#Dear Silver Comet

[persuasivestrawberryafternoons]

[Untitled Poetry 9/25/23]

I think maybe

I used to love you

In my own kind of way

And I think 

As I walk these cobble stones

That you might have loved me too

In your own kind of way

Sometimes the wind chimes

The same tune as your laughter

And it still doesn’t make me cry

And the hand you held isn’t even cold

Like I thought it should be

You’re gone

And all I felt 

Was my jaw unclench

And I see you smiling

With people I thought

Were also my friends

And it doesn’t hurt

And you never told me why you left

You just did

[tragedycoded]

character profile tag!

@the-golden-comet how did you know I needed to repopulate my characters tags <3 Thank you for the tag!

I know everyone here knows him, but let's do this for the protagonist of Doom Metal Love Story anyway.

Name: Cole Francis Sullivan

Nickname: First Sergeant (his rank), variations on his rank ("Top" is pretty funny); Kentucky (Hofer); angel/dear-heart/whatever the current hyperfixation is (Royston)

Kind of Being: Human

Age: variable (born 1835; story takes place 1872-74)

Sex: Male

Appearance: Average height and sturdily built, wearing the field uniform and calf-length boots he only took off to change into his parade dress every evening, Hofer knew who he was looking at before he saw the man's face. (Prologue, Hofer POV)

Until Sullivan sat up, unfurling as he prepared to ride into battle again. Glowing with life, invigorated, half-mad with knowing what he wanted, finally. Ambitious in the way of warrior-kings of old, invulnerable and ageless, lamplight catching the gold and the silver in his brown hair, his red beard aflame. That bayonet scar on his shoulder marking him as human. That bullet scar on the back of his calf. Royston could adore the man and not put him up among idols. Why make him an angel, or a god, or a star. There were so many already, hundreds and thousands and countless of all. There was only one him. (February 1873, Royston POV)

Occupation: First Sergeant in the United States Army Cavalry Division; fort sheriff of Fort Sarras, Kansas

Family members: William (father, deceased); Aileen O'Hare (mother.) Only child.

Pets: Molly, a 12-year-old Morgan horse

Best friend: Major Erik Hofer, Surgeon of Fort Sarras, Kansas; Royston will annoy the shit out of me if I don't acknowledge that he is Sullivan's lover.

Describe his/her room: In the Golden Ending, he sleeps in a barrack with the rest of the NCOs. Based on photographs I've found, it would appear he does not have a roommate. He has a bed, a bureau, a nightstand to put a lamp on, and a peg over his bed for his weapons (rifle, revolver, saber.) This is a fucking hotel compared to the Bad Ending, where he's in a barrack with three other people (Quartermaster Sergeant Harrelson, Hofer, and possibly Sergeant Miller? or else it was the sergeant who dies in the bombardment the weekend before Royston Kool-Aid Mans into Fort Cano.)

Way of speaking: No indoor voice. Direct -> firm -> blunt if you're really not listening to him. Polite, until you give him a reason not to be. Hiding an accent.

Physical characteristics (posture, gestures, attitude): Always at attention. Observant. Ready to react. Always carrying at least two weapons; is a weapon.

Royston wants everyone to know he "fills out that damned uniform."

Items in his/her back pocket/ purse:

HERE I'LL SHOW YOU

(This guy's a private, don't even worry about it. He'd be carrying the same equipment and hey he has the same facial hair right on.)

Hobbies: Reading, playing chess, throwing darts.

Favorite sports: Bat-and-ball.

Abilities/Talents/Powers: Marksmanship mastery, horseback riding expertise, melee combat (saber specialization), leadership. Is the 10th Cavalry Regiment's filthy joke repository (he has a strong memory when it comes to dick jokes.)

He acquires additional, uh, "abilities" in Book 2 but that's a massive spoiler.

Relationships (how he/she is with other people): Preoccupied. Easy to lose touch with. Will go HAM on anything/anyone threatening someone he loves.

Fears: He just told me he doesn't much care for broccoli. When I asked him why he said the fact that it's shaped like a tree is disconcerting.

I understand.

Faults: He's stubborn. His refusal to follow orders that are counter to his own code of honor has cost him promotions. "HE ONLY EATS LIKE FIVE FOODS," Royston says.

Good points:

He may flinch, but he is brave.

He's a leader.

He's loyal (possibly to fault.)

He's physically and mentally strong.

"HIS ASS," Royston says. (Translation: He has a healthy sense of humor.)

What he/she wants more than anything else: To go to sleep at night knowing he did the best he could to protect his country and the people he loves; and, if is his time to die, for his death to not be in furtherance of an unjust cause.

Wait--

"Since he's wandered off and appears to no longer be listening... I want Arthur safe, and alive, and with me. Which I recognize is both a far more difficult condition to satisfy and antithetical to the previous answer."

HAPPY FRIDAY TAG LIST LET'S GO BAP BAP BAP

@lychhiker-writes @cowboybrunch @saturnine-saturneight @ashfordlabs @autism-purgatory

@noblebs @aintgonnatakethis @the-golden-comet @asablehart @mauvecatfic

@leahnardo-da-veggie @sableglass @gioiaalbanoart @words-after-midnight

@lavender-bloom @jev-urisk @wyked-ao3

[env0writes]

Cicada Sentences Vol. 2, 7.1.24 “Sublime Oh, My! Just Lie; July“

@env0writes C.Buck   Ko-Fi & Venmo: @Zenv0 Support Your Local Artists!   Photo by @env0

Just lie to me once more I will listen and believe every word Every deception dear, I adore July, sweet sigh, in your breezes you are heard

Another month, moth wings fragile Time-sand slipping, this is childhood’s quicksand Let me lie still Sink into the cometous time as planned

Silver-honey’d words dangle delicious from your lips Each utterance a falsehood I kneel before your hips Growing drunk as I should

These opening days are blistering Swelt winds caress these burned cheeks Trust that the heat is whispering July is the first of the end of these weeks

My cradle-month ruby-red for each day Succor sweet ice-sweat Out in the cloudless, doubtless, blameless sky to play I place all these truths here so that I may forget

Just lie, to me, lie still, and still you move You make waves and ripples and trouble You speak and I listen and approve Let this line be a shelf to place my worries in a bubble

Fill it with lies and sand and thoughts that make me sigh Shake it up and watch snow fall upon me, in the beginning of July

[galderthefuzzy]

The Tale of Myrkalfa Earthshaker

(BG3 Major Spoilers Ahead)

The Tale of Myrkalfa Earthshaker (BG3 Major Spoilers Ahead) begins in a way unlike most any other drow; in the light of the sun. Having abandoned the Underdark before even learning to speak, this child was shielded from Lolth's cruel embrace by her war-dancer parents for most of her younger years. At a tender age no older than twelve, she and her childhood friends were caught unawares by a drider in the forest, whose vile poison cost her nearly all those she held dear. Seeing the danger posed by her under-dwelling kin and their dark spider-goddess, the young drow made a vow to herself, to help nature reclaim balance in the world, and expunge all those who would seek to harm rather than help. Upon coming of age, Myrkalfa would grow into the Circle of the Moon, mastering the art of shapeshifting in accordance with the teachings of Elistraee as she spoke to the drow people: “A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow.”After escaping the crashed nautiloid, Myrkalfa would join forces with the charming evoker Gale Dekarios, as well as the fierce gith'yanki fighter Lae'zel and mercurial Sharran cleric Shadowheart.

By fighting shoulder to shoulder, and recruiting a host of allies with their valiance, they would travel from the hilt of the sword cost to famed city Baldur's Gate, slaying every evil in their path without heeding the call of the foul Emperor. With blade and sorcery, not a single epic opponent was spared their onslaught, from the immortal Ketheric Thorm to the undying Heart of the Gate. The Master of the House, the Murderer of Mothers, the Black Hand of Bane and his foul Titan Creation. In a single swoop of their combined might, four heroes did free this age of so many evils that they are honored still among the likes of High Harper Jaheira, Nerys Kathon of Kelemvor, and Minsc of Rashemen. And in so doing, found also the light within themselves, whether it be from the Prince of the Comet, Our Lady of Silver, the Mistress of Magic, or the bright wilds of the Dark Dancer.

Not a single tiefling life was lost for the actions of these heroes, and but an ally did fall in their fight against the Absolute. Friend Yurgir, in his zeal for battle, found himself poorly placed among the party's plans for Raphael. In so doing, he gave his life, the single friend lost to none other than fate itself. At their sides in the final fight though were Zevlor and his hellriders, Dammon and the owlbear cub, Rolan and the Arcane Tower, Dame Aylin and the cleric Isobel, Jaheira and her Harpers, Nine-Fingers and the Guild, Valeria and the City Watch, Duke Ravengard's personal guard, Florrick and the Flaming Fist, Halsin and Thaniel, the free Gondians, Arabella, Mol, the Gur monster hunters, Kith'rak Voss and his red dragon, Orpheus the Prince of the Comet, and Volo the Chronicler.In the end, Shadowheart freed her parents from the shadowy grip of Shar, instead embracing the Life Domain and the teachings of the goddess Selûne. Lae'zel saw the flawed ways of the lich-queen, choosing rather to follow the teachings of the fallen Prince Orpheus, and in their name, journeying to the lands of the gith'zerai.

Gale Dekarios, formerly Gale of Waterdeep, the Chosen of Mystra, became a professor of magic at Blackstaff Academy. Archdruid of the Moon Myrkalfa Earthshaker lived up to her namesake despite adopting a new surname, cleansing the shadowlands of Ketheric's taint and Shar's corruption and allowing nature's peace to flourish once more in Baldur's Gate. The parties were chosen to safeguard a Netherstone each. One with Shadowheart, always on the move. One with Lae'zel, beyond the cusp of the stars. And one with the Dekarios household. Those locations would seem obvious to some, but in truth, it is a dare. An invitation for the Dead Three, or any other force of evil to rear its foul maw again.

I had the pleasure to work on this piece for jæja. The project was quite exciting and very complex, but I have enjoyed every step and really like how it shaped up. As a fan of Bg3, it was quite a treat to be able to combine my stained glass style with some of our beloved companions. I hope you like how it turned out!

Thank you for commissioning me!

[chaotic-orphan]

The Hero and The Infant part 2

Read part one here!

I found this orphaned in my drafts and I don’t know why I never posted it but here you go now, eat that up it’s good for you

*~*~*~*~*

“Villain.”

The hero didn’t shout it. They didn’t need to. Villain would hear them fine even over all the destruction and screaming and emergency services.

Hero just stared from the street up at Villain and villain looked down at Hero. Hero lifted their hand in a wave and then pulled the cigarette from their lips, exhaling a lungful of smoke.

“Hero-“ sidekick began but Hero shook their head.

“It’s okay kid. I got it from here,” hero said still staring at Villain. “So you gonna invite me up or do I have to climb twelve flights of stairs?”

Villain just stared. Sidekick moved forward, suddenly hesitant in bringing hero here. Just as they opened their mouth to say it to hero, they were wrenched into the sky by an invisible hand and suddenly hero was below them.

“Fucking shit,” Hero cursed, flicking their cigarette to the ground as they started running to the apartment building to the left of Villain and taking the stairs two at a time.

Villain stared at sidekick with a scientific kind of curiosity. “You’re new,” Villain purred. Their voice like liquid silver dancing it’s way through the sky to Sidekick’s ears sending a shiver down their spine.

“Yeah. I’m Superhero’s sidekick.”

Villain tilted their head to the side. “Do you know the mortality rate of Superhero’s previous sidekicks?”

Sidekick stared villain in the eye as they said, “I do.”

“And you took the job anyways?”

“I did.”

“Hmm. Not very chatty. You remind me of an old friend of mine.”

“Hero, I’m guessing.”

Villain smiled. “Yes. My dear cantankerous hero.”

“I met them today. They were difficult.”

“Nothing easy is worth anything, sidekick. Some parting advice.”

“You’re letting me go?”

“Oh yes,” said Villain. “Quite literally.”

Sidekick didn’t have time to process Villain’s words before wind rushed through their clothes, through their hair, through them as they fell like a comet to earth.

Then their momentum stopped suddenly and they were swinging into a brick wall, their arm yanked out of its socket and Hero above them, leaning out a broken window, two feet planted on the sill and pulled Sidekick up despite their cries and cursing.

“God, I know. I’m sorry sidekick. You shouldn’t have been here.”

“Fucking what the fuck?!” Sidekick mewled cradling their arm to their chest.

“Villain doesn’t usually act like this,” Hero told them matter to factly.

“What?”

“They don’t usually act this way. First impressions are everything but I swear there’s good in them.”

Sidekick blinked at Hero as Hero helped them to their feet. “You’re defending them?!”

“Well it’s my fault you see. I haven’t been returning their texts.”

“You haven’t— what?!”

“Your shoulder—“ hero said. “It’s dislocated.”

“No fucking shit! You yanked it out of it’s socket!”

“Would you rather be a splat on the concrete? Cause I can still push you out the window.”

Sidekick walked to the stairwell and braced themselves against the wall. Hero stepped forward a warning on their lips: “kid, I wouldn’t do th—“

A resounding pop and a shriek of pain from sidekick as they slid down the wall, breathing harshly through gritted teeth.

Hero opened their mouth, but Sidekick just held up a finger and wagged it in Hero��s stupid face: “don’t. Say. Anything.”

