#The short one challenged him to a swordfight

[saiidahyunie]

loyalty, royalty, and death by exile

im nayeon x reader || fluff, smut, angst

synopsis: your brother's lover nayeon had already fallen for you behind his back, until she couldn't be yours to love anymore.

wc: 5.2k

warnings: smut, cursing, pining

a/n: school started again for me (naurrrrrr), but be aware for the lack of uploads. :0

—

“haven’t you heard the news?” your fellow guardmate changbin shoves your shoulder, snapping you out of your daydreaming, slapping the middle of his chest plate that makes him falter back from the surprise contact. 

“no, what did i miss?” 

“apparently your brother is in a relationship with the crown jewel of the im dynasty.” 

changbin taps your back, nicking his head for you to follow in the corridors of the castle, following along as the noises of a common area in one of the bigger rooms—the exchange of laughs and cheers once you two reach the room. hanni, one of the other guards, opens the door for you two to enter briskly without anyone noticing. 

“where were you guys?” hanni asks, signaling you to straighten your shoulder pads as changbin scrunches his nose at you, hiding a snicker as the door behind you three shuts behind. 

“apparently y/n needed some fresh air for a bit, she’s been complaining about the armor being uncomfortable.” 

“another yap from either of you two, and i’ll challenge both of you to a swordfight in the training quarters.” 

you finally move around to the edge of the room, your brother felix now in your line of sight, with his brand new love interest right beside him. you’ve only heard from word of mouth, specifically from felix himself since he asked you about relationship advice. 

despite bursting out laughing while shaking your head, your brother’s ears flaring red like there was steam coming out of them, you gave him the typical advice of charming his crush and not to do anything stupid. 

to your surprise, after one gathering at a nightly party outside in the garden, he was able to get past that hurdle with ease, his new girlfriend getting more and more interested as time went on. 

“y/n!” 

you hear felix call out to you while on your way to the horse’s barracks, his girlfriend right behind with her hand in his, a beaming smile across her face once they finally reach you. 

“you need something felix?” you ask, wiping your helmet with a finger.

“nothing, i just figured that i should thank you for your help. in return, i’d like you to meet princess im nayeon.”

“my lady, please tell me my brother here didn’t approach you with his charming deep voice.” 

nayeon laughs, clearly elated to see that you were a very easy person with a sense of humor.

“he did, but don’t worry he did a lot more work to impress me.” nayeon replies, hand clasping hers in a firm handshake, meeting eye to eye of the pretty princess that your brother had managed to rope in. 

“i hope i wasn’t interrupting something between you two, was i felix?” you ask, standing across from them with your helmet in your arm now.

“not at all, i was just taking her out to the lake just now, but we just caught you on the way.” he replies, rubbing his shoulder to ease the awkward aura. 

nayeon looks towards you, eyes trailing at your features on your face, the little strands of hair peering over your forehead, eyes steel cold but piercing with life, how meticulously structured and molded like felix’s face—nothing short in terms of visuals in your family. it was easy to say that nayeon was interested in you from the start. 

“well i don’t want to be holding up you two for too long so i’ll see you guys at dinner.” you say, a soft smile on your lips as you excused yourself from the couple. 

a quick back and forth of goodbyes and you three start to walk away to your respected activities, little did felix know was that you and nayeon would look back at each other as the distance between you two grew larger. 

—

in the several months that nayeon had walked into your life, courtesy of your brother, you found yourself indulging with nayeon more and more with the gatherings that you were assigned to oversee. 

“you don’t have to be in guard mode all the time y/n. you need to let loose sometimes like the rest of us.”

“with all due respect princess, it’s my duty to ensure the protection for you and everyone’s safety at these events.”

nayeon tsks with her mouth, leaning over to you purposefully, spilling her drink over your shoe, making you gasp out loudly over the crowds noise. 

“princes- nayeon what the fuck?!”

she laughs, hysterically.

“it’s always nice for you to have this so called responsibility to protect me, but you’re no fun if you’re just gonna stand there all tainted clad in armor. you want to drink and indulge with the rest of us don’t ya?”

“i’d give you an earful for staining my armor, but i'll save that for another time the next time i see you.”

nayeon grabs you by the hand, leading you away from your post in the garden, to a gate that leads to one of the outer concourses of the castle, an area that would be secluded for you two to get away at.

“if you want to have fun, let me get to know you more.” nayeon says, opening the gate that shows a visible trail—-away from the crowd with the woman that you’ve been interacted with that’s your brothers love interest. 

“i’ll follow you along, princess.” you say happily, extending out your hand to hers, holding her dress as you two walk down the path together. 

—

those meetings with her happen so and so often, it was basically bound to be a regular thing regardless the second you guys are in close proximity to each other. felix would be puzzled because of how you two would return together before he would see nayeon off into the night. he would ask you every now and then but most of the time you assured him that nothing bad was happening with her. 

on winter one night just like the other nights before, you’ve grown to like nayeon. you stand there idly, while the gentle specks of snow sprinkle over your guard uniform, eyes fixed on the sight of her walking down the grand staircase, arm in arm with your brother, her fiance, face radiant with a bright glow that nearly causes you to double over in gazing. 

beautiful, you wonder. she’s always been so beautiful. a small part in your mind knew it was wrong to pine after the potential connection to the nation’s throne like this, especially since you had some sort of status but the title of a disgraced member of the bloodline, who should be blessed to be in the graces of her presence. 

nayeon was different. there was no denying that. you saw the way her brow furrowed in question when both of your fathers and your brother preached that the war was the only way to achieve peace, or the way she’d beg you to accompany her as she snuck out to get away from the talks of politics. 

“we could get caught by doing this.” you whisper, helping nayeon get on the horse. 

“isn’t this supposed to be fun to you? to live with a little danger once in a while?” nayeon reoplies, wrapping her arms around your waist as you ride straight to the horizon. 

you would feel nayeon’s eyes searching for you every meeting, the way her face would be mirroring different expressions of your parents speaking to each other, causing you to snort out loud leading to getting scolded by everyone in the room. 

there was no denying your jealousy for your brother, felix, it was only natural that he would be the one to court her into a marriage while you just stood back and watched the whole thing unfold. you were fond of nayeon when you first met her, she was sweet, very open, and pretty. 

you thought about the possibility of them extending the family in the future once marriage talks were all done and set, promises of a life that you could never give her. 

on one evening, it took every bone in your body to hold back watching various people argue over nayeon’s hand, and worried that she will agree to one. a selfish call was decided when you asked her to come with you quickly, blabbering that you needed to show her something that was important to you. 

“everything okay?” nayeon asked, as you led her up the steps to a closed off balcony in the castle. 

“yeah, i just wanted to show you something.” you answer, trying to hide the jealousy running through your veins. 

fumbling around the pockets and grabbing the key that you stole from the fellow gatekeeper who was a very nice person, you opened the door to the balcony that your parents had forbidden anyone from stepping foot on or seeing. 

nayeon gasped in amazement, face glowing by the moonlight and speechless to find the words that could describe the surprise you just unveiled to her. 

she then notices the vine riddled with roses near the edge, tending to the impressive collection as you followed her, plucking one out and placing it in her arms. 

“a gift for you, princess.” 

“thank you, my guard.” 

you two would spend hours on the balcony, looking down at the various plants and talk about old memories about people they knew. nayeon then turns your body to face you, the silence filling the air with the faint sound of crickets as she looks at you fiddling with a rose in your hands. 

“y/n, is there something that you wanted to tell me?” she asks, voice peeping through a slight hope. 

“uhh.” you begin. yes, i wanted to pull you away from the meeting to tell you that i am deeply and insanely in love with you. i want to take you away from this boring hell hole of a castle and give you a world at your heart’s desires, even if it were to kill me. “nothing, just the secret balcony that no one is allowed to come up to.” you boringly say. 

“ah, okay.” is all that nayeon says, and you walk her back down, head pounding with regret. 

you remember the different nights spent together before your brother proposed to nayeon, the night at the local bar, watching the group of people dance with the mixture of many instrumental tunes. it was all so goofy to think about, making silly expressions, spinning around mindlessly to the banjo and drums playing. you noticed how nayeon’s eyes were glowing with bliss. she hardly smiles like that, you think to yourself. 

“i’m jealous of you y/n.” she says to you one night, as you two quickly walk up the hill, the rain being merciless in pouring. 

“why? what makes you say that?” you enquire, noticing an empty shed outside the castle, dragging her inside. 

you notice her shoulders shivering, her silky brown hair sticking to her face, and her cheeks hinted with red from the cold. she had a scarf wrapped around her dress that wasn’t a viable layer to keep her warm and without a second thought, you slipped off your guard jacket and draped it around her shoulders. 

nayeon looks at you with fluttering lashes, eyes full of something that you just didn’t know or notice. 

“about your question from earlier.” she starts, tightening your jacket around her body. “i’ve always been jealous of how you could just live for yourself, not being forced to follow the ridiculous rules that are expected for a royal member.” 

you pause, unsure of what to say after. 

“you have the right to live for yourself.” you say, after a brief moment of silence. nayeon’s laugh fills your ears, before taking a step closer to you.

“you’re funny, you know that?” nayeon whispers to you, leaving you confused. “maybe i could live for myself, refuse the royal livelihood and marry whoever i want.” eyes flickering to you as she says the last couple of words. 

the last sentence stabs your heart, like losing a joust without the armor. you knew that your time was ticking with her, and she’d eventually marry your brother felix. you and her would still see each other, but the heavenly restriction would only just keep you two apart. it wasn’t over just yet, but you wanted this to last a little bit longer. 

nayeon tiptoes a bit, glancing at your eyes before trailing down to your soft lips. you catch yourself leaning in closer, feeling the strong urge to meet them, to show how badly you loved her, and how you may just be part of the royal guard, but you would kill to be with her, and run away to some place where she could be truly happy. 

reality comes calling and you stop, pulling away to point at the window next to you two,

“the rain stopped.” you say, heart beating rapidly but also melting away with regret, again. 

“oh.” is all that’s heard from nayeon’s mouth, and they walk back to the castle in silence, neither of you willing to address the thick fog of confusion and tension hanging within the air.

you drag yourself back to the present with a few blinks as you stood there, on guard, waiting to hear to what the major announcement was. 

“my fellow subjects!” you hear your father exclaim out, everyone in the hall came to a standstill including nayeon and her family, and you suddenly realize that the marriage wasn’t announced to the public yet. 

“in a momentous celebration to commemorate our victory in the war, my prince will marry the lovely princess nayeon of the im dynasty!” 

a white screech pierces your ears, drowning out the cheers as the whole world around you just crumbled. heart heavy and your legs turn into jelly. this has to be a trick right? your eyes try to meet with nayeon’s but she was frozen with the reminder, still as a painting, and your head spins. 

the people were cheering and hugging each other, as you keep the order in the hall, your father’s words still pounding in your ears. 

—

later that night, you stand outside nayeon’s door, questioning yourself if this was the right move to see her or not. your mind had a protocol to follow, but all of that was in the back of your mind since you only knew one thing—you had to see her. 

so you knock twice, before you hear the gentle voice on the other side of the door prompting you to come in, and you enter, walking straight to sit on the edge of her bed. right beside her, as always. 

“princess nayeon.” you say, sitting next to her like a dog with its owner, eyes locked on her and only her. 

“just nayeon y/n, i have to keep reminding you every day.” she jokes, tapping your shoulder, making you tense but you gather your thoughts. 

“we already knew, but this pretty much makes this official doesn’t it, marrying my brother felix?” you ask, voice slightly breaking from an emotion that you still couldn’t fathom to understand. 

“i don’t have a choice. but if this is their step towards celebrating peace, then i can’t do much about it.” nayeon mumbles, leaning forward on the bed, face crestfallen. 

she looks so sad, you think to yourself, and your heart was breaking for her. the guard role and title didn’t matter to you since you genuinely wanted to comfort her, taking nayeon into your arms, promising her that she would always be safe with you, saying that you’ll love her for lifetimes and many different universes. 

you open your mouth, like a grunt escaping your lips, causing nayeon to look up at you. you clear your throat soon after, and you catch yourself staring at her for a few minutes. it was all so usual for you to do, and you stand up to walk to the window, still having no words. 

“what is it y/n?” nayeon asks, face beet red.

“nayeon.” you whisper, kneeling in front of her at the bed again, placing your arms on both sides of her legs. “i know this is wrong for me to say this, but you have every right to punish me for the words i’m about to say to you, but princess, i am madly and deeply in love with you.” 

nayeon’s mouth drops, and you look away, excusing yourself to leave, the regret from your words no longer there but this was against everything you took an oath for as her in the name of the elite guard. nayeon places a hand on your arm, causing you to kneel in front of her again. 

“what do you mean by that? for how long?” nayeon asks, unable to decide which question was more pressing to you. 

“since i met you for the first time and laid eyes on you. i feel like we’ve been in this situation before in another time that i can’t explain.” you try to explain, knowing that the words probably wouldn’t make sense but you had to give your reason in your love for her. “i’m so happy that it’s you that i love. the world feels a little lighter whenever we look at each other, calming my nerves that’s turning inside me, and i don’t want anything more for us to hide away from the world and be in love together, alone.” 

nayeon tilts your head up with her long, soft fingers, and notices the way you still refuse to make eye contact with her. 

“y/n.” she whispers, leaning her face closer, causing your forehead to touch with hers, “look at me.” 

always astute to follow orders, and you look at her, nayeon leans in, placing a soft kiss on your lips. this broke the drawbridge within you, wrapping your arms around her, shifting the position so that you were above, the kiss becoming more and more desperate by the second since the both of you knew that time was running out. 

your lips move down to her neck, placing small pecks all over the area, your warm breath lingering over her collarbones. you reach to her chest, and the vein in your neck twitches from a simple look at her breasts, causing your body to overcome with oozing lust.

holding yourself back, you sit up, lips swollen and red, trying to collect your breath as you look down at nayeon’s messy hair, lips like yours, desire pulling you in for more. 

placing your hands between her face, “i love you so much.” you mumble in between the kiss, causing nayeon to giggle against you.

“i have too, you idiot. i’ve been waiting for you to notice for so long.” she says, and you could legitimately die from that moment she said that to you. 

“let me rephrase, i’ve wanted you for so long.” you whisper, lips grazing her chest.

“why don’t you show me how much you’ve always wanted me.” 

nayeon’s fingers laced with yours, taking extra care as you showered every part of her body with soft, loving kisses as soft moans are falling out of nayeon’s mouth. 

“i have,” you mutter between kisses again, “never done this before.” you say breathlessly, nayeon scratching your hair out of affection.

“this is also my first.” she laughs out, and tugs at your collar. “get this off, now.” 

the next few minutes are filled with stripping, and you guide nayeon to lay on her back again, the soft moonlight breaking through the curtains illuminating her nude body. you gasp in rapture, unable to control yourself any longer. 

you gently slide nayeon’s legs open, tracing patterns with your lips on her inner thighs, eyes locked on ther face, the want to give her nothing but pleasure, the only objective in your mind right now.

tracing your finger along her wet folds, she gasps when you insert a finger inside of her, causing nayeon to moan and throw her head back against the pillow. you slow your pace with another finger, rubbing her clit in between the motion, eyes filled with a loving haze. your cunt was throbbing at the sound of her moans filling up the room, you just wanted to make her feel good. 

“i need-” nayeon says suddenly, “your mouth, please.” 

you happily oblige, latching your lips to her pussy, causing her to groan out louder as she grasps the back of your head. humming into her leaking core, you insert your fingers inside of her, legs twitching at the new stimulus clouding her mind as she’s lost in the pleasurable contact from you. 

“you’re mine only.” you whisper out before diving back into her pussy, tongue slicing through the center as you feel nayeon’s back arching off from the mattress. she was going to cum sooner thatn you think, the rhythm of your mouth doubling back in pace. you shoot yourself off from her pussy, kissing her cheek as you continue to pump your fingers inside of her. 

“to think that you’d marry my brother, he won’t love you the way that i do.” 

you mutter those hot words into her mouth, pinching her clit as well as pressing past her g-spot causing nayeon to finally come undone, holding her for dear life soon after she’s recovered, almost worried that they’ll be ripped away from each other, mumbling declarations of love over and over again in the ungodly hours of the night. 

—

the next few weeks that passed were exchanges of stolen kisses and escapes to the outer field and courtyards, much like teenagers with the way they expressed their newly blossomed love. 

you and nayeon weren’t complete fools though, and neither of you wanted to address the preparing marriage. nayeon just pretended that it didn’t exist in her mind, whereas the thought of it crossing your head drew out a sense of jealousy for your brother. 

on one night, after another round of love, nayeon sucking the core out of you, her head is found on your chest, twiddling her fingers across your breasts and the bud of your exposed nipple, quietly listening to your beating heart. 

your fingers were laced in her hair, ears filled by the gentle breaths breezing through your nostrils. 

“you should run away with me.” you propose suddenly, sitting up with nayeon’s hand with yours. “i may not offer much, but i promise to give you everything that you want and need.” 

“i don’t need anything but you, and i’m fine exactly right where i am.” nayeon mumbles, making your throw a dumb smile across your lips. 

—

you pace around your living quarters with a surge of excitement. in just a few hours, you’ll leave this godforsaken place, hand in hand with nayeon as you embark on a new life of freedom over the chained life of royalty. 

as you walked to her bedroom in your family’s castle, hands tightly holdling a small box in your pocket, you hear your name being called that makes you stop in your tracks, turning around to see your father and brother walking towards you, face wearing an unusual smile. 

“y/n.” your father says, opening a door that was a few steps down from nayeon’s. “we need to have a talk about something important, come.” 

you nod, following orders without bearing a question past your lips. 

the door closes and your brother takes his place next to your seated father, you standing across from them—a confrontation that could only spell disaster. 

“felix here has been telling me that you’ve been fooling around with his fiance.” he starts off saying, face looking cross with a harsh tone welded to the words. 

“with all due respect sir,” your father knew that he hated the formality that you put up whenever talking to him, “i wasn’t fooling around. i love nayeon, sincerely.” 

“not for long you are.” your father scoffs out, your brother looking down with a bleak smirk on his face. 

“what is the meaning of this?” you ask, standing your ground, fists loaded. 

“it’s quite simple for you isn’t it y/n?” felix says, almost mocking your attitude. “you love nayeon so much that you’d do anything for her?” 

“without question.” 

“then we order you to do something for us.” your father says again, leaning closer. “you tell nayeon that you don’t love her, and she gets married to your brother. she’ll be able to live a life of wealth and grandeur, and you’ll be cut off from the family entirely.” 

“and if i refuse?” 

“she’ll die on the degree of treason. not you though, since the judgment for you would be living the reset of your life knowing that your actions led to the demise of the person you loved dearly. remember, i have eyes and ears spread across this kingdom. you and nayeon will never live in peace.” 

you wanted to scream, defy against your father and brother, bolt to nayeon’s room and get out of the place you despised so much. but you were smart about this, how else did you get into the family’s elite guard in the first place. your father would be able to find you both and you couldn’t do anything to get nayeon hurt because of you.

“okay.” you finally say, surrendering to your dad’s power. “i’ll accept your terms.” 

“good, felix take y/n on your way out will ya?” your father replies, satisfied with the decision. as felix grabs you by the shoulders, ushering your way out and down the steps. 

you and felix stayed silent as the both of you made your way to the dining commons, fighting back tears from the events that just happened about twenty minutes ago still fresh in your mind. 

“you know, nayeon asked me for my permission about you.” felix says out of nowhere, making you stop in your tracks, facing him at the surprise confession. 

"what?"

“i’ve seen the way she looks at you, her and i have known each other since we were little. but when she saw you that day, her eyes looked so different compared to when she’s with me.” 

you fight back tears that were about to spill from your eyes, biting your inner cheek, knowing that this was all too late to salvage anything from this point. 

“i was never in the right position for her anyway.” you say, “we both know that i was never fit to be royal material, that’s why i joined the elite guard.” 

“i’m sorry y/n. i really am.” felix replies, “maybe if things were different with how everything is, all of this wouldn’t have happened.”

“felix, it’s fine.” 

“i just wish we had a different scenario for the both of us.” he says to you, placing a hand on your shoulder, not willing to meet his eyes. “you’ll find someone like you, eventually.” 

you clench your jaw at the last sentence, frothing internally from the comment your brother just uttered, fist ready to break the nearby pillar next to you. 

—

a day later after the confrontation with your father, you walk towards nayeon’s room once again, mind numb as the words rang in your head. the only way to protect nayeon was to destroy her, and you let out a bitter laugh at the cruel joke your mind just constructed upon yourself. 

“y/n!” nayeon gasps, rushing towards you and engulfing you in a tight hug. you look down at the princess who had a blissful face. were things supposed to end like this? to rip her heart to shreds? the one you fought so hard to win? 

you stood still, like a stone, face stern with a mixture of emotions swimming underneath. nayeon notices this unusual behavior, and places a hand on your chest.

“my love, are you okay?” she asks you, and you take a sigh before taking a step back, waving her hand off your chest, confusing her. 

“i think, i have to confess something to you.” you state, trying not to meet eyes with hers. 

“what are you talking about?” 

“all of this,” you say, waving your finger between you two, “everything that i said and did, it was never meaningful or real.” you almost choke on the words you forced yourself to utter out. 

“so you’re saying is–” nayeon cuts herself off, voice breaking before even finishing the sentence. 

“fuck, i’m trying to say that i never loved you, okay?! this wasn’t all supposed to happen in the first place. all of it.” you regret the words as soon as they leave your lips.

nayeon’s eyes widened, biting her lip, fighting the urge to cry in front of the people she didn’t trust. you clasp your arm, doing everything in your willpower to not comfort her. 

“of course, that’s how it is then is it?” she laughs out bitterly, sitting on the edge of her bed, face full of hurt. “all of this was just to mess with the esteemed princess and ruin everything good that’s happened in her life for the past weeks. this just proves everything that i feared about you.” 

you stood there, not letting the resolve break you in front of nayeon. 

“nay-” 

“get the fuck out.” nayeon yells urgently, and you turn away in a flash, door slamming behind you as you stumble on the steps once alone. 

