#And a couple of the Queens since they appeared in one of her previous sets but have Actually been designed now!

[sysig]

I somehow forgot how fun Spider Bites is to draw ♥ (Patreon)

[rhaenyslay]

A New Prince

Part One: 'A Rose Between Thorns'

> Previous Part

> Next Part

Aemond Targaryen x OC!Niece!Reader

Summary: Rhaenyra gives birth to her fourth child, a son - much to Aelora's annoyance.

Warnings: Descriptions of childbirth (non-graphic), swearing.

Word Count: 2.7 K

A/N: There's no direct Aemond/Aelora interaction in this one, but don't worry, the next one will be full of it - I'll make up for it I #promise.

༻❁༺ 117 AC, AELORA’S CHAMBERS

The morning birds chirp happily as the sun rises warmly over the Keep’s turrets and gardens, hills and courtyards, and a robin perches itself happily on the young princess’s open windowsill. She smiles at the small creature fondly, gently making her way over to the window as she arises from the edge of her bed, stepping down from the dais it sits on, giggling to herself for a moment at the tickly feeling of the cold and slightly rough stone floors of her chambers against her bare feet. She sits herself on the stool just beside the windowsill.

“Hello, little bird.” She whispers with another airy giggle, causing the robin to cock its head to the side and ‘teek’, hopping closer to her hand that has since outstretched very tentatively.

There are a few seeds that remain on the windowsill from where she had fed some of the morning birds only a few days before - she nudges them towards the robin, who eagerly takes them with another ‘teek’. The robin hops forward once more, closer still to her outstretched hand, but is interrupted when the door to her chambers all but swing open.

“Mother and Father want us in the gardens for breakfast.”

The little robin quickly disembarks with a final ‘teek’, leaving Aelora to sigh softly, “Jace, what is it about knocking you find so impossible?”

Her younger brother shrugs, “What is it about not being annoying you find so impossible?” The young boy retorts with a teasing shake of his head, resulting in an eyeroll from the princess.

She stands from the stool, straightening out her chemise, “I suppose they’ll want us dressed and ready?”

Jacaerys nods, “Yes.” He seems to hesitate a moment, a coy smile on his face as he lingers in the doorway.

Suspicious, Aelora narrows her eyes slightly, “What?”

“Can I play with Moonfyre today?” Jacaerys asks.

Aelora pouts, lifting her chin up and looking away slightly, “No, you wouldn’t let me see Vermax last sennight.”

Jacaerys frowns, “Because you were mean to me!”

“Well, you can’t see Moonfyre today.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so!”

“Children, children…” Septa Marcia says as she strolls into Aelora’s chambers, a couple of handmaidens following behind her. The Septa - assigned to Aelora at the recommendation of Queen Alicent due to her reverence within the Faith and notable students past - was a warm woman in her early-mid 50s, her face round and youthful despite her age, with sage green eyes and what was once fiery red hair now greying and partially concealed by her hood. The daughter of a Tully and a Dornish man, Septa Marcia holds a warmth to both her appearance and her demeanour that Aelora has found most comforting on many occasions of emotional distress yet also inviting enough to weave giggles and smiles among it all, “Bickering still? You have another brother on the way soon, what example are you setting, hm?”

“Or a sister.” Aelora adds as one of the handmaidens begins to unlace her chemise, the other unplating her hair.

“Or a sister.” Septa Marcia nods and adds with a playful eye roll to Jacaerys, who giggles. She gently taps the prince’s shoulder, “Run along, my prince,” she says to him softly, “your sister shall join you shortly.”

Jacaerys nods and promptly leaves.

“Septa Marcia?”

“Yes, princess?”

“What’s your favourite colour?” Asks the seven-year-old girl, stepping out of her chemise.

The Septa laughs softly, “My favourite colour?”

Aelora nods.

“Well,” she thinks, “Blue, I would say,” the Septa muses, “a nice sapphire blue. Why do you ask?”

“Mother is having some more dresses sewn for me but I can’t decide on any colours.” Aelora sighs, this predicament being the main concern of her sweet little world, “There’s too many!”

Septa Marcia laughs once more, sitting on the stool Aelora had risen from just prior to her entry, “Oh, what an annoyance indeed.”

The handmaidens slip on a new chemise and follow it with a comfortable but equally beautiful purple gown - the sleeves puffed ever so slightly and the skirts loose, both of which provide a reprieve from the warmth of the summer sun. The laces are tied as the little princess continues to speak, “I like to have lots of different colours.” She says, looking at the fabrics of her dress, at the golden embellishments, “It makes me feel like a rainbow!”

“And a very pretty rainbow at that.” One of the handmaidens, Jana, comments with a smile.

Aelora smiles at the praise and compliment while they finish dressing her, now moving onto her hair, “Can I only have a little bit braided?” She asks, looking over her shoulder at the other handmaiden, Malia, as she feels her hair being brushed, “Like Princess Helaena, I would like to match with her.” Malia nods and continues to brush the princess’s hair.

“Helaena and I are getting matching dresses.” Aelora happily tells Septa Marcia, her legs swinging back and forth from where she sits at the vanity, “Hers is going to be pink and mine is going to be blue, but they will look the same.”

“You will both look very pretty, I’m sure.” The Septa says with a smile, beginning to arrange the embroidery for when Aelora returns from breaking her fast.

“I hope so, the Queen said that we c-”

For the second time that morning, Aelora’s chambers are interrupted by a brief knock, only for it to open all the same, revealing Ser Criston Cole, “The Princess Rhaenyra has entered her labours.” He announces, slightly out of breath, clearly having rushed, “I have been asked to escort the princess to be with her brothers.”

Aelora’s head whips towards Ser Criston, “She has? The baby is coming? Little sister, little sister!” She beams excitedly, doing a little happy dance before Septa Marcia tuts and promptly places a hand on her shoulder to stop her. 

The handmaidens and Ser Criston, however, smile. “Come, little one.” Ser Criston says to the young princess, “We can get something to eat on the way - some lemon cakes, perhaps?”

She instantly lights up and nods her head, making her way over to him, “Can we get one for mother too?”

“I’m sure she would appreciate that, princess.”

༻❁༺ 117 AC, ALICENT’S CHAMBERS

Rhaenyra, weakened and burning with a tired fury, holds the newborn babe close to her chest as Laenor holds her arm, aiding her bloodied and weary steps towards the Queen’s apartments. She can still feel the oppressive heat at her core and head as she recoils at the way her silver tresses cling to the exposed and hot skin of her neck and forehead, the burn in her legs, the roughness of her dress against her skin - yet she perseveres, repressing a growl with the tensing of her jaw as she sees Alicent - stood upon her dais as a handmaiden checks her gown, chin up and poised - turn to look at her as if she wasn’t the reason for her being here.

“Rhaenyra,” Alicent begins, voice conveying a tone of shock and concern, yet her eyes convey differently, “you should be resting after your labours.”

“I have no doubt that you would prefer that, your Grace.” Rhaenyra responds, forcing a tense smile as she subtly masks the shaking in her arms as rocking the babe in her arms.

“You must sit.” Alicent graciously suggests, “Talia, fetch a cushion for the princess.”

“There’s no need.”

“Nonsense.”

Talia, a handmaiden, promptly grabs a pillow and places it down on the nearby seat. Alicent takes the opportunity to run her eyes over Rhaenyra and the babe, her brown eyes flittering over the babe as if in search of something, hands fidgeting a little nervously. The tension continues to thicken as Laenor helps Rhaenyra sit, only broken when the King enters with a wide smile.

“What happy news this morning.” He sighs and beams at his daughter happily.

“Indeed, your Grace.” Laenor replies, returning the smile.

“Where is he? Where is my grandson?”

Laenor gently takes the baby boy from Rhaenyra’s arms and hands him over to Viserys. Alicent smiles at her husband, but her eyes continue to search.

The King cradles the small babe proudly, ‘What a fine prince - sturdy, you will make a fierce knight… yes you will…”

The babe makes a few little noises, seemingly content in his Grandsire’s arms.

Alicent redirects her gaze back to Rhaenyra and Laenor, “Does the babe have a name yet?”

“Well, we haven’t sp-”

“Joffrey.”

Rhaenyra meets Laenor’s eyes with furrowed brows, looking up at him from where she sits. A pause follows. 

“He will be called Joffrey.” Laenor reasserts.

Alicent’s eyes narrow momentarily, almost fleetingly, “That’s an unusual name for a Valyrian.” She shifts her eyes to Rhaenyra.

The princess, still aching from her labours and now enduring the tension within the Queen’s chambers, manages a smile, casting her eyes down.

“I do believe he has his father’s nose.” Viserys, oblivious to the tension - as always - says, turning to look at Leanor, who promptly smiles and laughs softly, over his shoulder.

Alicent looks once more to Rhaenyra as Viserys turns away once more, a knowing look in her eyes. The princess diverts her gaze, as does Laenor. He clears his throat.

“If you don’t mind, your Grace, your daughter has exerted herself heroically and should rest.”

Viserys nods with a warm smile, “Of course.”

He hands Joffrey to Alicent - Rhaenyra watches with a tensed jaw and tightness in her chest as Alicent’s svelte hand brushes back the blanket that swaddles the babe, hearing Laenor’s muttering of “the hair…” as she does so. Alicent coos to the babe with a smile as she cradles him, rocking him in her arms and pacing the chambers. Rhaenyra’s eyes fix upon them, hardly noticing her father take her hand in his own.

“Well done, my girl.” He whispers fondly, “I do hope the labour was easy. Easier than it had been with Aelora, at least.”

She looks at him a moment before her head turns to Alicent and Joffrey once more, “I think I called the midwife a cunt…”

“Oh.”

They share a smile before embracing each other with a kiss to their cheeks - a genuine warmth spreading through her at the feeling of her father’s arms around her, momentarily easing the pain of her labours and the tensions ensnaring her.

A few paces away, Alicent has since handed Joffrey back to Laenor, “Do keep trying, Ser Laenor, sooner or later you may get one that looks like you.”

Laenor feels the burn in his chest, the tingle in his fingers as he turns to the side to suppress his anger, instead cradling Joffrey closer to him.

༻❁༺ 117 AC, RHAENYRA’S CHAMBERS

“...a big, scary dragon!”

“No! Not a dragon, I don’t want it to be a dragon.”

“Aelora, it has to be a dragon-”

“But they aren’t all scary - Moonfyre is nice.” “Moonfyre tried to eat Aegon the other day!”

“Well, then he shouldn’t have tried to touch her while she was eating!”

The siblings’ dispute is quickly silenced by the sight of their mother and father entering the room.

“Mother!” Jacaerys promptly jumps up from his seat on the stone floor, “Look!” He rushes over to the ornate, black pot among the cluttered table beside the princess, lifting the lid to reveal black dragon egg sat among hot orange embers.

“We chose an egg for the baby.” Lucerys announces proudly.

“You chose an egg for the baby.” Aelora mumbles with a pout, only just now standing from being sat on the floor, “You both went without telling me.”

Laenor gives her a sympathetic smile while Ser Harwin helps Rhaenyra sit down as she smiles at her sons, “That looks like the perfect one.” 

“Not everyday an egg leaves the dragonpit, princess, I thought it best to escort the lads.” Ser Harwin says, his deep, warm voice the perfect antidote for the tensions that were slowly leaving the princess’s body.

“Without me…” Aelora mumbles once more, making her way over to Laenor, silently hugging his waist and looking at the baby in his arms. Laenor kisses the top of her head gently and bends down a little to show her Joffrey better.

“Laenor and I thank you, Commander.” Rhaenyra sighs breathily as she smiles up at Ser Harwin.

“Another boy, I heard.” He adds, to which Rhaenyra smiles once more.

“Unfortunately.” Aelora sighs, her cheek against Laenor’s blue doublet.

Ser Harwin smirks at her, “You wished for a sister?”

Aelora nods, “I’m sick of boys… they’re stupid.”

“But you’re always with Aemond, and he’s a boy.” Jacaerys says teasingly, putting the lid back on the pot, “And you always go to the dragonpit with Aegon.”

“Aemond is a nice boy.” Aelora retorts, “He doesn’t steal my plums.”

“I did that once!”

“And Aegon teaches me cool tricks to do with Moonfyre.” She continues, “And he steals - I mean - gets us cakes.”

Rhaenyra, too tired to delve deeper into that, laughs loosely, as do Harwin and Laenor, “Well, a boy it is - little we can do about that.”

Aelora sighs dramatically before looking at the baby once more, smiling softly, “But he is very cute.”

“Indeed,” Laenor agrees with her and looks down at Joffrey, “What a fine knight you’re going to make, eh?”

Harwin’s eyes linger on Joffrey longingly, “Might I?”

Rhaenyra looks up at him and seems to relax further in her seat, “Ser Harwin wishes to be introduced to Joffrey.”

Aelora’s nose scrunches up, “Joffrey? That’s not a very Valyrian name.”

Laenor sends her a look before nodding to his wife, “Of course.” He hands the baby to Harwin - he doesn’t miss the small glare Rhaenyra directs towards Aelora momentarily, clearly triggered deeper than the surface level of the words alone.

“Joffrey, is it?” Harwin hums, taking Joffrey into his arms - Laenor nodding in confirmation.

“Father, may I please hold Joffrey?” Lucerys asks Laenor, Jacaerys’s hand on his shoulder and his own hand reaching up to the baby, Jacaerys’s following.

Aelora nuzzles closer into her father’s waist, “Can I? I really want to - and mother said I could hold him first yesterday…”

“No, no, no…” Laenor, with a small smile, removes Aelora from his waist and gently pushes the boys’ arms away from Ser Harwin and the baby. “The dragonpit for you two, before they send out a search party.” He says to Luce and Jace, guiding them to the door, “And… somewhere with you.” He says to Aelora with a playful face. 

She giggles and allows him to push her towards the door, “But, father, I don’t want to go to my embroidery lesson… Helaena isn’t joining us today and the other girls are so boring!”

“I’m sure you will find something to do, sweetling.” Laenor kisses her head before turning to close the large double doors with a parting, respectful nod to Ser Harwin.

A moment of content and comfortable silence warms the chambers as Rhaenyra relaxes for the first time that morning, watching as Ser Harwin rocks Joffrey with an awe-filled gaze.

“Asleep in front of the Commander of the City Watch… terrible lack of respect.”

Rhaenyra laughs softly, “A certain insolence runs in the family, I’m afraid.”

‘Oh, I can tell…” He laughs too, gentle so as to not wake the baby, “Particularly with that little firecracker.” 

“Aelora? Oh, yes…” Rhaenyra’s smile falters momentarily, “Yes… all the beauty to attract a suitor when she comes of age, I’m sure, but none of the patience to keep one.”

Harwin scoffs in amusement, “Indeed, although the courtiers adore her; she’s been raised well - her comeliness can’t be denied.”

“Hm.” Rhaenyra hums in response, hands on her stomach as she feels the pain ease.

“A true princess, just like her mother.”

Rhaenyra smiles at the Commander, trying to ignore the flutter in her chest at his words. ༻❁

[lovelyllamasblog]

Thronecoming at NRC Part 2!

For @sayuricorner​‘s EAH x TW AU!

A continuation of my previous Thronecoming post! This time with the new transfers and Heritage Hall! This takes place after the dance is announced and before the dance starts.

(It’s SUPER long so it’s under the cut. Enjoy!)

Heritage Hall (I forgot about it in Part 1, so I decided to include it here in Part 2)

After Heritage Hall appears in the Silent Woods by the school campus, Baba Yaga and the other former EAH teachers all petition Crowley to let them take the transfers to the Hall, as it is an important part of the Land of Ever After’s history. 

Crowley allows them to hold a field trip to the Hall so that the NRC students can learn more about Ever After. He even allows the students at RSA and other former EAH students to come and claim their heirlooms.

When they arrive at the Hall, all the students are immediately taken in by the grandeur of the building and what’s inside. The EAH transfers approach their prospective heirlooms and happily show them off to their classmates:

Maddie’s is a new tea hat

Lizzie receives a new set of playing cards, with herself as the Queen of Hearts

Bunny’s dad gifts her a new pocket watch that will always return to her no matter what

Alice gifts Alistair a set of books about Twisted Wonderland’s adventurers and explorers

Kitty gets a cat shaped locket from her mom (which surprises her, as she thought her mother would leave her a prank. Her mom left her the locket after Alice disappeared so that Kitty would never forget her if they were ever separated.)

Ginger gets an enchanted cooking/baking set from her mother

Cerise’s is a electronic picnic basket with a mirror lock

Ramona’s is a new faux fur shawl from her parents

Jillian gets a pair of hiking spikes for whenever she goes climbing

Holly and Poppy both receive enchanted hair brushes

Coral also doesn’t receive one because she was going to enter EAH when she came of age. To her, the coral crown and pearls that Azul’s mother gave her is her Thronecoming gift.

Blondie gets a new pair of running shoes

Hunter gets a new polishing/abrasive stone for his axe

Ashlynn receives glass polish for her glass slippers

Raven gets the magic wand that her mother left her

Cedar receives the Revealer Rays from her dad

Cupid’s gift is a new bow and arrow that will only recognize her fingerprints (Her dad got her this after the whole love arrow incident with Hunter)

Rosabella’s parents gift her a magic hand mirror that will always show her home, the Beast’s Castle

Briar’s is a super-soft neck supporting pillow (she’s not thrilled about it)

Faybelle’s mother gave her an enchanted silver crown of thorns (The thorns are enchanted so that they won’t harm the wearer.)

Melody’s dad gives her a recording of a lullaby that her mom used to sing to her when she was little (She’s not dead! I promise!)

Duchess receives a music box from her grandmother

Daring and Dexter both receive new swords with enchanted shields from their father

Darling receives a new set of silver jewelry from their mother (Her brothers thought she would be upset about it, but Darling wasn’t since their mom put a lot of thought into her gift.)

Prudence and Charlotte both receive enchanted hand fans that will change color to match their outfits/dresses

Apple is unsure whether or not she should accept hers, since she is now estranged from her mother. Raven encourages her to open it, but she decides not to open it and just takes the box back with her.

Nina gets a small pair of wings made from flower petals (Inspired by the Barbie: Thumbelina)

Justine receives a new pair of dance shoes that will never wear out

Promposals (These are just my ideas/couplings. Writers can write about different couples if they so choose. Same with the previous post.)

Ginger, along with the rest of the cooking club, are asked to make some food for the dance, to which they agree to do. Trey also volunteers to help with the food preparation so that they can have an extra set of hands in the kitchen.

One night at the Heartslabyul dorm, Trey and Ginger are going over what they should make and they both decide to ask the other to dance at the same time. They both blurt it out at once and Ginger ends up fumbling. After calming down, Trey takes the chance to properly ask her to the dance and she accepts.

Meanwhile, Alistair and Bunny both want to ask the other to the dance too. One day, while hanging out in the school’s main courtyard, Alistair and Bunny ask each other out at the same time and fumble for a bit before both accepting each other's promposals.

If this takes place after Way Too Wonderland, it’s up to the writer who Courtly and Chase go with.

It’s also up to the writer who Kitty goes with.

Jillian could go with Cerise and the group or with another classmate.

If this takes place after Epic Winter, then Daring could plan to ask Rosabella to Thronecoming in the only way he knows how, in a very exuberant and over the top Daring Charming manner. 

Rosabella actually beats him to the punch and asks him to the dance with a red rose that she got from the greenhouse while taking a walk through there earlier that day. Daring accepts the rose with an equally red face and wears it on his tuxedo when he goes to pick up Rosabella from the Pomefiore dorm.

Whoever Cedar goes with is up to the writer.

Prudence and Charlotte are unsure whether or not they should go, since they don’t have dresses. Ashlynn steps up and offers them two dresses that she had previously made when they were still at Ever After (see the webisode Ashlynn’s Fashion Frolic, the purple and pink dresses in the beginning).

The sisters are unsure whether or not they should accept, since it would look like they are still following their destiny and forcing her, but after some encouragement from Cupid, they accept.

Who they go with is up to the writer.

Thronecoming Outfits (made with the Fairy Tale High dress up game (I downloaded it off of the Google Play Store.)) (I obviously couldn’t get exactly what I imagined from the game, but I tried my best.)

Courtly Jester

Bunny Blanc

Ginger Breadhouse

Jillian Beanstalk

Ramona Badwolf

Coral Witch

Rosabella Beauty

Charlotte and Prudence Step

Darling Charming

(Aw, I see you made it to the end! Thanks for reading this. I was really surprised by how long it came out to be this time 😅 Spread the love for sayuri’s AU okay? Like and send the love her way too! She’s the one who inspired this madness.)

[voiceless-terror]

#21 and #46 for kiss prompts, maybe? I can't get enough your writing tbf

kiss on a dare- a little jonmartin season one fluff <3 All in all, this is one of Tim’s better Friday nights.

It’s been ages since Jon’s hung out with them, and never with Martin along for the ride. The Archives had been off to a messy start after the Dog Incident and Jon’s subsequent panic over the state of the place. What used to be an ‘every couple of weeks’ tradition turned into an almost-never one as the newly-assembled team got buried under more and more boxes of dusty statements. He’s pretty astounded that Jon agreed to dinner and drinks- although it’s a Friday night, Jon’s been apt to stay weekends more often than not. He figured if he arranged for it at one of theirs instead of a pub, Jon would be more likely to come. He always preferred less crowded settings.

No, the real feat was getting him to come knowing Martin was invited.

Jon’s been getting...better around him, that’s true. He was perfectly fine at his birthday party, going off about emulsifiers for a solid fifteen minutes. Tim’s always been rather fond of Jon’s infodumping, and if he’s comfortable enough to do it around Martin that must be a good sign. Despite an initial freeze-out, he now thanks Martin for his tea and saves his most pointed comments for Martin’s more egregious screw-ups (and even those have less bite than usual). Still, a colleague does not a friend make, and Jon’s never been good at opening up to people he doesn’t know all that well. However, Jon just nodded at the Martin caveat, seemingly not giving it a second thought. And Martin didn’t seem all that worried either.

Whatever, Tim’s not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. He’s just happy they’re all here, having a good time. It’s late and Jon’s had enough wine to keep a smile on his face. He missed that. It’s nice how easily they slot together, even with all of the upheaval and a new addition. Martin himself isn’t so shy after a drink or two, more willing to engage in banter and keep the conversation going. This is what it should be like all the time, Tim thinks. Shitty archive job or not. 

It’s when they retire to the living room, drinks in hand, that he finally notices the little grin on Sasha’s face. And Tim, knowing exactly what that means, is both a little afraid and excited. Four-drink-Sasha has always been a host unto herself.

“Why don’t,” she begins, a hiccup interrupting her as she slumps into an armchair. Tim snickers and ignores the glare this earns him. “Why don’t we play one of our old games-”

Tim raises a glass in agreement as Jon, predictably, groans. Martin looks quizzically between them. Ah yes, time for your initiation, Marto! Not that they’ve played this in about a year or so, of course, but it's always fun to revisit the good old days.

“Seriously? We’re not children-”

Tim gives Jon a playful slap on the back that sends him flying forward on the couch, spilling a bit of wine on Sasha’s rug. He hopes she doesn’t notice. “C’mon, it’ll be fun, boss! Nothing like it to break the ice, and there’s definitely some ice that needs breaking.”

Martin blinks, hand tightening on his glass. He looks nervous, like he always does when he doesn’t know exactly what’s going on. Which is a shame, because he’s been so nice and open all night. Even chatting with Jon. “Sorry, what are you talking about?”

