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thorne93 · 4 years

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Unforeseen Chasm (Part 69)

Prompt: Two sisters fall for men that are absolute enemies. The love they have could tear all of them apart, or it could bring them together.

Word Count:6733

Warnings: Language, fluff!, worry, fear of rejection, over-excited Peter Parker, time for relaxing, the fights been won, change in the ending for endgame, a fluffy end! Note: This is by far the longest thing I’ve ever written (including my novels). It’s a collaboration with the amazing @mrs-dragneel-stark-solo. It started as a funny “What if…?” and it evolved and got huge. This took two years to write. We are both proud and happy and we hope you enjoy it. It follows from Thor 1 to Endgame in the MCU. Some of the timelines may be off in order to fit certain people, and some characters may show up earlier or in different ways than they have in the movie. But for the most part, it follows the MCU. It also has a bit of crossover with some other Marvel characters throughout the story.

Masterlist for Unforeseen Chasm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was over, really and truly over.

Everyone was safe.

Shannon and Tony invited everyone back to their cabin. Well you supposed it was Bruce’s cabin too, but the point remained.

All the heroes joined at the cabin, ready for a much deserved and needed celebration after all the fighting, all the battles, all the villains… It was finally time to celebrate something good.

Bruce made sure that Shannon and the babies were still healthy, and they were fine. Shannon somehow had party food ready to whip up and serve to people. Within minutes tasty treats were laid out in an elegant spread and then she and Tony whisked off to somewhere private with Peter.

Both Tony and Shannon thought it would be a good idea to have a chat with Peter outside on the porch swing. They let him sit down and Tony sat across from him and Shannon next to him. Things were quiet for a moment when Parker broke that silence.

“Gee, Mr. Stark, this place sure is peaceful.” He smiled looking out towards the lake.

“Thanks, Peter, but that’s not really why we came out here to talk.”

Another moment of silence Tony wasn’t really sure how to say it and Shannon couldn’t contain herself anymore.

“Hey, Peter, you remember what I promised you when we were back at the compound about telling you everything?” she started off, hoping to refresh his mind.

“Yeah, umm you called me your son.” He turned to look over at her. “I’ve always considered you two like my parents ever since you took me in.” He rubbed his neck getting a little embarrassed.

“Well that’s just it. This is probably going to be hard to understand, kid” Tony said. “But we’re your parents…”

There it was. The truth came out. They never thought they would get the chance to do this. They were so grateful that May had agreed to letting them tell Peter.

“Wait, what do you mean you’re my parents? Aunt May said they died in an accident when I was little.” He was so confused. He’s pretty sure there had got to be a good reason for them to be saying these things. “Mrs. Stark, you would’ve had to have had me very young, right?” He was facing her.

“We are your biological parents, Peter,” Shannon said. It was harder than she had expected. “You weren’t conceived like other babies generally are.” She went on to explain what had happened to her during her time in the Red Room and what she had done for the potential future. “This is probably a lot to take in, would you like me to stop?” she asked him.

“It is a lot to take in but I'd like to hear the rest please.” He looked up to where Tony was leaning on the railing. He always looked up to the man in front of him and loved him like a father. He never in a million years would have thought that he would be his biological son. And that she would be his biological mom. “Why did you leave me with May? Did you not want me?” he asked, hoping that wasn't the case.

“Oh heck no, Peter if things hadnt of happened the way they did you would have grown up at the compound and at the tower,” Shannon said. “When Tony and I got together after about a year, I told him the truth about me and he said that he would be willing to help me create my dream, so we went and had one of my eggs and some of his sperm put together to create some embryos. Along the way, I had been changing various parts so that they would be healthy and have certain attributes but my hand slipped and it created a change in your strength and gave you the ability to climb walls and such it also created an age modifier that made you mentally and physically older but you’re actually quite younger,” she explained how May offered up to be the surrogate and how it would be safer if he were hidden during the battle of New York and how they regretted not being able to get him back sooner after everything that happened.

“Wow this really is a lot to take in…” He hesitated for a moment.

Shannon feared that her biggest nightmare might come true and that Peter wouldn’t want anything to do with them. Her eyes were watery but she refused to cry in front of him.

“Can I go walk around for a moment and let it all settle in?”

“Of course, kid. Take however long you need we’ll be right here.”

Peter got up and started walking down to the dock. With his heightened sense of sound, he heard them talking.

“What if Peter wants nothing to do with us, Tony?” she cried. “I lost him twice, I can’t lose him again. I don’t know if I can take it.”

“Honey, relax breathe, you know getting upset is bad for the babies,” he reminded her, rubbing her back. “This is probably all too much to unload on him right now. We just fought off an entire army of alien creatures. He’ll come around just give it some time,” he reassured her.

Peter didn’t know what to think. His Aunt May wasn’t really his Aunt, the parents he thought he had aren’t really his. There’s been so much that’s happened that he needed a moment to breathe and what’s the harm in this? He always believed there was more to them than he thought. He had parents! And great ones at that and now he has a little sister too and a half brother/sister to be born soon. What more could a kid like himself want? He knew what he had to do now and he was nervous and excited at the same time. He walked back to the couple on the porch swing.

“Umm… I did some thinking and I’m really happy to know that you two are my parents,” he said, looking between the two and his eyes began to get watery. “I’ve always wanted a family and it seems that I’m finally getting one.” He broke down not being able to contain his tears. “I'm just so happy that it got to be with you guys.”

Tony and Shannon rushed to hug him and they all got emotional and shared a moment as parents and son. “We love you, Peter Parker Stark!” Shannon said, covering his face in kisses and Tony ruffled his hair.

“I have a family!” he yelled at the top of his lungs. And ran inside to tell everyone.

“He gets that from you.” Shannon laughed seeing how excited he was to tell everyone.

“No, he gets that from you, dear,” he teased.

They walked back into the house to relax and see the house full of life and family and their friends.

———-

Wade was still watching over Morgan, with Happy and Bruce right beside them. You smiled happily down at them. You were standing on one side of the porch.

Your niece… You smiled and laughed to yourself.

“And who is that little one?” Loki asked as he came up beside you, his voice somehow even more inviting than you remember.

“That would be your niece Morgan,” you informed proudly, thrusting your chin towards her, your hands in your pockets.

“A niece, my my,” he teased slightly.

You turned to him. “A lot has happened since you’ve been gone.”

“Clearly.”

“Shannon is about to have twins,” you informed. “That will make four children.”

“Twins? I know she’s pregnant, but where is the other one?” he wondered, thoroughly confused.

“Do you remember Peter Parker? Spider-man? I teamed up with him when Tony and I were fighting for the Accords.”

Loki nodded, vaguely remembering you mentioning it.

“Long story short, he belongs to Shannon and Tony.”

Loki seemed to absorb this information well.

Just then Peter ran in where everyone was gathered. “My parents are Mr. and Mrs. Stark. I have a family!” He ran back around hooting and then went to sit with the rest.

You chuckled. “I guess it’s not a secret anymore,” you said happily as you watched the young boy run around the property. You turned to Loki, your hand stroking his face, the other one resting on his chest. “You’re here. You’re real. I can’t believe this.” Happy tears started to roll down your face. “I’ve missed you so much.”

He reached up and wiped your tears, keeping your face cupped in his hands. “Don’t cry, my darling. I’m here now.”

“I know,” you said through a sob, "and I just can’t believe it.”

“Believe it. I’m here. In the flesh.”

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

Shannon had noticed that Remy was a little away from everyone else. Then she noticed why. You were with Loki. She walked over to him to talk. “Hey, Remy why all alone over here?”

“Just watchin’ her and thinkin’,” he answered.

“Thinking about what?” She figured she knew but she could be wrong. “Is everything alright?”

He smiled, it was somehow full of love and sadness at the same time. “Oh, everything’s fine, just fine.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he nodded toward you and Loki. “She’s never looked at me the way she looks at him, and I don’t think she ever will.”

Shannon nodded, understanding now, it was sad knowing that he put himself out there knowing that she wouldn’t give the same amount back. “Ohh yeah…I think that she’s always going to have a part of you in her heart. She loves him like nothing I’ve ever seen.” She squeezed his hand.

“You said it best,” he agreed with a bit of a sigh. “It’s gonna be hard lettin’ her go. But I can’t hold on. I know that. Hell I knew it the day I found her in Paris, and I still went with her, everywhere. Couldn’t help it.”

“You’ve been with her the entire time she’s been gone?” She looked at him surprised. “Here I was thinking she was alone feeling like she had lost all her friends.” She wanted to get mad because she could have found you earlier but she let it go, now wasn’t the time to fight. Not now, not ever again she hoped. “At least you kept her company and I’m so grateful you were there for her when I couldn’t be.”

“That’s what you do for people you love, right?” he asked sorrowfully when he turned to her. For the first time that anyone had ever really seen, Remy let his charming exterior slip away and he showed just how heartbroken he truly was.

“Yeah, we all tend to do things that will make the person we cherish most happy even if it means letting a part of yourself die and live on in them.” Shannon knew where he was coming from. She had felt the same when she had been forced to lose part of herself to survive.

“I’m just glad she’s finally happy,” he admitted, admiring the glow you seemed to have. All of the horribleness wasn’t looming over you.

No Thanos, no brainwashing, no prison, no probation, no Accords, no fucked up powers, nothing to keep you from Shannon, nothing to separate you from her or the Avengers, nothing to get between you and Thor, nothing to keep you from being with Loki. You were finally home, you were finally happy, and he knew that.

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

You frowned for a moment before wondering if you should ask Loki this next question, but you dared too anyway. As you two strolled the Stark’s stunning property, you stopped and turned to him, getting his attention. “You were asking me something, just as you disappeared. Do you remember what it was?”

His eyes shot down to the ground for a second in thought, before they lifted back to you. “Yes, I do seem to remember it. I think it went something like this.” He slowly got down on one knee, his hand gently taking yours as your breathing halted. You had no idea he’d be doing this here, now. “Y/N, will you do me the absolute honor of marrying me?”

With joyful tears in your eyes, you managed to squeak out a “Yes” through the lump in your throat.

Loki’s eyes lit up and he sprang up to wrap you in an embrace, and as he did so, you suddenly heard cheering and yelling. You blushed and the two of you turned to see most of the Avengers clapping and hollering. You thought the two of you were alone… guess not.

From somewhere in the crowd, Tony yelled, “Took you long enough, Reindeer Games!” and everyone laughed.

As you two clung to each other in loving adoration, you smiled. When the cheers died down, you two began walking hand in hand in the yard again. It felt like life had been restored to your body since Loki’s return and you couldn’t get enough of him or the feeling.

“Uh, Loki, when I mentioned a lot had changed, I wasn’t just talking about Shannon and the other Avengers. When the snap happened, I went a little crazy, or a lot crazy. I searched day and night for Thanos. We finally found him, but he had destroyed the stones. We lost. It took us five years and a miracle to get back to this point. When I realized we had lost any chance of getting anyone back, of getting you back, I just spiraled. I went awol, on purpose. But…”

You swallowed your tears. How would he even handle this? The last time Remy kissed you, and you punched him, Loki ran off to Asgard. But he had a right to know. He had every right to know. But would he understand that you weren’t replacing him? That you weren’t using Remy? In a few seconds, you could ruin your entire relationship with Loki.

“What is it, love?” he urged, ducking his head to look at you. “Please, just tell me. I can’t imagine what you’ve been through. I’m sure whatever it is, I can handle it.”

“Remy found me. He made some of the darkness go away and I had no idea if you were ever coming back...”

Loki glanced down and then back up. “Are you trying to tell me you dated another man in my absence?” he guessed.

All you could do was nod as the tears erupted. You thought you were done crying once everyone returned, but you guessed not.

He took his hands and cupped your face, wiping away your tears. “My love, calm down, and look at me,” he gently ordered.

It took a moment, but you did. You finally began breathing right.

“I’m not angry. If anything I’m glad you had someone to share your life with and comfort you. The thought of you living with a lonely broken heart hurts me worse than anything else.”

You reached up and held his wrists as they still held your face. “Really?” you asked in disbelief.

“Really,” he assured with a smile. “I love you more than anything, and when I saw you today, on that battlefield, it only took one look to see how broken you truly were. I can’t begin to even imagine what life has been like for you. You and I have lost our fair share, perhaps even more than our fair share, and to be as selfish as to think you wouldn’t try to seek comfort with someone would be naive on my part.”

“You mean that?”

“Absolutely,” he assured.

“And you still want to get married?”

“I’ve wanted to marry you since you stopped me from killing those frost giants years ago. Nothing will ever change that.”

All you could do was fall into his embrace, collapsing from sheer joy and relief. You two held each other for what seemed like years, but you didn’t mind in the slightest.

Eventually though, you two let go of each other and just over Loki’s shoulder, standing on the horizon, leaning against a tree, you saw him. When your eyes met, Remy tipped his hat forward, nodding once at you with a warm smile on his face.

You glanced back to Loki before saying, “Give me just one moment, please?”

Loki nodded and said, “Of course.”

The two of you let go of each other’s hands and you set forward, walking up the small hillside to greet Remy. Your stomach was already riddled with guilt and anxiety for what you were about to do.

“Quite a show you put on today,” he stated, admiration in his voice.

“Thank you,” you replied. “You weren’t so bad yourself.”

“I try.”

A heavy silence fell between you two. You knew you needed to break it.

“Remy… I--” you started, twiddling with your hands, your voice already thick with sadness and dread.

“You don't have to say a thing, chere. I know. I've known this whole time. I was never under any kind of illusion that I could take his place. I just wanted time with you, that's all,” he assured in a soft, sweet voice.

Hell, him being understanding made it worse somehow.

More tears spilled down your cheeks as your face fell, and you looked down to the ground. Why was this so goddamn hard?

"I never meant to hurt you. I wasn't using you. I hope you know that,” you finally managed to say.

He reached up, wiping away one tear before pulling his hand away. "I do. Seeing you happy, no matter who it's with, is worth it to me."

“I meant what I said yesterday, about loving you.”

You couldn’t believe that it was just yesterday that you’d said that to him, that you’d ensured he knew you did love him, just in case Loki did return.

“And I you, mon cher. Always have, and I always will. Now don’t forget to invite me to that weddin’ o’ yours,” he ordered, changing the subject. “I wanna chance to see you in all that ivory. Not to mention, I know you’re gonna go all out on the food.”

You smiled, laughed, but then even more tears came.

“Come’mere, darlin’,” he ordered before opening his arms and pulling you into them. You gripped his long jacket so hard you thought you’d rip it. “Shh, shh. Don’t cry, sweetheart. You’ve got him back. Go be happy, for me. I’ll be alright. It’ll all work out.”

All you could do was nod. The two of you let each other go and he sent you off with a nod towards Loki.

You rejoined him for a moment before he said, “I’d like to go say hello to Thor, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” you said. “Go see your brother.”

He nodded, kissed your forehead, and swept off. Meanwhile, you were walking the edge of the lake. As you were walking, you noticed Clint and Wanda. You peered at them, wondering what they were up to. They weren’t in the festivities, back in the cabin enjoying themselves.

Then it dawned on you.

You stepped a little closer and said, “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” You stepped between them, putting your arms around their shoulders.

The two of them seemed to startle slightly at your approach.

“No, no,” Clint assured. “Just… thinking.”

“Ah,” you hummed as you looked out over the sparkling water.

“You know, I wish there was a way– that I could let her know. That we won. We did it,” Clint said looking to the two of you.

“She knows. They both do.”

“Both of them were the bravest, kindest people I’ve ever met,” you said. “You two were so lucky to have them, and them you.” You took a deep breath. “I know this is very little comfort, but they both left this world knowing they were so very loved, and that’s something to be treasured. They both left knowing they had family. That we all are. In the end, that’s all that matters.”

Wanda rested her head on your shoulder while Clint nodded his head and patted your back. Pretty soon the three of you were hugging tightly.

Vision was your good friend, and Natasha and you weren't close but she had your back and you had hers. She gave up being a maid of honor to Shannon so you could do it. She sacrificed herself to save the universe. Vision was the same. They both fought hard to the bitter end, but their sacrifices wouldn’t be forgotten.

The three of you made your way back into the festivities inside. You had no idea how this cabin was holding this many people. As you made your way through, greeting some old friends you hadn’t seen in a while, nodding to a few others. You came across Stephen who was just sipping a drink, watching everyone from the corner. A tiny smirk came to your face as you stepped up to him.

“So, one in 14 million, huh?” you asked with a bit of whimsy in your voice.

“It was,” he confirmed with a friendly smile.

“What a wager,” you mused. “And all you did to help this very fragile outcome was to help hold back a waterfall. Interesting.” You shot him a coy smile and he shook his head.

“You do realize how this works, right? One outcome, which means I know what does and doesn’t need to happen. In the event that we were to win, it was imperative I stay out of the way.”

You nodded. “Oh, of course, all powerful one. I just think it’s funny how we only win if you’re being a human dam.”

“Alright, I get it, I didn’t exactly use the powers to my fullest ability--”

“Yes, and I can’t imagine a scenario where that’s even possible. How is it that in a world where you help fight Thanos and his army, we lose?”

He shrugged. “I’m not sure, but it was. I watched everything. In all of them, we lost. I’d get involved and something would kill me, you and I would get in the way of each other, Thanos would dispose of me just in time to get the gauntlet. Trust me, the best way for us to win was for me to stay out of the way.”

A fond smile fell over your face as you put your hand on his shoulder. “Thank you, so much, for what you did. It’s not easy to trust everyone so completely, that it will all go according to plan. Not to mention dusting yourself in the process.” You punched his arm. “You left me pretty much alone, asshole.”

He bobbed his head side to side. “Well, without me though, you wouldn’t have learned all those powers you have now. The shield, the lifting people with your dark energy… Because of me leaving, you’re a better fighter.”

“Always an ego trip, eh, Strange?” you teased before he lightly chuckled. You pulled him into a hug, holding him tight. “I missed you.”

“I know,” he reiterated with a heavy tone. Stephen had seen it all. He watched 14 million futures, and in this one, the one where you all won, he saw just what you’d gone through. It killed him to put you, and everyone else, through it, but it had to be done. He knew how much you’d suffered, but now he could take solace in the fact that you were truly happy.

When you two let go of each other, Tony was standing up on his fireplace, clinking his glass trying to get the attention of nearly one hundred people. He cleared his throat as soon as everyone was looking his way.

“So yesterday, I was thinking that things might not work out the way I hoped, the way we all hoped. Of course, I tried to be optimistic, prayed we stopped that angry Grimace…”

A laugh rolled through the crowd.

“I hope families are reunited, I hope we get it back, and something like a normal version of the planet has been restored. If there ever was such a thing. God, what a world. Universe, now. If you told me ten years ago that we weren't alone, let alone, you know, to this extent, I mean, I wouldn't have been surprised. But come on, you know? The epic forces of darkness and light that have come into play. And, for better or worse, that's the reality Morgan's gonna have to find a way to grow up in.” He stopped and looked down to Shannon who was right beside him, and glanced to Peter only a few feet away. “The reality that Peter and Morgan, and the other little bundles of joy will have to grow up in.” He looked around the room, glancing to faces new and old, all ones he loved. “This time travel thing that we were gonna try and pull off today, it's– it had me scratching my head about the survivability of it all. That's the thing. Then again, that's the hero gig. Part of the journey is the end.”