—

weddings, they’re the worst. 

you stand there at the beginning of the ceremony besides the bridesmaids, the only girl there wearing a suit, hands clasped together as you watch nayeon walk down the aisle, hugging her father before facing your brother, her new husband to be. 

she looked so ethereal to look at, and you were fighting your inner conscience, wishing that you were in felix’s place instead, hearing the exchange of vows—the agreement of a lifetime of love and security with her. instead, here you are, on the sidelines, nothing but a mere member of the audience, trading your love for the promise of keeping her safe. 

you wanted to object, defy the presentation and speak your truth, taking nayeon down the aisle and away from everything that you spoke in your bedside talk with her. now, you just watched as felix and nayeon share a kiss, and they both walk down—arm in arm with her new husband and she offers a fake smile to everyone, you always knew that her eyes would always light up when she was smiling with genuine intent, and avoids looking at you. 

the reception was at the nearby hall next to the chapel, holding the box in your hands in a secluded corner away from the crowd. your father calls you over, seeing your mother and felix stand beside him, pressing your lips knowing the gravity of the situation from this point on. 

you move past the three across from you, your father signaling the guards waiting at the doors to be shut  once you were outside, closing you off from the family and nayeon from your life forever. 

[stirringwinds]

sorry if it's a dumb question but i've wondered about the nations' skills or what suits their personalities, and who do u think would win in a swordfight between yao and kiku? japan does have such a kenjutsu culture but what about china, since china has a very old history too?

i have thought about this before, actually 🤔 when thinking about pre-modern sino-japanese power dynamics between yao and kiku. personally, i say it actually depends on which point in history. this is my headcanon:

before the kamakura period/shogunate (which overlaps with the sengoku/feudal era of japan) tbh I'd say yao wins. one reason is well, the symbolic power balance between china and japan. the first time china and japan properly met face-to-face in conflict was in the 7th century CE, during the baekje-tang war at the battle of baekgang in korea. long story short: it was a power struggle between korean kingdoms, and the korean kingdom of baekje (yong-soo's brother) was allied to japan, so japan came to help them. their enemy was the other korean kingdom of silla (aka: yong-soo long before he becomes south korea), who...was allied to china. despite being outnumbered 3 to 1, china pretty much crushed japan in that battle. then, kiku is very much an inexperienced upstart challenging the regional hegemon who has far far more notches on his sword. getting wrecked like that by yao is imo, quite a formative experience for kiku (to put it mildly).

but as the centuries go by, yeah no, kiku is the swordsman alright. because of samurai culture, and its elevation to power during the muromachi and edo period. further, there's of course the imjin war, where the samurai lord toyotomi hideyoshi invaded korea with the goal of overthrowing ming china too. even during the successive edo period/tokugawa shogunate, where japan was unified, far more peaceful under isolationism and many samurai became more like bureaucrats, i think kiku continued practising kenjutsu or at least in the form of kendo—swordsmanship and his swords became very much an extension of his personality and identity by then, as well as a way he'd blow off steam even during peacetime. his katana and wakizashi would always be properly maintained and you'd see him carefully oiling it with the mix of mineral and clove oil to prevent rusting, even during the most chill years of edo japan. they'd be nicely displayed like this somewhere in his quarters.

this is compared to how, for all that pre-modern china was an empire and all empires need military violence to expand themselves, warriors as a class in chinese culture never quite ascended to the same type of political prestige as the samurai. it was a very different cultural/political context. it's like, you can't underestimate yao still, as an experienced old empire (tm), but by the 1400s/ming dynasty, i think he might've shifted more to being that kind of general presiding over maps in his military tent, and directing strategy, compared to the younger warlord he was in his earlier years, who was down in the dirt all the time fighting in every single skirmish. so, while yao can and will get his hands dirty if need be with a blade, i think kiku edges him out by then in sheer focus, skill and devotion re: kenjutsu becoming a pretty core aspect of his personality/experiences. to me, it’s also an “old and experienced soldier surpassed by his younger, hungry protégé” dynamic too.

[badass-queer-couples-battle]

Sword gays showdown, round 1, bracket three

Propaganda:

For Sokka:

Him learning how to use a sword is like a major thing that teaches him he has worth, he is useful, he is powerful, and he should be proud of his identity. Also his sword is made of meteorite and that's awesome. 

He finds a master to teach him more about the swordsmanship and "fails" (according to him) all the lessons in the most unique ways and says he is unworthy to study under the master but his master thought it was perfect and challenges him and shows Sokka how good he really is. He also gets to make his own sword out of a meteorite.

He only uses an actual sword for a short time in the show, but he's got all the vibes to fit right in in this competition imo.

For Pearl:

an uptight lesbian alien who learned to swordfight for the lady she was sworn to serve. Stream "do it for her"

She’s a classic former child hating turned helicopter parent lesbian. And one of the first to be depicted in media made for all ages. She’s also constantly referenced as a master fencer and swords woman. 

On the battlefield, when everything is chaos, and you have nothing but the way you feel, your strategy and a sword, You just think about the life you'll have together after the war!

Pearl was obsessively in love for thousands of years with her leader Rose Quartz. And took up the sword to fight for her in her wars. It's all so unhealthy and messy and I love her! She later teaches a human how to swordfight. Because she's really good at it.

The way she moves is so graceful and interesting, also her being gay is such a critical part of her character.

She has a collection of swords, she trains in swordfighting against holograms of herself and teaches swordsmanship to children, she's EXTREMELY gay and never got over Steven's mom's death, she has a song entirely about how she sees herself as a knight (to protect Steven's mom, who she was gay for)

[chaotic-history]

Top five "you really were that stupid, huh, Zozo?" moments.

Oh geez, this is hard to pick top 5 😅

1) The Rohan incident. Chevalier de Rohan insults V for changing his name, V responds along the lines of "At least I'll make my name remembered while you only bring dishonor to yours" (istg every bio I read quotes this differently). Rohan sends people to beat V up, V tries to protest through legal means but when that doesn't work he challenges Rohan to a duel, starts taking shooting and swordfighting lessons, then gets locked in the Bastille for being a public disturbance before being allowed to exile himself in England.

2) Trying to be a spy. In 1743 when V was going on a visit to Prussia, he begged offered to the French court to work as a spy for them against Frederick (in order to get in better standing with Versailles). When V arrives, Fritz isn't there in Berlin yet, so he stays with Podewils, the Prussian ambassador, "spying" and sending intelligence back to France through Mme Denis. Fritz of course knew about the spying from the very beginning and used it against V because if he thinks he's close to getting information maybe he'll stay in Prussia longer 😉

3) Going to Prussia in general. I really can't stress enough that EVERYONE told him it was a terrible idea. V lost half his braincells and all his self-preservation skills when Émilie died, and this is the result.

4) Matchmaking Richelieu w his wife so that Riche and Émilie will stop flirting. Girl what? In what world is that gonna stop either of them for even two seconds. Also Richelieu acting as a go-between for V and Émilie?? I don't think the guy who formerly had an affair with and is still flirting with one half of the couple is gonna make the best couple's counselor.

5) I've already mentioned Prussia twice but. Involving himself in the Maupertuis/König debate, aka the debacle that largely led to V leaving Prussia. In short, Maupertuis was president of the Berlin Academy of Sciences and had a lot of stupid ideas that König challenged him on (including drilling to the center of the Earth and dissecting the brains of giants. He admitted these were very specultative though). All of Fritz's court (Fritz included) was privately making fun of Maupertuis, but outwardly Fritz wrote in support of him because challenged the head of the Academy meant a challenge to royal authority. V thinks this is unfair and writes "anonymously" (in quotes bc everyone knew it was V) in support of König, which then turns into writing Doctor Akakia, which is just a fucking brutal satire on Maupertuis. Fritz finds it funny but tells V not to publish it. V publishes it because again he's stupid and has no self-preservation skills, and Fritz gets mad at him for going against his orders and causing a scandal, and this whole thing along with embezzelling Saxon bonds led to their relationship just imploding and V leaving Prussia.

[cashthecomposer]

could i hear about your musical :O im really interested in the story it's based on

Yes!!! I saw your post expressing love for historical shows, so I'll explain a little about the historical accuracy:

The story is focused on the summer of 1816, at the Villa Diodati, when Lord Byron challenged several of his contemporaries to compose their own ghost stories, culminating in Mary Shelley creating Frankenstein.

In terms of historical accuracy, it's not 100% exactly what happened that summer. For starters, I condensed the events of three months into three days, performed over two hours. I also take a fair number of liberties for dramatic purpose- as an example, instead of Polidori merely suggesting his jealousy and Byron sticking up for Percy, an actual duel occurs. Because who doesn't want a swordfight?

That being said, there's a number of aspects of the show that I've had to fight for that are accurate. One big one is Mary's identity as a mother- at the start of the show, she has a six month old son, and he is a huge part of her Identity, and an even bigger source of internal and external conflict for her, not least because the boy was named after her estranged father! And while I don't outright state it, there are multiple references to her past miscarriages and deceased daughter (the reason I don't outright state it is because someone close to me would be very triggered by that, and this is already a show that covers enough heavy topics!). Far too many adaptations treat her as this modern gothic feminist icon, and feel they must erase her motherhood rather than embracing it, something she and her own mother would have hated to see. Also, I want breastfeeding to happen onstage, as that was incredibly important to both of the Shelleys, and I'm all about #freethenipple.

The show also is very blatant about Byron's predatory actions, not just towards Claire Clairmont, but Percy and Polidori as well. A lot of people- and adaptations of this story, by extension- sugar coat the fact that he was a fucking creep. I don't, I lean into it. The guy I cast in the role is affable, genuine, and really makes you feel conflicted about Byron being such an ass.

Perhaps the most important thing to me is the title, and its source: Fantasmagoriana, a collection of ghost stories which inspired Byron's challenge. Many adaptations don't give this collection the weight it deserves, so I devote almost an entire scene to two stories Mary Shelley identified as major sources of inspiration for Frankenstein. This was an uphill battle, and took an embarrassing number of tries to get right.

The thing that Tumblr audiences will care about the most is probably the exploration of sexuality and relationships. I never use modern terminology to quantify any of the relationships, save for Percy and Mary who refer to one another as fiancee. The mutual attraction between Percy and Byron is shown explicitly with at minimum a blowjob on a boat in the middle of act 2. And, given the spirit of free love, when Percy tries to tell Mary about his indiscretion, she brushes it aside- while it does hurt, and that's something her sister would later admonish both men for, her love for Percy and her thankfulness that he survived nearly drowning greatly outweighs any upset she may have had. I also heavily lean into the unrequited adoration of Polidori to Byron, and include the moment when the illusion is shattered for John. As an aside, I have him kill himself right then and there (he drinks the poison and leaves the stage), rather than waiting until he gets home, for the ~drama~.

In short (too late), it's not perfectly accurate, it can't be. But it does cover many parts of the story others have chosen to neglect or even erase, definitely showing my biases.

One last note- the instrumentation for the accompaniment has two iterations, one for solo piano, one for string orchestra. I am adamant about keeping the music mostly historically accurate. It's not perfect because I love Shostakovich and Sondheim too much not to use them for some inspiration. I take most of my cues from Liszt for the piano, and Beethoven for the orchestra, early romantic style with big, heavy orchestration, lots of fun key changes, repetition that explores the limits of the instruments.

One thing that really bothers me about historical musicals is when the characters say or sing things that are straight up anachronistic, so that never happens in my show (even the innuendo are thoroughly researched, to be historically accurate!), until the very end, when it's appropriate- when Mary invents the genre of science fiction, which is all about anachronisms! :D

The research phase of this show took me eight years. I read everything Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, Claire Clairmont, John Polidori, and Lord Byron ever penned, including their correspondences. Please trust me when I say that the liberties I take are in pursuit of loyalty to their spirit... literally.

If you want to learn more about my show, please feel free to ask any questions, and check out my Patreon- you can do the free trial option to get access to all previously posted materials, and the lowest level patronage that'll give you regular updates on the show is just $1 a month! It goes to support me as I bring this show to the stage, in my journey of being transparent about the production process. :)

[sinisterexaggerator]

Masterlist - (NSFW 18+ )

Multi-chapter:

Friends in Low Places

Ao3 link | Tumblr Masterpost

Tech and Hondo Ohnaka (Teen audiences)

Summary: Tech is plummeting toward death, yet he is spared, all thanks to a Weequay pirate who was simply in the wrong place at the right time, depending.

One shots:

Happenstance

Ao3 link | Tumblr post

Hondo Ohnaka x Fem!Reader (Smut)

Summary: You are a rich heiress with daddy issues; Hondo is an ex-pirate without purpose. Your fates are intertwined, and soon you will be too, unless the hired help can’t keep her mouth shut. Will your relationship advance, or is your meeting purely happenstance?

***

Finish what you start

Ao3 link | Tumblr post

Hondo Ohnaka x F! Reader (Smut)

Summary: Hondo Ohnaka catches you pleasuring yourself in his absence.

***

Trust me

Ao3 link | Tumblr post

Hondo Ohnaka x F! Reader (Smut)

Summary: Hondo Ohnaka sits at Maz's Castle on Takodana contemplating his many misfortunes and his strife. The Clone Wars have ended, but that does not mean his troubles have - that's when he sees you, and you are staring at his portrait. Perhaps the night will fair better than the day, but that all depends on you.

Ficlets (Fem! xreaders / Misc.): * Contains smut

Brokenhearted - You confess to Hondo that you love him (also includes headcanons).

That mussy mop - Hondo braids your hair.

Good morning, dearest. - Reader cockwarms Hondo / fluff (third entry). *

Important Business - Reader fondles frills and stirs the pirate up / makeout session. *

Headcanons:

NSFW

NSFW Alphabet Challenge

Hondo's frills / Hondo’s frills part 2

Force sensitive?

Hondo taught Cad Bane how to swordfight?

Thighs (mildly NSFW)

Pirate Reader headcanons

Thoughts on Hondo x Aurra Sing Part 1 | Part 2

Sriluur and Hondo's disconnect from others of his kind.

Extras:

Things I learned about Hondo in "Pirate's Price"

Theory on where we might see Hondo in Live Action ( I was WRONG.)

Hondo Ohnaka's Kowakian monkey-lizards

Hondo Concept Art

Hondo Concept Art II

Florrum Concept Art

Hondo without his goggles!

Hondo Ohnaka's Not-so-big score ( canon story )

Smuggler's Guide: Hondo Ohnaka

Kindred Spirits ( short story in Star Wars Insider ft. Hondo Ohnaka )

Book of Hondo

WEIRD AU IDEA !!! / Durwee art by Trashfaun. (Hondo x Cad Bane?!)

***

** He is also featured in my multi-chapter fic: Stars Above! | Cad Bane

----

Return to the Main Masterlist

[its-elvish-for-two]

hi it's me again. I read traitor's blade once a couple years ago and it slapped! And now that I'm mourning riyira revelations being done so I read it again and now I'm halfway through Knight's shadow. and. AAAAHDHDHDHEJDJJDKDJKDSKKSKDJDJA this book is so fucking good, absolutely obsessed with it. the theme and character work is so good in this book. I'm crying about Brasti and Valiana literally all the time. So I have to ask you. Do you have headcanons or Thoughts about the main squad? Specifically brasti kest falcio valiana and dariana bc I would die for all of them

Hi! I've finally gotten around to this, sorry it took a while...

Honestly, I love the Greatcoats. It's the perfect mix of magic and the Musketeers. The second and third books are my favourites, mostly for ansty Kest but also just because they're great, so enjoy the rest of the series.

I haven't read them in a few years, so I'll try my best not to spoil anything for you:

Brasti is so pure, I love him. In some ways he's more idealistic than Falcio but he's also much more down to earth in the sense that he understands people and and he's trying to save people, anyone and everyone, whereas Falcio is trying to save the whole world

I feel like I would have liked Ethalia more if it wasn't all from Falcio's POV, which may sound odd when he's obviously so in love with her, but if I had to read one more mention of Ethalia's eyes...

Kest is my absolute favourite character. I'm so glad SdC didn't force him into any romantic subplot, I was worried when there was so much between Falcio and Ethalia and I was scared he was going to try and pair everyone off. I know why some people see Kest as in love with Falcio, and Falcio is absolutely the most important person in the world to Kest, but Kest is so goddamn aroace, no I won't take critisism

Darriana and Valiana are my OTP

Kest is mentioned as being middling height but I picture him as tall. Brasti is average height, Falcio is short, not really short but a couple inches shorter than Brasti, which Brasti likes to point out at least once a day. Valiana is also slightly taller than Falcio, but Darri is a tiny ball of fury

Modern AU, Brasti and Kest have so many arguments about Brasti using the wrong words over text - Kest: The word is inconsistent, not incontinence. Brasti: I knew that, it was autocorrect!

Falcio and Darriana are cat people, Brasti and Valiana are dog people. Kest doesn't mind either but has full, serious conversations with pets like they can understand

"Yes, hello, Mittens. I agree, that is a very interesting bobbin of thread but I don't think the Tailor would appreciate you unravelling it across the floor. Oh, you're going to carry on? Well, at your own peril then."

He does this with horses too, though Falcio is also guilty of this

Brasti has the best hearing so he's a really light sleeper. The one thing he does sleep through is his own snoring. Falcio hates him for this because he cannot sleep through Brasti's snoring. Kest can wake at the first hint of danger but he also can and will sleep through anything if he wants to

Brasti is obviously the best archer. Kest is above average because he works out all the science and maths in his head but he's not a natural. Valiana is very good, but never really needs to use the skill, except to challenge Brasti when he's being irritating. Darriana refuses to try because she will not give Brasti the satisfaction of confirming he is better than her

Darriana has a good singing voice but will not let anyone hear her sing for love nor money

Brasti and Valiana have totally theoretical discussions about how they would commit various heists. Darriana often pipes in though her plans usually involve far more killing, but none of them let Falcio over hear them for risk of being scolded like misbehaving school kids

Bonus (from the short stories):

Estevar Valejan Duerisi Borros is wonderful and should have been in the full series because he's basically a sassy swordfighting Poirot and I love him and if he had been there, all the Greatcoats' problems would have been solved half way through book 2

Ok this was a lot more than I meant to write but hey. Thanks again for the ask :)

[captainsy-cookiemonster]

Tease

(Gif not mine; found on pinterest!)

Anon requested: Geralt and Reader are teasing each other until Geralt snaps and fucks her until she passes out.

Thank you anon for that request ❤️

Summary: You accompany your brother Jaskier and the famous White Wolf on their travels through the Continent. Over the time, you start to catch feelings for the lonesome Witcher, and you decide to act on them – your parents didn’t raise a coward after all. So you keep teasing and teasing, waiting for his strong patience to snap. And when it does, it’s far more than you bargained for.

Pairing: Geralt x 1st person reader; Jaskier x sister!reader

Warnings: +18 minors dni, SMUT (obviously); teasing (badly written, I suck at flirting); rough sex; multiple orgasms (a total of seven); dom/sub; male!dom/fem!sub; mentions of body fluids; overstimulation; begging; marking; size!kink; mature language; took a slightly darker twist towards the end of the, uhm, session; little fluff at the end; friends to lovers (?)

If you're uncomfortable with any of this, do not read!

A/N: Dear anon, I’m sorry i took so long for this. I started this weeks ago and then got stuck... I hope it turned out like you expected.💕

Word count: 6.7k (yup, I can’t keep it short)

Title: Tease

Tagging @littlefreya, @princess-of-riviaa​, @cherry-acid, @ohjules and @achaoticaugust. Figured you might like it ☺️💕

Enjoy ❤️ feedback and reblog are always welcome and appreciated 💕

“Is that the best you can do?” I pant as I raise my blade, pointing it at my opponent, who, with a deep growl, does the same. He swings his sword at me and I dodge it expertly, swinging my own sword at him in return. He delivers blow after blow, and I either block or dodge every single one of them. The dance lasts for a while. We let out teasing remarks, echoed by the clashing of our swords. All the while, my brother sits on a log by the campfire, strumming his lute, composing his next song.

Yeah, being the daughter of the Viscount of Lettenhove has its perks. Father lets us do whatever we want. He was the one who allowed Jaskier to travel the Continent before going to Oxenfurt for some education fitting his status. He was the one who trained me in swordfight and fencing when I asked. And when Jaskier showed up at home two months ago, accompanied by none other than the famous Geralt of Rivia, father allowed me to go with them.

“You fight like an angry kitten, girl!”

About half an hour passes and the sword in my hands begins to feel heavy, but if there is one thing father has taught me, it’s to never let your opponent know they have the upper hand.

“What?” I challenge, “Don’t you have more?”

“Oh, my lady, I could go on for hours,” the White Wolf grins at me tauntingly, bearing his fangs, “but I doubt you can.”

I clench my jaw, frustrated with how easily he read me. With a weak battlecry, I charge at him, but my grip isn’t as strong as it had been an hour ago, and sweaty palms made the handle slippery.

Geralt knocks the sword from my hands in a matter of seconds, spins me around and pulls me against his chest, his blade resting against my throat with just enough pressure to let me know I’ve been defeated.

“It seems, my lady,” he growls into my ear, “That you’re not as strong as you think you are.”

I blame it on the exhaustion that I let my body fall slack against his incredibly broad one, letting out a long breath in an attempt to slow my racing heartbeat. I’m lost in the moment, feeling the flex of Geralt’s strong chest against my back. My mind is racing straight to the gutter with the thoughts of his body against mine. He’s large, handsome and seems to have quite the stamina. In short, I want him. I wanted him ever since the stepped a foot onto my father’s court.

So now I stand there, pressed against him, my head barely reaching his shoulder, his sword against my neck and his growled remark still ringing through my ears. Well, until –

“Hey, listen to this!” Jaskier calls and Geralt quickly lets go of me, marching over to slump down on a log and tears the leg off the rabbit that’s been roasting over the fire. With a little blush tinting my cheeks, I saunter over to where my brother is seated, intentionally passing the Witcher. I sway my hips more than necessary. I know he’s staring.

***

“Sit still, for crying out loud!” I hiss for what feels like the tenth time in just a few minutes. My hands are bloody, the needle slippery and the Witcher’s constant flinching isn’t helping. A bruxa had almost gotten the better of him and it was on me to stitch up the long gash bitch had left along his ribs.

“And they call me a butcher,” Geralt grumbles and then supresses a hiss of pain as I make another stitch.

“It would hurt less if you would stay still,” I mutter, “Or do you want me to kiss it better?”

“As much as I would like that, my lady, I doubt that would work.”

“Then stop whining and let me do what I need to do.”

An hour later, he lies in his bed, ribcage bandaged, and high on herbs that should soothe his pain. I sit at his side watching him, while my brother is out earning some extra coin downstairs in the tavern. Absentmindedly, I run my fingers through the Witcher’s tangled and dirty mane, caress his strong jaw. Luckily, he’s out as a light, so he doesn’t notice.

He looks peaceful now, handsome features relaxed for once. He’s gorgeous, and there is no denying that he makes me feel a certain way. Lost in thought, I keep caressing his cheek and jaw, thread my fingers through his hair. There is a thin sheen of sweat lining his brow, rebuilding within a few minutes every time I wipe it away.

I quickly pull my hand back when I see him stir. Geralt groans in pain, attempting to sit up. In a flash, my hands are on his shoulders, pushing him back down gently but determined.

