racing, you let the end of the strawberry fall from your finger tips and onto the ground.

“Sweet.” He murmured, licking the juice from the corner of his mouth and your vision was pulled toward the sight before you quickly looked away.

The prince paused before stepping back, staring down at the strawberry bush and into your own basket. “You’re picking berries this morning? May I help?”

“Yes, of course.” You nodded, turning back to the strawberry bush and plucking fresh fruit to drop into your basket. “There’s more in the forest.” You signaled, beginning to walk and he followed after you.

“What were you studying today?” You asked as you began to pick from new bushes. Jungkook stood nearby, loading his hand with blueberries.

“Foreign politics and language specifically. These are topics that I studied in school as well, but my father wants me polished in the policies of our own kingdom, of course.”

“Are foreign policies of other lands so different from our own?” You asked, walking closer to him so he could drop the berries in his hands into your basket.

“It depends on the country.” He mused, crouching low to pick from more difficult spots. “The ones nearby are very similar, but across waters it begins to diversify greatly. Of course, all people are human at their core, intrinsically the same if we’re all torn down to the beginnings, but traditions and belief systems vary. It’s good to have a working knowledge of any land we may come to have dealings with.”

“Ah, the duties of a king.” You smiled softly as he stood to his full height beside you. The prince drifted closer to you as you weaved your way deeper into the forest. Close enough that you could feel the graze of his sleeve against yours, smell the fresh saffron against his tunic.

“Duty, I find, is a very inconvenient thing.” He looked at you and you pondered his words curiously.

“What do you mean?” You inquired gently, slowing your pace to match his.

“Always to be bound to one’s duty, never to allow the heart to decide.”

You paused a moment. “And what does the heart wish for?” You whispered, looking up at him. He’d come to a stop and you stilled as well, turning to face him.

“I think you know.” He returned just as softly. The weight of his words was heavy to bear; it brought with it a joy you’d felt was impossible. You had hoped he would say something like that; that he’d been feeling what you were feeling. You were flush with warmth at the admission.

“But your heart cannot have its desires?”

He smiled sadly, eyes softening as he looked at you. “Duty, you see. It seems it bends for no one.”

“I wish it would.” You admit timidly and he sighed, taking your hand carefully in his own.

“As do I.”

“Snow says we mustn’t worry now, after all, the future continues and we do not know what it holds.” You smiled, feigning an optimism you didn’t really feel. If even a prince could not choose for himself, why should you feel things could be any different for you?

At least you knew you weren’t the only one wishing.

“Should we go see her?” Jungkook smiled and you nodded. He released your hand and you strode ahead of him, leading him further into the forest and eventually into the clearing that held the dwarf’s cottage.

Snow was not alone when you arrived; however, and the two of you stood startled in the doorway as you took notice of her with a young man by the hearth of the fire. They looked up at the two of you as the door swung open and Snow smiled, coming to pull you into a hug.

“You’ve come!” She cried happily. “I was so hoping you would. I wanted to introduce you both to my friend, Diterich. He’s the one I told you of, who saved me.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, your majesty.” Diterich said, bowing low. “Ma’am.” He said, inclining his head towards you and you smiled in return.

He was a handsome young man, dark, shaggy blonde hair and bright green eyes. He was well built and had a bow strapped to his back; you wondered if that was his profession. He was certainly not close to Snow in rank, but he held himself as though he were made for something more than his station in life and you liked that quiet confidence. You supposed Snow did too, based on the way she looked at him.

Love sick. It made your heart ache for her and you looked carefully over at Jungkook. Destiny had not been kind to any of you.

“I’ve heard of your kindness to my friend.” Jungkook said, “When everything is well again, you should be rewarded.”

Diterich shook his head, staring down at Snow, the same look of love she’d bestowed on him, and smiled. “With all due respect, your majesty, I didn’t do it for reward.”

“I like you all the better for it.” Jungkook smiled. “How did you come to find her, though?”

“Snow sent me a communication through letter. One of the dwarfs found me in Snow’s kingdom, at her direction, and delivered it personally. I am indebted to him. It has given me much comfort to see her safe and well. I am only sorry I could not bring her some of her clothes.”

Snow waved his comment away. “It is a small inconvenience. Besides, I am far happier to have your company than to have all my dresses back. All three of you. Will you be staying for supper?”

She looked to both Jungkook and yourself and you smiled with a shrug. “It’s still so early in the day so it’s hard to say, but I imagine I’ll be able to spare some time this evening.”

“I should hope so! By the way, did you happen to notice if there are any gooseberry bushes nearby? I want to make a pie tomorrow.”

You nodded, pointing out the window. “Yes, in fact, there are some just before the tree line. Over there.”

“Wonderful!” Snow cried, clapping her hands together. “Then tomorrow you can expect some pie.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it.” You said.

“Snow has said you’ve been friends since childhood.” Jungkook said suddenly, “but I never did ask how the two of you had met.”

He inspected them with the same interest you had and you wondered if he could see what you could. The prince was intelligent, so you imagined the shared looks of longing had not been missed. Diterich looked to Snow before answering.

“We met as children. My father was a huntsman in their court and I was raised to take his place. As children, we would play in the castle together. We got into trouble a lot,” he grinned, “a princess wasn’t meant to be wrestling with a common boy. Kindred spirits, my mother would say. When my father passed, I took his place as a huntsman in the royal court. Youngest in Vildüngan history.”

His chest puffed as he said it and you smiled. “Your family must be very proud.”

He nodded, expression dropping suddenly. “My mother and sister are all I have left. They’re in hiding, though. As am I. The queen found out about the pig’s heart and ordered my head. It’s why I came here; to warn Snow.”

You looked to the princess in alarm, but she smiled at you with all the serenity of one whose life isn’t in perpetual danger. “She doesn’t know I’m here.” Snow assured, squeezing your arm. “All is well.”

“We need to start thinking of ways to get you back to your kingdom. You’re its rightful heir!” Jungkook insisted and she tutted, moving away from the hearth of the fire and towards the kitchen to keep her hands busy.

“It will all work out somehow, I have faith.” She replied flippantly and Jungkook looked angry.

“Why won’t you take this seriously?” He chastised. “She wants you dead and is actively seeking your heart. Let my father help, we can do something; go against her.”

“No.” She insisted, turning sharply to look at him. “I don’t want anyone else to be pulled into this. No one need inconvenience or injure themselves on my behalf. I’m already uneasy with how many people are involved; how many lives are directly affected because of this…I won’t have anymore.”

“But,” Jungkook began once more but was silenced as she frowned at him.

“I said no, Jungkook.”

The prince sighed, rubbing at his forehead in frustration. “Fine, I can’t make you take your safety more seriously. I must return home.” He bowed before turning towards the door and you looked from Snow back to Jungkook before following him out into the clearing, basket full of berries swinging from your arm.

“Jungkook!” You called, rushing to his side. He didn’t slow so you walked with him through the forest in silence. Just as the trees were thinning, Jungkook slowed his pace, sighing loudly.

“I’m afraid I won’t be seeing you again until the day after next.” At your questioning look, he proceeded. “My father and I are expecting foreign dignitaries this evening and we will play host until tomorrow evening as well. I won’t have time to spare while they’re here.”

“Duty, as you say.” You smiled. He returned your soft smile, nodding and reaching for your hand.

“I will be seeing you.” He said, leaving a soft kiss on the back of your hand before making his way back up to the castle. . .

Your mother was in the garden when you returned, cutting cucumbers from their stalks. She looked up as you came through the gate, waving you over.

“Why did it take so long to pick berries?” Your mother asked with a frown, taking the basket from your arms.

“I went to say hello to the dwarfs while I was in the area.” You said, bending down beside her and helping to dig up carrots at her direction.

“You’re there too often these days; what business does a young woman have visiting 7 old men so often? Aren’t they in the mines at this time of day anyway?”

You sighed, brushing hair from your face as you dropped a couple carrots into the basket beside your mother. “Well, now that Else is married I don’t always have anyone to visit.”

Your mother frowned. “Perhaps you should think of getting married soon.” She said and you looked up at her startled.

“Get married? It’s not that easy, mother. I’m not even being courted.”

She gave you a look, eyes shifting over to the house. “If you gave a little more effort where prudent, perhaps that wouldn’t be a problem.”

You sighed, shaking your head and pulling another carrot from the dirt. “I’m not in love with Peter.” You whispered.

Your mother laughed, wiping her hands on her skirt. “Love? We don’t have that luxury, my dear. You know that.” She stood, hands extended for the basket full of vegetables and you handed it up to her before standing and grabbing your own basket with berries. “I expect you here all day tomorrow. You’ve been neglecting your duties and it’s time you start preparing to run a house of your own. Time waits for no one, you know.”

She walked into the house and you watched after her, chewing on your bottom lip as you willed the tears of frustration back. You wiped your hands on the apron over your dress before walking into the house and out of the sun.

Peter and your father were in the corner, both working with new fabrics. Peter looked up at you, offering you a small smile before returning to his work and you sighed softly to yourself. Why couldn’t you just love him? . .

Your hands were sore. You’d been at the river all morning with your mother washing linen. It had been your job to beat the linen with a poss-stick as your mother insisted that’s what youth was for. You wondered if you’d ever be able to move again. What good was youth if it was wasted away on chores?

Hands feeling like they might just fall off, you wrung out the last of the fabrics before dropping it in your basket and heaving this onto your hip. Your mother chatted aimlessly as you walked from the riverside and around the edge of the forest towards your home.

You cast your eyes up towards the castle as it came into view around the bend of the trees and wondered idly what Jungkook was doing today. You knew he was entertaining foreign dignitaries, of course, but you couldn’t even imagine what that entailed. Perhaps they were holed up in some room discussing trade.

“Can you imagine living there?” Your mother asked, taking note of your gaze. You sighed, looking from her and back to the castle.

“Only in our dreams, mother.”

She hummed, shifting her own laundry basket in her arms. “If we lived in a place like that, I imagine we could have someone else tend to our washing. Our cooking, too. What must their food be like, hmm?”

You chuckled, kicking a pebble across the dirt path. “I suppose we’ll never know. Grand, I imagine, though. Warm potatoes and bread, sweet dessert’s whenever we ask for them. I would eat everything and die happy if I were them.”

“Thanks to the prince, we can have some share in their prosperity.” Your mother commented and you could see her looking at you from the corner of her eye. “He’s been very generous, as of late.”

You nodded; eyes trained on the dirt path beneath your feet. “Yes, he has been very kind.”

“He was never so kind when he was a boy. I wonder at the change.” She remarked and you wondered if she suspected more than she let on. She’d never seen the two of you together; aside from when he and his father had visited your home a few months ago.

“Perhaps he had a very good education.” You said as the roof of your home came into view. “Rumor has it he went to a school for training.”

“Rumor, you say?” She asked and you nodded, pushing through the gate in front of your house.

Conversation stopped then as the two of you went about hanging the laundry from the lines and working in the garden. Peter and your father were working on mending clothing in the home, so you didn’t feel like discussing the king and his son in their presence. It seemed your mother was also of the same mind set.

As the sun waned and the evening became cooler, Peter left your home with goodbyes and well wishes. You were only just finishing supper when the wind outside began to howl. Your father peaked his head outside the door and you watched as you ladled stew into bowls.

“A storm is approaching.” He commented softly. “I must make sure the animals are secured.” He left the home to the small stable behind your house and you listened as the wind whistled loudly from outside the walls.

“We’ve not had rain in a while.” Your mother said, helping you to bring the food to the small table. “It will be good for the crops.”

The storm raged loudly through the night, rain pounding against the timber frame of your home. It was difficult to sleep with all the noise; thunder and lightning bursting loudly across the sky. You could hear your father snoring from the small room next to yours and it soon lulled you into a fitful sleep. . .

Mornings after a storm were your favorite. The calm as opposition to the fierce raging of wind the night before a reminder that brighter days always followed the rain. You’d managed to convince your mother to allow you to check on the dwarfs this morning. You imagined they were mostly protected from the elements in their place among the trees. Even so.

After a quick breakfast of pottage, you dressed and made your way towards the forest. The sun was already sitting comfortably in the sky, illuminating the crystal blue sky and you listened happily to the sounds of birds singing as you walked through the fields.

You found, to your surprise, the prince already waiting by the forests edge. He sat upon a boulder; legs draped out in front of him as he pulled blades of grass apart as distraction. He looked up as your footsteps roused his attention, smile spreading across his lips.

“Y/N.” He beamed, standing and coming to meet you.

“I’m surprised to see you so early!” You exclaimed. “Won’t your father be missing you?”

“Actually, he and our guests drank well into the evening. They will be spending the next few hours recovering in bed.” He said with a roguish grin and you chuckled, making your way into the forest.

The prince followed quickly. “Did you not drink yourself, your majesty?” You teased and he smiled at you.

“I did, but only a little. I knew I wanted to use the opportunity to see you.”

You looked away with a small chuckle, smoothing hair away from your face.

“Well, here I am.” You smiled. Before you could continue, there was a heavy rustling in the trees and both you and Jungkook stopped, watching with unease as something came crashing through the branches.

To your surprise; it was the dwarfs who came rushing into sight and they stopped suddenly, panting before you.

“Y/N, your majesty!” Doc gasped, clutching at his rounded belly as he took deep steadying breaths. The panic in his tone was palpable and your back straightened in alarm.

“What’s wrong?” You asked. Jungkook seemed just as tense from their unusual greeting and you waited with baited breath for your friends to continue.

“It’s Snow.” Doc finally said and your alarm rose.

“What of her?” The prince asked sharply and all eyes turned to him. The dwarfs were still breathing heavily from their run; disrupting the usual quiet of the forest.

“Your majesty!” Sleepy blubbered, hardly able to contain himself. “Snow has died.”

“What?!” You gasped, eyes swiveling desperately to each face, each as stricken as the next.