Jon rolls his eyes, giving Martin a commiserating look. “Truth or dare.”

Martin lets out a disbelieving laugh, relaxing minutely. “Wait, really?”

“Yes, really.” Jon’s foot reaches out to shove at Tim’s leg. “Tim loves pulling ridiculous stunts-”

“-Hey, you loved the karaoke idea-”

“You sing?”

“No.” Tim would dispute that, but the look on Jon’s face declares it a bad idea. “And Sasha likes to ask probing questions.”

Sasha preens, though the remark was certainly not meant as a compliment. “What can I say, I’m the Queen of Truth-”

Tim snorts. “Hacking and blackmail more like-”

“Anyway-” Sasha sings out as Tim dodges a pillow to the face. “Tim….truth or-”

“Dare, always dare.”

“You’re absolutely no fun,” Sasha pouts, though it doesn’t take long for her eyes to narrow in thought. There’s very little Tim won’t do, but that’s a dangerous look. “I dare you...to text…”

“Text? You can do better than that, Sash.”

“Text...Elias.” That’s more like it. 

Jon immediately scowls. “Tim, no-”

“I don’t have his number-”

“I do-”

“Sasha!”

“Jon, it’ll be fine! He’ll just say ‘oops, wrong number’ afterwards, no harm, no foul-”

Tim takes this time to snatch at Sasha’s phone, sitting precariously on the arm of her chair. She doesn’t notice, too busy gesturing at Jon empathically. He scrolls through her contact list.

“And then it’ll come down on me-”

Sasha rolled her eyes. “How is he going to connect it to you? It’s not like he knows we’re all together-”

“Done!” Tim tosses the phone back onto the couch with a little grin. Sasha blinks, looking down in confusion.

“Wait, that’s mine-”

The screech and smack on the arm at Tim’s hastily fired off ‘u up? ;)’ to Elias Bouchard were definitely deserved. He’s sure he’ll face consequences for that in the near future, but Jon and Martin’s immediate laughter had been well worth it. Shouldn’t dish it if you can’t take it, that’s Tim’s motto.

In the next round, Tim manages to get Martin to confess to his poetry-writing habit, an admission that has him turning an attractive shade of red. Jon just giggles quietly to himself as Martin reads through one of his poorer attempts at rhyme saved to the notes of his mobile. Tim watches the two of them; Martin keeps looking up at Jon throughout it all like he’s the only one in the room and god, his crush is so evident and yet Jon is oblivious, smiling at him like he’s not on the receiving end of some of the most loaded glances of all time. 

Martin gets Sasha to admit to her most recent perusal through confidential institute records, which turned out to be previous archival expenses (solely to find out what Elias would cover with their new jobs, of course). At first glance, there wasn’t much in the way of extravagant meals or supplies, but a bit more digging had her finding Gertrude’s extensive travel budget. For an old woman, she certainly was a globe-trotter.

“All I’m saying, Jon, is that we could definitely do with a trip to China-”

“Yes, I’ll be sure to ask Elias about Gertrude’s trip to China, something I certainly shouldn’t know about, and he’ll have to let us go.”

“Refill?” Martin’s on his feet, taking Jon’s wine glass in his hand and Tim watches as their fingers brush- go Martin!- and yet Jon just nods his thanks, completely oblivious to the seduction taking place before him. Tim’s given it some thought and honestly, he thinks they’d make a cute couple. An odd pair, for sure, but Jon’s so soft once you get to know him, and Martin’s one of the funniest, sweetest guys he knows. They could be good for each other.

“Well, I still think it’s worth a try.” Sasha’s eyes are starting to blink heavily - she’ll be out for the count tonight, for sure. “Anyway, it’s your turn. I dare you-”

“I didn’t even pick!” Jon says, though he doesn’t seem too put out by it. This is the Jon Martin should know, the easy-humored, smiling man sprawled out before him. He’s even taken his little sweater vest and tie off, looking more like the familiar friend from research Tim knows so well. It warms his heart.

“Fine. Truth or dare?”

“Dare, I suppose. Seeing as how you already have one queued up.”

“I dare you to...to...to give a little kiss to someone in this room.” She waves her glass around imperiously. “Anyone you like.”

Silence. Tim gives Sasha a warning look that she ignores. She’s well in her cups, and he supposes any sense of propriety has gone out the window along with her sobriety. He’s actually seen Jon give quite a few kisses on a particularly memorable New Years Eve, but that was a different time. He doesn’t want him to feel pressured, not when he’s just starting to open back up.

 “Jon doesn’t have to if he doesn’t want to-”

Sasha rolled her eyes. “Oh come on, you remember-”

“It doesn’t matter- Jon, you can skip this one if you like, we can think of something else-”

“Tim, it’s alright.” Jon puts a hand on his arm to stop the argument, and there’s a strange look in his eyes that can’t be attributed to liquor. It’s mock-serious, almost playful paired with his little sly smile. He thinks for a moment that Jon’s going to lean in and kiss him but instead he gets up from the sofa in a smooth motion and walks across the room to Martin, who’s just turned around with two glasses in hand. He freezes in place as Jon gets on his very tippy toes, takes his face in both hands, and kisses him. 

Jonathan Sims. Kissing Martin Blackwood. Against a kitchen counter. Martin Blackwood, who, once he’s over his surprise, puts the drinks down behind him and kisses right the hell back, arms winding around Jon’s waist like they belong there.

What. The. Fuck.

_____

“The leg bit was a nice touch.”

“Hmm?” Jon’s in Martin’s lap, sprawled out on his couch back at his own flat, eyes closed in contentment as he leans back against the other man’s chest. Martin’s got one hand in his hair, and the other entwined with Jon’s, twirling the black ring on his finger. It’s heavenly.

“Thought you were trying to climb me.”

“Well, you usually pick me up at that point, make it easier.”

“Sorry, next time.” Kissing Jon’s always fun but kissing him out in the open, in front of their friends? Was that something they could do now? “Should we tell them we’ve been dating for two months?” 

Two whole months since that night in Document Storage when Jon had finally let his guard down. When Martin had held him in his arms. Jon was very particular about keeping up appearances, though that all seemed to have crumbled tonight. Sasha rather fashioned herself a matchmaker, and Jon didn’t do anything to dissuade the fact. It’d been nice, having their relationship to themselves, the secret of it, the obliviousness of their friends who still thought Jon only tolerated him. It’s not that he wanted to keep it that way, of course, but it was nice while they were still figuring it out. 

“If you’d like. Maybe it’s time.” Jon tilts his head back, giving Martin a fond look. “Though I know how much you enjoy playing the lovesick fool-”

“There’s something so poetic about unrequited love, yknow?”

“All the more when it’s requited, I’d say.” Martin couldn’t argue with that. He leans down to give Jon’s forehead a peck. 

“Hmm. Give it a few more weeks. Act out the honeymoon phase for a bit, it’ll be fun.”

And when Jon squeezes his hand and smiles back, Martin thinks he won’t need to do much acting at all.

ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/31318724

[psychee92]

Why ACOTAR 5 Is (Without a Doubt) Elain’s Book

Warning: This post will be a long one, and will analyze the series as a whole (including ACOSF). As you read it, please consider taking your shipping goggles off, as none of this has anything to do with shipping and everything to do with character development/plot/the overall narrative of the series/good storytelling. Thank you!

Main points: 

Elain’s role in the ACOTAR series

Elain’s character evolution throughout the series

The foreshadowing in ACOSF (+ bonus POVs)

The overarching plot 

SJM’s own words

The ACOTAR Series and Elain’s Role

We have multiple interviews of SJM saying that Nesta and Elain’s role started off as a fairytale trope: that of the evil sisters. Then, Nesta surprised her when she decided to go after Feyre in ACOTAR, and the rest is history.

The sisters went from being a trope to being an instrumental part of the series. In ACOMAF, they were a link to Feyre’s human life (a final thread that she needed to let go of), as well as a means to an end (first, by being a bridge between the IC and the Queens, and then, as leverage, or weapons that were used against Feyre in Hybern). The final scene in ACOMAF was the catalyst for everything that happened in ACOWAR—and everything that is yet to come—but, most importantly, it also opened the door to two new character arcs/journeys—two new protagonists.

The protagonist exists as a sympathetic device to drive a story. To be effective in this role, they are usually there from the inciting moment to the end.

The similarities between their journey and Feyre’s are astounding: human made into something that she was raised to fear; coming to terms with trauma; letting go of the past; accepting her new condition; and the list goes on and on.

Now, who had more to lose by becoming fae?

And who lost more than anyone else?

Elain lost a future.

She was happy, content, in love.

Then, everything was ripped away from her in the span of a few minutes.

She was turned into something she had been raised to fear, something that her own fiancée had been raised to hate.

And, if that wasn’t enough, she was also forced into a bond neither her, nor Lucien, wanted. Mated to a man who participated, even if unknowingly, in the loss of her life—of her future. A man who did not know her, want her, love her.

This, right here, is good storytelling. It sets the stage for what is to come—for Elain’s future story and character arc.

ACOWAR is centered around repercussions:

For Elain, this book is one of healing, at least on the surface. SJM built the foundation of Elain’s journey, evidenced by:

Elain hitting rock bottom

Erasing any hope of a future with Graysen

Severing the last thread to her human life (with the death of her father)

This book also emphasizes Elain’s vital role in future books by:

Making her powerful (a seer)

Making her instrumental in the war against Hybern (due to her visions)

Having her save both, Nesta and Cassian (the protagonists of ACOSF)

Creating a connection between her and Vassa (and, ultimately, between Lucien, Vassa, and Jurian)

Having her introduce the next big bad (Koschei)

Hinting at her being the only one who can locate the one thing that can kill Koschei (the onyx box)

So, when you add everything that we know from ACOMAF and ACOWAR, what do we have? Potential.

We also have a character whose journey has been building since ACOTAR. The most significant hint is the constant use of the “dirty hands” imagery in reference to Elain. But more on that later.

Once the ACOTAR series wrapped up, we learned that, while Feyre and Rhysand’s journey was over, Sarah had more stories to tell—specifically, Nesta, Elain, and the ICs. As such, ACOFAS had two purposes:

To wrap up Feyre and Rhys’s story.

To introduce the future plot/main conflict and, with it, the next couple.

ACOFAS, however, also served to set up the stage for future protagonists, as well:

We saw some progress in Elain (her keeping busy with gardening and baking, her still having bad days, her friendship with Nuala and Cerridwen, and her slowly finding her place within the IC)—all of this was brought up again in ACOSF.

We got hints about Azriel and Elain’s growing feelings for each other (a storyline that was present throughout ACOSF, and confirmed in Azriel’s Bonus POV).

We learned about Azriel’s estate—Rosehall.

We got Mor’s POV, and learned some new things about her which will probably factor into her future book.

Again, SJM spent time focusing on Elain, fleshing out her character (while still giving Nesta and her journey center stage), which only solidifies the fact that she will be getting her own story soon.

It’s interesting to note that Azriel was not given a POV like Mor, and had very little character development (in comparison to Elain).

Now, let’s look at ACOSF. We have:

New conflicts—with the Queens and Beron

A new villain—Koschei

An overarching plot that connects the conflicts with the villain—the alliance between Koschei, the Queens, and Beron

A secondary, but related, plot—Vassa and, with her, the Band of Exiles (Lucien and Jurian)

Potential weapons—the Made objects

A potential solution—the onyx box

What do all of these have in common?

Elain.

She is directly tied to both, the Queens and Beron (and the Autumn Court). She’s had ties to Koschei since ACOWAR (she was the first to tell the IC about him, after getting visions about him). Her visions, in turn, led to the introduction of Vassa, which created a link between them both (and Lucien, because of their mating bond). She is the only one, apart from Nesta, who can find the Made objects (and a 4th one was introduced in ACOSF). She is also the only one, apart from Nesta, who can Make an object. Finally, she is the only one who can locate the onyx box (an image she’s been seeing since ACOWAR).

As a seer, Elain is arguably the most valuable character in the NC. She has been having visions about both, Koschei and Vassa, since ACOWAR.

Most importantly, however—her journey has been hinted at since ACOMAF:

Her role in future books having already been established, what about Elain as a character, as a protagonist? 

Let’s begin by looking at what a character arc is:

While main characters might face big challenges, character arcs have to do with internal, personal change. Characters will find their strengths and weaknesses tested over the course of the story—so that by the time they arrive at the story's end, they are a changed person.

When the protagonist overcomes external obstacles and internal flaws in order to become a better person, it becomes a hero’s journey.

At its core, this arc is made up of three points:

The Goal: Every character needs to have a goal. It might be to fall in love. Or it might be to make as much money as possible. Either way, their journey will be hindered by...

The Lie: A deeply-rooted misconception they have about themselves or the world that keeps them from reaching their true potential. In order to reach their goal, they’ll need to acknowledge and overcome the Lie, by facing…

The Truth: While the character may have their own plans, the positive change arc has its own goal: self-improvement. This is achieved when they learn to reject The Lie and embrace The Truth.

Now, let’s look at what we know about Elain:

The Goal: To defeat Koschei/the Queens/Beron.

The Lie: That she doesn’t have what it takes. That she is not as strong as her sisters. That she is the weak link, too gentle and sweet to get her “hands dirty.”

The Truth: That she is just as powerful AND capable as her sisters, and that she can do anything she puts her mind to (find the 4th object, discover the location of the onyx box, fight against Koschei/the Queens/Beron).

We already see SJM start to break down the Lie in Feysand’s Bonus Chapter:

This is followed by Feyre saying:

So not only is Elain not afraid to get her hands dirty, she’s also not afraid of getting hurt in the process.

ACOSF is filled with moments that hint at Elain becoming just as powerful (if not more so) than her sisters. She has a very important role to play in future books, because she is the only one who can locate Koschei’s box and the 4th object. Her visions have been instrumental in the series so far, and there is a big hint that she might have more than just seer abilities:

Powers. Plural.

It makes sense for Elain’s book to be next. SJM has been scattering crumbs for her story since ACOTAR, and she is the character who would add the most to the plot—the only character who can move the plot forward.

You cannot ignore all the foreshadowing:

= a literary device that writers utilize as a means to indicate or hint to readers something that is to follow or appear later in a story.

Clear foreshadowing in ACOSF (it would take too long to list all the passages in previous books, as well): 

These are just a few examples but, for me, the one that gives it away is this passage (that can easily be overlooked) in Feysand’s Bonus POV:

SJM is basically telling us that, once Nesta’s journey ends, Elain’s will begin.

And it makes sense!

This series is about the Archeron sisters. About human women turned fae.

The first three books were about Feyre. The fourth about Nesta. It would not make sense to skip Elain, only to return to her story in the final book. Why?

Because, in order to defeat Koschei, all three sisters need to have reached their full potential. All three need to be healed, and strong, and fully in control of their lives and powers. You cannot cram everything into one book: Elain’s healing journey/character arc, Vassa’s own journey (because there is no way that SJM will NOT write a Swan Lake retelling—just look at her Pinterest board!), finding the 4th object, finding the box, and, ultimatly, defeating Koschei.

Feyre had a whole book to heal—ACOMAF

Nesta had a whole book to heal—ACOSF

Elain will have a whole book to heal, as well.

No other character adds as much value—or has as much untapped potential—than Elain.

Also, there is no way that SJM will postpone telling her story in favor of a male character (Azriel). If you’ve read any of her books, you know that it is always the female characters that eclipse the male characters.

Also, if Elain will become dark or even a villain (temporarily), then this will take place in her own story, and will not be used as a plot device for angsty!Azriel or for another couple to make sense/be pushed together.

If we look at the pattern in ACOTAR, we have:

The first book ends with a happily ever after. The MC has defeated the big bad and has walked off into the sunset with her LI. There are hints about a future conflict, but nothing is fleshed out (in ACOTAR, Feyre’s bargain with Rhys + a potential conflict between the courts and with Hybern).

The second book is all about development (both, character development, in the form of the MC’s healing journey, and plot development). The scene is being set for the final conclusion (the war/battle), and everything that takes place serves to bring the characters closer to the main conflict resolution. The book ends on a false happily ever after (Feysand’s mating bond, having what they need to annul the Cauldron’s powers), followed by a cliffhanger (the sisters turning fae, Feyre returning to the Spring Court).

The last book is centered around defeating the big bad and ends on a happily ever after for (almost) everyone involved. It brings the main players together in a final showdown that ends with good ultimately defeating evil.

If we are to look at this pattern, then:

ACOSF - Ends with a happily ever after (Nesta has healed, reconnected with her sisters, found her place in the IC, and has a family outside the IC—Gwyn, Emerie). She has defeated Briallyn, but the biggest threat—Koschei—has barely made an appearance, and there is no ending in sight.

ACOTAR 5 - Elain’s healing journey. Finding the 4th object. Knowing exactly what has been happening behind the scenes with Beron, the Queens, and Koschei. Finding the 4th object and uncovering the location of Koschei’s onyx box. Cliffhanger: Koschei has been freed/has found a way to free himself.

ACOTAR 6 - The journey to find the onyx box or a way to destroy whatever is inside. The repercussions of Koschei’s freedom. Vassa’s story coming full circle. Now that all three Archeron sisters have reached their full potential, they will most likely join forces/powers to hold off Koschei long enough for Vassa (because she NEEDS to have the killing blow) to finish him off.

This post is already long enough, but here are some honorable mentions that I haven’t spoken about because I wanted this to be a mostly character-driven argument:

The mating bond—Elain needs to either accept it or reject it, and I cannot see this happening in the last book because it would lose its effect (considering that they need to defeat Koschei in this book)

Elriel—The unresolved feelings between them need to be addressed/dealt with.

The Blood Duel—There is no way this isn’t happening. SJM wouldn’t mention it without it playing some sort of role in Elain’s book.

I might make another post (because I still haven’t addressed everything I wanted to), but Elain’s book is (without a doubt) next.

As a reminder: SJM has recently said that writing about characters that are hated/disliked is something that she loves doing. I think it’s safe to assume that, given the recent wave of hatred/dislike towards Elain, we are in for an epic journey.

[triptuckers]

Two Homes (part 7/7) - Nikolai Lantsov

Request: no Pairing:  Nikolai Lantsov x reader Summary: after realising you can have two homes, you rush back to ravka Warnings: none Word count:  3.5K A/N: aaa the last part!! if you’ve read all of the parts I just want to say thank you so much for reading my work, it really means a lot to me! enjoy reading :) PREVIOUS PART  TAG LIST (two homes and/or all grishaverse fics): @godsofwriting@im-constantly-fangirling @ayushmitadutta @mrs-brekker15@dancingwith-sunflowers @thegirlwiththeimpala @parker-natasha @story-scribbler @romanoffstarkovs @daliareads @meiitanoia @itsnotquimey @sanktaesperanza @whymyparentscheckmyphone @aleksanderwh0r3 @ilovemarvelanne1 @marlenaisnthappy (if your name is in bold it means I couldn't tag you) add yourself to my tag lists here 

The trip back to Ravka seems to take longer than the trip to Ketterdam. You kept taking out the tiny watch you kept in your pocket, only to find out no more than a few minutes had gone by. Saints, couldn’t this boat go any faster?

While it is in the middle of the night, you can’t sleep. There’s too much energy in your body. 

On the ship, only a handful of crew members are awake, needed to make sure you were still heading toward Ravka. The rest of the people on the ship are below decks, probably fast asleep.

You’re pacing the ship, your mind running at an alarmingly speed. You think about the crows, and Ketterdam. And Nikolai and the palace. Would he be angry you left in such a hurry? Would he not accept your apology? Or worse; would he send you away? 

Technically, he could. He’s the king after all. You didn’t think he would do it, but if he wanted to, he could make sure you never set foot in the palace again. What if you traveled back to Os Alta, only to be banned from the city?

You’re so lost in thought, pacing around, you don’t see one of the crew members looking at you. Only when he speaks up, you stop pacing to look at him.

‘Hey! You!’

He’s sweating as he’s pulling on the ropes, to keep the sail in place and making sure you sail toward Os Kervo and don’t end up somewhere in Fjerda.

‘If all you’re gonna do is walk around, you might as well help. Get over here.’ he says.

Without even thinking about it, you walk over to where he’s standing. After all, he was right. You might as well help. And it might take your mind off of everything that’s going on. 

You roll up your sleeves, but keep your hood down to hide your face.

‘Grab this rope.’ he says, extending one of two ropes he’s holding to you. You firmly grip it with two hands. ‘And make sure to pull hard. Can you do that?’ he says. You nod and pull harder. 

Immediately, you feel the pull of the wind, and you plant your feet firmly on the wooden deck. For the rest of the night, you make sure the rope doesn't slip out of your hands. 

You get to talking with the other crew member who asked for your help and when you see the first rays of light and the city of Os Kervo in the distance, you realise you haven’t thought of Ketterdam or Os Alta for hours. 

The crew member tells you you can let go of the rope and once you do, you feel your muscles relax. You hand him back the rope and walk over to the edge of the ship, to look at the city slowly creeping closer.

Despite the early hour, it’s already busy on the docks. Fishermen are walking around, loading and unloading their ships. People are waiting for your ship to arrive, probably welcoming home loved ones. 

‘You ever been to Os Kervo?’

You look to your side and see the crew member. He looks young, about your age. 

‘Once.’ you truthfully say. ‘But only passing through.’

‘And today?’ he says.

‘Also passing through.’ you say.

‘Traveling to?’ he asks.

‘North.’ you say. You didn’t need him to know exactly where you’re going. 

‘Ah.’ he says. ‘What’s your name?’

‘Nina.’ you say, blurting out the first name that comes to mind.

He holds out his hand to you. ‘Nice to meet you, Nina. I hope we see each other again.’ he says.

You shake his hand. ‘Likewise.’ you say, but in your head you hope you never see him again. If he would recognise you, and the story would get out that the queen of Ravka illegally passed the True Sea, it would not be very pretty.

Thankfully, you’ve arrived at the docks and can get off the ship, quickly leaving the crew member behind. 

You walk around the city, trying to find some kind of transport so you could get to Os Alta. Normally you’d hitch a ride on a carriage, but it seems too risky. So instead, you head for the small cottages and farms on the edge of the city.

At the oldest, shabbiest looking farmhouse, you stop. You walk around the property, and spot a horse. 

You walk back to the front door and knock. It takes a while for someone to open. An old lady opens the door to you. 

You smile at her. ‘Good morning, ma’am, sorry to wake you at this hour, but I was wondering if your horse is for sale?’ you ask her. 

‘He’s not.’ she says.

‘That’s a shame.’ you say. ‘Your house looks very old. Couple of broken windows, wood rot. You could fix that with a generous amount of money, get someone from the city to help you out.’

‘I don’t have that kind of money.’ says the old lady, already moving to shut the door, but you plant your foot in front of it.

‘I can pay handsomely for the horse.’ you say. ‘I don’t think you ride anymore, do you?’

‘No, I don’t.’ she says.

You pull out a bag and shake it, making the coins inside clash against each other. 

‘You get this, I get the horse.’ you say. ‘It’s enough to fix your house.’

She eyes you suspiciously. ‘Why would you give me this much money?’ she says.

‘Because I’m in a hurry. And I need a horse.’ you say. 

‘Alright, then.’ she says. ‘Give me that money and you can fetch the horse.’

You hand the bag to her and thank her, heading around the farmhouse to the horse. He looks like a strong, healthy horse. You would be able to ride fast, cover a lot of distance. You thank the lady again, and mount the horse.