“No, no, Witcher. Stay down. I’m not stitching you up again,” I scold, dabbing a little sweat off his brow, – again – lingering for just a second longer than necessary.

“You wouldn’t have to in the first place, if you had just followed my orders,” he grunts, then groans again, another attempt to sit up failing.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I exclaim, throwing my hands in the air in frustration, “But I guess you can be happy someone was willing to play the bait. What would you have done if I hadn’t been there?”

Geralt remains quiet while I turn my back and march over to the table, mixing a new dose of herbs.

“Thought so,” I mutter.

***

Weeks later, Jaskier had convinced Geralt to play bodyguard at some royal banquet – not for the first time, I gathered.

“Well, don’t you clean up nicely,” I grin as I barge into the Witcher’s room, finding him with combed hair for once, while Jaskier tugs the dark blue doublet in place over the light grey shirt, “Why no armour, though?”

“Ask your brother,” Geralt just grumbles, definitely uncomfortable in those new clothes.

I simply shrug and step closer to the broad man, the heavy skirts of my gown rustling as I go.

Bold hands move to touch his medallion, turning the pendant around, so the engraved side is facing outward again. Featherlight, I run my fingertips along the outlines of the snarling wolf, before I let my fingers linger on his chest.

Peering up at him, innocently through my lashes, I catch him staring down at me, not at my face but lower, at the soft swell of my breasts, peeking out from my tightly laced bodice I’ve grown used to over the years.

Once he realizes he’s staring, he clears his throat loudly and takes a step back.

“We should get going,” he mutters, before stepping out of the room.

I’m left behind to stare at Jaskier, dumbfounded. My brother just shrugs, linking his arm with mine to lead me down to the great hall.

The large room is swarming with nobility, the fewest of them I had met before. We find Geralt leaning against the wall, a pint of ale in hand, and not long after, I stand next to him, dumped by Jaskier so he could perform. There is a tense silence between us while I search for something to talk about.

“This isn’t the first time you watch over my brother at a royal party?” I ask clumsily.

“No,” is all Geralt grumbles in return and for a moment, the silence between us continues. Then, “The first time was in Cintra. Didn’t end well.”

I turn to him, surprised that he’s taking. “What happened?” I ask, wide-eyed and curious.

“That’s none of your business, my lady.”

“Jaskier told me you claimed the Law of Surprise? Where is that child it got you?” The question slips out before I can stop it. Anxiously, I bite my tongue while waiting for his answer.

“Where should it be? It’s in Cintra, where it belongs,” comes his grunted reply after a moment.

“You didn’t claim it?”

“No.”

And the silence resumes, weighing heavier than ever. A few young nobles approach over the time, asking me for a dance, but I politely decline every single one of them. There’s only one man here tonight I’d want to dance with, and he’s not even talking to me. Still, I feel him tense up every time the words “My lady, would you honour me with a dance?” are said.

Dinner is served soon enough, and passes rather quickly. All the while, I can feel the Witcher’s glances, but I don’t pay much attention to him, catching up with a friend I haven’t seen in a long time. When he asks me for a dance, I don’t deny him, letting him lead me to the dancefloor. Geralt’s eyes don’t leave me for even one second, until, finally, I see him get up from his seat and come over, determination in his step, making the ground shake – or am I the only one who feels that way?

“Mind if I take over?” his deep, smooth voice sounds honey-sweet as he steps up to us.

“Of course, Sir,” the young knight bows and lets go of my hand and waist. He bows low as we part and I curtsy quickly, straightening back up to meet the Witcher’s amber gaze, a hint of anger dancing in his eyes like a little flame. Within a blink, his right hand is splayed out over the expanse of my lower back, his other one swallowing my own whole, making me feel small and trapped against his large form – an addicting feeling that I’ve craved since the moment I met him.

Geralt starts to sway to the slow music and I follow as he leads me across the dancefloor with surprising ease. Every single step is precise, sheer dominance radiating off him. I wouldn’t have expected a ‘savage’ Witcher, how many people called them still, to be talented in ballroom dancing.

“I didn’t know you could dance,” I smirk up at him, not letting this new discovery intimidate me – his size compared to mine, so close, does that already, but I won’t let it show.

“I get around,” is all he mutters in reply.

“So I’ve noticed.” There’s a moment of silence between us and I use it to trail my hand from his shoulder down his bulging biceps and back up to rest against his chest. I notice him staring at my cleavage again and I bite the inside of my lip not to laugh.

“You think you can do that, hm?” he growls after a while and pulls me closer, chests touching lightly.

“Do what?” I ask innocently, blinking up at him.

“Don’t play coy now; you know exactly what I mean.”

“I am afraid I do not, Witcher.”

“So you want me to spell it you for you, do you?” Geralt hisses.

On the outside, I keep my innocent mask, giving Geralt a questioning look. But inwardly, I’m squealing and grinning. I had finally gotten to him, after months of hinting and teasing, all it had taken was a little bit of jealousy.

“You think you can tease me for months and then take the first chance you get to flirt with another man?” he almost spits.

I bite my lip and peer at him through my lashes. “Well, yes?”

“Oh no, you cannot.” With these words, he pulls me flush against his body and smashes his lips on mine in an urgent kiss. I kiss back just as needy, letting him pry my lips apart without resistance, welcoming his slippery, talented tongue in my hot cavern. The dance long forgotten, we stand on the dancefloor, tightly entwined in each other, letting our tongues do the dancing now.

“Fuck,” I whisper against his lips once Geralt pulls back to let me breathe. Without another word, he takes my hand and leads me out of the hall. If I had glanced over my shoulder, I would have seen Jaskier grinning and nodding at us, but I didn’t, too caught up in the Witcher leading me away.

I stumble after him, struggling to match his fast and urgent pace. Some people give us weird looks, but neither of us cares. Once in an empty hallway, Geralt slams my back against the stone wall, cornering me with his large body. He stares down at my heaving chest.

“My eyes are up here,” I giggle breathlessly, cupping the back of his neck with both hands and pulling him in for another deep kiss. He growls against my lips, the deep rumble shooting straight to my core, slickening my waiting cove.

“How many of these nobles do you know?” he murmurs against my skin as he moves to nip on my neck.

“Too many for you to fuck me here in the hall,” I pant, before biting back a moan threatening to escape.

“Pity. I could take you right against this wall,” he growls.

“As much as I would love that, Geralt, my father would disown me if he was to ever find out,” I mumble, trying to catch my breath.

“That you fucked a Witcher?”

I shake my head, laughing a lightly, “That I fucked in public; not to mention at a royal court. My father does not hold grudges against you Witchers. If he did, he would have never allowed me to come with you,” I point out, playing with the collar of his shirt. “You look very nice, by the way.” I smile up at him, suddenly shy.

“I would have preferred my armour, bu-” I cock my eyebrow at him and he stops his grumbling, smiling down at me softly, “Thank you. You do too, my lady.”

I grin and pull him in for another short kiss, before saying, “But I believe we’d both look better without all these constricting layers. Am I not right?”

Geralt doesn’t say anything, just lets go of a deep growl that makes me shudder before pulling me along the long hallways of the castle towards his assigned chamber. Once inside, he backs me up against the locked door with a predatory look in his eyes.

“You’re really asking for this, aren’t you?” he growls as he grips my hips tightly and pins me to the door.

“Oh fuck, yes,” I breathe in response, fumbling to push the doublet over his broad shoulders. He shrugs it off, the fabric rustling quietly as it falls to the ground. With my fingers tangled in his hair, the Witcher dives forward to claim my lips again, the kiss more urgent than minutes ago.

“How important is that dress to you?” he mutters against my mouth, nipping at my bottom lip, the day-old stubble on his jaw scratching my tender skin as he speaks.

“W-what?”

“I said, how important is that dress to you, my lady. Because I am tempted to tear it off you.”

I swat his hand away playfully as he starts tugging at the bottom of my bodice. “Don’t you dare, Witcher!” Geralt pulls his hands away and allowing me to turn around, my chest pressing against the chill wood as he slowly leans in to start unlacing, lips caressing every inch of skin that’s revealed to his eyes. The bodice falls to the ground with a quiet thud, followed by the rustling of my heavy skirt.

“Too many fucking layers,” Geralt grumbles, tugging at my slip and corset until both join the heaps of fabric on the floor, “But I can still smell how wet you are for me, girl.”

I gasp at his words, turning abruptly to throw my arms around his neck. I pull him in deep, and let him kiss me even deeper. Geralt’s hands wander from my waist down to the back of my thighs, but not before giving the cheeks of my behind a firm, long squeeze. A moan slips escapes my throat, spurring him on as he hikes my legs up to wrap around his waist.

Within seconds, my back is flush against the wall, hips grinding desperately against the hard planes of the Witcher’s body, seeking for some kind of friction. A deep growl erupts from the large animal as he devours my mouth, and suddenly, the constant pressure against my beck is gone, but soon replaced by the sweet softness of the castle’s expensive bedsheets.

Geralt lays me down on the bed, kneeling up for a moment, letting his eyes hungrily rake over my trembling form.

“You’re beautiful, little kitten,” he rasps, before diving back in to claim my lips, but he doesn’t remain there for long.

Slowly, he kisses his way from my lips to my jaw and down my neck, leaving little marks as he goes. He nips and licks at my collarbone, the dark purple marks a stark contrast to my skin. Geralt pulls back a little, admiring his work with lust-blown pupils. My body shakes in anticipation under his hot stare, the gold in his eyes glowing like ember, their heat seeping right into my core.

“I’d say the same about you, but I can’t really see you,” I try to purr, but it comes out as clumsy whisper instead, my brain hazed by the large, handsome Witcher above me and what he’s done so far.

With a sound between chuckle and growl, Geralt dives back in, lips, tongue and teeth caressing and teasing down the valley of my chest, strong hands coming up to firmly knead my tender breast. A whimper slips from my lips as my nipples harden against his rough, warm palms almost instantly, so sensitive, his ministrations send sparks all over my body.

Geralt turns his head and bites into my soft flesh, where it wouldn’t be hidden by any clothes I owned. I gasp as his teeth sink into my breast, gentle, yet hard enough to bruise. He licks and kisses at the stinging skin, humming at my taste as I let out small, breathy moans. The need within my core is burning, I’m trembling and desperate to have him inside me.

“Fuck, Geralt, please,” I whimper weakly between moans and shaky breaths.

He looks at me, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he grins. “Patience, my lady.” With these words, he moves to my other breast, marking it up just like the one before.

“No, please. He’ll see,” I whine, but my words are empty. Deep inside, I love being marked up by the famous Witcher. Deep inside, I don’t care that my brother will see what we did – he knows anyway.

It doesn’t matter anyway; my words fall to deaf ears. I guess he could smell how wet it was making me, so he keeps going, ignoring my pleas. He travels further down my body, marking my stomach, leaving wet, open-mouthed kisses along my ribs and down my torso. Goose bumps rise on my skin as he blows on the wet patches, making me tremble.

Again, he pulls back, admiring his work: a tiny, trembling girl, marked by his lips, teeth and spit. There is a sense of pride in his eyes, like a predator that is about to devour its prey. Oh and devour me he does.

Within seconds, my undergarments are ripped from my body and my legs thrown over the Witcher’s shoulders, before I can even comprehend what happened. Wide-eyed, I stare down at Geralt, propped up on his elbows between my legs, grinning up at me teasingly.

“Please,” I pant, not knowing what exactly I’m asking for. The Witcher ticks his tongue.

“Patience.”

I let out a whimper, the need within my core growing unbearable, but Geralt just grins and starts nipping at the inside of my thigh, up to where I need him the most, but skips my keening folds, repeating the action on my other thigh.

My mind is swimming with just one thought: I need him. With my head thrown back into the soft pillows, I am panting, pleading for him to do something. But his cruel torture continues. He peppers soft kisses all over my mound, inching closer to my heat oh so slowly.

Unable to take it anymore, my hands find themselves tangled in his long, silky mane, trying to tug him to where I need him.

Geralt chuckles against my skin. “So desperate,” he muses in a rough whisper, but he groans when I tug a little harder than before, then inhales deeply. “Fuck, you smell so sweet, kitten.”

I let out a whine at his words, way beyond the point of forming ones of my own. Another chuckle. Another tug on his hair. And then, finally, he lays a small kiss on my lower lips, making me jolt.

“No one’s ever done that to you, hm?” he observes and I shake my head, “But you’re no virgin either.” Again, I shake my head, then gasp as he licks a broad stripe through my folds, from my slit right to my clit. But he spots just before he can touch my little pearl of pleasure. I can feel it throb and let out a whine of protest, wordlessly begging him. For what I’m begging, I’m not sure, all I know it that there is a pit forming in my gut, burning with hellfire, and only one thing can put it out.

Obeying to my pleading, Geralt repeats his action, this time flicking my little bundle of nerves with just the tip of his tongue. But the sensation is enough for me to cry out and clench around nothing. He hums lowly, dragging his teeth along my lips.

“You taste so much sweeter than I first thought, kitten. Fuck, you taste amazing!”

The vibration of his rough voice registers deep in my core, giving him a new wave of wetness to feast upon. With his eyes set on mine, he licks his lips before sinking into my folds, groaning at the taste.

“Fuck!” I cry out, followed by a string of broken moans as he devours me like a starving man. His tongue laps at my insides, discovering new spots that make me buck, just to hold down my hips in his iron grip.

Everything I feel is so strong and new, that it doesn’t take long for my walls to tremble, the pit in my belly threatening to explode. Desperately, I tug on Geralt's strands, but I don’t know if I want him to go deeper or to stop. My legs shake on his shoulders and threaten to clench around his head, but he keeps them open, grunting like a beast as he fucks me with his tongue.

And then, suddenly, I see white, my whole body tenses and twitches. A faint cry of the Witcher’s name rings in my ears and it takes me a moment to realize that it’s me screaming. Wave after wave of euphoria washes through my body, and I’m panting heavily, feeling boneless and limp as my vision clears.

Heavy-lidded, my eyes settle on the man between my legs. Throughout my climax, he kept licking and sucking, and he isn’t stopping. No. Instead, he picks up the pace, tongue plunging in between my petals, drinking in the honey of my pleasure.

Without warning, a finger joins his tongue, and shortly after, I see white again. When I come down, he still isn’t stopping. Fingers crooking in my core, Geralt latches his lips to my sensitive and throbbing pearl. It’s all too much and within a minute, I cum again, convulsing, trembling, spine lifting off the bed. And still, he keeps his ministrations steady, stroking and caressing my insides with two long and thick fingers, crooking them up, fingertips touching just the right spots, while his tongue keeps tracing patterns my poor, throbbing clit.

“Please, Geralt. No more. I can’t. Please,” I beg, not tugging, but pulling on his hair, trying to get him off me. It’s too much.

My pleading is answered with a growl. Like a dog when you try to steal its bone. Low and threatening. A tiny rush of fear flows through my body. He is not going to stop. Not until he has punished me for teasing him and then flirting with other men. The fear washes a new wave of wetness through my core, which he feasts upon, grunting wildly.

“Please,” I whine, one last time. My voice is meek, hoarse from screaming for him before.

“One more, kitten,” Geralt coos then, “I know you can do it. One more time. Cum for me, kitten.”

My body follows his demand before I can even process what’s happening. I cum around his fingers with a strangled cry, my whole body twitching and trembling. Tears fall from my eyes from the intensity of my orgasm, and when I come down, I’m a shaking and sobbing mess.

This is when Geralt finally pulls his fingers from me. I jolt and whimper weakly when he accidentally makes contact with my clit, only briefly, but it’s enough to send painful sparks of overstimulation throughout my whole body.

Geralt comes crawling up to lie beside me, his face glistening with my juices in the candlelight just like my skin is shining with my sweat.

“You did so good, little kitten,” he coos, pulling me into his arms. I cling onto his shirt, balling the fabric in my fist as I bury my face into his chest. Rubbing gentle circles on my back, Geralt whispers soothingly into my ear, calming me down effectively. Once my sob cease, he pushes me back a little to look straight into my eyes. His face is serious, yet his pupils remain lust-blown. It scares me a little. I dread what’s coming, but it excites me nonetheless.

“You know I’m not done with you yet, right?” he asks, but it’s far from a question. It’s a fact. He’s not done with me. Period.

I bite my lip and nod at him, eyes wide and innocent, as if I hadn’t just let him eat me like it was his last meal on earth.

“Are you ready?” his voice is a tad more gentle, now. I shake my head.

“A few more minutes?” I ask timidly.

“Okay.” Still, Geralt gets off the bed and starts stripping of his clothes.

I can’t help but stare at the glory that is revealed to me. Broad chest is littered with scars in all shapes and sizes, and even if I had seen them before, in this setting they make my breath hitch instead of heart clench. He is beautiful, gorgeous even. Dark curls dusting his pecs and lower abdomen, the line of hair disappearing beneath the waistband of his trousers, but lead no doubt to his treasure.

He sheds of his constricting breeches, the outline of his manhood becoming clearer as he stands in front of me in his pants. My mouth water at the sight of him, more so when with one final push, he stands there, completely bared to my eyes. I can’t help but gape at the glorious sight, the famous White Wolf in all his beauty.

“You’re drooling, my lady,” Geralt chuckles as he climbs back into bed, “Ready?”

Again, I shake my head. The spot between my thighs is still pulsing, still sensitive with every move I make. Yet there is no denying that I want him to be inside me. “Just a little bit,” I whisper.

With a low hum, the Witcher wraps me up in his arms, holding me close in his tight embrace. The way we’re laying, it’s almost impossible not to feel his hardness pressing to my side. He’s throbbing already, wet with precum and just as huge as the rest of Geralt.

“Just ignore it,” he mumbles, noticing the slight shift in my breathing, “Wait until you’re ready.”

I simply nod and nuzzle in deeper to his chest, the iron rod wrapped in velvet he calls his cock now pressing into my hip. As worn out as I am, I want him.

So, I slowly start grinding against him, craning my neck to claim his lips. Willingly, Geralt kisses back, probably relieved that I’m ready. He lets me assume control, holding onto my hips as he rolls to lie on his back, our lips not parting. Geralt lets me go at my pace, patiently caressing up and down my sides. I know, by now he’s so hard it must hurt, but still he isn’t rushing me.

After a few minutes of lazy kisses, I slowly pull back, my hands on his chest for support. Geralt looks up at me questioningly, and I nod. He puts his hand on my hips and guides me to kneel up. My eyes grow wide as I see his length, all hard and heavy against his abdomen.

“You can take it,” he encourages, “We’ll take it slow.”

I nod, biting my lip, and reach for his shaft. But he beats me to it, holding his member in one hand, guiding my hips above the tip with the other. Cautiously, I sway my hips back and forth, feeling the head of his cock just between my petals. I slick him up with my juices, watching as Geralt's face twists with the first bits of pleasure he received that night. I feel a little guilty and start to sink down on him, wincing after just a few inches, my taut canal too sore to take him at once. I lift myself up again and then slowly sink back down, taking him a little deeper than before. I continue until there’s only one third to go. There, I stop myself and take a few calming breaths, bracing myself for what I’m about to do.

“Good, so good,” Geralt coos, not catching on to my plan, “You’re doing amazing, little kitte- Ohh.”

With once swift movement, I sink all the way down on him, crying loudly out when his tip meets my cervix.

“Shit,” I hiss, feeling him stretch me out, farther than any other man before, but begin rocking on him anyway, without giving myself much time to adjust, the pain welcome.

“Fuck,” Geralt mutters as I start to bounce on top of him, speeding up relatively fast. Soon, I’m riding him like a wild horse. The pit in my belly starts to grow just as fast, only making me pick up the pace once again. Bouncing up and down on him, supported by his hands on my hips, I can feel every vein and every ridge of his cock inside me, stroking against my walls just perfectly. The way his tip rams into my cervix with every time I sink down on him hurts deliciously. The room is filled with Geralt's deep groans and grunts, and my loud and high-pitched moans of pleasurable pain. Flames lick at my insides and I clench tightly around him, my pace beginning to falter.

Not long before the coil snaps within, throwing me into the abyss of white-hot euphoria. Again, my vision goes white as I twitch and tense throughout my high. Geralt keeps guiding my hips while my head is thrown back, mouth hanging open with inaudible chants of his name. He catches me when I collapse on his chest and carefully turns us around. He kisses me sweetly while riding me through my bliss, prolonging it.

With a sigh, I come back down and cradle his skull, keeping his lips pressed on mine while he rolls his hips against mine, deep and slow. I wince slightly at the overstimulation, but with him inside me, I’m still not sated, even after five orgasms.

“Can you take it?” Geralt asks, propping himself up on his elbows. I nod, hesitantly, still sensitive, but eager for more. “Good.”

With that, he starts to pick up his pace, the rolling of his hips becomes hard, deep thrusts, that gradually become faster. I cling onto his shoulders, dig my nails into his muscle. He is wild from having to hold back for so long. Animalistic grunts leave his throat, rumbling through my body straight to my core. He’s not gentle. No, he’s rough and demanding, now chasing his own high. But it feels good, somehow, to be nothing but an instrument for his pleasure. It’s only fair that he uses me now, after he had given me not one, but five orgasms. It hurts, the way he is rutting into my cervix. I’m sure it’s bruised by now, but the pain feels so good. So good that I catch myself clenching around him once again.

Tears escape from my eyes, but Geralt kisses them away, thrusts becoming faster, deeper and harder once again.

And then my world goes white for the sixth time tonight. I go limp, twitching and trembling beneath him. I cum, sobbing and crying, convulsing around him, but he keeps going.

“Please, I can’t,” I beg weakly, barely at the brink of consciousness, “N-no more. Geralt, I can’t. Please.”

“You can,” he pants, “Just… one more, kitten. You asked for this. You can do it. I know you can. One more time. For me.”

And so, I hang on as he rams into me, hard and fast. Everything is so intense, borderline painful, but the pain only feeds to the bliss. Apart from hurt and pleasure, my mind is blank. All I can do is cling on to the beast above me; how his muscles flex beneath my fingers. He’s large, and I realize that I couldn’t fight him off, even if I wanted to. I am completely and entirely at his mercy. This thought feeds to my arousal like nothing else.

Soon enough I feel him swell and twitch between my velvet walls, and both his thrusts and groans become even more animalistic. In a brief moment of clarity, I wrap my fingers around the chain around his neck and pull him in for a deep kiss, grunts and cries muffled by our lips on each other. His pace is faltering, hips stuttering, and then he spills himself into my core, hot seed splattering my battered walls. He lets go of a deep moan and keeps rutting into me, making sure I get everything he has. The sensation of his essence shooting inside me send me over the edge. I cry out, curses mingling with his name, my mind in a daze as I fall slack against the bed.

