#( HUSBAND MATERIAL RIGHT HERE LIKE I CANNOT EVEN. )

[bravesung]

( scarlxtleaves. ) ––––– now he was stuck inside this place called bath and body works but was incredibly lost on what he should get for her. But thankfully the staff was kind and patient and thus the shopping was a success and hes gotten the bath bombs she desired. "Here ya go my sweetheart. Wanted to get you something nice. Hope you like it, you go use it and I'll cook up a hearty meal for you." [Does rock love spoiling his woman? Yes] / unprompted.

just  when  you  thought  this  man  could  not  be  any  sweeter.

it  was  a  long,  exhausting  day.  you  just  wanted  to  spend  the  rest  of  the  night  relaxing.  once  ken  said  there  were  no  other  appointments  or  meetings,  you  retreated  home  and  found  solace  in  one  of  your  new  books.  it  seemed  rock  had  left  for  the  day  so  the  apartment  was  to  yourself  in  the  meantime.  about  an  hour  later,  you  hear  the  door  open  and  footsteps  entering  the  living  room.  slipping  on  your  robe,  you  leave  the  room  to  find  rock  with  a  bath  and  body  works  bag.  it  was  when  he  handed  it  over  to  you  that  your  eyes  widened  and  a  surprised  gasp  left  your  lips.  upon  reaching  into  the  bag,  you  see  a  set  of  bath  bombs  ––––  specifically,  the  limited  edition  rose  and  lavender  with  embedded  petals.  this  was  actually  on  your  wishlist  as  a  future  purchase. 

❛  oh,  my  goodness!   thank  you,  rocky!  this  is  so  sweet!!  ❜  unable  to  contain  your  happiness,  you  practically  jump  into  his  arms  like  a  koala  would  to  a  branch.  you  rained  kisses  on  every  part  of  his  face,  giggling  excessively.  ❛  thank  you  so  much!  I  love  you,  I  love  you,  I  love  youuuu!  ~  ❜   he  was  also  planning  on  cooking,  which  you  always  enjoyed.  this  man  has  been  one  of  the  most  wonderful  additions  to  your  life  and  you’d  do  anything  to  keep  him  in  it. 

[chrollohearttags]

writing silly prompts with my OTP so you don’t have to • part one

content warning: exactly as it says, voyeurism, exhibitionism, reverse cowgirl, squirting

📝: I cannot explain this even if I wanted to. Sometimes, I have a lightbulb in my head, constantly flickering and other times, it’s nothing more than wind and baked beans up here so I need help jogging my brain muscles and reviving my creative spark. Don’t get me wrong, I love you guys’ asks and I’ll get to them, as well as the commissions, I swear but I need to get my juices flowing again 🫶🏾

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“Ahh! Shit…mmphm. Gonna make me come..”

“Go ahead, princess. Nut on this dick..better keep quiet though. You don’t want us to get caught..”

another peaceful Sunday stroll down South Beach’s Design District turned to a rather eventful outing. Of course, that was nothing out of the ordinary for the infamous couple. It wasn’t rare for the two of you to spend your very limited free time enjoying relaxing walks through the various shops in the heart of downtown..where you may have frequented your favorite stores and restaurants as a bit of routine in your very chaotic and ever changing schedules. It was the one constant that you could bet on in your hectic lives. However..as soothing as the mundane was sometimes…you both still craved that thrill. The excitement that came with doing something you had no business. That rush only grew tenfold when you considered the fact that you weren’t exactly inconspicuous..everyone in Miami and the world at this point knew EJ the Don and (y/n) (l/n). Everyone was looking for an excuse to photograph you two. So it was insane that you were so casually perched atop your man’s dick at a popular lounge on Ocean Drive; enjoying some semblance of privacy as you had rented out the rooftop area for yourselves but even so, if caught, you’d find yourselves front page on somebody’s blog. Right now, you just couldn’t be vexed to give a fuck. Instead…

“Fuck! I don’t care who sees, I just wanna keep—“

your words trailed off into a high pitched yelp as that tip poked the inner corner of your sensitive core. Being fucked up into like a jackhammer into concrete. A tattooed hand on your clothed tummy and inked fingers stroking your clit. All of this because you just had to wear..it. A regular, run of the mill sundress that you had probably gotten as part of PR from Fashion Nova or Shein a year ago and just decided to throw it on to combat this horrendous heat. And yet, it was getting your pussy pounded! Strutting around without so much as a thong on underneath, just in case the mood struck you. Of course, it didn’t take long for your husband to follow suit when saw the fat of that ass swaying from behind the clingy material and watched you bend over to retrieve something when that hem raised and that plump little cunt became visible..from there, neither of you could contain yourselves. Up and down with your legs propped onto the pool chair you went..rutting your hips in slow circular motions as you performed tricks on that dick. Smacking, wet noises filling the summer air. You were certain some attendee or waiter was lurking in the shadows, possibly jerking off or even filming you two but it didn’t even matter. Your only concern was coming all over him! That deep voice growling in your ear as he held you close to his chest and let you ride out your orgasm. Even shortly after, bending you over again so that he could see that ass moving against him. Shouting off expletives at each other..

“Give it to me! Fuck this pussy, daddy. Right there!..”

“Hold still, baby..gonna nut all in this shit!—“

before he could do so, you were already reaching a climatic high..clamping down on his shaft before springing up and spraying him with those sweet, divine juices. Groping one of your tits, Eren would cackle as he watched you come undone for him. Squirming all over the place with uncontrollable trembling from that powerful peak. You were still shooting out tiny streams of that squirt afterwards. Having been fucked so roughly with such impact but of course, it couldn’t be helped..

“Sorry, princess. You know what happens when you wear that shit around me. Can’t help myself..”

[wonipeun]

ㅤ ༉‧₊˚ how would enhypen members text you as your boyfriends ?

pairing: bf!enhypen x gn!reader | genre: fluff, as always! warnings: none! | wordcount: 1.2k words

✶﹒author's note: i'm back, yayyy!!! long time no see huhu,,, i've recently been thinking of writing some headcanons of how enhypen would text when dating, so here it is!! hope you enjoy it!! (*˘︶˘*)♡ there is some kind of glitch with the small font? there are random letters that are bigger, sorry about that, i have tried to fix it like 10 times and it keeps popping up smh. hope it's not too much trouble!!!!

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이희승 · lee heeseung ‧₊˚

oh my god heeseung is so in love it's embarassing.

i can literally see him sending flirty texts like "thinking about me?" with the stupidest grin on his mouth, and when you reply with a "yes" he'll start kicking his feet on the bed.

i dont really see him using pet names over text, probably he has you on his contacts as "y/n" and some cute emoji that reminds him of you.

"can i call you?" is probably the text he sends you the most.

heeseung prefers calling over texting, but he's shy about facetiming, especially when you have just started dating.

although he's a bit blunt over text, on calls he's a very veryyyy sweet boyfriend. his smitten voice gives away his love for you completely!!! (>᎑<๑)/♡ even when he tries to keep that "cool guy" image, he just can't do that with you-

"i've missed you" "you did?" "mhm"

oh he is blushing hard!!!!

and so are you!!

you both giggling and all- thisissocuteimsobbing.

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박종성 · park jongseong ೀ

he's so well spoken???

he sends you a looong text every morning to remember you everything you have to remember, wish you a good day and say i love you, ofc.

"good morning y/n, have you slept well? remember you have a dentist appointment at 5 o'clock today. i love you 💗"

"good morning my love, sorry for leaving so early today! your breakfast is on the fridge, hope you enjoy it! have a nice day, see you tonight. i love you 💕"

no because park jongseong is the epitome of husband material.

randomly sends you selcas to let you know where he is and what he is doing. and sends another message right after. like "bowling 🎳" or something (pls- 😭).

"have fun!!"

no. wrong answer.

send him your photo. match his energy.

that's the only correct answer.

"*insert your photo here* cooking dinner👩🏻‍🍳"

the moment he sees the photo he's smiling right away! ♡⸜(˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝

"new wallpaper, hehe~" "NO JAY STOP NOT THAT ONE"

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심재윤 · sim jaeyun ˖ ࣪ ⭑

jake is clingy even over text it's amazing actually

uses a lot of emojis, but he's starting to use ":))" and "ㅠㅠ" recently as well!

"jake" "i miss youuu" "wru??"

the average waiting time for jake to respond to you is about 2.058 seconds, i.e., the time it takes for the phone to unlock and open your chat.

"omw!!!!" "i'll be there in 5 mins!" "i miss you too my love <333" "wait for me!!"

will always, always make sure to show you how much he cares about you, whether in person or over text. that's why he sends several messages a day, although sometimes he has to hold back to avoid being a burden,,,, (pls tell him he's not he just loves you sm).

the most effective way to make jake happy? send him selcas!! at any time! it will take him a few seconds to answer so he can calm his heartbeat and type correctly, but his answer will always make you flustered!! ૮₍ ⸝⸝´ ꒳ '⸝⸝ ₎ა

"wow" "woah" "baby omg you're beautiful" "how can you be so pretty?" "and mine" "i'm so luckyyyy" "i love you i love you i love you"

he's the cutest i just cannot handle this

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박성훈 · park sunghoon ⊹ ࣪

sunghoon gives me the same vibes as heeseung

but hoon is,,, cuter???

he sends you cute gifs and think is hilarious 😭

"y/n look at this"

probably a picture of a hedgehog wearing a santa claus hat but he's laughing so hard laying literally next to you.

so you can't help but start laughing as well.

he turns around and looks at you with his pretty sparkly eyes and lovely smile.

"it's funny, isn't it?"

tell him it's funny!! he loves to make you laugh <;33

sunghoon is not that expressive when texting, so you can consider his adorable gifs as his virtual displays of affection!! ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა

doesn't want to tell you but he has you on his contacts as "my beautiful girlfriend" or something like that because this man is very much in love.

he tries to be discreet and not look too desperate, but when you both are apart for several days he sends more messages than usual…

"y/n" "i just had lunch" "did you?" "i did" "good" "i miss you" "but not to much" "just a little bit" "i miss you too..?"

he has no idea how to express affection by text please bear with him.

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김선우 · kim sunoo ��ৎㅤ۫ ㅤ֪

you already know what's coming-

kim sunoo is INTENSE

"my baby y/nieeeeeee💗" "i missed you so much today😢" "shall we have lunch together????" "todays interview has been cancelled!" "i want to see you and kiss you and hug you💕💕💕" "right now😤" "so be ready!!!!"

texts cutely!! and uses a lot of emojis too, mostly pink hearts!!

your photo library is full of his selcas…

although it is true that he takes a lot of pictures for engene and posts them on twitter and weverse, he always saves the best one for you ૮꒰っ˃̵///˂̵c꒱ა

give him compliments!!

"you look so cuteeeeee<;3"

GIGGLES

"i do??" "really???" "but y/nnnn" "if you're saying i'm cute" "being you the cutest one on this world" "then i must be really really cute"

lowkey flirting as he confesses his undying love for you.

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양정원 · yang jungwon ׅ ࣪ ✧

if jungwon is so active on weverse when talking with engenes, just think of the amount of messages you will receive from him in a single day.

wants and needs to tell you anything that happens in his life!!!

"y/n i've just tried this new restaurant" "everything is soooo good!!" "should we order from there next time??" "i want you to try it"

he really wants to involve you in every aspect of his life!! ଘ(੭˃ᴗ˂)੭

loves loves loves facetiming before going to sleep!

my condolences to sunghoon, ni-ki and sunoo who will have to listen to your late-night love calls (they're kinda jealous because you both sound so in love ߹ᯅ߹)

sends lots of pictures of things he thinks are pretty or remind him of you.

"look this little kitten i just came across!!" "is so cute!!" "it looks just like you, so i thought of you right away" "like me??" "of course!!!!!!!!" "look at the eyes" "it looks like you!" "...right?" "maybe i just miss you"

he does.