Without another look at Os Kervo, you start your journey to the palace. You ride for hours without stopping, constantly ushering your horse to go faster. Luckily, he’s a young one, and he can indeed go very fast. 

But eventually, you have to stop. Not only to give the horse some rest, but also because your stomach had been growling loudly for the past hour. And now that the sun is up, it’s getting hotter and hotter. You can feel it burning in your neck. 

You roll up your sleeves and take off your hood. When you’re riding in the fields, you could allow yourself to be a little less afraid someone might recognise you. And after all, you’re in Ravka now, not Ketterdam. You could only hope word of your absence hadn’t spread too fast throughout the country. 

You leave your horse just outside a small village. After finding a bakery, you buy some bread and water with the money you have left. The village is old and charming. Once you finish your bread, you walk back to your horse. You drink half of your water and give the other half to the horse. You then mount the horse again and take off. 

The sun is still hot in your neck but you don’t slow down. You needed to get to Os Alta as fast as you could. Sweat drips from your forehead to your neck. You still had a long way to go.

Hours later, you finally see the city of Os Alta appearing in the distance. It had since gotten colder, and it’s late in the evening. At the outskirts of the city, you leave your horse and find a place to wash up.

After washing off most of the sweat, you run your fingers through your hair and roll your sleeves down. You pull your hood further down and resume your way on foot. 

Most of Os Alta’s inhabitants had retired to pubs or their homes. A few people still walked the streets, on their way home or loudly singing songs, smelling strongly of alcohol. 

You feel relieved when you see the palace’s gates in the distance. As you approach the guard who is stationed in front of the closed gates, you lower your hood.

The cool air feels more than good after you’d kept your hood on for the biggest part of your journey. You smile as you walk up to the guard.

‘Hi.’ you say. 

He doesn’t say anything, he doesn’t even acknowledge you. This makes you frown.

‘Are you going to let me in?’ you say.

Now, he does look at you. It feels a bit weird to have him look you up and down and scan your face. 

‘No, ma’am.’ he eventually says.

‘No?’ you say. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean no, I am not going to let you in.’ he says.

‘Do you know who I am?’ you say, thinking he was new on the job and you hadn’t been introduced to him yet.

‘No, ma’am.’ he says.

‘I’m Y/N.’ you say. ‘Y/N Lantsov, I live at the palace.’

He raises a single eyebrow at your words. ‘And I’m the king.’ he says.

‘You don’t believe me?’ you say. ‘Go and get Nikolai or someone else to confirm it’s me.’

‘King Nikolai isn’t present at the palace at the moment.’ says the guard. ‘And how do I know you’ve not been tailored to look like the queen?’

Your mouth falls open in surprise. You knew Nikolai made sure the guard are well trained, but this seemed like he’d done too good a job at it. 

‘Saints, this is going tot take forever.’ you mumble to yourself.

‘Problem?’ says a familiar voice suddenly behind you.

You turn around and see Nikolai on his horse, accompanied by Zoya, Tamar and Tolya.

‘Nikolai.’ you say gratefully as you walk up to him. 

He smiles at you and holds out his hand for you to take, but Zoya speaks up.

‘Wait.’ she says. ‘How do we know you’re really Y/N? She left in a hurry. You could be anyone pretending to be her.’

You look at her. Zoya did have a point. You turn back to Nikolai, who is still smiling at you.

‘When was our first kiss?’ asks Nikolai.

You feel yourself blushing. Of course he would have to ask a personal question to confirm it really is you. But this felt a little too personal for your taste. 

‘Right before our wedding.’ you say softly. ‘Because I was nervous.’ 

When you look up at Nikolai he’s still smiling down at you. ‘It’s her.’ he confirms. You finally take his hand and mount his horse, sitting behind him and wrapping your arms around his waist.

The guard finally opens the gates, and you enter the palace grounds. Nikolai is silent as he heads to the stables. He doesn’t even say anything as the two of you get off his horse. 

Even during the entire walk to your shared rooms, Nikolai is quiet. You want to ask him if he’s okay, if he’s okay with you being here, but a part of you tells you he needs this walk to clear his mind. 

Once you get to your rooms and you shut the door behind you, you barely have time to turn around before Nikolai pulls you in his arms. 

You’re a bit taken back by his actions, but are quick to embrace him. You feel how Nikolai drops his head to your shoulder and shuffles even closer to you. You smile as you hold on to Nikolai.

The two of you stand like that for a while. Just holding each other, glad to be reunited. 

When Nikolai pulls back he smiles at you, and finally speaks up. ‘You came back.’ he says.

‘I did.’ you say. ‘Kaz talked some sense into me.’ 

Nikolai blinks in surprise. ‘Kaz Brekker was the one to talk sense into you?’ he says.

‘Yes. He made me realise I can have to homes.’ you say. ‘And we need to talk about that.’

‘Okay.’ says Nikolai, taking your hand and walking you back to the bed to sit down. ‘What exactly do we need to talk about? Because I can think of a few things, but I want to hear you out first.’ 

‘I thought I’d be happy once I got back to Ketterdam.’ you say. ‘And I was, for a while. It felt so good to see all of them again. And, uh, help them out every now and then.’

If Nikolai knew what you had really been doing during your life in Ketterdam, he didn’t show it. He didn’t say anything, waiting for you to continue.

‘It really felt good to be home in Ketterdam. But the more time passed, the less happy I got. I missed the palace, the life I built here, but most of all I missed you, Nikolai. Kaz was the one to tell me I can have two homes.’ you say.

Nikolai smiles at you after you finish talking. He brings your intertwined hands up and kisses your knuckles.

‘I missed you.’ he says. ‘I thought you weren’t happy here, so when you said you wanted to go to Ketterdam, I felt like I had no choice but to let you go. So I did. But I really am glad you’re back, Y/N. The palace felt a lot bigger without you in it.’

‘How boring were the meetings without me?’ you ask him.

Nikolai sighs deeply. ‘Very.’ he says. ‘I didn’t have to make sure you stayed awake, so I had no choice but to listen to every little detail they said.’ he says.

You chuckle, thinking back to the countless of times Nikolai had to keep you awake during the meetings. 

As you look at him, it’s like you’re seeing him for the first time all over again. You let your eyes roam over his face, taking in every detail. You had really missed him.

‘Nikolai?’ you say softly.

‘Yes, sweetheart?’ he says.

‘While I was in Ketterdam, I realised something else.’ you say.

‘That the food here is better?’ says Nikolai.

‘They don’t have Ketterdam waffles here.’ you point out. ‘But no.’ 

You look at him, taking your time once more to take in his face.

‘I realised that over time, all those days we spent together, I’ve grown to love you. I don’t want to leave you like I did ever again.’ you say.

You watch as Nikolai’s face breaks into a huge grin. ‘You love me?’ he says.

‘I do.’ you say. You hold up your hand, showing him the ring. ‘This should be a pretty good reminder of it.’

Nikolai grabs your face with both of his hands, pulls it towards his and smashes his lips onto yours in a passionate kiss. You can tell he’s still smiling. And when he pulls away, there’s indeed still a big and proud smile on his face.

‘I love you.’ he says. ‘I should have never let you go like that. I should have gone with you, or made sure you had reason to stay. I won’t let you leave again, Y/N, you’re my queen, and I love you.’ 

You smile, leaning in to press a kiss to both of his cheeks.

‘We can make this marriage work, Nikolai. I want to make it work. On one condition, though.’ you say.

‘Name it.’ says Nikolai.

‘I promised I would visit Ketterdam every summer.’ you say. ‘To see all of my friends and spend time with them.

‘That seems like a fair deal.’ says Nikolai. ‘Then I’ve got a condition as well.’

‘Anything.’ you say.

‘You have to accompany me on every boring meeting, otherwise I will fall asleep during every single one of them. And we go for a walk through the gardens every evening.’ he says.

‘Deal.’ you say. 

Nikolai smiles and rises from the bed, offering his hand to you. ‘Shall we go on a walk then?’ he says.

You smile and gladly accept his hand and get up. The two of you walk the familiar route to the gardens, and you can’t help but to sneak glances at him. It was already dark outside, but somehow there was still a twinkle in his eyes, and his blonde hair seemed to glow. 

‘Are you trying to remember every detail of my face by looking at me so many times, love?’ he says after a while. ‘I’m flattered, honestly. But you’re stuck with me for the rest of your life, you can spend plenty of time looking at me.’

‘I know.’ you say. ‘But I missed a few days, I’m catching up on lost time.’

Nikolai chuckles and pulls you closer, pressing a kiss to your cheek. ‘You’re truly adorable.’ he says, making you blush.

You reach the gardens and automatically walk to your favorite spot. When you sit down on the bench, you look at the familiar bush in front of you.

‘I’m on time.’ you say.

Nikolai looks at the bush as well and nods. ‘You are. David says Summers Week will most likely bloom next week.’ he says. ‘And when it does, I’ll get you a new flower, to keep with the one I got you last year.’

You turn to smile at him. ‘I can start collecting them.’ you say. ‘One for each year.’

‘One for each year.’ Nikolai repeats. ‘I really am glad you’re back, Y/N. It felt weird, not having you around. I felt like some part of me was missing. Maybe because it was.’

‘Well, I’m here now.’ you say. ‘And I don’t plan on leaving soon.’

‘Except for your summer trip to Ketterdam.’ says Nikolai.

‘Except for that trip. You should come with me, I bet they’d love to meet you some day.’ you say. 

Nikolai smiles. ‘Some of them have met me.’ he says.

You frown. ‘They have? They didn’t mention it when I was there.’ you say.

‘That’s probably because they didn’t know it was me.’ he says. ‘They also met Genya and Zoya. They were accompanying me but I wasn’t, well, me.’

‘I can’t tell if you’re messing with me or not.’ you say, suppressing a yawn.

‘Oh, darling, I’m not. One day I’ll tell you the story of Sturmhond.’ he says.

‘Sturmhond?’ you say and Nikolai nods. ‘Why not tell me now?’

‘Because you have been trying to hide your yawning since we came here, and I think it’s time you went to bed.’ says Nikolai with a chuckle.

‘You’re right, I should. It’s been a long day.’ you say. ‘I left in the middle of the night and only stopped once when I got to Ravka.’

‘You only stopped once? Saints, Y/N, how come you didn’t collapse on a bed once you got here?’ says Nikolai.

‘Because I wanted to talk to you and spend some time with you first.’ you say.

Nikolai’s features soften and he smiles at you. ‘I appreciate that. But now please let me take you back to our room before you fall asleep in the gardens.’ he says.

You get up and intertwine your fingers with his once more, and you start walking back to the palace. When you walk the halls, you run into Genya.

She looks surprised but happy to see you, as she shoots you a warm smile. You briefly let go of Nikolai’s hand to hug her. She must have noticed your tired state, because she tells you that you’d catch up tomorrow morning. 

You’re grateful when you get to your room. After taking a quick bath to scrub the sweat and dirt off of your body, you change into a comfortable night dress. When you get back to the bedroom, you see Nikolai is fidgeting with a piece of rope.

He shows you the small boat he made when you approach the bed. You smile and take it from him, placing it on your nightstand. 

The second you lay down under the covers, you feel your body already dozing off. You close your eyes and feel how Nikolai lays down on his side of the bed. You knew the bed was big enough to keep your distance, but you didn’t have to anymore.

You move closer to Nikolai, cuddling to his side. He wraps an arm around you as you lay your head on his chest. Nikolai softly traces shapes on your bare arm. 

He moves his head to kiss your forehead and mumble a very soft “goodnight, love”.

You feel yourself drifting off to sleep, a very faint smile on your lips. It feels good to be home right next to Nikolai. And you’re glad that you have two homes now. Ketterdam, with your crows. And Os Alta, with your king.

A/N: If you want to request something, make sure to read my house rules Here’s the list of characters I write for. Everything that I have written can be found on my masterlist. Please don’t repost my work, as I spend much time and effort on it!! Thank you for reading! Much love, Marit

[shyvioletcat]

Rudely Interrupted

It Takes Two managed to get 20 000 hits on Ao3 and I wrote this little thing to celebrate because I was just so excited! (I also bought myself some delicious cookies) Thanks for reading everyone!

Ps. This is set just after the beach trip with the other couples.

PPS running into some tagging issues bar with me

~ It Takes Two Masterlist ~

~~~~~

It was not surprising at all how they found themselves in the current situation, all things considered. Aelin had taken the first shower, Rowan heading straight in after once she had appeared in their bedroom in her towel. He’d given her a look, but all she had done was given him a playful shove out the door. They were at home together today so Aelin didn’t bother to put on much more than one of Rowan’s t-shirts. By the time Rowan had finished his shower Aelin was in the kitchen eating the last of her toast. Then her boyfriend had waltzed right in, looking devastatingly handsome with his damp hair and bare chest, his athletic shorts sitting low on his hips. He’d come up behind her and wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck, letting Aelin lean back into his chest. She’d closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh scent of his body wash. It was a scent she had become obsessed with the past few months, a weird pregnancy thing according to Rowan’s book.

And his scent and warmth and steady hands was all it took for her to turn around and kiss him.

It didn’t take long for Rowan to lift her up onto the counter to more easily kiss her senseless, it took Aelin even less time to slide his shorts off his hips–Rowan kicking them away with a soft chuckle before kissing her again. His hands were firm on her thighs, pulling her just that little bit closer as best he could with her stomach in the way.

What was surprising was the lock on the front door unlocking and then the door opening, something completely unexpected for the two of them. For one stuttering heartbeat they looked at each other with wide eyes–then they were moving. Rowan helped Aelin ease off the counter, making sure she was steady before frantically looking around for his pants. Ever the gentleman, he now didn’t have time for that as the footsteps came closer. All he had time to do was drop to the floor as their guest finally came into view, Rowan’s head smacking soundly on the cupboard.

“Hey, cuz,” Aedion said, hands in his pockets. “How are you this lovely morning?”

Truthfully, Aelin was still trying to catch her breath from their previous activities, she knew her face would still be flushed from the heavy makeout session. But she tried.

“It’s great. Good.” Aelin kept in her cringe at her own words. “What brings you here?”

Because she may or may not be quite annoyed at the intrusion, but was trying her hardest not to show it.

“Just came by to grab something,” Aedion explained. “Is Rowan around?”

Aelin nearly choked and couldn’t help the quick glance at the floor where Rowan sat, knees up and looking downright horrified.

“He’s ah– around here somewhere,” Aelin managed to get out. “Why?”

“He said I could borrow the book.”

Oh. The book.

“Um, yeah. I… Rowan knows where it is.” This time Aelin couldn’t stop the face she made at her own incompetence. She should offer to get it, but she was not keen on showing exactly how little she was wearing. Granted, it was a lot more than Rowan was wearing at this current moment.

“You okay?” Aedion asked, no doubt picking up on her weird vibe.

“Mhmm,” she hummed, leaning a little bit closer to the counter.

Aedion looked sceptical. “So, Rowan is around, yeah?”

“Yes,” Aelin tried to say confidently. Then the idea struck her. “Bathroom, he’ll be out in a minute.”

There was the softest snort from next to her and she resisted the urge to glare at her boyfriend. Yeah, it was a flawed plan. She just needed Aedion to go towards the door again.

“Hey, um.” Aelin cursed herself, she needed to pull this together. “Did you lock your car? There’s been some issues with thefts from the cars in the carpark.”

“I parked on the street and most definitely did,” Aedion said with all the confidence Aelin wished she had. “While I wait, can I grab a drink of water?”

“No!” The reply was far too quick and the look that Aedion gave her just proved it all the more.

Aedion’s eyebrows furrowed as he asked, “Why?”

Aelin didn’t have a good answer, she was too busy thinking of something to do that she didn’t exactly notice Aedion stepping around the counter. But her mind managed to catch up but not quick enough.

“I would stay there if I were you.”

Aedion scoffed. “Why would I–”

There was a ghastly moment of silence as Aedion saw everything: Aelin wearing Rowan’s shirt, Rowan sitting there in the corner of the cabinetry with his shorts bundled in his lap. She had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing as Rowan gave her cousin a small wave.

Then Aedion slapped a hand over his eyes, his hip catching the corner of the counter in his rush to get out of the kitchen making him grunt in pain.

“Gods! Aelin!” Aedion exclaimed as he reached the empty space between the living area and kitchen.

“Don’t Aelin me. I tried to warn you,” Aelin said with a shrug. “And hey, at least I’m not the nearly naked one. Lucky you.”

“Really?” Her cousin was not happy.

Aelin shrugged again, feeling braver now that had the safety of the counter again and the cat was well and truly out of the bag. “I don’t know what you want me to do here. Rowan can go and–”

“Nope, nope, he can stay right there thanks.” Aedion was looking at the floor like he wanted it to open and swallow him up. “I’ll go.”

Aedion didn’t spare her a glance as he walked past the kitchen towards the door.

Aelin lent over the counter the best she could to call out to Aedion. “Did you want that book?”

“No. Just tell Rowan to bring it to work,” Aedin said without looking back.

Aelin laughed. “He’s right–”

“I know!” Aedion all but bellowed as he slammed the door behind himself.

The slamming door echoed around the apartment, then it was followed by Aelin laughing.

“It’s not funny,” Rowan said from his hiding spot.

“Oh, yes it was.” Aelin’s voice was shaking.

He stood finally, shorts in his hand. “If I could have crawled into one of the drawers and died I would have.”

Aelin laughed again, resting her hand on his chest, fingers rapping on his skin. “And you two had made such progress since the beach trip.”

Rowan’s hand rubbed at her shoulders as he finally laughed, kissing Aelin on her forehead. “Thanks for trying though. Commendable effort, although entirely not smooth at all.”

“Anything for you, my love.” Aelin shifted to the side slightly, so she could lean her chin on his chest as she looked up at him and grinned. “So, what do you say we carry on from where we left off before we were so rudely interrupted?”

Without anymore prompting Rowan’s hands began wandering as he grinned right back. “Anything for you, my love.”

~~~~~

I thought this up a little too late and it didn't really fit in any of the remaining chapters, so it'd a fun deleted scene. Also it is qyute kate so I hope it makes sense. Thanks again for all your support guys. mwah!

Tags:

@fucking-winchester-trash // @literary-licorice // @galyxsy // @tangledraysofsunshine // @highqueenofelfhame // @3am-reading // @soup-that-is-too-hawt // @aelinfire-bringer // @nalgenewhore // @highladyofthesith // @http-itsrebecca // @sleeping-and-books // @alifletcher2012 // @westofmoon // @ttakeitbacknoww // @tswaney17 // @starseternalnighttriumphant // @rowaelinforeverworld // @theoverlyenthusiasticwriter // @they-call-me-cuatro // @musicmaam // @secret-lil-rendez-vous // @armixers-unite // @mariamuses // @chocolate-eating-bitch-queen // @velarian-trash // @queenofxhearts // @heroesofterrasen // @highladyofstoriesandmusic // @tothestarswholisten // @chemicha // @therapeuticrambling // @mydarlingfireheart // @mybbyfeyre // @unassumingsodalovesherbooks // @amitynotpity // @loysydark // @queenophelia // @empire-of-wildfire // @crackedship // @camerooonchiu // @worldoffae // @notaddictedtoanything // @sierrareads // @lowhangingtreebranches // @over300books //  @yourwhisperingshadows //  @thesirenwashere // @hellolenas // @sjmsstuff // @shadowstar2313 // @pilesofriles // @impossiblescissorspeachpaper // @cat5313 // @judelovescardan // @ellenoftroy // @flowerspringsea // @petrichara // @the-regal-warrior // @viajandosinalas // @chaoticskyy // @fanfictrash3000 // @blueeyes425 // @bamchickawowow // @rosegoldannie // @msalazar3 // @thehuntressofmoon  // @whiskeybusiness1776 // @court-of-fuck-me-daddy // @giorgia-the-trashpanda // @sailorsassley // @szklanydwormaas // @flora-and-fae // @thereaderandfangirl // @illyrian-bookworm // @meltalgel-ig // @gay-book-nerd // @amren-courtofdreams // @booksmusicandgoodvibes // @that-odd-puzzle-piece // @aelin-rowan-whitehorn // @i-love-all-books // @in-love-with-caramel-macchiato // @girl-who-reads-the-books // @1islessthan3books // @mynewdreamwasyou // @superspiritfestival // @hizqueen4life // @the-third-me // @bestmelle // @aesthetics-11 // @flourishandblottsx // @keshavomit // @x3hopeless-dreamer // @girlgotattitude448 // @annejuilanneh111 // @cursebreaker29 // @b00kworm // @mu-si-ca-l // @awkward-avocado-s // @maastrash // @the-last-apprentice // @charincharge // @aelin-queen-of-terrasen //  @firestarsandseneschals // @scarznstars // @absolute-dissapointment // @fireheart-of-your-dreams // @thesurielships // @sad-book-whore // @qoingcrazy // @df3ndyr // @but-she-was-aelin-galathynius // @silentquartz // @sjmships // @officialasianbitch // @jesstargaryenqueen // @catthefeminist // @trinitybailey2003 // @hellasblessed // @alyx801 // @amandaswallowtail // @louiseleblancdiggory // @magicalunicorngypsy // @ae-lingalathynius // @tottenhamboys20 // @rosesandglass // @abookishfreak // @littleboxofthunder // @booknerdproblems // @grandma-noob-lord // @starbornvalkyrie // @booknerdproblems // @larisssss // @sevenfreckles-for-sevenloves // @rolltide7 // @scandinavianromantic // @tillyrubes10 // @starwarsslytherin // @minaidss // @paytin77 // @curlyredqueen06 // @courtofjurdan // @anntheintrovert // @fourshizzle149 // @hsilberfarb // @acciowests // @psycho-bookaholic // @loudphantomdragon // @woollycat22 // @claralady // @perseusannabeth // @fangirlprincess09 // @maddymelv // @thatsowlmazing // @booksbqueen // @azymondias05 // @feylien // @thegreyj // @more-espresso-less-depresso-xx // @jlinez // @lysandra-ghost-leopard // @empress-ofbloodshed // @rowanwhitethornisbae // @post-it-notes33 // @rowaelinismyotp // @pullnpeeltwizzlers // @anne-reads // @jadeaffliction // @gracie-rose // @elriel4life // @swankii-art-teacher // @dangerouscherryblossompenguin // @danibutterr // @lizzyfirebringer // @miserablesmusings // @tothestarswholistentodreamers // @thenerdandfandoms // @castielspelvis // @vanzetanze // @magnifique1807 // @highlady-brittney // @story-scribbler // @linguine-panini // @cookiemonsterwholovesbooks //

[avengerscompound]

The Tower: Happily Ever After - 19

The Tower: Happily Ever After An Avengers Fanfic

Series Masterlist | Character Refrence PREVIOUS //

Pairing:  Avengers x OFC, Bruce Banner x Bucky Barnes x Clint Barton x Wanda Maximoff x Steve Rogers x Natasha Romanoff x Tony Stark x Thor x Sam Wilson x OFC (Elly Cooper)

Word Count: 3582

Warnings:  none

Synopsis: Almost 40 years after Elise Cooper first crashed into Natasha Romanoff outside the library at Columbia University, she and the Avengers are adapting to a near-immortal life together with their large brood of children.  Yet things aren’t perfect.  Life is moving on without them and they’re starting to discover who isolating being immortal can be.When Angela comes and asks Thor to take the throne of Asgard once more, the group leaves Earth in the hopes that they will find their Happily Ever After there.

