#and yet also the magic of it all is that my mind was racing during the concert putting the pieces together

[planchettewrites]

See You in September

Prince Malleus Draconia (Twisted Wonderland)/GN!Reader

DESCRIPTION: Prince Malleus Draconia thinks of only one person during his lonesome summer vacation: the Housewarden of Ramshackle.

CONTENT: Slight possessive behavior (very little), pining, slight reader description (very general desc.)

A/N: Oh, how I love 50's love songs! This song was inspired by "See You in September" by The Tempos. My last TWST fic was a hit, so I figured I'd write another. I hope you enjoy it; I had plenty of fun writing this.

1.1k words | Safe!

Prince Malleus Draconia looked outside his window in the Briar Valley Royal Palace. As his grandmother ruled the nation, his mind was clouded with thoughts of only one person: the Housewarden of Ramshackle. 

He wondered what you were up to, who you were with. Were you staying at the College with that dire beast, or maybe with one of your friends at their home? The Prince wishes he knew. He thought of your hair, how it frames your face and your effervescent smile. He considered how your kindness has shaped the school into a better and safer environment. He thought of your gentle humanness. He almost had no way to put it—being human was different from being fae. Yet, your humanness made you shine. It’s like how Silver’s humanity made him who he was, but for you, you were a different kind of human. You weren’t from Twisted Wonderland. Your humanness didn’t make you inherently magical in the sense that you could use magic, but it made you magical in the sense that your presence was magnetic.

Something about you stirred something in him. You made his heart beat faster and his breath hitch. You made his cheeks flush and made his mind race. At first, Malleus thought that you had cast a spell on him, but after talking with Lilia, the type of spell you cast was purely chemical. It was something that transcended all known logic. He was infatuated with you. Dare he say he was in love with you? 

He wondered if you thought of him the way he thought of you. He had given you a letter encouraging you to write to him, and if he was honest with himself, he was really, really hoping you’d write him back. He wanted to hear all about your summer. He wanted to know how you were spending your days and who you were spending them with. As much as he wished you were kept company, he also hoped it wasn’t just the ghosts and the meddlesome direbeast. If he indeed had its way, you would spend your summer here in Briar Valley, where it was relatively temperate. He knew Ramshackle’s air was something to be desired, so he had hoped you weren’t in discomfort with the weather. 

But what if you were with someone? What would you be doing with them? Malleus did not know what most “average” teenagers did. Most of the students of Diasomnia were far from average. Most were fae who lived in Briar Valley, and a good came from the nobility or were the children of members of parliament. He had heard some students in other dorms talk about their summer plans as he prepared to transport back to Briar Valley, and those plans involved places like beaches and vacations to lands they’d never been to. Is that what average teenagers do? To his knowledge, average teenagers did not sit in their castles and ponder what their object of affection was doing. 

He still remembers seeing you moments before the mirror and how rushed you seemed to see him. 

“Malleus!” you called, rushing over to the Mirror Room. 

“Yes, Child of Man?” he responded, a smile growing. Malleus had to admit he was excited to see you. He would have to go three whole months without seeing you—and although that was the blink of an eye for fae, it suddenly felt like a relatively long period of time. 

It was then a loud voice came from behind him. “Lord Malleus! You shan’t let his human address you without your royal title!” Sebek Zigvolt boomed. 

“Nonsense,” Malleus chided. “They are a friend, Sebek; they can address me however they see fit.”

Sebek huffed, gathering the rest of the luggage, and wandered off to find Silver and Lilia Vanrouge. Meanwhile, you skittered up to Malleus. 

“Oh, Child of Man, I have something for you.” Malleus dug into his breast pocket and found what he was looking for: a brilliant ivory letter. He handed it to you with a smile. “Read this when you have the time.”

You returned his smile. “Thank you so much, Malleus.”

“Now, what did you rush over here to tell me? What matter of tale will you weave for me today?” The Prince asked, his curiosity now piqued. 

“I wanted to wish you a good summer vacation, and I can’t wait to see you soon.” you got on your tippy-toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I’ll see you soon, Malleus!” Within seconds, you scurried away back to Ramshackle. 

For the first time in his life, the Prince was stunned into silence. However, it was a good kind of stunned. The type of stunned someone is when they receive a surprise present or when an old friend comes over without an invitation. Your ability to stupefy the Prince was astounding. 