I barely feel how Geralt pulls out carefully and cleans me up, whispering gentle words while I just lie there. I don’t understand the words he’s saying, my mind too far gone, but I feel safe in his presence. My world goes black the moment he pulls me into his protective embrace.

*

Hours later, I wake up, still trembling and aching. Geralt must have not slept at all, because as soon as I begin to stir, he peppers my face with soft butterfly kisses.

“Shh, you’re safe, little kitten. I got you. Shh,” he coos as I whimper, gently rubbing my arms and back. “Are you okay?” His question is gentle, but when I turn my head to look at him, his face is as serious as it could get.

“Yeah,” I nod weakly, “It just… it hurts a little.” A lie. It hurts a lot. But I want it to hurt. This was the only night I was able to spend with him, I’m certain, so I want to remember it; I want to feel him for weeks.

“I’m sorry. I was too rough. I couldn’t stop myself,” Geralt rambles and I shake my head, cupping his jaw and kiss his stubbled chin.

“It was a lot, but it was amazing,” I giggle, “You were amazing. I don’t think I ever felt this good, and I doubt I will ever feel that way again. Witcher, you’ve ruined me.”

His low, rumbling laugh is music to my ears. “Good, because I intend on keeping you, my lady.”

“I… what. I thought-”

“Shh, sleep now, little kitten. We’ll talk about this tomorrow.”

With a hum of agreement, I nuzzle up closer to him. Chuckling, Geralt turns to lie on his back and pulls me with him, sprawled out on his chest. There, he hold me close while I press small kisses to the hollow of his throat until I fall back asleep.

*

The morning comes way too soon, bright rays of sunlight breaking through the gaps in the heavy curtains, shining rudely right into our faces. I groan, nuzzling my face further into Geralt's neck, inhaling his intoxicating musk. He rubs my back, laughing quietly to himself and pulls the blanket higher. But as hard as I try, I can’t seem to fall asleep. I let out a frustrated huff as I lift my head, finding Geralt relaxed, with his eyes closed, a soft smile playing on his lips.

“Morning,” I grumble tiredly, making him chuckle as he opens his eyes, peering down at me.

“Good morning, little kitten. Slept well?” His raspy morning voice makes me melt.

“Mhmhh,” I hum, “Just too short.” I’m silent for a moment, contemplating whether I should say it or not. Fuck it. “But I’ve never slept better.”

“Hmm.”

“You said you’re planning to keep me?” I ask timidly, after another moment of silence.

“Only if you want to, my lady.” He turns to his side, holding me so we can properly look at each other. Though his face remains soft and gentle, I can see something in his eyes that makes my heart hurt. He’s afraid I might reject him, scared to be alone. Carefully, I cup his cheek and capture his lips softly.

“Of course I want to, silly,” I smile as I pull back, “I wasn’t just after you because you seemed like a good fuck, Witcher.”

Geralt dips his head down and kisses me again, full of relief. The kiss slowly but surely becomes deeper. Geralt tugs on my bottom lip with his teeth, making me open my mouth to his tongue. Carefully, he rolls on top of me, caging me with his large body. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him in deeper as our tongues dance.

A knock on the door makes us jump. The door swings open just a second after, giving us no time to, uhm, change our position.

“Good morni- Wow!” Jaskier barges in without much care.

Quickly, I scramble to pull the blankets up to my chin, glaring at my brother, while Geralt flops down next to me.

“My sister and my best friend,” Jaskier gapes jokingly, “About time. I was getting tired of your constant pining. But next time, keep it down a little, will you. I’m sure the whole castle heard you.”

My face heats up and I quickly hide it against Geralt's chest.

“Is there more you wanted to say, Jaskier?” the Witcher grumbles, wrapping me up in his arms.

“No, just that.”

I don’t see it, but I feel the glare that Geralt sends my brother. Shortly after, the door closes with a bang and we’re left alone. Chuckling, Geralt pries my face from the crook of his neck and hold it gently between his large palms.

“Now, where were we?” he smiles before capturing my lips again, sweetly and full of hope.

Needless to say, we spend the whole day in bed, cuddling, kissing and recovering from the night before. Luckily, my brother arranged for food and drinks to be brought to our room – I’m sure I couldn’t walk, I didn’t even bother to try.

“Geralt?” I mumble as we lie in bed, watching the sunset.

“Hm?” he hums, wanting me to continue.

“I’ll follow you, wherever you go,” I whisper, “You do know that, right?”

“I know. But then we have a lot of training to do.” He grins at me, teasingly.

“Oh, so you’re calling me weak?”

“No. You’re definitely not weak. You’ve proven that last night. But there’s still room for improvement.”

“Mhh. Guess you’ll have to protect me, then.” I turn to him, smiling.

“I’ll make sure I’ll do.”

He kisses me sweetly and I sigh against his lips, pulling him close.

[qqueenofhades]

Could you do 45 for phantomverse characters?

45. Halloween Party

It has, what with everything, taken a long time to get the band back together. But there is a certain guilty and undeniable advantage to a) having rich friends and b) persuading said rich friends that everyone misses each other and deserves a chance to have a good time without committing quite so many crimes. As such, the end result is that Nikolai and Zoya have rented out a party boat in New York Harbor, and an appropriately themed bacchanal is going on aboard it. Pumpkins, orange-and-black streamers, dancing skeletons, apple cider, tall white candles with (fake) flames, and a full array of tasty fall goodies, the whole nine. The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack has featured heavily in rotation, and, Nina thinks fondly, the sight of all her friends belting out "Oogie Boogie's Song" in unison, more or less (often less) in key, is certainly a memory for the ages.

She adjusts her sparkly witch hat and equally sparkly bodice, which is cut low enough that Matthias's eyes almost popped out of his head when he first saw her costume. He himself is dressed like a Viking, which means that Nikolai-the-knight has wasted no opportunity to challenge him to a succession of mildly homoerotic swordfights. Nina catches Zoya-the-dragon's gaze from across the deck, and they roll their eyes at their respective husbands' antics. "Don't make too much of a mess, Kolya," Zoya calls. "I am planning on getting that security deposit on this boat back, you know."

Nikolai is too busy to respond, and Nina snorts, figures that unless somebody actually breaks a bone it's best to leave the boys to it, and turns away. She sidles up next to Inej, who is standing at the rail in her dazzling black-and-red harlequin costume: mask, bodysuit, feathers, and a remarkable ability to disappear and reappear across the party at will. "It's good to see you," Nina says to her best friend, draping her arm around Inej's shoulders. "It's been too long."

"It has." Inej smiles around at the gathering: Jesper, decked out extravagantly as Baron Samedi, and Wylan as one of his stylish voodoo ghosts, busily trying to stack a pyramid of drinks as high as possible without dropping any of them. In true Kaz fashion, Kaz has refused to wear a costume aside from his usual suit and fedora, so everyone has been referring to him as "Don Corleone" all evening just to see him wince. Then, of course, there is Fedyor, in daringly short Roman toga and laurel wreath, as Mark Antony, and Ivan -- beautiful, haughty, and absolutely daring anybody to say a single word at all -- making full use of his drag-queen expertise to pull off a truly bombshell Cleopatra. Even Nina was stunned when he came out of the bedroom looking like that, and she and Matthias have been staying with them. Oh, Ivan. Never change.

"Happy Halloween," Nina says to Inej, hugging her quickly, as Nikolai loudly announces that there are fireworks, and she suspects that now might be the time to intervene before everything really gets carried away. "I'm glad you're all here."

[spooky season fic prompts]

[the-second-tonks]

Hey, I want to be part of the Narnia game if it isn't too much of a bother

I'm a straight male with short curly red hair, I have light brown eyes almost golden I am full of freckles. I am 6' tall, a gryffindor/ravenclaw.

I have an almost Deadpool like humor, im very protective over my friends and the last person to back down from a fight, if it ever gets to kne usually it doesn't. I always (involuntarily) have a RBF everytime I enter a room so people that don't know me tend to think I'm mean or extremely serious. I'm already leader, always have been president of any organization I join

I actually am a little serious and I suck at opening up to people j prefer to let my feeling drown inside of me. Only people that really know me would be able to get me to open up.

I'm a very passionate stubborn person, who loves to argue with people just for the thrill of it.

I think around the prince Caspian movie would be great for me to come in if its ok.

I'm want the wife thing you mentioned the topic well, surprise me

I'd also prefer if the race was human,

If you need more info don't be afraid to message me

If you can do this thank you very much, I actually have been following you for a while now and have made a few asks before, I absolutely love your work and hope you keep doing what you are doing because honestly it blows my mind everytume I read something of yours

Heya ! Nope it doesn't bother me at all ! Yep I remember the marvel ship , it was the one of those last ships I did before the celebration ! I'm glad you love my work and HAHA, thank you for telling me that I blow your mind lol lol ! Hmm, the info is enough , I'll pick some points from the previous ship request because I remember I shipped you with Nat :)

This is the info that I'm taking additionally , if you don't mind . But if you do , dm me/send in an ask , I'll change it as per your request :)

How you enter the magical world of Narnia

You were returning back from a fight which was about to get physical , the road was empty except for the trees in the side. You were too stubborn to budge and the man was too egoistic to agree with his mistake . Kicking the stone casually , you kept walking until you heard a hustle in the nearby tree . Your doubts instantly told you that it could be that crazy man and so , you decided to approach the source of the noise . As soon as you stepped in , the ground wasn't present to support your feet . Falling down vigorously , you landed on a rather soft ground . A beach , to be precise . Narnia , to summarise it .

The weapon you yielded

Sword . It matches you so much . A sword will never give up until it breaks or looses it's sharpness . The sword is brave and reckless , faces the challenge head on and on a short range . You'd often learn/challenge swordfighting from/to Peter and Edmund (more often Edmund) .

Your wife

I ship you with Lucy . Do I have any doubts ? No . Not one . I thought of susan but you both wouldn't hit off . You need a girl who's strong and brave but underestimated very often . Lucy will not judge you , she's the sweetest human I've ever come across in any fandom and will stand up against anyone for you .

The Era/Movie you enter Narnia

The Chronicles Of Narnia : Prince Caspian

What the Narnians think about you

To be honest , most of them are proud to have a warrior like you . They love you and are inspired by your tough exterior . They think of you as the rock which never breaks and always stands it's ground and is serious. The army of Narnia are given your example to be trained and getting trained by you personally is a sheer blessing . They think you're one of the great warriors whom Aslan's sent for their protection . You're a household name .

What the Pevensie siblings think about you

Peter Pevensie : Facing this bery clearly , he hated you in the beginning . You both are stubborn as hell , so clashes are pretty common . Especially since you're entering the second movie , damn . He'll use his sword on you for real , trying to kill you since you were with Caspian . Also , you would side with Lucy and he'd hate it since he wants everyone to agree with him and wants you to stay away from his sister . Still , after everything , it's not that he likes you too much . But he's okay with you , mostly because of his sister (don't worry this is just a cover up , he likes you and is okay with you)

Susan Pevensie : She . Is . A . Fan . Of . Yours . Definitely , arguing needs a thing called brain and Susan likes and appreciates people who have it . She'll often try to learn your arguing tactics and stuff , but she'll love you as a brother too . She'll often disapprove your stubbornness but would still like how you stand your ground . She'll give you wise advices .

Edmund Pevensie : He'll be cold with you in the beginning . Very cold . He'll be protective of Lucy and would want to make sure that you won't hurt his sister . Ofcourse , once he comes to know the softie you are , he'll warm up with you and then , I'll just give a warning of teasing . You both would tease the hell out of Lucy and others . You both are going to be like bestfriends , sometimes making lucy think you both were long lost brothers . You both would often have swordfighting competition and you both would tie , always .

Lucy Pevensie : I was waiting for this one . She would never judge you and often feel a sense of likeness towards you . She wouldn't know why , but she'll always be there for you anytime you need someone . Out of all the siblings , lucy was the first one to get you open up . She will instantly see your soft heart and tough exterior thing and would always talk nicely with you . She'll even drop hints of tips that you might've needed at the moment . She'll love you all the way to the moon and back . Often , she'll blush when your name will be spoken in front of her and would get lost in your thoughts .

What Caspian thinks about you

He literally loves your company as a friend . Whenever he'll hear you coming , he'll find some free time in his busy schedule to spend time with you . He really respects you and will always be there for you when you wanna vent or anything. He'll also really like your never-give-up thingy and would appreciate you for that . Swordfighting would be a fun activity you both do together .

What Aslan thinks about you

Okay , I can't read that clever lion's mind , but I'm sure he's really proud of you . He really loves you and just wants you to remember that you're amazing ! You'll always have his blessings with you and he'll always be by your side, even when there's no one .

A short blurb on your life in Narnia

You'd land in Narnia , the beach to be precise and explore the ruins of the magnificent castle . Walking around aimlessly , you'll meet Caspian the X and will unite with him . He'll teach you a bit swordfighting but by Aslan's grace , you'll have a natural talent and will learn most of the things(from the experienced Centaurs) in very short span of time . You'll be a great support to Caspian , who'll trust you and assign you with the Army . You'll lead the Army bravely until you see a girl peaking through the bushes (lucy is a bit older , canon) . You'll point your sword at her but not hurt her . Her brother , Peter , will begin a fight with you , causing Caspian and later , Edmund to interfere in it . You all would stop as soon as the same girl shouts to . Later , you'll come to know the beautiful girl's name was lucy . Now , from walking to the how and Lucy asking you to be safe in the first war to half-leading(because Peter took the half) the Army , you were now bidding a goodbye to Lucy Pevensie , the love of your life. She had been your support system (emotionally and mentally) , so you knew you were going to miss her . But , you were worried that she'd forget you . Skipping to three years later , you reunited with Lucy and Edmund , who were now older . Lucy looked more beautiful and you realised that in the past time your feelings had simply grew . But so had your skills . You were Narnia's best swordsman . Beating Edmund . Finally , from traveling to the lone islands to fighting your worst fear and saving people , you were at the entrance of Aslan's country when Aslan permitted either lucy to go with you in your time , or you to go with lucy in her time . I'll leave it upon you to choose .. but whichever you did , you and lucy lived happily ever after

Your post

Prince Caspian - You'll lead the Army

Voyage of the Dawn Treader - Head of the Narnian Army (even the King is under you in case of wars )

I hope you liked it !

Thank you for participating !

[darkdevasofdestruction]

Your Saviour ~ Yin Zhen x Reader

"Mum, I hate her! Scold her! Punish her!" the little prince tugged on his mum's sleeve, crying and complaining about the older girl that kept teasing him. "My dear, try to be understanding. Being a prince means you will have a lot to learn, and she's merely trying to make you learn, in a more practical way. Try not to hold it against her." she smiled warmly at him, hugging and stroking his hair as a way to pacify him. "But she's so mean to me, it's not fair! And she keeps beating me at archery and sword fight! And she always tricks me, calls me names and throws plums at me from the top of the tree!" the poor, teary-eyed boy tried to gain more pity from the only person who ever cared for him properly. "Maybe she likes you and she wants to see you succeed and become a better version of yourself. How do you think she will behave once you finally manage to beat her at something she's unbeatable at?" his mother asked, which made the prince stop his sobbing and look up at her with a confused expression. "She'll get angry, won't she? Doesn't everyone hate losing?" his voice was small and soft. "Perhaps it won't be an actual loss for her, but a victory." his mother, as wise as always, knew the girl and how witty and clever she was, so of course, she knew that having her around her son will prove to be beneficial to him in the long run. "I don't understand, mum..." he pouted, tugging on her sleeve once again, with a dejected expression. "Let's play a little game, my darling. Come to me once you decipher the riddle I just told you, and I'm sure you will be satisfied with your reward." his mother let out an amused hum, as the boy perked up, his eyes sparkling when he heard of a potential reward.  "Oh...Okay! I will do my best!" 

 Days passed, and no matter how hard he tried, Yin Zhen couldn't defeat Y/N at anything, be it archery, swordfight, poetry, literature, musical instruments, martial arts, swimming, running, tree climbing... It was as if she was an unbeatable Goddess, far above him, and the fact that she'd hang out mostly with the 1st prince and the 3rd prince didn't help it either.

It was a vicious cycle - He'd study and practice, he'd challenge her, she'd defeat him effortlessly, she'd taunt him, she'd go back to hanging out with someone else, and he'd grovel in self-hatred that he keeps being defeated by a girl. With each day, he'd grow more and more angry, the darkness covering his heart freezing over with a blinding jealousy. And what was worse is that she had everyone's favour! Why is she so special? She's not even a princess, just some noble girl whose father betrayed the Emperor and her mother died of an illness! All his brothers fawn around her! The Empress Dowager treats her as if she is her own precious granddaughter, and even more - His father, The Emperor, truly favours her intelligence and shrewdness! That's preposterous!

"I hate you, you evil witch! You're using magic! There's no way you can actually beat me at everything!" Yin Zhen threw his sword to the ground, looking up at the girl who towered over him with a few inches. "Would such a completely illogical explanation satisfy you after these pitiful loses? If yes, then sure, claim whatever you will." she shrugged, not sketching any expression on her face. "Come on, Y/N, give him a break. He's young, he'll learn someday. He's barely 8 years old." the 1st prince, despite the teasing tone and smile on his face, tried to take the girl out of there, so his little brother would calm down. "Would you have me cut him some slack? Yin Zhen, do you truly want me to go easy on you? To let you win? Sure, if that's what your royal highness would have, that is what I shall do. However, would there be any ounce of satisfaction in your heart, knowing you were LET to win, but didn't deserve it? Think it over and answer me that next time you decide to challenge me." with those words, something in his mind seemed to click, and he stopped challenging the girl altogether, focusing more of training himself, and more, his mind and heart.

He WAS strong and intelligent, but the barrier his ego and arrogance created was the reason he stagnated so badly. He finally understood, at least a little bit, what his mother and Y/N were trying to teach him, so through meditation and self-healing, he became the cool and collected 4th prince that everyone knows now. It was obvious that, with time, the short and frail 8 year old would turn out to become a tall and strong prince with the noble aura that he was supposed to have all this time. 

When he finally felt ready and confident in himself and his abilities, he sought out the girl once again, after ignoring and avoiding her, and he found her on the ground at the base of a plum tree, playing the zither, by the lotus pond, with a friend or a maid, and it was needless to say, shock was obvious in both of their eyes once their gazes met for the first time in ages, realising how much they changed it time.

She was gorgeous beyond imagination, her expression was demure and inspired trust, gentleness and kindness, the aura around her was vibing with confidence and nobleness, and her eyes were gleaming with brilliance and wit.  And yes...There was something off...Behind that wall of confidence and politeness, a little bit of melancholy was seeping, and only he could see it. Curiosity started brewing in his heart, and the wish to solve mysteries started bubbling inside him, and he wanted to grab her and make her spill all her secrets...But he knew nothing in life was that easy. 

  "Hello, Yin Zhen. We haven't seen each other in a while, have we? Since your older brother and mother were still alive, that is. Lovely days the past held, wouldn't you say?" it was difficult for the prince not to smirk in satisfaction, as now he could properly appreciate the cheekiness and boldness of her words and voice. "Yes, I would say it has been quite a while, My Lady. Enough for me to open my eyes and see the world as it is. I would have you to thank for that." what was this humbleness he was displaying, the girl wondered, as she raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Then, are you here to challenge me again? What would it be this time? I see no sword, no bow, no instrument, no riddle book in your possession...Could it be running you want to challenge me at?" she spoke nonchalantly, returning to strum her zither. "My Lady, that is no way to speak to the 4th prince!" her friend gasped in shock and horror, earnings mixed reactions from the two. "I shall speak to Yin Zhen in any way I please. He has yet to earn my respect. Besides...You should see the way I speak to Yin Zhi or the 14th prince. You could say I am being generous with this one." she hummed in amusement, as a trail of relatively new palace maids were eyeing the prince, giggling and gossiping. "I wonder how many times has he threatened to kill you so far." Yin Zhen shot right back at her, knowing very well how his elder brother could be. "I lost count after five thousand." she raised the sleeve of her dress to hide the amused and teasing smirk she had on her face. "Funny how a fatty like you could run away from him so many times." he teased her, wanting to reciprocate the taunting she'd do to him ages ago, but by the stiff reaction of her, and the loud giggles from the maids, it was obvious he was heard by unneeded ears. "You still haven't bested me in anything yet, Prince...Especially not intelligence, considering how obvious it is that you speak ill of those who care about you in front of the jackals and hyenas of the palace. Next time you decide to approach me, think before you act. It will spare the both of us enough troubles." the girl threw her zither in her friend's lap, before leaping to her feet and pulling him down by the neck of his outfit, until their faces were barely inches away. 

And then she left. 

And he stopped seeing her, once again, for quite a while... Until he went to drink some wine in the garden, and he spotted her walking by the pond, dangerously close to the water. Not that he feared for her life, she was a great swimmer, and yet...Her complexion seemed much paler than usual, and her movements looked lethargic. 

The gossips of the maid, calling her tons of names, seemed to plague his mind, as he realised back then that he was the one who ignited the fuel and gave them the 'right' to speak garbage of her. 

He was lost in his own world, thinking over about what he did and his mistakes, but he was brought back to reality when a splash was heard, and some loud gasps of horror, and that’s when he realised the girl fell in the pond...And she wasn’t swimming back to the surface.

What was going on with her? Did she...Faint?

There was no time to think, as he slammed the cup on the table and rushed to the pond, jumping in to rescue her. His theory was correct, seeing as she was unconscious, so he started pushing on her chest, just as she did 12 years ago, when he fell in the lake and she saved him.

And then, he gave her the kiss of life, and as the miracle dictated, she jolted into a sitting position, coughing the water out of her lungs violently, before collapsing back in his arms. Yin Zhen hated to admit, especially after this near-death experience of hers, but seeing her being so soft, sleeping peacefully in his arms, was oddly fascinating, and his heart seemed to warm up, for some unknown reasons, even to him.  He hated that his mother died and he couldn’t ask her all the things he wanted to tell her, nor could he tell her the answer to the riddle that took him so long to understand, and yet, he was sure she’d be happy knowing that he matured and became the man he is now, no longer the whiny child from before.

He picked her up bridal style and brought her to her home, where her maid, whose name was Shi Lian, as she said, and he let her change in dry clothes and put her in bed, while he took off most of his clothes to be put out in the sun to dry, while he warmed up in front of the fireplace, waiting for the girl to wake up, while the maid was preparing chamomile tea and some snacks.