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にしむら りき · nishimura riki ♡   ֺ  ׅ

he just loves to make fun of you even over text

"y/n" "why do you send me all this texts?" "you really miss me that much???"

he misses you more please keep texting him

has you in his contacts as "girlfriend" and you always ask him to change it because is so unaffectionate, but he loves it because it reminds him he can call you his girlfriend????!!!

"girlfriend has text you" yeah he's so proud of that

sends you 984569 tiktoks and gets upset if you don't reply to all of them individually. also doesn't like it when you react to his messages with a heart instead of sending it as a text!!!! >:(

"if you love me show it properly!!!" "IS ALSO A HEART" "IT'S NOT THE SAME"

sends you funny pictures of you late at night because that's when he checks his pictures of you and always ends up laughing so hard that the members have to scold him.

"nishimura riki" "delete that rn" "NEVERRRRRRRR"

instead you send him nice pictures of him on your dates but he always says he looks bad smh (っ- ‸ - ς)

"what. the hell. is that." "i look ugly" "wdym???" "you look cute" "really?" "yeah" "alright you can keep that one"

maybe he just wants your compliments... 🤭

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taglist! (open): @love-4-keum @tyunni @lovr4lix

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ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ©wonipeun 2023 | ㅤall rights reserved.

[doudouma]

“spending eternity with you…”

soft kokushibo relationship headcanons!

______________________________________________

╔══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╗

my delicate flowers, to the poll i have ran, kokushibo was the winner〜! thank you for the votes, it’s was very fun! i hope you all enjoy the headcanons of himothy himself〜 i will too!

slight mention of k!lling (not to my dearest reader, of course〜), apologies about that, my dear lotuses.

i will keep it gender neutral. ❀〜

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻ੈ✩‧₊˚ ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻ੈ✩‧₊˚

a man of principles.

the finest gentleman, he is.

kokushibo, a demon that has lived for 480 years, knows that things comes and goes.

he isn’t much bothered by that.

but you?

you are his forever. his partner. his soulmate.

inseparable, i must say〜

“i desire to spend eternity with you… by my side. commitment and communication… is useful to this relationship, and i value it… above else.

yes, kokushibo is big on commitment and communication, it’s very crucial. what a loving couple♡〜

kokushibo… kokushibo…. such an amazing lover…

keeling down on one knee to give delicate kisses on your knuckles, soothing words that ease your concerns, gifts and poems that leave you delighted, and i could just go on.

so i will〜

holding you closer to him whenever something seems unsettling, listening to all of your thoughts - good or bad, ensuring that your health is always up.

you see what i’m getting at?

to say it directly, kokushibo is simply.. husband material〜

he’s a very loyal man, so i must say that he will not leave you, and would anticipate that you will not leave him.

“let us savor the beauty of the moment… and cherish the bond we share.”

his choice of words are always so lovely… so passionate♡〜

kokushibo wouldn’t exactly be the type of lover to be clingy, i believe. it would more-so be like protecting.

however… he does catch himself clinging to you.. more often then not!

he would follow you around, just to see what you’ll do. if he doesn’t follow, he’ll just watch. regularly, he’ll sit right next to you, with his eyes closed.

just because his eyes are closed, doesn’t mean he still isn’t on guard〜

has the PERFECT balance of angelic and murderous〜

if someone has hurt you, he would internally be on fire.

giving you the most divine words to your beautiful face, reassuring you that everything is okay. but behind his back, is the person who had upset you. with their head decapitated on the floor〜

if someone hadn’t made you upset, and you you're upset for your own reasons, he would be very compassionate, and give you a solution if you’d want one♡! an angel, i tell you.

“my dear, I'm here for you. whatever it is that's causing you distress… know that I will do everything in my power… to resolve it. I cannot bear to see you unhappy. allow me to guide you through this."

kokushibo loves to do things for you, for actions speak louder than words, and would continuously prove his love to you.

would literally let you do (almost) anything to him out of his love for you.

hugs, kisses, hair braiding, skin care, etc!

spspsps〜… speaking of kisses… kiss him on his face! specifically his eyelids or his marks! it’ll make him blush!

prove your love for him and do something in return? oh now he’s flustered. now he’s delirious, now he’s ready to even propose, or even for the 2nd time!

→ some things you’ll hear kokushibo say :

“please, do not hold back your… feelings or thoughts from me. we are in this world and relationship together…”

“even if you and i are… destined to part ways… let us not regret the time that we spent… as one.”

“your presence is pleasuring. i do not interact with a lot of people… but i guarantee you… i have not encountered someone with… an aura like yours. you are truly like no other.”

“you are my everything. my world. your smile alone.. is always enough for me to keep going…”

overall, kokushibo is one of the top tier gentlemen on this planet. cannot stress that enough! as long as you two are together, the world will be a better place♡〜!

ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻ੈ✩‧₊˚ ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻ੈ✩‧₊˚

ahh〜! this was fun to write, i cannot count the amount of times i have stopped just to smile at this! i hope you all enjoy!! as for me… i will get some rest and dream about this♡! thank you, my precious flowers, for your patience! ❀

[ladylooch]

Nico hischier is so husband material. Like literally does anything for you. Your back hurts? He’s making you lay down so he can massage it.

I am missing sweet Nico. I’m going to use Nico and Lexi here to get the maximum sweetness. Hope you don’t mind 😘

Warnings: Swearing, Flufffffffy

Grittiness fill my eyes as I lean back in the elevator. I am returning for the first time after a long weekend shift at the hospital. My work as a pediatric nurse is feeling less and less rewarding these days. My feet are killing me. I’m so tired that I cannot even think straight. As the doors open, I cringe, remembering the state of the apartment when I left. Nico had been gone on a road trip and I didn’t have time to clean anything up before I headed for my shift. Now, he’ll be sleeping and I’m so exhausted, I don’t think I can muster any energy to clean. I’ll have to apologize for leaving our communal space such a mess.

I fumble in my bag, trying to find the keys to the apartment. I dig and dig to no avail. I’m getting increasingly frustrated, tears building in my eyes. I drop everything in my arms to the floor including my large, Yeti water bottle. I lean my head back towards the ceiling, resisting the urge to scream at the top of my lungs. I am toddler level overtired. I need to get inside before I lose my shit completely.

The lock flips suddenly and the door opens to reveal Nico.

“You’re up?” I say startled.

“Yeah! Couldn’t wait to see you.” He grins, lunging forward to pull me into his arms. He feels so good against my tired and worn body. I turn my nose into his neck, inhaling the scent of him. He smells like fresh body wash and his hair is still slightly wet. I kiss my way up his cheek as his lips trace along my collar bone. “Hi baby.” He murmurs.

“Hi Neeks. I missed you so much.” I keep my arms wrapped around him so he is stuck leaning down to hold me. His hands massage into my worn back muscles. I melt into his body. I can feel his smile against me as he moves his hands down to the backs of my thighs. He guides my legs around his waist, holding me up with one hand on my butt and gathering my dropped bags. 

“You tired?”

“Yeah and stressed. I had a hard shift.”

“I’m sorry, baby. Do you want to go right to bed?”

“No, I wanna hang out with you.”

“Okay, I’ll bring you to change.” He drops my bags by the couch then continues down the hall so I can change. “Actually, you should take a shower.”

“Do I smell?” I jolt back from him subconsciously.

“No. But I know you will feel better after a scalding shower.” He kisses my lips. “Hey, how did you get prettier while I was gone?”

“Oh stop.” I laugh, pushing his chest. 

“No, baby, I swear. You were at 25/10 and now you’re a 30…?” He moves my hand away, grabbing my hips to pull me flush with him. “I should help you undress. That’s what perfect boyfriends do.” He murmurs, kissing along my jaw. I close my eyes, threading my fingers through his hair and surrendering to him again.

“Neeks…”

“I know, sweets. Just taking your clothes off. Nothing else. But.. you know I want to right?”

“Me too.”

“Good. After your nap.”

“Yeah.”

He chuckles, pulling the top of my scrubs off. My pants come next and then my underwear. I take care of my socks myself. Nico turns the water on in the meantime. I reach for my pony tail, but he beats me to it, unwinding the elastic until my brown locks fall down. “31 now…” He whispers, letting his gaze stroke against all his favorite places before coming back to mine. “Enjoy your boiling.” He leaves after one more kiss.

Nico is right. The shower works wonders. The hot spray pounds my muscles and relaxes them. My hair gets a fresh scrub and my body exfoliated. I take my time, doing some of my specialty skin care to feel as beautiful as Nico insinuated earlier. I am thoroughly clean, lotioned and content when I head into our closet. I pull on Nico’s clothes- a Devils shirt and pair of sweatpants that hang off my frame in a comforting weight. I stop for a moment, bringing the collar to my nose and breathing in his scent. 

I run my hands through my wet strands to give them some volume while padding out to the main part of our apartment. My hand slowly falls from my head as I look around, realizing that Nico cleaned. There had been trash overflowing in the kitchen, dirty dishes in the sink. The counters were packed with pens and paper and mail and produce that was going bad. The living room pillows and blankets were strewn about. Laundry baskets of clean clothes made it impossible to use the whole couch. My eyes meet Nico’s. 

“You cleaned.”

“Yeah, you were on shift.”

“And you were on the road.” He shrugs, going into the refrigerator and pulling out mayo. That’s when I realize he is making us lunch. 

“I got home first.” 

“I’m so in love with you.” I whine, coming to bury my face in his back as he finishes folding our sandwiches together. “Thank you.” I kiss along the indent of his spine, then rest my cheek there again.

“You’re welcome. And I love you more.” He turns at the hips, handing me a plate. “What do you want to watch while we eat?”

“Nothing. I want to talk to you. Tell me all about your trip.” I insist.

“It was a little rough.” He sighs. 

“Tell me everything.” I say, crossing my legs on the couch and focusing in on him.

“We’re just… struggling.” He shakes his head, munching on a chip. “And I feel like I’m not leading well.”

“No way that is true.” I say after swallowing my first bite. His eyes meet mine. “You’re the perfect leader for this team. You were made for it.”

“Doesn’t feel like it right now.”

“I know you well enough to know you don’t want me to fix it. But promise me you’re being nice to yourself?”

“I am… For you.” 

We talk more about the trip through the remainder of the meal. By the time I’m finished eating, I’m so exhausted my eyes can barely stay open. The stress and frustration I had before has melted away with Nico’s love. Now, all that is left is the tiredness and hungover feeling from the long, work weekend.

“You need a nap.” All I can do is not wordlessly in agreement.

Nico wraps an arm around me while we head down the hall to bed. 

“You want me in here?”

“Yes. Missed your hot body next to mine.” I mumble. Nico pulls my side of the comforter back so I can crawl in. Once I’m settled, he tucks me in, then ghosts a hand lovingly over my hair. He closes the black out shades before turning on the air purifier for some white noise to drown out mid-day in the city.

“Hope you don’t mind, but I’m gonna marry you.” I admit with hooded eyes as I watch him round the bed to his side. He chuckles as he tugs his sweatpants off, replacing them with shorts. “Tomorrow work for you?”

“Sure, sweets.” I smile then allow myself to submit to sleep. Nico pulls me into his chest, adjusting us into the perfect sleeping positions we have learned over the months we have been together. His lips skim mine, then he waits, listening for my breathing to even out before he responds.

“Even tomorrow wouldn’t be soon enough for me. Love you, Lex. Forever.”

[calisources]

𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 𝐁𝐘 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐘𝐄𝐍, 𝐀 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄.

All these quotes are taken from many materials from George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, from members of House Targaryen. You can change location, names and pronouns as you see fit. Some of these are little spicy as well might mention the typical topics of the book like inc*st.

I mounted him and took him for a ride, and I mean to do the same tonight. I love to ride.

Red maidens, the two of us, but now we've both been mounted.

You were made for battles, and I was made for this.