Chapter 19: Naming Day

When we reached the twins' naming day, I didn’t feel like I was ready at all.  There had been this brief rundown of the procedure that was lost in the middle of all the other things we had happening.

Thor reassured me it would be fine and as long as I just listened and followed instructions, things would be okay.

It would be my first appearance to the public as queen and mother to the heirs since Thour and Nova were born.  I was a little nervous but this kind of thing was becoming a little too normal for me now.  Things had changed a lot since I first bumped into Natasha all those years ago, that was for sure.

We were all dressed in white with gold accents.  No one’s clothing was exactly the same, but the men were all dressed in long white tunics with buttons up the front and high collars, while Natasha, Wanda, and I were in empire-cut dresses made from a light floaty fabric.  It was a change from the usual formal wear.  No one had any kind of armor, and usually, there was more color involved.  Loki explained that this was truly a peaceful event and that dressing for war to name a child was an ill omen.  We each wore crowns or circlets on our heads - mine had a blue gem on my forehead and delicate gold wings on the sides.  Some of us wore other pieces of jewelry too - Wanda had her usual array of rings, while Natasha and I had opted for bracelets and armbands.  Thor had the symbol of Mjolnir around his neck, and Tony wore a watch and a couple of rings.  Clint was wearing the most of all of us, with an ear cuff, choker, thick gold cuffs on his wrists and rings.

The babies were in long gowns of dark red and green.  “You don’t think we’re deciding which one is the evil one and which one is the good one by dressing them in these, are we?” Clint joked as Natasha and Steve dressed them.

Thor laughed loudly.  “I will make sure my brother does not hear that repeated,” he said.  “These are just royal colors, and it is important that they stand out above us today as this is their day.”

When we were ready a set of guards led us down to the courtyard of the palace where three carriages were waiting along with what appeared to be dozens of horses tacked and ready to ride.  I was led to the lead carriage with Thor, Steve, and the babies, while everyone else split themselves between the other two carriages.  The vulparev didn’t like to be separated from the twins by too much and so they jumped in with us, and while Thor and Steve cradled a twin each, the little animals curled up at their feet.

“It’s a shame we can’t all fit in the same carriage,” I said, looking back at the other two behind us.

“Yes, this is a unique situation,” Thor said.  “We discussed how to handle it.  I tried to talk them out of focusing on the children’s biology, but the elders were stuck on it.”

“What will Clarke do?”  I asked.  “She’s not exactly a spring chicken anymore.”

“She is riding in a litter with the elders,” Thor said.  “Do not worry.  We were always going to take care of your friend.”

“Where exactly are we going?”  Steve asked.

“To the roots of Ysgradil,” Thor said. “It is a bit of a journey, so get comfortable.”

When we were all in the carriages Billy brought Piper, Flynn, and Zac over.  “Loki said to put these guys in with you,” he said as he lifted them in.

“What about Ziggy and Anna?” I asked.

Billy pointed to where Fandral was helping Ziggy onto a white pony.  “Gonna try riding for a bit.  They may end up in here with you.  Sif said it’s a long ride.”

“Look at our grandchildren,” Steve said with a tender smile.  “They’re all growing up so fast.”

“Alright,” Billy said.  “You three, be good for your grandparents.”

“We wiwl,” Piper said, sitting up next to Thor.

“See you there,” Billy said.

“Are we ready?”  Riley called.  She sat on a large white horse by the gates.  A few shouts of confirmation came from the guards.  “Onward!”

She and Pietro took the lead and our large convoy followed after them.  Our carriage went next, followed by the other two.  Loki, Sif, the warriors three, and our children all rode their horses beside the carriages, and behind them the guards.

The convoy pulled out into the streets of the city.  People lined the roads cheering as we passed and then joined in at the end, and soon thousands of people on foot and riding weaved through the streets and out into the forest beyond.

As we moved along, up into the mountains people would approach and speak to us.  Thor was who they mostly sought out - mostly telling him that they were glad he was back, and congratulating him on the birth of the twins, though they did speak to me, Steve, and the little ones too, and I saw them walking alongside our children and having longer conversations.

It was a long trip and on the way up the twins were breastfed and fell asleep and Flynn, Piper, and Zak all got very hungry and restless.  We ended up making a little picnic for them on the floor of the carriage to help deal with both issues.  Thankfully having the vulparev with us helped to distract them and they spent a lot of time playing with the little animals.

As we reached the ruins of old Asgard where Sam and I had found the large free-standing door, Tommy pulled his horse up beside us.  “Oh my god, how long is it going to take to get there?”

“We are close now,” Thor assured him.  “Have some patience.”

“I could still be back at the palace taking a bath right now if I’d been allowed to run,” Tommy complained.  “And now my ass hurts.”

“That was a little too much information,” I teased and he made a face at me.  “Didn’t you want to hit on the Valkyries or something?”  I asked.  “There’s a whole group back there.”

He huffed.  “They talk to me like I’m a cute little kid or something.  It’s humiliating.  And you know what else is humiliating?  Being sent back to school and your sister who is eleven years younger than you being in the same classes as you and her being so much better at them.”

“There are few people who can compare themselves to Marya when it comes to book-smarts, Tommy,” Steve said.  “She got the genius genes.  She wouldn’t exactly expect to beat you at track and field.”

“I suppose,” he said.

“Having trouble fitting in?” I asked, reaching over the side of the carriage.

He took my hand and gave it a small squeeze before letting it go again.  “No.  I mean, maybe a little.  I’m alright.  I’m used to having to weed out people who are just trying to use me to touch fame or money.  But here the people who aren’t doing that are either super formal because I’m a prince or they see me as a little kid because they’re all thousands of years old.  But I’m sure they’re not all thousands of years old, so I’ll figure it out.”

“When they are more comfortable with you outside your ranking the age thing will no longer matter,” Thor said.  “We live so long that it becomes unimportant.  What is important is connections.”

“Yeah,” he said with a nod.  “I mean, Becca is there too, having to adjust to it.  I guess I’ll figure it out.”

“If you wish to take a step back from the classes that may be possible.  We can find a role for you,” Thor said.

“No, it’s okay.  I do like the idea of one day being an advisor to you,” he said.  “So I’m thinking of it like college where I am learning to do that.”

“That’s a good attitude, son,” Steve said.

“Just remember, what we want most is for you to be happy and thriving,” I said.  “If you aren’t, we’ll do whatever we can to make sure you are.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Tommy said.  “I know.  I know.  Thanks, mom.”

The canopy above began to thicken and it wasn’t long until we had pulled up into a clearing in front of the largest tree I had ever seen in my life.  It was thicker around the base than a large house and looking up I couldn’t even see the top.  It had large branches that spread out covering the entire clearing and the base was gnarled and twisted, the roots twisting up around it before burying themselves deep in the ground below.

A flurry of activity began to take place in readiness for the ceremony.  As we climbed from the carriage a group of elders dismounted from their horses and began chanting below the tree, praying to the old gods and the tree itself.

The horses and carriages were moved out of sight, and around the edge of the clearing and through the center, tables were being set up with enough food to cater to everyone that had followed us here.

Those of us who were important to the ceremony were guided to the base of the tree where a series of circles had been made with colorful pebbles around the base.  While Steve and Thor held the babies, the rest of our children were guided to sit in the circles, leaving the two spots free at the front free.

When things seemed to have been set up and the large crowd had all gathered around, spreading out down the road we had traveled up to get here, one of the elders stepped up onto the roots of Ysgradil and began to speak.

“We gather here at the base of the world tree for this joyful and sacred occasion that is the first rite of passage we each make as Asgardians.  Let each soul truly be here that those gathered may be blended in one sacred space, with one purpose and one voice,” he called out, his voice carrying through the open space.

“Hail spirits of this sacred land, you whose beauty and power inspires us.  Spirits of the high skies that guide us to stretch and grow, ancestors of light that guide us and provide us with warmth, cloud spirits that paint the sky and nourish our lands, and the cool breeze providing us with the breath of life, provide us with your blessing for these children,” he said.  “Spirits of the dark soil that holds and feeds us; mud of our lands, rich and fertile which we so deeply root; rocks, stones, and gems that give us stability, plants, and creatures that make their home here with us on Asgard, provide us with your blessings for these children.”

As he spoke the elders had begun to build a shrine by the roots of the tree containing soil and gems, water, wine, plants, and things such as furs and feathers.  “Spirits of the open sea that wash over the edge of the world and lap at the shores; meandering rivers, guiding our direction, birthing springs of new life, deep still pools holding us upon our journey; you the tidal waters, emerging and receding, blood and rain, provide us with your blessings for these children.  Blessed be as blessed is.”

When the shrine had been finished and some incense was burning Thor and Steve were directed to place the babies in the last two circles.  Icy and Inky curled up beside them, their tails blanketing the little bundles.

“We gather together at the base of Ysgradil under the gaze of our ancestors to witness this sacred rite of naming and welcoming the sons and daughters of Thor, our king, and ruler of the nine realms,” the elder announced.  “We come to give thanks for the wonder of new life and to honor the task of raising these children to be our leaders.”

Two women stepped forward and moved to the opposite ends of the line of our children, one was very old and stooped, and the other I actually recognized.  It was Katveil who had done the Henhalda on me for our bonding ceremony.   She crouched in front of Pietro at the far end and with a fine paintbrush began to paint runes on his face.  The woman at the other end of the line was doing the same to Riley.

“To know where you have come from we must first honor those that have come first to this place.  Odin the Allfather and his wife Frigga.  Bor father of Odin and his wife Bestla.  Bor’s father Buri, first god and bringer of life to us all.  We honor you here at the world tree and ask for your blessings today for your grandchildren and those that will carry your legacy,” the elder said, as the artists moved up the line painting on each of our children.

“Thor and Elise, Steven and James, Clinton and Natasha, Anthony and Robert, Samuel and Wanda, you have brought your children to this place on the occasion of their first rite.  As their parents, you have principal responsibility for the wellbeing of their bodies and souls throughout the journey of their childhood.  Do you agree to hold this responsibility wholeheartedly, in freedom, with love and joy, with patience and trust?”  The elder asked.

“We do,” we said as one.

“Then let it be so,” the elder said.  The old lady and Katveil had reached the babies and they each kneeled beside them.

“Blessed by the power of creation, this child begins his journey of life, and for his path, he is offered a name.  As he grows and chooses his own way, he may accept or take another name for himself, but he is yet at the beginning of his journey.  There is power in a name.  It is an innovation and a prayer, a gift that is given with poignancy and emotion.  What is the name you now offer your son?” the elder asked.

“Nova Modi,” Thor answered and the old lady began painting Nova's face, making the little boy whine and wriggle in the circle.  Inky’s hackles went up, but rather than try and keep the woman away, he nuzzled and licked at Nova’s face to reassure the baby that things were okay.

“Nova Modi Skjodbærer, Son of Thor and his chosen consorts, prince of Asgard and tenth in line to the throne of Asgard, I present you to your people,” he said and lifted the infant into the air for everyone to see.  There was a loud cheer from all gathered that carried out back to those too far to see at all.

“Nova!  Welcome, Nova!” The crowd cheered.

The elder placed Nova back in his circle.  “Blessed by the power of creation, this child begins her journey of life, and for her path, she is offered a name.  As she grows and chooses her own way, she may accept or take another name for herself, but she is yet at the beginning of her journey.  There is power in a name.  It is an invocation and a prayer, a gift that is given with poignancy and emotion.  What is the name you now offer your daughter?”

“Thour Katherine,” Thor replied, and this time Katviel began to paint on her.  The little girl closed her eyes and made a soft ‘ahh’ sound.  Icy wagged his tails happily as the baby seemed to enjoy the soft touches of the paintbrush.

“Thour Katherine Skjodbærer, daughter of Thor and his chosen consorts, princess of Asgard and eleventh in line to the throne of Asgard, I present you to your people,” the elder said and lifted her above his head.

“Thour!” The crowd cheered.  “Welcome, Thour!”

A group of attendants approached our group and handed out goblets of mead and pieces of dense bread to everyone.  “In order to know in certainty that the flow of this rite is done, we share, while still under the sacred tree, a celebratory drink,” the elder said.  “Blessing upon each of you.”

We all took a drink and a bite of bread and then Thor whispered to me. “Take your cup to someone in the crowd, have the others follow.”

As I did that, handing my goblet and the bread to a woman in the crowd, Thor couched and dipped his thumb into the mead and pressed it to Nova’s lips. He repeated the action with Thour and then handed the goblet and bread to an old man.

As we took our places we watched as the bread and mead was passed down from person to person.  The attendants followed on filling the cups if they emptied and replacing the bread.  

“On behalf of Thor and his chosen, and also Thour, Nova, and their siblings whose names you all know but have only now been blessed, I give thanks to all those who have gathered here this day, in body and spirit, seen and unseen.  To the ancestors of this line that have come to witness this rite, we give you thanks for your presence and your blessings.  From the base of Ysgradil, we bid you hale and farewell.  To the spirits of the land, and air and water, we give you thanks for your presence and your blessings.  We bid you hale and farewell.  To the spirit of Ysgradil the world tree that holds all the nine realms in its roots and branches, we thank you and bid you hale and farewell.  Let us take a moment of silence and feel what has been gained today, that after our celebrations, we leave this place and take its gifts and memories with us and honor them fully as we honor these children.”

We all fell silent and lowered our heads.  Even with the large group who were still passing the bread and mead, the only sound was the children and the wind through the trees.  Finally, the elder broke the silence.  “Go in peace.  Blessed be as blessed is.”

Thor picked up the babies and the rest of our children got up and stretched.  “I wasn’t expecting the other kids to be involved,” I said, as I took Thour from him.

“They wanted them to have the blessings too, even though they already have their names,” Thor explained.

I kissed his cheek and went over to speak to Katveil.  “Hey, Kat, it’s been a long time,” I said.

“My lady,” Katveil said, lowering her head.

“Kat,” I scolded.  “We’ve talked about this.”

“I’m sorry,” she said with a shy smile.  “It has been a while.”

I hugged her.  “I would love to spend some time with you,” I said. “If you have any.  I only know Thor’s friends here.  I’d like to make some of my own.”

“Oh,” Katveil said.  “I would love that.”

“Will Thor know how to find you?” I asked.

“I’m sure he would,” she said with a nod, and then looking like she was summoning all her courage she reached over and played with Thour’s hand.  “She is very cute.”

“Thank you,” I said.  “She looks a lot like Steve.  And he is very pretty.”

She giggled.  “You are very attractive too.  I am sure I can see some of you there too.”

“Thank you,” I said.  “Come with me for a second would you?”

She nodded and I led her over to where Tommy was talking to Rebecca.  “Tommy, meet my friend, Katveil, this is Tommy.  Katveil did my body art back when I bonded with the rest of your parents.”

Tommy gave me a look that told me he knew exactly what I was doing and he would play along but he wasn’t happy about it.  “Hey, Katveil,” he said, offering her his hand.

“Hello,” she said.  “You can call me Kat.”

Tommy looked from Kat to me and then back to Kat, letting out a breath.   “Kat, did you want to get something to eat with me?  I am still learning what Asgardian food is good or not.”

That last bit was a blatant lie, but I appreciated that he was making the effort.

“It would be my pleasure,” she said, excitedly.  “Follow me.”

Tommy shot me one last resigned look and then followed Katveil to one of the long tables.

“Mom,” Rebecca said, tutting me.  “Setting up your kids.  For shame.”

“Oh hush,” I laughed.  “He told me that he’s having trouble fitting in and Kat is the sweetest person I’ve ever met.  I don’t expect them to get married. But she will be a good friend.”

“Aww, Tommy’s got no friends,” Rebecca teased.  “Needs mommy to find him some.”

“Hey you,” I scolded.  “Don’t think you’re too old for me to ground.”

“I think I am,” she laughed.  “But I won’t rub it in.  This is kind of a hard change.  It’s nice you’re trying to help.  Hope it doesn’t backfire.”

I looked over to where Tommy and Katveil were discussing the different foods.  Katveil pulled a face and Tommy threw his head back laughing.  I had a feeling that things were going to work out just fine with them.

// NEXT

[wonlouvre]

pairing: doctor!wonwoo x lawyer!female oc genre: modern royalty, arranged marriage, fluff and future angst word count: 2.8k WARNINGS: hospital, injury, child trafficking, child abuse, hostage taking, guns, police, violence

author’s note: we have reached part 4!!! i think our couple’s relationship development is quite slow. please bear with me/them, they’re getting there!!! :’((( also, i am still very much thankful and overjoyed for the kind feedback that you guys gave for the previous chapter. i hope you guys are looking forward for this one. enjoy!!! :)))

four: let’s get you home, princess | masterlist

Wonwoo is not addressed as Your Highness inside the hospital premises. It’s actually rare for him to hear Your Highness ever since the royal decrees have been relaxed. His close friends, family and even colleagues have been calling him by his name or profession for the longest time. However, the King and Queen still must be addressed with utmost respect, regardless of who the person may be to the Royal Family. 

Things just got different when he started living and working at your kingdom. He had said that it’s okay for him to be called Wonwoo most especially by senior doctors who have been practicing even before he was born. But it was still awkward so they stuck with Dr. Jeon. These days, some young residents and interns still stutter and it just makes Wonwoo laugh. 

From time to time, Wonwoo is withdrawn from the hospital because of his duties as the Prince. Duties such as to make an appearance, attend a meeting or speak at an event. Said duties usually eat up most of his days in a week. Days where he could and should have been at the hospital, doing what he pledged to do until he dies. 

Wonwoo is loyal to the crown, but he is also committed to the people he promised to serve. 

The wedding planning has started and he’s relieved that you and him both have reached an agreement to hire a full-time planner that will arrange whatever the desires of your hearts may be. He’s grateful that just like him, you are happily married to your job. It’s a lame joke, but Wonwoo can never be bothered to care. So far as the wedding planning goes, you have been looking at venues such as hotels, private gardens or beach resorts. Initially, his parents offered to hold the wedding at their kingdom but you humbly requested to have it at your homeland instead. 

It was no issue to the King and Queen, definitely understanding where you were coming from.

Wonwoo admires that side of you. You seem to always know what you want and when you do, you speak up at the right time with elegance and confidence. He believes it’s the lawyer and princess in you altogether. 

The thought of you puts a smile on his face. He hopes you wake up soon so he can see you.

“Wonwoo?” 

His thoughts popped like a bubble when his name was suddenly called. He clears his throat and faces the owner of the voice. It was Soonyoung and by the looks of his grin, Wonwoo’s sure he witnessed him daydreaming. 

Wonwoo rolls his eyes and goes back to the charts he’s been reading. “What do you want?”

“That’s not how you return the favor of your friend who brought you a fresh batch of clothing,” his friend chides, bumping his shoulder against his tall friend. “You seemed to have had a great night, our Prince.”

It’s trivial, really. But Wonwoo’s cheeks blushed at the reminder. He will never tell anyone but staying with you yesterday until the early hours of today made him feel something he doesn’t know. It’s absurd how he can’t pinpoint what that something is, but he won’t deny that there is. 

“Shut up,” he grumbles like a child, ignoring the cheeky giggle Soonyoung emits. 

Speaking of Soonyoung, he was born in your kingdom and moved to the neighboring one when he was only a baby. Both his parents are doctors also who have the heart and passion to offer their services voluntarily. They were only set for a medical mission before going back in a month, but the King and Queen (Wonwoo’s parents) recognized and applauded their kindness, offering them a place to stay and permanent positions at their Royal Hospital. 

Being of the same age, Wonwoo and Soonyoung grew up together and became best of friends. 

It’s no question that he’s attached to the Prince wherever he goes. 

“Dr. Jeon,” another voice calls for him and this time, it sounded desperate. 

Wonwoo looks up and finds a young resident, looking disheveled and stressed. “What is it?”

“I have a young boy, 10-11-years-old, crying in pain while clutching his left arm,” she explains the basics before continuing, “He was brought by someone who seemed like his brother not older than 14-years-old. They weren’t accompanied by anyone.”

“Ask for their names and address,” Soonyoung suggests while standing straight and crossing his arms. “I’m sure we can find some contact details from the statistics office.”

The young intern shakes her head. “They’re not talking. All the older boy is saying, begging rather, is for us to help them.”

“X-ray?” Wonwoo asks and pumps some sanitizer on his hands. 

“The result is on the way.”

Wonwoo nods and starts walking to where the boys are. “Let’s see what we got then.”

The emergency department is always hectic and anyone that says otherwise is unbelievable. Regardless of what the case may be, Wonwoo stands that if they are brought here, it is an emergency. Usually, they range from new parents bringing their newborn baby who can’t stop crying in the middle of the night or some bringing their seven-year-old for a cast because they fell off the bike while playing with their friends. They all seem to be treatable and can be discharged in an hour or so. But sometimes, you can never be too sure. 

Wonwoo knows because he has witnessed it already. That one baby that’s been crying was actually fighting a fever and that one kid who fell from the bike? It was having trouble with his balance and movement. 

It’s not the first time that young children came to the hospital by themselves. They’re soon followed by their parents or guardian afterwards most of the time. Wonwoo supposes the kids this time around are in shock that they can’t form any clear thoughts at the moment. 

But Wonwoo doesn’t think that’s the case at all once the curtains were pulled open. 

“Oh my,” Soonyoung blurts out, surprised. 

Wonwoo expected two boys looking dirty and blushing from playing under the sun all throughout the day. He expected them to be silently crying for their mom or dad. He expected them to be at least healthy and on their way for a speedy recovery once they got treatment. But no, Wonwoo was wrong.

The boys looked awfully hungry and dehydrated. Their clothes were smaller than what their body looks like and the older brother is missing one pair of his shoes. He noticed bruises on some parts of their body. There’s even a nasty cut on the older boy’s bottom lip. 

Something’s wrong and Wonwoo is not a fool to not notice it. 

Wonwoo releases the breath he’s been holding and smiles genuinely. “Hello, I’m Wonwoo.”

Silence. 

He looked at Soonyoung before proceeding to meet the boy’s height who’s sitting on the chair beside his brother’s bed. “I’m going to take a look at your brother now, if you don’t mind.” 

The older one finally looks at him, his eyes dead serious. “That’s what they have been saying ever since we got here. Why can’t you just treat him already?”

“Hey, it’s okay,” Wonwoo tries to calm him down, noticing his tear-stained face and shaking voice. “Your brother will probably need a cast. We’re just waiting for the x-ray results to come out to know for sure. I just need to ask some questions, alright?”

The boy’s bloodied lip trembles as he nods his head. 

“I’ll go get the result,” Soonyoung says and leaves without forgetting to close the curtains.

“What’s your name?” 

“They call me Jung,” the boy answers, weak and unsure. He then points at his sleeping brother, “He’s called Sam.”

Wonwoo’s brows furrow in both confusion and doubt. Why wouldn’t they have official names? Looking at the brothers’ state all over again, it didn’t take Wonwoo long to comprehend what’s really going on. He turns his head to the resident and locks eyes with her, who’s already grasping the situation at hand. He then gives her a nod, signalling her to immediately call children’s services.

Once she leaves, Soonyoung arrives with an envelope. 

“It’s a fracture, but won’t need surgery,” He says happily and Jung sighs in relief. 

“But, you’re staying here for a while,” Wonwoo takes hold of the envelope from his friend. “We just need to run some more tests.”

Soonyoung looks at his friend with wide eyes asking, what are you talking about? But Wonwoo ignores him and keeps his smile in the hopes that the boy doesn’t grow any more agitated.