“Thank you for saving My Lady, Your Highness.” Shi Lian thanked the prince as she put the tray of tea and cakes on the table next to him. “She fainted and fell in the pond. She looks weak, what happened to her?” he asked in a serious voice. “Uhm...I-I’m not sure I’m supposed to say this...However...I worry for My Lady’s health and her...Predisposition of having incredibly unhealthy coping mechanisms and...She started eating less and less every day...I-I don’t know why, it happened so sudden...And she buried herself in more work than usual...Her being a Physician and all, I’d normally understand her work...But under these circumstances...” Shi Lian’s voice was sympathetic and worried, which made him immediately realise that it was his words that triggered it, along with the mockery of all the new palace ladies...He knew very well how gossips and rumours spread faster than the plague. “You’re...Not supposed to...Tell on me like that...” a weak voice murmured from the corner of the room, which indicated Y/N awakening. “My Lady, you woke up! Thank goodness you’re alright! The prince told me what happened...I was so worried for you!” the maid immediately rushed to her lady’s side, helping her get in a sitting position. “Your worries are misplaced with me...However, I must thank you, regardless. I appreciate your concerns for me.” Y/N sighed, looking down at her lap. “Oh, I made tea, and your favourite osmanthus cakes! Please, have some!” she was going to rush to give her the tray, only to be stopped by the lady. “Can you...Go for a walk? I’m fine, I can get up on my own.” Y/N nudged her with her words to get out, wanting to have a word with the princeling. “B-But, I-...Oh...! Yes, of course, I did have some errands to do! Please, take care, My Lady!” she bowed quickly in front of her and the prince, before leaving. “What a thoughtful girl...Always taking care for me, even when I don’t deserve it. She’s quite a catch, don’t you think? I bet you’d want her to be your maid.” the girl held a soft smile on her face, taking a sip of the hot tea. “You silly girl...You’re already skin and bones, and yet, you retort to starvation to stop the gossips from those low-lives. How much more foolish can you get?” his voice was serious, yet held sympathy concern, if you knew where to search for it. “To think you’d have enough sympathy in you to save someone you seemingly hate. I commend you, you truly grew up to be a fine man. Your mother would be very proud of you.” her expression, once again, held melancholy and nostalgia, and he was finally beginning to understand. “I don’t hate you. I never did. I was merely envious of your abilities.” he explained in a softer voice, making her chuckle. “Your mother told me how you’d go to whine to her how much you hate me. But hey, I’m glad that’s not the case anymore. I owe you mother a lot...So in turn, I owed you...But with time, I grew to see it in a different light, and I didn’t want to help you out of obligation, but simply because I wanted to see you grow. I hope I was able to help, in some way, despite my...Brutal teachings.” she hummed in amusement, eating one of the cakes. “I figured that out...It took a while, but I did. Mother hinted towards some things and told me to give you a chance and try to understand you. Once I stopped trying to win all the time, I realised that, instead of being competitive and win against others, I should first learn how to become the best version of myself. And once I did...I felt relieved. I suppose I should thank you for that.” he explained himself, and his words warmed her heart with happiness. “The only thanks is seeing you the way you are now. It wasn’t easy having to live with the reputation of being branded the traitor’s daughter, and then your mother dying so suddenly...The first prince died as well...Your mother too...So I let work and study engulf me completely, hoping that I could redeem myself by saving others, when I couldn’t save those I cared about. Pitiful, don’t you think?” she chuckled in self-deprecation, which made the prince turn to look at her with a frown on his face, before flicking her forehead hard enough to make the spot red. “G’ahh...That hurt...I guess you’re going to return the bullying that I did to you for so many years?” she eeped, more from the shock than the pain, lifting her hand to cover her forehead. “I believe you said you’re proud of the man I’ve become. What kind of man would I be if I were to actually bully you? Merely teasing you is enough to satisfy me.” he hummed in amusement, a side smirk making its way on his face as he got up, gingerly grasping her wrist, taking it away from her forehead. “Besides...I wouldn’t want to make you run away from me again.” he uttered as he caressed her face with one hand, bending down to kiss her forehead, where he previously flicked her. “You’re being surprisingly tender today, Yin Zhen. I must say, I quite like this side of you.” she put her hand over his, leaning in to his touch, her gentle expression resembling that of a spoiled kitten. “You’re not that different yourself, Y/N.”

It was then that Yin Zhen confessed his interesting in courting her, as despite not having a high rank, his heart belonged to her, and her alone, and since she knew her mind and heart have always been wandering to him, she accepted. Their dynamic was as unlikely as always, and sometimes, people thought they hated each other. The little firecracker that Y/N was resembled the calm before the storm, and she always did what she wanted, no matter what, which always seemed to be endearing for the prince who clearly condoned her erratic behaviour, yet looked out for her from afar, fearing her well-being. The palace was both the safest and the most dangerous place on the planet.

One day, as she went for a walk with her maid, she noticed up in the square pavilion, the Emperor, the Empress and the 4th and 6th princes, so clearly, at least out of obligation and respect, she had to go and pay her respects to them.

Walking up to them, she kneels down in greeting, hoping she wouldn’t have to stay for too long.

“My Lady! Please, take a seat. I must say, I thank you for curing my son of the illness that seemed to knock him down so badly.” the Empress extended her hand, motioning for the girl to sit down. Analysing the situation, she realised the Emperor looked angry, while the princes were solemn, sitting formally...And she hoped she’ll be quickly dismissed, as she walked right in the middle of something very important. “Last night, the Imperial Astrologers noticed a fluctuation in the stars - A possible bad omen. The Emperor is most concerned. Perhaps you have an idea that might help, considering your different thinking seems to help out the Palace all the time.” she continued, which made the girl smack herself on the face, mentally. “I...Am not as knowledgeable in astrology as I am in healing, so my opinion may not be exactly helpful...However, the stars have their own way of arranging...Perhaps praying would help...?” she tried to choose her words carefully, hating to talk when she had no idea about the subject in cause was. “Your Majesty, her idea may not be wrong. We could send someone to pray at Mount Tianchi? Your father built an observatory on Mount Tianchi for burning incense. He said his prayers were always answered on the mountain. It’s been over ten years since the court sent a delegation to pray on the mountain. Perhaps it is time for another one?” Yin Zhen explained his thoughts, which impressed the girl for his quick thinking and reasoning. “It is true, I have overlooked this ritual. But whom should we send?” the Emperor agreed, pondering as he stroked his beard. “Your Majesty, allow me to go on your behalf!” the 6th prince jumped in faster than anyone could blink. “It is a long way and you haven’t completed the tasks already assigned to you. Do you have time to go to Mount Tianchi?” Yin Zhen asked with concern for the mission that may be ruined by his over-zealous brother. “The 4th prince is right. The Emperor knows you want to help, but your current duties are far more pressing. You cannot just abandon them.” the Empress explains to her son why he couldn’t go, which made the 4th prince stand up and kneel in front of the Emperor. “Your Majesty, allow me to pray on Mount Tianchi for the people and the kingdom.” his statement made the Emperor smile at his son. “Very well! Go on my behalf and pray! Pray for my people!” the Emperor approved of his son’s suggestion. “If I may, I think that My Lady should accompany me. You see, Your Majesty, we have seen times and times she enjoys rare good fortune, and she is an incredibly skilled physician, should anything happen. I believe she could be our lucky charm.” Yin Zhen explained, which made the girl smile, knowing very well how beautiful the place is and how she wanted to visit it with him. “Hmm, yes, you make a good point, 4th prince. This isn’t a holiday, you know! This is a very serious mission and everything must be done correctly...I command you to pray beside the Prince for the well being of my subjects.” not the kind of responsibilities that she likes to have, but not much she can complain about. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I shall not fail you.” she kneeled in front of the Emperor, thanking him for his trust, and the next day, at the earliest hour, they were ready to go.

She brought light clothes with her, and wearing noble male clothing, as she would ride besides the princes, she jumped on her black horse and rode next to him.

“You look splendid, as always, Yin Zhen. Also, should I thank you for suggesting I come with you? Because that was one of the best things you’ve said in a long time.” she smiled tenderly at him, which he reciprocated with gratitude expressed in his eyes, but barely on his face. “I did promise I’d take you to see beautiful places, didn’t I? I am a man of my words.” he smirked slightly, looking ahead of us. “Hm...? I didn’t know Yin Zhi would come too. The 7th and 11th princes too? That’s a surprise...Ah, look at them, they look terrible...They don’t want to be here, do they?” she asks in a softer voice, hoping they wouldn’t hear. “The Emperor places great importance on this venture. We cannot fail.” his words seemed awfully enigmatic, which seemed to bubble anxiety into her heart. “Is...Something the matter...?” she whispered, leaning over to him, only for him to reach out his hand and pet her hair briefly. “Don’t worry over nothing. And even if something happens, I will protect you.” his confident smile made her raise her eyebrow questioningly, yet she bit her tongue and said nothing else, focusing on enjoying the ride.

The road was very difficult to pass on, especially the more rugged parts of the mountain, and unfortunately, while Y/N was perfectly fine, being used to riding, the carriage bumping constantly made her maid’s stomach upset, and in turn, had her jump out every so often to vomit.

“Y/N, the road gets worse up ahead. You know very well what I mean, don’t you?” Yin Zhi addresses the Lady he’s friends with, watching her jump off her horse to help her maid out. “...Yes, I understand the situation. We must arrive at a specific time, and there must be no delays. I’m sorry, Shi Lian. I wanted to see that beautiful place with you as well...But perhaps on another time, when we won’t be pressed by time. Will you be okay returning to the capital, waiting for me?” she strokes her maid’s hair gently, hoping she will be feeling better. “As you say, my Lady. I’ll wait for you in the capital. Please take good care of yourself.” Shi Lian’s words were brave and held much love for her Lady. “Thank you, dear, but you won’t have to worry about me. There are more guards here than the 6th prince can count.” Y/N giggled as she ruthlessly shamed the lecherous prince. “M-My Lady!” Shi Lian gasped, her eyes widening in shock at her words. “...She’s not wrong.” Yin Zhi smirked in amusement, tilting his head to urge her to return to her horse. “If you are so amused by my words, perhaps you could organise a reliable person to escort Shi Lian back to the capital?” she asked, a wide, sarcastic smile on her face. “Bring her this way.” his eyes sparkled with amusement as he turned around, guiding us to another carriage that will bring her back to the capital. After saying her farewells, she turned to go back to her horse, only to get disturbed by the 7th prince, whose annoying smirk wouldn’t get wiped off his face. “Most excellent. You gave that cold fish brother of mine the pleasure of helping someone.” he said in a sly manner. “My, you wouldn’t happen to be...Jealous, would you, 7th Prince?” Y/N tilted her head in a mocking manner. “You are much more enjoyable when sleepy, you know?” she chuckled, turning back to go to her horse, but before she knew it, her paramour was by her side, glaring at his younger brother. “Brother, what are you doing?” Yin Zhen asked, his eyes sharply scanning him. “I just wanted another word with the Lady. What are you worried about?” the 7th Prince mocked his elder brother with amusement. “I’m not worried. I just came over to remind you, the ceremony is going to be held soon. We cannot delay any further.” the 4th Prince warned his brother, who seemed aggravated by him. “You think I don’t know that?! I still want a word with the Lady...My Lady, you are very capable. A number of my brothers are quite enamoured with you.” he explainde, as if she was a nuisance, yet also, enjoyed taunting her...Yet he always failed. “Too bad I’m already being courted by someone, don’t you think? Although, I don’t think it should bother you, should it? I believe you may or may not despise me, for some odd reason I’m not aware of.” she shrugged, ignoring his protests as she followed her beloved and got on her horse, finally making it to the Mount, where it’s already summer.

The ceremony lasted for three days and three nights, and by the end of it, she had to regard how meticulously perfect everything was done by the 4th Prince, as she admired him working, and seeing that he was really the only prince doing anything, she got up and started helping him out as best as she could, which meant she could chat a bit about random things with said man.

Out of nowhere, droplets of rain started falling from the sky, which may or may not be an indicator that the omens were changing.

“Well, what do you think? I heard in some cultured rain was an indicator of good fortune.” Y/N plays on, carrying a smaller crate. “Superstitious. For the sake of conversation, you say a lot of weird things.” he scoffed, taking the crate from her hand and putting it on top of the one he was carrying. “And likewise, you do a lot of weird things...Like suggesting to come pray on this mountain and do a ritual. Don’t be a hypocrite with me, you know I always turn it on you.” she chuckled, helping him put down the crates in their rightful places. “Of course I know. That’s why I tease you.” in turn, he playfully tapped her forehead, chuckling at her tender expression. “Don’t make that face when others are around. It makes me want to kiss you. Who knows what others might think or do if they see you.” he looked around, scanning to see if anyone was watching, before stealing a quick kiss. “If you don’t want others to see, don’t be so sweet with me...Or, perhaps, choose the other approach and let’s go for a ride through the forest with me?” the Lady hooked her arm to his, and of course, he couldn’t turn down her suggestion.

If there was something she loved more than the satisfaction of saving someone’s life or learning something knew, was the feeling of freedom as they rode together, only the two of them, all their worries disappearing completely, at least for the moment. However, before they realised it, they got in the city as soon as the rain started pouring down hard, which forced them to dismount and seek shelter under some eaves, his cape draped over her head to make sure she wasn’t being as drenched as him, holding her close to his chest to keep her warm.

“Wouldn’t you like it if we spent out life like this? Away from the capital, away from the Emperor and so many rules...And we can just be free and do as we please.” she spoke out her heart’s desire without even realising. “As long as you’re by my side, I don’t really care what we do. Although...What you say wouldn’t be bad.” he declared, and thankfully, the rain soon stopped, so they were able to go back.

By the time they got back to the party, dusk started falling, and as soon as they started strolling along the covered walkway, so they returned to their rooms, as the rain started falling again.  As they changed in comfortable clothes, in their own, separate rooms, the 4th Prince told the Lady he was going to be out, with his brothers, for some tree in the Plumflower Garden behind the observatory.

She went to sit out on the porch, reading a book as she let the rain and wind relax her, thinking of the next day and the journey back home. The storm, however, didn’t stop throughout the night, and because of loud it was, Y/N couldn’t fall asleep, so instead, she smiled, feeling content with the beautiful sound of the rain.

Y/N heard a soft knock on the door, and the handmaid, Yun Mo, walks inside and she speaks softly, asking if she needs anything. Y/N asked the beautiful girl if the princes are still outside, and as she heard, they were outside, drinking, very much drunk.

“Ahh, Yin Zhen said they’d be drinking tea. I should see this as a new code I must learn. Very well, I’ll go to them and see if they’re okay. Could you please prepare some soup for their hangover?” Y/N asked, putting on a coat over her nightgown. “Yes, of course, My Lady. Please, excuse me.” she bows gracefully, leaving the place, only for Y/N see the faint light of a lantern. “Hello? Who’s there?” Y/N frowned, only hearing the rain hit the ground, holding tightly the dagger that Yin Zhen gifted her some time ago.

She slowly walked to the wall beside the door, extending her hand and pushing the door open. Peering outside, she notices pools of spilled blood that belonged to the lifeless guards...Killed by the figure in black holding a knife in his hand. Keeping her composure, she snuck behind him and thrust the blade in his neck, holding one hand to his mouth so he won’t alert his allies, and stole his sword.

However, other assassin saw her and yelled out for his peers, which made her bolt for the side door, as fast as she could.

“RUN MY LADY!” the soft voice of the handmaid echoed throughout the place as she tried to delay the assassins. “HELP! ANYONE! IS ANYONE HERE?!” Y/N yelled out, running until her legs couldn’t hold her anymore, and she stopped to gain her breath, only to see a pile of dead guards bleeding onto the earth, the sickly, metallic smell of fresh blood assaulting her senses.

As the assassin caught up to her, she took out the sword from the scabbard and parried all his hits, only to deliver the finishing blow. However, that wasn’t the end, as three more started appearing. She killed another, and ready to strike the other, she heard the cry of someone behind her. Quickly dodging a strike, she looked back to see what happened to the 3rd assailant, only to see her beloved Yin Zhen with a sword in his hand, his eyes cold and clear, clearly, no sign of alcohol intoxication.

“Yin Zhen! Thank goodness you’re okay! The maid said you were drunk and I got worried...But seems it’s not the case. What IS going on?!” she asked, struggling to breathe properly as she tried to fight back her fear. “I don’t know yet, but we have to go.” he spoke quickly before he picked her around the waist, leaping deftly onto the roof, like superhuman. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone hurt you. I promise.” he muttered, seeing as other assassins started chasing them. “Is everyone dead...?” she whispered, fearing the answer. “My men have cornered some of the assassins.” he explained, looking left and right to spot his enemies’ moves. “You...Came back...To save me...?” her eyes widened in shock hearing that he was risking his life for her. “I promised you I’d protect you at all cost, didn’t I?” his confident smile seemed to bring courage into her heart. “There’s a small side door in the courtyard up ahead. It leads into the forest...But we must lose them first.” she explained her strategy, and he seemed to agree, as he turned around, picked her up properly and sprung in the other direction. “Did you just...?!” she gasped, realising he was drawing the assassins off in the opposite direction so she could come back and escape out of the kitchen. The darkness concealed their movements, and sooner than later, the assailants lost their track, and they managed to return safely to the kitchen, and through the other side of the door, into the forest. “Yes, I did. Are you hurt?” he asked, concern obvious in his voice. “No...I’m okay. Thanks to you...And you seem okay...Ah, what about the others?” she gasped, realising that it wasn’t only them around. “It’s fine. I already sent people to the local garrison, reinforcements should get here any second. We just need to wait.” just as he said that, an arrow pierced the air, slamming barely a few inches from her face, making her squeal in fright. “No good, no good, no good!” she whimpered, only able to stare at the arrow in front of her, her knees weakening, barely able to stand up. “You were supposed to be our lucky charm, darling.” Yin Zhen tried to joke to ease up the tension, but the arrows kept whistling above their heads and the strain of carrying someone was taking a toll on his body and strength. “Put me down, Yin Zhen! You can’t go on for much longer! ...You go ahead, I’ll keep them at bay until reinforcements arrive. You are the Prince, if anything happens to you, there will be hell at the Palace. You’re more important than I am.” she wiggled in his grasp, which only annoyed him. “Don’t be stupid. But you’re right, we’re not getting anywhere. I’ll go deal with them, and you stay here. Don’t complain, there’s no way I’m leaving you behind.” he puts her down gently, drawing his sword and swiping an incoming arrow out of the air, charging into the tree after the hidden arrow. “You’re impossible...” she muttered, taking out her sword and trying to keep back the other assassins that were trying to catch up with him. “Y/N, RUN! NOW!” Yin Zhen never screamed...It meant business, so she didn’t complain, even though she saw how many assassins caught up to them. “BETTER STAY ALIVE!” she yelled back, bolting to find the reinforcements.

She started running through the forest, until suddenly, she got roughly pulled back by the hair, and she fell to the ground with a squeal. Looking up, she saw one of the assassins, his blade in his other hand, so she quickly drew her dagger, cutting her hair to release herself, then dug it deep into his neck.

“My Lady!” she heard a familiar voice, and she realised it was Minister Fan Wencheng, the person Yin Zhen must have sent to get help. “Yin Zhen is that way, he needs help! Fast, go!” she yelled sharply at the army behind the minister, and thankfully, the large contingent of armed men seemed to reassure her. “Save the Prince!” the minister “Thank goodness you arrived when you did!” she sighed, falling to her knees, hearing the enemies retreat. However, the last arrow sent wasn’t heard by her, despite going in her direction... “To think you’d be careless at the very end. Be more mindful, my brother would go crazy if he saw you dead.” another familiar voice scolded her playfully as he deflected the arrow with his sword. “Thankfully, you’re always there to save the day, Yin Zhi.” Y/N chuckled weakly, turning around to look at him with a relieved expression painted on her face. “Are you hurt?” he asked, crouching and helping her stand up. “No...No, I’m fine, don’t worry about me, worry about your brother.” she grasped his hand, holding it tightly, the anxiety of not seeing Yin Zhen getting the better of her. “He’s fine, I’m sure of that. He’s too stubborn to die. Come one, I’ll have someone escort you to your room.” he petted her hair, but she only frowned, refusing. “Thank you, but I can’t leave this place without seeing him. I’ll wait.” and so she does, and as soon as she sees the man dresses in gold, she rips herself from his brother’s hold and runs towards him, throwing her arms around him. “That’s the kind of greeting I like to see.” he chuckled, stroking her hair reassuringly. “You...You...Honestly...Let’s go back. I have to treat your wounds.” she stopped herself from saying something harsh. “You can curse me all you want when we get back. I know you’re restraining yourself.” he hummed in amusement, only feel her form weaken in his hands, and he realised he fainted from a running fever. “...Stop worrying about others and worry about yourself too, sometimes.” he shook his head, picking her up and walking towards her room, by the physician’s place. “Go get checked by the physician, I’ll look after her. You don’t want her to see the cuts on your face, do you?” Yin Zhi smirked at his younger brother, getting water and a towel to put on her forehead, to get her fever down. “Thank you, brother.” he nodded, leaving for the physician’s room, seeing his other two brothers getting treated.

Not long passed until the girl woke up once again, feeling better, despite the weakness of her body and the burning fever. As she tried to get up and open her eyes, a pair of gentle arms help her, giving her a glass of water.