“How?!” The prince demanded and Doc was quick to try and calm the atmosphere.

“She has not died.” He pacified. Your chest was so tight you thought it might burst. How could someone possibly die and not die all at the same time? “She’s been put under a spell; a sleeping spell.”

“I don’t understand.” Jungkook said tersely. You’d never seen him look so distraught.

“Allow me to explain.” Doc continued, “An old hag came to the cottage when we were away. She had a basket of apples. I’m unsure how, but Snow came to acquire one.”

“It was poisoned and that foolish girl took a bite.” Grumpy cried furiously.

Doc tried once more to continue, but Happy spoke first. “We chased the hag, but it was difficult in the storm. Chased her up the mountain but she slipped and fell off. It was the queen, your majesty. It was her stepmother.”

“Did you capture her?” Jungkook asked angrily, back ramrod straight as he paced back and forth. “Did you tie her up to be tried for her crimes?”

“No need,” Bashful said, shaking his head. “The queen is dead. She died from the fall.”

“What of Snow?” You rasped, “where is she?”

“That’s why we were coming for you, your majesty.” Doc said once again. “It was old magic the queen used; ancient. Unless she can find true loves kiss, she’ll remain asleep forever. We can take you to her.”

“True loves kiss?” Jungkook asked, voice cracking in his grief.

The dwarfs nodded. “It’s the only cure.” Sneezy bemoaned. “That’s why we came to find you, your majesty.”

“Me?” Jungkook asked, looking to you and back to the dwarfs.

They looked to you; gazes filled with pity before Doc spoke once more. “You are her betrothed, your majesty. If not you, then who?”

The pain in your chest was severe. Fracturing from the loss of a friend; ripping apart as the prospect of losing the one man you truly loved loomed like a shadow over you.

“What do I have to do?” He whispered and you looked up at him.

“True loves kiss.” Dopey murmured, eyes shifting over to you sadly and then back to the prince.

It was silent for what felt like eternity, the gravity of the situation sinking in and you felt buried under the weight of it; the forest floor waiting to accept you. The prince looked to you, tears already in his eyes, but your own vision of him quickly blurred.

“I have to try.” Jungkook choked and you could feel your heart break a little more, “she’s one of my closest friends. I can’t sit back and do nothing; I couldn’t live with myself. I have to try.”

“I understand.” You murmured. “What if you’re able to wake her?”

Jungkook paused, his eyelashes fluttering closed, a line drawing between his eyes. “Let’s not think about it right now. I have to go.” He gave you one last glance before darting further into the forest with the dwarfs and out of sight. Was it possible to die from a broken heart? You were sure the question had been asked before…you were also sure the answer was yes. Your heart ached in a way you’d never imagined it could.

The love of your life was running to the side of another woman, and though you knew his reasoning was righteous and sound, you ached for the inevitable outcome. A prince was meant to be with a princess. This was no fairy tale, not for you, at least. You can’t always have what you want.

But as you stood there in the grass, surrounded by your broken dreams, you mourned what you could never have had. Even if Snow had not eaten the apple, even had she not been born at all, you would never have been given your heart’s desire; your class was decided before you were born and you would do well to remember it.

When Snow awoke, as she inevitably would, you would be left to watch them marry. Worse still, your father would likely be commissioned to make Jungkook’s wedding clothes and you would be expected to help. That was a bitter truth you could not swallow. To carry the wedding clothing of the man you were desperately in love with…only for him to wear them with someone else.

You could not do it.

Your feet began to take you before your mind could catch up. The dwarves’ home, tucked delicately between the trees and the stream. The lighting surrounding the cottage was dim despite the morning hour, the house dark in the absence of the once warm lighting; filled with the dwarfs and Snow’s laughter and song.

Now it felt as empty as your heart. The evening turned chilly, the storm from yesterday taking with it the sun from the late summer and you shivered at the thresh hold, lifting your hand carefully to push against the door.

With a soft creak, the door swung open and you glanced inside. In their haste, everything had been left exactly as it was. An uncooked gooseberry pie sat on the counter top, flour strewn across. The fire in the fire place had long gone out. And there, by the table, an apple with one bite.

You stood in the door way a moment, staring down at the beautiful red skin of the nearly pristine apple. Contemplating. You could not bear to face a future without him in it.

With three quick strides, you picked up the apple and ran from the house, seeking out the privacy the trees afforded you. Not far from the home, in a particularly dense part of the forest, you stood staring down at the beautiful, red fruit.

A choice, so simple yet so difficult. One bite; you knew that’s all it would take…but was it really worth it? The light was fading fast this deep in the forest and you shivered, looking around in the darkness.

You thought of Jungkook again, of his handsome, smiling face. His kind and gentle heart, his loyalty and good nature. Was he with Snow White now? Had she already woken up? He was no longer your Jungkook; forever the kingdoms Jungkook and your heart wept.

You wouldn’t even be missed.

Staring down at the apple you closed your eyes, breathing slowly out of your nose before bringing it to your lips and taking a bite. It was bitter, acidic, and it burned. You coughed, dropping the apple to the ground and fell to your knees, spluttering, eyes watering as your tongue swelled and you felt your blood turn to ice in your veins.

Everything hurt, your limbs felt like they were made of fire, burning, burning, burning and then black.

Here’s the second to last chapter! The 7th is already finished and in editing. I hope you loved this chapter as much as I loved writing it and I can’t wait to hear from you! <3

#jungkook scenarios #jungkook fanfic #jungkook angst #jungkook fluff #bts jungguk #bts jeon jungkook #jeon jungkook

19 notes · View notes

sunkissedarcher · 4 years

Text

TITLES & EPITHETS OF APOLLO

Over thousands of years, the deity known as Apollo has gained many different names he’s been called by, possibly due to the fact that not only was he one of the most important and complex/diverse of the Olympians, but also one of the individuals with the most domains attributed to him.

~ Roles ~

In Greco-Roman mythology, Apollo appears sometime after the Bronze Age; there is no surviving information of him prior to that; it’s sometimes believed that Artemis was originally depicted as a single goddess separate from him and he was later made her brother. Some claim there’s evidence to suggest that she evolved from/is identified with Britomartis who, to the Minoans, was the “Mistress of Animals” and in her earliest depictions was accompanied by the “Master of Animals”, a male god who had a hunting bow as his attribute, who may or may not have been a companion or her lover (very early versions of Artemis did not refer to her as a virgin; she was said to have had lovers and possibly even children). Apollo is the only major Greek god whose primary name remained the same when the Romans re-imagined them in their image after the rise of the Roman Empire.

Although Apollo’s origins are not certain, it is known that he was not worshiped at Delphi before the 8th century. It is believed that he came either from somewhere north of Greece or from Asia. One of his most common epithets is Lykeios, and Homer's lliad connects him with Lycia. In that epic he is an enemy of the Greeks, but other than his support for Troy there and a few other notable instances, Apollo was usually characterized as being impartial in politics. All the Greeks appeared to worship and respect him. There are also many oracles of Apollo in Asia Minor. But his Asian origin remains unproved. How and why he became a prophetic god in Greece is not known, but he is so from the earliest records.

In Roman religion. Apollo was introduced early into Italy, partly through Etruria and partly through the Greek settlements in Magna Graecia, but he was never properly identified with a Roman god. He was first introduced as a god of healing, but soon became prominent as a god of oracles and prophecy. In Virgil he figures in both these characters, but especially as the giver of oracles; the Cumaean Sibyl was his priestess; Sibyl, at the time, being a name simply meaning ‘prophetess’ and used as a generic term for oracles. In Virgil's Eclogues, Apollo appears also as the patron of poetry and music. The oldest temple to him in Rome was erected in 432 BC. His cult was further developed by the emperor Augustus, who took him as his special patron and erected to him a great temple on the Palatinc.

Apollo is in most sources recognized as the Greek god of archery (of which he and Artemis are both credited as inventing in some myths), light, hunting, music, poetry, dancing, prophecies and oracles, truth, order, medicine/healing and plagues/diseases, purification, civilization, knowledge and learning, as well as education (particularly in the arts) and science. Apollo was also known for his capacity to help guide children through growth and became known as the protector of the young who presided over the education, health and protection of children/youths, most often with prepubescent/adolescent boys, while his sister fulfilled the same role for young girls.

First and foremost, Apollo was seen as an Oracular god who ruled over prophecy and knowledge of the future, and as the god of light. After he was already established as an Olympic deity, Apollo’s domain was either merged with or he outright replaced the Titan of the Sun, Helios, which is where his title as the “sun god” began and possibly when the epithet Helius was given to him (around 3rd or 5th century BC, depending on the source). Around this time he started being depicted as driving the “solar chariot”, which was Helios’ main attribute. He is seen also as the god of warding off negativity and misfortune; various epithets refer to him as an “averter of evil,” and this is possibly due to his role in the protection of crops, as well as the god of plagues and diseases, he is sometimes referred to as Apollo Parnopius or the Parnopion (”God of Locusts”) for driving locusts away; or causing them as locusts are often associated with disease and calamity. Delphic Apollo was known as the patron of seafarers, foreigners, and the protector of fugitives and refugees (my speculation is this is related to his mother seeking ‘refuge’ on Delos from Hera’s wrath while pregnant when nowhere else would accept her), and numerous epithets elude to the many roles he played in Ancient Greek pantheism.

An important pastoral deity, Apollo was also the patron of herdsmen (shepherds, goatherds, cowherds) and is depicted as a minor god of agricultural protection over these herds, flocks and crops, which numerous stories refer to, and field plowing (see the times he was made mortal and tended to fields and crops on behalf of King Admentus, or the story of a baby Hermes stealing his sacred cattle). Protection of herds, flocks and crops from diseases, pests and predators were some of his primary duties, as well as encouraging the founding of new towns and establishment of civil constitution. He is associated with dominion over colonists. He was the giver of laws, and his oracles were consulted before setting laws in a city. As the god of Mousike (art of Muses), Apollo presides over all music, songs, dance and poetry. He is the inventor of string-music, and the frequent companion of the Muses, functioning as their chorus leader in celebrations. The lyre is a common attribute of Apollo.

As stated above Apollo was not originally viewed as a Sun God, nor was his sister the Moon Goddess, those roles belonged to the Titans Helios and Selene respectively, but eventually they began being viewed as synonymous and their origins conflated, to the point the Titans were phased out and replaced with the twin archers, sometimes seen as their godly counterparts or successors after the overthrowing of the Titans, when in reality Helios and Selene were some of the few deities who did not side with Cronus in the Titanomachy. It should be noted that for many deities, they hold minor or secondary roles in other fields than their primary; Poseidon is the ‘god’ of the sea, Oceanus was the ‘titan’ of the sea yet Apollo and many other gods are still seen as protectors of sea voyagers, and while Hera is the goddess of marriage, family, fertility, etc. her mother Rhea was the titan of female fertility and motherhood, and Hymenaeus (sometimes depicted as a son of Apollo, or in one bizarre circumstance as his lover) was a god of marriage ceremonies, inspiring feasts and song. Just like multiple Ancient Greek and Roman cities had more than one patron/protector god, so can one field of worship have more than one deity that represents it.

Apollo in some cases was not just seen as the Greek god of male youth, but of male beauty as well; he was stated to be the most characteristically ‘Greek’ of all the gods ironically enough given his unclear origins, and was often used as the perfect embodiment of a Kouros - a beautiful but athletic youth depicted as long-haired and beardless (Ancient Greek boys would grow their hair long until reaching adulthood; thus Apollo’s depiction as both beardless and long-haired pictures him as a youthful god, perhaps just on the cusp of adulthood). As a Kouros, Apollo embodied youthful but mature male beauty and moral excellence, which combined with his association to the beneficial aspects of civilization (healing, music, education, city-building, flock tending, sun/sunlight and prophecy, archery (but not war or hunting) and youth) may have been one of the biggest factors in how much the Greeks cherished him and how many monuments, epithets, and areas of duty were assigned to him.

~ Greco-Roman & Celtic Epithets ~

Sun & Light

Aegletes: “Light of the Sun”, or “the Radiant God”

Phoebus: Apollo’s chief epithet was Phoebus (literally “Bright” or "Shining"). It was very commonly used by both the Greeks and Romans for Apollo's role as the god of light. This also connects him with his maternal grandmother, the Titan Phoebe, the female variant of the name which is also applied to his twin sister Artemis.

Helius: Literally “Sun” - possibly becoming attributed to him when he took on the role previously fulfilled by Helios.

Lukêgenês: “Born of Light”

Lyceus: “Light” - The meaning of the epithet "Lyceus" later became associated with Apollo's mother Leto, who was the patron goddess of Lycia and who was identified with the wolf.

Phanaeus: “Giving or bringing light”

Sol: Latin for “Sun”

Thermius: “Warm”

Wolf

Lycegenes: Literally “Born Of a wolf” or “Born of Lycia”

Lyceius: Similar to or synonymous with ‘Lyceus’; a surname of Apollo with an uncertain meaning. Possibly from the word ‘Lukos’, which would give it the meaning “The Wolf-Slayer”, others from “Luke”, which would give it the meaning “The Giver of Light.” Or it could mean someone from the country of Lycia. Surviving passages indicate it could be any of the three.

Lycoctonus: “Wolf” and “To Kill”

Origin/Birth

Cynthius/Kynthius: Literally “Cynthian/Kynthian”; Apollo’s birthplace was atop Mount Cynthos (or Mount Kynthus) on the floating island of Delos; his sister has a similar name attributed to her.

Cynthogenes: “Born of Cynthus”

Delius: “Delian/of Delos”, someone born on Delos; the name Delia is applied similarly to his sister.

Didymaeus: “Twin”, a name attributed to he and Artemis together.

Epaktios: “God of the Coast”

Epibatêrios: “Leader of Sailors”

Latôios: “Son of Leto”

Pythios “Of Python”

Sauroktonos: “Lizard Slayer”, likely a reference to his killing of the monster Python.