Everyone took a moment to remember those they had lost over the years.

“Everyone did fantastic, but I want to take a moment to thank Y/N,” he suddenly said. Your eyes shot up at him, bemusement in your eyes. “Without her, Thanos wouldn't have been vulnerable for me to take the stones, and help keep me alive. Y/N, do you care to say a few words?"

“Tony, I--”

From somewhere back in the room you heard Remy shout, “Speech!”

You laughed as Stephen nudged you forward. Tony helped you up on the fireplace before he stepped down.

“I, uh, where to begin? Well first of all, I want to thank each and every one of you. We wouldn’t be here at all today if it wasn’t for Scott Lang and his Time Heist idea.” You raised your glass to him. “We wouldn’t be here if Stephen Strange hadn’t gone forward in time to check all the possible outcomes, then with an enormous leap of faith, give the time stone away.” Stephen nodded at you and lifted his glass. “We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Tony Stark and Bruce Banner’s intelligence.”

“Of course not,” Tony responded nonchalantly and everyone laughed.

You smiled at him before continuing. “We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the optimism and perseverance of Steve Rogers. He kept the team positive through dark times, and trusted Tony when things when a little hairy during the time traveling. Not to mention, fighting Thanos hand to hand several times, with no guarantee of backup. We wouldn’t be here without Rhodey and Nebula navigating through time to help us find stones. We wouldn’t be here without Clint and Natasha, both risking their lives on Voromir to get the soul stone. Natasha gave her life to save the universe. We wouldn’t be here without Wanda and Vision, Vision gave up his life to prevent Thanos from winning, and Wanda had to do the hardest thing anyone would have to do in that situation. We wouldn't be here without T’Challa, Clint, Peter, and Carol, all who tried to defend the stones and keep them from Thanos, even if it meant dying. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Carol who helped destroy the ship and really kick Thanos’s ass.”

You looked down for a moment, trying to make sure you didn’t forget anyone.

“Most importantly, we wouldn’t be here without all of you. It was the love we all have for each and every one of you that kept us all going. To hope that one day, we’d get all of you back, that we’d get everyone back. Not only was it our love, but yours. You returned and within moments, each and every one of you were ready to tear Thanos and his army apart, and that’s what we needed. That’s what you do, for family, for the ones you love.”

You raised your glass. “So thank you, to everyone who fought, whether it was today, five years ago, or every day in between. Thank you to Tony Stark who wielded the stones, and thank you to Shannon Stark who helped keep both of us alive so that we could get you all back, where you belong.”

Slowly, a clap started from the front row of the audience at the cabin to the back. There were happy tears, there were shouts of joy, there was cheering, hugging, kissing. People were reuniting and the celebration began in full swing again.

You hopped down off the fireplace mantle.

“Hey, Y/N, I’m gonna go check on Morgan and Wade. Meet me out there?” She touched your shoulder before Tony showed up.

“You trying to give Cap a run for his money on the speech thing?” he teased with a grin.

“Hey, you gotta learn somewhere, right?” you asked. You put your hand on his sleeve. “Tony, I want to thank you for keeping your word. You said if you had a way to bring him back, you would, and you did that. So… thank you.”

“Any time, kid.” He shot you a warm grin. “Do you think Reindeer Games would wanna meet his niece and nephew properly?”

A smile spread across your face. “I think he’d love that.”

You waved Loki over and the two of you walked outside where Wade, Shannon, Morgan, and Peter were.

“Alright, Reindeer Games looks like we’re family now so let me introduce you to my kids.” He gave Loki a hard pat on the back. “Y/N,” he said and offered his arm.

You took it and he led you two to the back of the cabin where Peter was making Morgan laugh and Wade was just holding Morgan in his lap. He finally got used to dressing comfortably around them with no mask on.

“Wade, could you give us a moment?” Tony asked. “It’s a family reunion of sorts.”

“Gee that hurt, Stark. Here I was thinking I was part of the family,” he feigned being hurt. “Alright, sunshine I’ll be back in a bit, okay?” he told Morgan, helping her move off his lap.

“Okay Uncle Wade.” She smiled up at the man.

“Hey princess, I have some people I'd like you to meet.” Tony sat between Peter and her. “You remember what Mommy and I told you about your aunt and uncle right?” he recalled.

“Yeah, Daddy you said they were away for awhile.” She looked over to you standing and holding Loki’s hand. “Daddy, I’m happy my big brother Peter is back. I know you and Mommy missed him a lot.”

“Well I think it’s time you said hello to your Aunt Y/N and Uncle Loki.” He waved you two closer. “Yes we did, princess and now you can get to know him better too.” He kissed her temple and ruffled Peter’s hair.

You were suddenly nervous. More nervous than any time you’d ever faced Thanos. What if they hated you? What if they feared you? “Hi there,” you greeted in a sweet voice, cringing, wondering if you sounded like an idiot.

“Alright, Y/N, Loki, this is your niece Morgan and your nephew Peter.” Tony pointed to the kids. “Peter, meet your Aunt and Uncle.”

“Hi there, it's nice to meet you two.” Peter smiled. “Wow not even a day back and I have more family now!” He looked to all the people in front of him, he started getting teary eyed. “Sorry, I don’t usually get like this.” He wiped the tears away.

“Hey, Peter, it’s good to see you again,” you greeted with a big, warm grin. “And Morgan. I am so sorry I missed you growing up,” you apologized as you leaned down to get eye level with her. “But I intend on being here for many years to watch you grow. You look so much like your parents, and I bet you have their brains too.”

Morgan moved closer, drawn to her. “It’s okay! You can make it up to me later.” She grinned sounding much like her dad. “My mommy says I’m daddy’s mini him.” She giggled.

“Yes you are, princess and don’t you forget it,” Tony cooed.

“It’s good to see you too Ms. Y/L/N.” Peter blushed realizing what he said. “Aunt Y/N.”

“I better only get reports on good grades,” you warned with a teasing smile.

“Aunt Y/N? Are you and Uncle Loki going to live with us like papa Bruce does?” she asked

Immediately, you blushed intensely as your gaze snapped to Loki who looked just as equally flustered.

“I uh, I’m not sure, sweetie. I doubt it. Your parents don’t want us crowding their space. They just got Peter back and I don’t think they’d want us here.”

“Morgan,” Loki suddenly said, kneeling down, “would you like to see a magic trick?”

“You can do magic?” she squealed. She ran up to Loki, grabbing his hand. “Come sit with me, Uncle Loki.” She pulled him and surprisingly she managed to pull him to the ground. “Morgan, what did Mommy say about using your strength?” Tony looked over at her. “Sorry about that, we’re still helping her control her powers,” he said sheepishly looking to the other man.

Loki smiled at Tony and Morgan, before answering, “That’s quite alright. I grew up with Thor not knowing his strength either. I’m rather used to it. She’s just excited.”

“Hey, Y/N remind me to have a chat with you and Loki and Shannon later tonight?” Tony asked somewhat quietly while Loki performed his trick to the kids.

You frowned, unsure what he could possibly want to talk about but you nodded. “Sure,” you agreed.

“Wow, Mr. Loki that’s really cool, how’d you learn to do that?” Peter asked. “Can I just say how much of an honor it is to meet you, sir?” he excitedly said. “You’re one of my favorite mythological gods.”

He frowned, but he showed a smile of appreciation. “I’m flattered. Thank you for that, Peter. Although, I apologize for bursting your bubble but I’m very much not mythological. So feel free to refer to me as just a god.” He grinned proudly, making Peter laugh. “Also, my mother taught me that trick,” he informed after he showed them a simple concealment trick.

“Alright, Reindeer Games, no funny business,” Tony playfully warned.

“Don’t get your iron rusted,” he teased to Tony with a sly smile.

“I’m going to let you all get acquainted,” you said sweetly to Peter, Morgan, and Loki. “I need to go talk to your Mom,” you informed. You ruffled their hair, smiled at Loki, nodded to Tony with a smile, then turned to see Shannon standing on the back porch.

You walked up the steps, taking the iced tea from Shannon’s offering hand. “Thank you,” you mused before turning to watch Wade, Loki, Peter, and Morgan. “I can’t believe you leave your daughter alone with that idiot,” you noted in jest as you stared at them.

Shannon turned around and sat on a loveseat that faced them. You followed suit and joined her, sitting next to her.

“Well it was either him or Happy.” She shrugged. “Plus it was part of the deal with him finding you for me.” She took a sip of her drink. “Plus someone was off on a rampant killing spree.”

You shot her a side glare with a smile. “Someone had to. It’s hard work being an assassin. Since you retired from it… someone had to pick up the torch,” you responded with a grin.

“Who says I ever retired?” She laughed and felt one of the babies kick. “Alright, alright, I was only kidding. They know exactly what I’m saying!” She rubbed her belly. “So you ready to be Mrs.Odison?”

You let out a laugh that held all the emotion you’d been holding in for the last twelve years. “I’ve been ready to marry him since I saw him at that crash site,” you admitted. “I could marry anyone with cheekbones like that.”

“So the cheekbones is what did it for ya, huh?” She winked. “Should’ve known, I thought it was his brooding manner.”

“That certainly helped, but let’s just say his tricks weren’t the first things I saw on Asgard that really sealed the deal,” you answered before taking a sip of your tea, staring straight ahead with a blush on your cheeks.

“Well I’m just glad I got you back and that you’re finally getting the happiness you deserve.” She stretched her hand to you. “God it’s been so hard—- I’ve missed you so much.” She teared up finally being able to have her other half back at her side.

“I missed you too,” you sighed, holding her hand. “I promise to never leave you again. And, because I missed Morgan’s shower, and I guess somehow Peter’s, I’m going to throw you the biggest, most obnoxious baby shower you’ve ever seen for these twins. Gonna have Wanda and Pietro help too, seeing as they’re experts in the field.”

“Who would have thought that on my second pregnancy I’d end up with twins?” She shook her head. “Damn twin gene. I know I don’t have it so it must be Bruce’s,” she said. “I’m sure they’ll be a big help, speaking of where’s Pietro?”

“Oh, I saw him earlier. I think he’s inside, fighting Sam for some of those spicy appetizers you made,” you informed. You glanced up to her, giving her an intense look. “You know, I really am sorry for leaving. I just… I lost my shit when one morning I looked up and you had everything and I had lost everything and to be honest…” You took a deep breath. “Everywhere I looked, I was reminded of Loki, and everyone we all lost, and how it was my fault and I couldn’t stand it. I thought if I left, it wouldn’t be a glaring reminder of my failures and everything I’d lost.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Y/N. Out of 14 billion, we only had one shot. It was out of our hands so please don’t go blaming yourself. I just wish that you’d had come to me to tell me this. I’m your sister!” She squeezed your hand. “I would move heaven and earth to help you feel better. I’m sorry that things seemed like it was still perfect for me.” She took a breath. “The snap had taken away Peter and my family all I had left was you and the hope that I hadn’t lost Tony too. And then he came back and later on you were gone, it felt like I had lost the last bit of family I had left. The Avengers are friends, yes but it's not the same as a connection like the one we have.”

"I never wanted you to feel that way. I just thought you were finally happy with Bruce and Tony and everything that you didn't want or need me in your life anymore, especially not after I let Thanos get away, three times. I thought maybe you wouldn't want me around. I'd only serve as a reminder for the idiot that couldn't save the universe." Your head dropped down as you spoke. "You once told me that I was strong enough to fight Thanos. It was right after Loki and I were arrested after New York. And you were right. I told you I was too afraid. To be honest, Loki and I were pretty outnumbered and I had no idea how to control my powers back then. And then, we got another shot at him in space and I didn't kill him, and I didn't kill him in Wakanda... I couldn't help but think 'You have the power to kill him, and you didn't. This is all your fault.'" You shook your head. “But it’s all behind us now. I was an idiot. I missed you. And now you can never ever get rid of me,” you said, resting your head on her shoulder.

The two of you laughed softly, looking on at your happy family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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cutie1365 · 5 years

Text

A Kid from Queens Part 11

Pairing: Peter Parker x Stark!Reader

Info: CA: Civil War Era. Tony Stark enlists his daughter to find the web slinging spider in Queens.

Word count: 2.8k

Warnings: language, lmk if I should add anything

A/N: I’ve removed a lot of people from my taglists for being inactive, to be on it and stay on it you must like my posts, and comment or reblog. There’s a google form in my bio to request to be added.

Masterlist linked in my bio. Taglist in the reblog.

- - - - - 🕷 - - - - -

A bright stage light blinded you as you shifted back behind the curtain. A production assistant was clipping a microphone onto your dress that was so tight they’d actually made you wear spanx. Fucking spanx. You were a healthy 18 year old girl, wearing Spanx. You felt like you couldn’t breathe.

Your gaze shifted to the other side of the stage where you saw your publicist-turned-manager, Linda, give you a thumbs up and a cheery smile. You flashed her a toothy smile right back to reassure her. She had been preparing you for this all week, and you were ready. You were used to meetings with important people, investors, and shareholders; Pepper taught you well, you knew what you were doing.

“Ok people! Live in five... four...” A jaunty producer bellowed from behind the cameras.

You took a deep breath in, closing your eyes and reminding yourself why you were here. When you opened them, you put on your mask: a bright smile, wide eyes, and shoulders back. You were no longer the girl who just last week was crying in a conference room over a boy. No, for the next hour you were Y/N Stark: a girl who definitely had her shit together, sporting a nearly $5,000 Oscar de la Renta dress with some Jimmy Choos to match.

The audience roared as the large red “Applause” sign above the stage lit up.

“Thank you! Thank you for joining us and welcome to all of you at home tuning into our live broadcast of The Tonight Show!” The spirited host greeted the audience, he spoke again once their cheers died down.

“Tonight we have a very special guest. She’s a partner of Stark Industries. She’s the daughter of Iron Man! Give it up for Y/N Stark!” His voice grew more and more excited with each description.

Was that really all you boiled down to? ‘The daughter of Iron Man’? Would you ever be able to be your own person? All your accomplishments, and still, the most interesting thing about you was your paternity.

- - - - - 🕷 - - - - -

Unbeknownst to you, thirty minutes away in Queens, May Parker was flipping channels as her nephew ate dinner. Landing on channel 6, she recognized a familiar face.

“Peter, isn’t that your little friend?” She asked excitedly, pointing to the TV. He lazily draws his attention to the screen before he did a double take. Oh God, she looked amazing. He thought.

“We’re not really friends May, she’s just my boss’ daughter.” Peter spoke, hoping she’d change the subject, or the channel.

“Wow, look at that dress! She looks like a million bucks!” May smiled, in awe.

“Try a billion.” Peter muttered, thankful that May didn’t have super-hearing like him. Normally at this time, he’d be getting ready to go out for patrols, but he was curious. Why were you on live TV? You didn’t do interviews. So tonight, he decided to take his place next to May and watch, because honestly - he missed you. If this was his chance so see your smile and hear your laugh, then patrols could wait an hour.

- - - - - 🕷 - - - - -

“Thank you for having me.” You nodded politely as you adjusted in your chair.

“Well it’s not everyday I have superhero DNA seated across from me.” The host joked, and you laughed politely, mentally regretting this already.

“What can I say? It’s in my blood.” You shrugged, the audience roared as the neon sign flashed. Your interviewer joining in, though you could tell it was fake.

“Yikes that was bad wasn’t it, guess I’ll leave the jokes to you.” You declared with a smile.

“I guess out of all those PhDs you have, none of them translate to being able to come up with a decent punchline.” He retorted, playfully.

“Oh certainly not, probably the opposite considering they’re in Electrical Engineering and Ethical Philosophy.” You laughed.

“Which is incredible by the way! You’re 18 and you have two PhDs. How’d you do it?” What an original question. You thought and mentally rolled your eyes.

“A lot of hard work and dedication. And, sure, I’m not oblivious to the tremendous amount of privilege that I have. Sometimes it’s about the right opportunities, and those aren’t always fair. I’m hoping one day to change that.” You spoke honestly, gaining a round of applause from the audience.

“And how do you plan on doing that?” He asked, baiting you. He knew why you were here and what he was supposed to steer the conversation towards.

“Well, systematic change doesn’t happen overnight. But as a start, we want to be able to give young people interested in science, technology and engineering a foot in the door. We’re opening up a Stark Internship program, for kids across the country to come work with us and learn from us. Anyone is welcome to apply. There are more details on our website.” You looked directly into Camera One. You felt as if you were reading from a script, you’ve practiced this so much.

- - - - - 🕷 - - - - -

“Peter, isn’t that what you do?” May asked, turning to her nephew.

“Kinda, Mr. Stark said they were expanding nationwide, wanna help out more people ya know.” He lied, in reality he had no clue what you were doing. A heads up would have been nice, but it was helpful that his alibi was now legitimized.

“I like her.” May said with a soft smile, focusing back on the screen.

“What?” Peter asked, taken aback.

“I like her,” May repeated, “She recognizes her privilege and she’s giving back. Plus her shoes are to die for.”

- - - - - 🕷 - - - - -

“That’s amazing. Does that include scholarship opportunities?” Your host inquired, just as planned.

“Of course! We already offer a few scholarships, there’s even one named after Dad and I at MIT, but we will be expanding greatly. One hundred of the applicants will receive a $50,000 scholarship, so there’s certainly no reason not to apply.” You laughed.

“You’re going to be a busy girl, doing all those interviews.” He remarked. You hated the way he called you girl. You faked a laugh before responding.

“Oh, I know, but I think it’s important for me to really have an intimate role in the selection, you want to build those personal connections. Ya know?” You nodded.

“Those are important, sure. Now, Y/N, it’s no secret that you’ve also been running Stark Industries’ Philanthropy, so what’s next on the agenda for you personally?” He asked, turning the conversation... this wasn’t planned.

“Um, sure we have a lot of fingers in a lot of pies here at Stark Industries, so we’re constantly making pretty large donations to a number of deserving causes. If you’re referring to large scale philanthropic galas then the NYC Hope Gala is coming up, which targets childhood cancer research and awareness. And of course, The Met Gala is coming up next month.” You nodded. What was he playing at here?

“And can we expect you to attend?” Something about his demeanor was changing, and you cursed yourself for agreeing to do this on live TV.

“Haven’t missed it in four years so there’s a good chance.” You assured him with a smile.

“Are you nervous to attend a public event considering what that took place at the last one?” You felt like you had just been punched in the gut, and you hoped that didn’t translate onto your face. He really was going there, and you had a feeling you knew where this was heading.

“I believe that when you live in fear, the people that orchestrated these terrible things win. So I’m not going to let that happen.” Your mind was reeling trying to figure out his next move, and what your response would be. Should you keep talking to fill the time until commercial break, in an attempt to limit whatever might be coming next? You looked at the monitor, 5 minutes until commercial, shit. A lot can happen in 5 minutes.

“When footage of the attack came out, I think it’s fair to say that the world was shocked.” There were random voices of agreement coming from the audience.

“About?” You asked, surely he wasn’t bringing this up. Your heart began to beat faster.

“I don’t think anyone expected you to stand up and fight the way you did, what prompted you to do that.” Ok this is your chance, stall. You thought.