“...Is there...Really no one else...?” she asked, realising that, if he was here, her maid truly sacrificed herself to save her. “...Unfortunately.” he nodded reluctantly, making the girl close her eyes, hanging her head. “That’s insane...But...I’m relieved. I kept thinking that...It could have been Shi Lian in her place, and dread overwhelms my heart. I knew what happened...But I didn’t want to admit to myself that such a kind-hearted, selfless woman could stop living, just like that...And I thank her upset stomach for driving her away from this place.” Y/N raked her fingers through the length of her hair, slightly surprised at the fact that it wasn’t as long as before, and then she recalled the events of last night properly. “I understand, your feelings are complicated. That’s how emotions usually are, unfortunately. That’s why I tend to stray away from them. You used to as well...But not anymore.” he pointed out, sighing. “What about the other princes?” she asked again. “They’re both wounded. All three of my brothers are now in the physician’s room.” hearing that, she let herself fall down on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. “Thank goodness...I feared the worst. But at least they’re alive. They may not be agreeable, but if they were to die...I don’t want to imagine.” she dragged her hands down her face, groaning at the horrible things that happened, before an eunuch ran into the room, desperate. “3rd Prince! The 7th Prince is threatening to kill the doctor! You’re the only one who can stop him!” he explained vigorously, as the 3rd prince held a solemn expression. “Number 11 will recover from his wounds, but 7 may never walk again.” as soon as she heard that, she jolted out of the bed, running to the physician’s room, scanning all the three princes and their conditions, the light of the candles being the only way to illuminate the room. “Let me see.” she walked by the 7th prince’s bed, and he only scoffed, taking off the blanked from his legs for her to examine. “I see...The situation isn’t great...I heard the physician saying you may not walk again.” she muttered, only to feel a strong hand gripping her throat. “What would you know?!” he growled at her, his eyes holding anger and sorrow. “I know you’re upset...I can’t do miracles, but I can promise I will do my best to save your legs. Will you trust me?” she asked, looking at the prince, who was gritting his teeth. “Whatever. I don’t have many options anyway.” he sighed, leaning back on the bed. “If you’re not satisfied, there will be enough Imperial Physicians back at the capital.” she explained, realising he wasn’t looking at her anymore. “Fine.” he nodded simply. “I will go tend to the 4th and 11th princes’ wounds since they are easier to treat, and then...?! Hold up, what the hell are you doing here?! This plant is barely effective for stopping the bleeding...And you mixed Ginko seed for that? Ginko increases the risks of bleeding, you imbecile! ...What is it...? Ginseng root? You do realise he has a problem raising his legs, not his cock, don’t you?! And this...This is to relieve the pain from a woman’s blood moon! You know what? Do me a favour and get the hell out of here, before I kill you. No, actually, I need a lackey, stay here and do what I say.” Y/N went through all the plants and mixtures on the table like a hurricane, scaring the soul out of the poor physician, which only seemed to serve as entertainment for the rest of the princes. “Yell again, and you might kill the poor man with your threats. Not that you aren’t right, per say. However, instead of running around in your nightgown, still damp from the rain, I’d suggest you go change in something...More fitting.” Yin Zhi suddenly appeared into the room, putting his coat on her shoulder, snickering at her firecracker behaviour that usually appears when it comes to work. “Hmm...Yes, I suppose you’re right. I was so worried, I completely forgot how I was dressed. I’ll be back in a second.” she looked down at the light, short dress she was wearing, her cheeks flushing slightly from the revealing outfit, only to return, wearing Yin Zhen’s old breeches and shirt. “Are those my old clothes?” the 4th prince asked, barely able to stop himself from laughing. “Yes. Your mother sent them over to me a while ago. As you know very well, I stopped growing a while ago...And you didn’t. Practical clothes, I’m telling you.” she tried to ignore him, so she wouldn’t focus on the teasing, but on her work. “Then come over and treat my wounds.” he smirked, leaning back and taking off his coat, revealing the cuts on his chest. “Hmm...I see. You, go get me chamomile, I need to treat the inflammation and make sure the wounds don’t fester. Likewise, I need marigold ointment, horsetail...And milk of the poppy, a needle and threat to sew up wounds...Towels, warm water...What are you standing there for? Go on, do something! Chap, chap!” she clapped her hands to hurry the man as she took the hot chamomile tea, soaking a handkerchief and gently wiping Yin Zhen’s wounds. “Were the circumstances different, this would have been incredibly endearing.” he peered into her eyes with an amused smirk on his face. “Say that when we get home and you’re in perfect health, got it? I’m still mad at what you did.” she muttered, biting her lip. “Why is your hair shorter?” with a hand, he stroked the length of her hair. “...I realised this morning I had split ends. Cutting helps with faster hair regeneration, the same as trimming plants helps with growth.” she explained, almost as if she wanted to believe so herself. “And your hairstylist was one of the assassins. Tell them to give your money back, they did an awful, non-symmetrical job.” Yin Zhi mocked her, which only made her glare at him, taking out the sword sheathe and hitting him with it. “You’re the worst, Yin Zhi!” pushed him back on the chair, before turning back to treat the 4th Prince. “I thought this was a place of healing, not one of damage.” the man chuckled, only for the girl to scoff. “You’re unscratched, don’t bother talking. The only thing you’ll ever wound is your ego whenever you talk to me. Now, leave, I’m busy.” she waved her hand dismissively towards him, and he left, not without more thrown witty comebacks. “You have no idea what you’re doing to me.” Yin Zhen chuckled, kissing her forehead. “Tell me that at home, please. Right now, I’m incredibly worried about the Emperor’s reaction to this mess.” she sighed, finishing up her paramour, before turning to quickly fix up the 11th Prince. “What’s the worst that could happen, I wonder?” he asked enigmatically, making her shudder. “The end of the world, if he would so desire.” she murmured, getting up, and taking everything closer to the 7th Prince’s bed, observing the wounds and cleaning them, treating them, bandaging them and stitching up some of the more shallow ones.

She continued the treatment all day without fail or rest, only remembering to eat when given food on a plate, and then, they had to leave back to the capital. Y/N rode again besides Yin Zhen, the road back to the capital much more quiet than the one the other way back, both of them deep into their own thoughts to speak more than basic concerns.

When they arrived, as soon as Y/N spotted Shi Lian, she jumped off the horse and engulfed the maid into a tight hug, telling her how happy she is to see her, and making sure she doesn’t say a word, until they go back home, away from anyone’s ears.

Just as expected, the next day they were called at the Hall of Mental Cultivation as the Emperor slowly reads a memorial, while everyone kneels on the floor, not daring to speak until spoken to. Obviously, the news of the 7th Prince’s condition reached his ears, and now he’s dead set on finding a culprit, believing that one of the brothers must be the one. The silence was so deep that was feeling everyone with dread.

“What happened to my nice ceremony? Could it be that Heaven is displeased, and so seeks to punish me?” the Emperor hurled the memorial to the floor, as everyone waited for the raging storm to hit. “Your Majesty, the ceremony had already been completed. What happened afterwards was the act of a traitor, not Heaven’s doing. I failed to protect 7th Prince. I take responsibility for it.” Yin Zhen took the blame, which made the girl’s mind shriek. “It IS your responsibility! He is a cripple because of you!” the Emperor threw the memorial at his face, which hurt the girl more than it hurt him. “Your Majesty, the 7th Prince may still be curable! With the help of the Imperial Physicians and modern, western medicine, we may find a way to help him walk again! In the mean time, the culprit must be found. An attack on the princes is a direct attack on you!” Y/N tried to shift the Emperor’s rage from Yin Zhen to her, and it seemed to work, for he slowly turned his head towards her, his glowering eyes making her heart beat faster with fear, and for the first time in her life, all the honors she had bestowed by his grace seemed to disappear, as she seemed like nothing more than a stranger to him now. “They were wounded. You, however...You, as a revered physician, failed to help him and give me false hope. From now on, the role of Imperial Physician will be taken away from you. You are free of your duties. This has nothing to do with you anymore, you may withdraw.” the Emperor spoke coldly, making the girl drop her jaw to the floor in shock.

It took a few seconds to compose herself, as she felt as if the skies fell on her, crushing her completely, before bowing and rushing to the Prince’s room, going by his side, looking at him with a stern expression.

“Do you still trust me to get you better, Prince?” she asked, trying her hardest not to cry.  “If not you, then who else? Why ask?” he frowned, forcing himself in a sitting position. “The Emperor took away my rights to practice medicine, however, I promised you something, and even if it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to keep my promises.” she explained, rushing to arrange the myriads of ingredients she prepared. “You’re risking your life for a stupid promise you may not even be able to keep. Why?” he looked at her in shock and curiosity. “A few reasons. One, because I promised, and like Yin Zhen, I like to believe I’m a person of my word too. Secondly, because it will keep bugging me if I know I didn’t try everything I could to help you out. And thirdly...If the Emperor finds out I was able to help you walk again, I might get back my practicing rights, and he will stop being angry and blaming Yin Zhen.” she explained with a tired sigh, sitting on the side of the bed. “I know you hate me, but I don’t hate you.” she muttered, getting back to work  “You’re an idiot, you know that, right?” the 7th Prince looked at her with a dumbfound expression. “Go ahead and do whatever you want. I’ll make sure nobody tells a soul. It can’t get worse than not walking, anyway.” the usually grumpy prince gave her permission to work on his legs as she saw fit. “Thank you, Prince. I’ll do my best.” she nodded, long absorbed into her work. “...And I don’t hate you.” he murmured with a sigh, looking away. “Hmmm...? Is that so? If yes, then I thank you for clarifying.” she smiled softly at him. “I did tell you before, didn’t I? You’re different from most of the women in the Palace. They are other wretched and vile, or soft and quite, but neither have any personality or ambition, other than marrying, being well-off and having children to ensure their positions. It’s pitiful.” he sighed again, the usual grumpy expression on his face. “So...You were jealous on Yin Zhen, then?” she asked, not sparing him any glance yet. “Sort of, but not only. I remember when I was very young, you’d always be around the 1st Prince...And your friendship with the 3rd and 4th Princes continued nicely since then, even now. I wanted to have someone so reliable and interesting, like you by my side...A friend, you could say.” the Prince explained himself, which made the girl pat his head gently, giving him a smile. “If you want a friend, I can be one for you. However, let’s focus on getting you better first, shall we?” she encouraged him, and he seemed thankful. “...Thanks, Y/N. I won’t forget it.” day in and day out, she stood by his side, trying everything in her power to save him, only remembering to take care of herself when the Prince or her paramour would make sure she is taken care of.

However, after just over a week, the Emperor found her in the Prince’s room, still doing what a physician should, and he grew angry, ordering for her to be thrown into the Hard Labour Camp, and to be beaten as a punishment, until the 7th Prince protested against his father’s order said out of anger.

“Father, please don’t punish her! She wanted to help me. No physician was able to do as much progress as she did. Look, I can get out of the bed and stand by myself!” the prince explained quickly, rushing to get out of the bed, yet his legs were still wobbly as he was standing, and collapsed. “Prince, I told you, no fast moves. Take it easy, we have to properly prepare the muscles for effort.” she caught him, carefully helping him sit back on the bed. “See, Father? She knows what she’s doing. Please, don’t take her away, I don’t trust other physicians to take care of me.” the prince smiled reassuringly at his anxious father, who seemed to ease up a bit. “...I see. I may have too rash in my decisions before. You are correct, I have never seen a more dedicated healer, and I see that there is still hope of you being able to walk again. Very well, Y/N, you can have your position back. Please continue taking care of my son, my Lady.” the Emperor nodded at the girl before leaving the place. “...Hallelujah!” she let out a deep breath she had no idea she was holding before falling on the ground, relief soothing her soul. “You saved me. Thanks.” “You silly woman, you never know when to stop, do you?” Yin Zhen suddenly walked inside the room, scooping her up in his arms.  “I don’t...But do you?” she retorted automatically, almost as if she didn’t even realise. “It wouldn’t be fun if I did. Thanks, brothers, for defending this idiot. She constantly needs taking care of.” Yin Zhen chuckled, taunting his beloved, while his younger brother, despite his grumpy disposition, scoffed in amusement. “Do a better job at it, then. Now go already, I need to rest and you’re bothering me.” he shooed the both of them out of his house, and they could finally do something they wanted, no responsibility on either of their shoulders.

They walked together to the lake, laying down in the bed of flowers, under the wisteria tree, and holding hands, the prince heard the girl sigh in content, then tilted his head to look at her soft, relaxed visage. He admired her beauty for just a few more seconds before leaning down and panting a kiss on her lips. Instead of opening her eyes, she smiled and brought her arms around his neck, pulling him down to kiss him with more fire and lover, finally happy that their problems were over, at least for now.

“I’d want to say you are uncharacteristically bold today, but we both know that would be a lie.” he hummed in amusement, leaning on his elbow. “You can’t blame me. I freaked out after the Emperor’s punishment, but now we can sit back and relax...And I can properly spend time with you. I didn’t even have time to properly say how worried I was for you that night...I was worried out of my wits when you made me leave you.” she sighed, caressing his face, looking at him with an expression that showed mixed emotions. “I told you I would do anything to keep you safe. Thankfully, nothing too grave happened. I suppose all that trauma you instilled into me when training was worth something.” he teased her, which made her stare at him in disbelief, before chuckling at his silliness. “I-I didn’t traumatise you, come on!” she grinned, flicking his forehead, just as he’d do to her. “I did complain to my mother that you’re treating me horribly.” he smirked, which only made her dramatically sigh. “At least it was worth something!” she mused at him, which, in turn, made him kiss her forehead. “It was thanks to you that I was able to protect you. And it was thanks to you that I was able to answer my mother’s riddle and receive the reward for it.” he confessed, holding her hand and intertwining their fingers together. “What was the riddle? And the reward?” she asked, blinking in curiosity. “She asked how did I think you would react once I finally beat you in a challenge. At first, I thought you’d hate me, as I used to hate you...But then, I came to realise that you wanted only the best for me.” he explained his feelings from over 10 years ago. “Ah, yes, I remember. It hurt seeing you throw tantrums, but I knew you’d come to your senses sooner or later. I always had faith in your.” she smiled like a proud kitten. “I know now. Which comes to my reward...Which is your love and trust for me.” came Yin Zhen’s confession, which made the girl blush softly. “You’ll be right there. I have loved you for a long time. My younger self wouldn’t have believed this would be her future. I’m sure she’d be as happy as I am now.” she pulled him down to kiss him again and again and again, overthrilled to be able to spend quality time with him like that. “And I opened my eyes and heart, and here I am, pouring all my love to you and you alone.” he reciprocated the kisses with just as much fire and passion as her. “So...Care to tell me again how endearing you find this little firecracker~?” 

[bi-naesala]

Feel alive

Fandom: Yakuza

Rating: T

Warnings: /

Relationships: Majima Goro/Nishikiyama Akira

Characters: Nishikiyama Akira, Majima Goro

Additional Tags: Canon-Typical Violence, Fighting, First Kiss

Summary:

Nishikiyama and Majima keep seeing each other after Kiryu goes to prison.

(Also on AO3)

It’s hard to tell what has brought Nishikiyama to go along with this. He never tries to dwell too much in this train of thought, knowing that it would only bring to the surface very unpleasant feelings that he’d like to keep hidden.

The thing is this: without his precious “Kiryu-chan” around, Majima has been getting restless, and Nishikiyama needs to get stronger. Yes, he’s making a name for himself and yes, people now respect - fear - him, but it’s not enough, and as much as it hurts his pride to admit it, he knows that it would sting even more when Kiryu is released from prison and he’s still not on his level.

Between the two, Nishikiyama has always been the brains kind of guy and sure, that can certainly help when it comes to pure combat, but he’s aware that he can’t rely only on that.

 That’s why, when he gets news of Majima being around his territory - poor thing must be so restless without someone to fight - he goes to personally greet him, provoking him into a fight.

What better way to get better, after all, that measuring himself with the same person Kiryu used to go toe-to-toe against?

He should be able to get some very nice pointers from this, and besides, consider this some sort of payback for what happened at Serena during the Empty Lot affair.

 He puts up a nice fight, but in the end, the one who comes on top is Majima. Nishikiyama knew this already, but just like Serena, it hasn’t stopped him; he’s tenacious like that.

When Majima leaves, Nishikiyama feels like he’s been stomped by a pack of wild animals, and yet there’s a manic smile on his face.

Today he’s learned a lot.

He wasn’t expecting Majima to come back, and then to come back again, and again.

He had assumed that once he would’ve realized - but he must’ve have known already, right? - that Nishikiyama wasn’t on the same level as Kiryu, he wouldn’t have shown his face around anymore, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Alright, this is something he can work with. Actually, for him, this is excellent news: it means that he’ll keep getting stronger and stronger. By the time Kiryu gets out of jail, he’ll have surpassed him; oh, that sounds so good in his head: he’s always lived under Kiryu’s shadow, but soon he won’t anymore…

 Still, he can’t for the life of him figure out why Majima keeps going back to him.

Is it because he’s the only one with enough balls to openly challenge him? Maybe, since Nishikiyama is pretty sure that only Kiryu has ever sought him out for a fight; everyone else is scared shitless of him.

Maybe he feels he owes it to Kiryu to check on his bro, and although this should enrage him because it would mean that, as always, Kiryu’s at the center of attention, on the other he finds himself not that against the idea of someone - anyone - checking on him. Had it happened sooner, maybe things might’ve gone differently…

 Regardless of the reason, Nishikiyama welcomes Majima with open arms every time and with the sharpest smirk on his face.

 It’s quite… liberating, Nishikiyama can’t deny that.

For once he doesn’t have to think about the family, he doesn’t need to worry about his plan; all he needs to do is to dodge and punch, dodge and kick, get up and do it all over again, maybe even try to get Majima’s tanto and use it against him if he feels bold.

He wonders if this is why Majima is the way he is, if he too feels this intoxicating high, though he’s not pretentious enough to think he can even begin to comprehend what goes on inside that head of his.

Whatever the reason could be, what truly matters is that they both keep indulging in this unspoken thing they share. It feels good to be able to let go, even if for just a short while.

Maybe that’s why they keep coming back to each other. That and no other reason whatsoever…

  Surprisingly, they don’t always fight, or better, they don’t always fight first. Sometimes Majima would find himself at Nishikiyama’s office to drag him somewhere to have a drink or have some fun - at least Majima’s idea of fun - and then they would fight.

Why do the do this? Fuck if they know, but it’s fun, so they keep doing it. Anything’s better than being sucked in the monotony of being a clan’s patriarch, despite the surge of power Nishikiyama feels at the growth of his family; soon, it’ll become Tojo’s strongest, he knows it.

  He’s not as familiar with using a bat as much as Majima is, but he still manages to give him a run for his money at the batting center.

Sure, Majima still wins, but only by a small margin. Not that they’re keeping track anymore, since Nishikiyama has decided that this is enough foreplay and goes to hit Majima right as he’s preparing for another ball. He manages to hit him on his side before he can dodge out of the way, sending him stumbling for a few steps.

“Naughty naughty, Nishi-chan~” he says, using the nickname that he knows Nishikiyama hates, a manic smile on his face. “Someone’s got to teach ya a lesson…”

Nishikiyama can’t help but to return the smile, staring at Majima with his sharp gaze. “Oh? And will you be the one doing the honors?”

A laugh.

“Ya bet yer fuckin’ ass I am!”

 Majima doesn’t pull any punches, but neither does Nishikiyama. At first it almost feels like a swordfight, with Majima trying to get him with his bat, while Nishikiyama parries, but in the end he decides to let his bat go, preferring to use a style more familiar to him.

Sure, going against a bat-wielding maniac unharmed seems like a bad idea, but Nishikiyama feels confident in his own abilities. Besides, where would the fun be otherwise?

At first, Majima forces him on the defensive, but eventually, Nishikiyama manages to kick his bat out of his reach, sending the other on a giggling fit.

“Not bad, Nishi-chan!” he says, hand going to his back pocket to grab his trusted tanto, which he unsheathes and points at Nishikiyama. “But now it’s time to get serious!”

“Heh. Bring it.”

  They keep staring at each other as they catch their respective breath.

Nishikiyama has gained a few cuts, courtesy of Majima, but overall, it’s all superficial damage. Majima isn’t doing that well himself: his face is beginning to swell very close to his only good eye; Nishikiyama almost feels guilty about the way he stomped on his face, but everything’s fair in love and war, he supposes, and they are at war, sort of.

Besides, it’s not like Majima is against cheap tactics, given that, as soon as he gets up, he tries to jam his fingers up his eyes to return the favor, having left his tanto discarded on the ground.

Nishikiyama has to hold his arm back with both his hands, furiously pushing against Majima, who then uses the momentum to make him lose his balance, going down with him. He barely realizes he’s fallen on the ground until he opens his eyes and sees Majima hovering over him - he’s heavier than he thought - with a victorious smirk on his face.

“Looks like I win.”

All Nishikiyama is able to do is to try to catch his breath as he keeps staring at Majima. He must’ve hurt his head in the fall, because all he can think about is how good - majestic even - he looks like this, panting and sweating for the fight, with his signature manic gaze still in his eyes, instead of arguing that just becomes he’s on top of him now, doesn’t mean he’s won the fight. Yes, something must be terribly wrong with him…

 Even when he’ll think back about this moment, he still has no idea about what has possessed him to grab Majima by the neck of his hideous snakeskin jacket and crash their lips together. He’ll only know that he did it, that he was the one who initiated it.

Unexpectedly, Majima doesn’t oppose any resistance. By the sound that escapes his lips before Nishikiyama can seal them with his own, he must be surprised by such a tactic, except that it is no tactic at all. Even if Nishikiyama doesn’t know what it is, he’s certain that it’s not just a trick, because if it was, he would’ve premeditated it, instead of letting it be something done in the spur of the moment.

What has to be more surprising, though, it’s how good it feels. Besides… is that blood, what Nishikiyama tastes on his lips? Must be, given that he’s kissing Majima of all people, but who drew it from whom? That’s the real question, not that the answer really matters though.

 When they pull away, Nishikiyama has no idea what to expect from someone as unpredictable as Majima, so he tries to mentally prepare himself for anything, and yet, he doesn’t know how to respond when Majima looks down at him, still shocked, and says:

“No, looks like you win.”

It startles a chuckle out of Nishikiyama that immediately evolves into a laugh, and soon he’s followed by Majima. Do either of them know why they’re cackling like two kids? Absolutely not, but they’re doing it anyway.

 Then Nishikiyama drags Majima down again, and they kiss over and over and over, neither of them knowing how long they’ll feel this insatiable thirst for the other, but also with no intentions of stopping.

Eventually they’ll have to get back to being the leaders of their respective family, but for now they’re just two people who are into each other and nothing more, two people who are enjoying this moment and have all the intentions of making the most of it.

 Damn, Nishikiyama had forgotten about this feeling.

It’s the closest he’s been to alive in a very long time.

[thegoodgayshit]

Luz’s mother really doesn’t want to send Luz to camp. She knows once she leaves, there is no going back. But Luz has a knack for getting into trouble, and one day she stumbles into the same type of people her mother would have preferred she avoided. After helping Luz dissolve her high school bully into dust, Eda and Lilith know right away that this kid is just like them - a child of the gods. So Luz hops on a Pegasus and heads to Camp Half-blood, where she embarks on a dangerous quest that makes her both friends and enemies... and she might even save Olympus along the way.

Chapter Five: My Rival Has to Save Olympus

The victory party for the blue team was in full gear in the pavilion, but Luz was too distracted to even enjoy it. Her brain was running a mile a minute, and every time she had a thought she zoned out, unable to ignore it.

She didn’t know how to feel, which was starting to become a habit. On one hand, she had never been so excited in her life. Her father had claimed her, in front of everybody, and announced to the whole camp that Luz was his. She had never known anything about her dad besides what her Mami had said about him, so now that she could really put a name to who he was, Luz felt seen.

But a part of her, a part that she hated that she felt, was angry and resentful with her father. He had known who Luz was her whole life, and he had never once visited her or helped out her Mami when they were struggling. Luz remembered when she had worked three double shifts back to back, and almost collapsed with exhaustion. Hermes could have helped them. He could have been there.