Tityoktónos: “Slayer of the Giant Tityos”. Tityos was a giant in Greek mythology and the son of Elara and Zeus. Still scorned by the affair of her husband with Leto, she sent the giant to rape Leto and he was subsequently slain by the protective Apollo and Artemis. As punishment after death, he was laid out in Tartarus where two vultures would torture him by feeding on his liver, which grew back every night. This is similar to the punishment of Prometheus.

Places/Worship

Acraephius: Literally “Acraephian”, from the Boeotian town of Acraephia, reputedly founded by his son Acraepheus.

Actiacus: “Actian”, after Actium, one of his primary places of worship, a town in Ancient Acarnania.

Delphinius: “Delphic”, after Delphi, the location of the Oracle of Delphi, but also relating to dolphins. One Minoan origin story describes Apollo transforming into a dolphin and intercepting a pirate ship of Cretans, turning back into himself, and convincing the pirates to become his priests, and carrying them back to Delphi with him (possibly in dolphin form).

Epactaeus: “God worshiped on the coast” in Samos.

Erythibios: “Of the Mildew”. An epithet bestowed on a temple dedicated to him by the Rhodians.

Hebdomagetês: “The 7th of Every Month”

Hecatombæus: “Sacrifice of 100″

Hyacinthia: “Hyacinth”. A festival celebrated at Amyclae by the Spartans in honor of Apollo Actius, and in honor of the death of his young lover Prince Hyacinthus/Hyakinthos, who in some variants of the story was a Spartan Prince.

Leucadius/Leucadios/Leucates/Leukates: “From the Leucas”. A surname of Apollo deriving from Leucas (now known as Lefkada). From λευκός (leukos) meaning “White” as well as “Bright, Clear, Brilliant”. Also the name of Leukadios, the son of Icarius and Polycaste, who according to myth, was also said to be the eponym of the island.

Pythius: From the region around Delphi, related to Python who was slain by Apollo. For this reason, his priests are often known as the Pythian priests.

Semne: “Holy/Revered”

Smintheus: “Sminthian”, or “Of the town of Sminthos,” near the Troad town of Hamaxitus.

Spodios: “Sacred Altar Ash”

Thymbraios: “Of Thymbra.” A surname of Apollo, likely a localization, from Thymbra, which was a city near Troy that worshiped the god Apollo Thymbraios. It was in this altar that Troilus (son of Apollo or King Priam, depending on the myth) fled for sanctuary, possibly, and was beheaded on the altar omphalos by Achilles, incurring the wrath of Apollo.

Pastoral Duties/Agriculture

Arótrios: “Blesser of Farmers/Shepherds”

Meliae: “Of the Ash Tree,” Meliads were ash tree Nymphs, and the ones who nursed a young Zeus when Rhea saved him from being devoured by Cronus. This name is significant due to a grove that was sacred to Apollo in Colophon in Ionia. He also had a Nymph consort by the name of Melia, by whom he fathered the prophet and hero Tenerus.

Noumios: “Leader of Shepherds” or “Of the Pastures”

Nymphegetes: “Nymph” and “Leader”, for his role as a protector of shepherds and pastoral life, as Nymphs were regarded as minor female deities and personifications of nature.

Spærmeios: “Presiding Over Seed”

Patron Of The Young

Kouros: Apollo was sometimes referred to as the ideal image of a Kouros (a beautiful and athletic, beardless male youth). This name brings to mind the name of the female equivalent, “Kore”, which means young unmarried girl (maiden/virgin), and was also a name of Persephone. Kouros/Kore is also the name of a type of freestanding statue in Ancient Greek art of a young unwed male/female. In this, Apollo and Persephone can possibly be considered counterparts as archetypal Greek images of eternal youths.

Kourotróphos: “Nurturer of Children”. A name that was given in Ancient Greece to gods and goddesses whose properties included their ability to protect young people. Numerous gods are referred to by this epithet, including, but not limited to, Athena, Apollo, Hermes, Hecate, Aphrodite, Artemis, and Eileithyia.

Vulturius: “Of Vultures”. A surname and epithet given to Apollo after he saved a shepherd boy from death in a large, deep cave, by the means of vultures. To thank him, the boy built Apollo a temple under the name Vulturius.

Healing/Disease

Acesius: “Healing”. Acesius was the epithet of Apollo worshipped in Elis, where he had a temple in the agora.

Acestor: “Healer”

Akesios: “Of Healing” Culicarius: “Of Midges” or “Averter of Flies/Gnats”

Iatrus: “Physician”

Loimios: “Savior from Plague” Medicus: “Physician” in Latin. A temple was dedicated to Apollo Medicus in Rome, probably next to the temple of Bellona.

Oulios: “Of Sound Health”

Paean: “Physician, Healer” Parnopius: “Expeller of Locusts.” Locusts were a sign of plague and disease; this was a surname of Apollo under which he had a statue on the acropolis of Athens.

Sosianus: “Healer of Madness”

Viodóhtis: “Giver of Life”

Founder & Protector

Agêtôr: “Leader of Men”

Agônios: “Helper in Contests”

Agyieus: “Protector of the Streets”. A surname of Apollo, describing his role in protecting roads, streets, public places and homes.

Aktios: “Of the Foreshore”, possibly relating to Apollo’s status as patron and protector of sailors/seafarers (a duty he shared minimally with the chief sea god, Poseidon).

Alaios: “Wanderer”, perhaps a reference to his role as the founder of cities, or the patron of fugitives. Also the name of one of his temples, founded by the hero Philoctetes.

Alexicacus: Literally “Averter of Calamity”. A surname given by the Greeks to several deities; to Apollo, who was worshiped under this name by the Athenians, because he was believed to have stopped the plague which raged at Athens in the time of the Peloponnesian War.

Apotropaeus: “To Avert”

Archegetes: “Founder”. A surname of Apollo, under which he was worshiped at several places, such as Naxos in Sicily, and at Megara. The name either references Apollo as the leader and protector of colonies, or as the founder of towns in general.

Averruncus: “To Avert”

Boêdromios: “Rescuer”

Clarius: “Allotted lot”. A surname of Apollo, derived from his celebrated temple at Clarios in Asia Minor, which had been founded by Manto, the daughter of Teiresias, who, after the conquest of her native city of Thebes, was made over to the Delphic god, and was then sent into the country, where subsequently Colophon was built by the Ionians.

Embasius “Blesser of Those Embarking”

Epicurius: “To Aid”

Genetor: Literally “Ancestor”

Horios “Of Boundaries/Borders”

Kataibatês: “Glad Return”

Phuzios: “Protector of Fugitives”

Prostatêrios: “Protector Of Houses”

Soter: “Savior”

Theoxenios: “God of Strangers”/”Foreign God”, as the patron of strangers, foreigners and refugees.

Thyræus: “Of the Gate/Entrance”

Zosterius: “Savior”/”Encircling the World”

Appearance

Akersekomês: “Beautiful Hair”/”Uncut Hair”

Chrysokomes: “Golden Haired”

Comaeus: “Flowing Hair”

Daphnaios: “Bay Laurel”

Daphnephorios: “Bearing Laurel”

Dicerus: “Two Horned”

Karneios: “Horned”

Kýdimos Kouros: “Famous Youth”

Prophecy & Truth

Coelispex: From the Latin coelum, meaning “Sky”, and specere, “To Look At”.

Iatromantis: From the Greek words for “Physician” and “Prophet”, referring to his role as a god of both healing and prophecy.

Khrismohdós: “Chanting Prophecies”

Klêdônes: “Omen in Words and Sounds”

Leschenorius: “Converser”

Loxias: From λέγειν, “To say”, historically associated with λοξός, “Ambiguous”, or “Vague Prophecy”.

Manticus: “Prophetic”

Moiragetês: “Leader of the Fates”

Manticus: Literally “Prophetic”

Panderkes Omma: “All Seeing Eye”

Proopsios: “Foreseeing”

Thearios: “Of the Oracle”

Music & The Arts

Khrysolýris: “Of the Golden Lyre”

Kitharohdós: “Player of the Kithára”

Kýrios Orkhísæohs: “Lord of Dance”

Musagetes/Musegetes: “Leader”

Mousarkhos: “Leader of the Muses.” The same as above; Apollo was considered the leader of the Muses’ choir.

Tælǽstohr: “Sacred Teacher”

Archery/Hunting

Agraios: “Of the Wild”

Agréfs: “Hunter”

Aphetor/Aphetorus: “To Let Loose”

Arcitenens: Literally “Bow-Carrying”

Argyrotoxus: “Bearer of the Silver Bow”

Efpharǽtris : “Possessing a Beautiful Quiver”

Efrypharetres: “With Wide Quiver”

Hecaërgus: “Far-shooting”

Hecebolus: “He Who Attains His Aim”

Hekatos: “Shooter From Afar”/”Distant Deadly Archer”

Ismenius: Literally “Of Ismenus”; after Ismenus, the son of Amphion and Niobe, whom he struck down with an arrow after Niobe’s insult of his mother, Leto.

Khrysótoxos: “With Bow of Gold”

Toxovǽlæmnos: “Of Bow and Arrows”

Others

Aglaotimus: “Splendidly Honored”

Agnós: “Holy”

Amazonius: Pausanias at the Description of Greece wrote that near Pyrrhichus there was a sanctuary of Apollo, called Amazonius, with image of the god said to have been dedicated by the Amazons.

Anaphaios: “He Made Appear.” A surname of Apollo, after the island in the Cretan sea, Anáphi, which he was said to have made appear, from the light of an arrow, to the Agronauts as shelter from a storm.

Ánax: “King”

Asphetorus: “To Let Loose”

Cerdous: “Gainful”

Chrusaôr: “He Who Wields the Golden Sword”

Dekatêphoros “Bringer of Tithes”

Eleleus: “War Cry”

Enolmus “Of the Seat”

Enthryptos: “Of the Enthyrptos Cake”

Erasmius: “Beloved”

Genetor: “Ancestor”

Intonsus: “Uncut/Unshaved”

Isodetês: “He Who Equally Binds”

Kharopiós: “Bringer of Joy”

Korynthos: “Of the (Sacred) Corynthos Cake”

Kourídios: “Suitable Partner”

Kozmoplókos: “Holder of the World”

Mælioukhos Turannæ: “Ruling With Sweetness”

Mákar: “Blessed”

Marmarinos: “Of Marble”

Myricaeus: “Bearing Broom”

Napaeus: “Of Groves”

Naeominios: “New Moon”

Olviodotis: “Bestower of Bliss”

Pangkratis: “All Powerful”

Pantothalis: “Making Everything Bloom”

Patróös: “Father”

Philísios: “Friendly”

Prophítis: “Speaker for a God”

Psykhodotír: “Giver of the Soul”

Saligena: “Rising From the Sea”

Spelaites: “Of Grottos”

Thorates: “Engendering”

Celtic Epithets/Cult Titles

Apollo Atepomarus: “The Great Horseman” or “Possessing a Great Horse”. Apollo was worshiped at Mauvières. Horses were, in the Celtic world, closely linked to the sun.

Apollo Belenus: “Bright” or “Brilliant”. This epithet was given to Apollo in parts of Gaul, Northern Italy, and Nocrium (a part of what is now Austria). Apollo Belenus was a healing and sun god.

Apollo Cunomaglus: “Hound Lord”. The title given to Apollo at a shrine in Nettleton Shrub, Wiltshire. May have been a god of healing. Cunomaglus himself may originally have been an independent healing god.

Apollo Grannus: Grannus was a healing spring god, later equated with Apollo.

Apollo Maponus: A god known from inscriptions in Britain. This may be a local fusion of Apollo and Maponus.

Apollo Moritasgus: “Masses of the Sea Water”. An epithet for Apollo at Alesia, where he was worshiped as god of healing and, possibly, of physicians.

Apollo Vindonnus: “Clear Light”. From a temple at Essarois, near Châtillon-sur-Seine in present-day Burgundy. He was a god of healing, especially of the eyes.

Apollo Virotutis: Possibly “Benefactor of Mankind”. He was worshiped, among other places, at Fins d’Annecy (Haute-Savoie) and at Jublains (Maine-et-Loire).

( Sources: X X X X X X )

#Character Study {Meta}#The Shining One {About}

48 notes · View notes

fallenqueen2 · 4 years

Text

Seeing The Unseen [NaruShika]

When Naruto and Shikamaru turn 16, they gain the ability to see their soulmate’s Daemon.

Ao3 Link

Naruto was jolted out of his sleep by something heavy landing on his chest. Naruto was a second away from jumping up onto his feet, hand curled his Kunai ready for the attack but something stopped him. It wasn’t exactly a concrete feeling, but whatever had just landed on him was safe to every part of him and even the Kyuubi stayed silent, which was rare nowadays as he and Jiraiya were working on accessing his powers.

Naruto opened his eyes and was greeted by the most adorable small jet-black kitten that was curled up on his chest. The kitten was already fast asleep and was gently purring as it rose and fell with the rise and fall of Naruto’s chest.

“Oh,” Naruto whispered as he carefully, slowly cupped his hand around the small kitten and an amazed smile crossed his lips as he gently stroked the soft fur.

“What’s going on brat?” Jiraiya rumbled as he rolled onto his side, eyes blinking slowly to look at his student.

“I…My soulmate’s Daemon.” Naruto was in shock and awe as the kitten slept on unaware of the storm of emotions that it just unlocked inside of the 16-year old.

“Yeah? Congrats kid, what does it look like?” Jiraiya asked curiously as he pushed himself up into a sitting position.

Only the two souls that were meant for each other could see their Daemon’s, well up until the two souls connect and then the Daemon’s would become visible.