“I- I suppose it was a spur of the moment, fight or flight sort of thing. In times of panic everyone reacts differently. I have basic self defense and martial arts training and some Stark tech, that’s about it. No crazy powers or anything. Someone once told me that if you have the ability to stop the bad things from happening, and you don’t, then they happen because of you. I knew that I could do something, so I did.” You spoke slowly, hoping to come off as sincere and thoughtful, though you were really just killing time.

“And paid the price.”

“I didn’t say it was easy. But some broken ribs are a small price to pay for saving some lives.” You tried to convince him.

“And how has it affected your relationship with the Mayor’s son, the reason you were at the gala that night?” Shit.

“I think it’s normal that trauma and stress can put a strain on a relationship, but if you’re both willing to communicate and work through it then there’s no reason it should have a negative affect.” You were immediately reminded of your interaction with Thomas last week.

- - - - - 🕷 - - - - -

“Let's be honest, you were using me the entire time.” You said calmly, shouldn’t you be angry?

“Well not the entire time.” He answered with a smirk, dropping it when he noticed you were not amused.

“Thomas.” You spoke seriously, with a brow raised.

“Ok fine, like 95% of the time,” He admitted, dropping his playful tone once more, “Why are you here Y/N?”

“Because it's my turn to use you.” You stated simply, mimicking his smirk.

“What?” His eyes grew wide.

“The public needs to keep thinking were the perfect happy couple.” You explained.

“Why?” He asked, shaking his head.

“I have my reasons and you have yours.” You answered cryptically.

You weren’t surprised when he agreed, his father’s poll numbers had been dropping significantly. He wanted to get back in his father’s good graces. You were going to use this opportunity to look into the family, and the possible weapons dealings Danny Rand had warned you about. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, they say.

Plus, it gave you a good alibi to move the attention off of Peter, well, Spider-Man.

- - - - - 🕷 - - - - -

“So you’re still together, despite the rumors that you’ve split?” Your interviewer pried.

“We are still together, and doing quite well, though I appreciate your concern.” Your reply was confident, and just cocky enough to get a laugh from the audience.

“How did he react to the rumors about a midnight tryst between you and Spider-Man?” He was enjoying this, and to top it all off, blasted that damn photograph on the screen, just in case the world had forgotten.

- - - - - 🕷 - - - - -

Peter choked on his water, causing May to worryingly ask him if he’s alright. He attempts to reassure her, and silence her to hear your response.

You laughed before answering.

“Well I’d hardly consider it a midnight tryst, considering this picture was taken at 7:30. Plus Thomas was over at the time so it would be pretty hard for him to believe there was any ‘trysting’ going on.” You lied. Peter listened more intently as the interview was slowly devolving into an interrogation.

“So are you denying that you know Spider-Man?” The interviewer pressed, his tone near threatening.

“I’ve met the guy once,” Peter saw you shrug, “He saved my life, I thanked him. I’d hardly consider that knowing someone.”

It was in that moment Peter realized why you were doing all of this. You were trying to protect him, to shift the story. You wanted to get the attention off of him, and by doing that, shifted it all onto you. You were taking the fall, and once this blows over you can’t turn back. You were going to have to keep this up, this media persona. That meant more TV appearances, more interviews, more parties and galas. Becoming the exact person you didn’t want to be. Putting aside your work and research, for him.

- - - - - 🕷 - - - - -

“When we come back Y/N Stark is going to answer your questions you sent in on Twitter!” He pointed his note cards to the camera with a smile.

The curtain closed as you cut to commercial break. Your smile dropped and your mask melted away.

Your publicist Linda ran on stage yelling at the host.

“What the hell was that? We told you the attack was off limits!” She scolded him, you almost thought she’d threaten to sue. You’d never seen her this worked up before.

“It’s what people care about, it’s what they want to know! No one cares about how much money you donate to some kids.” He argued, you shook your head at how heartless he was.

You stormed over to the side of the stage, you could hear Linda’s heels behind you.

“Y/N-“ She spoke once she caught up to you, you whipped around to face her.

“This is why I didn’t want to do this bullshit! I’m out here getting interrogated! What’s he gonna ask about next, huh? The incident? The fucking Accords? Jesus!” You ranted, flailing your arms about.

”Back in 10.” A stagehand informed the two of you.

“Listen, I didn’t know he was going to do that ok. But now, you’re going to get your butt back in the chair and answer their silly questions from Twitter and you’re done, ok?” She pushed you back onto the stage, you quickly took your seat as the curtain separating you and the audience was pulled open and you were back live.

- - - - - 🕷 - - - - -

After a painful 15 minutes of mind numbing questions like “Who’s your favorite Avenger?” and “F Marry Kill- Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man” (which you had declined to answer, that was your dad for Christ sake), you were finally making your way back to the car. Linda was giving you instructions in preparations for your day tomorrow.

“Ok, we’ve got the Vogue interview tomorrow morning, then Elle in the afternoon so I’ll send hair and makeup over around 5:45AM, you’ll have to be up and ready. Oh, but don’t eat anything you’ll want to look nice in your dress tomorrow.” You gave Linda a side eye and eye roll when her last words came out of her mouth. You were certainly not starving yourself. If you wanted to eat, you were going to eat, and God have mercy on anyone who got in your way.

Once you returned to the quiet emptiness of your apartment, you immediately slipped out of your dress and into yoga pants and a sports bra.

You began wrapping your knuckles, and attacking the punching bag - a little coping mechanism Cap had taught you. You were furious about how the interview went.

You had doubts that people would ever stop asking about Peter, and if any of this was worth it.

Little did you know, the friendly neighborhood Spiderling was sitting on your roof, after peering in through the window and seeing your assault on the bag.

He was curious about how you were doing. You had looked so happy and put together- but was that just a brave face and a dress? He realized now it was just a mask.

When he glanced once more, he found you in the kitchen, unwrapping your bleeding knuckles and downing a shot... and then another. You looked miserable, and exhausted.

He wanted to talk to you, but he didn’t want to make things worse. He was about to leave when he noticed you pulled out your phone and open the call app.

Your finger hovered over his name and he raised an eyebrow. You had an internal struggle over whether or not to call him, instead you set the phone down and groaned, sliding it across the counter.

“F.R.I. can you set an alarm for 5AM?” You asked, though you wished you didn’t have to.

“Sure can boss.” F.R.I.D.A.Y. replied.

You slipped a robe over your athletic wear and headed onto your balcony. You leaned on the edge, and looked out onto the moonlit park with a sigh. Dropping your head to your hands once more, and gently rubbing your temples.

Leaning back up onto your elbows, you took in a deep breath.

“I know you’re there Peter.” You spoke softly, turning your head slightly but keeping your body facing out over the ledge.

And your next action surprised both of you: you invited him in.

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

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a-deadly-serenade · 5 years

Text

The Shield and the Sword: Chapter 7: Ravens, and Witches, and Wolves oh my! [Alucard/Reader]

You’re a witch that is skilled in herbology, one that has been persecuted by the church for practically your entire life. In spite of this, moving throughout different towns has allowed you to pick up some chatter about a woman in a village called Lupu. She is supposed to be a wonder when it comes to medicine, and this immediately perks up your interest. So after plucking up some courage, you’ve made it to her door… hoping that she takes you as her apprentice.

ao3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/16724856?view_full_work=true

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You awoke one morning with a dazed smile on your face, your head abuzz with the dreams from the night before. You rubbed the tired from your eyes, but the vivid imagery of your dream still remained at the forefront of your mind.

You had been standing in front of a large forest. It was absolutely breathtaking, twinkling with fireflies and fairy lights. A small stream paved its way through the shrubbery, plush moss and groups of clover providing just the right amount of padding along the riverbank.

Fauna roamed throughout the trees, but they were not the usual animals that you would encounter in the wild. They rounded the corner of your eye, and only allowed you to see them in your periphery.

You had heard tales throughout your childhood of witches who had been foolish enough to challenge these beings, and demand to face them head on. No one really knew what happened if you ever looked one in the eye, but some said that your soul gets sucked down into one the magical streams that course through their body, only to be trapped in a seemingly endless purgatory.

It was rare for these creatures to reveal themselves to humans, but it has happened. As par the course, people often believed they were monsters, and that they were omens of death or something ridiculous like that.

Sure, they had reputations that preceded them from the scary rumors, but the sketching you had seen within your textbooks made you question why everyone thought they were so horrifying. You found them quite beautiful.

White, ethereal looking creatures with the anatomy of a deer. They were documented as either having a pair of bright red eyes, or having hundreds that shifted in color depending where you stood.

Their antlers were said to be enormous, and it wasn’t uncommon for them to be so ancient that they sprouted small trees and bushes amongst the twisting bone. Fairies, spiders, birds and nymphs would make their homes in the branches, a whole separate ecosystem that silently marched along the forest floor.

They had big hooves, tiny plants sprouting along the path they tread, each of their frosty breaths giving new life to withering or dying flowers. It is recommended that you try and see them at night, their forms shining like starlight in the piercing moonlight, dancing along the edges of your vision like ghosts.

Your coven called them forest spirits, and there would be times during the ceremonies held within the darkness of the great, old forest that surrounded your cove, that you could have sworn seeing something walking out of the corner of your eye.

The older women, including your grandmother, always said that these creatures were to be respected, never feared. They let you know that the forest is healthy, that it is alive, and that it is magical.

Anyways, back to the dream… (boy could your mind wander)

You had been walking through some magical woods, and they felt ancient, the very earth lighting up under your feet as you followed a predetermined path. You were unsure of where you were, but at the same time, a sense of familiarity lingered in the air, and you found yourself able to maneuver over where it is you wanted to go.

Soon you were standing in front of a clearing, you walked out and discovered a small cove. A tiny heart shaped pond stood in the middle, large lily pads and lotuses blossomed on its surface. Plush ferns swayed alongside a large boulder that was placed before the water, slightly elevated on a moss covered hill. Fireflies dance amongst the thick leaves of the aromatic flower trees and bushes that surrounded you, the hoot of an owl rumbling in the delicate wind.

A bright moon hung in the sky, and you noticed, to your delight, that the moon’s startling white rays had been mixed in with soft hues of pink. It was a Strawberry Moon, the next upcoming full moon within the month of June.

The place was beautiful, and you gave a delighted hum as you run your hand across the surface of the crystal clear water. Tiny aquatic plants swayed to the motion, a couple of small fish darting around in surprise at the sudden commotion.

High pitched giggles coming from all around you snapped you out of your daze, and a dozen or so colorful lights came streaming out of the large lilies that were bunched near one corner of the pond.

You realized that they were fairies, as you caught glimpses of what they looked like here and there as they darted by.

Stop trying to deny it…

A soft voice, very childlike in its tone, called out to you. It seemed to be coming from the pink light.

“Deny what?” you answered.

Another round of giggles.

Now you were starting to get flashbacks to the hibiscus gang back in the greenhouse.

Uh oh, he’s here! another voice cried out. The yellow light.

“Who?” you called back.

Don’t be silly, another fairy chimed, the one surrounded by purple light. He’s right behind you!

Your breath caught in your throat as your turned around, the sight of a great white wolf catching you completely off guard.

The beast lazily lay upon the large rock, its bushy tail wagging slowly back and forth with the breeze. Its head was cocked towards the sky, and it let out a long, dramatic yawn; one that helped reveal very clearly that it could defend himself.

But, for some reason, a feeling inside you compelled you to inch closer and closer to the wolf. You couldn’t describe it, it felt almost like a tug, as though someone was pulling on a string, urging you forward.

A twig snapped under your bare feet, your whole body freezing in place as the beast reared its head in your direction.

Your eyes widened in fear as it stared at you, but that was displaced for a quick few seconds when you finally got a sight of its eyes. Big, shining orbs that sparkled as though made of rivers of gold. You had never seen a wolf with such stunning eyes before.

There was a silence, where neither one of you moved, but… then there was that tug again.

You needed to reach out… stretch out your arm, yeah, that’s it! And then gently…

Gently, you placed your hand on the top of the wolf’s snout. You felt its nose twitch once, twice, before it exhaled, a deep sound that rumbled in its chest. A delighted laugh slipped past your lips as the wolf leaned forward, pushing your hand higher up its head, until you had to move in order to scratch him just behind the ears.

He was a soft, friendly, and affectionate little one, peppering your arms and face with gentle licks and kisses.

You cuddled up beside him as you felt your eyes grow heavy, a signal that you were about to return to the world of the living. It was peaceful, and you felt at ease for the first time in months inside your own dream.

Ever since losing your family, your mind was often a turbulent place, a world that had control of your emotions, causing you to have more nightmares than you would like to remember.

But this? This was… nice.

A breeze flew between the two of you, the smell of dew, grass… and… leather? And books?

You opened your eyes, only to find yourself alone on that rock, the moon shimmering in the night sky that had started to get flecked with hues of orange and pink and blue. Where had the wolf gone?

Your fingers grazed against something, and to your shock, you found a deep red hibiscus, resting where the wolf had been moments prior.

You picked it up, puzzled where it came from, as you spun the stem between your fingers.

Language…

“What?”

The language… of…

“Language of…what language?” you repeat to yourself, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

You looked back down at the hibiscus, and then back up to the ever waning moon. “The language… the language… ”

The image of a red hibiscus and a great white wolf lingered in your mind as you woke up, and as you bathed yourself and got ready for the day, you kept trying to figure out what exactly that voice had meant about “the language”.

You had never attributed too much to dreams, learning from your grandmother at an early age that most dreams meant absolute codswallop and that leaning on them for answers was absolutely ridiculous.

On the other hand, some of the other old women argued that dreams were a very valid source of divination for witches, and it was foolish to not listen to what they said.

“Oh really?” your grandma would interrupt, clearly annoyed.

This would happen every time someone would reignite the whole “dream debate”, as the women liked to call it. You had been witness to several yourself, and recalled one night where your grandmother had had quite the rebuttal.

“Well, I had a dream that the handsome new farm hand that sells us all our vegetables, came ‘round and swept me off my feet-- among other things,” she mumbled, several other witches snickering in response. “That doesn’t mean he’s gonna come and do that, Daria!”

The other woman, Daria, someone that your grandmother often disagreed with, gave a hmph!

“You don’t know that! It could have been a vision from the future--”

“He’s engaged you peaheaded fool!”

Most of the room would erupt into laughter, but the other women hardly ever found it amusing. Usually, that would be the time that your mother would escort your grandma back home, the two old women shouting curses at one another till they were too far away to hear what foul atrocities would befall their crops, or which great-great-great-great grandchild would be born with the head of a toad.

So, you knew to take such vivid dreams with a grain of salt. But, there was something tugging at you again… the thought that maybe… just this one might actually hold some meaning to it.

You flatten out a few of the creases on your light blue chiffon blouse, trying to look presentable even if your mind was a mess. You sported some light cotton trousers to go alongside, as you assumed that you would just be in the greenhouse again all day.

The brown boots you wore were scuffed and covered in flecks of dried dirt. You made sure that the soles were relatively clean, since you would be mortified if you stained the beautiful red carpets with mud after trekking throughout the castle back to your room late one night.

Throughout the weeks of living in Castlevania, you had managed to familiarize yourself with the layout of the places that you frequented often, like the library or the garden. It was so much easier for you to just zip through the hallways, oftentimes skipping down them as you pondered on what to eat for breakfast.

But… there was a familiar tug, and you slowed down one corner, entering the last hallway you had to walk through to reach the kitchen.

Your gaze wandered, curious as to why you had felt that sensation just moments before, when your attention was brought to yet another painting. It was strange, you must have passed this one at least a dozen times before, why was it vying itself to be important now?

It was a large portrait of Adrian, that you knew. The two of you ran into each other one morning, and he had pointed out that this had been done shortly after receiving his sword. He said his father called it an “extended birthday present”, but Adrian knew it was just a way for his mother and father to have a portrait of him as an adult. He also mentioned how amusing he thought it was, that they hung it right outside his old nursery.

That fact certainly piqued your interest, but he had locked the door with a spell before you could even try to get in. You pouted, but he had said he would show you one day. For now, he would like to be spared some form of humility in your relationship.

Oh right… that’s what he had said. You recalled how your cheeks rose in color, chastising yourself for even thinking of misinterpreting it as something other than a friendship. Is that why you had been brought here? To feel embarrassed again?

Slightly irritated, you’re about to tell this inner-voice to bugger off, before you realize something peculiar about the shield that he’s carrying. It was large, and red, with a black cross emblem resting in the foreground of large, white bat wings, and the enormous head of a ferocious white wolf with golden eyes.

Memories of your dream merge with the painting before you, a thrumming headache drumming behind the backs of your eyes as that voice comes back, echoing,

The language… the language…! Over and over again!

Ugh!

You pinched the bridge of your nose and kept going. Why was this dream being so stubborn? Why couldn’t it just fade away like all the rest of ‘em did?

Walking into the kitchen, you took your seat beside Adrian, who was reading the book you had assigned him to, a tome on more advanced fire spells. He was stirring his tea with the slow flick of his index finger, a skill he had been quite proud of mastering.

Lisa was chatting with her husband, a bowl of steamy homemade oatmeal with a sprinkle of cinnamon resting in front of her. Vlad sipped on some freshly brewed coffee as his wife told him about her plans for the day, the two of them giving you smiles as you helped yourself to some food.

“You have quite the good timing,” Lisa said, eating a spoonful of her breakfast. “I was just about to tell Vlad what we were doing for the day.”

“Oh?” you stirred your spoon, sticky with honey, into your oatmeal.

“I thought it was finally time that you accompany me to the village, to Lupu!” she gave you a toothy grin, eyes crinkled with excitement.

Your spoon nearly clattered back into your oatmeal from shock, but you managed to shove it into your mouth before any harm fell to it. You swallowed, a bit of apprehension laced in your voice as you replied, “Are… are you sure that’s a good idea?”

Lisa frowned. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Well… I… I dunno, what if I scare someone? Or mess something up? I would never want you to lose the trust you’ve built up with your patients because of something I did--”

“That’s enough.” Lisa snapped. “You need to stop being so harsh on yourself! If anyone has what it takes to be an amazing doctor, it’s you!”

A blush spread across your face and down your neck, and your averted your gaze back to your breakfast. “Thank… thank you,” you said sheepishly.

“You act as though you have two heads and vicious claws, little one.” Vlad gave you a kind look from across the table. “No one will be afraid of you. Never have I met someone as kind and generous as my dear Lisa. The people will love you.”

Your breath left you in shaky gasps, a wave of gratitude washing away all of the anxiety you had previously felt. “Thank you… both of you. I really appreciate it.”

Once breakfast was finished, Lisa suggested that you head back to your room in preparation for the day. She said that you were going to watch what she did more than anything today, but she urged that you take important notes and prepare yourself for on the fly questions anyone may ask you.

You didn’t really know what to expect, so you tried to shove everything important you could think of inside your satchel. A couple of your personal notebooks, some vials of fresh herbs and roots, a couple crystals, some tonics, a few potions, and of course: some gauze.

When you walked out of the front door, you were surprised to find that Lisa was not the only one waiting for you. Adrian was there as well, along with two absolutely stunning horses.

Lisa’s was a chestnut colored mare, his mane a light blond and a white stripe down his snout that matched the white sock patterns he sported around his hooves. His saddle was simple and elegant, but it was practically hidden under the heaps of bags and sacks that Lisa had tied to him.