As they were shedding their armor and freshening up together to head to the pavilion for the celebration, she expressed this frustration to Willow and Gus. The pair had shot her sympathetic smiles as Luz shifted Aletheia back to a ring, and tucked the buzzer into her shorts pocket to return to Eda at the celebration.

“We know how you feel,” Gus said quietly. “Most half-bloods never know or meet their godly parents.”

Willow nods, “Gus and I have been at camp for years and never met ours.”

Luz swallows her frustration. That isn’t right. It isn’t fair for a parent to just abandon their kids because they thought they had better things to do.

“But the upside is that most of us have our siblings!” Willow adds with a gleam of excitement. “They make being a half-blood a lot more fun.”

Willow had a point there. Now that Luz was claimed, she couldn’t believe she actually had siblings! Well, half-siblings. After she’d been claimed, Viney and Jerbo had run-up to her and pulled her in for high fives. They told her how excited they were that she’d be staying in their cabin, and even called her their sister. Luz had never felt any kind of sibling love like that before, and without even realizing it, her eyes had gotten misty and her throat had closed up with affection.

“You’re right, Willow,” Luz said, giving her a genuine smile.

The trio walked practically arm in arm to the pavilion, and when Luz saw it, she gasped. The place was practically unrecognizable from the last time she had seen it at breakfast. The tables had been covered with white tablecloths, and there were tasteful blue streamers and decorations hanging from the columns. The sun was setting so there was a beautiful glow over it, and torches were lit everywhere to light it up. The place was packed: with demigods, nymphs, and satyrs all partying together. When they walked in, a demigod from the Dionysus cabin saw them and cheered when they realized they had played on the blue team, laying laurels around their necks.

“Holy Zeus,” Gus exclaimed with glee. “I forgot how awesome the party can get when the Dionysus cabin wins the games.”

Luz was grinning excitedly and she pumped her fist in the air, her previous worries long forgotten. “This is awesome! I love being a half-blood!”

They quickly adapted to the party and Luz couldn’t ever remember having so much fun. A lot of the red team players were there despite their loss, but a lot of them were having too much fun to actually hold a grudge against the blue team's cabins. Luz was soon chatting amicably with demigods from both the Apollo cabin and the Hephaestus cabin, but she did notice as she wandered around that the Ares campers were nowhere to be found.

“By the way Augustus, that was an awesome distraction by the creek today,” one of the Apollo campers, who had introduced herself as Bo, said. Gus rubbed the back of his neck with a nervous laugh as Willow and Luz turned to look at him.

“What is she talking about, Gus?” Luz asked with a frown, and Willow raised a brow as well.

He was starting to look more and more stressed. “Well, I might have suggested to Viney that Amity and her friends had it out for Luz and that if she was stationed somewhere Amity could find her… she’d be willing to put aside her chances of winning to challenge her.”

“You used me as bait?” Luz yelped, her eyes widening. Gus put up his hands defensively.

“Not exactly! I just knew that an opportunity to take the flag might present itself if the red team's best swordfighter was otherwise occupied.”

“You used her as bait,” Willow said with a disapproving frown.

“Sorry, Luz,” Gus said sheepishly.

Luz shrugs, assuring him she isn’t upset. Despite her surprise with the whole situation, Luz wasn’t mad. It’s not like they’d been hurt. In fact, it had been pretty great all things considered, but that wasn’t because Luz was a skilled camper. It was that she had gotten lucky and had a few tricks up her sleeve Amity and her friends hadn’t been expecting.

Amity… Luz was still really feeling guilty about using the hand buzzer. Even if Amity was mean to her, she hadn’t deserved to be embarrassed like that. And even if the buzzer was a magic item and technically allowed, Luz felt like a cheater. Without even realizing she was doing it, Luz started to scan around the pavilion for her, wondering if she was at the party.

As she looked through the crowd, her eyes finally fell on just the girl she was looking for. Amity was standing at the edge of the crowd, with Edric and Emira next to her. Luz put her goblet of lime soda down on the table and excused herself from the conversation, turning and heading towards them slowly, not sure how to integrate herself into their circle.

As she got closer, Luz made out that Amity’s face was bright red. Emira was nudging her with her elbow, and Edric grinned at her cheekily, and Luz wondered if she should just turn around and come back later. But then Amity’s gaze shifted towards Luz and the pair made eye contact, and her blush faded into a scowl.

“Oh, it’s you,” she scoffed, and Luz winced.

“Hey, Amity…” she tried.

“What do you want?” She asked, clearly not interested in humoring their conversation. “Haven’t you done enough to make me look like an idiot?”

“Quit being mean to your friends, mittens,” Edric said, and Amity’s scowl deepened.

“She’s not my friend.”

With that, she turned heel and stormed away, and Edric and Emira laughed to themselves, which made Luz furrow her brow.

“What’s so funny?” She asked them, and Emira cocked an eyebrow.

“The fact that mittens got played today, cutie,” she said, and Luz couldn’t help the embarrassed blush that formed on her cheeks. “She’s the camp's pride and joy, and she just got outsmarted and outmatched by the new girl and her team of underdogs.”

Luz wasn’t sure if she should be offended or not. The twins didn’t give her a chance to decide.

“It’s always fun getting mittens hot under the collar,” Edric added with a sly smile. “Like telling her exactly where you were so she’d ditch the flag and run after you instead.”

“You guys were the ones who told her where we were?” Luz asked in shock. “But you sabotaged your own team and lost!”

“We don’t consider knocking mittens down a peg a loss,” Emira shrugged. “Besides, you’ve seen how she acts. Somebody had to do it.”

It looks like Luz hadn’t been the only half-blood played by the Blight twins.

Luz shuffled her feet guiltily. She needed to talk to Amity. “Look, you guys are cool and all-”

“Mhmm,” The twins nodded together.

“But I need to find mittens, I mean… Amity.”

“Alright, but you’re way too fun for her,” Emira said with a grin, shooting her a wink. Luz definitely needed to go before her face got any redder than it already was.

She broke off in the direction Amity left in, keeping an eye out for green hair. She walked around the back of the pavilion and paused when she caught sight of Amity. She was sitting against one of the columns in the dark, out of sight and away from the rest of the campers. Her knees were tucked into her chest as she sat on the floor, her head pressed against them with her eyes screwed shut. Luz realized that she was on the verge of tears.

She walked towards her slowly and uncertainly. “Amity… I’m sorry.”

Amity looks up at her and her eyes narrow as she scoffs. “Seriously? Just leave me alone.”

“I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” Luz pleaded, and Amity turns and glares at her, but Luz thinks it’s more out of sadness than anger now.

“Well, that’s all you’ve done! First in front of Eda, and now this?” Luz opens her mouth to try and defend herself, but then Amity gets to her feet and strides towards her.

“You made me look like a fool in front of the whole camp!” Amity cries out, and Luz is taken aback by how her voice cracks with hurt. “You think it’s so easy to be a half-blood, but I have been working my whole life to get to the top.”

Luz is realizing now that this goes much deeper than just a fun game of capture the flag. She is speechless when Amity points an accusing finger in her face, her voice rising desperately. “You lost. I had you completely disarmed and you tricked me. You cheated! Say it! Say that you didn’t really win!”

Luz’s shoulder drop and she says to Amity what she’s been thinking since the game ended.

“I didn’t really win.”

Amity doesn’t really know what to say at that, and her expression drops immediately. Luz turns and slides down the column into a sit. Luz reaches into her pocket and pulls out the hand buzzer, showing it to her. Amity slowly sits down next to her and looks.

“Eda gave me this after we saw you in the arena yesterday. I knew I was going to lose after I saw you with your sword. You’re the better camper. But I tried really hard to learn.”

Amity is now looking at the buzzer with a guarded expression like she isn’t sure what to think of it. “It’s enchanted with condensed lightning, I knew the second it touched me.”

“Eda is a daughter of Zeus…” Luz mused, pursing her lips. She turned her head to look Amity in the eyes.

“I’m sorry. This whole half-blood thing isn’t coming naturally to me like it does for you. I’ve had to improvise a little bit.”

Amity’s gold eyes blink into hers before she sighs. “Maybe you aren’t a cheater,” she drops her gaze to the floor awkwardly. “I haven’t exactly been the friendliest camper around. I’ll think on that.”

Luz feels a little smile begin to prick on her cheeks, and she thinks that maybe she had Amity pegged wrong. Maybe she’s not a bully after all.

Suddenly, a scream echoes from the pavilion, making Luz’s blood run cold. It’s followed by another, and then another. Luz and Amity both shoot to their feet, their expressions darting to one another in alarm.

“What is that?” Luz asks, and Amity’s eyes just widen in fear before she draws her sword and races around the column towards the party. Luz swallows and touches her ring, and then she’s holding her knife in her hand and following after her.

When they race into the pavilion, Luz’s heart drops. Campers, nymphs, and satyrs scatter everywhere as a dozen of what looks like literal skeleton soldiers have drawn bronze swords and slash through tables, aiming for any living bodies they can. They are almost nothing but bones, wearing bronze armor and hissing angrily. They all speak together at once, and the words send chills right down Luz’s spine.

“Children of the gods will pick their side,” they say, over and over again like on a rhythm. “The fires of Olympus will finally die.”

Luz sees Eda and Lilith standing protectively around a group of unarmed campers, slashing their swords valiantly at six of the twelve approaching skeletons while King growls angrily at their feet. Lilith swings expertly, hitting two of them in one go as they dissolve. Eda raises her sword to the sky, and the air stinks like ozone before pointing her sword at one, and a thunderbolt streaks across the blade and smacks it right in the chest, disintegrating it. Luz knows she isn’t needed there. The daughters of Zeus have it under control.

Amity has made a running leap towards her siblings who are face to face with two skeletons. She slashes down through the back of one, and her siblings each make a swing with their own swords, so Luz thinks they’ll probably be okay for now.

Luz scans the clearing desperately for Gus and Willow. She hears them before she sees them. Gus thrust his spear through one skeleton as Willow stands in front of Viney, protecting her from two others. The head of the Hermes cabin has collapsed onto the floor, clutching her arm. Luz’s protective instinct kicks into overdrive at the sight, and she roars in anger, charging towards one skeleton and slashing with her knife, dissolving it into dust as Willow’s sword makes short work of the other one.

Luz scans around the clearing and realizes that all of the skeletons have been disintegrated. Eda and Lilith quickly try to rally the scattered campers, and Willow, Gus, and Luz lean down to Viney in worry.

Luz almost blacks out at the sight. She has a deep slash down her arm from a bronze sword, and blood is running down her arm and soaking the ground and the shirt.

“Owwww,” she groans quietly, gritting her teeth. Luz thinks this is definitely not just an “Ow” situation.“What do we do?” Luz yelps in alarm, but Willow is already on it. She has turned to the Apollo campers, most of who are slowly starting to file back into the pavilion after scattering.

“Medic! We have an injured camper!” She yells, and the girl Luz had met earlier, Bo, heads over urgently and drops to her knees, pulling a first aid kit from her belt.

Gus pulls Luz away from Viney. “She’ll be okay, Apollo is also the god of medicine. We need to listen to Eda and Lilith.”

Luz gulps, looking at Viney to make sure she’s ok. The girl smiles feebly at her and gives her a shaky thumbs-up, so Luz does what she’s told and heads over to the circle of gathering campers.

She stands with Willow and Gus in the crowd, and most of the campers have returned to the pavilion post skeleton attack. The other campers who didn’t attend the party have also come when they heard the ruckus, so Boscha and the Ares cabin are there too, with Skara and some of the other Apollo kids right behind them.

Luz sees Amity and her siblings in the crowd too, and Amity is being fussed over by Emira, which she is not having. She pushes her away, wiping at her face. Luz realizes there is a cut on her cheek, which she must have gotten when she ran to help her siblings.

Eda and Lilith stand on a table so everyone can hear them, with King prowling anxiously at their heels. Eda is trying to whistle to get the crowds attention, while Lilith is chatting lowly to the boy who sits at the Head table with them and King. Barcus, the camp’s human oracle. The camp is quiet very quickly, all of them nervously glancing around like at any moment more skeletons might show up.

“Everybody, please calm down.” Lilith eventually says as she pulls away from Barcus to address the crowd. “I know all of you are scared, but everything is going to be fine.”

“How did those skeletons get through the camp’s magic?” One camper called from the crowd, and Luz’s brow furrowed. She’d forgotten the camp had enchanted barriers to protect them and was wondering the same thing. From what Willow described, they were almost impossible to penetrate.

“There are some ways to bypass the camp's magical borders,” Eda answers with a frown, her gold eyes scanning through the crowd. “Somebody inside camp could have summoned them, or an immortal being could have given them our location. That is not what is important. What we need to focus on right now is the call for a quest.”

There was a ripple of whispers at that, as campers eyed one another nervously. Luz isn’t sure what the problem is.

“What’s the big deal?” Luz whispers to Willow, who is worrying her lip. “Quests sound kind of cool.”

“A quest is only given to campers when something serious is happening in our world, or when a god requests one. They’re very rare and very dangerous,” she whispers back. “Only the strongest half-bloods are nominated for one.”

“There is something we have been keeping from you all.” Eda continues, and Lilith seems to pass her an annoyed look, but Eda just continues. “Hestia, the goddess of the hearth, is missing. She was kidnapped from Olympus earlier this week. The gods did not want us to take action until we were given a sign that it was the right time to proceed.”

There is a loud commotion at that. Luz blinks and turns to her friends with her mouth dropped open. “Hestia has been kidnapped? Like… the goddess of the hearth? How is it even possible to kidnap a goddess?”

“It’s happened before in stories,” Gus says offhandedly, fidgeting nervously with his hands. “Hephaestus caught Aphrodite and Ares a couple of times. It’s very difficult though.”

Eda purses her lip at the commotion and then glances over at Viney, who is being treated at one of the tables. She stamps her foot loudly to keep the attention of the crowd. “Now is as good a sign as any that we must have a quest. Barcus is willing to give a prophecy to one nominee, who will be tasked with finding Hestia and returning her safely to Olympus.”

There was another shout of noises as names began to be called into the air. One of the campers shouted, “why don’t you and Lilith go? You’re the daughters of Zeus, and you have plenty of experience.”

Eda and Lilith shared a look before Lilith shook her head. “We must stay here, in case we need to protect Camp Half-Blood from another attack. Someone else must go.”

Luz wasn’t sure who said it first, but then, from around the clearing loud and clear rang out: “I think it should be Amity.”

Once it was said once, the whole camp seemed to be in agreeance.

“Yeah, Amity is one of our most experienced campers!”“She’s one of the best swordfighters I’ve seen…”

“And she’s tough, she’d be able to carry through with it.”

A smile split Luz’s face when she realized what was happening. Amity’s hard work was finally paying off like she’d confessed to earlier. The camp really did see her as the best of the best. Luz turned to find her in the crowd, and when her eyes locked on Amity, her expression made her do a double-take. Amity didn’t look excited, or proud. She looked terrified.

“Why isn’t she happy?” Luz asked with a frown.

“Don’t be too hard on her,” Willow muttered, and Luz was surprised by how sympathetic she looked. From what Luz thought, Willow and Amity’s relationship wasn’t that great. “Being nominated is a hard job.”

Amity eventually took a breath and steeled her expression, moving forward to stand next to Eda and Lilith. Lilith looked at her slowly and then cleared her throat.

“Amity Blight, do you accept this quest?”

“I do,” Amity said, wiping any previous nervousness off of her face.

Barcus slowly stepped forward and shifted the glasses on his face. “Amity, if it’s alright I’d like to give you the prophecy somewhere quieter. It’ll just be for a moment.” Luz had never heard Barcus speak before, but it was a lot huskier than she’d thought it would be.

Luz watched Amity swallow, before nodding her head. The pair slowly made their way behind the pavilion and out of sight.“As per rules of the quest, the nominee may choose two other campers to accompany them on their journey.” Eda continued, shifting the sword in her hand back into Owlbert. The little owl cooed and perched itself on her shoulder. “When Amity returns, she may choose her companions.”

“Gee, I wonder who it’ll be,” Gus mumbles sarcastically, and Luz thinks he makes a good point. Boscha and Skara have already pushed their way to the front, and the campers parted, knowing who Amity would choose.

When Amity and Barcus make their way back to stand next to Eda and Lilith, the crowd seems to be holding their breath. Luz examines Amity as she approaches. At first, she assumes Amity is just being serious due to the situation, but as she looks closer she notices her shoulders twitch, and her gold eyes betray her. Luz would know that look anywhere. Whatever she’s just heard has terrified her.

She doesn’t even wait before speaking. “I choose Boscha and Skara as my companions.”

The two other campers step forward quickly, each taking place at Amity’s side. Luz, like the rest of the camp, figured this might happen, so it’s not surprising. What does confuse Luz though, is that when they stand next to her Amity isn’t looking at them. Instead, she turns looks directly at Luz. They make eye contact, and then Amity quickly turns away. Luz feels the breath leave her body, but she’s forced to turn her head back to look at Eda.

“Amity, Boscha, and Skara,” she says, sizing them up with her eyes. “You will leave tomorrow at dawn to go and find Hestia and return her to Olympus.”

“We won’t fail,” Amity promises, and now that Luz has seen what Amity is actually feeling, she wonders how she says those words with so much confidence. She wonders if Aphrodite’s kids have similar public speaking skills to the Hermes campers.

While three nominees head out of the pavilion with Lilith to discuss their plans for their journey, the rest of the campers are instructed by Eda to help clean up the mess. Luz’s muscles are aching from the game of Capture the Flag, and even more so after fighting the skeletons, but cleaning helps keep her mind off of everything that’s just happened. Besides, she gets to work with Gus and Willow, which is always a bonus.

Eda dismisses the three of them in particular after they almost collapse in exhaustion from lifting one of the broken columns back into the air, holding it in place so a camper from Cabin Nine can use their enchanted blowtorch to put it back together. Luz trudges alone back to the Hermes cabin, and when she pushes open the door she hopes to see Viney back in the bunk. But it’s just Jerbo sitting there alone on the bunk below hers. All her other siblings must still be cleaning up.

“Where’s Viney?” Luz asks worriedly, “I thought you helped carry her to the infirmary?”

“They want her to stay overnight for monitoring,” he says, the exhaustion heavy in his voice. “She’s probably going to be okay though.”

This doesn’t calm Luz down, but she supposes there’s nothing she can really do. The anxiety from today weighs heavy in her belly, so she goes into her chest and grabs her new pj’s and her phone, and she gets ready for bed before hiding the phone in the waistband of her shorts before climbing into her bunk.

She knows she isn’t allowed to have one, so she waits until Jerbo is snoring lightly below her before she opens it up and texts her Mami. After the chaos of today, she still has so many unanswered questions, some of them nobody can answer but her.

Hola, Mami. Eda is letting me use my phone to text you and tell you about today. We played capture the flag and my dad claimed me. I guess you already knew this, but he’s Hermes. He passed along some abilities to me I didn’t even know I had. Did you know I am a really good public speaker? I was able to get my friends to push themselves a little harder today and we ended up winning the game. It sucks it couldn’t come in handy all those times I got in trouble at school. Maybe if I’d known I could have talked my way out of those messes.

She hits send on the first paragraph and worries her bottom lip between her teeth. There are so many other things too, but she doesn’t want to scare her Mami or make her think she shouldn’t have let Luz stay here.

My friend, well, I guess she isn’t really a friend. More like a rival I guess. She got assigned a quest today. She’s going to find a missing goddess and save Olympus. Despite how crazy that all sounds, I’ve never been happier than when I’m at Camp Half-Blood. I think I finally found my kind of people like you always wanted me to do. But I still really miss you. Maybe I’ll ask Eda if I can call you soon. Buenas noches, Mami.

She tucks the phone under her pillow, and before she knows it exhaustion takes over her and she falls asleep.

The dreams come for the second time. This time though, she isn’t at school. She’s somewhere warm, and there is a cool summer breeze blowing in the distance. She feels the rocky ground beneath her feet, and the air is crisp like she’s up high.

Then there’s the laugh again, and the same feeling of the sword poking against her back as the last one. She holds up her hands in surrender.

“Your friends are scared, little hero.” He whispers into her ear, and Luz swallows, trying not to make a sound. She looks up at the sky and realizes she can see the peak of a mountain, the top of it covered in a sheet of white snow.

“The gods were cruel to me, too. They ruined me, made me obsessed with earning their honor and glory. And what did it get me? You are their pawn, just as I was.” The breathing gets closer to her ear, and Luz squeezes her eye shut, willing this to end.

“Think to yourself, what will their glory get you, little hero?”

She shoots awake wildly from the nightmare, panting and drenched in sweat.

[ghost-town-story]

chazzawrites challenge 3

Day 3. Introduce your main WIP

(Main is a strong word considering I hop from project to project like a kitten chasing a dust bunny but anyways)

My main WIP is The Astral Chronicles (Astral for short), which started as a NaNo project all the way back in 2015. It’s honestly a monster of a project, like a solid series and a half at least (still not 100% sure where the second part is going/ending, which is where that half comes in lol), but I love it dearly and it’s also lowkey the project I have the most hopes of maybe publishing someday. 

Now to answer wtf is Astral? 

Part 1: 

“Aiden’s always been too curious for his own good. So when he finds a mysterious arch in a part of the woods he’s never explored before, of course he’s going to check it out. After all, it’s not like it leads anywhere. 

One misstep later, and Aiden finds himself very far from home, in the magical land of Astral, where war is brewing on the horizon. The king’s hold on the throne is growing tenuous, threatened by the missing princess and a mage everyone seems to think is Aiden. 

And all Aiden wants to do is find his way home.” 

Part 2: 

“Three years after falling into Astral, Aiden finally feels like he’s found a place he belongs. Most days, that’s enough for him to ignore the dulling ache of missing the people *cough James* he left behind. 

So when Aiden is suddenly thrust back into the world he came from, stripped of his magic and the people and places he called home, he has only one thought: Survive this until he can find his way back to Astral. And maybe see if James will join him. 

If only it were as simple as falling through an arch again.”

In simpler terms, Astral is ye olde typical magical fantasy adventure, but with a little bit of a twist. We’ve got magic and dragons and swordfighting and a kid just trying to find a place to call home. It’s a fun time lol

[emeraldbirdcollector]

MTAP prompt - Alice and Jack on their way to Portia

This got really dark, really fast. My apologies. Trigger warnings for parental death, blood, trauma, etc. It’s also not terribly polished - just posting the starter here in hopes of comments and suggestions. I do take criticism, if offered reasonably kindly and aimed at the writing, not personal insults. 