Naruto knew that for sure as had been present when Iruka-Sensei had met Kakashi-Sensei and a large silver furred dog with one eye covered and a small brown-furred dog with a scar over its nose came into view, tackling the other happily and both of his Sensei’s had turned a bright red colour as they stared at the other in shock and happiness. Naruto and his team had to a lot of threatening that day, after all, Kakashi-Sensei was a pervert and Iruka-Sensei was amazing, but it seems it turned out okay for them after everything.

“A black kitten, it’s so cute and small,” Naruto said in a shaky voice, as his vision got blurry before he used his free hand to swipe at his eyes.

“Cute and small… What’s wrong kid?” Jiraiya didn’t remember crying when his appeared on his 16th birthday.

“I just… I didn’t think I was going to have a soulmate.” Naruto admitted as he stayed lying down, unwilling to move lest it woke his soulmate’s Daemon up and this all disappeared like a dream.

“What? Why?” Jiraiya was awake now and had a bad feeling in his gut as he watched Naruto stare at his chest with wide, glassy eyes.

“I’m me, a Jinchūriki. I just… I just didn’t think I had one.” Naruto admitted, forcing back the horrid memories of his childhood and all the cruel villagers hurting him, mocking him, telling him that no one would want a monster as a soulmate. Some things he had managed to move past but that one thing, that he wouldn’t have a soulmate, that no one would want him stuck with him.

“Jinchūriki or not, everyone has one. You deserve the happiness that your soulmate can give you, don’t doubt that Naruto.” Jiraiya set his hand on Naruto’s hair, messing it up playfully earning a familiar yelp and pout. Naruto couldn’t help but smile as the kitten on his chest peeled one brown eye and stared at him offended that Naruto had disturbed his sleep.

Naruto cradled the Daemon to his chest as he stood up and giggled as the kitten yawned cutely before scaling his shoulders and plopped down onto his head, making itself comfortable in Naruto’s spiky hair.

“It’s sleeping on my head,” Naruto informed his amused Sensei who was looking at him with fondness that Naruto wasn’t sure was directed at him.

“That makes things easier,” Jiraiya mused before he set about gathering their things up so they could leave.

Naruto lifted his hand and gently scratched the Daemon who purred happily in return and Naruto felt happier and lighter than he had in a very long time.

For days this feeling stayed burning in his chest and his fondness for his soulmate’s lazy Daemon. The kitten barely walked if it could manage to get Naruto to carry him somehow and Naruto would rarely say no, in fact, he fully enjoyed having his soulmate’s Daemon cradled in his arms or draped over his head.

However, when it came time for another session of trying to get the Kyuubi under control, the Daemon was pacing and hissing impatiently from across the clearing as the violent red Chakra whipped around Naruto and the blond fought to control it.

Naruto was only half aware of what was happening as he wrestled for control over the Kyuubi’s angry Chakra and could only dig his newly formed claws into the dirt below him. Jiraiya staggered up from where he hit a tree when one of the tails had lashed out against him.

Naruto, however, became very aware when his soulmate’s Daemon lunged across the clearing towards him and panic bubbled up in his throat at the mere thought of hurting it, hurting his soulmate and getting rejected just as he feared he would be.

His soulmate’s Daemon stood its ground, hair raised on end as it stared down Naruto and the Kyuubi with intense brown eyes. The kitten was suddenly covered in darkness as it shifted and morphed until it was the size of a panther, but the roar it let out was one that rivaled the Kyuubi.

Naruto felt the Kyuubi’s hold on him slip and that was all he needed to yank control back to his side and slam the gates shut between them. Naruto gasped and panted as he collapsed onto the ground, steam rising off of him as the Kyuubi’s Chakra faded away.

Naruto huffed when a familiar tongue touched his cheek and he managed to turn his head to the side to look up at the panther.

“Kage,” Naruto whispered finally deciding on a name and something he had been missing about the kitten, or rather panther cub clicked into place and Naruto passed out with Kage curling around him protectively.

~~/~~

Shikamaru never really made a big deal of his birthday, but he could honestly say that he would have preferred not to be leaping from tree to tree to avoid some hunter-nin on his heels. Shikamaru had once again become a decoy to lead the hunter-nin away from the rest of his team. Shikamaru wasn’t sure why he had agreed to that if he was being honest, but he didn’t have much time left to think about it.

Shikamaru swore as the branch he was about to land on broke in half thanks to one of the hunter-nin’s blowing it to pieces with a fire Jutsu. Shikamaru twisted in the air and managed to land on his feet on the ground below. Shikamaru took off in a different direction, eyes darting side to side as blurry shapes of the hunter-nin overtook him.

Shikamaru skidded to a stop just as Kunai’s dug into the dirt inches away from his feet.

“It was brave if not suicidal of you to act as a decoy,” one of the hunter-nin called out, respect in his tone even as he and the rest of his team unsheathed their Kanata’s from their backs. Shikamaru winced at the sharp blades and weighed his options. Not many of them were left as he heaved a sigh, tipping his head back to look at the night sky.

Shikamaru was coming to terms with his death on the same day he was born when someplace a clock struck the same time he had been born and the world around Shikamaru shifted.

Shikamaru was shaken off balance and landed harshly on his back as a large cloud of smoke engulfed the area. Shikamaru knew that some Daemon’s liked to make dramatic entrances; it depended on whose soul they were representing. Shikamaru had to assume that his soulmate was extra dramatic as he coughed some smoke out of his lungs.

“Oh my God,” Shikamaru whispered in shock as the smoke was flung away by nine large golden foxtails. The golden furred fox was the size of a mountain at the least and roared angrily at the hunter-nin who took one look at the massive distortion and echo of a roar that Shikamaru’s soulmate’s Daemon and took off into the forest. They knew better than to take on a massive and pissed off Daemon, they may be invisible but they could still touch and hurt those who are a threat.

The giant nine tails grunted in approval before its head turned and easily found Shikamaru. The fox’s tails flared out as if it was preening as Shikamaru stared up at it slack-jawed. Shikamaru’s limbs felt like jello and he refused to try to stand as the Daemon preened and showed off for Shikamaru.

The fox let out an earth-shaking roar before it glowed as bright as the sun and Shikamaru soon had his arms full of a smaller version of the golden nine tails. It purred as it nuzzled against Shikamaru’s cheek, tails swaying happily as Shikamaru held it closer on reflex.

“What?” Shikamaru stared at the now content mini nine tail fox curled up against his chest.

“The Kyuubi, a golden Kyuubi is my soulmate’s Daemon… That means…Naruto?” Shikamaru whispered as the pieces fell into place for him and the fox gave a pleased yip before licking his cheek playfully.

“This is going to be so troublesome, I suppose I should at least give you a name?” Shikamaru felt something warm spread in his chest at the thought that Naruto was his soulmate. Shikamaru gently pet the soft gold fur and felt a smile appear when the fox wiggled happily and blinked up at him with familiar blue eyes, hell even the whisker marks where present.

“Taiyō, the Sun.” Shikamaru decided and Taiyō yipped in approval before it clambered up to settle on Shikamaru’s shoulder, it’s small nine tails curling around his neck like a scarf.

“Let’s go find my team and go home, does that sound good Taiyō?” Shikamaru rose to his feet, glad his limbs had returned to normal and he wasn’t being hunted any longer.

Taiyō chirped and nuzzled his cheek again before turning its blue eyes towards the sky almost forlornly. Shikamaru understood almost at once what Taiyō was feeling as he felt it more often than not, which looking back should have been a major clue to who his soulmate was.

“He’ll be home soon,” Shikamaru patted Taiyō’s head, unsure if his words were truthful or not but he hoped he was right as he took to the tree’s again to meet his team at their pre-set meeting point.

~~/~~

Shikamaru had kept what form his soulmate’s Daemon had taken to himself. He knew most weren’t aware of Naruto housing the Kyuubi and it wasn’t Shikamaru’s place to reveal that. Shikamaru had grown accustomed to Taiyō wrapped around his shoulders and neck like an oversized, affectionate scarf or bouncing around at his side like a hyperactive pup. What Shikamaru hadn’t expected for Taiyō to leap off his shoulder while he was talking with Temari and bite at his pant leg, pulling him intently towards a certain street.

“Whoa, calm down!” Shikamaru muttered as he stumbled after the suddenly excited fox, waving awkwardly at Temari who was watching amused as Shikamaru was dragged away by his soulmate’s Daemon.

“Taiyō, seriously!” Shikamaru warned after he almost fell flat on his face as he was dragged around a corner.

“Kage, come back here! You’re usually so lazy, why are you now running?” A familiar if not deep voice rang out and Shikamaru froze as Naruto came into view. Naruto froze when his eyes landed on Shikamaru at the end of the small street that both of them had been dragged too.

Shikamaru could only blink as Taiyō lunged forward and the air shifted to reveal a small black cub of some sort collided with Taiyō. The two small animals yipping and nuzzling each other happily as they reunited.

“Shikamaru?” Naruto’s voice was quiet and unsure.

“…Welcome home Naruto,” Shikamaru followed Taiyō’s example and went to greet his soulmate.

“You’re… You’re really my soulmate?” Naruto’s voice was shaky as he stared at Shikamaru wide-eyed as Shikamaru stopped in front of him.

“I’ve been waiting for you to come back home for a while,” Shikamaru placed his hand on a whiskered cheek and smiled when Naruto shuddered even as he nuzzled the other’s palm much like Taiyō does.

“I…Yeah, I’m home.” Naruto sounded choked up, but Shikamaru couldn’t blame him, his throat was closing up a bit as well. Having Naruto here was like coming home in every possible way.

Naruto leaned forward and a smile crossed his lips as Shikamaru’s forehead pressed against his and their hands somehow found each other, twining together as their Daemons’ mirrored them and curled around each other finally content and complete.

~~/~~

I am undertaking the task of creating a ShikaNaru event, so please take some time and fill out this survey and think about joining the event :)

https://shikanaruweekend.tumblr.com/post/619579786207117312/shikamaru-nara-naruto-uzumaki-weekend

#Naruto #NaruShika #Naruto Uzumaki/Shikamaru Nara #Daemons #soulmate #protective Daemons #fallenqueen2 #shikanaru

149 notes · View notes

little-boats-on-a-lake · 4 years

Text

Part Four

“How are you feeling?” He asked, nudging her shoulder gently. “Do you think you can get up?” She had nodded off and it seemed that the sun had just risen, if the sunlight beaming from the window was any indication. She nodded meekly.

“Good. You need a bath. Come on.”

“You’re so eager to get me to take a bath. I’m sure I don’t smell that bad.” She croaked flirtingly.

“Someone finally feels like talking again.” He noticed as he pulled the lever, causing water to flow out a spout above the tub. Her eyes widened in shock as she ran her fingers under the warm water.

“How…?” She asked, filled with wonder.

“What, the water? Simple pressure system.” He replied offhandedly.

“Pressure system…” She murmured. “And it’s warm? How does it work?” She looked up at him with inquisitive eyes.

“Uh, the water is stored outside the house since it collects natural water.” He responded, taken aback by her interest. “I started a fire under the tank so it would heat up and when there’s any opening, the pressure from the heat causes it to rush out.”

“Incredible…” She mused, pressing her ear to the ground and hearing the rushing water. He gazed curiously at her as he yanked the lever, turning off the water.

“I have some spare clothes here for you and I’m going to go look for something that might fit you better.” He nodded at some clothes he had left on the ground and shut the door behind him. “I’m right out here, just yell if you need me.”

She tentatively slipped off her scruffy underclothes and the thick cloak. Her hands quivered at the sight of dark bruises and the faint dried blood. She slipped into the warm bath and scrubbed at every bit of blood on her skin. There wasn’t as much as she was expecting. Maurus must have washed off most of the blood. No one had ever done that for her before. Whenever she returned to the village after a fight, she had to care for any wounds herself. It was ironic. He had always been the one to give her pain, never to take it away. What could he be planning?

She carefully limped out of the bath. Her foot still couldn’t bear her weight, but she’d been through worse. Water dripped around her as she pulled the large shirt over her head. It hung loosely above her knees and smelled quite pleasant, like fresh earth.

“May I come in?” A voice came from beyond the door.

“Yep,” She called. He walked in, keeping his eyes on the fabric he held.

“So, I found some things in… oh.” He stopped entirely as he looked up at her. His eyes went wide and he nervously scratched the back of his neck. “You… uh…”

“…Are you okay?” She asked, smirking at his reaction.

“Uh huh,” He had to admit, she looked awfully nice in his clothes with her damp hair. It brought his brain to a full, screeching stop.

“Oh, good, you found some other clothes!” She perked up, seeing the skirt and off white blouse he held. “This is nice!”

“Uh… good! Here!” He stuck out his arms and she took the clothes from his arms.

“You should probably leave.” She suggested slyly. “And close your mouth, you’re going to catch flies.” He left wordlessly. She slipped the dress on, admiring how it looked. The blouse hung off her shoulders and the beautiful blue skirt hung comfortably around her calves. These clothes smelled entirely different than the fresh pine ones she had smelled earlier. These clothes smelled more like summer air.

Wait. These obviously weren’t his clothes. So whose dress was this? She narrowed her eyes as she sniffed deeply. Now that she thought about it, he did smell oddly earthy. Her head spun with questions as she stumbled out of the room. She sniffed the air and shakily walked toward wherever the smell was coming from, supporting herself with the wall. It smelled nice and her stomach growled in response.

“Hi.” She mumbled towards him. He stood over what seemed to be a stove, stirring something in a pan. He didn’t seem to hear her and hummed something lightly as he shook strange colors into the pan. She watched as his magic flowed from his fingertips into the pan and it gently floated off to a set of bowls. He turned and saw her standing awkwardly. His eyes flicked over her approvingly before they narrowed annoyedly.

“Why didn’t you ask me to help you walk down here?” He frowned.

“I can walk.” She pursed her lips obstinately.