As soon as I am well, let's make another. I want to give you twenty sons. An army of your own!

But you are far braver than me. I would sooner fight a dozen battles than do what you've just done.

He's either brave or mad, that one.

You will be a great king, even greater than your father.

A ruler needs a good head and a true heart. A cock is not essential.

If your Grace truly believes that women lack the wit to rule, plainly you have no further need of me.

My uncle Maegor was cruel, but age is crueler.

No mother should ever have to burn her child.

I am old as well, but I am still younger than you.

She was his most trusted counselor and his right hand.

Dark Sister was made for nobler tasks than slaughtering sheep. She has a thirst for blood.

The war will end when the heads of the traitors are mounted on spikes above the King's Gate, and not before

Prince Daemon had been the wonder and the terror of his age.

The archmaesters call you the Conciliator, I have heard. It is time that you conciliated.

I have my own kingdom here.

Such a fierce little thing she is, they say, she has no need of comfort. They are wrong in that, I fear. All men need comfort.

She has no interest in kissing games, nor boys. She plays with them as she used to play with her puppies.

I have seen the way she preens and prances around Baelon. That is the husband she desires, and not for love of him.

She wants to be the queen.

How can he rule the Seven Kingdoms when he cannot rule his brother?

Your guards are slow and lazy.

If any man questions my son's right to the Iron Throne, let him prove his claim with his body.

When the sun sets, your line shall end.

A king should never sit easy.

Aegon the Conqueror brought fire and blood to Westeros, but afterward he gave them peace, prosperity, and justice.

Do you think we would name him Aegon the Conqueror today if he had not had dragons?

But we will come again, Princess, and the next time we shall come with fire and blood.

I fed my last husband to my dragon. If you make me take another, I may eat him myself.

We can go back to the ends of the earth together. But I'll get there first, as I'll be flying.

Brother, if it please you, we have brought your new queen.

The sound of the queen's laughter was like music to this fool, so sweet that even the king was known to smile.

The whole realm knew that the girl loved Daeron's bastard brother Daemon Blackfyre, and was loved by him in turn.

Daemon Blackfyre loved the first Daenerys, and rose in rebellion when denied her.

A hundred years ago, Daenerys Targaryen came to Dorne to make a peace. Now another comes to make a war.

Too many dragons are as dangerous as too few.

I have done my duty by you, and given you an heir.

When Viserys sold their mother's crown, the last joy had gone from him, leaving only rage.

Whenever Aerys gave a man to the flames, Queen Rhaella would have a visitor in the night.

The queen your mother was always mindful of her duty.

I want to be with you, I want to sail the seas and have adventures.

Every knight needs a squire. You look as though you need one more than most.

omeday the dragons will return. My brother Daeron's dreamed of it, and King Aerys read it in a prophecy.

If you cannot manage a horse, fetch me some wine and a pretty wench.

Why did you throw your life away? For this whore? She's scarcely worth it. A traitor. The dragon ought never lose.

She bathes in blood to keep her beauty.

You've known queens and princesses. Did they dance with demons and practice the black arts?

Duels were fought over the right to sit beside her.

She gave him her bed, but never her hand. It amused her more to make him jealous.

I want him dead, the traitor. I want his head, you'll bring me his head, or you'll burn with all the rest. All the traitors.

But a man does not marry his heir to his servant's daughter.

Aerys was mad, the whole realm knew it.

There have always been Targaryens who dreamed of things to come, since long before the Conquest.

[milky-mink]

Ran as your Sugar Daddy Benefactor 

Disclaimer: Kinda OOC Ran since he is much older on this one and I would think that he would mellow out over the years. So basically DILF and husband material Ran.

TW: Yandere, Manipulative Behavior, Power Imbalance, Grooming, Controlling Behavior, Stalking

You just graduated high school last month and are finally on your last day at your job before going to university.

You are excited to be attending uni since you are the first one to attend in your family.

Your family, although isn’t poor, certainly cannot afford to attend one since it's expensive. Your mother works as a maid to the mayor’s family while your father works as a manager at a fast-food joint. Although their salary can pay the bills and give the whole family a few things here and there, their salaries can’t afford such a high tuition fee. 

 But that didn’t stop you. Although you aren't academically gifted or have the resources that your classmates have; that still doesn’t let you down from getting to your goal.

Studying hard, taking free after-school classes, and even joining various clubs and groups so that you can be at the top of your class and add an impressive amount of achievements and transcripts in your application form to be able to have a scholarship to university. 

And it is no surprise to you when most of the universities that you’ve applied to have approved your application, most of them also approved you to be in their various scholarship programs.

When you announced the news to your family, this caused a huge celebration. Not only for the first time that someone in their family is going to a university but also attending it for free. 

Add to the fact that you have also applied to the benefactors' program at the university that you are attending. Which not only paid for your other expenses in university, which includes a solo apartment and a full payment of your other fees, but also monthly pocket money to add into the mix. 

It was a dream come true for you, unlike before. You do not need to worry about payments or bills like you used to; instead, you now only worry about your grades and your school work, which is an immense relief not only for your body but also for your mental health as well.

Years of worrying and pushing yourself so hard causing you many health problems, most of them are now only addressed due to you putting your money on your hospital bills instead of the family budget. While your mental health has been only subdued due to the fact that you aren’t pressured that much anymore (We are in Japan people, mental health awareness is just a buzzword for many of them, sadly) 

You quickly go back to your house after your shift. Your manager has now paid you for the month and you submitted your resignation letter a month ago. There is nothing that could make you stressed right now, other than what you are going to wear on the orientation day on campus. 

Honestly, it's so refreshing that you have a problem that doesn’t relate to the budget or your schedule, which is a whiplash for you. From worrying about your family finances to getting worried about your outfit, honestly- it's a big change. 

The next day, you woke up early in the morning with your family. Because of your work, the day that you can move to the apartment is the day before the orientation. 

All of you drove to the apartment, which is a small walking distance from the university, but very far away from where your family lives. 

All of you arrived at the apartment building. Even though this is not the first time that you saw this place, it doesn’t mean that this building didn’t impress you.

Unlike your house, this place looks, well, for those students with rich parents. Which makes you uneasy but also fascinated by it.

It's true that you felt guilty living here while the rest of your family goes back to your home, but they assured you that it's alright and think just about your future.

You're glad that you have such a supportive and loving family

You gave all of them a tight hug before they went back home, leaving you all by yourself in the apartment.

You really can’t believe that you are going to be living here for the next few years. The apartment is as big as half of your house and it's all fully furnished already, so you don’t really have to worry about your living arrangements.

You then put your bags in the bedroom and ‌take out your belongings, then place the items in their respective cabinets and tables. 

After you’re done placing your belongings, you then hear your phone ringing. You quickly walk up to where your phone is and answer the call.

It turns out that it's the university dean himself, telling you about a sudden meet-up with your benefactor this afternoon. 

He then apologized for such inconvenience, but you assured him that it was alright, you would finally meet the person who blessed you with the privileges that you have right now. 

But during the time when the dean talks to the phone, he sounds really nervous, as if he is afraid of someone or something.

But you shrugged it off, it's probably the stress of running an enormous university.

While you wait for the time being, you then go back to organizing your possessions into your new dwelling.

 When it's afternoon, you then walk to the place where your dean has told you to meet your benefactor. 

To your surprise, it’s a small cafe that both the university faculty and the students often go into. 

It’s small and quaint, the cafe is squished between two of the university buildings.

You then entered the cafe and sat on the chair at the far end of the store, then waited for your benefactor. 

As you wait for your benefactor, you then hear someone approaching your table. You then looked up for the person and saw a man with striped lilac hair and purple down-turned eyes, looking at everyone with an amused but apathetic expression. He wore a light purple suit with a matching pink tie and black leather shoes. 

You felt intimidated by his presence, but you can't judge a book by its cover- right?

“Are you Miss (L/N)?”

You shyly nodded, answering his question. He then smiles at you and then sat on the nearby chair, facing you directly. 

He then introduces himself as Haitani Ran, your current benefactor and the person who is going to fund your education through your University days. 

When he finished introducing himself, the two of you then talk and got to know each other. Which surprisingly went well, considering that you are really nervous right now and almost stutter your words every time you talk to him.

The meetup ends on a positive note. Which is a relief for you, considering how nervous and jittery you are meeting him and trying not to make him upset or angry. 

You arrived at the apartment and tried the bathtub in the bathroom, then do your simple skincare routine. You wanted to look your best for tomorrow. After all, you wanted to make a good impression on your first day.

When you are done, you quickly got dressed and go back to sleep for the next day

Your first day at university is a breeze. You get to know many people from various backgrounds and places. Some are friendly, while others are plain rude to you, which is alright because you can't really expect people to be pleasant most of the time. It's so fascinating to see how it's so different compared to your high school.

The rest of the week is also the same, aside from your usual meet-up with your benefactor, where the two of you catch up and talk with each other. 

Months passed by, and you are now conditioned with your timetables and your other schedules. Although the workload in the university is overwhelming for most of the students, you mostly finished your papers early since the amount of workload in the university is smaller compared to what your workload is in high school. 

Your college days are so easy; you meet up with your new friends at the local hotspots or the nearby mall to hang out, do hobbies that you don’t have time to do while you’re in high school, and meet with your benefactor while finishing your school work earlier than the rest of your classmates. You're just a few months in and it's like you are now living in a whole different world. 

You still joined various organizations and even voted as a representative for your class, which is what you did previously in high school. They are much more challenging, yes. But it is fun, considering that it's the students themselves that mostly manage all the activities, and professors only look at it at the start for its approval. 

Even if you are busy enjoying your college days, you still meet up with Ran on certain days of the week. The two of you had gotten closer to each other, to the point where you don’t see him as a benefactor but as a close friend. 

Well, more than a close friend, but you’re just glad that you have a relationship with him, even if it's platonic. He would certainly turn you down when you would confess to him since you are just a poor first-year student with no successful background other than your academic records. 

Even so, you two not only meet in the cafe but also in ‌different locations as well. Like the university gardens, the nearby museum, or even the city's various art exhibits. He sometimes drags you into Roppongi and shopping in various stores that have price tags that shook you to the core. 

You wanted to refuse the items that he bought for you. The price of the stuff that he brought is astounding. You are sure that these items cost more than your parents' yearly salary combined. Which made you feel guilty. Here you are, having these luxury items, while your family still lives in squalor. 

Because of your regret, you refunded some items that Ran bought for you and sent the money to your family- which you are sure that they really need right now. The money is enough for them to buy new things and even afford payments to go to the hospital for checkups or treatment. 

You felt ashamed of what you did, but it helped your family so it's not a problem, and Ran would understand. He’s been such a gentleman that he would probably brush it off and move on- even without you telling this to him. 

Well, if you thought that’s the case, you are certainly wrong

Ran, although is generous and often kind to you - doesn’t take your actions well

The items that you’ve refunded are the things that he specifically chose for you, and you alone. So that is why it stings when he finds it out when the men who managed his bank and finance reported it to him. 

He would admit that he is getting old and sentimental. Unlike his younger self, which would just toss you aside after a few days for not satisfying his carnal needs, and would jump off to another person- he wants to find someone that he could connect to; both emotionally and even sexually, and it surprised him that you are that person. 

He just did this benefactor program as one of his covers to get the pigs out of his back for a while, and just randomly selected one of the poor scholarship students at random. He was glad when he accidentally chose you out of many students in that program since he really can't imagine his life without you. 

He honestly felt a deep connection with you. Even though you are a young and naïve university student, you aren’t also ignorant of hardships and struggles in life. He relates to you in some way- when you mentioned how much you’ve sacrificed for your family. It may not look like it, but in their earlier gang life, he and Rindou would often share scraps of food or stay in a run-down apartment just to survive for the day. He even gave the remaining scrap of food to his younger brother, so that he wouldn’t be hungry.

You are intelligent but also dense at the same time, which he finds endearing but also attractive at the same time. 