“Your brother is okay,” he assures Jung and squeezes his shoulder. “We’ll put the cast on his arm and clean the cut on your lip shortly. Stay here, okay?”

He pushes his friend out after the boy gives them a nod. Soonyoung was still glaring at him at the nonsense he spewed out earlier. Wonwoo puts a finger on his lip, gesturing for him to not say a thing yet until they move to somewhere more quiet. 

“What is going on?” Soonyoung whispered-shouts when they reached what seemed to be the fire exit. “What tests are we still running?”

“It’s a lie,” Wonwoo answers and smooths the lines on his forehead, thinking and thinking on what he should do. “We need to keep them here. I think… they’re victims of abuse and trafficking.”

Soonyoung’s jaw drops while his legs grow weak, making him stumble. This is nothing new to them. But even so, it still makes him sick to the stomach. He just nodded as he didn’t need to say anything else.

“I already asked for children’s services and they could arrive here anytime soon,” Wonwoo continues. “They looked like they escaped. I won’t be surprised if someone suddenly barges here, claiming they’re the parent or guardian.”

“What do we do when that happens?”

“We keep them safe,” he answers firmly. “No matter what.”

Every staff at the Emergency Room was alerted about the situation of the boys. Authorities were also called and they’ll be arriving soon. Wonwoo gave strict orders to not disclose any information about them to anyone who claims they are the parent or guardian. Any affiliation they assume is not acceptable unless they can prove it. 

The boys were transferred to a ward once Sam’s treatment was done. Wonwoo brought them some food, water and spare gowns to rid them of the excuse of clothes they’ve been wearing for who knows how long. It’s unbearable to imagine what they have gone through but seeing them get comfortable is enough to bring some peace to Wonwoo’s mind. 

He requested Soonyoung to stay with them or at least check on them from time to time and make sure no one goes inside their room other than the designated staff. He just needs the representative of the children’s services to arrive and they’ll start knowing what the next steps to take from there. 

Now that’s settled, Wonwoo can now go back to his routine and job.

Or not. 

“You’re Highness.”

His security detail stands before him, complete and blocking his way to the elevator that could bring him back to the Emergency Room. Wonwoo can notice the tense and nervous expressions on their faces like children about to admit the trouble they just caused. He had requested before that they be posted on the sides to not hinder him from working. They’re only to jump into action when it’s life threatening and by the looks of it they’re here in his face just to do that but he still asks.

“What are you doing here?”

The head of the group bows his head. “The Emergency Room is being held hostage by armed men. We need to leave as soon as possible.”

Wonwoo’s heart almost felt like it stopped beating. “No.” 

He needs to move. He needs to go back there. He can’t just leave.

Wonwoo forces his body against the men standing firm on their positions, only to be held back. His head of security nods at his men to not let him go and carry him if they have to. 

“No, no, no!”

Wonwoo thrashes from their hold as he screamed for them to let him go. He can hear his security speaking to his mic to prepare the vehicle that would transfer him to safety but in that second all men drop to the ground and shield him when an ear-splitting clap suddenly reverberates through the walls.

A gunshot was fired.

Meanwhile, you were brought to the top floor of the hospital at one of the private rooms reserved for the members of the Royal Family when you insisted on staying. Jeongyeon and the rest of your security detail were more than distressed at your stubbornness, fearing for the earful they’re going to get once this is all over. But they would rather have that than leave you and neglect their duty.

“Your Highness, we really have to go,” Jeongyeon reiterates, still trying to convince you while shaking your shoulders. 

You shake your head and avoid her eyes. “No, we can’t just leave the people here. We can’t leave…” you pause then whisper softly, “Wonwoo.”

Jeongyeon nods. “I know, I know. But the Royal Police are on their way and the Prince’s security detail is already with him. The two of you cannot stay here any longer. It’s an order from His Majesty.”

You swallow the lump on your throat. You can’t think. You can’t process whatever the hell is ensuing downstairs. The lives of innocent people, your innocent people, are at stake. 

You just can’t leave. You have to do something. 

“We’re not leaving this hospital until those armed men are immobilized.”

Jeongyeon wishes to plead further but all you hear was ringing when the sound of what you’ve been fearing the most resonated inside the room. 

Security scrambles and moves at a speed of light to protect you with their bodies. They were screaming among themselves but you fail to register what they’re saying. You fail to hear nor see your surroundings.

Everything became a blur.

Everything became nothing as your heart beated a thousand times faster than normal and the only person running through your mind is no one else but the Prince who was beside you just last night but is now in imminent danger.

Please, Wonwoo. Please.

“Their Majesties condemns the hostage taking that occurred at the Royal Hospital,” Prime Minister Lee starts, looking straight at the camera. “Their Majesties assures and promises the public that they will be held accountable for the crime they have committed but most importantly for the distress and trauma they have caused the patients. They commend the prompt action that the Hospital’s Security and Royal Police have taken resulting in no casualties.”

“Prime Minister Lee!” A reporter raises their hand. “Can you confirm that His and Her Highness Jeon Wonwoo and Y/N were at the hospital when the hostage took place?”

“Yes,” he answers, “Her Highness, Princess Y/N, was admitted to the hospital yesterday after fainting at her office…”

You switch the TV off with the remote before throwing it on the couch. You walk to the window with crossed arms and watch the Royal Police vehicles leave one by one after clearing the Emergency Room and declaring it safe. It’s now back to its normal operations. 

Apparently, the gunshot was fired by the police, wounding one of the hostage takers. They took advantage of that distraction to finally hold them down and arrest them right away. There’s no official statement from the Royal Police yet as they are still investigating further. You make a commitment to get to the bottom of this.

They’re gone now.

But Wonwoo is still unheard of. 

He’s safe, they told you. But that didn’t stop you from biting your nails, walking back and forth and pulling your hairs from the roots. You need to see him. 

“Your Highness,” Jeongyeon calls for you and your head snaps up. She gives you a small smile before opening the door she’s holding wider.

Wonwoo enters with a tired smile and you almost burst into tears. You ran to him as fast as you could, but your legs were weakened by worry, you almost fell. It’s a good thing Wonwoo meets you halfway and catches you in his arms. 

You take every tangible thing about him. You take and you take as you hold his waist tightly and bury your face to his chest. “You can’t do that to me.”

Wonwoo sighs in content upon breathing in your scent and hearing your voice. He wraps his one arm around your waist while the other holds your head gently. He stays silent and just holds you for as long as he desires. After the horror that transpired earlier, holding you like this is what he desperately needed. 

“Let’s get you home, Princess.”

[rebeccalouisaferguson]

"I always just rode the waves,” Rebecca Ferguson says with a shrug. The comment hangs in the air, as if the Anglo-Swedish 37-year-old is only now processing that a combination of currents and tides has led her not just to an acting career but to the brink of big-screen stardom.

“I’ve never been ambitious,” she says. “I’ve always thought that that was a bad thing.” She’s seen others in the industry consumed by constant striving and asked herself why she hasn’t hungered for fame since childhood, slept in cars outside castings, barged into directors’ offices or thrown herself in the path of a producer. “But should I not be burning for this? Out meeting people and networking for the next job?” says Ferguson, who has chosen the sort of quiet, private life outside the big city that so many actors claim to crave. “My life just took another turn. But I’ve always thought: Am I where I should be?”

At the moment, on this late July day, Ferguson is slumped in the backseat of a Mercedes-Benz sedan, crawling through rush-hour traffic on the M4 out of London. She is capping off a hectic week during a particularly busy period. Most immediately, she’s coming from a table read for Wool, the Apple TV+ adaptation of Hugh Howey’s bestselling postapocalyptic trilogy. Ferguson is both the star and, for the first time, an executive producer. “I’m sitting in all the different rooms, listening and learning like the students,” she says. She’s filming Mission: Impossible 7, her third tour of duty in the long-running series that first brought her widespread recognition. She’s also promoting the film Reminiscence, the sci-fi noir written and directed by Westworld co-creator Lisa Joy in which Ferguson stars opposite Hugh Jackman. And now she is starting a press push and festival prep for her role as Lady Jessica ahead of the much-delayed release of Dune (in theaters October 22), director Denis Villeneuve’s reimagining of Frank Herbert’s novel. “After this film, I think everyone will see what I see in her,” the filmmaker says. “She has a beautiful, regal, aristocratic presence, elegance. But that was not the main thing: The most important thing for me was that depth.”

After tracing a long, meandering path, Ferguson has landed in a rare and rarified position: ascendant in her late 30s (still an anomaly for women in the film industry) and sought after by some of the biggest names in the business. “When you meet Rebecca, you just see it. She’s very open, candid, collaborative, hardworking, funny—and not pretentious,” says Tom Cruise, who handpicked Ferguson to star opposite him in the Mission: Impossiblefilms, which are known for their demanding shoots. “She just rose to the occasion every single time.”

In February 2020, when the pandemic began, Ferguson left Venice, where she’d been shooting Mission: Impossible 7, and hunkered down with her husband, their 3-year-old daughter and Ferguson’s 14-year-old son from a previous relationship at their farm in Sweden. After four months, Ferguson returned to the M:I set and basically hasn’t stopped working since.

Dune has sat idle for far longer. By the time the movie premieres, more than two years will have passed since it wrapped. Ferguson recently asked to screen the film again: “I miss it,” she says. She ended up bringing along her Mission: Impossible co-star Simon Pegg. After the credits rolled, Pegg broke into a smile and wrapped her in a congratulatory bear hug. “That’s all I needed,” she says.

Despite being a sci-fi epic based on a novel from 1965, Dune feels “very timely,” Ferguson says, pointing to its handling of environmental issues, religious zealotry, colonialism and Indigenous rights. The plot of the film, which cost an estimated $165 million, centers on occupying powers battling for the right to exploit a people and their planet, named Arrakis, for melange (or spice)—the most valuable commodity in Herbert’s fictional universe, a substance that provides transcendental thought, extends life and enables instantaneous interstellar travel. “Spice,” Ferguson says, “is equally about the poppy and oil fields.”

Ferguson’s Lady Jessica is a member of the Bene Gesserit, a powerful secretive sisterhood with superhuman mental abilities. She defies her order by giving birth to a son, Paul (played by Timothée Chalamet), who may be a messianic figure. “She basically just f—s up the entire universe by having a son out of love,” says Ferguson. In her hands, Jessica is equal parts caring parent, protector and pedagogue. Among the skills she wields and teaches Paul is “the Voice”—a modulated tone that allows the speaker to control others.

The movie was shot in Norway, Hungary, Jordan and Abu Dhabi, whose desert landscape stood in for Arrakis. Filming there was particularly arduous, as temperatures exceeded 120 degrees Fahrenheit, limiting the shoot window to only an hour and a half each day at 5 a.m. and again at dusk. “We were running across the sand in our steel suits being chased by nonexistent but humongous worms,” Ferguson recalls, referring to the sand-beasts later rendered in CGI. “To be honest, it was one of the best moments ever. It was the most beautiful location I’ve ever seen.”

Back in London, Ferguson is approaching home. She leaves the following day for a small town on the coast of England, where she plans to spend her first vacation in two years and to do some surfing. “Let’s hope it’s good weather,” she says. “If not, I’ll surf in the rain.” Not that she’s the sort to paddle out into storm swells. “I think I’ve managed to stand on a board once in my entire life,” she says. “But it was quite a high. Complete surrender to the waves and total control all at once.”

Born Rebecca Louisa Ferguson Sundström to an English mother and Swedish father, Ferguson grew up bilingual in Stockholm. She immersed herself in dance from a young age, enjoying ballet, jazz, street funk and tango. Despite being shy and prone to blushing and breaking out when forced to speak publicly, Ferguson found she was at ease in front of the camera. She dabbled in modeling and then, at 15, attended a TV casting call at her mother’s urging. Ferguson ended up getting the lead role in Nya Tider (New Times), a soap opera that became wildly popular, splashing Ferguson’s face into Swedish homes five times a week.

When her role ended about two years later, Ferguson was adrift. She had no formal acting training to fall back on, no clear sense of how to steer a career and no major connections to the industry. She had a short run on another soap and appeared in a slasher flick and a couple of independent shorts, then…nothing. “I was famous in Sweden, but I didn’t really have an income anymore,” she says. “So I went and I worked in whatever job I could get.” That meant stints at a daycare center and as a nanny, in a jewelry shop and a shoe store, as well as teaching tango, cleaning hotel rooms and waitressing at a Korean restaurant. She eventually landed in a small coastal town named Simrishamn, where she lived with her then-partner and their toddler son, content to be a where-are-they-now celebrity.

When fame again came calling, Ferguson ran away. She was at the flea market when she recognized the acclaimed Swedish director Richard Hobert, and he saw her. As he shouted her name, Ferguson grabbed her son, who lost his shoes and sausage, and fled. “I panicked,” she says. “I don’t know why.” When Hobert eventually caught up to her, Ferguson tried to act nonchalant as he proceeded to tell her he’d admired her work and pitched her on the lead role in his next movie: “I’ve written this role, and I think I have written it for you. Do you want to read the script?”

Her work in Hobert’s A One-Way Trip to Antibes earned her a Rising Star nomination at the Stockholm International Film Festival. She quickly got an agent in Scandinavia, then one in Britain. On her first trip to take meetings in London, she read for the lead in The White Queen, the BBC adaptation of Philippa Gregory’s historical novels about the women behind the Wars of the Roses. Ferguson got the part, and her portrayal of Elizabeth Woodville, queen consort of England, earned her a Golden Globe nomination and the admiration of at least one Hollywood heavyweight.

Ferguson was in the Moroccan desert filming the Lifetime biblical miniseries The Red Tentwhen the assistant director whisked her off her camel. “We’re going to have to pause shooting,” he said as he asked her to dismount. “Tom Cruise wants to meet you for Mission: Impossible. We’re going to fly you off today.”

Cruise had seen Ferguson’s work in The White Queen and her audition tape and couldn’t believe she wasn’t already a major star. “What? Where has this woman been?” Cruise recalls exclaiming to his new Mission: Impossible director Christopher McQuarrie. “She’s incredibly skilled,” Cruise says, “very charismatic, very expressive. As you can tell, the camera loves her.” Ferguson landed a multi-picture deal to star opposite Cruise in the multibillion-dollar franchise. He and McQuarrie built out the role of Ilsa Faust for Ferguson, creating the anti-Bond girl, an equal to Cruise’s Ethan Hunt. “We could just see the impact she could have,” he says. “She’s a dancer. She has great control of her body, of her movements. She has the same ability to move through emotions effortlessly.”

Ferguson threw herself into the films and quickly found a shorthand with the cast and crew. “There was a dynamic that worked very well with all of us,” she says. “One of the things I absolutely love is doing all the stunts.” That physicality has given her a reputation as an action-minded actor. “It doesn’t matter that I’ve done 20 other films where I don’t kick ass,” Ferguson says. “Mission comes with such an enormous following. That was what made my career.”

Ferguson’s M: I movies bracket a number of films in which she played opposite marquee names: Florence Foster Jenkins, with Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant; The Girl on the Train, with Emily Blunt; The Greatest Showman, with Hugh Jackman and Michelle Williams; Life, with Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds; Men in Black: International, with Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson; The Snowman, with Michael Fassbender; Doctor Sleep, with Ewan McGregor. And now Dune, opposite Oscar Isaac, Javier Bardem, Zendaya and Chalamet, whom she calls “one of the best actors, if not the best actor of his generation—of this time.” She was similarly impressed by Zendaya, who plays the native Fremen warrior Chani. “She’s quite raw and naughty and fun,” says Ferguson. “She has an enormous f— off attitude.”

When Ferguson first spoke to Villeneuve about appearing in the movie, “he started telling me about this woman who was a protector, and a mother, and a lover, and a concubine,” she recalls. “I was like, ‘I’m sorry. You want me to play a queen and a bodyguard? And you want me to kick ass and walk regally?’ I was like, ‘Denis, why would I want to do that? That’s the last thing I want to do.’ ”

After the call, Ferguson says, “I went downstairs to my hubby and said, Oh, my God, he’s amazing, but I’m not going to get the job. I just criticized the character.” Ferguson worried she was being cast as a stereotypical “strong female character,” where “it’s constantly, ‘She looks good, and she can kick.’ That is not what I want to portray.”

Ferguson hasn’t always been able to work with collaborators who’ve given her the space to question or opine. “I’ve been bashed down. I’ve been bullied,” she says, though she opts not to say by whom. That was never a concern with Villeneuve, who welcomed her critique. He and his co-writers had already decided from the start to make women the focus of their screenplay adaptation, and he promptly offered her the part.

“I want Lady Jessica to be at the center, the forefront. For me, she’s the architect of the story,” Villeneuve says. “I needed someone who will convey the mystery and the dark side of the film in a very elegant and profound way. Rebecca was everything I was hoping for. She’s so precise. She brought a beautiful, controlled vulnerability—it becomes very visceral on-screen.”

Ferguson vaguely recalls trying to watch the 1984 version of Dune, directed by David Lynch, in her youth, but she fell asleep. And she had never opened Herbert’s novel until being offered the part in the new adaptation. As she dug into the book, she says, she learned that her character was subservient and far more like a concubine, forced to eat alone in her bedroom, not spoken to and not allowed to speak. Ferguson ended up relying primarily on Villeneuve for her research and prep—his notes and comments, his references and the pages in the book he suggested she focus on. “I would feel ignorant not to have read Frank’s book at all,” Ferguson says, though she admits there are parts of the sprawling novel (which Villeneuve is splitting into two films) she’s only skimmed. “I have to finish it.” That will not happen on her upcoming vacation, however. “Absolutely not,” she says “I am surfing.”

By the way, if you saw, I am snaking on the ground, snaking around my room to get good Wi-Fi—it’s not some dance or yoga thing,” Ferguson says. “You have to do that in this old house.” It’s a week and a half after our first meeting, and Ferguson is at her new home, a more than 500-year-old property southwest of London that has, over the years, been home to numerous English Royals. It’s more spartan than stately now. “Empty except for a rock star,” she says, turning her phone’s camera to reveal a framed duotone poster of Mick Jagger that’s leaning against the wall. “We haven’t even started renovating.

Ferguson has returned from her holiday fortified and with renewed confidence, thanks in part to her success on the surfboard. “I went up nearly every time,” she says cheerfully, “but the waves weren’t very high.” She shrugs. “I was proud. I was up. I rode them, not the other way around.”

After years of going with the flow, Ferguson is eager to replicate that sense of control in her career. She values her role as an executive producer on Wool, she says, “because I am, for the first time, a part of it from the beginning.” She relishes weighing in on every aspect, from casting (the show recently added Tim Robbins) to cinematography to her character—which has not always been easy for her. “Why do I feel it’s difficult to speak up? I still battle with these things,” she says. Alluding to those times she was pushed around in the past, Ferguson says, “I was angry, but it was more me getting off at ‘How can I let that happen? Why am I letting myself react this way?’ And I take it with me to the next thing where I go, ‘OK, how do I stop that from happening?’ ”

She is learning that she can ride on top of waves without giving up her agency or maybe just let them break against her. “I want to feel I can go home and think, That was a hard day or that pissed me off—and that’s OK,” Ferguson says, with a nod and tight smile. “Because I still stood there as Rebecca. I didn’t shift.”

[thatcrazycrowgirl]

I was thinking about a Jacob Frye x reader fluff where reader tells Evie to drop her drill sergant attitute and treat Jacob as who he truly is - her brother,and not some mold to shape to a perfect assassin or a novice under her wing. And Jacob overhears them. Love your stories keep up the good work and don’t be afraid to take a break should you ever get writers block. Sometimes a break is all we need. Stay safe and healthy

Here you are, nonnie. I do hope it's satisfactory. Thank you for your understanding and your patience with me and with this. Enjoy! <3

---------

Lord, could Jacob go for a pint right about that moment.

Sure, London was now at peace, since the death of the Templar Grandmaster, but that didn’t mean things still didn’t stir up between Jacob and Evie Frye from time to time.

While both of them had tried combining their different styles of tackling missions and work together more often, they still occasionally butted heads in regards to how certain things should be done. Jacob was still a bit impulsive and lacked subtlety, and Evie still too overly cautious and borderline controlling at times.

After all, as it’s been said, "old habits die hard".

It was another disagreement over how to handle a special mission from the very Queen of England herself that was now causing the younger Frye twin to grumble softly as he wandered along the sidewalk overlooking the Thames, his hands in his pockets and his eyes glaring towards the ground in front of him.

He didn’t stop until he heard Ben strike the hour.

He looked up. 4 o’clock. Teatime.

“Hmm...maybe I could go for a spot of that, instead,” he mused softly, his gaze falling to the Pier Café that was located on the banks of the river.

But that thought was soon replaced by another, when he spotted you sitting at one of the outdoor tables with none other than his sister.

“And just what are you both up to?” he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

His curiosity overtaking his need for some sort of drink - alcoholic or otherwise - he made his way towards the small café, keeping the brim of his hat low over his eyes and taking care to blend in with the passing crowds as much as possible, so as not to be detected by his observant twin.

Once he reached his destination, he slipped around the back of the building and crept up to the corner, so he was just within earshot of your current conversation. Peeking around a little, Jacob saw you sitting there, quietly stirring your tea, as Evie quietly ranted to you.

“Had to find someone to complain to about me, didn’t you?” he grumbled under his breath, scowling from under the brim of his hat.

Not wanting to risk being seen, though, he slipped back behind the corner and leaned back against the wall, his hand reaching into his pocket to pull out his pipe. After putting it in his mouth and lighting it, he took a few puffs in an attempt to calm his nerves, before proceeding to listen in some more on the discussion - bracing himself for anything else Evie had to say.

Once she had finished her speech about how infuriating her brother had been during the previous mission, a silence fell between you two, as you tried to figure out just what to say in return.

After another couple seconds, you finally spoke up.

"Miss Frye...Evie...it’s probably not my place to say anything, but don’t you think you’re being a little hard on him?”

Evie raised an eyebrow, clearly not agreeing, before proceeding to make herself a cup of tea.

“I mean- He’s your brother,” you pointed out, stumbling over your words a bit. “You both trained together, did you not? So, it’s not like he’s some “novice” for you to keep a constant eye on and try and train to perfection.” You gained a bit more courage as you spoke, but tried to refrain from sounding too lecturing. “And no, he’s not you, but...that’s why you work so well together.”

The elder Frye twin paused with the sugar tongs, your last statement appearing to strike a cord with her.

You set down your own cup and leaned forward a bit.

"I know how close you two are,” you added gently, “and I can tell that, even when he complains about you, Jacob cares about you very much...and I think...even though you don’t express it much...you carry that same depth of love for him."

Evie shifted her gaze to meet yours.

You continued, "All I suggesting is that maybe...maybe you might want to let up on him? Just a little? I mean, don't get me wrong, Jacob has done some very dangerous things...but he's also done a lot of good, as well."

The elder Frye didn’t answer right away, a sigh instead escaping her as she stared down into her tea.

“I suppose it’s just that...” she began, but she soon trailed off.

You rested a comforting hand on hers.

“You’re afraid his recklessness will get him killed?” you attempted to fill in, your eyebrows raising in question.

Evie looked back up. She said nothing, but one look in her eyes told you that you had hit the nail right on the head.

You gently squeezed her hand.