“Can you really, though?” He raised an eyebrow. “Come on.” He placed an arm around her back and led her to a chair. He lifted his fingers towards the stove and magically pulled the bowls of soup towards them.

“Where did you get this from?” She asked inquisitively. “Did you steal this?”

“Steal? I do not steal. I grow all of my own food.”

“You grew all of this by yourself?”

“Well, do you know anyone who would sell fresh fruits to a man called ‘darkness’?” He asked sarcastically.

“You said Maurus wasn’t your name.”

“I did.”

“So… what is your name?”

“Does it matter? If no one should use it, no one should know it.”

“Well… what if I want to use it?”

“I suppose that would depend on how you want to use it.”

“Does the middle of the night count?” She smirked suggestively.

“Cute.” He deadpanned, turning away as his entire face flushed red. He bit his lip to encourage his face to return to its normal shade. His face did not want to listen.

“Cute enough to know your name?” She fluttered her eyelashes. He exhaled deeply, hoping his face had fixed itself before he turned back to her.

“If you want to know that badly, maybe I’ll tell you.” He grinned. “Or maybe I won’t.” She pouted at him. “No, I don’t think I’ll tell you just yet.” He decided.

“I’ll just presume your name is actually Maurus then.”

“Do you know what Maurus means?”

“…Evil?”

“What? No. I mean, I suppose on how you interpret it. It does mean ‘dark,’ but it also means more than that. Moor than that.” He giggled at his joke. It was at this moment that Felicity realized the boy in front of her was, in fact, a dork. “It means ‘Moorish,’ from lands far east of here. So until I become an Arabian, I doubt the name will be fully accurate, and I doubt that’s happening anytime soon.”

“Arabian?” For all she knew, there was nothing more than the island. She hadn’t ever considered other lands.

“Did you think this tiny island was all there was to the world? The world is so much larger than you could even comprehend!” Could that be why she was so different? Maybe she looked normal in some part of the world!

“So where did the name come from?”

“I assume you would know, because I certainly don’t, Sunny.”

“Don’t call me ‘Sunny.’”

“So what should I call you?”

“How about this? If I tell you my real name, you tell me yours. Deal?”

“And miss out on all this fun? Forgive me, but I think not, Sunny.”

Home

16 notes · View notes

notgonnarememberthis · 4 years

Text

Exceptional - Prologue

Sherlock was made to feel unimportant his entire life. Haunted by the ghosts that his ability shows him constantly. His father "hires" Joan Watson as his sober companion, a former surgeon, the only ordinary person in a family of gifted. He finds himself wanting to protect her from whatever agenda his father has behind this decision.

_______________________________________________________

We back at it again with an AU that nobody asked for. Truthfully, this idea for a powered AU has been sitting on the back burner for a WHILE but finally the pieces clicked together thanks to the help of a couple people. Hope you all join in on this new ride because I have a LOT of exciting ideas to comb through. May or may not have ideas for a third au but I have no intention of dropping the ones already in progress. I just apparently enjoy giving myself a lot to work with. The ground trembles under his feet almost knocking him off balance. He has to protect them at all costs so he pushes forwards into the chaos. A crack ripples through the concrete threatening to topple everything he knows in an instant. Still he marches forwards.

He bites back her fears of what, or who may lie inside waiting for him to stumble upon. A high pitched sound emanates from the building ahead, he knows it’ll hurt like hell but he can’t let them down. He followed the trail left behind, now he has to be the one to help.

They’re depending on him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sherlock stretches out on the sofa ignoring the trill of the voice next to him. Agnes, he’s named the woman, is an older lady in her seventies insistent that she’d been unfairly killed despite Sherlock knowing for an absolute certainty that she has no recollection of at least a week before her death if not longer. He’d sketch her out later and search for a missing person’s report matching her face but he was at least hoping he could enjoy his morning before the dead started knocking incessantly.

Enjoying the morning got thrown out the door when he remembered his ‘sober companion’ was meant to arrive today. Over the years he’s grown accustomed to his father’s type of ‘help’. His help was a code word. A person of interest that he wanted to keep a stern eye on. This one, however, was the first that Sherlock had grown highly suspicious of.

Joan Watson, surgeon turned sober companion. Seemingly gifted in the medical profession until an accident with a patient had her license revoked. She never recovered and turned to helping people remain sober. A doctor was hardly something his father needed with enough power and money to lure a corrupt professional of any kind. The difference of her being, she was completely ordinary. An unremarkable person in a world of sufficient talent.

Not possessing a power is rather common, but Ms. Watson seems to be the only person in her family with such a position. This is what he suspects his father is interested in. What makes her different from her family. Her father possesses the ability to translate any language or code, her mother has a genius intellect and the ability to retain even the smallest information, and her brother has teleportation. Now she could possess a power so insignificant it is even unnoticed by herself, yet he believes this not to be the case. Coming from a person more than familiar with a useless ability, one would notice.

He pushes his father to the back of his mind rousing the woman in his bed to get ready for the day.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

She seems nice. She’s cute too.

Sherlock no longer startles at the sudden appearance of the dead in his residence. Agnes smiles at him like a grandma driving her grandchild to a teenager to a date. He furrows his brow at the woman jutting out his bottom lip in defiance. Joan Watson had been all he’d expected, annoyingly nosey and all too ordinary as he’d researched. The case had kept them busy the lot of the day so they resigned to the Brownstone for some R&R for his untrained companion.

“That’s none of my concern. She’ll be gone in a few weeks.”

You are not planning on driving that poor girl away. Agnes scolds with a frown. Sherlock deeply wishes now that he’d had time to find her peace so he could have a peaceful night to work on his experiment.

“I won’t have to. My father takes care of that plenty. I’ve had common colds that lasted longer than his help has. He’ll swoop in, offer her a new position and I will never see her again.”

I think this one is going to surprise you.

“What do you know?”

“Who are you talking to?” He spins around, surprised by the new presence in the room.

Well, are you going to introduce us? He rolls his eyes at the woman.

“Agnes, this is Joan Watson. Joan Watson, Agnes.” He gestures to where she, no doubt, sees an empty space. He turns to Agnes only to find that she is gone. He looks around for a moment, expecting her to have materialized behind Watson to study her closer but the older woman is simply gone. “Agnes is dead.”

“You can speak to the dead?” She leans against the counter with a soft exhale in amazement.

“It really isn’t all that amazing, I assure you.” Watson shakes her head.

“Your father didn’t tell me you were gifted.”

“Because my father sees my ‘gift’ as useless at best and a nuisance at worst.” Her face softens in what he almost believes is sympathy. He prepares himself for the spiel most launch into at this revelation on the borderline of tuning her out.

“Wait, why did we spend all day at a crime scene if you can talk to the dead?” His eyebrows shoot up, taken aback. “Surely you can just ask who killed them.”

“It thankfully doesn’t work like that or this job would be immeasurably boring. The victims are as unreliable as any other witness. They are spared from remembering gruesome deaths as would most in a plane crash or a wreck. Some lose a week, most lose a month. As for others, they’re hateful of the living. They take out their anger on someone who has wronged them, even if they’re entirely innocent.”

“Like an ex.”

“Precisely.” He bristles at her understanding. The last who’d understood him… “Besides, they’re decidedly less present today.”

“Maybe this one doesn’t want to be found.” He rocks back and forth at the thought, possible but not likely. “Do they always know they’re dead?”

“Not always.” He drifts for a moment, distracted by a memory. “They don’t always linger either. The ones that do have unfinished business, the ones whose lives were cut off without warning.”

“That’s where you come in.”

“Correct.” She grins to herself at the praise underneath his words. Not a lot understood his abilities, they came with a lot of underlying rules. She’s different. “What about you?”

“Me?” She runs a hand through her hair with a curt shake of her head. “No abilities. My parents tested me when I was younger but nothing.”

“Why did your parents test you.” The question comes out harsher than he intends. Concern passes over her face momentarily but she reigns it in just as quickly as it appeared.

“I’m the only one.” Any emotion that comes with the statement is stifled, one that she’s said so many times that it has lost all meaning. “It’s rare and my parents did everything to make sure I was ok.”

Sherlock nods thoughtfully. Any comment on her side is abruptly cut off by the ringing of his phone calling him back to the case once more. Yet even as they proceed his eyes linger on Watson. Seemingly useless in her family she made a name for herself in the world and still she lost it all. He shivers at how familiar the narrative sounds. Despite the annoyance at her intrusion he finds himself wanting to protect her. His father is a poison, but he won’t let him touch her. She’s perhaps the first person to understand him in ages.

He can’t help his curiosity, but neither can she. She is attentive on the case, never once fazed by the brutality yet still remorseful. She must have been an exceptional surgeon. She listens to the details of the case, hanging onto every word even as she slipped into slumber. She’s comforting with grieving families, it evens out his harder edges.

She’d be an excellent partner, he muses.

Told you she’d surprise you.

#joanlock #sherlock holmes x joan watson #sherlock x joan #joan watson #Sherlock Holmes #elementary #elementary cbs #elementary AU #powers au #exceptional #stay tuned to see who has powers and who doesn't

38 notes · View notes

akvtsuki-ari · 5 years

Text

A Study In Body Language| iii. angel wings

Warnings: talks of trauma, drug use and addiciton, broken childhood, general talk of loss and sadness, general sad tw

Length: 4.5k

Authors Note: this fic is really my pride and joy. this chapter is heavy and honest and i hope you all like it. thanks for sticking with me as always and i hope everyone ejoys. much love <33

Plot Summary: You’ve been taking care of Spencer and living with him on and off for a few months, and tonight was supposed to be any other night but it wasn’t. You and Spencer speak honestly for the first time, and Spencer thinks he sees wings on your back. No more walls, no more secrets.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2

You were getting a little too accustomed to the company of Spencer Reid. After that first night, you’d stop by every day and depending on the situation, some nights - no, many nights, you’d sleepover. The morning sun would shed your worries away as you hear Spencer asleep in the other room. You slept less than Spencer at this point, but he was constantly exhausted, so who could blame him. The mental toll of addiction was blooming, and more often than not you worried about his relapse. Some days were better than others, but the night was always difficult. Full of darkness, and silence, and overthinking.

It had been two months, on and off of living in Spencer's apartment for temporary amounts of time. Everywhere he went there were traces of you, the smell of your shampoo and soap, or your laundry folded up neatly, or grocery lists you wrote in cutesy stationery. Your house was in a similar condition - with traces of Spencer's existence there though he’d never actually set foot in your apartment. His clothes, mostly. Old books he gave you to read, as a small and unspoken repayment. Little reminders of the other person just seemed to pop up everywhere and neither of you really spoke about it. Not if you didn’t have too.

It was two months like that before tonight happened - what would have normally been another normal night. You made dinner or ordered takeout if you were too tired. The two of you would make small talk, small bits and pieces of intimacy in many ways unknowing, falling onto the floor in front of you, for the other person to pick up. Then the sun would rise, and you’d take care of your personal life while Spencer tried slowly but surely to reintegrate. This was normal for both of you.

Two months of living on and off with another person accustom you a lot to their inconsistencies. Sometimes it was glaringly obvious when something was wrong, like now. When the knock on Spencer's door lingers for a few seconds too long and you can feel the tidal waves crash and go to shit. When your heart pounds in fear as you use the key to unlock the door and see a needle missing on the desk and know. It was the small pains, the growing pains that hurt the most when you and another person share the same quiet space.

It hurt most to see Spencer so exhausted. It was killing him and he was letting it, but he was trying. Something happened, surely it did but what? He was getting better even if it was slow but something made him look to the needle before he looked to you and maybe that was the hardest part. That all the walls both of you forcibly kept up may be a reason he got here in the first place. You didn’t have time for heartache, because for now you just didn’t know. You didn’t know of the circumstances, or evidence, or even if he didn’t overdose and those things are the darkest.

When you see Spencer Reid, staring into the ceiling high out of his mind, you don’t really know how to feel other than sad. You’re not crying, you’re not in pain, you’re just sad. You wish you were angry because anger is such a simple and uncomplicated emotion but you could never be. It was just sad. For a lot of reasons, but just that at the end of the day.

You sat next to Spencer, placing your bags on the floor. You leaned on the coffee table, taking his temperature. He looked over at you, wincing but smiling. You can’t blame him for chasing his happiness, you suppose. Your hand rests on his forehead for a few seconds as you watch him in silence. He just looks up at the ceiling, eyes flitting with nothingness as he lays there, unmoving.

“What happened, Spencer?,” your voice isn’t solemn. He appreciates that you’re genuinely just asking him a question. His eyes fall onto your expression, and he looks carefully at all your features. A feeling of adoration stir in his chest, his hands reaching out to touch your face and you let him. He figures its the high talking, so he doesn’t say anything. He just looks at you - and touches you, afraid that if he doesn’t you’d disappear and he wasn’t ready for that yet. His fingers shake when he moves them. But they still as soon as he touches your skin.

“JJ called, and asked me how I was,” he laughs. It’s not a genuine laugh, because you’ve heard Spencers genuine laugh and it sounds different. Less throaty, and more like an uproar.

“I hate lying to them, hah. I do it all the time, but every time it comes with this regret. This time the lie is so bad, I might never tell them,” he muses. You hold his wrist and pull off from it. He looks at you curiously but you lock fingers with him instead and that seems to ease him.

You just look at him for a few seconds. You don’t have much to say that he doesn’t already know because well, that's just the thing. The two of you still don’t know much at all. You wish it were as simple or well-thought-out as destiny but it wasn’t. It was careful considerations to make sure that things never got too close. That ultimately, both of you could leave this situation behind someday with nothing more than solidarity. Neither of you tried, to tear down any walls or breakthrough any barriers. You sat stagnant, on opposite sides of the same concrete wall and just spoke, or knocked, or otherwise. Each of you just trying to make sure the other survived the darkness. You can’t help but feel it was your fault, that maybe if you were JJ for him, he wouldn’t feel so compelled to break but the notion is flawed.