Sidekick braced themselves against the wall, sliding up it with a groan of pain and rolled their shoulder. Forwards. Backwards. Then they set their furious eyes on Hero and without a word turned and started ascending the stairwell to the roof.

Hero laughed, stunned at the kid’s resilience and followed them up the stairs. “Do you want some—“

“Just shut the hell up,” Sidekick said, kicking the door to the roof open and looking down pointedly at Hero who was midway through taking a bag of sweets from their pocket. “And go out and do your job.”

“Yes boss,” Hero said with a smile, putting a fizzy lace through their teeth. They emerged onto the roof, arms spread wide and yelled: “what the fuck are ya doing?” to Villain who was no doubt still floating in the sky, and Sidekick sat down heavy on the steps and took a few deep breaths before joining Hero on the roof.

*~*~*~*~*

Continued here

[violettduchess]

Hello! I don't know if you're still taking kisses requests but I'd love one for Isaac bc he's baby and I wanna give him all the smooches<3 thank you!!

A/N: Here you go @akitsuneswife 💜

Isaac x Reader

Word Count: 454

His eyes, the soft pink of cherry blossoms in springtime, light up when he sees you waiting on the university steps. The sky above is already darkening, an ombré of blues from the last, light vestiges of day to the halcyon, inky darkness of night. After a long day of classes and conferences, you are the last person he expects to see and somehow, the only one he wants to. It’s late enough that students and faculty are scarce, the usually bustling entrance of the science building all but deserted. He lowers his worn leather satchel and opens his arms to welcome you as you bound up the alabaster stairs and step into his arms.

Like magnets, your faces tilt and your lips find each other, drawn to one another with a force as natural as it is undeniable. His words, spoken not all that long ago, echo through your mind as your lips touch: “You’re the first person I’ve ever laughed with…felt peace with…the first one I’ve ever felt possessive of…”

Sometimes when Isaac kisses you, he burns as brightly as a comet, his mouth leaving a fiery trail of kisses across the firmament of your body. You're lambent with want, glowing with need. He leaves the world of rational thinking behind and with you, sinks into the wonder of just being. Of feeling. Of letting go and allowing the primal, uralt desire that spins in our cores to drive his actions, his touches, his soft, half-growled whispers. Sometimes he leaves you, deliciously broken, deliriously spent, your mind unable to form a single thought, capable of nothing other than listening to the throb of your heart as it drums how much you love him.

But sometimes, like this velveteen moment on the white marbled steps of academia, there are no chaotic explosions. His lips on yours don’t burn, but rather soothe. It is the gentle, peaceful twinkle of starlight, the silver beam of moonlight as it brightens the night. The kiss of someone who cherishes you, protects you, will always shelter you with every atom of his being.

His kiss sends a warm ripple of satisfaction through your veins as you lean into his arms, feel them tighten around you. You love how you fit into his embrace, how your bodies feel like matching puzzle pieces that lock together perfectly to create a picture of pure happiness. He slides his hands upward until he cradles your face, allowing himself the luxury of using only his sense of feel (your skin under his palms), of taste (your lips, sweeter than apples), of sound (your hushed sighs of contentment). You transcend his need to analyze, to tinker, to figure out. 

You allow him to exist, just like this.

And you love him, just as he is.

Tagging: @aquagirl1978 @alixennial @alexxavicry @queengiuliettafirstlady @rhodolitesrose @ikemen-writer @bellerose-arcana @thewitchofbooks @redheadkittys @dear-mrs-otome @firestar-otomeobsessed @curious-skybunny @kpop-and-otome @writingwhimsey @mxrmaid-poet @silver-dahlia @wendolrea @otomefoxystar @nightfoxqueen @myonlyjknight @kissmetwicekissmedeadly @bubblexly

[mysticstarlightduck]

Writing Share!

Let's go with a snippet from the last flashback/backstory chapter from Kye Thalax's past (a.k.a. the day his Dad dies when Kye is a kid and leads to his revenge arc as an adult)

They didn't stop running for a while. Eldora's men were persistent, and both of them knew they would likely get killed for the treason of... escaping from her grasp. Neither of them wanted to - much less after experiencing a little taste of freedom for a year.

Still, her wrath was about as unavoidable as the Reaper's cold embrace. From where he was held in his Dad's arms, Kye had not yet seen the men following them, ever since they'd lost track of them - but he thought he saw one, up on the rooftop of one of those bright silver buildings. There was a flash of red light, barely noticeable, following them, like a laser from those movies he'd seen.

"Dad?" The seven-year-old asked, nervous, as he tried to see what the man on the rooftop was about to do. Damen, panicked, didn't answer - he'd said they needed to get to some ship. That if they got there in time, they would be safe.

But right now, as the red dot continued to follow them, Kye wasn't so sure. He tried again, this time tugging, gently, on his father's ponytail, "Dad!? Dad, what's that?"

Damen looked at him, still running, frazzled "Dear, now's not -"

He cut himself off, stopping and looking over his shoulder. Kye noticed how his eyes narrowed for a moment, and his pointy, frost-white ears twitched, a second before a sharp something whooshed through the air.

His Dad jumped to the side, curling around him and keeping the boy out of view. Meanwhile, a glass capsule flew right into his leg, shattering and spilling a dark grey, bubbling liquid into the wound. As Kye peeked from under his arms, the strange red dot was nowhere to be found.

A moment later, Damen finally dared to move, looking frantically over his shoulders and around them to see if the shooter was still taking aim. When he looked at his own leg, fingers gingerly brushing against the wound, he gasped, freezing for a moment.

Kye didn't know what his Dad had seen or recognized, but if his reaction was anything to go by, it wasn't something good. It would only be years later that Kye would look back at this moment in time and recognize this strange liquid as... poison.

His Dad had been poisoned. But now in this very instant, all that he knew, was that his Dad was scared. And he was terrified too.

Supernova Initiative Taglist (-/+): @ray-writes-n-shit, @sarandipitywrites, @lassiesandiego, @smol-feralgremlin, @kaylinalexanderbooks,

@diabolical-blue @oh-no-another-idea

@cakeinthevoid, @clairelsonao3, @sleepy-night-child

@thepeculiarbird

@the-golden-comet, @urnumber1star, @ominous-feychild, @anyablackwood, @amaiguri, @lyutenw @finickyfelix

@elshells, @thecomfywriter

Let me know if you'd like to be added!

[knightprincess]

Moon Goddess (Commander Wolffe x Medic Reader

Word Count: 1.3k  Warning: Super fluffy Wolffe (I refuse to apologize) Note: Reader is a Night Sister (She/her pronouns used)

Wolffe had always been known for his stoic persona, the tough exterior with little patients for those who annoyed him—the signature eye roll when attempting to hold back some snarky comment. To the outside world, he was little more than another battle-worn Clone Commander with a brilliant tactical mind and commitment to getting the job done. But to those who truly knew the Wolf Pack's leader, he was protective, caring, and loyal to the letter. Despite what his rough exterior would say, he enjoyed the quieter moments of shore leave. He enjoyed watching the boys let loose and have fun, even if he did have to break up a few fights or retrieve some from the military prison afterward. 

Yet there was one thing Wolffe looked forward to when news of shore leave came. Going to the quiet silver apartment skyscraper not too far from the military base. Visiting the beautiful medic to reside there. (Y/N) was her name, she was a Night Sister from Dathomir. The pair had met when Wolffe had lost his eye at the hands of Ventress, at first he'd been weary of (Y/N), he'd been rude to her, letting his anger and frustration for what happened out on her, despite her doing nothing more than trying to help. (Y/N) had remained calm, listening as he ranted and gently tended to his scarring injury. She'd shown kindness when few other civvi medics would have. 

Wolffe could remember his search for her. He'd regrettably not gotten her name then. So when he'd been on shore leave again following his injury, he'd tried to find her. Although hadn't been successful, he'd asked around. Most of the civvi medics had cowered away from him in fear and likely judgment. Comet, Boost, and Sinker had all offered their help in looking for the medic Wolffe referred to as the mysterious Night Sister. Even Cody had offered to keep an eye out for the Dathomirian woman. Only when word reached Fox, did Wolffe finally find out her name. The Commander of the Coruscant Guard knew her well and was often tasked with escorting her to and from the military base. With her name, also comes the information she'd been temporarily paired with the 187th Legion and had been sent out into the field. 

The Commander of the 104th Legion soon pulled himself from the stroll down memory lane, finding himself outside the towering apartment complex. A small grin appeared on his lips, knowing his Moon Goddess would be waiting in the small paradise she'd created on the balcony of her penthouse apartment. A garden that never ceased to amaze Wolffe or bring him a foreign sense of peace. The Coruscant Moon above always bathes the tranquil garden making it appear even more magical than normal. 

"You're late again" came the soft voice of (Y/N) the moment she'd heard him enter her apartment. She'd been reading a book on one of the plush sofas, her eyes never leaving the pages, although the softest of smiles graced her pale lips. Wolffe wasted little time in following his normal routine when visiting the homely apartment. Rigorously taking off his armor and placing each piece in the footlocker (Y/N) had gotten especially for him. 

"Could my dear goddess find it in her heart to forgive me?" questioned Wolffe, his words as even as her own had been before. A smirk appeared on his lips upon turning his attention to (Y/N), seeing her perched on the edge of the sofa, she'd previously been spread across, the soft breeze flowing from the open balcony doors blowing her hair slightly. "Forgive me for being late home again" effortlessly worded the battle-worn commander, watching as her eyes shone with surprise, an expression painted on her pale grey features to match. "What?" questioned Wolffe, when her shocked expression didn't disappear. 

"You called this place home" commented (Y/N), her soft grin reappearing, as his word slowly sunk in. Wolffe merely stepped closer to her, his own stern expression seemingly replaced with one of relaxation and undying affection for the woman before him. 

"What else would it be?" asked the battle-worn Commander, as he finally came into arms reach of her. Wasting little time in pulling her closer, into the customary affectionate embrace and stealing a kiss from her mere seconds later. (Y/N), offered a small giggle shortly afterward, wasting little time in welcoming him home once more. With little hesitation (Y/N) directed him towards his favorite place, waltzing off toward the kitchen mere seconds later if only to fetch his favorite fruity drink and snacks. "What did I do to deserve such a Goddess?" voiced Wolffe, tearing his gaze from the view from the balcony, only for it to land on a better one. 

(Y/N) chuckled as she placed the tray she'd been carrying on the small side table between the two comfy sun loungers. Wolffe wrapped his arms around her from behind, turning her to the view from the paradise the balcony offered. His chin rested on her shoulder as the breeze blew over the pair. The shimmering moon seemed even bigger from there, nothing seemed to overshadow it, not even the noise of the traffic below could disturb the peace to flow over Wolffe now. (Y/N) soon turned her head slightly, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek. Hearing the sigh escape him, knowing he'd be reluctant to leave when the time came again. 

"Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum cyare'ika" whispered Wolffe, being sure his words were only loud enough for (Y/N) to hear. Ensuring they would remain a secret from the rest of the galaxy. "This war may be cruel and its own brand of torture, but it also brought me to you" effortlessly voiced the Commander of the Wolf pack, his rare softness remaining even when his mind took him to the teasing his brothers had subjected him to. Sinker, Comet, and Boost always with something to say when he'd return to the base when shore leave ended, Fox too would make a comment or two. Cody would simply ask if he knew of another who'd be willing to give him a chance at the same happiness. Whereas Rex would simply give that knowing smile and welcome him back. General Plo had long since worked out what brought an immovable grin to his lips, yet never said a word of it, instead wishing him a good few days away from the war and asking how the shore leave went upon returning. 

"Nu nulis tu kian, nuyak, Menuo Massassi" replied (Y/N), speaking a language she was sure most of the galaxy would have forgotten. Although the language had an undesirable reputation of being associated with the Sith, it was also the language of her native Dathomir. Wolffe returned his loving gaze to her, an ire of curiosity glimmering in his golden eyes, highlighted by the moonlight cast upon both of them. "Love you too, my Moon Warrior" repeated (Y/N), once again calling him by his pet name, a name Wolffe only accepted from her. 

"When the war's over, I'm taking you to find that peaceful place you dream about" commented Wolffe, opting not to say the words lingering on the edge of his tongue, knowing his Moon Goddess already knew she was his home. At the same time, the battle-worn Commander began to think about a future with (Y/N), going on an adventure together to find the peaceful paradise she'd dream about almost every night, the calm lake and soundless waterfalls, the endless rolling hills filled with grass blowing in the winds, the towns shattered across the landscape but also blending it to the picturesque scenery around them. A place the war hadn't reached nor existed. A place where love could be more than a well-kept secret between the two, more than a passing pet name. 

"But for now, remember kar'taylir darasuum will ratiin cuyir olar" softly spoke (Y/N) turning herself in Wolffe's arms, placing her forehead to his, as she gently traced the scar down his eye. Finally allowing herself to be at peace, with the man who had captured her heart and refused to give it back. Instead, he'd entrusted her with his own fragile one, along with the silent promise of loving her for eternity and longer. 

Masterlist

[kingleedo]

Tagged by @jongside to post my current Top 5 songs. Thankiesss dear 🫶

Ateez (Woo, San, Yeo) - It's you.