“I worry about him too,” you confessed in a quiet voice, your brow knitting and revealing your concern. “Every time he says goodbye before he leaves for another mission...a part of me is scared that...he won’t return.” You then offered a small smile. “But then, to my delight, he does. His cleverness and resourcefulness always brings him back to me...to us.”

After a second, the corners of Evie’s mouth lifted slightly as she digested your words. “Well, he has always been good at getting out of a tight spot,” she admitted, her gaze taking on a faraway look for a moment or two, “even when we were children.”

Your smile grew. “Although, I speculate most of the time, it was him who got you both in those tight situations in the first place?” you suggested.

“Oh, absolutely!”

You both laughed softly at this.

Once it had died down, Evie spoke up once more. “Alright. Perhaps...I can try to trust him a little bit more.”

“I think he would appreciate that,” you nodded in agreement.

She smiled warmly at you for a moment, before quirking her mouth, frowning a little in thought. “Now, if I can just find him - God only knows where on earth he is right now.”

It was then that you noticed something out of the corner of your eye.

“Why don’t you look behind you?” you suggested to the elder Frye twin.

With a look of confusion, Evie turned around to see her brother had finally emerged from his hiding place and was standing not too far away. There was a bit of an awkward silence between them, before Jacob took a few steps forward and spoke up.

“Do my ears deceive me, or was I being sought after?”

Evie stood up.

“Jacob...I...the café is serving your favorite tea today,” she quickly corrected herself, not saying anything about her previous conversation with you or asking how much Jacob heard. “Perhaps you’d like some?”

“I’d love some,” he replied, a glint of hope in his eyes that perhaps his sister wasn’t as angry with him as he first perceived. “That is...if you’ll have me.” He bravely took another step forward, standing right in front of his twin.

There was a pregnant pause. You held your breath.

“It’d be nice to have you,” Evie finally confirmed, gracing her brother with a genuine smile. “Won’t you join us?”

His entire face lighting up, Jacob wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her into a firm hug, not caring who saw.

Fiercely blushing at the sudden display of public familial affection, Evie began to quietly sputter and complain that there were people around; but Jacob ignored her and squeezed even tighter, knowing full well the action would annoy her even more. (It seemed as if some things would never change.)

He was soon distracted by your poor attempts of holding back your giggles, and over his sister’s shoulder, he locked his gaze with yours. The teasing light in his eyes soon melted into a more tender one, as you both smiled at each other - and you knew at that moment, that everything was going to be just fine between Jacob and Evie Frye.

[liquid-luck-00]

Consolation + The “Talk”

Bio!Dad Bruce

Day 9: Consolation and Day 10: The “Talk”

@biodad-bruce-month 

Ao3 ~~~ First ~~~ Previous ~~~ Next

This got a little long, sorry not sorry

~~~~~~~~~~

One week, one week has passed since Damian started school in Paris. One week since the tower of lies that Lila has built began to crumble and fall. 

By the beginning of the next day she had backed off all her lies about the Wayne family but she just re-doubled all her efforts on lies that included Prince Ali, Clara Nightingale, and Jagged Stone. But the tower she had built was going to fall. 

And Damian was ready to bring an end to this liar’s reign.

So you can trust that he would find a way to avenge his sister without the use of violence against her, especially in Paris, and especially knowing his father’s mantra of vengeance not revenge. But revenge is needed. So, Damian made a few phone calls. Over the course of the next week he would have enough video and audio evidence to prove his little sister is innocent. But what would really put the icing on the cake is if he could convince the principal to hold a career day or week. Granted it shouldn’t be too hard, he is the only blood son of Bruce Wayne after all. So, telling his sister that he would meet her after fencing practice he went off early in search of principal Damocles. He found the man quite simply and was it far too easy to convince the man to go to career day parents of the students will be able to come in to do you demonstrations or speeches as well as anyone else who they would like to invite.

---

Damian left for his fencing practice which left me packing up my things getting ready to leave. I was one of the last ones out so of course something had to happen. Adrien came up to me then “hey Mari can we talk.”

‘Sigh’ “If this is about the highroad again Adrien. Her lies are hurting people it doesn’t matter if you think it’s right, she’s hurting people’s futures their chances it…” He cut her off, great this is going wonderfully.

“It’s not that, well it is that but that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.” He was stumbling over his words and she softened her expression slightly “Marinette what’s the difference between infatuation and love?”

“What?” That was not what she was expecting. This is confusing, and where was this coming from anyways. Never mind why “can you explain it to me more I’m having a little trouble wrapping my head around the question.”

He had sheepish smile and started “I. I love ladybug but I’m not sure if I love her or what she represents more”

“You don’t know if you like the idea of her more than the person who she is?” Marinette asked him seeming to understand where this conversation was going. 

“before we go even further down this rabbit hole, Adrien why don’t we meet up somewhere more private”

“why? “

Marinette simply pointed towards the door “We seem to have gained an audience”          

There at the door was Alya filming but unknown to her someone else was behind her. “Bean we have to go” Alya you jumped at the sound of Tim’s voice.

“OK Tim I’ll be out just give me a minute,” Tim nodded and left Alya having scurried off when she was found out. “I’ll text you place and time to meet up and talk further that is if you’re still confused about your feelings about this girl”

“Sounds good and thank you Marinette” he whispered as she left the room. Once she got to the car she glanced at him oh no, was the only thing that went through her mind “you look like a cat who ate the canary Tim spill” she was moving in to tickle him to get the info out. “Fine, fine, fine I give I’ll tell, but” she shot him a look. “only if you make me some coffee, today feels like an all-nighter”

“Deal! Now spill”

“Damian set up that next week there is going to be career days for the entire week at the school.”

“Okay” she nodded her head understanding where her brothers’ train of thoughts were heading. “The career week will be the perfect opportunity to expose the rest of Lila’s lies. At least that’s what you and Damian are hoping to accomplish isn’t it.”

“Mari, you do know you’re my favorite sister” Tim replied with a smirk that would rival even Damian’s.

So, the two of them got to work. Damian may think he’s clever and the most discrete out of everyone, but he wasn’t able to pull off hiding the cameras and microphones well enough that Mari wasn’t able to figure it out. This means they are going to have plenty of video and audio evidence use against the liar.

Now when Damian got home from practice the three of them really set out to destroy the liar. With all the audio evidence as well as the footage proving it was Lila speaking Marinette made several phone calls.

Jagged and Clara were both on board completely and wholeheartedly, especially after hearing what was going on. With those two she called the principal and he had agreed to keep them as a special surprise for the last day.

She called her father and he was willing to fly out to speak on one of the first days. Her father also happened to be able to get into contact with Prince Ali, and once hearing of everything that was going on, he to agree to come and speak.

Damian had called the Kent’s so Lois Lane, Clark and, and Jon were all going to come to speak, well Lois Lane in Clark were going to speak, Jon was coming to hang out with his two best friends.

Once Mr. Kent heard it was going on well it wasn’t long afterwards for Barry Allen to come to speak about forensics science, Oliver Queen to speak further on different aspects of business, and several other members of the league who seem to have fallen in love with Mari.

Everyone knew that as soon as Lila saw the names on the list, she would be tempted to spread the lies about every single one of them, so they would continue to record everything that was said in the class.

And who’s to say that a couple of the heroes may or may not make an appearance was well, but it was to be determined if Lila lied about them or not. Within the hour the three Wayne siblings knew, oh they knew this liar would not have a chance to escape. And anyone left believing her by the end of the week, well they felt sorry for those poor souls who still believe her every word.

---

After about two hours getting our allies ready for the incoming slaughter of the liar I met up with Adrien. And that was different.

“Mari” Adrien seem unsure of how to start. We had we decided it would’ve been best to meet up at the Wayne Enterprises Paris branch that way we can have a conference room to discuss it somewhere private, I won’t have to worry about people eavesdropping. Well everyone except for my brothers but it’s a price I’m willing to pay. “This is the first crush I’ve ever had, I, I don’t know…”

“Adrien I’ve known you now for about a year. You are quite honestly still sheltered. Well that’s the best way I can describe it.”

“What I’m not! I’m no?” Adrien began to stutter because that was not where the conversation was originally going.

“Adrien you are still quite sheltered. The way you think things should be handles when it comes to lies or personal space is the same way that people deal with the paparazzi and those are not the same at all. But I’m saying that because it’s normal to be confused when it comes to a crush. I had a crush on you for the longest time and was unsure how to act on it. I got to know about you a bit more and the crush well it changed.” He was looking at me shocked by my proclamation.

“How? Why? What are you mean? I’m not.” Adrien seemed a little taken back before he finally decided what he was going to say. “You said had?”

“I had the biggest crush on you until I learned you were a coward, or what seemed like cowardace. You decided that someone you didn’t know was more important than the person you claim to be a friend. This past week has shown me that you are a pacifist, not a coward, but you strive for peace with everyone. but that’s not how everything goes. I learned that about you that’s what made me move on. So what is it about this girl that makes you stay or is there something about someone else who makes you want to stay with them instead?“ He was silent he wasn’t staring at me, but he was starting off into space. He seemed to not know exactly what to say, but the thought was there. 

“Ladybug she’s my…” He was about to say something but stopped himself, almost as if he knows her as more than just the heroine. But that is not possible the only ones who interact with her while in the mask are now her family and…

“Your Chat Noir” she said it’s so calmly and as such a fact that he just stared at her calm and unblinking until the inevitable freak out which cost him to pass out. Great now she’s stuck at a conference room trying to revive her partner who doesn’t know she’s his partner. Once he finally came to, she just watched as it to make sure he wasn’t about to faint again.

“I’m not! I can’t be! I’m not superhero, that’s crazy Mari your” he was rambling. In the past month she has perfected the Batman Glare and well Adrien was getting it, because she was not believing the bullshit that was coming out of his mouth.

“Are you paws-itively certain about that Chat.” He went silent, but doesn’t know if it was because of the pun or because she called him Chat.

“How?” Adrien whispered to her.

“Well I figured it out since it seemed like you knew Ladybug more than just a hero.” She stated hoping that her identity was not compromised. “anyways Ladybug’s your partner but what were you going to say afterwards”

“she’s my partner and my best friend. She’s the person who may know me the best out of everyone, except I think that goes to you now” he began to chuckle, but it evolved into full-blown laughter and Mari couldn’t help but laugh along with him.

“You know it makes a lot of sense of your Chat. Chat is always carefree and bubbly, but he always makes sure to keep it professional. Sure, flirting in the middle of the battle isn’t the best. But knowing Adrien and Chat Noir are the same person makes the whole so much more. What’s the word complete” she muses tapping her chin.

“Ladybug is the hero Paris deserves. But I don’t think I love her. I thought I did. I thought about this a lot, I love that when I was with her, I was free. I don’t know the girl underneath the mask. But I do you know the girl beneath the mask is strong and courageous. She is undoubtably amazing. But maybe you are figuring out my identity snapped things into focus, because I love the way I feel around her. But I also love the way I feel about my friends. Thank you, Mari.”

“For what I haven’t said anything this was all you.”

“Exactly, I needed someone to hear me, and not force me into a conclusion they thought was best. And at this point you are my first true friend. Can we. Can we be friends again Marinette?”

Mari looked at him for a second and then broke into a smile. “Of course, Adrien we’re friends”

“Good now let’s bring down a liar”

---

Of course the week leading up to career week was unexpectedly full of lies, all coming out of the Italians mouth. Oh, Barry Allen yeah she met him on Central city oh Oliver Queen she once saw him at a charity event in Star City oh she’s practically Lois Lane and Clark Kent‘s daughter, Jonathan their son, is her best friend. The list goes on and on. Everyone on the left side excluding Adrien do believe every word that came out of her mouth. The three in the very back on the right side, being herself, Damian, and Chloe couldn’t contain their laughter. This usually resulted in a Alya yelling at them from laughing that of course Lila wouldn’t be lying and then defending Lila as she began to cry her crocodile tears.

The entire school was informed that the entirety of career week was mandatory and missing a single speaker would be equivalent to failing a midterm for and class, meaning there was no skipping at all.        

 Monday

Today there were three guest speakers, them being Bruce Wayne, Prince Ali, and John Stewart.

Prince Ali was the first to go up go up and just let’s just say that many people we surprised that he did not do go green charities but in fact did children’s charities called a few things in the question specifically from Rose and Mylene.

Luckily for Lila she didn’t lie much about John Stewart, who spoke of his time as a marine and about currently being an architect, but that was a short-lived victory on her part, when he showed up as the final school guest at the end of the day as Green Lantern. He gave her a speech about honesty and the importance of discipline and hard work in order to succeed.

Bruce spoke about honesty and a hard work when building a company as well as the importance of working with reputable companies and brands.

At the end of the day she had two ceases and desists, one from Prince Ali and one from the Wayne family.

On the bright side a new Wayne charity was in the works alongside Prince Ali for children’s medicine.

 Tuesday

Was Barry Allen who spoke about pursuing forensic sciences and the work he does alongside the police.  

Wonder Woman who was speaking as an ambassador of Themyscira, and way at being an ambassador entailed. 

And Mayor Bourgeois spoke on what it means to be a part of the political and legislative sectors of the government.

Again, Lila received two cease and desists from Barry Allen and Wonder Woman respectively.

 Wednesday

Went similar to the previous two. Oliver Queen spoke about ways to modify businesses and expanding them in order to change with consumers.

Wang Cheng, Marinette’s uncle, spoke and gave a demonstration of cooking techniques for the school.

Tomoe Tsurugi, Kagami’s mother, spoke about fencing and also about ableism against disability, mainly that even being blind she can hand many fencers their asses without breaking a sweat.

Lila only received one cease and desist.

 Thursday

Nora, Alya’s sister, spoke of being a professional boxer and the training she does for it.

Lois and Clark gave a joint presentation, and of course Alya wanted her idols to review her blog. And well that did not go so well for her, Lois tore her interviews with Lila apart stating she gives no further evidence and simply takes what the girl says at face value. However other interviews she did provide more links to her information which prove she is a capable journalist, but there is room to grow.

The Kent’s also presented Lila a cease and desist, luckily for Alya she hadn’t posted anything in the past two weeks since Marinette’s return about anything Lila had said, and she was glad for that right now.

 Friday

Jagged Stone and Clara started Friday with a mini concert, that included a special duet with the two artists. Jagged spoke about Rock’n Roll and the changes and subcategories of the genre.

Clara Nightingale spoke on the pop side of the music industry and how she got started at a young age, as well as her background in dance and choreography.

Gabriel Agreste was the final speaker, we’ll he was on video call actually, and spoke on the fashion industry, the standards that come with the consumer market, and the way public opinion shapes brands and companies.

Gabriel was about to log off when Jagged walked in front of the camera.

“Too true Agreste, public opinion does shape the way many of those who have spoken this past week” many don’t know this about Jagged but mess with his family and he will not hold back. “That is why you should know, your model, Lila Rossi has had a total six cease and desists field against her this past week. As un-Rock’n roll as it is Clara and I will be adding two more to that list. I will also be suing for defamation of character as well. Clara?”

“Lies and cheats, make for poor feats. I will also be suing as well for defamation of character. This has made me so mad I can’t even come up with a rhyme.” She called out to the crowd.

“So Agreste, how will your totally not Rock’n Roll model affect your business?” Jagged asked. Everyone was watching the screen for Gabriel’s reaction.

“It would seem it is best we terminated contact Miss Rossi. Also, Adrien.” The poor boy practically jumped in his seat.

“Yes”

“There will be no contact between you and Miss Rossi until we are able to discuss this further. Goodbye”

The entire school was in a shocked silence. This final day as set up so the whole school would see it altogether.

Lila began to cry until she became furious. She jumped from her seat and yelled. “You did this! You set me up! You ruined my entire empire Marinette!” She was glaring daggers at me.

“If it’s any consolation to you Lila you made me miserable for eight months. You took my friends, those I’ve known since I was practically in diapers. You made my life hell and if that’s consolation to you fine. I will also be suing you for slander and defamation of character. But just know this I have people who genuinely care for me and I’m sorry if you felt threatened by me to blame all this on me, but I don’t care about your opinion or the opinion of those who turned on me without batting an eye not anymore.” It’s so liberating to say that to them. Oh, a weight has been lifted off my chest and so I walked out of the school side-by-side with Damian, Adrien, and Chloe with my head held high. And for the first time and I can’t remember when I could breathe. They weren’t going to hold me down any longer.

~~~~~~~~~~

Just for to clear this up Marinette is the youngest out of all the children. She and Damian are the same age but he is older by a few months.