It sounds complicated because it is. It takes a level of stubbornness from every party to spend two months with someone and scrape by without at least being friends. You were close, but not friends. If there was a word for that, then this was it.

“Don’t leave tonight, please,” his voice is dry when he says it. It sounds like he can’t bear too but he does anyway and the request is a surprise. You just nod, staring at him. Trying to figure out how to just exist in something so complicated.

“Tell me, something, Y/N,” he poses the questions, turning his whole body to face you. You read his expression and he laughs at your confusion.

“Nothing, in particular, we don’t really do very good at honest conversations, do we?,” he smiles when he says it. You can’t help but smile back, recognition of his words to be true. You just look to him, his body language is so relaxed and quiet. It’s a little unnerving how much you don’t recognize him but whose fault was that? It’s hard to say his or yours. No sway in either direction.

You don’t really know why or how it happens. You don’t know if it’s the way he looks at you so warmly, or the way his hands hold yours so tight like your the last thing he has to hold onto. It was like the two of you had forgotten the whole world, genuinely forgotten it and this was all that was left. Both of you just holding onto the other person, the person who’d walk with you through the darkness without intention and now you were both here. It wasn’t time because it never would be. It would never be the right time to stop being so stubborn, but sometimes the universe aligns in a way where it makes the most sense to not be. None of it ever made any sense but how could it?

“I’m sick of playing this game, Y/N, and you are too. It’s stupid, and it doesn’t have to mean anything but we keep letting it. It keeps meaning something and that’s why you’re still here. So what does this mean to you?,” Spencer's question isn’t aggressive, or unwarranted. He’s right, thats the part that's most difficult.

He was right. Two months of being together, living together, talking together and still the both of you were here. At some point, the moral obligation stopped, at some point, the emotions didn’t make sense - at some point, there was no need for either party to keep going. But you did, and neither of you knew when the end was. At some point, this was something more than a moral obligation. It had personal stakes, rooted in fear, love, and acceptance. Stakes from personal places that neither of you ever talked of. Always just managed to avoid it.

“I asked you two months ago, so know I’m asking again. Why’re you here?,” Spencer asks, looking at your expression. You look to him for reassurance and he gives it to you before you settle and go to tell him why - or really who.

“His name was Michael. He was a brother to me, and when I was little - he always got me out of trouble. He showed me what it meant to live, and to be alive. He taught me how to fight, he taught me how to love, and he showed me how to be kind. Every lesson I learned, he taught me. When the addiction finally caught up with him, he gave me a note. Told me thank you for everything, and that he was sorry. Sorry he couldn’t fight away the demons anymore and told me to remember to be kind. That, that would change the world someday. That’s the short version anyway,” you spoke solemnly. You weren't sure when you started crying, but Spencer started wiping tears off your face.

It was the first time anyone on the team had ever heard of the story. They knew things about you, of course they did but you always kept that part of you. It made you, all of you but you didn’t want so many people to know all of you. Just not yet anyways. It was such a dark part of you, and maybe part of you believes that if you keep it away - they wouldn’t have to carry the burden of sympathy with them. You didn’t want sympathy; you didn’t want anyone to know just how fucked up your life used to be because it took you so long to grow from that. You’re afraid of unpacking something that you spent so many years compartmentalizing.

“Shit, sorry,” you say softly. Spencer just looks at you.

“I didn’t really have much family, my mom passed away when I was young and my dad isn’t really around - he took me in, but he’s a piece of shit. It was the neighborhood that raised me, I made trouble but who didn’t? I have plenty of people back home who are family but there’s no blood relation,” You explain. Spencer nods, a little tired.

“I was pretty isolated as a kid, so I kinda get it,” he explains. You give him a smile.

“It’s different, and I know how hard it was for you. You shouldn’t diminish that,” you explain warmly. Spencer cries this time, which is certainly unexpected. You wipe his tears.

“Michael took me under his wing when he was volunteering at the community center. He said I reminded him of someone, never told me who. Every time I go home that center is the first place I go,” you say softly, recalling home fondly. Spencer listens to you intently.

“It housed a lot of addicts and homeless folks. So now, I just know when something is wrong. I know what to do, and what to look for. Every person has a different reason and story, so sometimes there's no time to do everything you can. Sometimes a hot meal and a shower, and that one night of comfort is the most you can do for someone. Because ultimately, you can’t force them to recover. You can only give them the tools to try,” you explain, recalling your life back home. A part of yourself that only Hotch really knew, because it was always so hard to talk about.

“I’ve seen it all, you know? The whole world is sick so what do you do? For me, I just try my best to do what I can. The BAU, and life back home, all of it. I just try my best because it’s all I can do,” your voice is gentle when you say the last part. Spencer's throat is closing up as he stops himself from crying. He sees what everyone else must’ve seen before. It’s hard to not be moved by you.

“What do you do when it’s not enough?,” he asks quietly. You’re startled by the question but you pet his hair for a second.

“Your best is always enough. It’s foolproof because there isn’t anything you can do after your best. So when it feels like my best isn’t enough, I try to remember that there wasn’t anything more to do. It’s hard but it’s how you stay afloat. When it becomes personal, it’ll gnaw on your soul till there's nothing left, so I try so hard to make sure it doesn’t get that way,” you explain soothingly. The last part sticks on Spencer's conscious mind but he doesn’t say anything about it.

“You know, we never talked about the first night you were,” Spencer croaks. You look at him for a second, pausing and taking in his words. You didn’t, and it never occurred to you that maybe you should.

“Would you like to?,”

Spencer just smiles. You take that as a yes.

“You’re different when you’re like that, and like this,” you’re the first to talk about it. Spencer just looks at you knowingly.

You put on Harry Potter and waited for Spencer to come out of the shower. Everything was going surprisingly well and when Spencer popped his head out of the bathroom to ask for a towel - you had earned yourself a little faith that maybe this would turn out okay.

It was short-lived, really. Spencer comes, and sits, and eats. But he isn’t hungry, and he slept for a while but he doesn’t think he will ever again and his breathing becomes unhinged. The folly into what should’ve felt inevitable. It was the first time you’d ever seen Spencer in such a state, unready and willing but destined to fall apart.

You got him to eat, and to sleep - but the night was going to fall any time soon and he was losing his mind. Moving constantly, walking and pacing, and sighing. He couldn’t hold himself any longer, couldn’t fathom the idea of being alive. Of course, it hurts too. It hurts when you don’t take it and it hurts when you do, so for a while, you and Spencer are just stuck. You’re watching him fold into himself and you’re just a little unsure.

Spencer sits to read and his hands are shaking. Harry Potter long forgotten, the lasagna foiled wrapped, and the city dark. The world had stopped it felt like but Spencer couldn’t stop shaking. His finger trembles every time he turned the page and an exasperated sigh fell from his lips. He just wanted to focus on anything but the feeling that made his skin feel so hot and prickly.

You sit next to Spencer and silently take the book from his hands. You hold his hands together and put the book away and you walk to lock his doors and turn of his lights. He looks at you curiously as you pack things away and tidy up. You grab a pillow and some blankets and sit on the couch next to him before you lay down, pulling his shoulder down towards you. He’s little spoon, eyes terribly confused and face flustered. You just braid his hair and lay with him for a while. Eventually, it’s so quiet, he stops shaking. He’s too confused to be upset so he relaxes instead. You’re silent the whole time and he falls asleep in your arms, unsure but happy to be anywhere but in his own head

“Why did you do that?,” Spencer asks first. You look to his eyes as he asks for your recognition and answers.

“The easy answer was that you needed it. We’re human, we all need to be held sometimes,” you explain.

“What's the hard answer?.” Spencer always managed to notice those things. The small things that most people wouldn’t catch.

“That I wanted too,” you look over to him as you answer his question and he gives you a small smile. He nods a bit - eyes hazy and just nods. Spencer looks distantly for a while, comfortable silence falling into the air as the both of you sit and think.

“I stopped having nightmares after that night,” Spencer confesses. You must look very surprised, Spencers chuckle soothing to your ears as he glances at your face.

“You were having nightmares?,” you query carefully. He gestures a yes as he stares up at the ceiling, hands, moving to lay on his back, finding your hands as he looks up. You accept it and Spencer gives it a squeeze.

“They stopped after, and I haven’t had one since you started living here part time,” Spencer admits to you in good faith. You laugh at the part-time comment and Spencer does too.

Silence again. The longest pause between the two of you as you look at everything in the room but each other. Spencer's expressions fall between being completely relaxed to tense, mind running a million miles at an hour though physically he was relaxed. The drugs never fixed anything, it becomes clearer as he comes down from a high but he feels better. He guesses your the reason and he can’t help but smile to himself. How ridiculous.

You were in an odd place now it seemed. It was dark outside, though, not your average darkness. It wasn’t the kind that was eldritch - full of shadowy beings and abyss. It was the kind that just seemed to be. It was comforting in it’s own right but maybe that’s just because you were sharing that darkness with someone, someone who you didn’t hate. Someone who understood you, in all the complicated and broken pieces that you came with. Someone who wasn’t trying to fix you, but reframe you in his own mind so that things made sense. Spencer just wanted to make sense of you.

“This is so complicated, you know that?,” You announce. Spencer hums in agreement.

“We’re complicated people,”

“What else do you wanna talk about?,” you ask Spencer, figuring that there was only one way this could really go. The night was the only place confessions could be heard, and you figure tonights the night. It’s really like you read Spencer's mind because he wants to ask you so many questions. Maybe it's a little by default that you know so much about him but he didn’t know anything about you it seemed. You were shrouded in too much mystery and maybe that’s what made him so suspicious of you back then - like he couldn’t accept your outright kindness because he always figured you had some bigger play. It was gut-wrenching to learn you were simply kind. Unabashedly kind, and you had your own reasons but most of them were simply because you were you. He was starting to see light in you, and every time he uncovered a piece there's more of that blinding light - falling onto his face and filling it with warmth. The kinda that pricks his skin after being surrounded by the cold for so long. Maybe it was selfish to find it like this, unfair to uncover you after all this time. He couldn’t help himself, the warmth was a feeling too addicting to stop searching for.

He feels this pang of guilt, but he knows he needs to say it before he asks anymore question.

“I’m sorry,”

You don’t need to ask. You know what he’s apologizing for because in the last few months you’ve learned a lot about how Spencer thinks and what he does. It’s everything that the two of you shared that he’s saying sorry for. You don’t need him to apologize but you accept it.

“Me too,”

Silence is the loudest voice in the room.

“Why’d Hotch let you off work?,” the question is sudden but doesn’t feel that way.

“My dad is sick and I don’t know how I feel about it. I’ve been calling home and the neighbors a lot to make sure he’s okay cause I’m not all that sure I wanna see him. I don’t feel anything for him, but it’s sad to see him crumble,”

“Fuck, I’m sorry,” Spencers voice shakes. That’s troubling but here you still were, watching over him almost needlessly. He knows it was your choice to do it but the way he’s been acting towards you just seemed so unwarranted now. It was okay, really it was but he couldn’t help the guilt that ate at him. You just shake your head, stopping him in his train of thought.

“It’s okay, Spencer. Really it is, shit happens,” you seem tired, likely because you are. It’s 4am and though you don’t have anywhere to be the conversation of such an emotional scale was getting to you. It was exahusting but you tried your best to keep up with the sleep that was threatening to swallow you.

More quietness. This time it feels affectionate. Spencer turns his body to face you, his eyes hanging over the way your lids flutter shut with sleep. He’d yell at you to go to bed normally, sometimes he’d catch you awake when you’d sleepover and do just that. But he knew that the conversation wasn’t over - the elephant in the room was still hanging over the both of you and it was just a matter of who would decide to answer the question because the two of you just can’t keep moving like this.

At some point, you would have to both fall away from this reality that you share. Neither of you wanted to, it was unspoken but, this was nice. It was comfortable, though difficult and at times clinical. It was an escape from everything because every night the both of you ended up next to each other speaking in whispers and watching tv together. Nothing but that. Nothing more or less. You wished it could go on forever, and you hoped he did too but it couldn’t. Two months just wasn’t enough time to escape. But time was up, and if this didn’t prove that then what would? It wasn’t Spencer's relapse as much as it was why he relapsed in the first place. JJ was a reminder, and even though he’d gotten calls before, it broke him this time. It was one time too many, and it meant that time for this had run out. Before this break was gone forever, you two were just trying to find some closure.

You straighten your back out, as look at Spencer. He looks at you, as the two of you make comfortable eye contact. It’s not unnatural, or weird, or tense. You give him a genuine smile and he returns it. Nothing is left to hide so for a second the two of you just enjoy each other's company. For maybe the first time, it’s not so secretive. It just is.

“What do we do?,” Spencer chuckles. You shrug, sitting up straight.

“Well, you should go to rehab, and I should probably go back home,” You say sleepily. Spencer doesn’t disagree with you but it’s difficult for him to admit it.

“It helps if we’re both brave. So, after this, we can hold each other accountable, and be friends” You clarify. Spencer smiles brightly, his high finally having left him. He’s exhausted now, but he sits up. You stand up too, going to the kitchen. Spencer's eyes follow you as he looks at you curiously.

“I’m gonna make some coffee, we can sleep in the morning but we should probably start looking at centers. And I need to book a flight back home,” You state. Spencer relaxes and fights the urge he has to hold you. Look into your eyes and say thank you for everything. He figures he has all the time in the world for that now and hopes recovering will be the best thank you of all. He hopes it will be enough.

He hopes he’s enough for you.

___

The sun was blinding, even past the curtains it was warm and inviting. The shadow of your laptop danced along Spencers coffee table - as two mugs sat next to it for company. It was a little cliche, the way the birds chirped and the sound of the city just seemed to be so still in the morning. Well, not morning - 3pm. You and Spencer didn’t sleep all night, so really you went to bed around when it was morning.