Ateez - Silver Light

Oneus - Simulation

Oneus - Halley's Comet

TXT - 01X=Lovesong

tagging: @sirenjunhee @strhwaberries @sayonarahitori @odeblr & @hwanwooyoung but no pressure 💕💕

[persuasivestrawberryafternoons]

[Untitled Poetry] 10/11/23

Oh to contrast 

a Comet and a Lily 

One was only 

Meant to crash

And destroy me

The other

delicate to my touch

Under my boot

Will I end up

destroying it too

Blazing ice cold 

Liquid silver raining from the sky

Encasing my body

before it solidified

And ripped me apart

And to the other

I crouch in the brush

Too afraid to touch

Too afraid to reach out 

And grant to it 

My own fate

If I pluck and place you in my hair

Will you stay beautiful

Or wither and end

and leave me with

insurmountable despair

[dyrewrites]

Before Deluca -- bad century

Yet, with revolution still a concern, we kept away from France and our last memories of London spoiled sweet Britain and her surroundings.

We ended up in Italy.

Specifically, Tuscany, wherein we plucked tourists off the docks—and a few who chose to enjoy the sand at night—before deciding to actually stick around a few days.

We enjoyed their coffeehouses, picked up new styles to blend a bit better with the life around us...and even looked for a room, to make new memories.

Unfortunately, the only available room was not up to Lucient’s standards.

A single bug.

You would think, after all we had been through he would be able to handle a bug, but no. A single bug interrupted our first night in that room and the whole delectable trip fell to pieces.

“Pittoresque, disiez-vous, immaculé, prétendez-vous—et il y a un cafard!” He screeched to the terrified child meant to attend to our needs.

Said child did not understand French, dear reader, Lucient knew that. He was shouting for his own benefit.

I didn’t translate, but sought to apologize, “Mi dispiace, il mio compagno sta avendo una brutta giornata.”

“Did you just say ‘bad day’,” Lucient shot at me before the child could respond, “I am not having a bad day, treasure. I am having a bad century and here we are, finally away from it, able to relax without a target on our backs and there is a bug in our bed!”

Without a word, the child scooped said bug off the sheets, nodded to us and scurried off with it.

This was the wrong response.

With tight lips, Lucient turned to me, “Unless he is returning to wash those sheets, I am not getting back in that bed.”

Pulling him tighter than he wanted, to smother his neck in kisses, I kept my voice soft and low, “He is not going to wash the sheets, my love, not until we leave. This is someone’s home, we are guests.”

It was a delightful vineyard we were lucky to find space in, and I wanted to stay in it. To walk the grounds. I would do none of those things.

My beautiful dream listened to what I said, returned the sweetness of my kisses, slipped my hold...and sped off.

He returned in moments with the proprietor, drained dry and lifeless. I sighed, with nothing for it to do, really.

And, well, I was yet overjoyed and all but swimming in the simple fact that I had him again. No matter what that came with.

Leaving the man on the bed, Lucient left an especially unkind note pinned to the man’s chest, to be found by his children before we took our things and left.

Children who, of course, alerted others before day’s end.

We fled the city.

Chased out by armed authorities and a local party of Hunters who—luckily for his dramatics—were self-appointed men and women with impure silver and prayers they were told would ward us off. They had no ties to the Council, the Council would likely have been glad if we ate them.

I teased him for it over the following decades we explored the world. For the remainder of the 18th century, and a little beyond.

And I ache to do so again.

It wasn’t a big issue, in the grand scheme of things, and didn’t lead to any horrible consequences. But it was so terribly my love, and I cannot help but miss it.

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[ladyelizabethraven]

Aesop and the Cursed Date (Sharpuary 2024 Valentine prompt)

Happy Valentine's! Since it's a special day, I'm posting the whole story here. But if you want to read it on AO3, it's right >>>here<<<

Contains: very mild sexual themes

It was the first time, for a long time, that Aesop had picked up anything that would make him presentable.

He stood in front of his dresser mirror only clad with a towel. Droplets of water still dripped from his soggy, brown hair. His skin glowed after he scrubbed himself thoroughly. In the past, he settled for Scouring Charm to clean himself.

But not this time.

He made certain that not a single speck of dirt stuck to his skin or hair. It was a special day, and damn him if he would ruin it because of improper hygiene practices.

The silver razor glimmered against the lamplight. The temptation arose for him to use it to even out his beard scruff. But his leg protested whenever he stood too long. Perhaps Kathrina would not mind? She had seen him a lot of times, so it would not matter, would it? He sighed and opened a cylindrical container. The salve inside was advertised to be some sort of men’s cosmetic product. From what Aesop understood, he should have slicked his hair back as though he were some sort of modern teenage dream character.

However, in truth, it made him look like an old pervert with a bad comb-over.

Growling, he removed the sticky substance from his hair and opened another small canister. The clear, viscous gel was supposed to make one’s skin smooth and clear. In fact, Black had also boasted that the product was his secret for his ‘devilishly handsome’ looks. Despite his doubt, Aesop applied a small amount of the potion to his face. At least this did not make him feel as if he had dried leaves clinging to his cheeks.

Still, it felt like he had just slapped a sheet of leech mucus onto his face.

Next, he scanned his wardrobe for the best suit to wear. Rows of identical white shirts, brown vests, gray jackets, and a deep green coat greeted him. He sighed and looked for another set of clothing in his suitcases.

A zany shirt adorned with zig-zag colorful patterns caught his eye. However, this would most certainly make him stand out for the wrong reasons. Then, he discovered a maroon coat with a leather belt around the waist. The trousers would definitely make him stand out. Upon further digging, he also found a dark blue shirt printed with constellations and comets. How Abraham thought these clothes were fashionable... he did not know. All it screamed was, “Look at me! I’m an idiot!”

He let out a heavy sigh. Perhaps his usual attire would not look that bad?

Having dressed up, he went to his desk and spread parchment. The smooth, flowing ink adorned with flourishing made his hardened heart flutter. In front of him was Kathrina’s reply to his invitation for a Valentine’s date.

Dear Aesop,

I am honored to receive your request. Truthfully, I've been waiting for you to ask me for some time now. It warms my heart that you will spend this special occasion with me.

Your romantic gestures and kind words are very much appreciated. The rose you left on my table was the most thoughtful thing anyone has given to me in a long time. Please do not apologize for being too forward; rather, I am flattered by your genuine display of affection.

I look forward to spending the whole day with you on Valentine’s Day.

Sincerely,

Kathrina

The brief note still brought a smile to his lips.

Ever since the first letter he wrote for her became widely circulated in Hogwarts, his feelings for her have become the center of attention. His attempts at hiding his attraction towards her were rendered futile after Black blurted it out to the whole faculty staff. The nosy son-of-a-bitch guy couldn't stop meddling in others' affairs. As a result, rumors were bound to spread and people would embellish them beyond recognition. But he had no intention of quashing them as they were quite close to the truth. He thought about the Alchemy Professor more often than necessary.

Still, he wished to vanquish Peeves for spreading out his love letters. How humiliating it was for that blasted poltergeist to fly about, cackling like a deranged bastard and yelling, “Who wants some cornbread and red wine from Mr. Lovesick?”

He shook the memories away. There was no reason for him to be angry about what happened. Instead, he took out another set of parchment and scribbled the schedule he planned.

1. Pick Kathrina up in her classroom.

2. Have a lovely picnic breakfast by the Black Lake.

3. Walk along the countryside road leading to the Valentine’s Carnival.

4. Spend the afternoon strolling around the carnival grounds.

5. Have a candlelight dinner with her and watch the fireworks on top of the Astronomy Tower.

6. Wait for the meteor shower.

7. Take her back to her chambers. (Maybe give her a goodnight kiss?)

It was a simple and straightforward itinerary. Yet, the mere idea of stepping outside his comfort zone was enough to make Aesop tremble with excitement. Years had passed since the accident, and he feared he had lost his appeal to any sane woman. After all, how would a damaged man ever gain the affections of a beautiful, spirited woman?

But she proved him wrong.

In their frequent exchanges, she never mentioned his scar once. Treating him like any other wizard, she earned his immense gratitude. Finally, the walls he had built to protect himself started crumbling down. Slowly but surely, she chipped his armor off and revealed the vulnerable man underneath.

Yes. There was still hope for a man like him.

Grinning, he picked up the bouquet of yellow daffodils resting on a potting tray. He casted Aguamenti before giving them a light shower of water. After drying them off with a quick charm, he stared at the blooming flowers. Aesop remembered Kathrina mentioned that these particular flowers grew in abundance where she lived. She would love the fact that he recalled a passing detail. He could imagine the smile in her face as she sniffed the fresh floral scent. Perhaps it would bring a glimmer of nostalgia in her eyes.

Though he was confident in his choice of gifts, Aesop still checked his appearance on the mirror. Hair? Check. Beard? Check. Breath? Check. Suit? Check. After a final brush-up on his outfit, he pocketed his wand, grabbed the flower, and headed out.

As Aesop left, Black approached him with a scowl. His eyes squinted, and his bushy mustache bristled. With a voice gruff and accusatory, he demanded, “Sharp, have you forgotten the regular batch of cures?”

“No. I didn’t, sir,” Aesop replied. “Your... medicine will last until Friday next week. I am sure it can—”

“I need a new batch now.”

“Pardon?”

“Are you deaf? I said, I need a new batch now.”

His expression faltered. “Sir, with all due respect, that isn’t possible. If you recall, today’s Valentine’s Day and we’ve already had plans.”

The headmaster tilted his chin up and crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you think your love life is more important than my health, professor?”

“We are not talking about a life or death situation here, Professor Black. You can manage without your medication for three days. It’s not like the first time you tried that.”

“Don’t act as if you understand my medical condition!”

The younger man merely narrowed his eyes, sighing at his headmaster’s overbearing attitude. “Fine. I’ll brew a new batch on Thursday morning and deliver it to your office after breakfast. That would have to do for the meantime.”

Aesop attempted to walk past the obstinate older man, but he seized his arm with surprising strength. “Peeves just spilled my medication and I can’t sit in the Great Hall surrounded by all those rowdy students. Imagine what they would say when they see their Headmaster haggard and miserable? Are you going to subject your hardworking, brilliant superior to such humiliation, Professor Sharp?”

He rolled his eyes. Black was fantastic at making his problems sound so damn urgent. This was nothing but a poor attempt to guilt-trip him into doing whatever he wanted. With a sigh, he tried to make a compromise. “I can make three vials, but the rest have to be brewed tomorrow morning.”

There was a hint of hesitation in his voice, “Three vials wouldn’t last until the morning.”

“Then perhaps you should cut the portion size a little bit. You don’t need to drink the entire bottle of Cure for Boil—”

“May I remind you that my condition is strictly confidential, Professor Sharp?”

Aesop rubbed his temples as he felt an impending headache forming. “Very well. I’ll get your infernal potion ready at the earliest opportunity, Professor Black.”

“Good!”

The headmaster let go of the Potions Professor and left.

He groaned. The stubborn fool changed his mind, precisely when he desired solitude with Kathrina. How irritating it was for Professor Black to command him like he was his lackey! Shaking his head, he limped down to his office as fast as he could to brew three bottles of Cures for Boils. He glanced at the clock. It was almost six in the morning and his date would begin in 30 minutes. Damn. There was no chance for him to pick up Kathrina now. She would just have to wait.

Inside the empty Potion’s room, Aesop eyed the large, stone cauldron placed in the middle. Quickly, he placed the bouquet of yellow daffodils on top of his supplies shelf, fired up the cauldron, and began brewing three batches of the requested concoction. With practiced efficiency, he bottled up the vials and send it to a house-elf for delivery. Black always wanted him to deliver the potions personally, but Aesop was not in the mood for his ridiculous requests. Besides, there were more pressing matters to attend to.

Grabbing the yellow flowers on the desk, he rushed out of his classroom. According to his pocket watch, he was already ten minutes late. Fucking hell. Kathrina must be very disappointed in him. Would she be understanding about his circumstances? Or would she berate him for wasting her time? He grimaced, trying his best not to be distracted by negative thoughts.

The stairs leading to the Alchemy Classroom was long and arduous. It was on the other end of the dungeons, and he cursed the Hogwarts architects for failing to account for disability access. His limp slowed him down, making every step agonizingly painful. He leaned onto the wall, gasping for air, feeling his leg protest with the overexertion. Popping Wiggenweld into his mouth, the liquid soothed the pain in seconds.

Resuming his trek, Aesop passed by a couple of sixth and seventh years holding hands and giggling incessantly. He could not help but smile. Valentine's day weekend was a perfect time for lovers to spend together. Not that he minded. In fact, the romantic atmosphere may facilitate developing his relationship with Kathrina.

A loud bang sounded, and thick purple smoke emerged from an open doorway. And within the cloud, Peeves rushed in with a bucket in his hand. “Bombs away!” he cackled, flinging a handful of bright, shining glitters.

Aesop tried to protect himself, but it was too late. The flying sparkles coated his shirt, trousers, coat, hair, and beard with sticky glitter dust. It looked like he just went to a wild, drinking party. In desperation, he shook his body vigorously to remove the offending material, but they only stuck closer to his clothing.

“Now you look stunning, Professor Sharp!” the poltergeist called out.

Glaring, he chased after the rude entity. “Get back here, Peeves, and fix this mess!”