He decides to pursue you in an old-fashioned way. Going on dates, gifting you stuff ‌he knows most girls love (well, the once that he ‘dated’ in the past anyway) basically just spoiling you rotten.

He doesn’t know how to form a relationship - since he’s used to getting what he wants and would toss it after he’s done. The only form of love that he has is with Rindou, which is unsurprising since he literally raised him. 

So it's no surprise that it hurt him when he finds this out. it's not that you returned it that hurts him- it's the fact that you didn't tell this to him personally. 

This caused Ran to be much more possessive and obsessive, to the point that he observes almost every aspect of your current life. From your university schedule to your free time- he knows what you are doing, wanting to know if you have things that you aren’t telling him about. 

Although you sensed someone is watching you, you just brushed it off as your imagination- even though it still unnerved you. 

You met Ran again at your usual time and place. Although he acts the same, his mood and vibe suddenly change. 

It made you uneasy, although he is still as gallant as ever, he seems to be much more controlling; prodding you about your whole week, even the food that you ate on specific days, which made you paranoid but at the same time - very guilty.

Did he find it out? Who knows, maybe he did, since he is much more clingy and guarded to you.  

“Maybe, it's just the guilt, yeah, just that” you just thought as you felt weird when you were with him, every time the two of you go out. 

Even if you try to hide the guilt for so long, your subconscious still brings it up, adding to the fact that Ran tried to be with you every time. It’s no wonder that you finally broke down in front of him after months of hiding it from him- explaining your reason why you returned the items that he bought for you.

While you are crying after you’ve explained your side of the story, you are surprised that he hugged you and tell you that it’s okay and you should have said it earlier. Assuring you that he is not mad at your actions. 

This caused you to cry more as he then envelops you in his embrace. 

Ever since then, the two of you started to become lovers. Instead of hanging out together, the two of you go on dates, not only in Roppongi but also in other areas of Tokyo; and even to other cities like Kyoto, Osaka and even touring the Nara prefecture during your break in University, which made you flustered but at the same time, guilty that he did all of this to you. 

But Ran just brushes off your worries since he also wants this for himself. After all, not only that he is spoiling you and providing you with needed opportunities and riches that you deserve, but also he has his hands wrapped around your whole life.

Not only that he supports your whole life in university but also your family. Both your parents are now in jobs that have high-paying salaries due to their promotions for their years of excellent work and diligence in their job, which is bullshit because he just gave a word to their bosses and they quickly oblige because their business has something to do with Bonten, well actually- most businesses in Japan are connected with Bonten in some ways, which is neat because he doesn’t want to separate and talk to them himself. He would be separated from you. 

You only have him in your life. He would mold you to be your best self, which is becoming his wife in the future. You’ve worked so hard in your whole life, and now- he wants you to just relax and let him do anything for you.

Including staying with him for the rest of your life as his spouse. 

“Oi Ran! Where are you going?” Ran then look back and saw his younger brother running up to him, his suit still stained from their previous ‘job’ earlier this night. “Oh, you know, going back to my wife, why do you ask?” he replied with a playful tone in his voice. As expected, his brother groaned in annoyance. Being irritated not only by his tone but also by his attitude right now. “Ran, not this crap again, I know, (Y/N) is a fucking wonderful person and you're lucky to have a wife as caring as her. You don’t need to shove that fact into my face every time,” Rindou said while Ran looked at him with an expression that only annoying older siblings give to their younger ones, which further irritates Rindou as a whole. “Ugh, I’m just going to hand you this, asshole,” Rindou cursed as he handed a small note that have the messy but familiar handwriting of their boss. Ran then quickly snatched the note from Rindou and read its content. As usual, it's the same old job but with an important person as a subject. When Ran finished reading it, he grabbed his lighter from his pipped pocket and quickly set the paper on fire. “Thanks, Rin, now I’m going to head back to my (Y/N) then, good luck on your job tonight” Ran said as he then waved goodbye to his younger brother while playfully hinting at the paperwork that Rindou is going to do tonight. Which caused the younger Haitani to give him the middle finger, too tired to rebuke his older brother as he exits the abandoned sea port warehouse. 

You yawned as you walk down the stairs, waking up early to do your morning activities. Which consists of making breakfast and exercising before doing your papers related to your job. You graduated four years ago and quickly landed a job in a prestigious advertising company; which is a surprise to you since not only did you land a job so quickly, but also the starting pay is tremendous. It's like the salary for an experienced worker. It's also incredible that the company even lets you work in your home- your boss telling you that the company provides working at home as an option for their workers. This baffles you a little since as far as you know, this company does not provide for one. But who are you to deny this opportunity? It would be a hassle to you anyway and you don’t want Ran to be lonely if you came home late from work. So you quickly took that option and now, you work at home and you are doing a great job not only at work but also maintaining the house. Which is not that hard anymore considering that there are helpers that would come to your house to clean every two weeks, which gave you less hassle other than sweeping the floor clean or making the house look organized.

When you arrived at the kitchen, you then heard the front door open, which means Ran came home early from work. You heed no mind as you knew that he would head towards the kitchen after he took off his suit and have a relaxing shower for his early morning dinner.

While you are in the middle of the cooking, Ran walked to the kitchen and grab cold water to drink. “Sorry dumpling, but the rice isn’t done yet,” you said as he sat on the countertop chair in front of you. He then smiled and told you that it was okay and pulled out his phone to read something as he drink his water- waiting for the rice to cook. When the rice cooker finally beeped, you then opened the lid and wait a few seconds for the steam to rise before scooping some rice for your breakfast. Well, in Ran’s case- for his morning dinner. The two of you ate your respective meals while talking about your usual day, him on his desk job at the company he works at and you on your suggestion about the upcoming advert for a snack company about a new chip flavor in the market. Ran talked from time to time, but you are the one that always rambles on about your day- even if you mostly stay at home. As you ramble on about your work, Ran can't help but to smile about his current life right now. Even though he is past his prime, he still got a very lovely spouse that he actually cares about (which would stun his younger self, if he’s being honest); a younger brother that has his back, and a job that he certainly enjoys. He would admit that this is not the life that he imagined when he was younger. Sure, he imagines that he would be in a gang but not the idea of being married and actually in love with his spouse. 

He thought that he would continue hopping from person to person until he dies from either being killed by someone or being tortured to death. But now, he can’t imagine being far away from you for more than a day, which is torture in itself. 

He would admit that the cover-up sponsorship program is one of the best decisions that he made in his entire life. Without it, he would not have met you in the first place- or maybe not at all. He really can’t imagine his life without you, really. After he met you, there are emotions that he can’t really describe, but he would just call it ‘love’. He knows that he should not have those emotions to be called ‘love’, but he can’t help it. Normal love would not make him feel like stalking you is an obligation as your lover. Normal love would not make him feel addicted to spoiling you daily, and most importantly normal love would not make him feel like controlling every single aspect of your life is his duty as your spouse. He supposed he hasn’t changed that much really, even though he isn’t as apathetic and nonchalant as before- he is still as greedy as ever. 

Did he feel guilty manipulating you, a vulnerable college student that only relies on her scholarships or whatever charity that people might give?  

Yes. Absolutely. 

But did he regret it?

Not even a little bit

You see, he is a Haitani. He would take whatever he wants by all means necessary. Even manipulating someone into loving them and making them dependent on it. He would hurt, lie, manipulate, steal, and kill someone just so he could get something or someone that he desires- and that someone is you. 

"I love you, (Y/N), and I'll always be with you" 

[ragingbookdragon]

A Broken Heart Must Be Healed On Its Own

Haldir of Lórien x Reader

Word Count: 2K Warnings: Angst

Author's Note: But the pairing of Galadriel's daughter and Haldir is just *mwah* perfection! -Thorne

**********************************************************************

It was, the first week of winter by the time she made it home from Erebor. The air had chilled considerably, and most mornings were covered in a fine layer of frost before the winter sun warmed the land. Lothlórien was never known to have true snowfall like other places, as Lady Galadriel’s magic, and the forest itself was an eternal spring and autumn, but sometimes, she would awaken in the mornings, when the moon was still in the sky, and tiny snowflakes would decorate the kingdom outside.

Oddly enough, it seemed winter had blessed Lothlorien with a bit of snowfall as she quietly crossed back into the realm and under the veil of her mother’s protection. Her heart still ached, as it would no doubt for centuries after, but even elves like she knew that sometimes, time healed even the deepest of wounds.

She arrived, greeting the elves who bowed for her and ascended the stairs to her mother and father’s chambers. As if her mother knew she was coming, and she did—always did, the eyes of Lady Galadriel met hers, and she all at once was overcome with a great grief, crystal tears filling her eyes as she dropped her bag and fell into her mother’s arms.

Lady Galadriel said nothing, save quiet hums as she caressed her daughter’s head, already knowing the tragedy that had befallen the land east of Mirkwood—word had always travelled fast, as did magic. The adventure was one her daughter had to go on, to find something of worth for herself, not in material items, but within her heart and soul, and she knew that her daughter had found it, even at the expense of such deep emotion.

It was quite a long while before the tears finally dried and she lay against her mother’s shoulder, no longer sniffling, but staring blankly at the land outside the arches. “I am deeply grieved, mother,” she whispered. “For my own loss, but the pain of my friends, grieves me too.”

“Yes,” Galadriel murmured.

“I wish I could take their pain from them. It hurts me that I cannot heal their hearts.” She shifted as much she could, trying to get closer to her mother. “What good is my ability to heal if I cannot heal the broken hearts of the ones I love?”

Her mother’s hand came up to cup her cheek, thumb brushing delicately over her skin. “Some pain we are meant to feel, hína nîn. It reminds us that we are alive.” Galadriel’s voice was soft but ever wise. “Your ability is to heal physical wounds, not the wounds of the heart. That is something someone must heal on their own.”

Pulling away, she looked at her mother, searching for something in her gaze and opened her mouth, but no words came out.

“I am proud of you though, hína nîn,” Galadriel said. “For you have done what was right. Stood up against evil in many forms to do justice. You have made us all here so honored.”

“I have only tried to live up to your own standard, mother,” she smiled halfheartedly, and Galadriel merely offered a smile of her own.

“You love has waited quite a long time for you to return home. Perhaps you should go and see him.” her mother gave her a knowing look. “It is, after all, the first time you have ever left with anger in your heart.”

She nodded, letting out a sigh. “I shall, but I would like to see father first. I wish for his comfort as well.”

Galadriel nodded, helping her daughter to her feet before taking her arm in hers, leading her to her father.

***

It was nightfall by the time she returned to the quarters she and her love shared. There was still an ache in her heart, but it had slowly begun to heal, as if the love from her mother and father was magic in and of itself. She pushed open the door, greeted by the sight of her husband bent over a desk, papers surrounding him as he rubbed at his temples and pinched the bridge of his nose. It reminded her of their last talk before she left.

“I simply mean I do not think this is a wise decision.”

“And I recognize this. Do not think that the mere danger of this quest is somehow beyond me, Haldir, or do you forget that I was once face to face with a terrible evil once?”

“That is not what I mean to say, and you know that.”

“I know what you mean. You do not want me going.”

“Of course I do not! You could die! Do you any how grieved all of Lórien would be if you did?”

“Life is not lived without its risks. This is something I must do.”

“Please, my love, do not go. I do not wish for you to put yourself into harm’s way as such where I cannot protect you.”

“I unfortunately cannot acquiesce to your desire, Haldir. I am leaving with Mithrandir at dawn.”

“I do not think you understand! You need—”

“Let go of my arm lest you lose it, Haldir.”

“…You have forgotten that you are no longer just your mother’s daughter. You are my wife. I am your husband. Your life is mine and mine yours. You are taking a risk without assessing my concerns and it is wrong. This is wrong. You, are wrong.”

“Then I will be wrong. But this is something I must do, and you will not stand in my way, husband or no.”