Spencer's chest rose and fell, as your sleeping figure was draped on top of him. It’s unclear how the two of you fell asleep like that, but at least this time it felt final. He was warm, and the way his hands rested on your back made you sleep easier. The weight of you on top of him made him relax - as if he knew he could always keep you safe from now on. Who knows if you’d ever talk about it, because when you wake up this will all be over. But the memories will always be there - and if you don’t talk about it, you’ll always have an excuse to come by, even if you didn’t need it anymore.

You booked Spencer sometime in a rehab facility and scheduled an appointment with a therapist for him. It took all night because Spencer was rather picky about scheduling, but you didn’t mind. You booked a flight back home, and Spencer offered to go with you. You declined but you said maybe when you visit home for a happy reason he can come.

Now you’d both have reasons, just in case those stubborn feelings returned.

The universe knew better, always did. It was too late for needing reasons by now, but it’d be a long time before either of you figured that out. That maybe friendly affections weren’t so friendly, and that at the end of the day both of you ignored the simple things.

After all, this is a case study in body language. How it changes and grows when your heart opens to someone.

It’s said when you’re in love with someone, their eyes dilate because of chemicals in the brain.

Spencer's eyes were always blown out when he wakes up, but you figure he must be tired.

Right?

_____

taglist: @cynbx @zephyr-studiesjp @skrrrrrrrrrrt @louistwinslover @pastanest @nomajdetective @iamburdened @secretlyablueunicorn

#spencer reid #spencer reid angst #spencer reid imagine #spencer reid oneshot #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid x y/n #Criminal Minds #criminal minds imagine #criminal minds self insert #crimnal minds angst #mannnn #i love this fic sm its my whole heart #would mean the world to me if yall read it #sighs contently

149 notes · View notes

ajadedflame · 4 years

Text

JADE > BIO > STATS // TEMPLATE SPRINGBOARD >

REMEMBER THINGS MAY POTENTIALLY DEVIATE FROM WHAT IS SHOWN IN THIS BIOGRAPHICAL. DEVELOPMENT OF MUSE IS ALWAYS ONGOING AND PREFERRED IN ACTUAL PLOT.

STATISTICAL BIO

FULL NAME NAME: Jade Grace Winthrope

NICKNAMES: Jai

AGE: 27

D.O.B: April 9, 2012

BIRTHPLACE: Howell, MI

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Detroit, MI

PLACEMENT: Apartment 3rd floor

GENDER: Female

PRONOUNS: She/Her

ORIENTATION: Heterosexual

AFFILIATION: DPD

JOB TITLE: Forensic Analyst

FACE CLAIM: Shailene Woodley

HAIR COLOR: Brunette / Sometimes Dyes Blonde

EYE COLOR: Green

HEIGHT: 5′8″ / 170 cm

BUILD: Slim

LANGUAGE(S): English

ACCENT: American

TATTOOS: Small Vine // Left Wrist

PIERCINGS: Ears

STYLE: Casual Dress, Comfort, Chiffon, Lace, Moderate formal: Blouses, Long sleeved Tops, jeans, fashionable trousers, athletic // yoga, sneakers & flats, sun dresses, heels & long dresses in formal settings only; Accessories: watch, studded earrings, earphones, phone, forensic data pad

USUAL EXPRESSION: Pleasant, Open, Smiling

ADDICTIONS: Tea (Chamomile, Earl Grey, Herbal, Oolong, White)

ALCOHOL USE: Not a heavy drinker at all. Will do it on occasion and/or socially

DRUG USE: Nope // Not if you count Advil for headaches

EXTRAS:

SIGN: Aries

ELEMENT: Fire sign but personally leans toward Earth

MBTI: ESFJ

TEMPERAMENT: Phlegmatic

ALIGNMENT: Neutral Good

HOGWART’S HOUSE: Ravenclaw

FACTION: Erudite

PRIMARY VICE: Envy // at times Jade envies people who have no care in the world, no problems or worries and sometimes wonders if it would make her life easier to feel the same way

PRIMARY VIRTUE: Charity // she tries to be generous and kind to people even if some might not deserve it

FAVES:

WEATHER: Spring

COLOR: Green

MUSIC: New Age, Alternative, Folk

MOVIES: Adventure, Romance, Film Noir, Science/Criminology Documentaries

SPORT: Does Yoga count?

BEVERAGE: Tea

FOOD: Pasta // Italian cuisine

ANIMAL: Dogs, Horses

POSITIVE TRAITS

Determined

Friendly

Honest

Romantic

NEGATIVE TRAITS

Impulsive

Pessimistic

Quick-Tempered

Stubborn

GOALS

Working efficiently for DPD

Networking with colleagues

Acquiring further knowledge/on site skills in forensics

Cracking a big case with extensive DNA analysis

Connecting with more people

Finding love // romantic at heart

FEARS

Losing family

Not being good enough at her job

Unable to find her true purpose in life

friends turning their back // she had a bad past experience

Losing any person she cares for

HOBBIES:

Yoga / Jogging

Book collecting: Physical, Classic Lit, Science Textbooks, Criminology & Forensics Encyclopedias

Sketching: A little here and there for relaxation

Swimming: If only she could get out of the city to a beach

Horse Riding // grew up on a farm with two chestnuts

FAMILY:

MOTHER - Rebecca Winthrope née Stevens (Status: Alive)

FATHER - Matthew Winthrope (Status: Deceased) // car accident

SIBLINGS - N/A (She’s a lonely only)

PETS - pup beagle named Buster as a child

RELATIONSHIPS:

EX COLLEGE BOYFRIEND - He will remain nameless.

FORMER BEST FRIEND - Natalie Baker // Hasn’t seen her since college days

DPD ASSOCIATES - Varies but most she gets along with.

OC’S - Jade is an OC herself. Give her OC friends, platonic, enemies, etc.

BIOGRAPHICAL

EARLY:

Jade grew up out of the city in a ranch house surrounded by Michigan’s natural beauty. Her parents made a living farming produce for the buyer’s market even as economic hardships set into the futuristic state. She was often surrounded by nature, growing fond of the few horses her father trained on the side and kept on the farm. As a young girl it was too easy to develop an affinity for equestrian and she loved to groom those two chestnuts. They were her biggest animals growing up and not just in size. Taking care of them was a lot of work but the family also called a mini Beagle named Buster part of the family.

Her childhood was honestly simple living. No bustle of any city to deal with at the time. Everything was fairly normal, close to both of her parents and several cousins who would come visit during summers from across the border in Canada.

Being a small town kind of girl had its perks in ways. Her early life is not exciting. There were not any hardships she could honestly say had a negative impact on her growing up. While some might see this as her having the easy life, Jade is grateful. There are so many things could have gone wrong. Luckily for her she didn’t have to go through that.

LATER:

A dream was making it to college to study forensic sciences. She honestly got hooked on the subject at an early age. Honestly she is quite the film noir buff and while she didn’t head into detective work it did start to push her in that direction. Jade did her absolute best in college. It wasn’t easy by a long stretch. Focusing on work did cause some personal problems to pop up. Her boyfriend really began pressuring her constantly about their relationship. She wanted to keep things straight and not wind up an unwed single mother whose career tanked before it even began. If he honestly loved her he could wait and stop adding more onto her shoulders.

Unfortunately Jade discovered her best friend and him fooling around behind her back. It hardly stopped there. Natalie, former best friend in current life events, decided to spread rumors about Jade being the offender in this non love triangle. It was a bundle of lies that cemented Jade’s caution in developing new friendships. With everything else piling on, receiving news about her father in a serious car wreck, she just had it. Natalie was her friend since they were kids but it seemed that friendship meant little. She didn’t take any excuse her boyfriend, who will remain nameless, gave her. Jade did herself a favor and broke up with him. It certainly was the easiest thing she could do at the time as her father’s condition deteriorated. He died from the accident and it made her realize the importance of life.

While it was difficult it showed her that she should focus on the now. It made her more determined. Even if her relationship with her father grew a bit more distant as he got older she never loved him any less. Maybe it had something to do with her branching out into the big city. He just thought she wasn’t cut out for it. Even before his death, right at the cusp of her private problems there was something missing. Jade could never hold a grudge against him but she’s angry she never had a chance to finally talk about it. Instead he died before she could even make it to the hospital.

After this she threw herself into her studies. Keeping in touch with her mother was spotty. It wasn’t due to the fact she didn’t want to be there. She tried every step of the way but her mother was having a bad time of it. Depression set in and it was one thing Jade couldn’t fix. College changed her in ways. It wasn’t just life experiences there. It was all that changed during her time there. Family life certainly altered after what happened. Maybe it made her a little stronger. Who knows? She still doesn’t know herself.

CURRENT:

Jade has landed a job in the city which is completely different than her childhood roots. While she’s been out of the country for a while, especially when attending WCCCD in downtown Detroit, living in the city itself is quite the change. Currently working as a forensic tech analyst for the Detroit Police Department, she applies herself to the best of her ability and honestly loves what she does. It was always a goal of hers to make it somewhere to offer her skills in criminal analysis. She is content with the position and aims to help in whatever cases come her way.

She had a lot of opinions about the whole android revolution. Living in the center of it all in a nice but affordable apartment high rise sure put her in the thick. Watching everything unfold on the news was far too surreal. Jade always held a soft sympathetic spot for androids and was all too happy to see them win their freedom and rights.

DEPENDING ON VERSE SHE COULD HAVE INTERACTIONS WITH ANDROIDS DURING THE REVOLUTION, ESPECIALLY THOSE AT THE DPD SINCE SHE WORKS THERE. IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS DURING PLOTTING. OTHERWISE SHE WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN A WITNESS TO IT AS EVERYONE ELSE NOT DIRECTLY INVOLVED.

The forensic analyst is very pro-android. She sees them as people, sentient beings who are alive with the same purpose as humans. Getting to work alongside them is eye opening. She wants to help any she can in all honesty. She has strong opinions on this so it’s natural for her. While it might not be her job, she can certainly give as much as she does to the DPD to those outside on the street just searching for something.

Working on current cases gives her ample opportunity as more involving androids come into the equation. Using the latest tech to do her job offers the needed help but Jade finds it a challenge she’s been looking for. Currently she is mixed up in a serial killer case, using tech skills in order to synthesize evidence to track them down. While they know little of this individual’s identity, Jade is attempting to apply new standards of technology to connect and track to the perpetrator. Some factual evidence suggests they could possibly be android. This makes things difficult as she tries to decide which method is best used.

#Bio / Stats #status / bio #status / mobile use

4 notes · View notes

royal-dragonslayer-ornstein · 4 years

Note

lavender : how easy is it to gain your muse’s trust ? once their trust is broken , how might one go about mending it ?

BOTANICAL HEADCANONS | accepting

It strongly depends on the context, and whose trust you’ve also earned beforehand. If you are a part of the divines’ army or have the approval of either someone of great status or someone who’s very capable in Ornstein’s eyes, he will most likely trust in your skill right away. He may not give you an order that could compromise other people without seeing you in action, but what he believes you can do he will trust even at great risk for him. State secrets are a different subject, he will not tell you something unless he knows for certain Gwyn approves of it, no matter how deep fraternity or love there is between him and you, with the only exception being a deeply desperate, critical scenario. But the line does become a little blurry after Gwyn’s death, more so as Anor Londo’s vigour wanes again some time after the former’s sacrifice. During the DS3 verse, he’s more likely to speak of these matters- after all, the kingdom is... very much long gone, and he may believe a human, or a deity survivor, deserves to know what has been kept from them as the world plunges into seeming ruin.

If we’re speaking of emotional trust, and sharing personal thoughts and struggles... it gets a little complicated. He doesn’t speak about them a lot, at least no further than surface level. It’s not so much that he doesn’t trust you to keep the secret (that happens, but it doesn’t take that long for him to believe that you wouldn’t misuse the information) but he doesn’t believe it will do you any good to hear it. Keeping his doubts silent and giving an image of security helps keep everyone together and give an impression of a unified and strong force, even if it weighs heavily upon him and likely results in others feeling alone in their doubts. I can see him opening up a bit to give some form of comfort to someone going through a similar thing. But generally it takes a lot of trust to get him to speak candidly about these matters and it’s not easy to earn it, considering how little free time he has to speak with you, to relax around you, alongside everything that has been mentioned already.

As for betraying him, yet again it depends on if your betrayal is a betrayal to Anor Londo too. Betraying the latter means there are no possible amends to be made, it really will take the death of Anor Londo for him to consider it (not if you played a big role in it obviously) and that’s a recurrent theme in his DS3 verse, setting aside old grudges.

If you betrayed his trust in a big way that doesn’t affect the kingdom, most likely in an emotional manner, he will be hurt, and should anger get the better of him (which isn’t often) he will threaten you accordingly. If he instead maintains his composure he will tell you to only address him for professional matters, anything else you want to do with him will be deemed a waste of time, and it takes a long time and signs that you’ve changed significantly since then for him to change his mind, just as it takes much to get him so upset. He’s pretty forgiving with some of the smaller things though, a simple apology that feels genuine will likely do even if he might be a little more wary for a while. A strong betrayal from someone he’s trusted for a very long time is... difficult to say, and may vary a lot depending on the circumstances.

#headcanon #so long as you're not Sulyvahn or Aldrich he will probably try to understand you better and hear what you have to say #vilestblood

0 notes

rkevent · 4 years

Photo

IT’S TIME TO SPEAK UP!

The announcement of Samsung’s new project has been spread to the public, and everybody is invited to participate in its grand start event!

On the weekend of May 29th to May 31st, anyone interested in the arts is invited to the project opening event location for a guaranteed educational and fun time. Experts and celebrities have donated their time to offer classes and lectures on important aspects of the arts and entertainment world. To help the Speak Up! Project prosper, the entry fees will be clothes and toys that are in good state but that you do not need anymore. You must donate a different thing each day to attend the event.