“If you want to catch me, you gotta move faster, old man!” it called out and phased through the wall, escaping Aesop’s grasp.

“By Merlin’s saggy left testicle! What in Morgana’s name did I do to deserve this torture?!” he yelled in frustration. Despite wanting to change, why did the Fates conspire against him? Was the cosmos so bent on making his life miserable? He sighed. No. He would not accept such mockery. No reason for him to stop moving forward despite the misadventures.

Steeling his resolve, he hurried towards the Alchemy Room, ignoring the confused stares of the other teachers and students. By the time he saw the door to the classroom, he saw Kathrina coming out with her bags and equipment. She carried a picnic basket covered with a checkered red and white cloth. She wore a white and blue blouse with a white long skirt and brown boots. Her auburn hair cascaded in curls over her shoulders. When she met his gaze, her honey gold eyes lit up with glee.

He stood up straight, combed his messy hair with his fingers, and tried his best to look presentable. Aesop gave a small bow, greeting the Alchemy Professor. “Professor Holmes...” he began.

“I think Kathrina will be fine,” she giggled.

Heat crept up to his cheeks as he cleared his throat. “Ah yes, Kathrina. Thank you for waiting for me.”

Her gaze softened as her eyes traveled to his feet. “Is your leg not giving you any trouble? You look like you ran a marathon for the past hour.”

“Ah, I have to run. You see Black has a special request that involves...uh... a cure for boils.” He coughed. “Anyway, the potions are finished and sent to his office.”

“Why, Professor Sharp. You’re so kind.”

He blinked. “Pardon?”

“You are kind to accommodate Professor Black in his illness. That is very selfless of you. Even if he has a tendency to boss you around, you still attempt to look after his wellbeing.”

He raised his eyebrows and nodded in agreement. “Well, I would not go that far,” he said while scratching the back of his head. Then he noticed the glitter still sticking to his clothing and boots. Sighing, he pulled out his wand and cast Scourgify. “I apologize. I just met Peeves on my way here. And he gave me a...makeover.”

She giggled. “It seems like you had quite an adventure. Still, you look very dashing, Aesop.”

His face heated and his pulse sped up upon hearing her say his name. When was the last time a woman paid so much attention to his appearance? Clearing his throat, he handed her the bouquet of yellow daffodils. “For you,” he said nervously.

“Really? These are my favorites. How did you know?” she squeed. But the moment she touched the flowers, it sprang up to life.

HONK!

Aesop could not believe what he had heard.

HONK! HONK! HONK!

He tried to remember what had just happened. He went to his classroom, placed the yellow daffodils beside his supply cabinet, brewed the potion, left the room... Where did he go wrong?

Then the realization dawned on him. There were honking daffodils in the supply cabinet. Those flowers were potent in the experimental potion he was working on. And in his panic, he grabbed the honking ones instead of the regular daffodils. Why, oh, why, did it have to be that plant?

“Oh, for fuck’s sake!”

He clutched his head, trying his best to calm down and suppress the embarrassment he was feeling. First, he was late, then he got showered with glitter, and now he gave his date an annoying batch of living flowers. Perhaps he should not have bothered fixing himself up? After all, he was nothing but a scruffy, clumsy, pathetic excuse for a man. He had ruined his chances with her.

But Kathrina let out a laugh. It was not the derisive kind. Rather, her voice soothed his fears and assured him he had not screwed up. “They look pretty!” she exclaimed, grinning as she caressed the petals of the noisy plants.

He sighed in relief. “I’m sorry,” he apologized again, “I wanted to give you a perfect first gift, but it seems I even messed up that one.”

“I think this is perfect!”

“Huh?”

Kathrina grinned broadly. “Everyone I see in this school is giving chocolates, flowers, stuffed toys, jewelry... The gifts seem impersonal. But this?” she motioned at the lively, honking flowers. “This is absolutely perfect!”

“Are you sure?”

She laughed. “Of course, silly!” she said while slapping his arm, “No one in their right mind will give his date a bouquet of honking daffodils!”

Aesop did not know whether to laugh or cry. But he would do neither. Instead, he smiled back, relieved that the misunderstanding did not ruin the start of their first date. “Shall we get going? The picnic at the lake awaits.”

She nodded. “Wait, let me put these lovely daffodils in a pot so we can keep them alive.”

“Of course!” he chuckled.

He watched her as she gently dug a hole on the soil, transplanted the roots of the lively flowers, and filled the cavity with soil. After that, she placed the potted plant in her classroom and summoned a watering can. She poured water over the clay pot before turning back to him. Aesop offered her his hand. Without hesitation, she intertwined her fingers with his own. Together, they walked across the castle grounds and made their way towards the Black Lake.

♥♥♥

Aesop held out his arm so Kathrina could latch onto him. “You might slip on the grass,” he explained, which made her giggle. The pair continued walking to the edge of the Black Lake. As they made their way there, Aesop realized that this was the first time that he went on a picnic since his injury. In the past, women would constantly flock to him, always begging for favors, money, and gifts. In exchange for his company, he could receive free meals and entertainment. Sex and company never lacked in his bachelor’s life.

But ever since his accident, oh how those people vanished when they saw him sprawled helplessly in St. Mungo’s. The ones who had called him, ‘My hero,’ became complete strangers once the limelight was gone. Not one of his former flings asked how he was doing. They were quick to replace him and find better partners. His closest friends, if he could call them that, also turned their backs on him.

Since then, only a bottle of firewhisky became his constant companion in his chambers. At least it would not judge him nor betray his trust.

Still, he did not want to dwell on past mistakes. Today, he was spending time with the person whom he genuinely cared about. Sure, his past experiences involved dates on fancy restaurants and elegant dinner parties, but a picnic was quite refreshing.

He held the picnic basket while Kathrina kept the parasol steady. The early morning sun shined brightly above them, illuminating the grounds and warming the winter cold. A light breeze blew past them, bringing with it the scent of the nearby Forbidden Forest. All around them, students laid on the lawn, conversing with each other while basking under the warmth of the sun. He observed lovers on a blanket, kissing without worry. Students played with giant, animated chess pieces on the lawn. Others were laughing with their friends, obviously enjoying the festivities.

He closed his eyes and smiled. Life seemed beautiful until it reared its ugly head.

“Shall we sit over there?” Kathrina pointed to a spot that was partially hidden behind the bushes. The ground was soft and wet, indicating that it rained earlier that morning. The place was near the lake’s edge. Perhaps if he was lucky, he could introduce her to the Giant Friendly Squid that resided inside the waters.

“Yes. There is good as any,” he said.

He spread out the picnic cloth, and they settled themselves on it. Aesop was about to offer Kathrina a plate of sliced bread and a glass of tea. But to his surprise, a tentacle erupted from the lake, stole his serving, and retreated into the water.

He blinked and shook his head vigorously. Did he just imagine things? Or was a gigantic monster eating their food?

“Something wrong?” Kathrina asked.

“Oh... It’s nothing. Here have some scones and fruit salad.” Aesop picked up another forkful of fruit salad, but once again, a giant, slimy tentacle snatched it out of his grasp. What the-?!

“Um...” she covered her mouth. But the tremors on her shoulders revealed she was trying to suppress a laugh.

He narrowed his eyes as he stared at the ripples forming at the surface of the water. When the movement subsided, he sighed and eased himself down on the picnic mat. Getting rattled by a friendly squid was not the impression he wished to give the woman next to him.

He opened basket and took out the sandwiches and sweet rolls. “These are the delicacies in Mrs. Steepley’s Tea Shop. Would you care for a bite?” he asked.

“Wow!” Kathrina marveled as she brought the sandwich up to her nose. She sniffed. “It smells wonderful.”

She took a bite and chewed it gently. Aesop noticed how delicate her lips were, how beautiful she was with the sunlight hitting her golden eyes. He imagined how her pretty cherry lips would look when she wrapped them around his co-

No! This was not the time to have such fantasies. He mustered all his willpower and pushed the inappropriate thoughts in the back of his mind.

He popped a cucumber sandwich into his mouth and focuses on other thoughts. Getting all horny in the first date was uncouth behavior. A gentleman must reserve his sexual desires for later when both parties mutually agree on such acts. Until then, he must only think with his brain, not his nether regions.

Right now, he would just try and get to know her better. “So... How do you find Hogwarts so far?” he cleared his throat, “I assume it’s much more different than Durmstrang?”

She nodded. “Yes. It’s bigger and much more modern. Durmstrang Institute is more like an old, castle. It has this dark, medieval atmosphere. Everything is dark wood and stone. Hogwarts is so light and open.” she took another bite, “It looks more like a prison fortress than a school, though. It’s too high and the walls are too thick.”

He raised an eyebrow. Her words sounded like there was more to that statement. But Aesop decided not to pry. So he chose his words carefully. “And the curriculum? Does it differ greatly from ours?”

She bit her lower lip. “Not that much. Though the study of the Dark Arts are treated there like your Charms. But otherwise, the classes are mostly the same. Herbology, Astronomy, Potions, History of Magic, Defense against the Dark Arts, Arithmancy, Runes, Beastology, Care of Magical Creatures...” she stared at the still waters of the Black Lake. A hint of misty tears formed at the corners of her eyes.

“Kathrina?”

“Hmmm?” she asked as if being roused from a dream.

Aesop glimpsed a sad look on her face, but it disappeared when she met his gaze. A smile replaced her frown, but he sensed that something was not right. “Is something wrong?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just reminiscing.”

He nodded. While he was curious, it would be too insensitive for him to question her further. Aesop did not wish for their first date to end with her crying.

Perhaps he could try and lighten up the mood? He eased closed to her and took a sweet roll. But when he was about to feed it to her, he discovered a squid tentacle wrapping around the treat.

“Oh no you don’t!” Aesop growled and grabbed the offending tentacle. Despite his efforts, the limb refused to release its grip on the bread. So he tightened his grip and wrestled the creature for it.

After a few tugs, the Giant Squid released the roll and withdrew.

After checking for ink and mucus, Aesop handed out the slightly slimy sweet roll to Kathrina. “Sorry it’s sticky, but it’s edible,” he said as he wiped it over his sleeves.

His colleague giggled and took the sugary snack from his hands. With a small lick, contentment filled her expression.

Seeing her enjoy the sweet dessert made Aesop’s heart skip a beat. Why was he acting like a lovesick schoolboy? Was he becoming weak and vulnerable because of his feelings? His attraction for her grew by leaps and bounds, and he was uncertain if that was a good thing or not.

On one hand, he felt hopeful and happier. On the other, he feared he was going way too fast. If his feelings left uncontrolled, he might crash and burn. The tragedy of his previous relationships still shook him to the core. But if he wanted to move on with his life, he had to take the chance.

He gulped and tried to compose himself. “Kathrina, I know that this is too early for me to ask but...”

SLAP! The squid’s tentacle groped around the picnic area. While it was searching for food, it accidentally slapped Aesop’s face with its long appendage.

“Gah! Get off you, impertinent brute!” he shouted as he slapped the appendage away.

At first, Kathrina looked horrified by the scene before her. But then she giggled.

He cleared his throat and stared at her eyes. “As I was saying...”

SLAP! SLAP!

His eye twitched with rage as he glared at the half-submerged creature. “For Salazar’s sake, leave us alone, you nosy pervert!”

But the monster would not listen. It continued to grope around for any food items while splashing about.

“Umm, Aesop, I think your friend is lonely.” Kathrina offered the rest of the sweet roll to the aquatic animal, “Here you go!”

The tentacle caught the treat mid air. With a friendly wave, it slipped back into the waters of the Black Lake.

He watched Kathrina clap with delight at the cute antics of the creature. Aesop could not help but admire how she interacted with the Giant Squid. At least the mood had lightened up.

Glancing at his pocket watch, he noticed that the carnival that settled by the outskirts of Hogsmeade would open in thirty minutes. “It’s time to go,” he stated as he cleaned the plates and cups they used for their meal. “I hope that nosy squid had its fill. Because it just ate almost all of our breakfast.”

“I’m sure we can find something to eat while at the carnival. Do you think there will be cotton candy?”

His heart skipped a beat when she flashed her cute smile. He couldn’t help but notice her joyful expression. The melancholy look from earlier had disappeared. With a nod he offered his arm to her and said, “Let’s see what the carnival has in store.”

The two professors packed up the picnic supplies and made their way toward Hogsmeade. The entire village had been decorated with lights and streamers for the occasion. Couples of all ages strolled, admiring trinkets and clothing available at shops. Of course, everything was Valentine’s themed. Most of the merchandise were red, pink, and white, with images of hearts everywhere. It made Aesop gag a little; however, he wouldn’t let anything ruin his day with Kathrina.

♥♥♥

As they walked through the stalls, he talked about his childhood and how he started learning Potions. He also told her about his family and where he grew up. And for the first time in a long time, Aesop was enjoying himself and getting to know someone he really liked. There was no pressure to be larger than life. Pretentiousness was absent in their conversation. Everything just flowed naturally between them. It was as if he found a connection that was missing in his life.

When they reached a game stall, Kathrina dragged him over. It was a simple game of shoot the moving pictures. Cardboard cutouts of fwoopwers, dandelion puffs, snidgets, and bludgers whirled around the table.

“It’s all about precision,” Kathrina mused.