When she caught sight of your skeptical gaze, she waved you off. “I have not visited for awhile since you’ve arrived, darling. It was a bit difficult for me to find enough time for long consultations in between our lessons. I just have a feeling that it’s going to be a bit busier than normal. Plus, I needed to stock up on some supplies so,” she gave the big bag tied behind her a hearty slap to emphasize her point.

You felt anxiety flicker inside you as she said this, and you worried that the townsfolk would start disliking you as the reason for keeping Lisa away for so long. But… it was summer, it was not common for someone to get very ill during the warmer months. You’re certain Lisa would have stayed in the village longer if someone had desperately needed medical assistance.

Adrian cleared his throat, and made a soft click to get the horse he held moving.

This one was white almost all over, with a white body and white mane. However, the inside of its ears were a pitch black, and its snout looked almost as if someone had dusted ashes onto it. It was a faded black, almost like weathered charcoal. Thick, white lashes fluttered down at you, as the horse gazed upon you with its round black eyes.

You were intrigued by the stare it… she was giving you. Mirroring the movements from your dream, you placed the palm of your hand on her nose, and gave her a few gentle scratches before she whinnied and walked closer.

Smiling, you stroked her soft mane and she gave a delighted puff, her tail flicking from side to side like a puppy.

“Her name is Clara, and I thought that her friendly disposition would be easy for you to handle.” Adrian gave you the reigns, a smile on his face.

“Oh I’ve lived with horses my whole life… I just never had the money to afford one after… well, you know.” you gave him a halfhearted smile in return, but quickly chased those thoughts away.

“She’s beautiful, thank you for introducing me to her Adrian.” you gently stroked Clara down her back, before you heaved yourself up into the saddle. You gave Adrian a thumbs up, hoping that you didn’t get him down after he had gifted you with a horse.

You saw his eyes shine as his lips upturned into another smile, the sight causing your heart to flutter as both you and Lisa waved him goodbye as you started down the path into town.

The two of you left late in the morning, and expected to get there by early afternoon. Now on the backs of horses, you felt much more relieved on the prospect of the trip back, having dreaded the idea of walking all the way back to Castlevania after a day of hard work.

__________

You and Lisa made idle chit chat as your horses followed the dusty route that lead to Lupu, where she revealed that that is where she was born and raised.

It had been a very small village when she was little, but over the past two decades or so, it had really begun thriving. It was all thanks to meeting Vlad all those years ago. He gifted Lisa with the knowledge to really help people, and it was because of him that she was able to heal so many people and save so many lives.

The mortality rate, especially that of children and infants, had gone down significantly since Lisa became the town’s physician. It was horrendous to dwell on how things were back in the day, and she cannot believe that her own mother had taken the advice of the wisewoman everyone claimed as a real healer.

You grimaced at that, having too much experience with those sorts of folks.

“I told him,” she said, her voice shaking with laughter. “That… that people wouldn’t live such scared little lives anymore if they had real medicine!” her laughter was triumphant, and Lisa smiled. “And I was right! It makes me so happy to see my people so healthy and alive.”

You could easily echo Lisa’s sentiments, and the more time the two of you spent together, the clearer it became that the two of you were truly destined to meet.

“I suppose… given enough time… Lupu could become like another family to me,” you muttered, as you clung to the amulet around your neck.

“I know it will.” Lisa stated firmly.

The rest of the journey went by fairly quickly, and the both of you soon made it to Lisa’s clinic on the outskirts of town. While Lisa hurriedly restocked her stores, you watched over the horses as they took a break to drink some fresh stream water or munch on crisp grass.

The weather was perfect, and you raised your hand above your eyes to get a better look at Lupu. You could see a few houses, made of mud, stone, and grass, had smoke rising from their roofs, signaling that someone was hard at work on the stove.

The distinct sound of clattering cow bells and the cries of hungry sheep rung in your ears, a couple dog barks sounding off, a man shouting about something in response, before the chatter of several other people rose up into the atmosphere.

Slowly, the village was coming to life. The prospect of making a couple coins off hungry travelers stopping by in the peak of the afternoon, was always something on vendor’s minds. Bartenders were going to take advantage of thirsty customers, just wanting a pint with their freshly grilled chicken, and animals would need to be let out of their huts and prairies for their lunch as well.

“Alright,” Lisa said, as she came running out of the doorway, which she closed with a swift kick. “That should be everything. Grab what you left on your horse, and then let us make our way down.”

The only thing that you brought with you was your satchel, and after a few exchanges, Lisa decided that it would make more sense for you to leave that inside her office. She concluded a tour of Lupu was the first order of business on the agenda, since it would give you a chance to look around and meet the people that you would be treating.

Lisa lead you down the beaten path, quietly urging you forward when you found yourself straggling behind her excited gait. Rows of vendors and a few shops were the first buildings that ran along either side of the main road. The shopkeepers went about coaxing any possible customers with their deals, priding themselves on the freshness of their ingredients or the level of quality on their craftsmanship.

A girl with messy brown hair tied back into a ponytail, her honey-brown eyes surrounded by a mask of freckles, approached you with a couple homemade necklaces, going on about how they were charms that warded off evil, or how this one would guarantee that money would find its way into your hands.

You glanced skeptically at the pieces, and you noted that both of the gems were white quartz, which had little to no power on its own. Quartz was more of a conduit for magic than anything, helping amplify other elements in a spell rather than being what really impacts your original intent.

“I would start making those money charms with citrine, if I were you,” you suggested.

The girl blinked, clearly having no idea what you were talking about. She looked back down at her necklace, and then slowly raised it up to you, as though unsure of whether or not you wanted to buy it. “Uhh… thanks?” she had an accent, unrefined and harsh.

You vaguely thought to try and explain what it is you meant, but then she shoved past you and embraced Lisa in a tight hug.

“Marian! It’s good to see you!”

Lisa playfully ruffled her hair, a toothy grin on the girls face as she raced back inside of her house, yelling, “Mama! Lisa is back! Lisa is back!”

A couple moments later, a disheveled woman with blond blond hair, tied behind her in a braid, came out of the house followed by a girl about the same age as Marian, with hair the same color and style as her mother’s.

“Oh! It’s true!” she cried out, elated. She was muttering to herself as she shuffled over to where Lisa stood, and she grabbed her hands, shaking them up and down in gratitude.

“Why hello there Sabina,” Lisa gave the woman two chaste kisses on either side of her face. “And you, Lorena,” she smiled at the other girl.

“It’s great to see you Doctor Tepes!” she exclaimed. “It’s been forever since we last saw you. What have you been up to?”

“Well, actually,” Lisa turned her attention to you, who had been standing beside her awkwardly this entire time. “This is a student of mine, and she’s what’s been taking up a lot of my time. I brought her with me today to meet all of you and to get a feel for working with actual people instead of plants.”

The three laughed, and waited as you nervously introduced yourself before greeting you properly, with hand shakes and cheek-kisses.

“Everyone is going to be so happy when they find out that you’re back, Dr. Tepes.” Sabina said, as she ushered her two girls back to the old, wooden table that held their wares for sale.

“By the looks of it, it seems that I don’t even really need to visit you!” Lisa joked. “It’s so lively this morning.”

“That’s ‘cus winter is over with!” Lorena chimed in. “I mean, spring is always nice, with all of the plants and animals coming back, but nothing can beat this nice weather!”

“Yes,” Sabina agreed. “The crops have been especially good this year, as have the animals. They’re all as healthy as can be.”

“That’s wonderful to hear!” Lisa happily exclaimed, and gave the family a wave as she started to walk away. “It was great seeing you all! We’re just going to make our rounds.”

Sabina nodded her head, and gave Lisa one last kiss on the cheek before she headed back to her house. “You better stop by for some dinner before you head home!”

“I will! Thank you!”

You gave the family a wave too, beginning to feel a little more at ease. The most of that afternoon was spent with Lisa getting recognized and pulled into hugs and conversation, and one thing that made you truly happy to hear, was just how thrilled everyone was to report how well they had been doing physically since her absence.

“My mother hardly ever nags me about that blasted cough she used to get around this time! What a relief!” a large man named Serghei laughed, a hearty, infectious sound that spread throughout the crowd.

You and Lisa had decided to stop by the local pub for a drink, and the friendly atmosphere made it easy to catch up with all of the local patrons. Everyone was incredibly amicable, and welcomed you with wide open arms. A lot of people went so far as to admit how glad they were that Lisa was finally receiving some sort of help.

“She does too much on her own, that one!” the bartender, named Toma, grumbled.

He and his wife ran the place together, and they had been doing so for well over ten years. His wife, Valeria, was a boisterous woman that was well respected within the community. The two greatly contrasted each other, Toma being a skinny, short man, while Valeria was a tall, powerful presence that toted the title of being the undefeated champion of arm wrestling at The Baroness.

Apparently how the spot got its name is a favorite story amongst the locals, the men pleading and begging Valeria to tell you. After some goading, they managed to convince her, the crowd falling silent with a hush as they huddled around the barstools you and Lisa sat at.

“So I first need to preface this, with a little backstory,” Valeria begins, her rich voice sending tingles up your spine. “Back before I met old Tomas here and got my life all sorted out, I was sort of… freelance in the good old days.”

“Freelance?” you question.

“She means she was a thief,” Tomas whispered back.

Valeria glared at her husband. “Oi! I had more dignity than a common thief! Anyways, me and my friend, who for the sole purpose of this story, I decided to name Grigore,” the audience chuckled and sneered. “Overheard about this party that was happening in Tậrgoviște. Now, being the capital and all, there was no way that a couple of common folks was sneakin’ into this big fancy party. But, I came up with an ingenious plan. We would disguise ourselves as a pair of guests, it’s not like whoever is hosting is gonna recognize all five hundred people they invited. That’s absolute shit!”

The men hooped and hollered, raising their tankards in agreement as they took big, hearty swigs. You moved out of the way as a couple guys behind you started getting rowdy, trying to avoid getting beer spilled all over your nice clothes.

“Hey!” Valeria shoved one of the men behind you, the back of his head colliding with someone behind him. “Watch the lady! She’s listenin’ to my story.”

You gave her a weak thank you, before urging her to continue, not wanting to make any enemies from this special treatment.

“So we stake out the place, looking for two people that looked boring enough to be missed. It was actually pretty easy to do, nobles can be pretty clueless when it comes down to it. When her date suddenly ‘vanished’, she went looking for him and quickly found my fist in her face instead.” she laughed, slapping one of her muscular thighs in amusement. “All that was left was to change into their clothes and assume their titles. I had nabbed the role of the Baroness Elisabeta, and Grigore was some wimpy Baron called Eduard, or something. The whole point of these parties were for nobles to donate a certain amount of money, which would all be stored within a great big chest.”

“That,” you said, a frown on your face. “Is… really stupid.”

Valeria cackled, and then pointed at you. “This kid gets it! That’s exactly what I was thinking when it was explained to me. Now, even though I was a freelancer-”

“Thief.” Toma corrected, as he handed someone a refill.

“Freelancer!” Valeria insisted. “Even though I was a freelancer, I was not completely dense. I knew that there would be no way that the two of us would be able to get away with stealing the entire thing. But, we could both settle for a big bag or two. To cut things short, we ended up with only one bag between the two of us, and about ten soldiers on our asses. It was actually the night I met Toma,” she said, and wrapped one of her toned arms around her husband’s shoulders. “If he hadn’t been stupid enough to actually hide the two of us, I would probably be in prison, rotting away in some cell.”

“And what a shame that would be!” Toma exclaimed. “I’m glad I was foolish enough to trust you into not killing me for being a conspirator in your big scheme.”

Valeria laughed and dipped him back as she gave him a kiss, the patrons whooping and crying out excitedly. She gave her husband a firm slap to the back as he walked off in a slight daze, before her fierce grey eyes landed on you.

“You seem like a strong girl. I hope that you find someone that will treat you right.”

You flushed, unprepared for this change in the conversation. “Um… um thank you.”

“Never,” she grabbed a firm hold of your shoulders, and albeit, you were surprised at how soft her hands were. “Settle for anything less than you’re worth.”

You slowly nodded your head, letting her know you received her message loud and clear.

The bar was filled with a chorus of farewells and a lot of handshakes as you and Lisa made your way out, the sound and smell of metallurgy filling your senses as you both rounded a corner. A small hut sat a little ways away from a blacksmith station, the steam from the water hiding the man that was currently hammering away at a piece of red-hot steel.

“Doctor Tepes!” a woman’s voice called out from behind the fog, and out ran a tall, lithe woman with vibrant red hair. Her green eyes sparkled like emeralds in the sunlight, her arms wrapped tightly around Lisa when she was welcomed with open arms.

“Diana! How wonderful to see you!” Lisa pulled away and peered over Diana’s shoulder, a smirk on her face. “I see Marius is still hard at work.”

“Of course, after saving his hand, there’s been no stopping him!” she laughed, a joyous ring that sounded almost like a song. “We’ve even been commissioned by several royal families! We delivered a sword just a few days ago to Gresit, I believe it was one of the son’s birthdays.”

“That’s exciting!” Lisa beamed at her. “Do you think it would be possible to speak to Marius? It’s been so long since I’ve seen him, after-all.”

“You don’t even need to ask, ma’am,” Diana playfully shoved Lisa’s shoulder as she turned to get her husband. After a few seconds, she appeared from the smoke on the arm of her husband, Marius.

He was a tall man, with choppy black hair and the stubble of a beard. There was a nasty scar running from the tip of his right eyebrow, down to the side of his lips, and he walked with a slight limp. His muscular arms were covered in an array of scars, some deeper than others, but despite his rather rugged appearance, his bright blue eyes sparkled with a delightful warmth.

“Doctor Tepes,” he rasped, his voice rumbling deep in his chest. “It’s been quite some time since we’ve last seen each other.”

“It has. But I’ll have you know that I wasn’t just lounging around!” Lisa said, and put a hand on your shoulder as she introduced you to the couple. “This is a prospective student of mine. She’s been working with me for a couple weeks now, and she’s made such significant progress, that I thought it only reasonable for me to bring her with me on my first outing back here.”

“Student, eh?” Marius looked down at you. “I didn’t know you were a teacher too.”

“I never thought that role would befall me either,” Lisa admitted. “But she approached me into having her as my apprentice. She’s very skilled in the art of medicine as well.”

“Really?” Diana sounded a bit impressed. “But you look so young!”

“I’ve actually been learning about healing and medicine for almost my entire life.” you replied. “Which… can be a little difficult to do if you’re a woman.”

Diana nodded her head in agreement. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard Doctor Tepes over here complaining to me about how people compare her to the senile old wisewomen that suggest you boil nettles and entrails! The ridiculousness of it all.”

You grinned, thankful that at least these people understood the benefits of medicine and what Lisa was providing for them. “That’s why I sought her out,” you said, your focus back on Lisa. “I overheard rumors circulating in this village while I visited about someone who was actually taking care of and healing people! It made me very excited, as my family had been doing that for generations. I was so relieved when she said she would teach me… I honestly don’t know what I would be doing right now had she not been so kind.”

“Oh, stop it,” Lisa had a blush on her cheeks. “You are very intelligent and capable. There was no way I was going to let you just wander off after you proved to me how much you knew about medicine!”

“Now there’s no need to put yourself down either, Lisa,” Marius interjected. “It’s because of you that I have my hand.” he raised up his left hand, clenching and unclenching his fingers.

“It was due to the war,” Diana answered, after she noticed your curious expression. “He came back home after serving for around five months, with what we thought was only a broken wrist. A couple days later, and he’s suffering from a horrible fever and his hand is starting to succumb to a nasty infection. If it wasn’t for Doctor Tepes, he certainly wouldn’t have that hand.”

“Aye,” Marius looked at Lisa, the gratitude in his expression palpable. “It’s thanks to you that I have been able to keep my craft alive.”

“And you do mighty fine work!” Lisa smiled, her eyes flicking over to Marius’s workstation. “Do you think we’d be able to get a sneak peak on what you’re working on?”

Marius gave a sheepish grin, and rubbed the back of his neck. “I mean… if you really wanted to, I wouldn’t be opposed--”

“Wonderful!” Lisa grabbed a hold of your hand and urged you forward.

You heard Diana laugh at her enthusiasm, and you quickly picked up your pace to avoid tripping as Lisa pulled you along.

The inside of the room was surprisingly organized, with tools being sorted into different open mason jars as storage, and rolled up parchment, with what you could only assume as design plans, rested comfortably and neatly inside one of the shelves.

Swords and shields hung on the wall, however you noted that these were not new. In fact, they were covered in scratches and dents, some of the metal on the hilt of the swords turning a dark brown as it rusted over.

“These were the weapons I was able to salvage after my time in the war,” Marius said, while he looked over the small collection fondly. “They’ve saved my life on many occasions, so I did not think it right to abandon them after my injury.”

“My father was in one of the wars,” you replied, as you continued to stare at one of the shields, it’s detailed emblem catching your eye.

Marius looked down at you, surprised. “Really? What was his name?”

You turned to Marius, a half-hearted smile on your lips. “Nicolae. Although, it is unlikely that you would have ever met him. He died in the wars against the Ottoman’s around twenty years ago.”

Marius hummed, and gave an understanding nod. “I see… I am sorry for your loss.”

You chuckled, a hint of sadness laced in your eyes. “I never met him, but my mother told me that he was a kind man and that he loved her very much. She would reminisce about him sometimes… his eyes the color of sapphires, hair a curly mess that always ended up with twigs and leaves tangled within its strands… I think…” you paused for a moment, and nibbled on your thumbnail. “I think she missed him… but she never really let on how much she missed him.”

“Parents often hide their sorrow in order to remain strong for their children.” Marius let one of his large hands rest on the top of your head, before he gave you two endearing pats. “I’m sure your father is very proud of the woman that you have become.”

“Thank you… it would be nice to even have one memory of him, but there’s nothing I can do about it now.” your breath felt heavy, a sudden ache filling your chest as you said this.

“Don’t be sad, love,” Diana cooed, she and Lisa walking over to where you and Marius stood. “You can make new happy memories here, with all of us!”

“She’s right,” Lisa agreed, and bopped the tip of your nose. “Everyone here has been so thrilled to meet you!” she suddenly faltered, and her head cocked to the side as she scratched the side of her face, a nervous habit of hers. “Well… there’s one group that I’m a little worried about…”

You felt anxiety start to grab a hold of you again, swallowing a lump in your throat. “What are you talking about?”

Diana groaned beside you, as she rolled her eyes. “You’re not talking about them are you?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Come now,” Marius interjected. “They’re not so bad!”

Diana scoffed, her hands placed on her hips. “You only say that because they’ve got a soft spot for you!”

“Nonsense!”

“Oh please!” Diana said scathingly. “As soon as one of them spots you, they lure you over with lies about how they’re roof needs fixing or this one specific chair wobbles too much for their liking.”

“They’re old women, my flower,” Marius tried reasoning with Diana, but she seemed to have her mind already made up on these women. “I try and help them whenever I can!”

You craned your neck in Lisa’s direction so you could whisper in her ear, “Who are you talking about?”

“They’re a group of… well, elderly patients--mostly women--that all live within close proximity to each other,” Lisa took hold of your hand again, quietly excusing herself out of the room as Marius continued his efforts to try and calm Diana down.