Starting at noon on the 29th, people will be free to roam around the area and visit the different stalls while they wait for their classes to start. The different stalls offer delicious foods from local businesses, as well as content from smaller artists who’ll sell their pieces for a fair price. Not only does Samsung wish to help those in need, but the event will help spread the word of aspiring artists who still haven’t managed to find their place under the spotlight.

Anyone who wishes to attend classes other than just appreciate the free-to-roam event area must sign-up beforehand on the official Speak Up! Project website. All information on the different lessons and the singing-up option will be available IC starting on May 3rd.

For each day, a different and very diverse roster of activities will be available for you to participate in. This also means that some classes will have times that overlap. You cannot attend more than one class at the same time. A list of every class available can be seen below the cut and, for easier visuals to some, they have also all been organized on this spreadsheet.

If you’d like to participate in this event, you’ll have to submit a sign-up form to the rkevent inbox telling which activities your muse will partake on. The form is only a base, and you may edit it to fit more activities or less, depending on your preference. Your muse does not need to go to the event every single day. A list will can be found here with the names of which muse will be attending which class, so there is no need to post this form to your blog. There is no deadline to submit this form, and any new muses accepted through the duration of this event may join.

TITLE: MUSE FULL NAME

MAY 29TH:

ACTIVITY 1 - (name of the activity) ACTIVITY 2 - (name of the activity) ACTIVITY N - (name of the activity)

MAY 30TH:

ACTIVITY 1 - (name of the activity) ACTIVITY 2 - (name of the activity) ACTIVITY N - (name of the activity)

MAY 31ST:

ACTIVITY 1 - (name of the activity) ACTIVITY 2 - (name of the activity) ACTIVITY N - (name of the activity)

To be awarded points, each class will have rewards of their own, as they’ll be listed below the cut. To collect each of those rewards, you must write two 250+ words solo or two four-post threads with someone taking the same workshop as your muse (or one of each) per day.

This means you’ll have to complete two requirements (a solo or a thread) per day your muse will attend the event. If they’ll only take classes on May 29th, then you only need to write two requirements. If they’ll attend all three days, then they need to write six requirements. For each one day requirement that is completed, you may also award your muse with 1WK of a relevant achievement.

Please tag all related posts as #rkspeakup and have them up before midnight EST at the end of June 10th.

In order to verify your points, you’ll have to send a copy of the form below to the points verification blog. Simply copy the entire form, attach your solo/thread links to the X next to each activity, and submit it to the submission box. Make sure to erase anything that doesn’t apply to your muse, and to title your submission accordingly! Forms can only be submitted after the activity check on June 17th.

[ MUSE’S FULL NAME ] - SPEAK UP! VERIFICATION FORM

MAY 29TH

PROOF OF ACTIVITY [ X + X ]

+? POINTS IN [SKILL]

+1WK IN [RELEVANT ACHIEVEMENT] (NUMBER OF TIMES TAKEN + CURRENT LEVEL)

MAY 30TH

PROOF OF ACTIVITY [ X + X ]

+? POINTS IN [SKILL]

+1WK IN [RELEVANT ACHIEVEMENT] (NUMBER OF TIMES TAKEN + CURRENT LEVEL)

MAY 31ST

PROOF OF ACTIVITY [ X + X ]

+? POINTS IN [SKILL]

+1WK IN [RELEVANT ACHIEVEMENT] (NUMBER OF TIMES TAKEN + CURRENT LEVEL)

TEACHING IDOLS: All of those whose class was accepted will be awarded an extra +3 POINTS ON THE CLASS’S SKILL, +3 DEBUT POINTS, and +1WK RELEVANT ACHIEVEMENT. To collect these rewards, you must write one 300+ words solo or one four-post thread with someone taking the workshop. Please tag all related posts as #rkspeakup and have them up before midnight EST at the end of June 3rd.

Forms can only be submitted after the activity check on June 10th.

[ MUSE’S FULL NAME ] - SPEAK UP! CLASS INSTRUCTOR FORM

PROOF OF ACTIVITY [ X ]

+3 POINTS IN [SKILL]

+3 DEBUT POINTS

+1WK IN [RELEVANT ACHIEVEMENT] (NUMBER OF TIMES TAKEN + CURRENT LEVEL)

NEW DEBUT POINTS TOTAL:

MAY 29TH

1.1 OPENING SPEECH

12-12:30PM — A representative of the Speak Up! Project will thank all the people present for their donations and give a rundown of how the project will work starting from today. She’ll also thank all the professionals who donated their time to be there and will explain the start event simply.

REWARDS: +2 TO DISTRIBUTE AS YOU WISH

1.2 SINGING FOR BEGINNERS

1-2PM — Gyeoul from AND*ROMA has already shown her singing teacher skills before, and will now offer a beginner-level class. Those attending will learn the basics of singing and get tips from those with more experience. The end of the class is a fun noraebang session.

REWARDS: +2 SINGING

1.3 BALLET CLASS

1-3PM — Reno from DE:CODE will give a brief description on the genre of ballet, show examples of professional ballerinas and ballerinos, the different types and methods, and then go into practicing and demonstrating some of the moves and techniques, allowing the audience to follow the instructions along with him.

REWARDS: +4 DANCING

1.4 AEGYO 101

2-3PM — Learn how to make people either cringe so hard they want to punch you or make people do what you want: learn how to unlock your inner adorable squeaky sounding monster and use your newfound talents in variety or to piss off your friends. Chojin from K.ARMA is a master and will teach you all the secrets by herself.

REWARDS: +2 CHARISMA

1.5 AN INTRODUCTION TO VOICE ACTING

2-4PM — The first half of the workshop will be lecture-like, with an instructor showing a simple story of voice acting, how it can impact a project, and good/bad examples of it. On the second half, everybody will get to try it out and receive pointers on how they can improve.

REWARDS: +4 CHARISMA

1.6 BODY PERCUSSION

3-5PM — Junju from PER_SE will show how to make music, but using only your body as an instrument. Body percussion may be performed on your own or in groups. He’ll show how you can make music together with your friends, and how it’ll sound when you bring different sounds together.

REWARDS: +4 DANCING OR CREATIVITY

1.7 HOW TO IMPROVISE

4-5PM — An instructor will give a one-hour lecture on how they mastered the art of improvisation. He started with small roles as an actor and points out how important improvising can be even if you don’t have that many lines in a piece.

REWARDS: +2 CHARISMA

1.8 FREESTYLE HIP-HOP DANCE WORKSHOP

4-6PM — The workshop will be focusing on creativity, flexibility, and execution under time pressure. Sehun from CONVEX will give the first moves of a choreography and the attendees will have to come up with the rest of it by themselves separated into groups.

REWARDS: +4 DANCING OR CREATIVITY

1.9 GUITAR FOR BEGINNERS

5-6PM — To teach you the basics behind playing the acoustic guitar, Haseul from ECLIPSE will be your teacher. She’ll give a simple run-down on learning how to get started and how to deal with frustration while practicing.

REWARDS: +2 CREATIVITY

MAY 30TH

2.1 DRINKS FOR VOCAL CORDS UPKEEP WORKSHOP

12-1PM — A nutritionist, Dr. Kim Yeonhee, will show what are the best drinks you can have to ensure your vocal cords stay healthy and prepared for the next time you wish to sing. She’ll show the scientifics behind her choices and also teach easy drinks to prepare at home.

REWARDS: +2 SINGING OR +2 CREATIVITY

2.2 BEATBOXING FOR BEGINNERS

1-2PM — While beatboxing can look challenging or look like nothing at all hidden by a mouth-covering hand, starting on this skill is as hard as starting any other. An instructor will go through basic beats anyone can do and, if anyone shows promise, maybe even a few more challenging ones for attendees to try.

REWARDS: +2 RAPPING

2.3 SKINCARE AND MAKEUP WORKSHOP

1-3PM — from her current skincare routine to her favorites regimens, Cheri from LUXE will reveal all! Includes samples of an old endorsement sponsor ( Mamonde ) that she kept and will hand out and how to keep your skin looking nice while getting less than 5 hours of sleep.

REWARDS: +4 CREATIVITY

2.4 POSING FOR PICTORIALS

2-3PM — Idols have pictures of them taken all the time by fans, media outlets, and actual photographers, and they often have to be part of photoshoots for magazines and album jackets so it’s important to feel comfortable and know how to carry yourself. In this workshop, Doyeon from the girl group K.ARMA will use her experience with modeling to teach them some posing techniques and angles for photo editorials. A small photo session will happen to help them improve their skills in front of the camera.

REWARDS: +2 CHARISMA

2.5 FILMING TECHNIQUES & TOPIC BRAINSTORM

3-4PM — Kaeun from girl group AND*ROMA was a beauty and lifestyle influencer before becoming an idol, so she’d like to share some ideas on filming, thinking of topics, how to curate content for videos, and also a little hands-on filming with simple set up. Those attending should bring their own camera and tripod.

REWARDS: +2 CHARISMA OR +2 CREATIVITY

2.6 THE BASICS OF CREATIVE WRITING

3-5PM — An instructor will help all those present with tips and examples on how to get your creative juices working and then use those to create written stories. These tips include proper writing help as well as ways to avoid procrastination and making good use of your productive time.

REWARDS: +4 CREATIVITY

2.7 INSTAGRAM WORKSHOP

4-5PM — This workshop is to teach people how to take their best Instagram pictures! Anna from ECLIPSE will show how to spot backgrounds for pictures and good picture composition, the best angles for pictures, as well as editing and choosing a theme for your Instagram.

REWARDS: +2 CHARISMA OR +2 CREATIVITY

2.8 SONGWRITING WORKSHOP

4-6PM — Jinwook from CONVEX will host a songwriting workshop. He’ll prepare part of a simple song, and talk about his composing process and experiences. The group is encouraged to provide ideas as Jinwook talks through writing the first verse. Then the workshop will break into small groups to “finish” the song however they see fit, by adding lyrics and a chorus section. Jinwook will be ready with a few complete ideas in case people get stuck!

REWARDS: +4 CREATIVITY

2.9 HOW TO JUGGLE SCHOOL WORK AND CHASING AFTER YOUR DREAMS

5-6PM — Sinjae from DE:CODE got a good school record, and does well academically. He’ll talk about sacrifices he had to make along the way and give tips on how to fulfill your dreams without letting go of your studies, as well as sharing personal stories he had to go through himself.

REWARDS: +2 CHARISMA OR +2 CREATIVITY

MAY 31ST

3.1 YOGA

12-1PM — This workshop would be focusing on yoga, relaxation, and meditation. Jennie from girl group ECLIPSE can do some pretty amazing things with her body, even a split! From showing proper ways to stretch the body and keep it fit, she’ll show some basic yoga poses that help unwind especially after a hard day or to start well and relaxed into the morning. it will include all her favorite beginner poses that are easy to remember and do alone at home! And as a finish, she’ll show a quick but efficient meditation afterward.

REWARDS: +2 DANCING

3.2 THREE PILLARS OF RAP

12-2PM — An instructor will give a rundown on the three pillars of rap: flow, delivery and lyrical content. It’ll start as a talk about what each thing means and entails, and will then turn into a full workshop. Any aspiring rappers should make sure they know everything that is said.

REWARDS: +4 RAPPING

3.3 INTRODUCTION TO FASHION DESIGN

1-2PM — As a fashion major, Zoe from girl group LUXE has some experience with designing outfits. For this workshop/lesson, Zoe will be giving an intro on what fashion design entails to complete beginners, understanding fabrics, drawing a fashion sketch, breakdown of LUXE’s fashion, and have a talk with them about fashion, designing and any questions the students have.

REWARDS: +2 CREATIVITY

3.4 CONTEMPORARY HIP-HOP CLASS

1-3PM — For the first half of the class, Kil from girl group K.ARMA will explain the intricacies of contemporary hip-hop and how different it is from other dance genres. She will talk about getting in touch with emotions and understanding the piece you will be performing first before you dance to it. Afterward, she will teach a self-made choreography.

REWARDS: +4 DANCING

3.5 DON’T BE A ONE-TRICK PONY: A LECTURE

2-3PM — Darae from girl group AND*ROMA will give a class discussing how while it is essential to be good in one skill, it is beneficial to master another. How sometimes leaning into a main skill can be more of a weakness than an advantage at times if you lean on it too much. Also discussing what are some unique secondary skills that aren’t tied to main stage performances but can also benefit for variety.

REWARDS: +2 CHARISMA OR CREATIVITY

3.6 HOSTING WORKSHOP

3-4PM — To give tips on any who want to try to enter MCing or hosting, whether it be for the small screen, radio, or events. It can also help to improve confidence in public speaking/diction as a daily skill. Hyun from CONVEX will cover voice projection, professionalism, personal presentation, and different energies for different kinds of events. He’ll give activities for participants to do to help with learning.

REWARDS: +2 CHARISMA

3.7 AERIAL SILK CLASS

2-4PM — A few members of a circus will teach the secrets behind aerial silk acrobatics. Attendees will learn the basics of climbing and maintaining control of oneself while up in the air, as well as some simple yet impressive poses for you to post on Instagram.

REWARDS: +4 DANCING

3.8 PIANO FOR BEGINNERS

3-5PM — For those who never played the piano, or only got the chance a few times in their life. An instructor will give you the run-down of the basics you should know and teach you an easy song to impress whenever you go somewhere that has a piano.

REWARDS: +4 CREATIVITY

3.9 SELF-DEFENSE

4-6PM — It’s a class about learning some basic self-defense moves; because it’s always good to be able to defend yourself in any kind of situation! B.Mil from boy group DE:CODE has practiced hapkido since childhood and he can demonstrate some techniques and practice them with those who are part of the workshop.

REWARDS: +4 DANCING

#rkspeakup

16 notes · View notes