She pulled out her wand and aimed at the targets. The targets whirred and moved erratically. Kathrina squinted, pursing her lips. She shot a spell, but it missed the target completely. She groaned and sighed in frustration.

Aesop patted her back. “There, there, Kathrina. Let me handle this,” he said with a wink. His old cocky self resurfaced for a moment.

He took a deep breath, steadying his wand and lining up his shot. He focused on a dandelion puff. Its wings fluttered and changed directions repeatedly. He had to account for the distance and speed in his calculations. Time stopped as he mentally computed the variables.

Aesop considered everything, then released the spell and hit the target. With precision, he targeted and struck each of the moving cutouts. He was in his element. The spells flew out of his wand as if they were extensions of his body. There was a rhythm to the way he executed the charms. Each move was precise, powerful, and clean. He made it all look so easy.

But then he saw a different shaped target. A racoon-faced pixie floated in the middle of the target, wiggling and swaying in circles.

“This must be a special target!” he smirked. In a single flick of his wand, he hit the tiny pixie head.

POOF!

Sprays of paint showered on Aesop’s face. It coated his beard and eyebrows with neon colors. Reds, greens, blues, yellows, and whites stained his hair, neck, clothes, and shoes. It looked like he had just gotten caught in a rainbow explosion.

PLOP!

And to add insult to injury, a puffskein landed on his head.

Aesop glanced at Kathrina, whose efforts to hold back a laugh failed. She exploded in a fit of uncontrollable laughter. Tears spilled from her eyes as she struggled to breathe.

“Ouch, tough luck! You just hit the jester target,” the stall owner shook his head, “I’m sorry, but you lost the game.”

Meanwhile, the puffskein squealed in fright, leapt off his head, and bounced away.

The Potion Master’s eyes bulged. “Wha- why is there something like that among the targets?!”

“Uh, have you read the rules, sir?”

Aesop glanced at the wooden board. And it was written there in bold letters: “In case you hit the racoon pixie jester, you automatically lose the game.”

“What sort of incompetent, idiotic, bullshit-“

“Hey, hey, hey, Mr. Wizard, calm down,” the stall owner raised his hands, “It’s not my fault you can’t follow simple instructions.”

“I demand a refund!”

The stall owner sighed. “Now you sound like that little girl over there who threw a tantrum because she lost.”

“Why you—”

Kathrina held his arm. “Now, calm down, Aesop,” she said soothingly. “It’s just a game.”

The Potion Master groaned. There was no need to get worked up over a mere children’s carnival game. His pride and ego could survive such a slight humiliation. Even so, looking like a fool in front of the woman he admired... That was embarrassing!

Kathrina was still smiling when he turned to face her. But Aesop saw something else in those eyes: compassion and understanding. Despite her laughter, he understood her intentions were not malicious. With a heavy sigh, he followed Kathrina, who led him towards another attraction.

After cleaning up using his wand, they went on a walk past the other booths.

A spooky-looking house caught his attention. The house's roof had a pointy cone shape that caught his attention. Red and gold banners draped on the windows. Cheap-looking skeletons swayed by the front porch. Two glowing red lanterns hung by the entrance. The large signs in front of the house that read "House of Horrors" were particularly eye-catching.

Aesop snorted. Such a cliche name was ridiculous.

“Oooh, is that a horror house?” Kathrina exclaimed excitedly, tugging on his coat sleeve. “Please, please, let’s try that one!”

“Kathrina, look at those garish decorations,” he waved at the entrance, “No one believe haunted houses looked like that! Any wizards with half a brain would know that this was fake and not even worth anyone’s time!”

But his companion didn’t seem to pay him any heed. “C’mon! I want to see what’s inside!”

He was about to roll his eyes when he stopped himself. Perhaps this would regain what little pride he had lost after that last stunt. “Very well, Kathrina. If you insist, let us enter.”

There was no queue, so they were ushered right in.

Aesop looked around. The design of the blue-green lights clearly resembled moonlight. Cheesy moans and screams echoed at the corners, obscured by thin black cloth. And an obvious enchantment depicting the howling wind felt more like a pathetic whistle. He almost felt ashamed for stepping foot in such a tacky location. They should bring back whoever performed the special effect charms on this house to Hogwarts and make them retake Charms. Abraham’s students could pull off better effects than this.

After passing through the haunted door, he noticed that the temperature had dropped several degrees. The interior had black paint on the walls, ceiling, and floor. Faint traces of dusty cobwebs hung around the hallway. Aesop wondered if those who made the webs had seen spider webs because of their yarn-like texture. A shadow of a spider crawled along the crevices of the room. But the large screws attached to the spider legs made him cringe a little.

In the distance, a female figure wearing a white veil appeared, blocking the path forward. She was a lanky woman in a ragged, wedding dress. She moaned as if she was in pain.

Kathrina shuddered and hugged Aesop. While it felt good to feel the heat of her body pressed to his own, he kept his eyes fixed on the white figure. With a loud whisper, he said, “This is an illusion. Those are basic charms for making the shadows and figures look eerie.” He explained, “I once apprehended troublemakers who used such cheap tactics to scare innocent people.”

“Huh? Are you sure? The house looks quite frightening...” she said.

“There is nothing to be afraid of. Here, I’ll show you how it works,” he grinned.

Aesop strode confidently towards the apparition, pointing his wand at the woman. “Finite!”

Suddenly, the woman vanished in to thin air.

“OI, YA CUNT! DON’T EXPOSE OUR SECRET TECHNIQUE!” a man yelled out of the blue, “If you ruin the fun of people who are trying to be scared, YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!”

“If you want to be respected as an illusionist, then work on your charms!” he snapped back.

“Oh, you think you’re tough, big guy? Let’s see if you don’t cry like a little bitch in the next chamber!”

Aesop shrugged as they walked through the doorway and entered the next room. A cloud of thick smoke drifted from the top of the hall and spread along the floor. Behind the thick fog, a cluster of orbs dashed across them and vanished.

He rolled his eyes. “That’s the best thing you can do?”

“Shut the hell up, smartass!” the disembodied voice yelled, “You haven’t seen nothing yet!”

They continued to explore the rooms of the haunted house. After walking across the dark corridor, they reached a room with a staircase. The wooden stairs seemed to descend endlessly as they spiraled down into the basement. Each step they took made the floorboard creak with age. Hanging from the sides of the railings were torn-up black sheets with silver chains.

Another sound bellowed from the depths. But this time, it sounded like the scream came from the lower part of the stairs. Silvery, scratching sounds groaned throughout the hollow space. Flying creatures of the night approached them like bats, but their faces resembled human skulls.

Aesop snorted and flicked his wrist, sending the illusionary demons flying backward with the motion of his hand. “Seriously? Skeleton Bats? Have you never heard of the Hungarian Horntails or Manticores? You fools don’t even know what an actual threat is! This is more pathetic than a mediocre fairy tale!” he said and scoffed loudly, “In fact, if you really want to know what’s terrifying, I’d invite you to tour the Hogwarts dungeon. Let’s see if you can last an hour without pissing yourself.”

A series of curses rang out through the walls. But he knew it was a bluff. Those amateurs behind the scenes were only threatening him with their empty bravado. He smiled triumphantly. If the owner wants to defend his craft, he must face the challenge.

Kathrina tugged on his sleeve. “Aesop, what’s that?” she whispered while pointing at the floating figure.

The Potions Professor raised an eyebrow.

A heavy mist filled the slaughterhouse-like basement. Each rotten beam and pillar shook relentlessly. Once again, the mysterious cluster of orbs hovered within the shadows. Slowly, the orbs moved, as if it was being pulled in a magnetic force. Loud banging noises emerged from the darkness of the basement.

Kathrina gripped his arm tighter and shivered.

CRAAAAAAACK!!!

While still obscured from the fog, the orbs cracked open, revealing a long, sausage-like figures floating mid-air. It spun in the air briefly before landing on the floor.

Aesop rolled his eyes. “What is this shit?” he asked as he pointed at the fallen object with his wand. “Those are just pig intestines, you uncreative bastards! Don’t even bother with this juvenile crap!” he roared and gestured angrily, “You call that a true haunted house?!”

“Oh no, those aren’t pig intestines...” the voice replied.

“What’s that, then?”

Limbs sprung out of the mass and began crawling and twitching as they scuttled forth. Their pale, bulbous bodies twisted and warped as it crawled towards them. The dim light finally revealed what those things were: a horde of four-legged haggis! The strange meal made of lamb innards jumped to life and charged at them!

Aesop could swear that the high-pitched screams came not from him. But the fact was that his mouth was wide open and his vocal chords were producing the worst sound he had ever uttered in his life. The last thing he remembered before his vision darkened was Kathrina asking him if he was alright. Then the world went blank.

♥♥♥

“Aesop? Aesop? Are you alright?”

Aesop forced his groggy eyes open and saw Kathrina hovering above him. The evening breeze brushed past his face and ruffled the skirt of her white dress. Her hair caressed his skin with every movement.

“Are you okay?” she touched his forehead and his left cheek, “You suddenly fainted earlier.”

He blinked, trying to process what happened. They were in an unfamiliar room. The light was much brighter here. He realized he was lying on a soft, warm surface. Blankets and pillows surrounded him. Soft scent of antiseptic permeated the air.

With his mind now clearer, he could discern where they were. Apparently, Kathrina had taken him to the Infirmary.

“Yes, I’m fine,” he said hoarsely. Embarrassment crept upon him as he recalled that he screamed like a helpless child and collapsed like a wet rag after seeing the horrible sight of the four-legged haggis.

Shaking his head, he glanced at Kathrina. He noted how she was so concerned with his well-being. No signs of derision or mockery crossed her face. Instead, he found patience and kindness in those lovely eyes. Somehow, it brought comfort to him. His supposed lovers had left him when he needed them the most. But here, Kathrina stayed with him.

“How long was I unconscious?” he asked.

“For more than an hour now,” she said and took his hand, “I’m sorry I made you go there. You told me not to, but I insisted anyway.”

He grunted and sat up. “It was my fault. I got a bit carried away.”

She frowned. “I never saw someone faint like that after screaming bloody murder. Is there a reason for it? Was the haunted house so terrible for you?”

“Nothing about the haunted house was more frightening than the contents of my Potions storage closet.”

She tilted her head. “Then why did you scream when you saw those four-legged haggis?”

Aesop’s cheeks turned red in embarrassment. He grumbled and coughed to hide his shame. But then he realized Kathrina had the right to know the truth. So he began his tale, “The truth is... haggis... in its raw, living state... is absolutely terrifying. My mum loved it and made her own version of the meal. But the truth is, she was a horrible cook. I could smell the rotten meat from across the manor!”

“Oh...”

He sighed. “I hated haggis and everything that resembled the abomination that is that damn meal. Every time she placed that food on the table, I could not stop vomiting!” he covered his face with his palm and continued, “I don’t know why my father said that she’s a splendid cook. Maybe because he loves her? I don’t know. But it just encouraged her to keep cooking more of that awful food.”

“I understand what you mean... I remember going to Durmstrang. And... and... they serve dragon tongue for lunch. They think that’s a delicacy. It was the worst day of my life.”

Aesop looked up at her, stunned. He had never revealed the truth behind his distaste for haggis to anyone. When his exes suggested the meal, he threw out an excuse that he was allergic to lamb. In the past, he worried his vulnerability would repel women. But now, he confessed his secret to Kathrina with no fear or regret.

And she returned the gesture by revealing her own uncomfortable story.

Hope blossomed further in his chest. Did he finally find that one person he could trust with all of his heart?

He held her hand and squeezed it. “Thank you, Kathrina. "I never expected to meet someone who shares my feelings," he smiled.

Her lips curled up as well, and the two of them exchanged gazes for a while. As they stared at each other, Aesop felt an invisible string pulling her towards him. Perhaps it was his feelings urging him to kiss her. He saw her moist, supple lips moving closer. And her honey gold eyes narrowed as she waited. Her sweet breath touched his lips and her fingers ran through his hair.

And their lips inched closer... and closer... until...

“Oi you lovebirds, get a room, will ya?” the man lying on the cot beside them shouted.

The spell was broken.

Kathrina pushed herself away. Her cheeks reddened as she tucked the stray auburn lock of hair behind her ear. She stood up and smiled weakly at him. “Um, I will ask the matron for the bill,” she said and then hurried away.

Aesop watched her as she left his side. Her wavy hair danced around her waist and her dress swished back and forth. She was truly beautiful inside and out. And he wanted her so bad.

“Oi you horndog, your junk’s poking outta your pants,” the other man hollered.

Aesop flushed. His member had gotten hard while he was lost in Kathrina’s beauty. And the fucking idiot beside him had announced that to the world. “Why are you looking in another man’s pants anyway?” he spat back.

“Ey, if you wanna shag, go to a brothel. Don’t do it here. Not everyone’s got a valentine, you know!” the patient complained.

He rolled his eyes. “That’s not my problem,” he said. He pushed himself up and put on his jacket and coat. The warmth of the infirmary blanket was nice. But he would not stay there while an insufferable man complained about him. After fixing his clothes and hair, he went where Kathrina had paid the bill for the infirmary services.