Malleus touched his cheek, recounting the memory with a smile. It was like he could almost feel the kiss you placed. The more he thought about it, he loathed his royal duties. Must he be kept cooped up in a castle with nothing to do? It wasn’t often he was invited to the senate, nor was he invited to the gatherings the townsfolk held, so there he sat. Alone. 

His mind wandered back to something Lilia had said right after he had witnessed the small act of affection. Lilia said, “It seems the human returns your feeling, Lord Malleus.” Hopefully, you did. If you returned his affections, he would court you immediately. There was no purpose in not. He would make you his own for the rest of your life. The adjustment would be hard, but you had adjusted to Twisted Wonderland with relative ease, and he hoped that the same attitude you held adjusting to your school life would be the same as how you’d adjust to your life as a royal. 

How Malleus started counting the minutes and hours until he could see you again. Would he see you when school came back in session? His worst fear would be realized if Headmage Crowley had found a way to send you home. No, he wouldn’t allow you to go home to your world. He would do the entirely un-princely behavior of groveling on his knees and beg you to stay in this world. Malleus could already see poor Sebek attempting to pull Malleus to his feet, but when it came to his love, any groveling was a plausible behavior. 

Or worse, could he lose you to a summer love? There is danger in the summer moon above, and Malleus couldn’t stand to lose you to someone else. Who could it possibly be that he could lose you to? Would it be one of your underclassmen or maybe one of his fellow upperclassmen? Or what if it was a random civilian? Malleus wasn’t sure he could live with either option. He was barely half alive in his struggle to survive without you around him. 

For now, there was nothing he could do. He could only pray to the Great Seven that he would see you in September. 

[merakiui]

bestie!vil who casually fixes your boobs in your bra for you, no he did not just tweak your nipple, do you think he's one of those desperate dogs you spend so much time with? He also calls you out on your posture and says it comes from the pelvis, he knows a few massages and stretches if you're interested. You want to try on his lipstick shade? Well, he doesn't want to contaminate the entire tube so...mwah! What? It's not like it meant anything, you're best friends after all.

One of the girls!Cater who walks around in his boxer-briefs during a sleepover or before bed. When you wake up he's always cuddled up to your back, morning wood grinding into you but he needs his cuddles, dont neglect him! Also he saw the prettiest thongs at VS, and since a few of yours went missing, you should totes go buy some new ones. Cater thinks you're soooo cute first thing in the morning, too sleepy and tired to realize that he slid his underwear down and has been leaking all over the back of your tanktop the entire time :(

-👠 anon (i think tumblrs been eating my asks D:)

OTL sitting in best friend Vil's lap while he does your makeup... there's nothing to it! Just two besties giving each other makeovers. If you feel something prodding at your ass every time you shift on his lap, pay it no mind. And if Vil grabs your hips and forces you still, don't worry about that either. If you keep moving so much, he'll mess up your eyeliner! You don't want that, do you?

AND CAY-CAY WITH MORNING WOOD AAAAAAAA. It's still so early and you're much too sleepy to realize his dick is between your thighs and he's been slowly and carefully rutting into you every now and then. Quite literally fucks you back to sleep. <3 just let your bestie cuddle with you a little longer. It's so warm and cozy, and he's massaging your hip so sweetly. You doze off within seconds, leaving Cater with enough time to reach his climax and clean you up before you're waking another hour later.

Being besties with Idia and the two of you watch hentai together and rank the ahegao of every character. >:D the tier list is coming along nicely. You're lying on your stomach on his bed while he's gaming, and it hasn't yet occurred to Idia that this entire time he's been hanging out weekly with a girl. But then he starts thinking deeply about it and suddenly his mind is racing with thoughts. orz

Besties with Ace and Deuce, who have slept over so many times that at this point Ramshackle is like a second home to them. They know where you keep everything. Where all of the snacks are hidden from Grim. Which drawers hold your clothes and, most importantly, undergarments. Ace is probably so sneaky and nosy that he goes so far as trying to sniff out if you've got any sex toys hidden somewhere. Deuce is curious, but he has to be nice and respectful of your space like a good best friend. He's only following Ace to make sure he doesn't do anything weird while you're washing up in the bathroom. It's not so he can also learn the location of these toys and compare his size to the size of the dildos. T_T