She lead you back outside and pointed to a group of houses that seemed to form a semicircle around a dusty pavilion that was currently filled with children playing and mothers chatting with each other as they washed their clothes in the nearby creek.

“Folks around here have gotten used to calling it the ‘Senior Alcove’,” Lisa explained, a frown on her face. “I try not to humor then too much by doing the same. They’re really not that bad! They can be a handful at some times, but they’ve been kind to me ever since first coming back from Castlevania.”

“Did something happen after your return?”

“They were a bit suspicious of me when I reappeared, arms full of tonics and different herbs to brew as tea,” she chuckled as she recalled the memory. “They found it a bit hard to believe that I had suddenly become so knowledgeable within a few months, and they also wondered where I’d been this entire time. Thankfully, I was able to convince them that I was the real deal. My mother was a big help in persuading them, too--”

“Your mother ?” you exclaimed, mouth hung-open in mild shock.

“Yes, my mother. Did you think I was born from the Earth or something?” she laughed as she watched your expression shift from bewilderment to embarrassment, your face flushed red as you tried to clarify yourself.

“That’s… that’s not what I meant!” you pouted, arms folded across your chest. “You just never mentioned her till now. I just thought, that… well--”

“That she had passed away?” Lisa finished, and smiled at you to help ease away your anxious gaze. “Don’t worry, it’s only fair that you believed that. She was one of the few people who supported me in my decision to pursue medicine. Although… she was definitely not the biggest fan of me scaling the castle of a supposed monster to do it.”

You gave a quiet chuckle, amused at the thought of Lisa breaking the news that she had married the man everyone seemed to fear so much. “Do you think… do you think that I could meet her?”

“But of course!” Lisa seemed to wiggle excitedly where she stood. “She’ll be absolutely thrilled to hear that I’ve managed to snag an apprentice! Though, it’ll have to wait till we visit the elders. I want to make sure that you leave a good impression on them.”

“Don’t think you’re getting away that easily!”

The both of you whirled around to find Diana and Marius walking over, a bundle of brown rags nestled within Diana’s arms.

“Seems I finally managed to calm her down,” Marius said, a nervous bout of laughter coming from his as Diana elbowed him in the ribs.

“I felt so bad for just… bursting out like that, I told Marius to fix something up real quick for the two of you.” Diana unwrapped what she kept hidden in her grasp, and revealed two round objects made of glass. She gently handed them to you and Lisa, silencing your comments on how they didn’t have to go through the trouble of doing all this with a single stare.

You examined the gift, a circular piece of pristine glass that was surrounded by a fine ring of maple wood. You had never seen anything like it before, and were more than a little confused as to what it’s function could be.

“It’s a sort of magnifying device!” Diana clarified. She grabbed hold of yours and lifted it up to the sky, the glass glittering under the bright sunlight. “It makes it easier for you to look at the finer details of a project. Marius uses them all the time to assist in his work.”

“You made this?” you inquired, more than a little impressed.

Marius nodded his head. “It’s vastly improved my ability to craft even the most delicate of orders. I thought that they might help if you ever needed to look more closely at an injury or… something like that.”

“This is wonderful! It’s almost like a mini telescope!” Lisa was absolutely delighted, and pocketed the small tool within the safety of her napsack.

It took her a second to realize that the three of you were looking at her as though she had just spoken Greek, and she gave a quiet chuckle. “It’s… it’s a device that my husband invented that works in a similar fashion; magnifying faraway objects that you would like to observe more closely.”

“Magnifying objects huh…” Marius mused, and rubbed his chin in a pensive manner. “I quite like the sound of that. I think I shall call them magnifying glasses.”

“Ooh! Make sure to write that down somewhere!” Diana chimed. “My husband sure is brilliant, isn’t he?”

Marius blushed and pulled her into a tight embrace. “It’s only because I have someone like you in my life to inspire me, my flower.”

Diana’s jubilant laughter rang out as he hugged and kissed her.

The couple bid the both of you farewell as Lisa lead you to the Senior Alcove, Marius managing to shout one last message at your retreating forms, “Make sure to stop by if you ever need anything, ladies!”

The children and their mother’s who had been passing the day there all grew very excited upon recognizing Lisa, and while she struck up conversations with the adults, the children were much more interested in you.

It was rare that a stranger came through the village, and when you mentioned that you had been traveling all throughout Wallachia before meeting Lisa, they demanded to know what it was like out there.

Seeing their little eyes fill with excitement when you mentioned the towering mountains to the north, or the beautiful beaches of the south, more than made up for the overabundance in questions that they had. It was a wave of cries and disappointed grumbles when Lisa came over and told them that you had to go speak with the elders, but you promised that the next time you visited, you would make sure to stop by and tell them more of you adventures.

You have to admit that you were a little nervous meeting these old women, and you guessed that Lisa could sense your apprehension, for the first person that you met was named Miruna, and she had to be one of the gentlest people you have ever met. Her light blue eyes crinkled whenever she smiled, her long, starlight hair pulled into a loose bun on the back of her head. She was one of the first people that Lisa ever treated, and she thanked God every day for bringing such an angel into their lives.

The next few people went about as smoothly, and although you tried your best to remember everyone’s names, it was becoming rather difficult, your brain becoming muddled and tired after such an eventful day.

As the two of you said your farewells to the final woman, Tatiana, you let out a long slow exhale, and rubbed your sore temples.

“Is everything alright?”

Your arms flopped to your sides in an exasperated huff, but you managed to give Lisa a weak smile. “Yeah… I’m just a little tired, is all.”

“Did that gang wear you out more than you expected? You could have told me if it was too much--”

“No,” you stopped her. “They were actually fine. They… reminded me of the ladies that my grandmother used to hang out with all the time. I think my brain is just a little loopy from all of the human interaction.”

Lisa gave your arm a reassuring squeeze. “Hmm… maybe I can let you off a little early today.”

“What? There’s no need to do that--” you protest, but Lisa shook her head.

“Nonsense, I can take care of things on my own. If you aren’t able to put one-hundred percent into your work, then it wouldn’t be fair of me to keep you.”

“Are… are you sure? This was supposed to be my first day, and I’d hate to disappoint you like this…”

She pulled you into a hug, before placing a delicate kiss on your forehead. “You could never disappoint me, little one. I want you to eat a good hearty dinner and get a good night’s sleep, because I expect you ready to go bright and early tomorrow morning!”

You let out a sigh of relief, new energy coursing through your veins as you pictured yourself back at Castlevania, laying on your comfortable bed.

“Oh um… I… I would still like to meet your mother, if that’s okay?”

“I thought that you would say that,” Lisa giggled, and turned your attention to a small cottage that rested near the bend of the creek.

It looked similar in style to Lisa’s office, although it was definitely smaller. A large apple tree stood nearby, crisp red apples hanging off the healthy branches that drooped from the weight of the fruit. Small song birds pecked at the apple cores that had been left around the trunk by hungry animals, before they fluttered away when the loud caw of a raven could be heard.

You gasped out of fright when a large black bird swooped down from the sky, it’s wings fluttering once, twice, before it settled itself on an open windowsill. Its pointed peak ducked between its feathers to pick and preen, its long claws sunk into the wood as it paid no mind to neither you or Lisa.

“Munnin, is that you?”

A woman with sea-green eyes and greying blond hair worn in a stacked braid poked her head out of the window, her attention focused on the raven before she exclaimed in surprise, “Oh! Lisa!” at the sight of her daughter.

You heard footsteps rush to the front door, which was immediately yanked open as Lisa’s mother ran out to wrap her arms tightly around her daughter.

“My stars! I was not expecting to see you today!” she said, giving her daughter a kiss on each cheek.

“You act as though we haven’t seen each other in years, mother.” Lisa replied.

“Not years, no. But it has been several months! You could have at least sent me a letter,” she grumbled.

“You know you’re always welcome to visit!”

“And how was I supposed to get there? On these two legs? Now you’re barking.”

Lisa rolled her eyes and stepped aside so that you were in view. “Mother, I would like to introduce you to someone.” she began, and waved you over as she introduced you.

You gave her mother an awkward wave, silently praying that she would accept you as being worthy as her daughter’s student.

“A teacher? You?” she sounded incredulous. “My… that’s absolutely wonderful!”

Your breath was suddenly knocked out of you as she brought you into a tight hug, the smell of flowers and firewood catching your attention.

“I was always a little worried about my Lisa learning about all of this medical stuff, but knowing that she has someone that can continue her work, makes me very happy.”

“Thank… thank you, ma’am.” you said quietly.

“Oh, where are my manners!” she said, and grabbed both you and Lisa’s hand. “Come, let’s go inside. I can put some tea on the kettle. Do you have a specific kind that you like?” she turned to you, and you felt yourself clam up at the attention.

“Uh… well, I like most tea so I’m sure whatever you make will be just fine.”

“Peppermint it is, then. And you can call me Crina, dear. I do hate formalities.”

The inside of Crina’s home was as warm and inviting as she was. A small fireplace stood in the far back, a cozy fire crackling away in its hearth. Although it was all just one floor, each corner of the house seemed to be separated for its specific purpose. The kitchen was quaint, with fresh herbs hanging from the ceiling and charming porcelain plates neatly stacked inside of a glass cabinet.

There was a large plush couch and two armchairs placed around the fireplace, a beautiful violet rug resting in between them. Large shelves filled with books stood beside the fireplace, and a quick scan let you see that they were mostly storybooks, or tomes written on mythology and ancient cultures. A wooden kitchen table with two chairs on either side had a crystal vase filled with a bouquet of wildflowers on it, and a little ways from that, was a box filled with an assortment of children’s toys.

A curious thing for a woman her age to have, you thought.

Your attention was quickly directed to a rack that stood nearby, where beautiful shirts and dresses looked as though they were drying in the waning sun. They appeared homemade, by the looks of it, and you silently admired the craftsmanship as Crina went on with brewing some water for the tea.

“My mother was a seamstress when I was little,” Lisa said, as she approached you. “She’s very talented, and continues to make clothes for herself and for people in the village. I’ve told her that there’s no need, since we’re certainly not lacking in funds ever since I married my husband, but she still enjoys doing it.”

“That’s because,” Crina replied, as she walked to the kitchen table, a silver platter with three teacups, sugar, and spoons in her hands. “There is always a need for clothes and blankets. I tell folks that there’s no need to pay me, but they always insist on some form of compensation for my work.”

You took a seat beside Lisa, thanking Crina as she handed you a cup and filled it with the hot water from the kettle. “I can see why people urge you to take something in exchange, I haven’t seen such fine sewing since my grandmother.”

Crina grinned, lifting the lid off a small tin to procure a biscuit for you. “This one certainly knows how to flatter the ladies,” she teased.

You laughed as you accepted the treat, dunking it into your peppermint tea to let it soak up the flavor before popping the whole thing into your mouth. “Do you make clothing for the children, as well? I noticed the box of toys over in the corner.”

Crina took a sip of her tea, and nodded her head. “I sometimes make clothes for the little ones, but usually it’s just sewing back a button or replacing a stitch. I’ve recently become a sort of nanny for the village, watching over the children when I’ve seen how much their poor mother needs a break.”

Hearing this, a fond feeling settled into your heart, and you’re taken back to warm, happy memories of times with your own grandmother. You thought that they would get along, she and Crina, and the thought made you smile.

“Well, enough about me, why don’t you tell me what you’ve been up to--” she was interrupted by loud cawing from outside her window, Crina letting out a huff as she stomped over to see who was causing all that racket.

“Hugin and Munnin! Screaming your heads off is certainly not the way to grab my attention!” she shook her finger at the two, before she made her way to the kitchen and grabbed two chicken drumsticks from her meat storage.

“Who is she talking to?” you whispered.

“Do you remember the raven we saw, perched outside the window just before she noticed me?”

“Yes?”

“That one was Munnin. She has two ravens that visit her nearly every day for food and, remarkably, companionship.”

You blink, and then look over at Crina, who was cooing and stroking the head of one of the raven’s as it picked at the meat with its sharp beak and talons.

“Those ravens… are your pets?”

Crina turned back to you and Lisa, and shook her head. “No, no. I would never call them my pets. I like to consider them more as companions. Munnin is a sweetheart, she brings me presents, shiny things that she finds scattered throughout the village. Hugin is a big old oaf, but he means well.”

“Hugin and Munnin…” you mutter to yourself. “They aren’t by chance… named after Odin’s ravens, are they?”

“Oh! Astute this one!” Crina exclaimed happily. She shuffled her way over to one of the bookshelves and plucked one off the shelf, a worn tome whose spine was starting to tear apart. “I simply love reading about myths and legends from around the world,” she flipped through the text, which had elaborate drawings of Norse gods and inscriptions of famous stories. “So I thought it only appropriate to name my two friends here after Odin’s familiars.”

You thought it was cute, albeit a little unusual, that these two birds of prey became so attached to this kind old woman. It seemed as though you had opened the floodgates however, and Crina started going on and on about gods and goddesses, holy places and sacred places.

You knew some of the names she mentioned, having prayed to a few of them yourself, but you were surprised to find out how many deities you didn’t even know existed. Eir, for instance, was a goddess of healing, your speciality, and yet you never read about her in your studies.

Although you would have liked to stay and hear more about this secret passion of Crina’s, you felt your eyes grow heavy with exhaustion. You did not want to appear rude, and cut her off, but it was becoming more difficult with each passing second to stay awake.

Someone poked you lightly on the shoulder, which caused you to jump and blurt out,

“Yes, yes! I’m listening!” Lisa’s laughter brought a flush to your cheeks, your ears turning red from humiliation. “Are you tired, love?” “Who, me?” you feigned. “No, not at all--why?”

“You can’t lie to two mother’s, dear!” Crina said, a toothy smile on her face. “I appreciate you trying to tough it out to listen to an old woman’s tales, however.”

You sunk lower into your chair, mortified that they had noticed you falling asleep. “I’m sorry… I really would love to hear more about these legends, I’m just…” “Exhausted?” Lisa stated.

“Don’t worry your little head off, my dear,” Crina wrapped up a couple biscuits and handed the bundle to you. “Take this as my compensation for your time, and as a binding for that promise of future visits.” You eagerly took the cookies, setting them in your pocket for safe keeping. “Thank you. Now, um, do you want me to head back to the castle?” “If you think you can manage to stay awake, then by all means. If not, I have a cot that you can sleep on in my office, if you’d like.”

The offer sounded tempting, but you would much rather sleep in your own bed. “I think I can handle it.”

After saying goodbye to Crina, and promising Lisa that you make a swift and safe trip back home, you started the trek back to her office. You found Clara lounging under a tree, her head resting upon the soft ground as she watched the animals and bugs that lived near the creek.

When she saw you, she gave a delighted cry, standing up so she could trot over and greet you. You stroked her mane, before you leaned forward to rest your tired head on her neck. The aroma of grass, hay and sunlight made you feel at ease, and after grabbing your things from inside, you pulled yourself up onto the saddle and kicked Clara into motion.

A peaceful tranquility had settled over the evening, the hum of cicadas ringing in your ears as you made your way through the woods. Animals that had been busy foraging throughout the day were heading back home for the night, much like yourself. You spotted a few birds here and there, and even a small herd of deer, but other than that, it was just you, Clara, and the trees.

This was what you needed more than anything, just some time to be alone in nature. You took a deep breath, the scent of a fresh summer breeze filling your lungs. It gave you a bit of energy, just enough, you thought, to stay away till you made it back.

As you thought of the castle, your mind wandered. You had promised Adrian that the two of you would meet again tonight for lessons, but, you were sure he’d understand once you explained how tired you were.

Hmm… that boy… you mused, eyes glazed over as you recalled the smile he had given you this morning.

Your heart started to beat faster, and your breath caught in your throat, but you grimaced. There… there was no time for such foolish things.

Another tug at your heart, and the events that transpired in your dream came circling back around. You still had no idea what that voice meant about ‘the language’, but you found it rather odd that the wolf on Adrian’s shield had manifested itself. The more you thought about this dream, the more frustrated you became. What the hell did it all mean?

As you rounded over the last hill, the towering pillars of Castlevania rose up in the distance, and you clicked your tongue to urge Clara into a run. You kept telling yourself that you were just excited to get to bed and finally get some rest, but… that tug…

Clara whinnied as you reached the top of the garden path, and you looked down at her, concern laced on your features.

“What is it, girl?”

She craned her head, as if pointing out something with her snout. Following her advice, you glanced up and nearly fell out of your seat.

Waiting for you, at the entrance back into the castle, was…

“Adrian?”

You pulled on the reins to drag Clara to a halt, your breath leaving you in shallow puffs as you stared down at him. “What are you doing here?”

He walked over to you, a soft smile on his face. “It’s quite easy to spot a pure white horse amongst all of this green,” he teased, and laughed as your cheeks turned red. “I thought you might need some help after such a long day.”

There was that tug again.

You brushed some hair out of your face, and swung your legs around. “Thank you, but I can manage--” “Don’t be so stubborn,” he held out a hand for you, as he offered to help you down.

Your eyes widened slightly, but you told yourself to remain calm, he was just being polite. Your hand settled into his, your skin prickling with heat as he enclosed his fingers around it to ease you off Clara’s back.

When your feet touched the ground, you glanced back up to thank him, but your words seemed to fail you again as you stared into his brilliant eyes. It seemed as though time stood still as the two of you gazed upon each other, eyes half-lidded, and your hand still held gently within his.

He leaned closer, his warm breath fanning your face as he asked, “So, how did your first day go?”

You gave a meek laugh. “Your mother had me meet nearly every villager in Lupu, but by the end of it, I was so drained that I could hardly think to stay awake to begin my training.”

“You’re tired?” There was worry in his tone, his free hand reaching up to brush away some of your hair.

“I am but…” your voice trailed off, all senses lost in his eyes, his smell, his touch… “I could try and push through for our lesson.”

His fangs flashed in the dimming light as he smiled. “You’re absolutely ridiculous.” That snapped you out of your trance. “What?”

“Nearly keeling over with exhaustion, and here you are, worried about me. I’m touched.”

You stuck your tongue out at him as he started to laugh. “I didn’t think it possible for your ego to get any bigger, but here you are,” you echo. “Proving me wrong.”

His laughter slowly faded, and you could have sworn you saw his lips twitch up into a smirk as his fingers interlaced with yours and your cheeks rose red in color again.

“I suppose even the most arrogant of men must put aside their pride to take care of those they care about.”

Your heart leaped into your throat, and you cursed your legs for feeling so weak and wobbly as the two of you began walking to your bedroom. In spite of being a bundle of nerves, it was oddly calming, walking down the halls of Castlevania, hand-in-hand with Adrian.

You felt… safe, secure, happy.

It was almost a bit maddening how disappointed you felt when you saw your bedroom door, selfishly not wanting to part from him so soon. But you told that part of yourself to be quiet, and reluctantly pulled away from his grasp to instead grab hold of the doorknob.

You awkwardly cleared your throat, and pointed to your door. “Well, I… guess this is goodnight.”

“Just promise me that you’ll get a good night’s rest so you won’t be completely useless tomorrow,” he snarked.

“For saying that,” you retorted. “I’ll make sure I sleep in, just to spite you.”