Peeking out of the window, he saw that the sky had darkened. His pocket watch told him it was already half past six in the evening. He gritted his teeth. So far, his date with Kathrina was a disaster. He was late for their breakfast. Peeves showered him with glitter. The Giant Squid interrupted their picnic. Aesop ruined a chance to impress her by getting a faceful of colorful paint. Then he just screamed in front of her when he saw those accursed haggises.

To make matters worse, he almost ruined their first kiss! Aesop sighed. At this rate, Kathrina might not want to go out with him again.

‘No, Aesop, don’t think that way. You still have one last ace up your sleeve!’ he said to himself while he reviewed his itinerary. Professor Shah revealed the occurrence of a meteor shower that evening. And lucky for him, its full glory would be in full view at the top of the Astronomy Tower. He and Kathrina would have dinner at the top of the tower while staring up at the stars. After hearing about it, Abraham offered to magically set up the place for a romantic dinner with Kathrina. He did not know if it was a good idea to entrust the task to the Charms Professor, but he had no choice. Now, he hoped nothing went wrong with the setup.

When they met again, her cheeks were less flushed. But her shy and reserved mannerisms remained. “I hope you don’t mind that I paid for your bill,” she said, “I regret bringing you to such a scary place. And this is the least I can do to make amends.

He shook his head. “No. It’s perfectly alright. I should’ve been more vigilant. But we shouldn’t dwell on that,” he held her hand and offered, “Shall we get going?”

“Okay, shall we grab something to eat? I know a good place.”

Summoning all the courage to let out another confident smirk, he said, “Actually, I have somewhere planned for us to have our supper.”

“Really?” she asked. A glimmer of curiosity sparkling in her golden eyes.

“Yes. Let me show you the way.”

♥♥♥

The hallways of Hogwarts was quiet. All around, the students had retired back to their dormitories to prepare for ’s Ball. The torches illuminated the hall with bright light. Cool yet gentle winds caressed the leaves of the potted plants stationed around the perimeter. As if Merlin also wanted to view the upcoming meteor shower, the night sky was clear. No cloud dared to spoil the starry night's celestial beauty.

Aesop was nervous. He always made it a point to look confident and self-assured in front of others. However, in the presence of Kathrina, he was stripped of that persona. Back in his Auror days, his interactions with other women were flamboyant, extroverted, and proud. He would sweep them off their feet and charm them with his confidence. No one could resist his charm.

But things were different with Kathrina. For the first time in a long while, he was feeling vulnerable. He feared that one wrong move would put his chances of gaining her affections at risk. The incident at Scarborough had shaken him deeply. It made him doubt himself. And it was his ego that caused him to spiral downhill.

But now that he was slowly picking up the pieces, determination filled his heart to be more careful with Kathrina. His affection for her grew exponentially by the minute. Despite his desire for intimacy, he knew patience was key in establishing a firm foundation for their relationship.

And it would start in this lovely dinner beneath the starry sky.

He took her by the hand as he led her up the steep steps of the Astronomy Tower. His leg injury complained about the prolonged climb, but he would have to endure the discomfort just for tonight. The Pain Relief Potion that he drank earlier had helped ease the tension from his muscles. Hopefully, it would work long enough for their evening.

As he carefully climbed up the stairs, he saw hints of pink, gold, and red drapes and ribbons decorating the corners and wall railings. Various heart-shaped balloons floated upwards. Scented candles and flowers adorned the area. Red and pink rose petals scattered around the floor underneath the table and chairs. He even spied an enchanted string quartet playing a very pleasant tune near the balcony. But someone had arranged all those decorations in a very bizarre and tacky display.

He covered his face with his free hand and groaned internally. ‘Why does everything have to be in this garish design?’ he said to himself.

Kathrina, meanwhile, covered her mouth and tried to stifle her giggles. “It looks... cheerful.”

“Oh, dear Merlin... Why Abraham... just why?”

“Did Professor Ronen help you with the decoration?”

Aesop sighed heavily. “He volunteered to the task. I was too careless in my planning, and he discovered my plans. He said he was an expert towards romantic matters. I did not want him to interfere, but he insisted.”

He stared at the feast spread across the table. There was an assortment of roast beef, potato, soup, bread, and dessert. Fresh and sweet scents wafted from the delectable dishes, beckoning them to take a bite. A bottle of red wine, two wine glasses, and a bucket of ice for cooling drinks rested in the center of the table. Everything looked perfect.

However, the color scheme of the setting did not match the mood Aesop was trying to build. He envisioned something elegant and seductive, like deep reds and blacks. But Abraham was all about loud, ostentatious displays of romance.

“It looks amazing. He outdid himself!” she said, “Shall we sit down?”

He pulled the chair for her, and she took a seat. After that, Aesop went and settled at the opposite end of the table.

“Can we ask the quartet to play something... slower?” he said, “The piece they played is too bouncy. It doesn’t suit the mood.”

She blinked. “What mood are you thinking about?” she asked innocently.

The lump in his throat swelled and his palms felt sweaty. But he managed to answer with a nonchalant smile, “I... wish for a more sedate ambience... it’s much more conducive to conversations...”

She nodded in understanding. With a wave of her wand, the quartet switched to a slow and soft melody. The music was no longer lighthearted. It was now low, romantic, and seductive.

“Much better. At least it doesn’t sound like we’re in a tavern. Thank you.”

They started on the food. And it was heavenly. The roasted meat melted like butter in his mouth, and the gravy was smooth and flavorful. Aesop marveled at the house-elves' ability to create a quick, splendid meal. Perhaps he should show his gratitude to their skills tomorrow.

As he ate, he notices his date observing at him with half-lidded eyes. Her eyelashes fluttered as she gazed upon his face. And he swallowed a mouthful of food nervously.

“Is there something wrong?” he asked as he wiped his lips with his napkin.

She giggled and rested her chin on her knuckles. “It’s been a while since I shared a meal like this. With someone...” she stared at her plate of food and said, “Someone special.”

“Kathrina...”

“This is so weird. I dine with friends and acquaintances. But never with someone I’m really interested in.”

Aesop’s lips parted slightly. Then he allowed them to curl up to form a genuine smile. “Me too... It’s been a long time... Never did I think I would find someone I enjoy sharing meals with again.”

His gaze locked with hers, and the invisible string once again drew him closer. Heat bloomed in his chest and spread through his body. He reached her hand across the table. The delicate features of her fingers traced the back of his palm. Their breaths mingled together, and he could see a blush on her cheeks.

Their faces were just inches apart...

“LOOK! IT’S ALREADY HAPPENING!”

A dozen of students rushed onto the balcony, making their way to the stone railings. The entire tower shook with their sudden movements, making Kathrina and Aesop yelp in surprise. Professors hid in tower corner, as the students gawked at skies.

Aesop muttered a curse as the tension once again popped like a balloon. He was so close, too! Just when he thought he could finally steal a kiss from her. The timing was perfect! Everything was going so well, until the Astronomy Club arrived to interrupt them!

“Why are you even here...?” he grumbled, “Aren’t you supposed to be in the Great Hall?”

“We wanted to get a better view of the meteor shower,” Amit replied while staring at the marvelous celestial event, “Sorry to intrude on your date. We’ll try to be quiet.”

The club members opened their star maps and telescopes, making notes of the event. Their quills scratched on the paper as they scribbled down the dates, times, and trajectories of the falling stars.

Meanwhile, Kathrina went back to her seat and started eating her supper. Her cheeks were still red with embarrassment, and Aesop’s blood boiled with rage. His plan was a total failure! Why could he not have a romantic evening with the woman he liked without some kind of interruption?!

Just as he was inwardly fuming, Kathrina once again held her hand and stroked the digits lovingly. She whispered, “There’s a spot in the balcony where we can watch the meteor shower. Want to come with me?”

He gulped and nodded his head. The gesture flicked the flames of desire within him. She pulled him towards a secluded area of the balcony, away from prying eyes. Flaming balls dropped from the dark, like fireflies in the night sky. As they watched in silence, Kathrina leaned into his broad frame. Aesop felt her silky tresses brush against his jaw, and her lavender perfume mingling with his earthy musk. With each passing second, she closed the gap between them.

Unconsciously, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to his body. Though he was taller than her, he made sure Kathrina felt comfortable in his embrace. She hugged him back and placed her head against his shoulder.

The ooohs and aaaahs of the students grew so far away. All he could hear was the beating of his heart and her shallow breathing. The rest of the world vanished and became a blur. All he could see was her. There was nothing else in the universe except her. Not even the celestial display above them could rival the brilliant twinkle of her honey gold-colored eyes.

His hand snaked its way up to her neck as his thumb gently stroked her chin. The desire lingering behind those eyes mirrored his. But he kept his moves slow and steady. He did not want to scare her away with his passion. Giving her time to react, he lowered his head and whisked his lips over hers.

And she reached out and pressed her soft lips against his.

And on that very moment, time ceased to exist.

Aesop closed his eyes and savoured the moment. He was afraid that any movement or noise could ruin this special moment. His heart threatened to burst out of his chest. The roaring tempest of emotions within him made him feel like a child who received the greatest gift for Christmas. He tightened his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. Merlin knows he wanted more than just a kiss. But would he be greedy in taking it? He didn’t know. And he would be happy to be contented with just this moment.

As they broke apart, he noticed the pink dusting her cheeks. The lustrous sheen in her eyes was so bright that it rivaled the sun itself.

“Wow that’s... amazing,” she said breathlessly as she smoothed the fabric of her dress, “So that’s what kissing you feels like.”

Aesop chuckled at how she attempted to play off the excitement and glee after the kiss they just shared. It was gratifying for him to know that someone he admired and liked felt the same. “First time?” he joked.

A ungodly snort came out of her. “Well, I don’t want to hurt your pride, but let’s say... yes and no,” she tapped her chin, pretending to think about it.

Aesop frowned. “Elaborate, please.”

She smirked and gave him a playful wink. “I don’t kiss and tell, Professor Sharp,” she giggled and resumed watching the meteor shower, “Don’t you have any decency not to pry into a lady’s secrets?”

“I’m still a trained Auror. Secrets are my specialty.”

She caressed his cheek. There was a hint of fondness in her expression, and a gentle smile tugged her lips. “Oh, Aesop. You wouldn’t be able to coax a single word out of me. So why try?” she booped his nose and smiled at him. “But to soothe your burning curiosity, allow me to say that you’re my first REAL kiss. Not my first kiss, but I would count our kiss as my real first.”

It wasn’t what he wanted to hear. But it satisfied him nonetheless. “That’s... better,” he said, returning the smile.

They continued watching the display with renewed interest. Aesop stole glances at the Alchemy Professor. There was a joyful twinkle in her eyes as she stared up at the stars. The light of the celestial objects painted a streak of light across her cheeks, giving her an ethereal glow.

He sighed and smiled. This was the best date he ever had in a long time. And it was all thanks to this woman.

♥♥♥

After the festivities had died down, Aesop walked his date back to her quarters. Butterflies fluttered in his stomach as his mind wandered to the possibilities of their next date. Or if she wanted to become his lover. But the question lingered. What if he rushed things? Would he look like a desperate fool?

As they reached the door of her chambers, Aesop cleared his throat, trying to look more of a gentleman and less of a lustful beast in front of the woman he desired. He placed his hands behind his back and stood straight.

“Thank you for coming with me today,” he started, “I never thought that I could have a pleasant day after all those events that happened.”

“You jest, right? That is the best Valentine’s Day Date I’ve ever been in,” she laughed. “I didn’t expect you to have a romantic, and lighter, side to you.”

“I have a lot of layers to unveil.”

“I think we’re both pretty complex,” she replied.

“Perhaps we’re made for each other, then?”

A blush crept up to her cheeks. Kathrina’s gaze darted away from his face. “I-I agree with you...” she said. “I’m not sure if I’m ready, but...” She lifted her head up and stared at him with eyes that only confirmed her hesitancy.

He could feel his ego deflating faster than a punctured bludger. “I can wait, Kathrina. I’m a patient man,” he said, trying to not look crestfallen.

She sighed softly, and her shoulders relaxed. “No. It’s not like that. It’s just... We barely know each other for a couple of months and I feel like it’s happening too fast...”

He shook his head. “I understand that. It’s quite overwhelming for me, too. I don’t want to rush things. As I’ve said, I can wait,” he said in a comforting tone. “Let’s just go slow. One day at a time.”

Kathrina reached out and held his hand. “Yes, that’s exactly what I feel. Thank you so much for understanding,” she said.

As silence lingered between them, Aesop kept his gaze fixed on her lovely face. Her round, pale face seemed to glow under the lamplight. The smooth curve of her cheeks, the delicate shape of her nose and chin, and her soft, cherry lips. They were all the traits he found most beautiful about her.

He took a step forward. And she did not try to back away. Their faces were inches apart. Her breaths tickled his skin, and he could smell the wine on her lips. He cupped her cheeks with his hands and brushed her bottom lip with his thumb.

At the corner of his eye, he saw Peeves rushing towards them. His wicked grin spread from ear to ear as he clutched a couple of water balloons in his hands.

But this time, he was ready.

He pulled his coat off, tossing it over Kathrina’s head to shield her.

“NOT THIS TIME, YOU BLASTED CLOWN!”

SPLAT!

The water balloons hit his torso dead-on, spilling the cold liquid all over his dress shirt and waistcoat. Icy chills grasped his aching leg, but he ignored it. With a flick of his wand, he aimed at the poltergeist and yelled, “Rictusempra!”