Being besties with Azul and he's managed to become so comfortable around you that he allows you to relax in the pool with him while he's busy multitasking with all eight of his tentacles. You're happily swimming laps and trying (and failing) to get him to take a break and join you. He keeps you at a distance with one tentacle, pushing you away and claiming, "Not now. This is very important and requires all of my focus." You pout and whine. Maybe he entertains you with that same tentacle, playfully poking and prodding at you while his eyes remain glued to the (magically waterproof) contract he's reviewing. He knows exactly what he's doing when he "accidentally" manhandles you with his tentacle, so much so that your swimsuit top comes untied. Oh dear. Would you look at that? It's come off. <3

[cheezbites]

Dating Ghost

✎: I wrote this very late at night (4:38 am) or very early in the morning - when I was motivated by the sheer amount of notifications from my inbox, ty all sm for the love and support💕!!

♡Summary: Head cannons of dating Ghost <3

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚　　˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

Bf!Ghost has always been a black tea person, either he drank it alongside his breakfast or to calm him down on a rainy day. You were a coffee girl, you would go all out making them - milk, hazelnut syrups, whipped creams… You name it. And from this, another one of your childish inside jokes was born. You were conveniently in the kitchen at the same time as him, making your morning beverages.

“Hm,” you silently thought to yourself, contemplating if your idea was rational enough to act through with.

“Hmmmmm,” he jokingly imitated you, wondering what was on your mind.

You got a separate cup and mixed some of his tea with your coffee. You took the first sip and scorned your face at the unfamiliar yet vaguely distinguishable taste.

Soon he followed, not seeming to be too fond of it at first yet still drinking every last bit.

“Not too bad,” he silently muttered.

And every time you guys were in the kitchen making your daily beverages, the ‘CoTea’ (Coffee and Tea) inside joke was repeatedly brought up.

Bf!Ghost heard a sudden shriek from your bedroom, causing his heart to sink. His thoughts raced faster than the speed of how fast he was approaching your room, desperate to know what it was. What if it was an invader? He wouldn’t be able to live knowing that he wasn’t fast enough to save you from a serious threat, he’d hate himself and feel guilty every single day.

His breathing pattern returned to normal as he sighed in relief when he realised that it was just a spider on your bedroom wall.

“Shit,”

“It’s going to kill me!” You sputtered inattentively as you backed away as far as possible from the ‘murderous pest.’

He stacked a mount of tissues in his hand and effortlessly scooped it up, crushed it into remains of spider limbs and a brown fluid before tossing it in the bin. Shooting you a look that you swore said: ‘Seriously? All that commotion over that?”

“My saviour,” you quipped as you ran up to him and braced him in a tight hug.

Bf!Ghost was used to receiving the “Your eyelashes are so long!” ‘compliment’ from people, mainly from you. It always confused him as to why you pointed it out - maybe it was just a ‘girl thing’ he didn’t understand.

Bf!Ghost was sleep-deprived, sick and unwillingly glued to his bed after days of working, so you took care of him. (At night, when he was complaining about being too cold, you snuggled up next to him and fell asleep in his arms. Maybe he was faking it as an excuse to cuddle you, maybe…) You knew he had an energy drink addiction and some bad eating habits. Since quality meals require time, you poured that time into cooking for him. His gratitude toward you was beyond words, appreciating the care and effort you put into taking care of him. Your cooking not only filled his stomach but also warmed his heart, making every bite a taste of your love.

Bf!Ghost worked out often; so did you. You enjoyed each other's company at the gym, immersing yourselves in the shared playlist and the post-workout rush. His concern for you couldn't be contained. During some weekly sessions, he taught you self-defence techniques, a thoughtful gesture for times he couldn't be by your side.

Bf!Ghost loved making you say ‘please’, even after the smallest of favours. You tried to open your water bottle, but the lid seemed super glued on, you tried repeatedly but your attempts were in vain. You asked him to help you, forgetting one thing:

“Want me to feed you the water as well?” He sarcastically quipped with a shit-eating grin.

“Oh come on babe,”

“And what’s the magic word?” He asked expectedly.

“Please,” you stretched out your ‘please’ jokingly for the sole purpose of teasing him.