“You just love tormenting me, don’t you?”

“Someone’s gotta do it.”

There was that darn tug again.

But… you seemed to feel it as he drew closer, his blond hair brushing softly against your face. A spike of electricity shoots through your veins as you felt his warm lips brush delicately on your cheek, worried that sparks of magic would whirl off the tips of your fingers from excitement.

As he steps back, his fingers wrap around your hand again, giving it a gentle squeeze before he whispers goodnight, your name tumbling off his lips like a ghostly whisper.

All you can do is give him a half-hearted wave as he disappears down the hallway, your body going to auto-pilot as you walked into your room and got ready for bed. Pulling the warm blankets around yourself, you were finally able to process what had just happened.

The memory kept replaying in your head, your heart leaping into your throat each time you did. Had that really just happened? It all felt like a dream…

Yes, dreams… what peculiar little things they were.

You thought of that voice, and you lifted up your hand into the air, rubbing your index finger against your thumb as though you held the hibiscus that you had imagined.

What did it mean… ‘the language’? And why was there a hibiscus of all things there too?

You rolled over onto your side as you wracked your brain to try and decipher these riddles. It was then that you had an idea.

The fairies, you thought, and sat up to look out the window of your room to see a view of the dark, sleeping forest below. I should go and see the fairies… they were in my dream too, so maybe they could have an idea about what it’s trying to say.

You nodded in agreement with yourself and lay back down, agreeing to go and find Aria and the rest of her friends after you were finished with everything.

A dreamy sigh leaves you lips as your body relaxes, winding down for the day as finally feel like you're... home.

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thinkingaboutscreech-blog · 6 years

Text

This is the entire description, personality, and information on Infernix. It’s long as heck so be warned. Seriously, it’s freakin long. It’s mostly here for my own reference when writing her character or commissioning stuff, but feel free to read if reading about other people’s OCs is your thing <3

One sentence description: Full-time crazy bird lady, part-time reluctant super hero

General

Full Name: Holly Burns Nickname: Nix, Nixy Reason for nickname: Shortened version of her super hero name, Infernix Age: 26 years Sex: Female Gender: Female Place of Birth: United Kingdom Birthday: 20th October Currently living in: Municiberg Species/Race: Human [super] Ethnicity: Caucasian Occupation: Works at a rescue centre for birds given up by their owners Sexual Orientation: Bisexual Social Status: Middle class Relationship Status: In a relationship/married (depending on the timeline) Status: Alive

Appearance

Body Build: Slender, but with chubby hips Height: 5’4” Weight: 120lbs Skin colour: Pale Hair style: Long, comes down to mid-back. Straight with fringe over right side Hair colour: Brown Eye colour: Dark brown Distinguishing Features: Has a tattoo of two feathers in a heart shape on her left collarbone, has single piercing in each ear Preferred Clothing: Casual; jeans and a shirt with either a cartoon character or a bird on it Accessories: Blue topaz earrings, hairclip with topaz and amethyst beads and two phoenix feathers

Supersuit: Over-the-knee boots with a flame colour design, over-the-elbow red gloves, white suit with a yellow belt and a phoenix emblem on the chest, attached to the belt is three large phoenix tail feathers and the same beads as those on her hairclip, her mask is curved up at the ends to imitate eyelashes and goes over her nose like a beak, and is orange with three purple accents in each corner

Likes/Dislikes

Likes: Birds, heights, flying, birds, the sky, nature, birds, cartoons, boats, warm days, night time, socks that have animal faces on them, seafood, birds Dislikes: Planes (it’s not natural flying!), small spaces, spiders, people who don’t like birds, spicy food, really loud music

Hobbies

Bird watching, reading, going for nature hikes in forests and woodland, watching documentaries, aviculture, collecting precious stones

Habits

Has retained many habits from her time spent as a phoenix. She will spend a lot of time “preening” her hair, she makes clicking noises with her tongue when she is happy, she feels awkward about how to position her hands so she usually keeps them against her chest when standing, and she will make bird-like squawks or chirps when startled or curious. Oh and she hisses (like a swan) when angry.

Strengths/Weaknesses

Strengths: Intelligent, fast healing, able to shapeshift into a phoenix which grants her flight, temporary immortality, and fire powers

Weakness: Water extinguishes her fire, certain soundwaves disrupt her ability to maintain her transformation, if the phoenix is “killed” then she is forced back into her human form which has no other powers and will be physically exhausted, is quite easy to emotionally manipulate

Skills/Abilities

Infernix is a super, and her super power is shapeshifting. She can only shapeshift into one thing, and that is a giant fire bird phoenix. Her phoenix is around 10-15 feet high, depending on the amount of energy she can expend into the transformation. She can maintain this transformation indefinitely, but once she changes back, she is physically exhausted and must rest before being able to transform again. In her fire bird form, Infernix can fly, communicate with any bird species, breathe fire, and is immune to any damage from heat/fire sources. She can also speak and understand English as a phoenix. The true power of the fire bird is to engulf itself in flames and burn everything around it, but she has not achieved this yet. As a phoenix, she is of course immortal. She can feel pain and be injured, and even experience the pain of death, but instead of dying, she simply is forced back into her human self. This only applies to her phoenix form, and as a human she is mortal. She has some hand-to-hand combat skills, but nothing advanced. She is quite intelligent, and because the size of her phoenix makes it impractical for her to transform in crowded cities and built up areas, she is usually the ‘brains’ and takes on the planner/sleuther role for fighting crime. Her phoenix has high raw power though, and is very useful in large-scale supervillain battles. As a human she has no other particular powers, except that she recovers faster than normal from injuries and illnesses.

Fears

Spiders, being trapped (especially underground), anything bad happening to Screech, and she has an irrational fear of one day waking up and not being able to use her powers any more and being trapped in her human body forever

Personality

Very emotionally attentive - feels emotions strongly. This can be good as it means she is very loving and very appreciative of little things, but it also means she is sensitive and easily hurt/angered by other people

Very kind and caring towards every living thing, believes that every life is important no matter what body it’s in. Very empathetic and compassionate

Brave, especially when protecting others

Very maternal towards those she cares about

Stubborn, often believes she is right and can be argumentative. Can find it hard to accept when she’s wrong or know when to stop

A lot of her kindness is aimed at animals and the disadvantaged and vulnerable (e.g. children, the elderly). When dealing with typical, healthy humans she can be selfish as she is not used to socialising, and firmly holds the belief that animals (birds) are purer than people

In her human body she is unsure of herself and doesn’t always feel ‘right’. Only feels ‘normal’ when she is in her phoenix form. She is slowly getting more used to it

Relationships

Family: Not in contact with them, except Gus Burns (Reflux), who is her great uncle. In the future, she has 4 children with Screech: Jay (male, 15), Raven (female, 13), and twins Skyler and Robin - (both male, 5) Love interest: Screech (Boyfriend/husband depending on timelime) Friends/Allies: He-Lectrix, Krushauer, Voyd, Winston Deavor, Brick Enemies: Currently none. Not an enemy, but she’s kinda mad at Edna Mode because she criticized Infernix’s giant phoenix tail feathers on her costume

History

Infernix did not discover her powers until very late compared to other supers. During ages 5-10, she was a ‘normal’ kid. She was bullied heavily at school, because she didn’t make any friends and would spend her playtime looking for birds and feeding them. The other kids would call her ‘bird girl’ and throw things like birdseed at her. At age 11, her emotions were running very high, and she could not shake the feeling that she was in the wrong body. She didn’t feel like a human, she felt like a bird. When she saw birds in the sky she felt jealous of them and felt like she just wanted to join them. When she looked at her arms, she saw unnatural, lanky limbs, and they just didn’t feel right. There should be wings there. These limbs aren’t hers. The human body is so weirdly shaped and hairy. Where were her feathers? She felt they were meant to be there, but they were missing. It was then that her first transformation happened, and it terrified the life out of her. It didn’t last long because she could not sustain it. Not sure what was going on, and thinking it was some kind of fever dream, she tried to pretend it never happened. Until it happened again and again, each time when she felt tremendous energy from her emotions. Eventually she was able to bring it under control, so she could decide exactly when she transformed and when she transformed back. She kept her powers hidden, and her family never knew about them; she was never close to them. Aside from learning to control it, she never really experimented with her powers, so she never achieved her full potential. She was pretty content this way for a while, until she met a man she fell hard for. She was infatuated with him, totally smitten, and he appeared to be the same with her. They had a relationship for two years, during which he subtly destroyed her self-esteem without her realising, and then used that to emotionally manipulate and abuse her. The relationship ended when she discovered he had not only been married the entire time, but had a child too. Heartbroken, she spiraled into depression. She felt totally betrayed by humanity, and felt less connected to her species than ever before. Birds never betrayed her trust like this, they were always loving and never had secret intentions. So, she decided she was going to transform into a phoenix and live in the wild amongst the birds. She lived this way for years, completely missing the events of the first and second Incredibles movies.

After the events of the second movie, the “Wannabes” created their own superhero team. Winston was eager to locate the supers who had survived the Omnidroid. Infernix was listed as one such super, since she had powers she was on the NSA database, but since no one had seen her years, she kind of got forgotten. So the “Wannabes” eventually located her, and tried to convince her to return to society. She refused. But they persisted, and reluctantly she agreed, but on the condition that she can stay a phoenix. She took an immediate interest in Screech because she felt he was a fellow bird-enthusiast, who might possibly understand how she felt. Screech of course marveled at her, because she was a giant bird, but that was strictly it. Not long after, during a super villain fight, the phoenix was ‘killed’ and Infernix was forced back into her human body. It took her a long time to adjust, even things like walking felt weird. But now as a human, she and Screech began to bond better. They would talk about birds, and no one but them understood their crazy passion. At one point, Infernix hit a very low spot, after trying to locate her family and being unable to. She confessed to Screech that she felt she had made a terrible choice in running away and had ruined her life. She felt torn between her two lives, and felt like an outcast among other people, because they never understood her and she never understood them. Screech comforted her and told her that he knew how she felt, that he too had been thought of as ‘weird’ for his owl-like habits and appearance, but that he still had a place here with his new friends, and so did she. From that moment, she and Screech began spending a lot more time together, and eventually he gathered the courage to ask her out on a date. Gradually they fell in love, with Infernix loving Screech for his honesty, passion, and pure intentions, and Screech loving Infernix for her similar passion, and her ability to always be loving and kind to people even after the resentment and bitterness she went through.

Trivia

Thinks popcorn counts as a vegetable

Has several pet birds, including 4 budgies, a cockatiel, a pigeon, and a screech owl. Would like a cockatoo

The feathers on her costume are real phoenix feathers, taken from her phoenix form. They do not give her any special powers and are only for display

Does not actually consider herself a superhero; she’d much rather spend time with her birds than fight crime, and she only does so because she thinks it’s the only reason the “Wannabes” remain her friends and she doesn’t want to lose them

Aside from Screech, the person she gets on most with is Voyd. Voyd’s naturally caring and enthusiastic nature makes her feel comfortable

She doesn’t really interact with the Parr family much and thinks Bob’s name is Bill. She also calls Elastigirl “Elasticalgirl” which mildly annoys Helen sometimes

She gets very offended when people call pigeons ‘rats with wings’

Favourites

Food: Sea food, particularly crab, lobster, scallops, and mussels Colour: Orange Animal: Budgerigar Number: 4 Holiday: Christmas Season: Winter Time of day: Night Genre of music: Cheesy love songs Genre of literature: Non-fiction Genre of shows: Documentary Genre of movies: Horror

Health

General health: Excellent, she heals from illness and injuries quickly Any physical illnesses?: No Any mental illnesses?: BDD Take drugs?: No Smoke?: No

Mental/Emotional State

Archetype: The “Everyman”or the “Lover” Act before thinking/Think before acting?: Think before acting Emotion-wise, generally: Pretty mature, but wears her heart on her sleeve

Conversation

Way of speaking: Has a North-Atlantic accent, is well-spoken except for when she is excited Common conversation starter: “Do you like birds?” Swears?: Occasionally, but only for hyperbole effect, not when angry

Education/Intelligence

Education: Has a degree in ornithology IQ: 140 EQ: 100

Secrets

Before her and Screech were a couple, she had a giant plush owl that she called Screech and cuddled at night pretending it was him

She likes cats but distrusts them, because “they eat birds”

Everything in her apartment is bird-themed; bird plates, bird mugs, bird ornaments, bird plushies, bird cushions, etc.

She cannot talk to/understand birds when not in her phoenix form, but she talks to them as if they understand her anyway

She’s into BDSM, specifically as a dom

She likes drawing and thinks she’s pretty good but she’s actually really, really bad at it

#oc #ocxcanon #inredibles2 #screech #the incredibles #self-ship #reference

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aion-rsa · 3 years

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Terminator 2 and Why the Summer of 1991 Was a Great Time for Movies

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

For more than a minute there, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s metallic exoskeleton appeared unstoppable. With a glowing red-eye that became the stuff of nightmares and then action figures (we’re serious), the T-800 entered the ‘90s like a wrecking ball. No matter what they threw at him, and no matter what obstacles got in his way, the cyborg did not pause, it did not rest, and it seemed to be everywhere.

Ironically, this also applied to more than just the Terminator’s onscreen antics. In the summer of 1991, Terminator 2: Judgment Day was an indestructible money-sucking machine that conquered the box office four weekends in a row in July, and then miraculously hung on to its boffo target long enough to also become the number one movie in America for a weekend in September.

It was an R-rated entertainment that was technically a sequel, yet also a standalone science fiction thriller that captured the imagination of adults as readily as teenagers. In other words, you could say they don’t make them quite like that anymore. And when looking back 30 years on to the era that birthed director James Cameron’s action masterpiece, I cannot help but somewhat envy the year’s wider definition of “summer movie entertainment” (or “content” in the modern parlance).

To be sure, Terminator 2 was king for a reason. Seven years after the release of the original sci-fi thriller, which made Cameron a go-to genre director, T2 hit audiences like a ton of bricks, with many to this day considering it superior to its predecessor. Here was a movie which pivoted away from Linda Hamilton’s scared survivor in The Terminator and ran toward her embodying a shotgun-wielding matriarch who became an instant feminist icon. The movie was also a sincere spectacle for an audience unaccustomed to computer imagery; Cameron blended groundbreaking CGI with in-camera stunts in a way that is still nifty three decades on.

In retrospect, T2 was both a harbinger for things to come—a sequel borne out of a brand name and nascent special effects—as well as a monument to an impulse that has gone largely extinct in Hollywood: to push the envelope in unexpected directions.

Terminator 2 might’ve been the unrivaled box office champ in summer ‘91, earning $204 million, but the same summer also saw the releases of Thelma & Louise, City Slickers, Boyz n the Hood, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, What About Bob?, Jungle Fever, Point Break, Backdraft, and The Rocketeer. Each multiplex was a rich ecosystem of competing genres, niches, and audience interests. And with the exception of The Rocketeer, every single one of those aforementioned films was a major box office hit, with nearly all of them going on to have legacies ranging from the profound to the cult.

For instance, consider Thelma & Louise, the R-rated buddy film about two women (Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon) who go on a road trip-turned-crime spree. It opened in fourth place that Memorial Day weekend, grossing less than Hudson Hawk in the same frame. The picture never topped the box office charts once, but it was able to do steady business the entire summer, nearly tripling its $16.5 million budget. On those meager week-to-week numbers, it even found a large enough audience to enter the zeitgeist and become a significant cinematic touchstone for a generation of audiences who embraced a fable where women kill an abuser and refuse to bend to society’s demands. It also made Brad Pitt an instant movie star, despite being in a third billed part.

Thelma & Louise was able to carve that legacy despite being dwarfed by the likes of T2 throughout the summer, and before Arnold there was City Slickers, which is itself one of Billy Crystal’s best comedies—this one about middle-aged New Yorkers playing cowboys. City Slickers, in turn, became an Oscar-winning crowd-pleaser despite spending most of its release in the shadow of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, which was the second biggest blockbuster of the year. And for all its faults, the Kevin Costner Robin Hood is still fondly remembered as a grand adventure by millennials of a certain age range, despite it never setting up a sequel, prequel, or expanded universe. It even had an unusually dark soul for a blockbuster romp meant for the whole family.

These are just a handful of examples of what was then considered box office material. Perhaps most striking though is John Singleton’s groundbreaking Boyz n the Hood, which became a surprise hit when it opened in second place among original releases on July 12 (behind Terminator 2). It went on to be one of the 20 highest grossing movies of the year. Today, its bittersweet subject matter about young Black men growing up in South Central would instantly consign the film to streaming or being placed in an arthouse box, which would mean it’d need to premiere at Sundance or several other high-profile film festivals in order to secure distribution and an awards campaign that could draw speciality audiences’ attention. In the ‘90s, Columbia Pictures bought Singleton’s script while he was still in school.

When looking at this three decades later, it would be too easy to fall into golden age thinking or pretend things were strictly better “back then.” Nostalgia is a dangerous delusion, especially for an era you weren’t really there for (I was technically around in ’91, but too young to see The Rocketeer, much less Terminator 2). And yet, when studying recent anniversaries from that era, I’m struck by the variety of stories being told. There’s a genuine sense of diversity, in the classical sense, with numerous audiences, age ranges, and even genres being serviced. Yes, there are the big action spectacles, but there are also adult-skewing thrillers, small budgeted Black dramas selling a significant amount of tickets, and even the long-lost romantic comedy.

Of course nowadays, the industry and (more crucially) audiences are striving to see a greater sense of inclusivity and ethnic diversity be embraced by talent in front of and behind the camera. The success of Singleton’s Boyz is remarkable, and in the same summer as one of Spike Lee’s best films, Jungle Fever, no less. Kathryn Bigelow, meanwhile, showed up her then-newly ex-husband James Cameron by helming one of the brawniest action movies ever made, Point Break. However, almost every other box office draw and mainstream Hollywood release in ’91 was directed by a white man, and starred nearly all-white faces.

In many ways, the opportunities for who gets to tell what stories have and are continuing to dramatically improve. But when it comes to what kind of stories the culture at large wants to see, the options appear to be shrinking by the day. There is a greater diversity of voices in front of and behind the cameras, particularly in the niche-focused market of streaming where films come and vanish into the aether every week. But unless your picture stars someone wearing a cape, or features the word “Fast” and/or “Jurassic” in the title, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to get audiences to show up—which in turn limits our options every summer as studios seek safer bets that open big and earn most of their mint in the first weekend.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

In a recent Indie Film Hustle podcast, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves director Kevin Reynolds talked about how the attitude of the industry has changed, then and now.

“In the ‘90s, the studios were healthy, we were still shooting on film,” Reynolds said. “People saw it as a golden time, anything was possible. There’s a lot of fear now. There’s a lot of fear because things are not as lucrative as they once were. Sadly, I think theatrical cinema is dying. You can pretend that it’s not, God bless Chris Nolan and his adherence to film as a medium, real film. But it’s going away, the digital age is here.”

And the way corporate-owned companies that are merging into ever greater oligarchal behemoths have reacted to that is to rely increasingly on preexisting material, previously established brands, and familiar content until that’s all there is.