BZZT!

The yellow bolt hit Peeves directly in the middle of his face, sending him spiraling backwards. Water balloon fragments splashed on the floor and the walls of the corridor. His maniacal laughter echoed through the passageway as he rolled away from them, laughing.

“Aesop, are you alright?” Kathrina asked after removing the coat from her head. Her honey-gold eyes searched his face in concern.

“Yes. I’m fine,” he said, smoothing his waistcoat and shirt with his hand, “Nothing a little drying charm can’t fix.” He reached out for the hem of his shirt and pulled the soaked fabric up from his skin. “How about you? Are you wet?” he asked.

She averted her gaze away from his bare abdomen. Her race turned bright red and her lips parted. “N-no... I’m okay...,” she squeaked.

He blinked. Why did she sound nervous? Then he realized his mistake and pulled his shirt down. “Oh... I apologize... I don’t want to make you uncomfortable... It was inappropriate of me to undress in front of a lady... Especially in the corridor where anyone could see us...”

With a quick deep breath, she looked at him in the eye. Her stiff posture told him that of the herculean effort not to stare anything below his neck. “Perhaps you can come inside my chambers and dry off there?” she offered, “I don’t want you to catch a cold.”

Aesop felt heat rising up his neck and ears. He never expected such a suggestion from her. “Are you sure? I can always clean myself up in my quarters,” he said, trying to control his thumping heart.

She bit her bottom lip nervously. “I insist. Consider it as my gratitude for shielding me from the prank attack.”

“Well I...” he stammered. All the bravado he showed earlier vanished as his imagination took him to places that he shouldn’t be. But he mentally slapped himself. He needed to remain calm and not let his raging hormones get the better of him. He had promised Kathrina that they would go slow. And he was staunchly determined to keep that promise.

She cleared her throat. “And... I’ve heard that you’re a connoisseur for fine spirits,” she kept her eyes fixed on the doorknob, “Maybe you’re interested in tasting the 150 year old Ogden’s Old Firewhisky I’ve got in my private stock? I’ve been waiting for a perfect chance to taste it. Maybe you would enjoy it more if you share it with a friend?”

His heart skipped a beat. This day could not get any better. “How could I refuse such an offer?” he grinned.

A shy smile and a bat of her eyelashes greeted him. “Wonderful,” she said before unlocking the door. “I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”

He could not help but grin ear to ear as he followed her inside. Perhaps the day had not gone as bad as he thought.

--FIN--

[starsailorstories]

*slithers into your inbox* ⭐️ for the ask meme!

@theobhan Ok it's a longie but Nen is kneeling at the low table squeezed between the boundaries of the wood stove and two beds, worrying the overbent starter of a self-heating vapor-tea can with a pocket knife, spark after spark. She’s undone her braids for visiting, and her crimpy hair arcs down unnaturally, like a headdress molded in lilac-blond and silver. When she gets frustrated with the tea-can, which is quickly, she ties the strands up one handed with the rubber band that held the hose on.

Overhead their one electric lamp flickers as wildly as the lantern flames outside. “This is doing no good,” she says, putting the knife down, and then, as if it were her plan B for getting the tea open, “let’s say the verse for passage.”

Wordlessly the three of them--Bash, Ilde, and Li (Nen’s daughter too, from the genvia after Bash’s)--take each one side of the table and join hands at its corners. 

“Spirits of the mercies of the storm, bind these timbers.

Spirits of the mercies of the storm, bind these hatches.

Spirits of the mercies of the storm, bind these walls.

Spirits of the mercies of the storm, bind these rivets.

Sterobys of the storm, pass the heads of all my sisters.

Sterobys of the storm, pass the houses of my sisters.

Sterobys of the storm, pass the sails of my sisters at sea.

Do what must be done and do no more.”

The steady words of the old chant, written back when the harvesters were held back from the pull of the great blue wall by stabilizer rockets fired in perfect time, keep time now with the creaking of the house’s frame. The lamp continues to strobe. For a moment, without discussing it, all of them listen, as if waiting for the planet to give them a grudging reassurance.

“So!” Nen pipes up then, her voice slightly raised in an attempt to ignore the wind. “You girls are down another school term, huh. Last one for you, Bash!”

“Yeah, guess so,” Bash replies. She takes the tea-can from beside Nen’s hand and smacks the starter tab open on the edge of the table before handing it back, dented but functional.

“Much obliged, dear,” Nen murmurs with a smirk as she takes it, then continues: “How’s the works treating you, now it’s your first full-time season? Mag-the-Elbow had good things to say.” (The night shift supervisor on their branch of the pipeworks got her moniker for her involvement in some drawn out, evidently complex incident tens of quinturns ago, in which she’d been holding something together on a turn. Every Mag in the neighborhood has to be effectively surnamed, as there are fifty of them in Bash’s colony alone.)

“It’s fine. I mean, I sort of knew what it would be like, from going out there with sennami when I was younger.” She tilts her head at Ilde. “Gets a little scary sometimes on that lower walkway in the old part. I swear the winds are stronger now than when I was a kid.”

“We’ve had a few rough years. You’ve got to keep your head out there. She’ll do whatever she wants to do, ‘specially to a girl that don’t show the proper respect.”

“There’s some research out of Ovaiakon saying it’s rougher on the opposite of those big harvesters around the Atya side. That’d be right around here I think, from the surface map in their little brochure.”

Nen smiles again and huffs, a little storm through her own pale teeth. “And what shiny new ship in Fila Fenaeta does this Ovaiakon prophet’s benefactress own?”

“That’s a point, I guess. But doesn’t it feel--” She pauses for a bone-rattling windblast that would make a shout inaudible. “Doesn’t it feel sometimes like everyone’s picking this place over and then pulling up anchor? Even Sia Matari left.”

“She has family in the Rings too. It’s none of our business what she does with her inheritance.”

“Sure,” Bash falters, “but if it was mine I’d do something about what was right in front of my face before I went chasing comets. Eshe up in the main office says she lost out in the deal she made, she might as well have had the walkway redone or in a while they’ll have to close it.”

“What was she meant to do, cheat them?”

“No! The company knew they got a bargain, Matari knew she’d get out of here. Only ones getting cheated is us. By the time I’m twenty there’ll hardly be anything left to operate. That’s what happened when Globa’s management moved off-world.”

“Well for arch-heaven’s sakes, isse senna, maybe you should go knock on the door and see if they’ll let you run the place.”

Bash turns her head sharply to the sound of Ilde’s voice, takes in her warning look, and can’t bear it for some reason. “If it can even be run,” she says to the tabletop, feeling other concerned stares from her family collecting on her.

“My child, this is your home.”

“Is it? I’ll never have any say in anything that goes on here, neither will either of you. The Aula could have them tear the domes down tomorrow and we’d have nothing to say. As it is they’re letting time take their toll for them. We’re no use to them, so they’re no help to us. We can’t even shoot rockets for the Avi-fora anymore,” she trails off, unsure what she’s trying to make clear.

“Bash, sit down,” her sennamia says, putting her own recently produced tea-can down with a soft but exacting clank. “I won’t have you talk of your queen and country like that under this roof. You cannot possibly know what it’s like for them, with so many people and interests to look after. Would we be better off living like the ante-dome worlds, people getting stabbed on the steps of the temples and whatnot? We’re lucky to be under the protection of a wise counsel.”

“But what if they make a mistake?”

“Well, what if? They’re mortal too. But the goddesses don’t make mistakes. If it is, it’s meant to be.”

“Do what must be done and no more,” Bash repeats furiously, letting her words be lost on purpose under the rumble of the wind.

Not to give something I really wanted to work on a worldbuilding and poetic level the political cartoon treatment, but the emotions of this scene are the compressed buildup of a lot of tornado seasons, a lot of those kitchen table conversations politicians like to talk about so much, and a lot of family arguments about climate change and capitalism I lived through as a Teen In Ohio. A lot of what I wanted to capture in this story was the feeling of youthful rebellion in a very homogeneous rural area and how it can seem futile, but at the same time it was like the more rural you went the more dangerous and life-and-death the stakes of the rebellion got. I grew up in a newly-suburban area on the edge of a rural area, so I experienced the futility more than the danger, but I drew on stories and conversations with friends from the next county and other parts of the state. Ilde's words about the state they all but deify being led by fallible mortals are almost my mother's, and I think they come from a kind place but a stubborn place, an unwillingness to take kindness past the line that's been drawn for you all your life. I've talked before I think about this story being about the seed of Bash's radicalism before it germinated and I do think that contradiction was part of my own seed. So in a way this scene is extremely personal--it deals with the pull between the fresh perspective you have as a young person and the pressure you feel from people you love who think they've seen it all (but really they've just seen various small towns in Ohio).

Other things in here:

The storm-prayer they say is an old Shalian tradition that has its origins, a hundred generations back, in Ket takeoff-chants. Most of Shali's modern day population comes from Glasmiri, and Glasmiri's first settlers were Ket speakers from Tarega who came fleeing the invasion of the Saiven Channel by Ixavol raiders. Not a lot has survived all of that, culturally, but there are echoes, such as this very repetitive and mantra-like prayer format.

I explained this a few years back I think but "tea-can" is the English translation I've settled on for a ubiquitous product in astraea civilizations, namely air/gases that can taken into a stellar fusion reaction but compressed and packaged with the aim of tasting (smelling?) good. These would not taste like anything to a human but they're meant to evoke atmospheric conditions from nature that astraeas are drawn to because they're relatively rare +in space+ and there's stuff they need to run their central nervous systems in there, although they're not always as good for a star-powered body as the real deal. They ARE however cheap and a helpful supplement when dealing with a leaky or otherwise sub-par artificial atmosphere, making them a common sight on especially older orbiting settlements.

Fuck absentee landlords, amiright?

The economic system of Basilea, while in theory a welfare state, disenfranchises the rural poor almost completely due to their lack of contact with their alleged benefactresses and inability to spare memorable gifts and tributes to reinforce the relationship over a distance, as rural owners of capital might. Despite the disconnect a lot of Shalians, in particular, cling to their Altamaian and Basilean identity because it's a source of ethno-religious pride that allows them to downplay their class circumstances. Also despite the disconnect the Aula has no problem making laws with total disregard to the Shalian culture or lifestyle

Weird xenophobic perception of the Ante-dome specifically as lawless and violent, as if the rest of the empire isn't

I wouldn't say Nen knows what's really up here but she's got a lot of common sense and isn't about pretending the powers that be are absolutely benevolent. They are what they are, in her eyes. I created her just for this story and I love her now oops

I've talked before about how the worldview of conservative cosmonism is kind of inspired by the seventeenth-century idea of the "celestial clockwork" and the "best of all possible worlds" school of religious philosophy and this scene kind of explores what that looks like for regular people outside the scholarly and priestly classes.

[pepprs]

dont worry abt responding to my messages!! they can be little trinkets for u to keep forever if u wanna :)))

dear anon… how could i not respond to THESE!!!!!!!!!! 😭💗💗💗💗💗💗💗 you are the sweetest kindest most WONDERFUL soul. it is an honor to receive these beautiful letters and i hope you know how much i cherish each and every one. not just the words but the adventures you take me on and write up for the two of us!!! and the beauty and magic you help me to see in the world around me and the peace and love and love and love you conjure for me in moments when i cant find it or feel it so easy!!!! like idk i know i have no idea who you are outside of being dear anon and i only answer asks once in a blue moon but it truly means the world to me. TRULY.

your writing feels like all the best things, all the things i love most. like leaf piles in the fall and the pikmin bloom soundtrack (btw if you dont play that already i HIGHLY recommend it to you specifically, i think u would really like it and tbh you sending me these letters has the same vibe as my pikmin bringing me postcards from their adventures :"~DDDD!!! if you ever do join it please lmk i would LOVE to be friends and send you postcards and do adventures together!!!!) and frosting on cupcakes and twinkly dust motes in the sunlight and cumulus clouds and dogwood flowers and the way things made of glass refract rainbows and SUNLIGHT SUNLIGHT SUNLIGHT. and even that isnt cutting it. how magical it all is. like i wish i wasnt so exhausted so i could express it better but it truly is so... idk. NOSTALGIC! COZY! HOME!!!!!

so... in order to try to articulate it (and also show my thanks / return the favor / etc.), i am sending this letter along with a care package knitted with word and song and magic and light. enclosed please find:

wind chimes that sing like the sun hitting the lake (also i REALLY want to get a butterfly hair clip!!! i cant wear hair clips or anything else fancy in my hair bc of my mask headbands but id love to have one in case im ever able to wear it in the future 🥹)

a heart-shaped pebble from brighton, to add to your collection (btw i LOVE the part about how you lost them a long time ago but you love them so you remember what they look like. WAUGH. gut punch GUT PUNCH IN THE BEST WAY!!!!)

a mug for hot chocolate, so we can share some together when it gets cold again -- decorated with hand-painted stars in all colors!

a tiny needle to knit your sundust satchels -- like the kind youd find in pixie hollow or the tale of desperaux or something (also both things that have dear anon vibes to me and are also DEEPLY nostalgic for me!)