Next

~~~~~~~~~~

Taglist:

@mochinek0 @justafanwarrior @abrx2002 @ranger-gothamite @fantasiame @moonystars14 @mochegato @bigbeautifulandfullofsugar @maribat-is-lifeblood @iglowinggemma28 @miraculous-ninja @talutah0 @vixen-uchiha @danielslilangel @witchsblackfox @pawsitivelymiraculous @lizziejay @marinettepotterandplagg @colorfulmongerpsychicranch @dast218 @sassakitty @miyla-lokidottir @lilkymilky @tazanna-blythe @tired-butterfly @lozzybowe @smolplantmum @queencommonsense @loopingtangent @chez-pezeater @paintedhope7 @technicallyburninggarden @meme991001 @wannajointhecrabcult @melicmusicmagic @trippingovermyfeet @greatcatblaze @fidget-eep @miraculouslydumb @iamablinkmarvelarmy @laurcad123 @hauntedwintersweets @fc-studios @fusser90 @madking-warqueen @buginetye

[prismadog]

Found Family AU character facts/background (part 7)

well, folks, we've made it to the last one of these posts - minus the upcoming master post. these just seem to get longer and longer, or maybe it's just because the past two have been about siblings? idk, all I know is that I'm a bit tired of writing these atm.

this last one should - SHOULD be shorter, but we'll see. this one will feature our last two characters - Mr. there's-no-such-thing-as-a-demon Joel Smallishbeans and good ol' Copper Dad Pixlriffs.

*did you know that Mesoglea is a word? I didn't until I kept trying to type "Mezalea" and my computer kept wanting to change it. Mesoglea is a gelatinous substance between the endoderm and ectoderm of sponges or cnidarians, or something. there's your word of the day and it's all thanks to the red squiggly line that appears every time I type "Mezalea"

*edit: guess what? y'all get two of these in one day because I felt like writing this last one! [technically, it's already Saturday but to me, the next day doesn't start until the sun comes up so yeah...two in one day! whoo!] the master post will be tomorrow sometime but idk when.

Joel

Joel is the only child to the Mezalean King and Queen, and was less born to them and more born from the Mother Tree - they couldn't have children so they begged the Mother Tree for an heir, She granted them a child who they raised as their own.

he was often alone growing up, never really played with the other children, but he wasn't lonely - so he and others would say - because he had his terracotta clones. he built many of them with his own two hands and the Mother Tree gave them life. he was raised as a prince and often went to the Gathering of the Empires with his father.

he got on well enough with the other children but kept mostly to himself - that is until he met the princess of the Ocean Empire. he noticed the other noble children seemed afraid of her so he took it upon himself to befriend her - plus, she was so different from the humans/clones around him, she was interesting with her pink hair and pearlescent skin and unnaturally blue eyes.

they would meet at the Gathering and spend the whole time together talking about their kingdoms and their hobbies - Joel was really into building and playing pranks on people, Lizzie was into raising axolotls and has a brother who she looks after. the short meetings weren't enough and Joel talked to his parents about visits with the Ocean Empire - it only makes sense since the two empires boarder each other. unknown at that moment, the Oceanic rulers proposed the same thing to the Mezalean rulers.

visits began between the two kingdoms and Joel found himself in love quickly enough - he loved Lizzie, he loved her little brother, he loved the Ocean Empire itself. but he kept his feelings to himself for fear of rejection, that is until he was about 16 when Lizzie came to him with talk of marriage - their parents had been discussing it but didn't want to force their children into it. he and Lizzie talked it over then went to their parents together and promised a future wedding, he also promised that Jimmy could be his best man.

life was peaceful, there were plenty of long visits between kingdoms, him and Jimmy often got into trouble - then the King of the Ocean Empire was killed. Joel tried to be there for her but found travel between kingdoms difficult due to the ongoing storms surrounding the Ocean Empire, he still managed to write Lizzie and once was able to visit - though getting back was just as difficult as getting in.

then several months later the storms stopped and Lizzie wrote to him about her taking the throne - she had said the Queen returned to the sea, though, he didn't really understand what that meant. he returned to the Ocean Empire and was there for Lizzie's coronation. he started visiting regularly for a time and each visit seemed to last longer than the one before it - he was there so often that Jimmy suggested he just move in. he did, with both his parents' and Lizzie's permission.

two years after that, he asked Lizzie to marry him and she said yes. they had two ceremonies, a proper land-dweller one in Mezalea, and another smaller Oceanic ceremony. being King now to the Ocean Empire meant he was basically a trophy husband but he didn't mind, he was happy as long as he was at Lizzie's side. if there was a Gathering, he or Jimmy would go with her, though usually Jimmy stayed home to watch over the kingdom - but he made sure to bring him plenty of stories and food from the Gathering.

Joel received word from his parents that an illness had struck Mezalea and the King and Queen had caught it. he returned home immediately to help where he could, Lizzie often sent aid to him, as did the kingdom's ally Pixandria - he had hardly ever spoken to the Copper King but he was glad for the aid. his parents unfortunately didn't survive and he lost a good number of civilians to the illness. but it was cured, with the help of the Mother Tree and magic from the Crystal Cliffs, and he became King of Mezalea.

with the illness cured, visits started up again between Mezalea and the Ocean Empire, though there was a lot more time spent apart than together but he and Lizzie made it work. Jimmy sent messages and gifts between the couple, often getting some for himself, until of course Jimmy became of age and wanted to travel the world.

Joel and Lizzie saw Jimmy off - it never ceased to amaze him how his two best friends could turn into giant sea creatures that could wipe out a fleet of ships. they managed visits on their own and sometimes he got letters from Jimmy. the letters stopped for a time and Lizzie grew worried, worried enough that storms nearly threatened the kingdom - but then Jimmy finally wrote them again and things were okay, he was in a swamp settlement and the people were taking care of him.

he and Lizzie went out right away to see him and found him at home in the swamp amongst a bunch of fish-human hybrids. he watched as Lizzie lectured her brother then babied him, then helped set Jimmy up as the ruler of the swamp settlement - the Cod Empire. they left Jimmy sometime later but saw him again at the next Gathering.

Jimmy got on well enough with the other rulers, despite the cod head he wore, though Joel noticed some rulers picking on him. he helped Jimmy from time to time, just so his brother wouldn't be alone, but didn't worry too much since Lizzie wasn't worrying - she was extremely protective of Jimmy but if she wasn't stepping in, then there was no need to worry.

Joel had met many of the rulers when he was a child so he knew pretty much everyone there. the only ones he hadn't met before was Count fWhip of the Grimlands, Wizard Gem of the Crystal Cliffs, and King Joey of the Lost Empire. Gem was all right for a mage, he ended up becoming frenemies with fWhip due to the teasing of Jimmy, and Joey was just weird so he didn't really talk to him unless need be. he got to know Pix a bit more when Pix decided to ally himself with Lizzie and Jimmy, and he started calling the man "Copper Dad" since his main trade was copper.

Pixl

Pixl was found by a pair of miners in a cave beneath the sands and was taken back to a large desert village, nobody really knew where he had come from, only that he was gifted with visions of death - of those around him and of rulers of the kingdoms outside of the desert. the villagers thought him odd and a bad omen, at first anyway, because he always knew who would die next and would light a candle for them when they passed.

they accepted him after a time, once they realized that he wasn't actually the cause - he would preach to them about Lady Death sometimes and how she would care for their loved ones. everyone in the village had a hand in raising him, as well as raising other children which was their way - it takes a village to raise a child.

Pixl learned how to farm and mine and care for animals, and he learned to build. his first build, guided by his visions, was the Vigil - it stood tall in the center of the village and was home to 12 different colored candles - only two of which were lit - one for Elfking Scott of Rivendell and one for Queen Katherine of the Flower Fields. the rest remained untouched. these flames never went out and the villagers often questioned him about them - he told them that there will be 12 mighty rulers that would change the world, for better or worse he didn't know.

over the years, he continued building up the village, he watched over the Vigil as Prophet of Death, and started working with copper and trading it for other goods. the people began to go to him for help and looked up to him as a leader, they named him the Copper King - a new candle was lit for himself when he was crowned, something he hadn't known would happen.

he continued leading his people and made a few alliances with other kingdoms - with Queen Katherine and the King of Mezalea. there wasn't a lot of contact between the kingdoms other than the Gathering, of which, he never failed to go to. over the years, he watched rulers age and die and watched their heirs take over. it took a long time for him to meet the children who would one day have their candles lit.

the next candle to be lit was for Pearl of Smallholding, though, he didn't know who she was at the time, he didn't even meet her until many years later. the next few happen fairly quickly - Queen Lizzie of the Ocean Empire, King Joel of Mezalea, and a couple years later Dwarf King Sausage of Mythland - these three he had watch grow up through the Gatherings. shortly after Mythland, Wizard Gem took over as the ruler of the Crystal Cliffs - he had known the previous Wizard and through them, knew of their protégé. a year after Gem was her twin brother, Count fWhip of the Grimlands - a new kingdom that managed to rise up from its own sort of desert. a few years later was King Joey of the Lost Empire and Codfather Jimmy of the Cod Empire - Joey's kingdom had once been named Maztec but had been in hiding for so long that it lost its name. due to his alliance with Joel, Pix decided it best to ally himself with Lizzie and Jimmy as well, somewhat through association but mostly because he liked them.

one candle remains unlit and no matter how much Pixl prays, the answers as to why remain a mystery. he still watches over the Vigil and keeps a count of each rulers' deaths - for some reason, the 11 rulers are allowed to revive themselves every time they die. he finds this odd as well, and a bit concerning.

[anonymoushouseplantfan]

New from Camilla Tominey in The Telegraph

It looks like there’s some new info mixed in with previous reporting here. Can you imagine how much stuff Camilla Tominey has that she hasn’t reported yet? This reminds me of Andrew Cuomo with the nursing home deaths & sexual harassment – the mainstream press knew for awhile but wrote little to nothing until just enough reporting was done to make them feel comfortable getting on board.

The timing of bullying allegations could not be worse for Brand Harry and Meghan Allegations that the Duchess of Sussex faced bullying complaints while a working Royal appear at odds with the couple’s ‘kindness’ agenda By Camilla Tominey, ASSOCIATE EDITOR 3 March 2021 • 12:34pm

It was the marmalade dropper that took the world by surprise. Allegations that the Duchess of Sussex faced several bullying complaints from members of her staff during her time as working Royal appear completely at odds with Harry and Meghan’s “compassion and kindness” agenda.

As a spokesman for the former Suits star put it: “The Duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma.

“She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.”

Yet the suggestion that the 39-year-old drove two personal assistants out of the household and undermined the confidence of a third employee certainly does not sit comfortably with Meghan’s suggestion, to be aired on Sunday night’s Oprah interview, that her time in the Royal family was “almost unsurvivable”.

For while the Duchess claims to have been “silenced”, so too, seemingly were the women who made the allegations to the couple’s then communications secretary, Jason Knauf, who submitted the formal complaint about the claims in October 2018.

In his email, he is alleged to have said: “I am very concerned that the Duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of X was totally unacceptable. The Duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights. She is bullying Y and seeking to undermine her confidence. We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behaviour towards Y.”

It is significant that the claims have surfaced not only out of concern for the accuracy of the Sussexes’ narrative, but also amid suggestions the palace could have handled the matter better.

Sources reportedly expressed concern that nothing was done at the time to investigate the situation, and nothing had been done since to protect staff against the possibility of bullying by a member of the Royal family. One is quoted as saying: “The institution just protected Meghan constantly. All the men in grey suits who she hates have a lot to answer for, because they did absolutely nothing to protect people.”

The signs that something was very amiss at Kensington Palace were plain to see after Harry and Meghan married at Windsor Castle in May 2018. The atmosphere became so testy that the Cambridges chose to accelerate the proposed split between the two households. The Sussexes were left feeling very put out when their request to establish their own “court” at Frogmore Cottage, their new Windsor home, was rejected by the Queen and Prince Charles in favour of them coming under the auspices of Buckingham Palace. It was said at the time that the 94-year-old monarch and the heir to the throne felt Harry and Meghan were increasingly “operating in a silo” and needed careful guidance.

This, in turn, deepened the tensions between the two royal brothers and their wives, with the Sussexes resenting the fact that the Cambridges were able to operate completely independently of either Buckingham Palace or Clarence House thanks to their seniority in the royal pecking order. The rising acrimony between the so-called heir and the spare was exacerbated by alleged conflicts between the Sussexes and the staff they jointly shared with William and Kate.

According to one well-placed insider: “Both of the Dukes were not getting along anyway but the staffing problems left Harry, particularly, in a very difficult position.

“There was a sense that he was caught in a conflict between long-standing employees and his new wife’s way of doing things.

“He really tried to smooth things over and staff were grateful for that. They never had any problem with the Duke directly.” It was around the time of the alleged bullying complaint that reports started emerging of a “culture clash” between Meghan’s “celebrity” way of doing things, and the palace old guard. As the Telegraph reported in November 2018, Kate was left in tears following a bridesmaid dress fitting with Princess Charlotte. The incident happened around the time Meghan was reported to have also “upset” the Queen by asking to wear an emerald tiara instead of the one offered by the 92-year-old monarch.

It came after a book by veteran royal journalist Robert Jobson described Harry as “petulant and short-tempered” in the build up to the Windsor Castle wedding, allegedly telling senior palace staff in a raised voice: “What Meghan wants, Meghan gets”. When reports reached the Queen, she asked to see her grandson privately and “put him firmly in his place”, Mr Jobson wrote.

There had also been stories about the former American actress “bombarding” palace staff with 5am emails.

While royal aides insist they “bent over backwards” to accommodate Harry and Meghan’s growing desire to do things “their own way”, the attitude “below stairs” was not always universally positive, with some giving the relationship “five years”. It hadn’t helped that William had voiced personal reservations about the speed of Harry’s courtship with Meghan, warning him not to rush into anything. According to Finding Freedom, the hagiography of the Sussexes’ departure from the Firm, Harry branded William a snob after his brother accused him of being 'blinded by lust’ over 'this girl’.

Catty gossip about Meghan’s “suitability” reportedly hit fever-pitch among palace staff during the so-called “Markle Debacle” when Meghan’s father Thomas pulled out of the wedding at the last minute.

The drama reduced both Meghan and Harry to tears, which perhaps explains why the prince went to such great lengths to ensure his bride-to-be could have everything she wanted on her big day.

A source said at the time: “Some of the staff don’t seem to want to give Meghan a chance. Harry is besotted and understandably extremely protective of her.”

Princess Eugenie’s wedding also proved a little problematic for Meghan, who appeared to admonish her husband during the ceremony at St George’s Chapel in October 2018.

The couple were later criticised for sharing news of their pregnancy at the champagne reception afterwards. William and Kate - not usually prone to public displays of affection - appeared much more at ease as they held hands throughout the service.

A source close to the Yorks told the Daily Telegraph at the time that Eugenie was “upset” that the Sussexes did not attend the evening reception, although Harry did pop along for a drink without Meghan. The Cambridges, meanwhile, “made a night of it”, according to fellow guests.

The timing of the latest revelations could not be worse for Harry and Meghan as they prepare for their tell-all, two-hour interview with Oprah Winfrey to be aired at 8pm in the US. It is also more than inconvenient for the palace to be facing questions over its handling of this bullying complaint when the focus internally remains on the Duke of Edinburgh’s continued hospitalisation at 99. A royal aide suggested earlier this week that they had “more important things to worry about” that the Sussexes’ TV exploits - although this is perhaps one story that neither side can ignore.

[theveryinsignificantpotato]

hello!! may a request an alastor x reader where the reader is charlie’s older sister?!

I am sorry this took a weirdly long time, I had to rewrite it literally four separate times before I had a semi-solid idea for a plot, and this is where it got me

I do sincerely hope you like it!

The Magne Match Maker

She was lucifer's oldest and most powerful daughter, holding a reputation for being a high energy leader who didn't take any shit, and often stirred fear in the hearts of those around her. Everyone in hell knew who she was, Alastor alone had read about her in papers, seen her in paintings and portraits with her family, and even caught a glimpse of her on the picture show once or twice in passing. He found himself knowing of both her and her reputation when they met, so the shock wasn't from her personality or anything of substance - he just hadn't anticipated how much prettier she was in person.

Despite her initial skepticism with his relations to her sister's dreams, she never shunned him, but rather allowed him closer in an attempt to grasp any hidden intentions he had. She allowed him to talk and dance and joke with her like he did with everyone else that allowed him to, and he found that she herself was brilliantly funny, charismatic, and quite the dancing partner, she was bold and fun and all around gorgeous - and Alastor would never admit just how quickly she had him wrapped around her little finger.

Charlie watched it all go down too, from the moment her sister arrived at the hotel she had a premonition about those two, and as the weeks passed their chemistry became more and more undeniable. Her sister, who was usually stubborn and quick witted, seemed to turn to putty in Alastor's hands every time he swept her into a dance, she'd blush and lean into his grip, and has a smile that just wouldn't leave regardless of how much she tried to force any other expression into its place. Alastor himself even seemed hesitant any time he had to remove the demon from his gaze and found that his face flushes against his will any time she'd laugh at his jokes.

This went on for months, both parties infatuated with the other while doing nothing to officialize any sort of relationship.

Charlie had to do something

While y/n had accepted the idea, Alastor was thrilled at the principal of a ball! So many bodies crammed in one room in the midst of an event would surely result in some delicious chaos, and even if there wasn't any, perhaps he could treat himself to a dance with the queen-to-be! 

Said demon herself was more excited at the ability to use the event as an excuse to go dress shopping with her little sister (dad had her off on business so often it seemed she never got to see Charlie anymore) it had been a long time since she'd been to a formal event and who better to consult than her! The Magne sisters would surely rule the event with their outfits.

Boy did they, Alastor was stunned when he saw y/n, who entered with Vaggie and Charlie, the three of them were talking and at one point when y/n threw her head back in laughter his long-dead heart seemed to leap back to life. He had never meant to stare, of course, she just completely caught him off guard with her striking appearance. Both Magne sisters wore dresses in the same style with skirts that met the floor with a gold trim, charlie's was primarily black and pink - like her typical outfit, and her sister was wrapped up in her own favorite colors, golden fabric trimming both dresses. He himself was quite dressed up, an old fashioned suit adorning his thin frame (red suited him best, he thought), his bowtie was replaced with a hand-tied bow, and a silken vest showed slightly beneath his coat. Her eyes finally met his after a few moments, and he reveled in the way her cheeks instantly flushed upon seeing him. It wasn't long then, before he approached her for a dance, earning an excited squee from Charlie. 

"You are gorgeous as always Ms. Magne, I would be eternally grateful if you'd grant me a dance." He asked sweetly, taking her hand and bowing to press a kiss to her knuckles

Her face flushes even more and she looks to Charlie who nearly shoves her sister into his arms in reply. He is barely fazed, only moving to ensure she was steady before returning to his previous position, "I'd be honored to" she says finally, her words barely leaving her mouth in a breath.

His smile widens and he immediately begins guiding her to the floor where many couples were already moving to a jovial rhythm, proudly showing her off to those who saw, as if staking claim to her right then and there. As usual, she was a wonderful dancer, and he adored every second he had with her in his arms, twirling and spinning her in time with their fellow dancers, even she seemed to be having a blast. He was so caught up in the moment that he barely noticed when the music slowed to the next song and she ended up curled up into his arms with her head to his chest. His left hand gripped her right one gently, and his other hand was held softly to her waist as he led her between the other dancers.

"You have a heartbeat." She observes in a soft voice

“That I do." He hums in a jovial tone, sending a delightful chill down her spine

"My father and mother don't, I have just never heard one before…" she says softly, and her face flushes slightly once again, "I don't know why I brought that up, I was just thinking and I guess I started talking."

He shook his head “Nonsense, I’d love to know whats going on in that pretty little head of yours,” He hummed continuing their soft sway across the floor, “Many people find the sound of a heartbeat to be relaxing, while I have met others who rejected the idea of a demon with a pulse, I’m curious of what your opinion is.” He continued the topic, hoping to keep her talking

“I like it.” she says contently, “I think I could always listen to it.”

Now it was his turn to feel blood rush to his cheeks, and he was silently thankful that she couldn't see his darkened flesh from her angle against his chest

"It's funny how much I disliked you when we first met," she continued, "I'll admit, Charlie is the only reason I let you stick around at all - and it seems that it's because of her that I'm here with you now." 

He hummed, "She is quite persistent regarding you and I, isn't she?" He muses, his eyes shining with amusement when she finally picked her head up to see him 

"Quite," she says, mirth decorating her features, Charlie was naturally very excitable, but her biggest downfall was her inability to be discreet - she didn't know just how much her proclaimed OTP knew of her set up, and the two of them got quite the kick out of watching it all unfold. "You don't have to listen to her ramblings, mister, I don't wanna hear you complain!" She said with a laugh

"Who said I was complaining? Your sister is quite entertaining, her little matchmaker game is one of the highlights of my days at the hotel!" He replies, "And you, Ma petite chou, play quite the role in that, too. Your smile shines brighter than the sun ever dreamed!" 

She makes a face, unable to hide her light blush at his compliments, "I've never seen the sun, Al- and did you just call me a little cabbage?" 

He laughs, "It's a term of endearment, chér, the french use it to relate the subject to something small, round, and cute, which you my darling, are." He flirts, that familiar sparkle of amusement manifesting in his eyes once more, "and why have the sun when you exist in this world?" 

She rolls her eyes, her cheeks still burning slightly, "Why do you say such things to me? Charlie cannot hear, so there is hardly any cause for you to continue this game."

He seemed confused for a moment, "game? Oh darling, you wound me with your accusation. I may be a demon, but I am a man of my word, and though I admit I have a flair for the dramatic, none of my actions toward you have been anything short of genuine." He confesses, and the look on her face was one of complete shock.

Then in the most amazing twist, an excited smile graced her features

"So you're saying that Charlie is absolutely correct about us and after all of it, you really do like me, and I am the most oblivious being on this plane just like she said." 

He blinked, "now I'm not-"

She rolled her eyes again, shaking her head, "shut up and kiss me, you silly cabbage." 

He laughed then, humming "as you wish, mon drôle de petit chou" before spinning her about and pressing a sweet kiss to her lips

Before she could even process the situation she was in, she heard her sister squeal in delight at the sight of her parallel to the floor in the radio demon's arms, and she couldn't help the excited smile into Alastor's own at the sound.

[writer-darling]

Northern Lights: ⤝ Part 3 ⤞

⤝ Previous Chapter ⤞

Rating: PG-13 (13+)

Pairing: Ezra (Prospect, 2018) x F!Reader

Warnings: None that I could find, but if there are any that I missed, please inbox me to let me know and I will add them in (:

Word Count: 6k

Summary!: After you are updated on Ezra's current state, you finally reveal one of the contents of the journal you keep so close to you. This brings a new memory and stirs up those new feelings you have for the man.

******

A couple of days later, the nurse confirms that they’ve taken Ezra out of the coma now.

“We don’t know when he will regain consciousness, but we will keep monitoring him and let you know if anything happens.” She’s a tiny thing, humanoid in appearance, save for the snakeskin pattern of her body; a gradient of greens, purples, and pinks. Her hair, which resembles the various shades of an oil slick, is pulled up into a tight bun. Despite the initial impression she gives off with the stern set of her mouth, she’s very kind. She monitors Ezra well and always offers you food any time it’s getting late. Zeeva’s her name. You’ve just come into the room, freshly showered along with Cee as you both had packs with overnight supplies. You planned to stay, as today has been a particularly rough day for you. Your anxiety about Ezra’s situation has been spiking since the night before, and you do not want to stew in it at home.

“Thank you, Zeeva.” You say as you take a seat in the cushioned chair on Ezra’s left side. Cee follows suit, doing the same and pulling her knees up to her chest next to you. She had revealed the content of the two packs you had seen her with upon their arrival a few days after agreeing to stay at your pod complex. You couldn’t help the rush of pride you had felt. Stars, he had done it. He had found the Queen’s Lair. Neither one of you had touched either treasure, instead choosing to shove both packs full of aurelac into a closet in your room. You would wait until Ezra woke up and decide what to do then; they were his earnings after all. After some time, Cee has fallen asleep, taking a nap in the seat near the window of the pod, with her blue and gold headphones placed over her ears. You’ve been journaling when you come across your poem again. You glance up at Ezra for a moment. He’s still, for now. His hair is longer than you’ve ever seen it, with beautiful chestnut and caramel curls that you imagine feel like silk. His facial hair has grown out a bit as well, and you have a feeling he’ll want to trim it all as soon as possible. You look to make sure Cee is asleep, before taking a deep breath and reading your poem aloud:

“Man with the mahogany eyes and a golden heart

Why have you gone?

Try as I might, my mind always orbits back to you

A solace planet that is pulled by your gravity.

Your voice rings in my head, bringing me the comfort

I crave from you on my darkest days

Your smile encompasses my memory

Following me into the deepest recesses of my dreams

I long for the moment we are together again

This time, I swear I won’t let go

Never been a liar, I'm a lilac and you are my sun

And every season I need you to come back…”

As you flip through another page, you find the journal entry from the day you met Ezra, this time unaccompanied, on the Green. You smile as your mind replays the memory.

3 ½ Years Ago:

You’d been trekking across a field of wildflowers as you tried to look for the newest dig site. The map in your hands was useless to you. Navigation had never been your strong suit. You had trekked well so far, but these clearings all looked the same to you. You had cursed to yourself as you looked around at the lavish, green jungle surrounding you. Your air filter saturation was now falling into the red zone and you could feel the burning in your lungs from the toxic spores. You set your pack down on the floor of the field, taking a moment to catch what breath you could. At least the flowers were a nice sight. You figured your best bet was to just see if there was anyone around who could help you out. You turned on your internal radio, and began to speak,

“Hello, is there anyone in close range? I'm in need of some assistance. I lost my way and could use a helping hand. I-I need a new air filter and maybe some clean water. If there’s anyone nearby, please, I have plenty to trade.” You closed your eyes for a moment, feeling nauseous.

“Greetings and salutations!” You looked up as the familiar accent was heard both in and outside of your helmet. From across the field, you spotted the patchwork of olive green and the man inside it. He smiled at you, and you could see the fond recognition in his eyes.

“Ezra??” He nodded and rushed over as you had tried to stand, but failed, suddenly coughing up a storm.