“Fine. Go then. If something befalls you so horrible that you do not come home to me, then you will know I was right.”

She huffed quietly and leaned against one of the pillars in their common room. “To think, my great, Marchwarden husband has met his final downfall, and it is not an enemy blade, but reports.”

Haldir jumped at her voice, startled eyes meeting hers as he rose from the desk, fingers touching the papers, but he didn’t move from behind it. “You—” he fell silent, gathering himself as his eyes became hidden. “I had heard you made it back to Lórien.”

“Yes,” she said, walking over to where a glass pitcher was; she poured two glasses of crimson wine and held it out for him. “Forgive the delay, I had to see Mithrandir and Bilbo back to the Shire.”

He came around the desk and took the glass but didn’t drink from it even as he watched her do so. “I heard of what happened…the battle…the dwarves. To think that you were in the middle of such a battle, I—I cannot even begin to fathom such a fearsome sight.”

She blinked slowly, gazing out towards the night. “Yes…a great sadness it was. My heart weeps for my loss and for my friend’s losses too.”

“Meleth nîn,” he begged. “For what purpose did you go on this adventure? Was such grief and sadness worth it?”

Looking at him, she smiled with great sorrow. “You still have yet to understand.” She turned, sitting on the bench, and gestured for him to do so; when he did, she rested her head on his shoulder. “Losing someone I love, is something I know well.”

“Your sister…”

“Mhm. But the loss of my sister is different from the loss of Thorin, Fili, and Kili. That was a loss I was not familiar with. That of losing a friend. Someone who I shared values, hopes, and great friendships with.”

Haldir was confused. “You went on this journey…so you would know what it was like to lose a friend?”

“You have lost friends before, Haldir. You know what it is like to grieve a fallen brother or sister in arms.”

“Well, yes, but—"

“You have no doubt heard of my mother and brother-in-law’s battle in Dol Guldur. Sauron has returned. Perhaps not in full form just yet like he was ages earlier, but he will come back to great power soon. Loss of many things and people we hold dear is coming, my life. I wished to be prepared for that loss before it happened.” She sighed heavily, feeling the dull ache in her chest again. “But my poor heart was not as prepared as I thought for the losses of my much-loved dwarves. There is a deep pit within my heart, not only for my own loss, but for the feeling of grief that my other friends felt.”

He took her hand in his and thumbed the back of it. “I am sorry for your loss, my love. I wish it is a pain I could carry for you.”

She hummed low in her throat and turned her head up, looking at him. “Haldir, my husband, I ask your forgiveness. In the end, you were right. I am my mother’s daughter, but I am also your wife. And I should have heeded your concerns more cautiously. I am sorry I did not, and that I hurt you. Of all my grief, hurting you is what has caused me the most pain. I never meant to, and I am so sorry.”

Haldir tipped his head to the side, a sad but fond look on his face as he smiled and replied, “Then I must ask your forgiveness as well. I should not have taken my anger out and spoken ill of your journey. To be so jaded to you…it was unworthy of someone who is to love you wholeheartedly.”

Lady Galadriel was the only one on Middle Earth to have seen the trees, but Haldir swore sometimes he could see them in her daughter’s eyes, like now as she smiled at him and leaned forward, nuzzling her nose to his.

“Melin gin, Haldir,” she whispered, and he closed his eyes, reaching up to cup her cheek, once more so glad to hold his wife in his arms.

“And I you, meleth nîn, from this age, to the next, and until the end of all time.” He gently tipped her head up and pressed his lips to hers. “I prayed for your safety every day,” he murmured as he pulled back, resting his forehead to hers. “I watched as you left the forest and all I thought was that I said such horrid things and I had no way of knowing if your journey would be your last.”

She hummed and he opened his eyes, gazing into hers as she professed, “Not even all the hellish forces of Utumno could keep me from coming back to you, Haldir.” Pulling away, she rose from the bench, stood before him, and held out her hands, waiting for him to place his in hers. As he did, she squeezed them tight. “I swear to you, here and now, under the light of my mother’s forest, I will never again stray so far that you do not know where I will go. And should I go, then we shall go together.”

Haldir stood to his feet, a burning passion in his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. “And I to you, that I will never again let you go alone. Wherever we go, we go together.” He smiled so widely at her, taking her face in his hands. “I have missed you so greatly, meleth nîn.”

“And I you, my life.” She pulled them towards the bed. “Rest with me and in the morning, I shall tell you all about my adventure.”

“I do not wish to cause grief, my love.”

“You will not,” she promised. “Besides, there and back? It is a tale worth telling for many ages to come.” Her eyes twinkled. “I fought against many things. Orcs, spiders, dragons. So many.”

“Did you win?”

“Of course!”

They fell into bed and Haldir held her as she snuggled into his chest; kissing her head, he said softly, “Rest, meleth nîn. I will watch for you.”

[6okuto]

NIA OMFG SO ABT THE DATING APP POST U MADE (replies could not handle the novel I am about to impose on you)

the way I am so in love with iwa but he’s the epitome of not my irl type 😭 gym bros and their bland responses to hinge prompts scare me and I feel that he would have the exact profile you were talking abt. his redeeming quality would be like. a dog.

SAME WITH ATSUMU AND IT PAINS ME. PHYSICALLY PAINS ME BC THAT IS MY HUSBAND.

Bokuto would be the exception to the gym bro thing bc he is also a himbo and it shows (in the best way possible) and no one can resist that.

half of hq would not be my type irl and the other half that would be?? I’d be too scared to try to match cause they’re. gorgeous??????? Hello???

HOWEVER Akashi’s profile would totally be like cafe date vibes, libraries and very just. CALMING AND NICE AND I’D DO THE SAME AS YOU. The only thing is I think his prompt responses (I’m on hinge so this is the only dating app format ik) wouldn’t really give you tooooo much to work with but it’s ok no one can be perfect.

I think kuroo’s would be like super bf material tho. Like the kind of profile that you’re certain gets a lot of interaction and makes you wonder if he’s even active on the app anymore LOL. also gives good responses, he’s just slightly dorky but it’s so endearing and it adds to the appeal of his profile.

I think suna’s would be super chill with like humorous undertones and I’d probably end up trying to match with him bc of that. he gives gooddddd responses that are genuinely fun and non repetitive. he’s also not dry if you end up matching.

yk what no I’m giving atsumu a chance here. his prompt responses are. interesting to say the least. dry. he comes across a bit cocky. but his pictures don’t if that makes sense??? like he comes off as a genuinely sweet guy in his photos and videos. maybe I’m just too soft for him and I’m projecting, this is embarrassing.

I wanna add something abt oikawa but I genuinely cannot think of anything other than his photos would be insanely aesthetic and pretty. responses need a bit of work and his opening lines come off a bit strong but. it’s okay. he’s perfect and can do no wrong imo 🤷🏻‍♀️

ANYWAY SORRY I JUST GOT EXCITED AND WANTED TO SHARE. YOU SHOULD TOTALLY DO THE SMAU, I WOULD EAT THAT UP!!!!!

HAIII REV!! EXACTLY. exactly. i'm sorry but not even a dog is enough for me i'm like Omg little dog and then don't match I'm sorry hajime.. Bokuto... my cutie pie naoooo 😭😭 i'd like to hope he'd answer the prompts cutely/in a funny way but i still wouldn't think we'd match well and skip him... BUT!!!! I think if they replied to one of my prompts i'd reply...?! < girl who Never Ever matches first Ever. like there's a photo where their smile looks very cutesie and i'm like Why not!

Akaashi. 🙂teehee. my favoritism i'm sorry everybody. he doesn't really have photos of himself so he has to ask friends for some and there's like one photo that's dimly lit where he's smiling with fluffy hair that would make my jaw drop and tears form in my eyes i'd want him so bad. one of his prompt answers would be like. a joke about how tired he is with all the work he has. something kind of basic But i love him so it's ok. for me specifically i mention my dislike for HTTYD 3 and i think he'd reply and be like wait you're so right can u explain more or something like that and I would Start Crying tears Of Joy PLEAASELEAASE PLEAPSAPPSLEPLEPA

omg kuroo. i understand. i actually first had the idea he looks kind of dorky (/affectionate) but he has a couple good photos and a meme and it's like Oh he's so real for that. also he's totaallyyy somebody who does an audio prompt 😭 it's something fawking stupid /Affectionate and i'd show my irls and we'd be like wait he's kinda cute while we laugh BJSHFBJSD there's also a group photo somewhere on there ! and maybe a video where you can hear him cackling! silly guy...

suna would have a stupid ass block text meme somewhere on his profile LOLLL there's a photo where he's in his room in the dark but i can also imagine he has one with good lighting outside that's one of the few he has... he Would be funny! he's all lowercase until u say something that gets him to laugh and he goes LMFAOOOOO WAIT and it's like Yes I got a good grade in Hinge. BFJSHBJSB

ATSUMU! totally has a pic where he's showing off his muscles or spiking But also wait he looks kind of cute and dorky in this other photo and also his prompt responses are funny this is crazy? I UNDERSTAND!!! maybe it could be like... he's not someone you'd swipe on initially but he sees Your profile and tries to switch it up to cater to you before replying to one of your prompts LOL. and maybe there's a pic of him helping samu make onigiri or just... something kind of domestic that makes u go oh alright he's nice?!

HMM OIKAWA.... also a volleyball pic somewhere. maybe with a medal or trophy of his LOL. but he can take good selfies Unfortunately smhhh /j so you're like aw fuck... i think i'd be like oh you're out of my league or Not my type but if that kind of guy replies to one of your prompts...Would you not be a little curious to see how that convo goes. he's good looking enough that he could just like people's first pic and move on but You're special and Funny and he's Curious okay!!!

THANK U!!! HTANKYEWWW I LOVE THINKING AND TALKING AND SHARING AND HEARING IDEAS IT'S SO FUNSIES NEVER APOLOGIZE 2 ME! i have So many smau series ideas bouncing around in my head i've never tried but if i ever do this one...U will b the first 2 know.

[our-blood-is-our-ink]

Careful Creatures

Ship(s): Hela x Agatha, Agatha x Wanda, Wanda x Hela, Hela x Agatha x Wanda

Summary: Three powerful beings broken down back to the start somehow find themselves brought together as they relearn themselves and each other

Word Count: 1.6k

Warnings: angst, descriptions of being burnt, mild gore, sexual assault/non-con/rape, abuse of alcohol/alcoholism/addiction, amnesia, domestic violence, implied use of roofing drugs

Disclaimer: 18+ ONLY MINORS DNI

A/N: Please READ THE WARNINGS before proceeding. If this were on AO3 it would be rate E for explicit material later on in the series, and M for mature material for the heavy content this story deals in

|| next

Chapter One

She falls in a blaze.

Green and gold and black, streaking through the heavens and flames, like some dying star in need of a desperate wish of its own.

Her skin burns and blisters and blackens, smoke filling her lungs, choking off the last vestiges of air they held.

In space, no one hears you scream.

In space, no one sees the last of a once beautiful and powerful empire crumple to nothing but debris and dust, exploding violently outwards as Ragnarok rages its final breath.

Her cheeks become adorn with the cleansing water of her own tears as she mourns, the prophecy she had been bound to at last releasing its shackles on her.

In space, no one sees her cry.

She tumbles through the darkness, with no force to counteract against her initial velocity, and she hurls through the celestial skies.

Eventually, even her godly body cannot handle the vast emptiness of space.

Her eyes slip shut, her breathing slows, and as she falls and falls and falls, she slumbers.

—»•«—

Agnes stumbles up the stairs, her feet tripping over one another as the world seems to spin.

“That you?” Her husband’s voice calls from their bedroom.

Agnes opens her mouth, the words yes, dear on the tip of her tongue, when she suddenly bolts for the bathroom.

As she's heaving her insides out, Ralph’s large hand painfully yanks her hair in a bunch away from her face.