a recipe for starfait, with illustrations!! (also i LOVE that idea for a replacement for "tesscore"!! but i may end up using that for my personal tag on my undertale / deltarune blog instead bc its so perfect (and also im HONORED that u associate that with me 😭😭😭😭))

a crown and wand for you to wear to match the fairy queen mouse while you write the same kind of magic and comfort she brings!

a packet of magical flower seeds that sprout the most whimsical sweet-smelling flowers, with petals that are soft to the touch!

a hand-woven scarf in your favorite color threaded with shiny silver strands, like comets streaming through the sky (also i am SO late to say this but UNO REVERSE CARD re: your new years wish to me which is genuinely making me lumpthroated and teary eyed reading it again in AUGUST. you are the sweetest EVER. and also ive never played journey before but ive been interested in it for years!!! i'll have to check it out and/or watch a playthrough!)

a hummingbird sculpture on a long stick for you to plant in your garden among the flowers, to sing to them and to you! (also RE: your question about your vocal range -- it just means that you can cover a little over two octaves (the number after the letter is the octave it's in, and each octave is a span of c-d-e-f-g-a-b-c -- so your range starts at about halfway through the third octave and goes to halfway through the fifth!) i think your range is about the same as mine iirc so we can hum along with the hummingbird and all three follow each other's notes :"~D <3)

a golden acorn on a thread for you to wear as a necklace when we go to the bird tea party! (by the way, have you ever read the book ""until the last acorn "when the last acorn is found?" it's a BEAUTIFUL book and it made me cry reading it! i think you and the acorn people would get along very, very well!!)

a lantern made of jelly moonlight and silver foil stars (see: ilomilo chapter 4 :"~D) for you to carry on your walks through the dim nights (you can hang the stars in the sky, and they'll brighten the world and light at your touch!)

a copy of one of my favorite books of all time, "the ten thousand doors of january," which is so much about wedging cracks open into other worlds, and something i think you might like very much / resonate with too!!

a big, big hug.

dear anon: THANK YOU. for all these words and for being you. i dont know how i got so lucky to have you sending me these little trinkets but i will most CERTAINLY keep them forever. i hope you experience all the peace and love and love and love to infinity. may you always know and shine with the light you bring and the light you are.

[violettduchess]

I noticed licht doesn't have a kiss fic yet. Sorry, I know you're busy with the broken heartstrings series rn but I'm gonna trow it in anyways for when you might have time, before i forget about it [again]

hugs ʕっ•ᴥ•ʔっ and Love, V

A/N: Thank you for the request @viohasgoneintothewoods 💜 Licht has been requested several times before (hello Licht kiss anons!) but I wasn't sure how to fulfill it without it being a bit darker than some of the other kiss fics. But now that I have thrown myself into writing angst, this request fits right into Broken Heartstrings (and is a lot faster to write)! So here you go!

Word Count: 568

His name means “light.”

And when he holds you in his arms, you believe the warmth that fills your heart rivals any bright ray of summer sunshine. Peace and contentment flood you at the feel of his strong embrace, a fortress that would withstand anything if it meant protecting you. He is a bastion of love, a bulwark you can hold on to in the face of any turbulent storm.....but what do you do when those very arms are what is shaking? When the light you know he possesses begins to dim?  

His name means “light."

But the man you love is haunted by shadows. The past has a dark grip over him, long tendrils that snake their way silently through his mind, that wrap around his heart like black, thorny vines and squeeze. 

He is a paradox: delicate strength. Mighty fragility. 

In the bright light of desire, when he allows that passion to overrule any other emotion, he is as powerful as Helios. But instead of driving four fiery steeds across the sky, he is blazing a trail of kisses across your body. His lips are fire, stoking the heat in your veins, bringing a sunset-colored flush to your skin. As sure as the sun burns a beaming path across the sky, so does Licht set you aflame. His mouth is sure, his hands are steady. He is a torch in the darkness, lighting the way, leading you higher and higher towards the heavens. His name escapes your lips, the sound a comet of radiant light across the night sky. He kisses you and you are a supernova on the verge of bursting. You are Sirius, the brightest star in the heavens. You are filled with the light of his love and his adoration and his fervent need and you are unstoppable.

His name means "light."

But sometimes desire and love and want are not enough to spark that glow. Sometimes the darkness wins. Sometimes his mouth is unsure. His hands unsteady. Sometimes he does not think to reach for you at all because he is afraid that he is something foul, something that will not empower you but rather taint your goodness with something less than. He shrinks into the shadows, prefers to wrap his arms around himself, storm clouds pelting him with a cold rain that screams, “You are unworthy. You do not deserve this.” It is then your turn to reach out, through the stinging gray fog and find him. To pull him into the warm circle of your embrace, to run a hand over his soft, silver hair and press kiss after loving kiss against his chilled skin. You kiss understanding against his cheek, cold and damp with tears. You kiss acceptance against his pale forehead. You kiss empathy into the curve of his jaw. And you kiss his lips, feeling the way they tremble against yours, and give him all of your love, tender and patient. Over and over your lips touch his. Over and over you tell him wordlessly how deeply you love him. Over and over and over until the tremors that wrack his scarred body cease. Until his war-torn heart finds a steady rhythm once again. Until the haunted shadow fades from his luminous eyes. Until the well of tears has run dry. 

His name means “light.” 

And you will always find him in the darkness.

Tagging: @aquagirl1978 @alixennial @alexxavicry @queengiuliettafirstlady @rhodolitesrose @ikemen-writer @bellerose-arcana @thewitchofbooks @redheadkittys @dear-mrs-otome @firestar-otomeobsessed @curious-skybunny @kpop-and-otome @writingwhimsey @mxrmaid-poet @silver-dahlia @wendolrea @otomefoxystar @nightfoxqueen @myonlyjknight @queen-dahlia @aceuuuuu @scorchieart @bubblexly

[serephinastardust]

The Book I'm writing: Requiem of the Rising Flames Rewrite #1 Chapter 1

In the heart of the Azure Empire, legends echoed through the corridors of Celestria, recounting the fortuitous union between the Kitsune and Dragon-Kitsune bloodlines. These tales spoke of ancient prophecies and the harmonious blending of celestial forces, foretelling a union destined to bring prosperity and strength to the empire. Generations had passed since the fabled marriage of the first Kitsune and Dragon-Kitsune, a pairing believed to have ignited an era of unparalleled peace and abundance. The celestial energies interwoven in their union were thought to bestow upon rulers a unique and potent synergy, allowing them to harness both the cunning of the Kitsune and the majestic power of the dragons.

As the legend unfolded, the Azure Empire flourished under the guidance of subsequent rulers who embraced this mystical matrimony. Whispers of the harmonious balance achieved by those born of such unions circulated among the people—leaders possessing the wisdom of the Kitsune and the strength of the dragons, ensuring the empire's prosperity for centuries.

The Nightshade clan, with its distinguished Kitsune lineage, played a pivotal role in maintaining this sacred tradition. Elders, scholars, and commoners alike believed that the union between Odessa, the True Kitsune heiress, and Crown Prince Xander, whose Dragon-Kitsune bloodline had yet to awaken, would be the catalyst for a new era of peace and abundance.

Residing in the prestigious Nightshade clan nestled in the capital's heart, Odessa hailed from a line known for unparalleled mastery of arcane arts and enigmatic connections to supernatural spirits. However, wise beyond her years due to teachings from her hidden mentor, Odessa harbored a deep reluctance for the prospect of marriage.

One day, sunlight bathed Odessa’s chambers as Lady Clarissa, her regal mother, swept into the room, her gown whispering against polished marble floors.

“Odessa Nightshade!” Lady Clarissa’s voice held a mix of exasperation and amusement as she discovered her daughter sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by enchanted herbs and crystals.

Odessa looked up, her amethyst eyes wide with innocence, silver hair framing her small face. “Mother, look! I made a funny spell for Xander! I’m hoping it will infuriate him enough to cancel the engagement!”

Lady Clariss sighed, a delicate hand resting on her hip. “Funny spells are not the path to a successful engagement, my dear. And it’s not something we want called off. But humor me, what mischief have you brewed this time?”

Odessa grinned mischievously, holding up a small crystal. “It makes people quiet, like a little mouse!”

A furrow formed on Lady Clarissa’s brow, but she couldn’t suppress a small chuckle. “Odessa, we cannot play games with such matters. Your engagement to Prince Xander is cru…”

Cutting off her mother, Odessa pouted, “But I don’t want to marry him, Mother!” Her lower lip trembled in a perfect portrayal of wounded innocence.

Under the azure sky of Celestria, Odessa's declaration echoed through the grand halls of the Nightshade clan house. Without waiting for her mother's response, she leaped to her feet, the small crystal clutched tightly in her hand.

"I'm going to tell Xander myself!" she declared, silver hair streaming behind her like a comet's tail as she darted toward the exit.

"Odessa, wait!" Lady Seraphina called after her, but the determined young Kitsune had already vanished from view.

The vibrant daylight outside embraced Odessa as she sprinted through the bustling streets of Celestria. Unseen by onlookers, her amethyst eyes sparkled with a mischievous glow, and her silver hair took on a radiant sheen, as if the foxlike traits within her bloodline were awakening in response to her heightened emotions. All the while behind her, her mother was calling her name, trying to get her to stop.

As she approached the palace walls, Odessa felt an unusual surge of energy. Without a second thought, she hurled the small crystal toward the palace gate. To her surprise, the crystal sailed through the air with a supernatural grace, guided by an invisible force. It soared over the towering walls and landed within the palace grounds.

A triumphant grin spread across Odessa’s face as she realized her newfound ability. The fox within her bloodline had granted her an uncanny agility and a mystical connection to the enchanted crystal. Without the need to physically climb the wall, she leaped effortlessly, her movements more fluid and nimbler than any seven-year-old should possess.

Inside the palace, the crystal released its magical influence, causing a momentary stir among the palace guards. Crown Prince Xander, still struggling with his newfound silence, stared in astonishment as the crystal landed at his feet.

Crown Prince Xander stood in the palace courtyard, bathed in the warm glow of the midday sun. His appearance was a striking contrast to the regality of his surroundings. Ten years old, with tousled locks that shimmered like molten gold, and eyes of a rare shade—deep sapphire, akin to the cerulean depths of the Azure Sea.

His unusual features marked him as one bearing the unawakened Dragon-Kitsune bloodline, a heritage that whispered of latent powers yet to be unleashed. Xander’s golden hair, touched by a hint of fantasy, framed his face in unruly waves, reflecting the untamed spirit that lay dormant within him. His sapphire eyes, like precious gemstones, held a curiosity that belied his princely stature.

Curiosity sparked in Xander’s eyes as he picked up the crystal. The silence that had gripped seemed to wane, allowing him to speak once more. “What in the world…” As he picked up the enchanted crystal that had landed at his feet, the sunlight caught the subtle glint in Xander’s eyes, revealing an intensity that hinted at the potential for greatness.

As Odessa gracefully landed on the other side of the wall, she dusted off her dress and met Xander’s gaze. “Xander!” she exclaimed, her amethyst eyes sparkling with a mixture of determination and mischief. “I need to talk to you, right now!”

For a moment, curiosity sparked in Xander’s sapphire eyes. He studied Odessa, his expression hinting at the initial stirrings of interest. However, in an instant, as if a shutter had fallen over his emotions, his features became aloof and distant. The sapphire gaze that had briefly shown curiosity now turned cold, a princely veneer settling over his countenance.

Without uttering a word, Xander locked his emotions away, and with an air of regal indifference, he turned on his heel and began walking away, ignoring Odessa entirely. The courtyard seemed to echo with the distant rustle of leaves, as if the palace itself acknowledged the shift in atmosphere.

Alone in the palace courtyard, Odessa felt a mixture of confusion, disappointment, and a twinge of hurt. The enthusiastic glow that had sparked in her amethyst eyes moments ago now flickered, replaced by a subtle shadow of uncertainty. The crisp air seemed to carry a weight she hadn’t anticipated, as if the realization of Xander’s aloof dismissal settled upon her small shoulders.

As she clutched the enchanted crystal in her hand, its magical energy seemed to resonate with the conflicting emotions swirling within her. Odessa’s silver hair, once radiant with a mischievous shimmer, now fell around her like a veil, concealing the disappointment etched on her young face.

Making her way back home through the streets of Celestria, each step felt heavier than the last. The vibrant city, usually teeming with life, now seemed to move in a muted rhythm, mirroring the subdued cadence of Odessa’s thoughts. The laughter of playing children and the chatter of merchants became distant echoes, drowned out by the weight of unspoken words and unmet expectations.

The palace walls, which had initially seemed like an obstacle to be overcome, now stood as a symbol of the barrier between her desires and the reality dictated by lore. As her and Xander’s bloodlines have rarely ever appeared since the 1st documented marriage, Odessa’s attempts to communicate, fueled by her desire to break free from the predetermined path, had seemingly fallen on deaf ears.

Unable to demand the annulment of the engagement and with her playful prank leading to unforeseen consequences, Odessa’s frustration grew. The locket, announcing she had the True Kitsune Blood, felt cool against her chest—a silent witness to the turmoil within her.

As she entered the Nightshade clan house, Lady Clarissa awaited her with a mixture of concern and understanding. Odessa’s eyes, once filled with the spark of rebellion, now carried a glint of vulnerability. Her mother, sensing the weight of unspoken emotions, embraced her daughter, a silent acknowledgment passing between them.