The Civil Corps in Lucien were not to be trusted. Not unless you could bribe them. They were the last line of defense against Duvos, and thus to be honored and respected. But they were also battle-roughened and underpaid, and liable to take what they felt they deserved, by force if necessary, from the local citizenry, and thus also to be avoided and dodged whenever possible. Alice had known that from infancy. Only on the day the war came to her doorstep did she find out there was another possibility.

There had been rumors for weeks, and her parents had not succeeded in keeping either fourteen-year-old Alice or her six-year-old brother Jack from hearing them. The Duvosian army was about to break through Lucien's defenses, and not even the valiant fighting men on the front lines had been able to stop them. Any minute now, the city was going to be overrun. Alice knew her parents were planning to escape, heard them talking at night about what was most important to pack, what they could carry, where they might stay.

“We should tell the children,” her mother said. “Give them at least a little warning. Alice is sensible, she'll cope.”

From her bedroom, Alice felt herself warmed by the praise. Sensible. That's what I am. I can keep my head and help us get through this.

“No. It'll be easier for them if it happens all at once, if we get it over with quickly without giving them time to remember what they'll miss. Alice might be old enough, but Jack's still small, and he doesn't understand yet.”

Alice looked over to where her little brother lay, nothing disturbing his slumber, not even bad dreams. His face, relaxed and innocent in sleep, was propped on one arm, the other dangling off his cot. Don't worry. I won't let anything hurt you, baby brother. I'll keep you safe. Whatever happens.

It was only the next morning when all hell broke loose. She and Jack had been out in the yard, taking down the apricots and apples that had been drying on racks in the sun, when the earth shook and the walls surrounding the great city, undermined by Duvosian explosives, crumbled to the ground. Their mother came running from the house, their father right behind her, each of them clutching a knapsack – no, Pa had two.

“Put all the apples you can in this one, and put it on,” he said to her, brisk and calm. “We need to move. The army will be through any second, and we have to run.”

She nodded, her mouth dry, and gathered up the last mound of apple rings in her arms, pouring them into the flour sack she carried and stuffing it into the knapsack as firmly as she could, willing it to fit. It did, just barely. She put on the knapsack, which was far heavier than she was used to, but she would not let her parents, or Jack, see her flinch. Her mother took her arm, her father scooping Jack onto his shoulders, and they ran.

Alice couldn't tell where they were going. Her father led them down alleyway after alleyway, around corners and through narrow passages, until she was completely lost, in an area of the city she had never seen before. It seemed like everyone had the same idea – people poured from their houses, crowding and pushing in every direction, and it was all Alice could do to hang on to her mother's hand and keep running. But she smelled smoke behind her, and heard screams that ripped through her like knives, and she kept going, running not towards anything but away, away from the screaming, away from the fire, away from the army, away away away...until there was nowhere to run.

Her father had chosen to take them away from the crowds through a narrow, dark alley, and it was the last mistake he ever made. From the darkness stepped three menacing figures – Duvosian soldiers, Alice thought, her mind suddenly frozen over with terror. She turned, only to see a few more blocking their escape route behind. A rough voice ordered from the shadows, “Kill the old folks, they ain't worth much, but take the kids alive. Kids always sell better. More trainable-like.”

Her father let Jack slip from his shoulders, placing the children between himself and his wife. Both parents drew knives, but they looked pitifully small against the Duvosian soldiers' swords. Nor did they do them any good. Alice covered Jack's eyes, shielding him as best she could against her body, but for the rest of her life, the image of her mother's head bouncing against the cobblestones, the sound of her father's scream, abruptly cut short, and the sudden rain of blood that spattered her hair and clothes, face and hands, would haunt her worst nightmares.

Nothing of the next few moments registered on her consciousness. Her fingers had to be pried loose from Jack's shoulders, and he broke his terrified silence in a wail as he was torn from her and thrown over a soldier's horse. Another grabbed her knapsack, ransacking it for anything worth stealing, and, finding nothing, tossed it contemptuously aside. The next minute she, too, was scooped up and thrown behind her brother, and felt rough hands tie her, wrists and ankles, to Jack and to the horse, holding both children upright but with no hope of movement. The largest of the Duvosians mounted up behind them, and spurred the horse, his comrades following.

Alice kept her eyes tightly closed, the unfamiliar movement of the horse beneath her combined with the visions repeating themselves over and over in her head and the smell of her parents' blood, making her sick. She concentrated everything she had on not throwing up, not letting go of Jack, letting everything else retreat to the back of her mind. Got to stay alive. Got to keep Jack alive. Just one more minute one more one more...

A sudden sound from the soldier behind her made her open her eyes, as he collapsed and fell backwards. The horse startled, and it was all that she could do to hold on for a moment, ropes or no, but when he settled, she looked down, and wished she hadn't. An arrow sprouted from his throat – Civil Corps colors, she noted absently, wondering if they were just going from one danger to another – and she looked up to find two more arrows striking their targets. Three of their captors were left mounted, however, and they wheeled to challenge the newcomer.

Apparently out of arrows, he drew his sword and charged. Alice had never seen a swordfight before, but even she could see that he fought like a lion, swift and sure. Three against one, it was, but one by one, the semi-trained thugs fell to his blade as it darted and wove, making gleaming patterns in the moonlight. A knight. A knight in shining armor.  

The last of their captors fell with an unromantic thud, and their rescuer dismounted, wiping his blade on the sparse grass by the road before sheathing it. He turned to the children, his hands surprisingly gentle as he undid the knots. “You kids all right?” 

Alice nodded, and Jack, looking at her, followed suit, though he was far too pale and far too quiet. “We are now. Thank you.” Surprisingly, her voice was clear and firm, though she was shaking inside.

He lifted them gently from the horse, one by one, and knelt next to them. Alice was surprised to see he wasn't much older than she was – perhaps eighteen or nineteen. He had the darker skin of a Sandrock native, and lighter hair, with paler streaks – tattoos? scars? birthmarks? she couldn't tell – outlining his cheekbones and down his chin, giving him a fierce, hawkish look. But his eyes were warm, dark golden-amber, kind. “You got parents? Somewhere to go?”

Alice looked at the blood on her shirt, and her voice broke. “Not...not anymore.” The sob escaped her throat before she could stop it, and she felt strong, gentle arms around her, holding her together as more of them tore from her, uncontrollable, unstoppable.

“Hey, hey now, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. We'll get you someplace safe, you and your...brother?” She nodded, wiping her eyes. “We'll get you to safety, I promise.” He paused. “What are your names? Mine's Remington. My friends call me Remi.”

“I'm Alice. This is Jack.” It felt surreal, introducing herself as if she was still herself, still the same person she'd been yesterday.

“Come with me. I'll find you someplace.”

Remington knew that the Lucien Civil Corps was largely corrupt and incompetent, and he hated it. This wasn't the grand future he'd planned for himself when he'd left quiet Portia behind, looking for glory in the war against Duvos. Certainly not this Earthforsaken rout that could have been prevented if only the General had had the sense to realize that Duvos would bring in miners. Such a damned waste, he thought, his throat closing up as he thought of what he'd seen that day. Make Portia proud, Mayor Gale said when he saw me off...sorry, Mayor, there's no pride in this, none at all. He looked at the girl balanced in front of him on the horse, small and slender and fragile, but holding on to her little brother like a lifeline, determined to protect him. She can't be any older than little Sam back home. Come to think of it, Sam's family are refugees from Lucien, too, aren't they? I wonder if her Ma told her stories of fleeing the war like this...no wonder she's so damned determined to face down all the bullies in the world, even the ones who are twice her size. The thought of home, and the younger kids he'd been charged so often to look after, made him heartsick. Sam, Arlo, Ginger, I'm sorry, I'm not the hero you thought I was...but I'm damned well not going to let little kids be sold into slavery if I can help it.

He knew the city well, and more importantly, knew where the Duvos army was, having faced it down until the lines had broken in a frenzied rout, soldiers fleeing every which way. He had attempted to stand firm, and to rally his neighbors, but there was no point, no discipline left, and finally he had fled himself. Not proud of that. I should have gone down with the fighting, like so many others. But...then who would get these kids to safety? his practical side reminded him. Maybe there's still a purpose for me after all.

Now, it seemed that everyone was making for the South Gates, away from the rampaging Duvosian soldiers pouring in from the North. He kept his horse steady with a firm hand, but the smell of blood and the sights and sounds of panicked humans was making her uneasy. She had been trained for battle, but had never seen one. Nor had Remington, before this week, and he sympathized. I knew it was gonna be horrible, but...he held back the thought, lest he lose what little breakfast he had eaten that morning. Too many gone. Too many who ate that breakfast with me now feeding their blood to Mother Earth. Stefan, Janik, Richardis...and those were just the ones I saw. What's the point of spending so much time painstakingly reclaiming the past, fighting off the monsters, rebuilding things after the Cataclysm, if we just keep destroying all our gains over and over every time some damned Emperor gets greedy? That's what I'm supposed to be here for, to protect civilization, to protect people, dammit - and first chance I get, I failed. We all did. He looked down again at Alice and Jack, so small and yet so determined. But I won't fail you kids, not this time. I'll get you someplace safe if it kills me.

[jq37]

so...... thoughts on the first ep?

**spoilers for start spreading the news**

What is UP you guys? The new season of Dimension 20 is out and your girl is back (implies I left, which is false) with only the hottest of takes.

Usually I vomit up my opinions with little rhyme or reason and, don't worry, I'm not changing that format any time soon. But, because of the structure of the episode, I think it'll be easier to use headings and go through each character/element of this. So let's do this y'all!

The Setting

I think the best thing you can do as a writer or a creative person in general is the make something that only you could make, you know? Like, make the thing that only someone with your specific life experiences and weird brain could have come up with. And I really think that this is that for Brennan. I already talked about this in other posts, but the version of NYC that Brennan created for this game is that to me. Like, magical NY has been done, but the specific details? Who else could have written, "The annual SantaCon is actually Santa dumping all of his defective clones into NYC where the magic barrier that keeps normals from seeing magic will disguise them and the protectors of the city will be able to deal with them"? That's so specific and so wild and so New York and so Brennan.

And I haven't lived in NY for so long but I've had one winter here and the way he describes what it's like to walk down the street during winter in the city is so real. Like smelling garbage then laundry detergent then sugared nuts from those corner stands and you're freezing and then baking in the subway in your coat. That was so so real. (I will be saying this phrase a lot so get used to it now)

And I like that he didn't make the obvious choices, you know? Like we've had three, like, magical figureheads across D20 and those are usually classic old, white, possibly British roles, you know? Like a Gandalf or a Dumbledore. But he had Aguefort in FH and now Esther and Alejandro in TUS. I just think it's cool that we're getting some different archetypes to fill these roles instead of the same dude c.p'd in again, you know?

Also, the fantasy NYC map is so dope. I wanna go back and try to read everything on it when I have the chance. 

Pete

Ally is a DRUG DEALER. I thought Pete was gonna be a stripper but he's a DRUG DEALER. Honestly, I could have figured this out sooner if I'd just checked Urban Dictionary like I did just now and found out that "plug" means "someone who is a resource for obtaining something valuable that would otherwise be difficult to obtain" or, more simply, "drug dealer". But I'm glad I didn't because it was much more fun to find out in real time.

Ally makes some character choices sometimes that are too specific to not be rooted in life experience and that whole microwave cheese monologue was one of them.

Pete's official diagnosis is that he has "a lot going on."

Ally almost won MVP line of the episode with, "Shot my tits off." Murph losing it in the background killed me almost more than the actual line.

I really, really want Pete's doctor to be a recurring character because he is wild in how wild he isn't. He has so much wild stuff happening around him and he is in a wild line of work but he seems like a relatively stable guy. I love him. Also, the completely wrong cadence he used to say, "lgbt ally" was gold.

Is Ally ever gonna have a character with a good relationship with their parents? One time? Ever?

I literally don't even know how to begin to address the wild magic trip Pete went on. Like, I don't think Ally knew what they were doing when they decided to be a wild magic sorcerer. I don't think they knew what kind of challenge they were issuing to Brennan. And after seeing the wild nonsense Brennan consistently came up with for Jer'ih'meh in Bloodkeep, I can't want to see the insanity he spits out for Pete.

"You're the one who they they wanted to play a wild magic sorcerer."

Also, Brennan just using lyrics from "New York, New York" for whatever dream demon or whatever was going on in that trip was, like, equal parts clever and hilarious. Sidenote, do you think all the ep titles are gonna be from songs about NY? I mean, there are enough songs I bet.

Pete has this thing where he constantly lands on the exact wrong part of the situation to focus on. Like later when he gets stuffed in the magic closet at the hospital and he's like, "Hospitals are so advanced, also go much is this gonna cost?" Ally's comic timing on that is always perfect.

WILD that that was the first intro. Like, way to kick off the new season with a bang.  I really wonder what this episode would have felt like if this was the last intro or if the intro for the two normal people hadn’t been right at the top. Actually now that I’m editing, I feel like we almost got the intros from least experienced w/ this stuff to most experienced. Because Pete is a total noob. Sophia is also a noob but she has met Kugrash at least once. Then you have Ricky who’s only been in this for about a year. Then Kingston who probably has more experience than Kug by years but Kug has been a rat man his whole life (presumably). Finally Misty who is probably like a BS amount of years old and steeped in this stuff. Honestly,  if I was DM’ing, I might have fudged the die rolls to look exactly like how it turned out. 

Sophia

Emily describing her character and slipping into her character voice gradually as she went on was so pro.

"Like if Fran Dresher went on an Amy Winehouse bender." I love her.

"Did you not want baby bangs?"

"She's a WHOO-OAR."

I'm gonna die if Brennan make than woman an actual succubus because of an offhanded comment.

My favorite thing is when Emily is saying some nonsense and she can barely even get through it without breaking. Also, Murph is so visibly amused by Emily's entire intro. It's great.

I love that both of the "normal" characters spent most of this episode intoxicated in one way or another.

So Emily absolutely won the episode in my eyes for coming up with one of the sickest burns I've heard and in real time. A dude tells her to read his dick and she, after only a momentary pause, says, "No I'm not gonna read your dick (beat) because I don't read short stories!" Brennan doesn't even make her roll. He just narrates her success. The table goes wild. The bar she's at goes wild. Zac specifically is cracking up. Like, I feel like this is gonna be a little bit of a deep cut reference but did any of you ever play the Monkey Island games and do the insult swordfighting? That's what that scene was. Amazing.

Murph's, like, entire posture and expression (@ 1:24ish) when Emily is saying Sophia thinks she saw a giant rat man who gave her an egg sandwich and Gatorade is total gold.

"Gotta kill some brain cells to kill the ones with the memory of Dale in them."

OK so funny story (funny to me at least) at the Fantasy High live show, I was talking to some other girls who were there and we ended up talking about how the small of a woman's back is basically the worst place you can casually touch them outside of the really bad places and how viscerally terrible it is so when Brennan said one of the trolls touched one of the girls there and Sophie/Emily was like BIG NOPE, I had a That's So Raven flashback to that conversation immediately.

Emily leaps into action...and rolls a nat 1 to fight a bunch of trolls. She actually does really well in the rest of the fight though so that's good.  

Oh, also Siobhan made everyone dope themed dice boxes!

Ricky

I hope Dimension 20 runs for the next 10 years and I hope Zac plays a good, big, doofus in every single season.

"He's basically like Superman if Superman were Japanese." Love.

Also, I love the distinction that he's 5' 8" but buff.

Ricky surrounded by a raging fire: First of all, that's a cool bear.

I like the way that Brennan skinned the cleric and paladin powers for this game so they're more about values than deities. I was wondering how it was gonna work in this setting and I think this was such a cool way to handle it.  

I really think Brennan has a great handle of presenting certain things in such a way that it's interesting for the players as well as the audience. Like, when Ricky is trying to escape the burning apartment, he puts an obstacle in his way that forces him to use his Paladin powers (to create water specifically). It's not really a hard "puzzle" or something he has to roll for, but it introduces to the audiences that he's not just a firefighter. I just think it's really cool that he's able to pull off narrative things like that without actually controlling the characters. (And, props to the players too, of course, for being so consistently entertaining).

"Mr. March."

Ricky in the middle of the winter: I'm not as tan as I used to be.

Ricky rooftop runs like a freaking superhero.

OK, this is barely related to what I'm talking about right now but it's important to me that you all know this. I commented in an earlier post that Ricky clearly had circus music playing in his head at all times and then I was like, "Hmm, I wonder what that one circus song is called." You know, the song that you think about immediately when you hear the phrase "circus music" so I looked it up and APPARENTLY it is a CZECH MILITARY MARCH known alternately as (brace yourselves) ENTRY OF THE GLADIATORS and THUNDER AND BLAZES. I kid you not. That's actually what that song is called. I called my brother and told him immediately. OK, back on topic.

Is a questing blade a thing? I feel like it's a Thing from legend or fairy tales or something but, when I Google it, I come up with basically nothing.

Does Ricky have a thing for Esther or is he just a super awkward texter and nice guy who does not want to be set up by his sister for a different reason?

I need Brennan to explain how the Santa Question works in this world. The question being, "Why don't parents freak about the gifts they're not buying?" and, side question, "Why don't poor kids get presents?" My go-to answers are always, "He Jedi Mind Tricks into thinking they bought them," and, "He has to work within each family's socio-economic means in order to not be obvious." So there are def plausible answers. But, like, this is something I like to see addressed when we're doing the "Santa is real," thing.  

"I grew up with twins and one of them was worse than the others so that makes sense."

"Is Santa good?"/"The ethics of it are alarming, I won't lie."

So, my paranoid thought for this episode is I'm a little Concerned that someone down the line (maybe Esther, but hopefully not) is going to take advantage of Ricky's Big Dumb energy and his "It's the right thing to do," mentality and manipulate him into doing something Not Great. Like, it's not based on anything besides mainlining a ton of media over the past 24 years but I'm just gonna keep an eye out.

Re the Santa/Peppermint Zombification: Hey Brennan, turn your location on. I just wanna talk.

I have to say, from the bottom of my heart, what the hell?

That creeped me out in the same way that episode of Adventure time where Princess Bubblegum (infused with the primal elemental candy energy or whatever) turned everyone into Candy people and everyone started singing Let Me Call You Sweetheart. What a weirdly specific body horror thing for me to encounter more than once. That one peppermint tooth thing is gonna haunt me. 

Kingston

I gotta say, props to Lou for pulling a complete 180 on the kind of character he picked this time around. He went from playing this super extra rich pretty boy to this salt of the Earth quasi patriarch and he's just as comfortable with it. Kingston is so real. I went to church with like 50 guys like him back home.

Why are you fighting so hard about free food Kingston? Take the free homecooked food Kingston!

The intensity of his, "I will be here until I die," was hysterical.

Mentioned this before but I love the flavoring of the cleric class where instead of being attuned to a deity Kingston is basically attuned to the entire city. Also, the perks are excellent. Bus service anywhere for free. Sign me up.

I like that Ricky's sister works at the hospital. It's a really cool potential connection for later.

"We're gonna take the thing outchyo butt. We're not gonna deny you medical services."

"Aint nothing wrong with being a freak." --Kingston Brown

Fantasy creatures having to deal with updated tech (like the Toll bridge trolls talking about EZ-passes) is one of my fave urban fantasy tropes.

"I've got a really sweet smelling man here!"

"Yeah, my tooth fell out and now it's a candy. Hey, how much is this gonna cost?" This is what I’m talking about. Priorities my dude.

I love that Kingston knows Pete's weird mob doctor. It seems like part of his deal is that he just knows everything about everyone in the city (within whatever parameters).

Pete says, in quick succession about Ricky, "I feel like he would bully me," and, "He seems like a golden retriever," which I feel are almost mutually exclusive statements.

Kugrash

Well, I asked what kind of druid nonsense was happening in Central Park and the answer is Murph apparently.

I really wish I could have been there when Murph announced he wanted to play a literal rat.

"I am the shit that feeds the flies. A dumpster druid."

"Wherever you are rat Jesus, I love you." You're killing me Brennan.

Aww Kugrash goes around feeding the homeless and stuff. He's like this grumpy ass rat man who really cares about the community.

"Santa you fucking bum." --Kugrash

"I'm sorry are you a rat?"

The idea of a roach with a hobo sack pisses me off because it's adorable but roaches are the worst.

"Is Santa dead?"/"I don't know. I'm not religious."

"Santa Claus is real and he's DEAD."

Brennan loves to use the modifiers "full" and "fully" and I have picked it up irl and in my writing.

"Let's get a little fucked up and go see if Santa's dead!"

Just that whole squirrel interaction.

The sixth borough huh? Interesting. I see you Brennan.

Also, the detail that Kug's clothes are made from old MTA vests is great.

Misty

Siobahn is playing basically exactly the character I thought she'd be playing but she's doing it so much better and more extra than I could have imagined.

"A lady would never say her age, so I won't."

Is her pianist magic or something too? I have my suspicions.

So Misty gets some kind of bard and/or fairy high from praise and adoration which is interesting.

What kind of weird, morally dubious and/or unpleasant fae thing is Misty gonna have to do soonish? It's not gonna be good. Fae stuff never is.

DON CONFETTI

"I don't study magic. I just *am* magic."

So many of these intro vignettes end with, "You don't know that...but you do know who does." Like I said before, I really love the weaving together of all the story threads to get everyone in the same place at the same time in an organic feeling way.

Also he makes all these transitions sound cinematic, like he's writing the description parts of a movie script and not narrating in person.

Public Library! I knew we'd end up here eventually but I didn't know it'd be pretty much immediately. Like, if you're going w/ the "NY is magic" premise, the library has to figure in, you know?

Emily immediately having Sophia recognize Ricky as Mr. March was such a funny and on point character decision. I love how one-off, spur of the moment lines end up being running jokes because other players pick on them and drop them an hour later.

"Are you a rat?"/"Yeah, I'm a rat man!"/"I'm sorry if that was rude."

Brennan: The lions are alive and they're boyfriends.

Misty and Siobhan both are genre savvy enough to want to nip a knights/knave door puzzle situation in the bud.

Ricky on escape rooms: I'm not very good at them but I can definitely try my hardest. (Guys, I love him so much.)

Love me some MC Escher steps.

Underrated Misty line: It's all infernal to me.

Misty's little, "Ugh" at learning they have to go to Times Square is the real NY experience.

Is this Alejandro dude gonna die? What's the over under on this dude eating it very soon?

Misty encouraging Pete to shoot Alejandro is so needlessly chaotic which is a common fae trait and I really hope this escalates.

I dunno what Murph rolled for initiative but he looks like he just shamed his entire family line.

And we’re fighting an army of crazed Santa clones next week! We have literally just started and we are already fully off the rails.  I cannot *wait* to see where we go from here if this is the *starting point*.