Ignoring the two most recent summers, which have been impacted by the pandemic, the last “normal” summer at the box office was 2019. In that season, nine of the top 10 highest grossing pictures were sequels, spinoffs, remakes, or video game adaptations, including Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Hobbs And Shaw, and Detective Pikachu. Several were actually remakes of ‘90s movies—The Lion King and Aladdin—and the one original film to just barely crack the top 10 only got a Hollywood budget and eight-figure marketing campaign because of the legacy of its middle-aged director: Quentin Tarantino.

When you widen the prism for the whole year of 2019, the only other film among the year’s top 20 highest earners that isn’t a sequel, Marvel movie, or remake is Jordan Peele’s Us.

The conventional wisdom is that nothing but franchises will make money now, and whether true or not that fear makes the chance for something as diverse as the summer of 1991 ever coming to mainstream multiplexes again remote.

Considering all of that on Terminator 2’s 30th anniversary is ironic since that movie itself is a sequel, and one which Hollywood returns to time and again, hoping to draw yet more blood from the stone. However, Cameron tellingly knew when to stop. He made a sequel that stunned the industry and finished his story, then walked away, spending the rest of the decade preparing more original projects that linger in the culture decades later: True Lies and a little movie called Titanic. Between film and television, the industry has meanwhile produced five different versions of “Terminator 3,” with none of them having a residual impact after opening weekend or season 1.

But then that’s also the danger of only looking to the past: You never see the risk of diminishing returns in old things, especially while in the absence of anything new.

The post Terminator 2 and Why the Summer of 1991 Was a Great Time for Movies appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3jH3jN0

#aion-rsa #Den of Geek

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cassandra-acton · 6 years

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ORIGINS & FAMILY:

Name: Cassandra Alice Acton.

Nickname: Cassie, Cass.

Birthday: November 8th, 1986.

Age: 31.

Gender: Female.

Place of Birth: Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.

Places Lived Since: London, United Kingdom.

Current Residence: Tower Hamlets, London, United Kingdom.

Nationality: British.

Parents: Michael and Anita Acton (née Redgrave)

Grandparents: Edward Acton (grandfather, paternal, deceased) Renske van Ardenne (grandmother, paternal) Harold Redgrave (grandfather, maternal, deceased) Hélène de Broglie (grandmother, maternal, deceased)

Aunts & Uncles: Kathleen Acton-Fortescue (aunt, paternal) Charlotte, Georgina Redgrave (aunts, maternal) Lambert Redgrave (uncle, maternal)

Number of Siblings: One older sister, Elizabeth Acton.

Relationship With Family: To be honest, she doesn’t really have a relationship with anyone except Elizabeth, and her mother tainted it so much that even that one isn’t healthy. It’s a shame, really. As much as she knows she’s better off without them, she still misses her father, in particular. Cassie definitely envies people who are close to their parents.

Happiest Memory: When Harrison proposed to her, without a doubt. I’ll write about it someday. Getting her internship at Goldman is definitely second, though.

Childhood Trauma: I mean the parents definitely fucked her up for life, so there’s that.

PHYSICAL:

Height: 5'4”

Weight: 120lbs.

Build: Slim but very fit.

Hair Color: Blonde.

Usual Hair Style: Whilst working, she almost always wears her hair up in a ponytail, but she hates it. Much prefers to have it down. Keeps it just a little longer than shoulder length because of her dislike of short hair. Is too lazy to style it beyond neatness unless she’s going somewhere.

Eye Color: Blue.

Glasses? Contacts?: Neither.

Style of Dress/Typical Outfit(s): For work: neat, formal, and inexpensive. Lots of form-fitting skirts, blazers and blouses in blacks and whites. Out of work: a fuck load of jeans. Baggy jumpers and quirky shirts. Picks up a lot of her stuff from charity shops because who has time for fucking shopping.

Typical Style of Shoes: Cassie is never without heels. Prefers bright colours and eye-catching designs to contrast with her typically monochrome/ greyscale outfits during work. About the only part of her outfits she ever spends a decent amount of money on.

Jewellery? Tattoos? Piercings?: The only piece of jewellery she constantly wears is her engagement ring, which she has on a chain around her neck. She has three tattoos. ‘Hip to be Square’ in tiny font on the inside of her right wrist, Harrison’s birthday on her left shoulder blade, and a matching tattoo she got with her friend, Jessica, back in school, on her right forearm. Each got a hand from The Creation of Adam. As for piercings, she has her left ear pierced twice, her right four times, as well as her bellybutton.

Scars: A thin scar that cuts through her right eyebrow; a result of a drunken night out in university during which one of her friends fell down the stairs, and dragged Cassie with her.

Unique Mannerisms/Physical Habits: When she’s stressed, she has to play with her hair; pulling it, twisting it, whatever. It’s about the only good indicator she’s about to rip your face off because she will do that shit with a smile.

Athleticism: Very high. Cassandra naturally has a lot of energy, and so expends a lot of it keeping fit. Rowed competitively for LSE, and still competes regularly with many of the girls from her old crews, as well as having joined a new rowing club. She also plays a lot of rugby, though never competitively. Loves running and endurance, and almost always competes in the Tough Mudder when it’s nearby, as well as taking part in the London marathon annually. Also gets involved with a lot of charity races.

Health Problems/Illnesses: I think she seriously wavers into depression sometimes, though she’s far too proud to ever get it officially diagnosed. PCOS and all its friends, which is not a fun time. Does over attachment to her dog count? Definitely counts.

INTELLECT:

Level of Education: MSc in Economics and Management from LSE. Cassie finds studying relaxing, however, and often self-teaches about subjects of interest in her free time. Currently, she is working on a course in Arab Finance.

Languages Spoken: English natively, Dutch fluently. French and Mandarin intermediate. Is determined to take up learning Arabic at a later date.

Level of Self-Esteem: Very low. It’s why she aggressively overcompensates with an arrogant attitude. Partly to convince herself, but mostly to convince others.

Gifts/Talents: Surprisingly, she’s actually a pretty good violinist.

Mathematical?: Definitely. It’s sort of her thing. 100% could get a job on Countdown.

Makes Decisions Based Mostly On Emotions, or On Logic?: Usually, emotions, though she tends to berate herself afterward, because she knows—especially given the career she has now chosen to pursue—that she needs to learn to be more logical.

Life Philosophy: Someone else is happy with less than what you have.

Religious Stance: Was raised Anglican, but isn’t particularly religious.

Cautious or Daring?: Absolutely daring. Naturally, she’s a spontaneous person, and I don’t think being cautious really lends to that.

Most Sensitive About/Vulnerable To: Being told she’s not good enough. Being criticised when it comes to her work. Being compared to her sister. People bringing up what happened to Harrison. Terrorism in general.

Optimist or Pessimist?: In between, leaning slightly toward the pessimistic side.

Extrovert or Introvert?: Extrovert.

RELATIONSHIPS:

Current Relationship Status: In a relationship with Adam Hassan, Shadow Health Secretary, and MP for Bethnal Green & Bow.

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual.

Past Relationships: Before Adam, the only person she’d ever been in a real relationship with was Harrison. They on-off dated their whole young lives. They briefly broke up when he joined the army and she went to university because they were worried about ‘distance’ but wound up missing each other too much for it to be a permanent thing. Dated one guy briefly, Matt, a few years after his death, but it scared her so much it took her until Adam to try again.

Primary Reason For Being Broken Up With: None.

Primary Reasons For Breaking Up With People: Not having moved on.

Ever Cheated?: No.

Been Cheated On: Not really. Unless you count that one time, by Harrison, when they were little kids. He kissed another girl on the playground because Cassie had been off school for a week. She pouted and promised she’d never date a boy ever again after that.

Level of Sexual Experience: Cassie’s slept with five people in her life, so limited-ish. Harrison, a brief fling during her first year of university, Matt, Silas, and Adam.

Story of First Kiss: His name was Richard and she only kissed him because all of the other girls wanted to.

Story of Loss of Virginity: The first time she and Harrison tried, they’d attempted to make it a ‘romantic evening’ that wound up being so awkward, they couldn’t stop laughing. Eventually, it happened spontaneously at a school social after party.

A Social Person?: Absolutely. Even though she needs some time to herself every now and again to process all the shit that’s going on in her life, she couldn’t go any extended time without her friends. Cassie has to be in a pretty bad place to cut herself of from people.

Most Comfortable Around: Jessica, and her old work friends at Goldman—they’re the people she’s closest to, and are still like a family to her.

Oldest Friend: Jessica Mirzoyan, a friend she grew up with in Oxford that now also lives in London. She can’t remember a time in her life when Jessica wasn’t in it, they’ve known each other for so long. Basically a sister to her.

How Does She Think Others Perceive Her?: Cassie has an incredibly skewed view of what people think of her. She automatically assumes people think the worst. Look at her like she’s not good enough, just like her mother always did. I think that’s why she keeps most people at arm’s length, because she’s so scared of letting someone in only for them to wind up criticizing her.

How Do Others Actually Perceive Her?: Depends who you ask. Amongst the public she’s very popular for her honesty. Amongst her colleagues back at Goldman she’s respected as a professional cutthroat. As for her critics, they probably just see her as a stuck up bitch.

SECRETS:

Life Goals: To help as many people through her political and charitable work as possible. That’s really all she cares about. Personal goals seem fairly irrelevant to her right now.

Dreams: To be happy again would be rather nice.

Greatest Fears: Polystyrene and spiders. Why do either of those things exist?

Most Ashamed Of: How bitter losing Harrison has made her. How she still hasn’t been able to get over the anger and the hurt it left her with.

Secret Hobbies: Cassie kind of loves to knit? It’s a good stress reliever when she’s too tired to go running. Not that she’d admit to it, mind you. She’s also not very good. All she can make are the really simple scarves.

Crimes Committed (Was she caught? Charged?): None.

DETAILS/QUIRKS:

Night Owl or Early Bird?: Night owl. Begrudges being alive in the mornings.

Light or Heavy Sleeper?: Heavy sleeper.

Favorite Animal: Hedgehog.

Favorite Foods: Steak. Cheese and crackers. Orange jelly.

Least Favorite Food: Avocado.

Favorite Book: American Psycho – Bret Easton Ellis.

Least Favorite Book: The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Favorite Movie: Burn After Reading. Gladiator. Mars Attacks!

Least Favorite Movie: Shitty horrors in general.

Favorite Song: Mr. Roboto – Styx. If you play that to her, she doesn’t just sing along, she fucking performs it, okay. (Honourable mentions for The Boys Are Back In Town – Thin Lizzy, and What Is Love – Haddaway.)

Favorite Sport: Rugby. Cassie can get pretty shouty about rugby and is a very dedicated Saracens fan.

Coffee or Tea?: Tea.

Crunchy or Smooth Peanut Butter?: Neither, thank you. That stuff is nasty.

Type of Car She Drives: A dark green Mini Cooper.

Lefty or Righty?: Lefty.

Favorite Color: Pink.

Cusser?: Pretty badly, although she does well to hold her tongue in public most of the time. Has had a few slip-ups that made the headlines. Luckily the general opinion was that it made her seem more normal, and it went down pretty well with voters, if not her critics.

Smoker? Drinker? Drug User?: Never used drugs. Occasionally smokes if she’s incredibly stressed and has been drinking. Drinks fairly regularly.

Biggest Regret: Letting her parents fuck her up so badly. Cassie wishes that she hadn’t taken it so much to heart, now that she knows better.

Pets: The love of her life, Brody the Corgi.

#archive

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pious-pallikias · 7 years

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I've Always Adored You - Pallikias Fanfiction