“Get it all out now, I don't want you soiling the bed.” He snaps, impatient.

Agnes shivers as she retches. It was more than the ever-oppressing feeling that something wasn’t right that drove her to stay out drinking until the bars closed.

Eventually, she has nothing left in her stomach to vomit up, and she half collapses against the cool porcelain.

Her relief is short-lived, but she doesn't fight as Ralph manhandles her.

He is her husband. When she married him, she committed herself before the eyes of God that she would be a faithful wife.

Ralph doesn't like it when she's vocal, so she bites her tongue and lets herself get lost in the dizziness her mind is experiencing and doesn't make a noise of protest or pain as he shoves her to the floor and pulls down her pants.

This is her test to bear, for making her mistakes.

You don't deserve this.

—»•«—

Wanda awakens in a cave.

It's not the oddest place she's ever woken up, though how she's so sure of that, she can't really say.

It must be a gut feeling, she decides, as she tries to think.

She knows her name, that's good.

Her age–

She's… Twenty-six? Thirty-two? She can't recall.

That's… Not normal, right?

She places a hand on a rough wall, trying to steady herself as she walks on shaky legs.

Her name is Wanda… Wanda something. Something… Off? Romanoff? No, that's not right. Romanoff was…

Wanda grits her teeth.

She knows enough that her last name isn't Romanoff, but can't remember whose last name is.

That's extremely frustrating.

Wanda stumbles along the cave, trying to find the way out, and wishes Pietro were here.

Pietro. Her brother. Her twin brother. Her brother who–

A stream of bullets hits through her chest, and she collapses to her knees, screaming her pain.

Wanda violently shakes her head, clutching it.

“Get it together, Maximoff.” She reprimands herself, before realizing what she's said.

Maximoff.

Her name is Wanda Maximoff.

That's good. It means she isn't totally amnesic.

She goes over what she knows as she begins to feel a soft breeze against her face.

Her name is Wanda Maximoff. She had a twin brother, Pietro Maximoff, who died by being gunned down. She doesn't know exactly how old she is, but she's somewhere in her late twenties, early thirties. Her parents… She doesn't remember her parents. Possibly dead, almost certainly impossible to find or reach if they aren't. She knows– knew? Knew someone with the surname Romanoff. Someone who… She stole a jacket from? Why was she remembering this and not useful information, like how did she get here? And where is here? And are there people who will be looking for her?

Dread pools in her belly.

People looking for her feels like an ominous statement.

She misses… She misses someone. Someone special. A lover, perhaps? A spouse? A… Child? She’s old enough to have had at least one.

Wanda isn't sure.

Light begins to hurt her eyes.

She's made it to the exit of the cave!

She hobbles, running as best she can, eager, bursting out into open air and freedom and–

Oh.

Oh no.

—»•«—

She burns again, still streaking green and gold and black, but this time, through the atmosphere of a planet.

When she lands, she craters the forest floor and doesn't move.

—»•«—

“Day drinking, Agnes?” Dottie clicks her tongue from behind the brown-haired woman. “I keep telling you we have a decent AA here.”

Agnes does her best to laugh off the comment.

“Oh, you know dear, it's five o’clock somewhere!”

Dottie slides into the seat across from her.

“Look. Your neighbors, I don't know if you know them, the Johnsons, they well… Mrs. Johnson said that late one night when she was just finishing putting the baby back down after a late night bottle feed, that she saw your bedroom window was open–”

“I'm sure whatever she saw she mistaken, Dot.” Agnes smiles as charmingly as she can. “You know how those late nights are with a newborn!”

“She said that Ralph was choking you, Agnes.”

Agnes’s smile slides off her face.

“If my husband,” she stresses, “had been choking me, I would have bruises.”

Dottie’s eyes flick to Agnes’s neck, which is both bare of discoloration, and the tell-tale texture of makeup.

Agnes swings back some of the brunch mimosa in her hand, closing her eyes briefly to gain strength from it.

“Ralph is a wonderful husband. He would never hurt me.” Agnes lies through her teeth. “Is that all why you decided to pay me a social visit during some of my “me” time?”

Dottie shifts, clearly uncomfortable.

“Agnes…” She trails, trying to find the words. “If you ever did need help, Eastwood– I mean, Westview is here for you.”

Agnes turns her smile all the way up to its brightest wattage. “Will keep that in mind, toots! Thanks for stopping by brunch to talk with this ol’ gal!”

Dottie hesitates before she stands and leaves.

Agnes's wildly beating heart doesn't slow until her fifth post-Dottie mimosa has been downed.

The truth is, Ralph does have a habit of choking her… But the bruises always fade by the next afternoon, rapidly going through the stages of healing broken blood vessels startling fast.

Agnes can't recall ever having healed that way before.

No, healing meant fire and death, healing meant agony for days and weeks because she was only ever meant to hurt, not heal.

Agnes shakes her head as if trying to dislodge the sudden pressure she feels.

That's something she has noticed.

Thinking about her past causes her awful headaches and terrible migraines.

It's best to keep to the present.

Agnes smiles at the hostess as she leaves the venue, not worried about paying.

The people of Westview took care of one another.

She doesn't notice the woman with the dark hair and piercing blue eyes who stands up and leaves after her.

—»•«—

It's been two days since Wanda had started off down the rest of what looked like an intimidating mountain, headed towards what looks to be a promising sign of life in the vibrancy of green trees.

Hopefully, there will be water somewhere there.

Wanda knows she has only twenty-four more hours until her body gives out from lack of hydration.

Her heart skips a beat, and the hairs on the back of her neck rise.

Hydration.

Hydra.

Hydra was… Bad.

Hydra is bad.

The word gives her a bad feeling.

She keeps on, not even pausing as the tremors grow stronger from the mountain.

The ruins that lay in pieces everywhere, even so far down from the top where it once resided, make Wanda feel awful enough that she had nearly vomited the first time stepping out into the world and seeing it.

She avoids touching any part of it as best she is able.

She can hear rocks sliding somewhere to her left.

Distant.

Her shoulders drop an inch.

She isn't in direct danger. Not yet.

—»•«—

Ralph’s at the bar.

Ralph’s at the bar and he has all his friends there and she didn't know that the bartender used to date him and–

Agnes is vocal as rough hands grasp at her, groping and tugging and searching as their owners laugh.

“Here, dear.” Ralph’s voice is cold. Mocking. “I know how much you like your alcohol. Drink up.”

She doesn't have a choice, surrounded, as he passes her a cup.

Within moments of finishing it, she knows.

There's more laughter.

“So kind of that Maximoff bitch to leave you a wife.” Someone comments.

“To Ralph, and his whore!” Someone else shouts, to resounding cheers.

Agnes wants to scream for help, but the room is spinning and her limbs won't obey her instructions and her mouth feels too heavy to move and then–

—»•«—

No.

—»•«—

The ground slopes slightly, and grass turns to dirt as Wanda follows the stream she found.

Deeper and deeper it slopes, until she's been walking for at least half an hour, and then she sees a mess of blood and green.

—»•«—

The door bursts open, crashing loudly, just as her hands find their way around the nearest man’s throat, a knee jerked violently up between his legs.

The room freezes. She smirks, throws her head back, and cackles.

[deducter]

What can a wedding ring say?

Here is the post you all wanted me to write (post) sooner, based on the final result of the poll:

Today, I’m going to share the project I’ve been working on for a while. I’ve been observing wedding rings for a long time, and now it’s time to share every single detail I observed; from their presence to their absence, and even the tiniest scratches and tan lines they leave behind.

Let’s begin with the material: The chosen material and design reflect one's character, while the inclusion of specific gemstones may indicate sentimentality or a desire for luxury. In certain cases, the material itself may even hint at one's financial standing.

Look for a date/name: Another noteworthy aspect to observe is the engravings adorning the rings. They offer a glimpse into the emotional connection shared between partners. They often show a date or a name (The date on the ring is often the wedding date, obviously).

Tiny scratches or well-maintained ?: A meticulously kept ring signifies attention to detail, while signs of wear and scratches may suggest a more adventurous, hands-on existence. Such marks can be a sign of a person’s occupation as well.

There is a peculiar observation I must share: I have noticed that widows often choose to wear their husband's wedding rings as necklaces—a sentiment-filled gesture. The ring, too large to fit on their finger, serves as a cherished memento of their late husbands, transformed into a necklace to keep their memory close. Additionally, recently widowed women are also likely to wear their own engagement rings due to their sentiments.

Culture: Now, let’s talk about the placement of these rings. There are some countries, where people wear their wedding rings on their right hand. So the ring placement can tell a lot about where someone is coming from. 

These are the countries where people wear their rings on their right hand: Germany, Chile, Colombia, Austria, Russia, Denmark, Georgia, Greece, Norway, Poland, Spain and Venezuela.

Conversely, nations like Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Iran, Mexico, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Slovenia favour the left hand. Intriguing, isn't it?

You can read more about this part here. 

Ah, and now we come to my favourite part—the absence of a ring. Its meaning can vary greatly, encompassing personal choice and even professions that discourage its wear. Allow me to elaborate further:

Personal choice plays a significant role, as some individuals opt not to wear their wedding rings, defying tradition. So yes, you may encounter married individuals who forgo the wearing of engagement rings altogether—a matter of personal preference.

Consider also the implications regarding marital status. Not everyone is married, and the absence of a ring can indicate being single or even divorced. However, I must caution against hastily jumping to conclusions based solely on the absence of a ring. There may be more to the story than meets the eye.

 Tan lines: And let us not forget the telltale tan lines left behind by these rings. Though sometimes challenging to discern in poor lighting or other unfavourable conditions, they can provide valuable insights. Tan lines may indicate consistent wear, an occupation or engagement in outdoor activities, or even a sun-soaked holiday. 

Allergies, skin sensitivities, or medical conditions can render wearing a wedding ring uncomfortable or impractical, leading some individuals to forgo its presence due to these constraints. I’ve met many people that are married but don’t wear a ring due to skin sensitivities. 

As I always say, you have to observe the person completely. You have to gather all the pieces of the puzzle, you cannot complete if you only stare at one single piece! 

These are all the different aspects that I’ve observed till now, and are based on deductive reasoning. So if you met someone who has a ring tan line, don’t jump to the conclusion that they’ve been travelling. Look for other clues. Observe the whole thing. 