“Woah, slow down a beat there. I’ve got you. I was just cooking up some food for dinner, and came looking for some herbs.” He said, helping you to your feet. You’re still coughing and his eyes rushed over you in concern. You saw as he checked his filter, but it was dipping into the red zone as well. You knew it wouldn’t be enough for you both. He had cursed under his breath and looked around for a moment, thinking, before meeting your eyes again. “Can you walk?” He asked. You had nodded, determined to try. He had grabbed your pack, slinging it over his shoulder. “Well, my ship is only a few yards away. Hold onto me.” You complied, your breath coming out in short, desperate pants. The walk to his ship had seemed to take hours, with your breathing only becoming rougher with every other step. Once you had reached the ship, he had taken you inside. You had collapsed on the floor, your pack falling down beside you, as he had quickly shut the hatch. Your lungs were begging for something, anything clean. Water, air. Anything that wasn’t covered in those malignant spores. You had barely felt as Ezra pulled your helmet off, then stepped back. The cold, fresh air of the ship hit your sweaty face and filled your lungs. You had taken in gulps full, coughing in between. He had placed himself in front of you, making you meet his gaze. You forced yourself to focus on his deep brown eyes, anything to distract you from the pain in your upper chest.

“It’s alright now. Breathe, breathe deeply with me.” He had inhaled and you tried to follow his lead, doing the same. Nausea slowly subsided with every new breath you took, as did the coughing and gasping. When your breathing finally relaxed, he had smiled at you. “Better?” You had nodded in response, your voice a little hoarse,

“Much.” You cleared your throat. He had walked over to his pack, pulling out a canteen. He handed it to you silently, and you took it without hesitation, bringing it to your lips. The cool water was a welcome relief to your throat, and you drank up the liquid greedily. Meanwhile, he watched you, his eyes still holding some worry. Once you had finished the entire bottle, you had set it aside, leaning your head against the wall of the pod, trying to catch your breath again. “Thank you.” You finally said.

“We gotta get some food in you; need to get your energy back. Wait here a moment, I shall return shortly.” He had said. He grabbed a few things from one of the cabinets in the ship, exiting it quietly. As you tried to further relax, you had taken a glance around. His ship had been pretty spacious, maybe about 30 feet. The white walls had maps taped to them, writings in red ink on some. A cot was in the corner, and under it were stacks of books that were all tied together in bundles with twine. The pilot and co-pilot seats were empty, save for the backs of them that had jackets hanging off the back. You wondered where his partner was, and silently hoped it wasn’t Oruf again. You heard the hatch opening, and he stepped through it a moment later, a small black cauldron with a lid in his gloved hands. The smell of the food was making your mouth water and your stomach grumbled quietly.“I went fishin’ earlier today after my dig. Managed to snag a couple of arachora. I hope you’re not allergic.” He said, setting the cauldron on the small table next to his cot. He then removed his helmet, sighing.

“Thankfully no.” You replied and tried to stand up. He had rushed over again, grabbing your arm to support you.

“Here, sit on the cot, the books will keep you steady.” He had said, leading you. Once you were seated, he had gone back to the cabinet and grabbed two wooden bowls. He poured the contents of the cauldron, and you now saw that it was a stew, with chunks of the arachora meat. He handed you one of the bowls and you thanked him, the heat of the bowl warming up your hands. “Do you mind if I sit beside you?” He had asked, his own bowl in his hand. You shook your head, making some room. You both ate plenty, and you found the silence between you both oddly comfortable. You didn’t feel the need to fill the space with unnecessary chatter and neither did he. The food had been another welcome relief. The stew was salty, and just a little spicy, warming your chest. Meanwhile, the meat was cooked to perfection, as soft as butter. When you finished, he had grabbed both bowls, setting them aside.

“That was really good. Thank you.” You had said. He had smiled.

“Old recipe I picked up some years ago. Would you like some more?” He had asked. You shook your head.

“I’m stuffed enough, thanks.” You replied.

“I don’t mean to pry and feel free to disregard this if you feel that I am overstepping any boundaries but… where is your better half?” He had asked. You had resisted rolling your eyes at that last bit.

“Long gone. Back in Zatera, I imagine.” You had replied. “We broke up a while ago. I came here because I heard there was some good work.”

“Alone?” He had asked. You nodded.

“Pretty stupid idea, in retrospect.” You had mumbled. He had shaken his head.

“Not at all, plenty of prospectors come here unaccompanied. But, if you’re not familiar with this terrain, it can be difficult.”

“Are you familiar with it?” You had asked. He had nodded, running a gloved hand through his hair.

“I have trespassed through here more than once.”

“Your partner must be lucky then.” At that, he had looked away, down at his hands.

“Actually… I find myself solus as well at this present time. My partner,” he spits that last word as if it leaves a bad taste in his mouth, his lips turning down into a scowl full of contempt. “for this dig thought it would be a good idea to try and steal my entire harvest. Words and metal then promptly flew, and I taught them what a mistake that was.” You didn’t ask him to elaborate; his tone had been clear enough. You knew that a prospector’s work was no small feat, and it was only fair that he should defend what he had likely spent days working for. He hesitated for a moment before continuing. “I would be open to collaborating with you since you’re new to the territory.

“You barely know me.” You had said. “What makes you think I wouldn’t try to steal your goods as well?” He smirked now as he met your eyes.

“I am sure you are capable, save for one glaring slip… you stated yourself in your signal that you were lost and in need of assistance. You don’t seem like the kind to stoop so low for a pay grade. In addition to the fact that a spore fit is no easy thing to fake, thus I have a feeling that I am the one with the upper hand.” You had both laughed at that and you nodded.

“Touché.” You smirked back, thinking it over. You knew you could always just learn how to survive here on your own. But, he seemed like a good ally to have. At the very least, a good teacher to show you the reins. “Ok, sure.” He had extended his hand to you then, and you smiled as you slipped your hand in his, shaking it.

“Well… my sanctum sanctorum is your sanctum sanctorum then.” You thanked him again and suddenly felt the stew getting to you, making you feel a little sluggish.

“Do you happen to have a washroom?” You had asked. He nodded, pointing the way.

“Got any extra clothing?” He asked. You shook your head, disappointed but he smiled reassuringly. “No worries, I’ve got some sleepwear I could lend you.” You smiled at him in gratitude as he stood up, reaching under his cot. The two pieces of clothing he handed you were breathable, cotton fabric. You stood up then, making your way to the cabinet. You took your time in the shower, relaxing as you washed the grime and sweat away. You brought in your suit, rinsing it and washing away the dirt from it as well. It was water-resistant, so you knew it would be dried off by the morning. Once your shower was done, you had changed into the clothes. They smelled freshly washed, with just the subtlest hint of his scent clinging to the fabric. It was woodsy, rich. It came off as sweet at first, but it also had a hint of spice in there that lingered. It’s actually a really good smell. You laughed internally, chastising yourself for psychoanalyzing a scent like a weirdo. You stepped out of the cabinet then, dirty clothes folded into small bundles that you could shove into your pack. Your suit was hanging on one of the pegs in the shower. Ezra had turned to look at you then, stepping back as you saw that he had set up another cot opposite to his.

“I hope this is to your liking. I know it’s not much, but it was the best I had.” He had said. There on the cot was your pack, along with a pillow and a simple blanket. You had smiled, nodding.

“It’s perfect. I washed my suit already and left it in the washroom, if that’s alright?” You asked. He had nodded in response.

“I imagine you must be exhausted. Feel free to make yourself at home. I’m going to wash myself up as well.” With that, he had gone. You sat on the cot and took a moment to yourself, silently thanking the stars that at least for tonight, you were safe. You laid down as you heard the water startup. You tried for a few minutes to sleep, but the shower had done the contrary to its desired effect, reinvigorating you with energy. After a few frustrating stirs, you sat up again and grabbed your pack, pulling out the journal your ex had purchased at Central, minutes before take-off on your first prospecting trip. It was a simple, brown thing. But you loved it just the same, much to your chagrin. You began to journal, letting your mind recount the day's events for a couple of pages. Out of the corner of your eye, you had seen Ezra come out of the shower now, wearing a sleeveless white shirt. He had looked at you as you sat on the cot, knees supporting the journal as you wrote.

“Not much of a sleeper?” He had asked. You had shrugged.

“More of a night person. I like the quiet.” You replied. He had nodded, laying down across from you.

“Is it alright if I sleep facing you? My back is not what it once used to be; I usually wake up in a better mood this way.” He had said. You nodded, glancing up at him.

“Of course. It’s no problem.” He had smiled and nodded back.

“Good night.” He had said. “I’ll see you in the morning I hope.” You smiled at him in return.

“Good night, Ezra.”

The next morning, his alarm had awoken you with a start. You freaked out for a minute as you failed to recognize your surroundings before it all came rushing back to you. You sat up and turned to see Ezra already dressed, changing his air filter.

“Good mornin’, sweetheart.” He had said, his tone way too chipper for the time of day in your opinion. You begrudgingly returned his good morning and got up, rubbing the sleep out of your eyes. “Guessin’ you’re not a morning person. Huh?” He had said teasingly as you stretched your arms over your head. You saw him glance at the skin that revealed itself when you did so and tried not to make it obvious that he had.

“Not at all.” You had replied as you set your arms down. He chuckled and nodded.

“Well, I can always go out on the dig myself if you’d like to catch some shut-eye?” He had said. You rolled your eyes at him, smirking, and shook your head.

“And let you have all the fun? No way.”

Out on the dig, the other teams of prospectors were already harvesting as you and Ezra arrived. The two grids you had claimed individually were now going to be for you both, and Ezra communicated that to the other prospectors. As you set your stuff down in your area, Ezra suddenly spoke.

“Now, I must admit, harvesting has never been my strong suit. But I have managed to get a few treasures so far. How well do you know your way around the aurelac?” He asked you. You had smirked.

“Bring me the kit and water and let’s find out.” He had done as told and you found a good starting spot: a root that seemed to contain more than one gem from the size of it. You opened up the kit, making sure all of the tools were there. Ezra cut into the root, as you prepared the acid for the extraction and the fazer solution in the squeeze first, with water from the canteen beside you. He grabbed the acid, pouring it into the root, and it had released a bit of vapor along with a hissing sound. He had opened it up enough to stick his hand inside. He grabbed the husk, pulling it out of the root. Once that was done, he offered you the cord to cut. You grabbed the extraction knife and made one smooth movement, cutting the cord in half. You took the husk from him, setting it down on the extraction mat in front of you. He had settled in beside you as you worked and you smiled to yourself. Now was your time to shine. You made a careful incision in the husk, being extra careful not to puncture the crystal’s inner membrane before removing the seed vessel containing the aurelac from inside it. Ezra silently set all the bottles of solution, water, and acid in front of you before tossing the now useless husk aside, watching the process carefully. Next, you applied the water to the mat and the vessel, trying to keep it as clean as possible. After that, came the next incision on the inner membrane, revealing the blister. This part was a worrisome bit. You had seen the damage carrom acid could do, but you knew you just had to be patient and confident. The incision here was a careful “c” shape that would be deep enough to open the blister, but not so deep that it would scratch the gem. A damaged gem was worth nothing. As you pulled a piece of the blister away, you could feel Ezra’s eyes on your every move. For whatever reason, that did make you a little nervous but you did your best to ignore it. Once the gem was carefully removed from the skin of the blister, you set it in the metal pan, grabbing the fazer solution and pouring it over the gem. More hissing was heard as the outer mucus coating of the gem was melted away, before revealing a perfectly clear crystal with an amber center that glistened in the sunlight. You held it up to Ezra, who admired it, impressed with your skill.

“Perfection. You truly have a gift for this business.” He had said, beaming at you. The rest of the dig was relatively successful, save for a few empty roots here and there. Once you got into the swing of things, both you and Ezra chatted privately to one another through your radio signals. He was still as conversational as you remember and you found yourself having a fun time with his stream of talking. He was funny, charming, and could still tell a great story. The shift actually felt much shorter with him around, and you found yourself glad to have taken up his offer of partnership. Once your break at the sun’s peak came around, everyone made the trek back to their campsites for a good rest and to bring the treasures you had dug up so far back to your tents. You and Ezra decided on just eating bit bars, wanting to save your appetites for dinner.

“So,” he asked, handing you a bar and propping down beside you. “How did you end up in the prospectin’ game?” You ripped open the red packaging and dug in, the granola and dehydrated fruit leaving a slight metallic taste on your tongue.

“Boyfriend. He convinced me to join him in the digs. I was studying to be an accountant and pretty much left it because I realized it didn’t make me happy. This, the traveling and the prospecting surprisingly do, most of the time anyway.”

“You’ve never wanted to leave then?” He asked, opening his own bar up.

“Oh sure,” You said, nodding. “Many times. I just… don’t know what I would do otherwise.”

“Go back to accountin’?” He offered, smirking at you. You let out a huff through your nose.

“I would rather face the Saters than sit through another one of those classes.” He had laughed, a full-bellied sound that warmed you up more than the stew from the night before. “What about you?” You asked, taking a swig of your water. “How did you end up here?”

“I’ve been part of Fringeling crews since I was 19. My parents had a mom-and-pop shop, and I worked there for a while but I wanted something a little more… thrillin’” He raised his eyebrows, and you nodded with a knowing smile.

“Restless soul, were we?” You asked, and the flush returned to his cheeks. He scratched the back of his neck, bashful.

“You could say that, certainly. Eventually, I got caught up in the whirlwind of it all. Couldn’t help myself, I suppose.” He had said. “I felt like I was the epitome of rebellion; goin' against what everyone else expected of me… turns out I was just a naive sucker who didn’t know what he wanted out of life.” His tone turned sour and he frowned, looking down at his hands. You take a moment to let the heavy emotion hang in the air, before speaking again,

“And now? Have you ever wanted to leave?” You asked and he nodded, drinking his water before answering.

“Kevva, yes.” He said, his expression light once more and you laughed softly at his tone of voice.

“And do what?” You asked, finishing up your bar. He shrugged the shoulder closest to you. You smiled as it brushed up against yours with the movement.

“My mother always said I had the soul of a poet.” He said and you found yourself nodding along with the sentiment.

“She’s right. If your flowery turn of phrase is anything to go by.” He looked over at you and leaned in close, smirking.

“Just between you and me?” He said, his voice lowering a bit, as if it’s not just you two in your pod. You followed along, raised an eyebrow in curiosity, and leaned in a little as well. You suddenly noticed the truly lovely shade of his mahogany eyes, and noticed the amber specks throughout, giving a warmth to the color that made you a little dizzy. “I just like to be pretentious.” He grinned at you as you laughed at his words. Before you could continue your conversation, you heard the alarms in your radios going off. Ezra sighed and stood up, offering you a hand. “Shall we?” You smiled and slipped your palm in his, standing up as well.

“Let’s.”

The rest of the dig was uneventful but successful, and you were glad no one was trying to start any trouble. As everyone began packing up for the day, you turned to Ezra, who was putting away the last of the gems in your trophy case.

“Ez, do you mind if we try to track down my ship? I can contact Central and let them know I’m staying with you now so they can send someone to take it back to Zatera in the sling-back.” He had nodded and you handed him the map.

He walked in clear confidence, showing you that he did indeed know the terrain better than you did. When you two finally arrived at your ship, you were grateful to find your belongings whole, just as you had left them. You stored them away in another pack. Then, you turned on the external modulator, and left a message for Central, letting them know your prospecting identification number, your ship’s number, and your current situation. The ship would remain untouched - you hoped at least - until the sling-back.. When you exited the ship, Ezra was waiting, leaning against the side. He smiled and reached for the extra pack, but you shook your head.

“I’ve got it; I know you’re probably tired.” He had shaken his head in response too, grabbing it anyway.

“Nonsense, sweetheart.” You had beamed at the term, despite yourself.

When you both got in, he showered first this time. Meanwhile, you organized your things. You put your clean clothing under your cot, along with the couple of belongings you had. Nothing too fancy; just a few books, some random knick-knacks, and your field kit. Ezra emerged from the shower a few minutes later. He smiled at the setup you had created, and took a seat on his cot, grabbing the paperback that was next to his pillow.

“I’ll make dinner tonight, as repayment for yesterday. Wait for me?” You had asked. He nodded before turning his attention to the pages before him. You grabbed your clothing and dashed into the shower. Now that you felt more at ease than the night before, you let the hot water seep into your bones, washing away the tiredness of the day. When you were done, you grabbed your clothes. It was a sleepwear set you always carried to any trip since it was light. The baggy, sleeveless shirt and short shorts were a welcome familiarity and you knew you could finally relax. You quickly braided your hair, leaving a few stray pieces framing your face. In the pocket of your shorts, your fingers brushed a small, cylinder item. You pulled it out and saw that it was a tinted lip balm you thought you had lost ages ago. You debated on it for a moment but decided to just use it. It turned your lips a slight cherry red and you couldn’t help smiling at your image in the small washroom mirror. The worry that crinkled your brow was gone and you felt lighter, happier than you had before encountering Ezra. When you emerged from the shower, he looked up from his book, and you noticed the clear glasses he now had on. His eyes practically bugged out of their sockets when he saw you and his gaze suddenly had you feeling both freezing cold and burning hot at the same time.

“Well… aren’t you as pretty as a starflower?” He suddenly said, his voice a low drawl, and you felt your face flush as his eyes raked over your form. That term had you raising an eyebrow at him, smirking despite your warm cheeks.

“Starflower, huh?” You had said. He had nodded, clearing his throat and tearing his gaze away from you, his own face now flushed as well.

“I uh, brought out the leftover arachora meat, if you’re alright with that?” He said while you could see that he was making an effort not to look at you - and failing.

“Absolutely.” You said, following his lead of changing the subject. You grabbed the meat and cooked it over the electrical hot plate you had in your pack. Thankfully, there was enough for both of you. You also brought out some of the bit bars you still had and refilled the two canteens with purified water for you to drink. By the time the meat was ready, you were feeling a little sleepy. The entire time, Ezra had been silent, but you had felt his gaze on you more than once. It had made you smile, self-satisfied. Nice to know you still had it in you.

You grabbed the two bowls and handed him his dinner while sitting down beside him.

“What are you reading?” You asked as you grabbed the two canteens on the floor in front of you.

“It’s a fictional story about an estranged family that becomes stranded in a dangerous forest and are forced to work together to stay alive. I picked up at one of the kiosks in Central.”

“Oh wow, it sounds really interesting. I haven’t done much reading lately.”

“I can read it to you if you’d like?” He asked and you nodded eagerly, smiling at him.

“Yes please.” He smiled and flipped to the start of the book. He took a deep breath and began. You immediately realized just how perfect his voice is for narration. Much like his storytelling abilities, his narrating abilities were so natural and so confident. His voice was the perfect balance between high and low, with his accent bringing warmth to his words. His voice made slight changes in tone with every character and every new statement, especially those that were exciting or confusing. You found yourself magically immersed into the story being weaved by his melodic voice, and the easy flow of it made you feel at peace in a way you couldn't exactly pinpoint a reason for.

You hadn't realized you'd fallen asleep until your head had hit his shoulder. Your eyes shot open and you sat rod-straight, covering your face in embarrassment. “Oh my god, Ezra, I’m so sorry. I must be more tired than I thought.” He had smirked and you had seen him lean a little closer to you.

“You can sleep on my shoulder any time, starflower.”

“Well… aren’t you the sweetest apparition these eyes have ever been graced with? Such a pretty vision, worthy of all the stars in this universe and the next.” Your head snaps up at the new voice in the room. It’s gruff from the lack of use, but it warms you all the same. He’s smiling softly, his eyes half-closed as he faces you now.

“Welcome back to the land of the living, Ez.” You say quietly. He frowns slightly.

“Is that where I am? Could have sworn I was finally in Kevva’s sacred grasp, given the angelic picture before me.” He says softly. This time, you can’t help yourself. You barely process getting out of your seat and tossing your journal aside before rushing towards him, hugging him. He lets out a groan as you squeeze his form and you wince, pulling back.

“Shit, I’m so sorry.” You say, giving him some space to breathe. He lets out a smile, trying not to grimace as he readjusts.

“No, no. Don’t apologize, darlin’, I have longed for this sentiment indefatigably.” He says. You smile, tears springing to your eyes as you hug him again, this time being more careful. He instantly melts into you, bringing his arm up and cupping the back of your head to him as you tuck your face into the crook of his neck. “Kevva, I have missed you.” You hear him sigh as he clings to you. You take a moment to enjoy this. His familiar scent of teakwood fills your senses and it’s the most relaxed you’ve been in ages. The spiciness of the leather, cinnamon, and tobacco that clings to his skin finally convinces you that it is actually him. This is Ezra.

“I missed you too, Ez. So much.” You admit, a couple of tears finally falling and gathering on his collar bone. He had lost a bit of weight from the lack of solid food, but you could still feel the familiar softness of his body still.

“Hey, now,” You sniff as he pulls back from your embrace, the hand now placing itself on your cheek. He’s more alert now and his brow furrows in concern as he looks at you. He uses his thumb to wipe the tears from the corner of your eye. “What are these melancholic sentiments about?” He asks.

“When we lost contact, I got worried. I didn’t hear anything for cycles. I thought maybe something had happened. Some nights I feared the worst. Then you arrived like this and the doctors… said you might not wake up again.” You can see him processing your words and he exhales slowly.

“My comm link was destroyed during a scuffle with some Saters. None of the other teams had one. I tried for rotations to contact you but all my efforts were futile. Every signal I managed to find was either corrupted or unstable. Eventually, I had to come to terms with the fact that I wouldn’t be able to reach out on the Green. But, believe me when I assure that I tried, sweetheart.” You nod, finally understanding. “I promised I would find you again. I kept my word.” He says. The relief fills you.

“I know.” You say, but his concern doesn’t dissipate. “Thank Kevva you did, otherwise I would’ve been very upset.” You say, putting on a false stern voice. You do an exaggerated pout for emphasis and your plan works because he laughs softly, his face at ease again. Stars, how you’ve missed the sound. How you’ve missed him.

“Well now, can’t have that can we?” He asks. You shake your head in response. A look you can’t describe is on his face and the air is suddenly filled with tension as his gaze drops to your mouth. His hand is still warm on your cheek, and you see him lean closer until he’s only a breath away. “I will always return to you, my starflower.” The seriousness in his tone cuts through you, sobering you up. You let out a shaky breath as his warm scent fills your senses again.

“Ezra-”

“You’re awake.” You jump away from him as you both turn to the foot of the hospital bed, where Cee is now back from her trek. In her hands are some of Ezra’s favorite gummies, along with some baked chips and a few cans of pop.

“Little bird, you’re still here.” He says, smiling at the girl. She nods, looking over at you with a smile on her face.

“She’s been taking care of me.” Ezra looks over at you in surprise.

“Cee hasn’t been able to reach her family in Kamrea yet, so she’s been staying with me.”

“How long was I in a state of unconsciousness?” He asks, and you move off of the bed. Before you can move any farther, he grabs your hand in his, keeping you there. You smile to yourself as you respond,

“Two cycles; the doctor had you under heavy sedation while you healed from your surgery. How do you feel?” You ask.

“Ravenous.” He says, but he's looking at you intensely. His eyes are obsidian, darker than you've ever seen them. You laugh softly - a slight shiver running down your spine - and press the button to call Zeeva. As you pull back, he grabs your hand again. “How I have longed to hear that sound again. All my recollections of that sweet voice do it no justice, moonlight. The melodic timbre of it, the richness in tone. I do not wish to ever be kept from it.” You’re unable to say anything, stunned into silence. You were used to his sweetness being much more subtle, and even more private, just between the two of you. Even during your various partnerships in the digs, you both made a conscious effort not to make a habit of your connectedness extending past the walls of your pod. Because you knew it would likely lead to big trouble for you both. Especially in front of rival teams. But he spoke now as if you were alone, paying no mind to Cee only a few feet away. And damned the stars if your attraction to him didn’t just spike. You blush, and the soft smirk on his face doesn't disappear. When Zeeva comes in, she and an A.I. help Ezra sit up. You ask her if Ezra can eat and she nods,

“Just take it slow, nothing too solid yet. I think the cafeteria is serving some Womoon meat and broccoli soup. You can also have a pudding cup and some water. Try to keep everything as bland as possible.” You, Ezra, and Cee nod, thanking her.

“I’ll go to the cafeteria; get plenty of food for all of us.” You say, but Ezra doesn’t drop your hand.

“Now, hold on. I just woke up. I am capable of disregarding my hunger for a few minutes.” He says, running his thumb along your knuckles. He then moves your hand up to his face, leaning into your touch. His scruff tickles your palm and you bite your lip. You can’t believe that even just that soft gesture has you buzzing. You laugh again, trying not to go red in the face. You know you fail when his smile widens.

“You’re hungry, Ez. You haven’t eaten anything in over two cycles.”

“I can go,” Cee says, dropping the snacks on the foot of Ezra’s bed. The entire time, she had been watching you both carefully, and you had a feeling she was offering to go to give you and Ezra another few moments of privacy, But you couldn’t be alone with Ezra right now. It was everything to you to know that he was here, he was alive. But there was definitely something different about him. You had a feeling his brush with death made him more brazen, more open than you remember. And you weren’t sure how to feel about it. You were so used to knowing his affections to be soft, subtle. It was a solid, unspoken agreement you two had made throughout the years… this was uncharted territory. You stood up straight, giving Ezra’s hand a gentle squeeze before dropping it.

“No, I’ll go, Cee. You keep Ezra company and I’ll be back soon.” You try to ignore the momentary hurt look in Ezra’s eyes, who just nods as Cee takes a seat. His gaze burns into your back as you leave the room, and you have to take a moment to breathe when you’re finally alone in the hallway.

About 20 minutes later, you have a cart with all the food and even more snacks for Ezra and Cee. The cafeteria had been relatively empty, but the lady there had been kind enough to heat your food for you and offer you a cart to take it all back to the room. As you near the door, you can hear Ezra and Cee talking. You’re not usually one for eavesdropping, but you can’t help it as you hear Cee reference you,

“So, how do you know her?” Cee asks.

“We have indulged in various partnerships throughout the years,” Ezra replies, and you hear the tearing of plastic, likely his gummies.

“So she’s an ex?”

“Thank Kevva, no. Our relationship has always been strictly professional, birdie.”

“You like her, though, don’t you?” Cee says, and you hear the teasing tone in her voice.

“Very much so, little bird.” He replies, and your heart skips.

“Good. She’s kind and smart. She’s been here every single night since we arrived.” She says.

“She has?” He asks.

“Yes. It’s obvious she feels the same.” At that you stop listening, pushing the door open. They both look up at you, and Cee immediately is out of her seat, holding the door open for you.

“Couldn’t wait, could you?” You say a smirk on your face as your earlier suspicions are confirmed. Ezra has the candy in his hand, chewing some. He shrugs lightly,

“Go easy on me, dearest, you know I am not immune to the allure of these flavorful treasures.” You smile again as you and Cee begin handing out the utensils, food trays, and cans of pop.

******

Hi, hello! Hope you all enjoyed Part 3 (: I also wanted to let everyone know that I plan on uploading Ezra x Reader one-shots that will and won't take place in this NL AU. I am super open to collaborating with people who enjoy my work so please let me know if there is anything in particular that you would like to see in upcoming chapters of this story and for the one-shots; I love to write what people enjoy, not just what I enjoy. Thanks a million for all the love and see you next Saturday!

Tag list: @castleamc @klara-luise18

Links!

Join the Tag list here

Spotify Playlist here

Ao3 link here

TikTok here