I wrote this awhile back, but never posted it, so I guess I'm posting it now. Enjoy the pure Pallikias goodness! ~*~*~ Pallis had been like Adakias once, full of dreams and belief in fairytales. But then his mother died, and his already cold father became colder. He didn't blame Adakias, not truly, not like their father did. Sometimes, though, when his younger brother became too much to bear, something in the back of his mind whispered 'if mother were here, mother would know what to do' but he'd shake these cruel thoughts away, if mother were still there, he wouldn't have Adakias, right? It wasn't as if he were particularly close to the queen of the dark, she had given him life, given life to Adakias, and for that he'd always be thankful, but she did not raise him. Both King and Queen were far too busy with their duties, it was a variety of servants, including the cruel Sangara, who'd been given the task of raising and preening the oldest son of the King to one day become the monarch himself. Then his mother, the Queen, died in childbirth of Adakias. His father looked at the newborn like he was a spot of dirt on his shoe. This confused Pallis, and so he looked upon the child, and the feeling in his heart was one he'd never truly experienced before. Love. From that moment on, he vowed to protect his brother, and give him the love that Pallis never had. The King looked at his eldest son, it was the first time they'd seen each other in many weeks. "Pallis" he spoke quietly, but with authority, and some hidden emotion. Pallis stood up straighter and looked to his father. On his face he wore a scowl as he looked over his heir. "Yes, your majesty?" Pallis answered, nerves edging in his voice. "I have not been apart of your studies as I should have been, I will rectify this as soon as possible." He said, sealing Pallis' fate. His father kept his word, though not physically. Pallis' studies became more arduous and all his previous tutors were switched out for others, seen as a better fit for the prince. They were harsh, leaving him bruised or with bloodied knuckles. The rare times his father or Sangara would oversee his work were the worst. They wouldn't hesitate to hold back in "disciplining" him. Every night, Pallis went to bed feeling colder, feeling a little more weight of the crown on his shoulders. Fairytales and myths were far from his mind at this point in time. But there was Adakias. Adakias, who was a light in the dark. Adakias, whom he held close as he cried. Adakias, whom his father overlooked. Adakias, whom he loved more than anything. Adakias was young, no more than five years old at the time, when he begged their father to save Pallis from his pain. Pallis remembered his heart swell with fear. Pallis remembered his father looking down upon Adakias, his eyes filled with cold malice. Pallis remembered Sangara moving towards Adakias. Pallis remembered himself approaching the younger prince, and then there was nothing. He woke up in his own bed, Adakias sitting beside him clutching his hand desperately. He had a cut above his eye, new and bloody, a couple of stitches holding it together. Anger boiled in Pallis' blood, but Adakias' eyes were dripping tears as he threw himself over his brother and sobbed. Pallis barely noticed the sharp pain that struck him, he just stroked his brothers hair. "Pallis!" The young prince wailed. "You got hurt because of me, this is all my fault... It makes me so sad! They hurt you, and I hoped he would do something about it..." Pallis carded his fingers through his younger brothers hair, hushed him and soothed him. "So brave, little prince, my Adakias. I could never ask for a better brother." He whispered quietly. Adakias looked at him with red rimmed eyes. "But... Pallis..." He said, his voice cracking with sadness. Pallis gave him a smile, something he rarely did, and only for his brother. He reached his hand up and cupped Adakias' cheek in his hand. "Adakias. You have done nothing wrong. I will not hate where it is not deserved." He spoke levelly. It was that moment he remembered his favorite myth, one his maids told him and sang to him long ago, before Adakias was born. Of Holy the Sea and the Divided Terrene. "Adakias, there is a book on the shelf beside my bed, it's old and red. Bring it here." Adakias complied easily, and left his brothers bed to retrieve what Pallis had asked for. He quickly found the book and brought it over to his brother with wide and curious eyes. Pallis shuffled over, not without an immense amount of pain, and patted the newly made space beside him. Adakias crawled into his brothers bed and nestled into his side. Pallis opened the book and began reading. "This is the beginning and the end. The rise and fall..." He began, and Adakias clutched tighter to his older brother. Pallis felt his heart clench in unadulterated love, and though it wouldn't grow until later in life, a new kind of love had wormed its way into his heart and sowed its seed. His love for the fairytale once again reared its head in seeing the joy on Adakias' face whenever he pulled the book out. Pallis would enter his brothers room every night and read to him until he fell asleep, plant a kiss on his head, and return to his studies. Whenever he had free time from his studies, he'd spend time with Adakias, who'd ask him questions about the fairytale and how his own day was going. "Do you think Nidria was pretty? How do you think Ahrima made the lamps? Why would Barayas want them destroyed?" Adakias would launch into a series of questions during meals or other times they spent together. Pallis, though he sometimes found it annoying, would smile at his younger brother and answer the best he knew how. "I'm sure Nidria was beautiful. The lamps are a mystery only Ahrima knew, I suspect. And I don't know what the spider had against the lamps." He said coolly. Adakias beamed a bright smile in his brother's direction. "How are you, Pallis?" Adakias asked, quieter this time, worry finding it's way into voice. Several years had passed since the incident with their father, and Pallis' regimen only became more arduous. Adakias had voiced his apologies to Pallis, but Pallis had just given him a pat on the head and told him it wasn't his fault, told him he didn't want to hear 'I'm sorry' where it wasn't needed. So Adakias never spoke of how sorry he felt, but that didn't stop him from feeling it. Pallis smiled at his brother. "I'm fine. It's been a slow week." Adakias' shoulders slumped and he breathed a sigh of relief. Some weeks were worse than others, especially if there were dignitaries visiting from different regions of The Dark. "What about you, little brother?" Pallis asked. He had started his studies years ago, just with maids and those unfit and untrained to tutor a prince. The king, however, continued to look at his youngest son as a burden, as the reason his queen was dead. Pallis asked permission to oversee Adakias' studies, and though he came away from the conversation with several bruised ribs, his father gave an indifferent approval. "Do as you wish." He had said coldly before leaving Pallis alone. So Pallis had tutors hired. He would not endure Pallis' own teachers, no cruel discipline from Sangara and their father. And so he researched and interviewed different men and women to oversee the younger prince's schooling. They were charged with teaching the prince to be a future advisor for Pallis when he becomes king. Adakias delighted in this news. "I'll be able to help you when you're king?" He had asked with a grin. "Of course. I would accept help from no one else." Pallis told him. Adakias had beamed at him. "It's going great! I really like learning about history..." Adakias said before trailing off. Pallis raised an eyebrow and gestured for his brother to continue. Adakias fidgeted, and looked down, a light blush painting his cheeks. "Do you think that that story... Is it more than just a myth?" He asked quietly. Pallis immediately knew why his brother was embarrassed. He wondered if he had brought this up to his history teacher, if they ridiculed him. If so, Pallis would need to see about a replacement. "It's just that... Some of history matches up so well with the legend, what if it's true?... I asked Neesa, and he told me I was being foolish. He called me a dreamer." Adakias winced and rubbed his head. "He hit me over the head with his cane and told me no more fairytales..." Pallis felt anger flare up. He would definitely need to punish the teacher, and find a replacement. "He has no right." Pallis said simply, if he was being honest, it did seen far-fetched for such a myth to have been reality, but it would crush Adakias if he voiced these thoughts. Adakias was a prince of the Dark, and he was but a child, he was free to dream if he so wished. Adakias reached forward and gripped Pallis' hands in his own. Pallis looked down at his brothers hands with a soft look on his face, and looked up again at Adakias, who had a determined look upon his features. "No matter what they say about me, I will not feel down. I won't feel bad for myself. For I know I have something they don't. I have you, Pallis, and this is enough for me." Adakias said with a quiet fervor, and then suddenly threw his arms around Pallis in a tight hug. Pallis stayed stock still for a moment, heart beating a little faster in his chest, his mind swirling, before he wrapped his arms around his brother and lay his cheek upon the top of Adakias' head. Adakias had just turned 15 when Pallis realized. They were taking a trip to the market, Pallis felt suffocated inside the castle, being in the same building as the King, and he felt that visits to town was healthy for Adakias' studies as prince, to mingle and learn how the market worked. Their father gave Pallis a monthly allowance in what he could spend, and left nothing for Adakias. Pallis put away part of the money, kept a little for himself, and have the rest to Adakias. Adakias had a tendency to spend it all almost immediately, and Pallis knew it. He'd need to teach him the importance of saving. The brothers walked side by side, Adakias looking around curiously as always, and Pallis walking stiffly, hands behind his back. They had done this many times over the years, but today's visit would be different. Adakias tugged his brothers sleeve and went bounding towards a stall selling jewelry. Pallis followed quickly after him. "Ah, your highness, little highness. What can I do for you today?" The woman running the stall said, her voice thick with deceitful joy. Adakias fingered various pieces of jewelry, and his eye kept drawing to a ring, a simple black metal band, with swirling designs etched into the surface. "How much is this?" Adakias asked the woman. She gave a grin. "50 gold pieces." she answered. Adakias' face dropped, knowing she was asking for these prices as they were princes. "I'll buy it." Pallis said, and Adakias' head whipped up to look at his brother. "No, no, you can't!" He said quickly. Pallis raised an eyebrow. "I can easily afford it, Adakias." He said quietly. The younger looked up with pleading eyes. Pallis sighed, he would drop the subject. They moved away from that stall to a different one, a baker selling various breads, when there was a shriek. Both princes whirled around and were faced with the woman from the previous stall, her face marred with anger and pointing accusingly towards the princes. No, Pallis thought, not me, Adakias. Pallis looked to his younger brother, who looked equal parts confused and terrified. "You!" The stalls woman wailed, moving closer, her index finger still directed towards the younger prince. Adakias took a step back. Pallis moved to stand just in front of his brother, to shield him from the woman. "What seems to be the problem?" He asked coldly. "This does not concern you, your highness." She said quickly. Pallis shook his head. "Anything that concerns Prince Adakias, concerns me." He told her, taking another step to shield his brother. "Ha! Prince Adikias!" She shrieked. "He is a Prince in title but not in honor! He stole from me!" Pallis raised an eyebrow knowing very well his brother wouldn't even think about stealing anything, no matter how much he wanted it. "And where is your proof, woman?" Pallis bit out, his anger rising. Adakias clutched his brothers arm tightly. "Pallis..." Adakias said quietly, his voice dripping with sorrow. "I didn't steal anything. "I know." Pallis answered definitively. It was a challenge, but the woman wasn't about to back down. They'd drawn a crowd, people were circling, whispering and pointing. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a guard rushing towards the castle. "Who does the prince think he is?" "I hear he's not really the prince" "He's just a dreamer, just Prince Pallis' whore" "I hear he believes himself the 'Chosen One'" "Look at him, thinking he can steal!" The crowd grew larger and rowdier, their accusations getting louder. "Go on, little prince, where is it?" The stalls woman asked angrily. "I don't have it!" Adakias said, his voice shaking but his resolve true. He stepped out from behind Pallis, his chin lifted high, but he still clutched tightly to Pallis' arm. The crowd stopped and stared at the younger prince. It was deathly quiet for a moment, and Adakias cleared his throat. "I didn't take it, you must be mistaken." He said quietly, and looked around at the crowd. "Say about me what you will. Call me a dreamer, a romance-seeker, it doesn't matter. I am the son of the King, my brother is the heir to the throne. This is... Who I am." Pallis looked at his brother in awe, not having heard such courage in his voice for many years. The crowd looked confused, but the woman in front of them didn't look convinced. "So, your highness, would you mind if I checked your pockets?" She asked snidely. Pallis was about to decline on behalf of his brother, but Adakias spoke quicker. "Go ahead." He told her. The woman approached, and her eyes told of a trick. She reached into the prince's pocket, and anger flashed across her face. She pulled her hand out of his pocket and lifted her hand high in the air, holding a black band. The crowd gasped. Adakias looked confused and took a step back. "Theif!" "No honor!" And then someone threw something. It wasn't much, just a pebble really, but it hit Adakias square on the jaw, and left a bloody red welt. Adakias let out a strangled noise. Pallis move immediately, he pulled Adakias towards him and wrapped his arms around the younger prince's body, shielding him. People started throwing things they had on hand, various items they'd bought at the market, produce they had on hand, small rocks, anything really, and though he couldn't shield Adakias from everything, he took the brunt of it. Hands began pulling at him, ripping him away from his brother, and for a moment fear clutched his heart before a voice boomed out. "And what are we doing?" The voice of the King was unmistakable, and for a moment, Pallis didn't know what he feared more, the people or his father. The townsfolk stopped and stared at the king, surrounded by guards, the Sangara stood by his side, a manic grin painting his face. Pallis vaguely thought back to the guard who's left earlier. Pallis stood up straight and turned towards his father, and Adakias followed suit, standing beside his brother. The King looked around angrily. "What are you standing there for? Well?" He snapped. "Get back to your lives." Everyone around started shuffling away, back into the normal hustle and bustle of the market. All save for the jeweler. The king narrowed his eyes at her, and she fell to the ground, bowing. "I do apologize, my King, but this boy, he stole this ring from me, I found it in his pocket." She said carefully. He sent a glare at Adakias, who did not move. "Stand." The King said in an almost bored tone. She stood quickly. And he looked her over. "Return to your stall. You will recover recompense for the trouble in due time." The woman nodded and quickly scurried away to her stall. The king looked to his two sons, dirty, bruised, and bloody. "Come." He said and led them down the street, where a carriage was waiting. They stepped inside and sat quietly, a tension in the air just waiting to snap. Adakias could barely keep himself from fidgeting. They arrived at the castle, and the king stepped out silently, his sons following along behind him. He brought them to a conference room, currently being unused. The King stood silent, his back facing them. "I am disappointed." He started. "I expect better of you Pallis. You are to be king one day, and you must learn to control your own people." Pallis bit his lip. "Yes, your Majesty." The king swung around, his gaze, ablaze in anger, and gripped Pallis' hair in his fist. Pallis cried out in pain. "This is not a fairytale. You have duties, and if he is getting in the way, you will never see hide nor hair of him ever again." The king spat out in his son's face. He threw him aside, Pallis hit a wall and fell to the ground, his vision swimming. He just barely saw his father gripping tightly onto Adakias' already injured jaw. Pallis' heart lept into his throat, and he tried to stand to protect his brother, but he only managed to get on his feet for a second before falling again, his head smacking into the hard ground. His vision was blacking out, but he still tried to move towards Adakias. "And you, boy, you are not some lowly beggar. You are of royalty. If you cannot learn to act like it, there will be a few accidents around here. You are not required for my line to survive, boy, you are not special. If another one of these incidents occurs again, you will find yourself where even fairytales dare not go." he heard the King say. He heard a yelp from Adakias, and a door slam. After a few moments of coming in and out of consciousness, Pallis vaguely felt hands push him over, set his head up on a lap, and his vision cleared for a few moments and he saw a mass of dark hair, a tear stained and bruised face. Pallis reached up and stroked the other's cheek. "Pallis, I'm so sorry, this is my fault! Maybe it'd be better for you if I weren't around..." The younger prince said, before Pallis lost consciousness. The next time he awoke, he was in his own bed, he looked over to find Adakias sitting in a chair beside him, slumped over and sleeping. Pallis smiled, a surge of warmth flooding his heart. He reached over and stroked his hair, and Adakias shifted in his sleep, giving Pallis better view of his younger brother's bruised face. There were a few bandages and bruises, but nothing as bad as he thought there's be. He sighed in relief. Adakias stirred again, and his eyes cracked open. "Pallis?" He asked quietly, looking up at his brother. "Yes?" He answered, twirling a lock of Adakias' hair around his finger. The younger prince let out a yawn. "I didn't steal it." He told his elder brother. Pallis chuckled. "I know, Little One. I am curious though, why did you want that ring? It isn't in the style of other jewelry you prefer." He asked. Adakias bit his lip and looked away, a blush creeping up his pale ears. "I wanted to buy it for you." He said, barely more than a whisper, but Pallis had heard, and his breath had caught in the back of his throat, his heart ached. He cupped Adakias' cheek in his hand, and Adakias gave him a small smile. "You have very little to spend, and yet you'd want to spend it on me?" Pallis asked. Adakias frowned. "Well I couldn't actually afford it..." He said, trailing off. Pallis scoffed. "That's hardly the point, little Prince." Pallis said pointedly. Adakias shrugged. "Well of course. I love you." And it was that moment, Pallis realized his heart was darker than he thought. He'd always thought he was different, that he want as wicked as the others in the Dark, that, though he was quick to anger, he thought himself alright considering. But it was that moment he knew there was a sickness in his heart, a cruel illness of the mind. For it was that moment his heart realized all those looks he'd given Adakias were of longing, the electric feeling when their skin touched was more than static, that the pounding of his heart was for more than just a brother. In that moment he felt a surge of something, a need to pull the younger into a kiss, but he restrained himself. Pallis took his hand away quickly. "Thank you for thinking of me, but you must learn to save what little money you have." Pallis said, putting on a cold voice to hide his emotions. Adakias stared wide eyed. "Pallis?" He asked. Pallis shook his head. "I'm... Tired. You should return to your own room." Pallis told him. Adakias looked confused, but complied with his brother's wishes. Pallis was given a punishment from his father, but also a way to prove himself the next day. He would be leaving to meet with and assess the dignitaries around The Dark. His father estimated he'd be gone a year at the very least. He encouraged him to seek a suitable wife to bear his heirs. Pallis was secretly grateful, he reveled in time away, and though his heart ached with worry, it would be good for him to be away from Adakias, rid himself of the poison of his mind. Pallis found Adakias later, gave him the news, allowed himself the moments when Adakias threw himself into his brother's arms, allowed the swell in his heart, allowed himself to soothe his brother as he cried. Pallis left two weeks later. He visited lords and ladies, dined with them and spoke politics, endured proposals and propositions, read contracts and signed paperwork. He read letters from his brother, and wrote his own less regularly. It broke his heart to be so far from Adakias for so long, but he needed to rid himself of the hideous love in his heart. His work was done after a year, as his father had said, but he sought ways to lengthen it. True to his word, he sought out a wife, and courted with a several ladies, but it was less for his father and more to have a reason to stay away. He would bring the relationship to full courting period, and would break it off instead of proposing. He'd move onto the next city, meeting with their lords ladies. Soon 3 years had passed, a much longer period than his father had estimated, and there was no reason for him to stay away any longer. Most had heard about his ways in courting, and refused to be with him, prince or not. He was terrified, he was no closer to thinking about Adakias in a familial way once more. So, he decided there was nothing he could do, he would make his brother hate him. He sent a letter to the castle, telling his whereabouts, how close he was to home in the morning. That evening, he was in his rented room at an inn, drinking too much wine and trying to get the thoughts of Adakias out of his head, when suddenly someone burst into his room. Pallis stood quickly and pulled out a knife he had hidden on his person and looked at his assailant, a hooded figure. The person removed their hood, revealing Adakias with a bright smile. Pallis dropped his knife quickly, his heartbeat doubling at the sight. "Pallis!" Adakias said excitedly, moving forward and throwing his arms around his brother tightly. "It's been so long Pallis, how I've missed you! You didn't write often, I was so scared something happened..." Pallis stood stock still, forcing himself to not wrap his arms around the other. Adakias noticed this, and pulled away, confusion dancing in his eyes. "Why did you come?" Pallis said simply. Adakias frowned. "You're very close to the castle, and I've missed you. Father doesn't care. I've not seen you in many years." Adakias said, confusion apparent in his voice. Pallis raised an eyebrow. "You must learn patience. You are a prince, Adakias, act accordingly." Pallis said coldly, and he turned away, but not so quickly as to miss the look of fear and hurt on Adakias' face. A sharp pain wracked through Pallis' chest, a feeling of needles being thrusted into his heart, but he held his resolve. Adakias gripped the sleeve of Pallis' jacket. "Pallis?" Adakias spoke quietly. Pallis clenched his teeth. "I suppose I need to go reserve you a room, I can't very well send you home at this hour." Pallis said, still refusing to turn to face his brother. "Can't I sleep in here?" Adakias asked. Pallis sighed, wishing he could say yes. But he was evil, he truly had to be if he thought of his younger brother as anything but family. He was twisted, and he wouldn't taint Adakias, poison the pure light that he radiated. Pallis turned around, looking stiffly down at Adakias. "No. It wouldn't be appropriate, you are a grown boy now." Pallis told him, shaking roughly out of the other boys grip and walking towards the door. Adakias gaped at him. "But-" he started. "No buts, like I said, you are a grown prince." Pallis said, cutting the other off. "... Will you sing to me?" Adakias questioned quietly. Pallis stopped and whirled around to look at Adakias. His eyes were to the ground and he was fidgeting, a habit from childhood he'd yet to kick. His long dark lashes were lowered, a stark contrast against his pale skin and pink lips. Pallis knew the boy before him was beautiful, he'd known it his entire life, but he couldn't help feel guilty for thinking so now. "No. No more singing, no more stories and fairytales, Adakias. It's time to grow up. You always spoke about myths and fantasies that you are the chosen one, but you are just a dreamer." Pallis sighed, fearing his brother's reaction. Adakias' head snapped up, many emotions swirling in his eyes, and he took a step towards Pallis. "Grow up?" Adakias questioned incredulously. "Just a dreamer? Pallis! What has happened, dear brother? What has happened to make you say these things, like Sangara and the towns people? Like our father?!" Adakias had his hand closed in tight fists, and he was scrunching his face up to keep from crying. The moment Adakias compared Pallis to their father, he lost himself to his rage, to the wine in his system. "I am nothing like that man!" Pallis retorted, moving toward Adakias, and watched as fear flashed across his face. Pallis stopped. "Do you think I'll hurt you?" "I don't know anymore, it seems that time away and you've started acting as he does." Adakias said quietly. Pallis was in a way like his father, only in the fact that he was one of the lowest kinds of scum. That only came with such feelings towards ones own brother. "It needs to be this way, Adakias." Pallis told him quietly. Adakias looked upon his brother angrily. "I don't understand." "You don't need to" "I do! Go on! Make me understand!" Pallis took another step towards Adakias, his anger and confusion and desire clouding his brain. The wine wasn't helping. "You want to know so bad, Adakias?" Pallis questioned. Adakias lifted his chin defiantly, his resolve weakening with each passing moment. "What has happened? Why do you feel it is necessary to become a copy of the current King?" Adakias asked. The rational part of Pallis' mind would tell him that his brother was just trying to goad him, but the rational part of Pallis was long gone for the night, he was too tired and too full of too many emotions. Pallis took another few steps towards Adakias, who took a long step away from Pallis. "What has got you so wound up, Pallis?" Adakias asked quietly, taking steps back as Pallis moved towards him, before the back of his legs bumped into the desk placed in the room. His eyes widened as Pallis was a few inches from him, and he had no where else to move. "Pallis?" Adakias worried, his brother had yet to say a word. Pallis slammed his hands on the desk behind Adakias, who jumped in fright. Pallis leaned closer. "You really want to know?" Pallis said quietly, calmly. He heard Adakias' breath hitch, watched his eyes dilate, his teeth chewing his lower lip nervously. Thoughts of how tainted his heart was were far from Pallis' mind at that moment. The younger prince could do nothing but nod slowly, and that was all it took for Pallis to press his lips against his younger brother's. Adakias made a muffled noise, and let his arms dangle confused for a moment, before wrapping around Pallis' neck and burying his hands in his hair. Pallis moved closer, gently pressing his body against Adakias'. Pallis, though wanting to go further, pulled away slightly, parting their lips. "Your big brother must be evil to think of you like this, to love you this way." Pallis whispered. "This is why you need to hate me, Little Prince." Adakias looked into Pallis' eyes for moment without speaking. "Brother, if this is how it must be, then you must hate me also. I love you. More than a little brother should, but I can't help it, it feels like..." "Destiny." They spoke in unison. Pallis chuckled, and sighed, pulling Adakias into a hug. "I missed you. I should have come home sooner." Pallis told him, breathing in the younger princes scent. Adakias made a noise of agreement. "You should have sent more letters." Adakias scolded. "I think I'll stay from now on." Pallis told him. Adakias grinned. "Does this mean I can sleep in your bed now?" He said cheekily. Pallis rolled his eyes. "And I'll sing to you too." He told him, and Adakias' eyes widened excitedly. Pallis smiled as Adakias took him by the hand, and pulled him toward the bed. Somehow, he no longer felt like a monster. Somehow knowing Adakias felt the same way eased his mind. He felt in his very core a reassurance, something he'd not felt in several years. "Nidria please listen, I'd like to explain," Pallis sang softly as Adakias tugged his arm gently to pull him next to him. Adakias immediately shuffle closer and buried his face in the older Prince's night shirt. "I should have told you sooner, it's been gnawing at my brain." Adakias made a muffled sound of agreement. Pallis rolled his eyes and pulled the blanket over. Him and his brother, planted a kiss on his head. "My mind's in knots, it's got me lost, please help me through the maze." Pallis continued, running his fingers lazily through Adakias' inky dark hair. "'Cause you're the key, the lock turning, the breaking of these chains..." "Pallis?" Adakias said, his voice thick with sleep. Pallis smiled gently. "You are tired, Little Prince. Sleep." He ordered quietly. Adakias rolled over to look at Pallis, his eyes drooping. He gave a small shake of his head. "It's important." Adakias said firmly. Pallis raised an eyebrow, and the younger pulled a small box from his pocket and handed it to Pallis, looking at him expectantly. The box in Pallis' hand was small and unadorned, very simple, which piqued Pallis' curiosity as to the contents. He removed the lid and gasped. "Adakias?" He questioned shakily. "Father promised her recompense, in which he gave in the form of money and helping hands. I am required to help there once a week, as punishment." Adakias told him. Pallis felt his anger rise. "She sent me to work with her husband, who was much nicer than she. He makes the jewelry she sells, and he taught me." Pallis looked down again, a ring in the box. It wasn't the same ring as all those years ago, but it was similar. It was the same black metal, but had a tiny white jewel embossed into the center, tiny swirling designs engraved around it, and on the inside it said in tiny letters 'u suck scrub' "Apparently jewelry made by royalty is good for business." Adakias told him dryly. "Even though I was required to work there, I kept up on my studies, I promise... I wanted to make something for you, Pallis, for all the trouble I've ever caused you..." Pallis looked at his brother, his mind boggled by the sweet gesture, and he berated himself, he should have come home sooner. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss on Adakias' lips. "Never say such things, Little Prince, you have never caused me trouble, you have never never been a burden." Pallis said quietly. "Thank you, Adakias. Truly. Now, sleep. You need it." Adakias nodded, and Pallis took the ring out, slipping it onto his finger easily, and Adakias smiled. He assumed Adakias was tired before he'd come, he'd relaxed quickly, and Pallis could hear his steady quiet breathing. His mind told him this was wrong, this shouldn't be, but his heart sand a different tune entirely. His heart soared in acceptance, in knowledge and requital. They both felt it, it must be destiny, and whatever was to come, he would face it with a calm mind and a loving heart.

#razia's shadow #Pallikias #Pallis #Adakias

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