-ND

[tubbytarchia]

I've been thinking about fWhip/Jimmy even though I've barely put in any effort to look for Whimmy content and just gotten notable videos/clips from other people, because I thought it probably had good cute material and I could redeem it for myself. And I'm so sorry to all fWhimmy shippers out there but my stance is basically the same as with (mostly traffic and some other SMPs, but not all) Flower Husbands. Which is to say it makes me feel pained for Jimmy lol. If you happen to be a fWhimmy shipper who's already put off then for the love of god you don't have to keep reading but anyway

Most of this is because of Legacy and Empires S2 but hh okay the whole deal about nobody taking Jimmy seriously on E2 ever, right, so when his deputy (fWhip) also fails him, and Jimmy in all his seriousness expresses his disappointment, and fWhip immediately kisses him in response upon Sausage's encouragement to do so????? And Jimmy lacks any good or defensive retort and then fWhip also starts shooting him as Jimmy's leaving because yeah sure why not!! I know to a lot of people this is probably funny and quirky but to me this is once again Jimmy's current feelings and seriousness being completely disregarded again like "omg shut up little cute guy and kiss me already" vibes (negative). Like I cannot begin to express how fucked this response is... Similar to when he made signs arguing against Jimmy's decision to fire him and it included stuff like "you're disrespecting yourself. You can do better babe" like jesus christ is Jimmy really nothing more to you. And another clip where Jimmy gives fWhip a kiss and fWhip INSTANTLY hits him with his hammer thing like why were you so quick to do that. And also why did you do that at all lol wow Im so sorry I think the more I look the worse it gets. Sorry fWhimmy shippers I dont think I can save myself from this hell

I'm sure they're way better than this in some other SMPs but as far as they go as a ship uhhh this is all I've gotten. Their appeal is that Jimmy tries to be serious but no one takes him as such including fWhip who just finds it adorable, and that Jimmy likes to be insulted by him...? This is what I've gathered and, obligatory: I'm not here to police anyone, I dont care, only expressing my personal thoughts from what I've seen because I'm genuinely intrigued about anything Jimmy related. In E2 fWhip just ends up feeding into the bit of making a fool of Jimmy and it hurts me the same as it has with all the other members driving this bit into the ground. Jimmy having trusted him and then having to fire him meanwhile fWhip is acting like... the way that he is, just makes it so much worse for me uwaa. And I obviously have seen very little of E2 but Jimmy is almost always so polite if not hesitant even when he tries to be scary and take revenge etc. (Eg when he was unfairly being doused in lava in Legacy, he STILL hesitated to stop that and as such made a very poor attempt to break out of his cage even when he was in totally full right to do so because that was bs. And his entire villain arc in E2). That and he always gives such love to any one of his partners, only for people like fWhip to be relentlessly mean and never return the sentiment to a point where it'd make for anything mutual... I think I need to see season 1 of Empires or something. There's got to be stuff there. There's got to be something. There's got to be some genuine mutually cute ship potential for this somewhere that isn't just them being buds. Although I think fWhimmy is too far gone for me. Pensive

[dragonsfromthemoon]

Just because Rhaegar told Elia that 'There must be three heads' doesn't mean that she would have known anything and everything that is there to know about Rhaegar's prophecy. An intelligent woman would have smacked Rhaegar on his head and said to take his head out of prophecies and asked him to deal with his deranged father instead.

Also, is it realistic that anyone in their right mind would ask their husbands to go and humiliate them in front of the entire Seven Kingdoms ??? Not happening. Besides there are Rhaegar fanatics who blame Elia for his pursuit of Lyanna, actually thinking that Rhaegar absconded with Lyanna because of Elia's failures.

Such claims of Elia showing the greenlight to Rhaegar/Lyanna relationship doesn't necessarily makes it better. That would naturally have Elia dirtying her hand with the start of the war and sent ten thousand Dornishmen off to die, including her own uncle.

Babies are cute yes, but let me ask you one question. If you were ever placed in a situation where you have to choose between your own child or some other child of a friend/stranger, who would you choose ? You could only ever save one of them ? Who would you choose or anyone else ? I pray that no one find themselves in such a situation but everyone is going to save their own child. No matter how cute the other baby is, or how important the other baby is, to a parent their offspring comes first. And as such Elia would naturally prefer her children over Jon.

Besides Jon is in a position where Daemon Blackfyre exactly was. And there was a Blackfyre rebellion in the recent memory with Maelys the Monstrous. People can say, Elia is of Dorne and Dornish don't hate bastards and such, but is that how Myriah Martell's mindset would have been when Daemon Blackfyre was hoping to murder her sons and usurp their claims ?

Elia is a Dornish princess, on her way to become queen, and the Dornish have never been popular in Westeros. She can't afford to look despised, cuckhold, weak or naive. Especially if she wants what is best for her children, which definitely wouldn't be allowing a threat to their throne go around freely.

Anon, the truth is that we do not know the extent of what Rhaegar told Elia. How much she knew of his plans. We could argue back and forth all day; we would be merely speculating and having our own biased headcanons. However, let’s work with the canon material we have to build an argument.

ONE. By the way, the scene you mentioned is ambiguous in itself, because it happens to be a vision in the House of the Undying. Dany herself cannot be sure who Rhaegar was addressing.

"Will you make a song for him?" the woman asked. "He has a song," the man replied. "He is the prince that was promised, and his is the song of ice and fire." He looked up when he said it and his eyes met Dany's, and it seemed as if he saw her standing there beyond the door. "There must be one more," he said, though whether he was speaking to her or the woman in the bed she could not say. "The dragon has three heads." He went to the window seat, picked up a harp, and ran his fingers lightly over its silvery strings. Sweet sadness filled the room as man and wife and babe faded like the morning mist, only the music lingering behind to speed her on her way. [Daenerys IV, ACOK]

Here, I even highlighted the passage for you. Not hard to understand we cannot take it at face value, right?

TWO. Rhaegar had plans to deal with his father. The only one who had a pacific way of deposing Aerys, actually, through a Council. 

But if indeed there was a shadow, who was he, and why did he choose to keep his role a secret? A dozen names have been put forward over the years, but only one seems truly compelling: Rhaegar Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone. If this tale be believed, 'twas Prince Rhaegar who urged Lord Walter to hold the tourney, using his lordship's brother Ser Oswell as a gobetween. Rhaegar provided Whent with gold sufficient for splendid prizes in order to bring as many lords and knights to Harrenhal as possible. The prince, it is said, had no interest in the tourney as a tourney; his intent was to gather the great lords of the realm together in what amounted to an informal Great Council, in order to discuss ways and means of dealing with the madness of his father, King Aerys II, possibly by means of a regency or a forced abdication. If indeed this was the purpose behind the tourney, it was a perilous game that Rhaegar Targaryen was playing. Though few doubted that Aerys had taken leave of his senses, many still had good reason to oppose his removal from the Iron Throne, for certain courtiers and councillors had gained great wealth and power through the king's caprice and knew that they stood to lose all should Prince Rhaegar come to power.  [The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring, TWOIAF]

This claim is supported by Rhaegar’s own words, in a conversation with Jaime.

Rhaegar had put his hand on Jaime's shoulder. "When this battle's done I mean to call a council. Changes will be made. I meant to do it long ago, but . . . well, it does no good to speak of roads not taken. We shall talk when I return." Those were the last words Rhaegar Targaryen ever spoke to him. Outside the gates an army had assembled, whilst another descended on the Trident. So the Prince of Dragonstone mounted up and donned his tall black helm, and rode forth to his doom. [Jaime I, AFFC]

So you cannot claim that Rhaegar was not aware of Aerys II’s inaptitude to sit the Iron Throne and did not mean to do something. However, there are three issues regarding Aerys II: 1. TWOIF remarks he had his own supporters, men that hated Rhaegar and wanted him passed in favor of Viserys; 2. he was still the king; and 3. he was still Rhaegar’s father. Rhaegar could not commit treason, nor kinslaying or kingslaying. Those are all taboos in Westerosi society. It was not as easy as we would like to depose a king, who would have imagined, right?

THREE. Rhaegar did not crown Lyanna with the intent of humiliating Elia, as you put it. It is speculated to be a move to curry favor with the lords attending the tourney, especially the Starks and the Baratheons, for his political purpose of deposing Aerys II. 

The cheers of the crowd were said to be deafening, but King Aerys did not join them. Far from being proud and pleased by his heir's skill at arms, His Grace saw it as a threat. Lords Chelsted and Staunton inflamed his suspicions further, declaring that Prince Rhaegar had entered the lists to curry favor with the commons and remind the assembled lords that he was a puissant warrior, a true heir to Aegon the Conqueror.  [The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring, TWOIAF]

And when the triumphant Prince of Dragonstone named Lyanna Stark, daughter of the Lord of Winterfell, the queen of love and beauty, placing a garland of blue roses in her lap with the tip of his lance, the lickspittle lords gathered around the king declared that further proof of his perfidy. Why would the prince have thus given insult to his own wife, the Princess Elia Martell of Dorne (who was present), unless it was to help him gain the Iron Throne? The crowning of the Stark girl, who was by all reports a wild and boyish young thing with none of the Princess Elia's delicate beauty, could only have been meant to win the allegiance of Winterfell to Prince Rhaegar's cause, Symond Staunton suggested to the king. Yet if this were true, why did Lady Lyanna's brothers seem so distraught at the honor the prince had bestowed upon her? Brandon Stark, the heir to Winterfell, had to be restrained from confronting Rhaegar at what he took as a slight upon his sister's honor, for Lyanna Stark had long been betrothed to Robert Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End. Eddard Stark, Brandon's younger brother and a close friend to Lord Robert, was calmer but no more pleased. As for Robert Baratheon himself, some say he laughed at the prince's gesture, claiming that Rhaegar had done no more than pay Lyanna her due...but those who knew him better say the young lord brooded on the insult, and that his heart hardened toward the Prince of Dragonstone from that day forth.  [The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring, TWOIAF]

Well, here we have hints of Rhaegar participation in the jousts and his posterior crowning of Lyanna as a political move (as well as to honor her for The Knight of the Laughing Three). Did it go wrong? Of course! The Starks and Robert were distraught and not too pleased. Rhaegar tried, nevertheless. He thought his gallantry would earn him support for his cause (in comparison to Aerys II’s appearance and overall behavior, mind you). As you might have noticed, we can understand a little more of Rhaegar’s reasons, but not Elia’s perspective on the whole ordeal. However, if she was aware of what he wanted to achieve at Harrenhal, it is safe to conclude a sensible woman such as Elia would not begrudge him for making a move. Again, we cannot be sure about her, because GRRM did not bother to give us Elia’s perspective. It does not even matter, frankly. 

FOUR. The circumstance of Rhaegar and Elia’s relationship was this: a political match made by the Princess of Dorne; borne out of duty, not out of love. However, there was good feelings between them, even if it was not love. Whether she was aware or Rhaegar’s feelings for Lyanna or not, I cannot say. But nothing about her (arranged) marriage, personality and upbringing suggest that she would have raged or hated Rhaegar and Lyanna’s guts because he took a mistress he loved. We have to remember she was a Dornish noblewoman, born and raised in a faux-medieval society. Alliances by marriage were the order; and people had lovers they desired and loved. Her context differs much from ours.

FIVE. The Rebellion (and thus the deaths of thousand of dornishmen) did not start because Rhaegar and Lyanna eloped. It started because of Brandon’s impulsiveness and lack of tactic (shouting for the death of the Crown Prince is a treason, a huge crime paid with death), and because Aerys II not only murdered Rickard Stark, but demanded the heads of Ned and Robert as well. Then Jon Arryn raised his banners in war. It was a situation that got out of control.

SIX. Why are you talking babies? It quite does not have anything to do with the situation at hand. Elia was not put in a situation in which she had to make such a choice for her son’s life (unless you consider Young Griff to be the real Aegon).

SEVEN. Why do you think Jon would have risen in rebellion and comparing this situation to the Blackfyre’s Rebellions? Do you have anything to back up your claim? It seems you have a bias against bastards, quite frankly. And this is a mere hipotetical situation, because we know how the Rebellion ended.

EIGHT. At the end of the day, you seem to forget that, despite of Rhaegar’s relationship with Lyanna, Elia was still his legal wife. She was the mother of his heir, the next queen consort and the second in the line of succession to Dorne. Lyanna’s status highly differs from hers. Unless claimed otherwise on the next books, Lyanna was a lover (a mistress, if you would), with no legal marital status. Again, unless claimed otherwise, Jon would still be a bastard. Even if Rhaegar legitimized Jon to give him the Targaryen name, he would still be the second son, under Aegon in the line of succession. I do not see any lord going against that or tempted to usurp Aegon. Even more so that Aegon had the Targaryen look, whilst Jon does not. I quite doubt a lord would rise in rebellion to supplant the heir ir favor of a Northern-looking boy, in those circumstances. Actually, Viserys was the one to be feared here, not Jon. Because Aerys II’s supports wanted to take Rhaegar and his children out of the line of succession, fearing they would lose power and wealth. Tell me the truth now. Who would have Elia feared: her son’s legitimate and Targaryen-looking uncle or Rhaegar’s Northern-looking baseborn son? I think the answer is obvious. 

[hageny]

Succession Thoughts: Gerri x Roman.

1. Photographs.

The premiere of Season 4 gave us some great content, although none of it focused on Roman and Gerri’s faltering relationship (yet). Sadly, this leaves me with not much material to work with for my first Succession Thoughts post in over a year, but there are a few things we can touch on. Most pointedly, the remark Logan makes to Gerri about whether she’s received anything interesting lately. Clearly, Logan is riffing with her, making reference to last season when Roman sent her the infamous ‘dick pics’. Gerri replies with the above remark, and we get a sense from the brief glimpses of her here that something has shifted. There’s a sense of restlessness, of dissatisfaction. Once CEO and apple of Roman’s eye, now Gerri sits alone in the corner, her relationships with her cohorts--Karl and Frank--likely permanently changed after her stint as CEO. Her relationship with Roman no longer really exists after she assisted Logan in the betrayal of his children last season. Her oft-repeated remark to him--”How does it serve my interests?”--seems ironic now considering how things have shifted for her. One might begin to wonder whether it really served Gerri’s interests to do to him what she did. J. Smith-Cameron stated this in recent interview with Vogue: “[...] But I think she got genuinely attached to him and attached the idea of cultivating a business association with him. So I was sort of surprised, when the writing was a little cold-blooded. She was able to shut herself down more than I would be able to.” This hints at what is to come for them, and struck me as interesting, because, Gerri has really always been cold-blooded. I’ve touched on this point numerous times throughout my time writing these posts, and it’s strange to me that she would not see this quality in Gerri when it has existed all along. Gerri has consistently looked out for herself throughout the series, and likely for years beforehand as well. It’s a quality her husband--one of Logan’s closest associates--likely shared as well. What will be interesting for us as viewers is to see how things evolve over the course of the series between her and Roman. Will her essential nature ultimately be her own undoing? 

2. Don’t Wanna Fuck Anyone.

One of the most exciting things this episode delivered was a glimpse at a much smarter, more mature Roman. Between the line above and his line about ‘half a bil’ later on in the show, we see Roman as we’ve not really seen him before. He’s sharp, clearly having paid attention not only to Gerri’s tutelage but also in management training. He’s more assertive than before, more firm in stating his opinion, and--of his siblings (not counting Connor)--uninterested in revenge. This sets him apart from almost everyone in his family. Roman sees a clear path forward, and has a desire to get there that doesn’t involve considering how to screw someone over in the process. He seems to have accepted his position with the a level of grace no one else is exhibiting. Even when the siblings win the bid for Pierce, and Kendall and Shiv rejoice over getting one over on their dad, Roman remains uncharacteristically quiet, both glad that their efforts have paid off, but conflicted over the victory over their father. When he tells his siblings that 500 million shouldn’t be spent without thought, he’s right. The money they have now will have to be invested wisely and spent purposefully so that they have a chance to actually build a future for themselves; gamble that away in repeated bids to screw over their father, and they’re already losing. Roman can see that; Shiv and Kendall cannot. As he is now, one begins to wonder what reaction Gerri will have when she sees him again for the first time. Will this version of Roman stick, or will he revert back to his old ways? Can he and his siblings really forge a future together, or are their diverging mindsets and interests likely to be their Achilles heel? We have no way of knowing now, but what I do know is that this Roman is really gratifying to see, because, it feels like this is the person he wanted to be all along. 

AN: I wanted to post a quick note here to welcome back any loyal readers who return to my Succession Thoughts posts, and any newcomers who are now discovering them. As before, any thoughts/opinions are welcome, whether you agree or disagree with me. I value discussion and like hearing others’ input, and am excited for what will be my last series of posts as this show draws to a close. Also, excuse the poor quality screenshots but HBO is no longer allowing me to take them on my computer, and I don’t have the app on my phone. If it’s possible to take them on the app, let me know because, as it stands, I am taking pictures of the computer screen, lol. 

[eccentric-ocean]

late may/early june reading list

Bound to Fall by A.K. Caggiano

This is a spinoff of Villains and Virtues and technically book #4 in the series. Having invested in a non-amazon e-reader, I couldn't get a hold of it in a digital format. I believe the author self-publishes through amazon? So, after much pondering, I got the paperback. And I was not disappointed. I loved it. It's a story about opposites who turn out to have loneliness in common, the way AK Caggiano has mastered them. And we get cozy little (magical) town vibes, as well as a backstory on a villain from a different book. Don't actually recall why I knocked off half a star and gave it 4.5, might've been the smut I wasn't vibing with or some of the magic I had a hard time following.

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) #1 and #2 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Very much here for WWX and LZ, which means the big chunks of story where either of them is missing are looooong.

Boyfriend Material and Husband Material by Alexis Hall

I promise I have not set out to read A. Hall's entire body of work this year, although it looks like it. In my defense, I already know there's some of his books I will not be reading, just cuz they're not my cup of tea. But that's already 5 books of his I've read in 2 months. And I've enjoyed all of them, some A LOT. Boyfriend Material is um... about polar opposites falling in love. Do you sense a theme in my reading lately? Anyway it's funny and lovely and gay. And the characters are complex. They get even more so with Husband Material, which is all about whether marriage is for everybody. Whether there is a "right" way to be gay. What happens when your shitty parent dies. etc.

I confess Husband Material was less fun than the first book. Simply cuz there is that constant tension around marriage/weddings, until it finally breaks at the end. Still worth a read for more Lucien and Oliver. Some of the cast of friends felt more cartoonish than others but meh, I still enjoyed them.

BTW Lucien just cannot be a sexy name to me, as a french person, even tho I could tell Oliver was supposed to say it sexily. It stopped being popular sometime in the 1950s/1960s so it's bringing up thoughts of someone's great-uncle for me. I had to fight this throughout both novels lol. But at least the author had mercy on me and DID NOT write smut in these.

What I'll read next:

Must finish Veiller sur elle sometime.

Orwell's Roses is next on the TBR. Unless I go for fiction instead, in which in case Yulin Kuang's debut novel How to End a Love Story is a strong contender.

My 2024 storygraph chart currently looks something like this:

[cherry-blossomtea]

Masterpost of what I think about you based on who you simp for in FFXIV I’m going to try and include as many characters I’ve vibe checked as possible but if yours isn’t here comment them and I’ll give you a custom roast for free. If I forgot someone, please refrain from saying “How could you forget x” I have three different memory disorders okay I did my best 😭

The Scions

Minfilia-You think a woman’s tits can redeem anything bad about her and you’re right.

Lyse-You’re a lesbian with a hard-on for destroying capitalism to the point where your friends ask you to maybe tone it down a little

Papalymo-Ur into dads. Not dilfs. Just dads.

Thancred-You like your men ROGUEISH and BLOODIED and BEATEN and BABYGIRLED

Urianger-You have autism or you are currently in an irl relationship with someone who has autism. Thank you for your service

Y’Shtola-okay little sun. (You enjoy being verbally degraded, so this is for you, a compliment)

Tataru-I love you. You want someone who can cook for you and tease you and who in turn you will shower with affection which is the only currency you have to offer

Estinien-I’m gonna be honest the only thing I can offer here is that you like brooding men who are idiots. Don’t go for a joint bank account.

G’raha-If you like GRAHA then you desire strongly a partner you can cuddle like a stuffed animal if you like THE EXARCH then you are a bottom and you like the dark academia aesthetic

Krile-You need a partner that will fill the emotional void left by your mommy issues

Moenbryda-You have autism but you kin urianger instead of crushing on him. Or ur just really into chicks who can crush you with their thighs and you’re mad that people turned it into a meme

ARR

Kan-E-Senna-I don’t believe you. You’ll have to defend yourself to me in a trial by combat

Merlwyb-Your perfect first date is dying side by side with the person you love as you fight for your lives but you’ll probably end up getting a coffee or something

Nanamo-you are SO into the princess and knight aesthetic thing, you LOVE fairytales so much.

Raubahn-You like men with an “I can fix him” flair but who have already been fixed. You’re also touch starved

Lahabrea-The line between annoyance and attraction is a tightrope you walk every day but by god you’re walking it

Cid-GOD you love himbos it’s not even a “haha I love stupid men” thing to you it’s a REQUIREMENT, the men you date need a HIMBO RESUME

Gaius-Your devotion is impressive. No one can tell you what to do with your life. I think you’re a Jane Austen protagonist.

Nero-SCRUNGLY SKRUNKLY MAN HAG BLORBO HEHEHHEHE EVIL SCIENCE

Heavensward

Haurchefant-I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry. Why don’t you wrap yourself in a blanket and pretend like he’s the one holding you.

Aymeric-Objectively the most stable main character in this godforsaken game, you take your husband material seriously.

Lucia-You’re a lesbian who mains warrior, I shan’t elaborate

Edmont-pathological dilf/gilf enjoyer to the point where you need help and/or jesus

Artoirel-your dream is to become one half of the most powerful power couple to ever power

Emmanellain-You’re gay in a hipster filter flower crowns cavetown kind of way

Ysayle- You were chronically disappointed by stormblood. You say everyone is out of your league but chin up champ, ysayle wanted to fuck a dragon and probably did so you can’t be that bad

Hraesvelgr- ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Igeyorhm-What does it matter if a female character is developed, you are horny in the here and now and that’s more important. You probably think femdom is hot too 👀

Stormblood (god help me)

To preface-if any character from stormblood is your simp of choice you automatically get a sticker that says WEEB slapped on your forehead.

Yugiri-I feel like you listen to metal and keep neat pets like tarantulas or snakes. I cannot explain why.

Gosetsu-For want of a proper bushido character you settled on him but then when the Tsuyu plotline happened you genuinely fell in love with him. Kind of a DILF, reblog.

Hien-himbo connoisseur. You own a sword.

Sadu-WOMEN. BIG FAN OF W O M E N. That’s your only personality trait rn but that’s okay, life’s hard.

Zenos-you are a godless degenerate who is unironically into BDSM (it’s okay me too)

Yotsuyu- You know she’s a femme fatale. You know there’s no way that’s going to end well. But you are so allured by her viciousness and tragic backstory what does it matter that you’ll end up dead on the floor. “I can fix her” yeah keep telling yourself that bud.

Fordola-you are genuinely one of the sweetest people in the world and I think you COULD fix her actually.

Asahi-Liar, you’re a fandaniel simp

Shadowbringers

Lyna-you believe drinking your respect women juice is not only an obligation but an honor and you still avert your eyes from the Victoria’s Secret posters in the mall

Kai-Shirr-HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Runar- I feel like I can’t even call you a furry in bad faith. You just love nice men that much. Who cares if he’s a lion.

Feo Ul-Trans. You definitely have an au where the WoL took them up on their offer to become King Titania.

Ran’jit-I…don’t believe you? You’ll have to explain to me why you like him

Ardbert-So soft. So nice. Hnnnn oh yeah we were talking about you. You’re not a himbo enjoyer because you do prefer men who have some brain cells but you DO like em sad and you DO like em muscley

Emet-Selch- He is the character who in the entire game the story tries its hardest to make us simp for. It worked. The only thing I can do is quote another video on this same subject: You are DISEASED.

Elidibus-Someone hits u with the 🥺 and you melt like butter. Your favorite activity is peace and quiet.

Endwalker

Fandaniel-You self-identify as a goblin. You were a theatre kid. You love that he’s sad and insane but you don’t want to fix him. That would ruin the appeal.

Ameliance-“Bro I said I wanted to fuck Ameliance as a joke but bro….I don’t think it’s a joke anymore”

Nidhana-You’re correct. About everything. You’ve never been wrong. You own booty shorts that say “I love women in STEM” on the ass

Vrtra- ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Jullus-for you, enemies to lovers isn’t just a trope, it’s a lifestyle

Venat-📸 hmm? Oh sorry that was just me taking a picture of you admitting you desperately crave someone to take care of you. Mommy issues. NEXT!

Hermes-you adamantly differentiate between Hermes and Fandaniel, but at what point must the line be drawn for your “I can fix him” complex to kick in hmm??

Hythlodaeus-You have a praise kink. (You also should come be my friend. We can simp for him together ☺️)