He seamlessly removed the lid which astonished you before handing you your water bottle. After all that effort and failed attempts, he made it look so easy.

Bf!Ghost Loathed being away from you; and you felt the exact same way. When he needed to leave or when you were gone, he would try to do things that reminded him of you. When you were teaching him how to cook your signature meals in the kitchen, he was picking up rapidly, improving and learning - soon enough he surpassed you in culinary skills. He remade your recipes to remind himself of you when you weren’t there, and you ‘borrowed’ a few of his hoodies, which were pleasantly engulfed in his scent.

Bf!Ghost Noticed you fell asleep during the horror movie you watched, the last thing he wanted to do was startle you or wake you up. He turned off the TV before heading to your room and placing your favourite blanket over you. He kissed your cheek gently and muttered a silent, “I love you.” Before calling it a night.

Bf!Ghost left wholesome notes for you to discover around the house; the messages were cheesy in the cutest way possible. Either him making you food after a long day of work and leaving it for you in the fridge with a brief note next to it, or a corny compliment stuck on the bathroom mirror for only you to see. It would be something along the lines of:

“Start your day off with a smile love, like the one you never fail to give me♡” (And I feel like this dude would have very messy handwriting, but when writing these notes he tried his best).

Bf!Ghost made most of the decisions in the relationship, you were very indecisive. This is probably the only thing he mildly dislikes about you - you were going through the trials and tribulations of a lifetime over picking between KFC and McDonald’s, you were persistent about what to order too, so he recommended stuff to you or sometimes ordered for you.

(I just know if you both got drinks, he specifically requested only one straw so you guys could share it).

Bf!Ghost was the “‘Scuse me, she asked for no pickles,” boyfriend, who would secure you a refund and a newly made burger, (mainly due to how intimating he gets at times).

You thoroughly enjoyed him looking out for you, though, knowing that he cared that much about you made your heart flutter only from thinking about it.

PART TWO IS OUT!!! <3

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥—————————

König Version

Price Version

Gaz Version

Soap Version

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥—————————

Masterlist

[ashensgrotto]

Poor Unfortunate Souls (Part 1)

Characters: Azul Ashengrotto x Reader

Word Count: 7,398

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3a (You are Here) Part 3b

Per request from @twistedcece and @mermaidfan76 , I finished the third part to my Yandere Soulmate AU - yes, I have officially given it a name now. I think I might do a piece per each of the books in Twst - but I haven’t made any solid decisions yet.

Also - due to this being the third part, hence Octavinelle’s chapter in the game, this next part is going to be divided into two parts. The main reason is because there is a bit that happens and I want to make sure that I take my time with writing everything out for it, never mind that I am covering two overblots - Leona’s and Azul’s - in this section. I am also planning on revisiting part 2 and fixing that up a bit more - and I’ll post an update when that happens.

Now, fair warning, although this is likely not going to be graphic, it does show more of the possessive/obsessive behaviors that yandere characters are known for as well as the underlying threatening behaviors they can exhibit as well. I do not agree with these behaviors that are as follows, but I’m covering my basics.

Every single day

And every word you say

Every game you play

Every night you stay

I’ll be watching you

***

Eyes of pale blue watched from the shadows of the infirmary as their owner kept their gaze fixed on the form of (Y/N). Normally, your delectable skin was smooth and soft - without a flaw in sight; now, bruises and cuts covered every inch of your form - though the blood had been cleaned away and your body had been covered by bandages and medication. You were still healing from the attack by the three Savanaclaw students, but several more injuries had been imprinted upon you.

Another overblot, another battle… another loss.

Leona’s power-hungry drive to prove that Malleus Draconia wasn’t invincible during the spelldrive tournament had back-fired horribly. The students of Heartslabyul as well as the vice-warden of Diasomia and a freshman of Savanaclaw had snuffed out the headwarden's plot before it could take root - halting it before any serious damage could be done. With the plan foiled and the dorm now turning on him, Leona's anger and jealousy had begun to overtake him. 

Azul and several other dorm leaders and their students had looked on as the air became dry, making it difficult to breathe. A creature that took on the monstrous form of a lion had come after all of them - all done with Leona’s powerful magic. It was lucky that Deuce, Ace, Trey, and Cater had been there - as well as Riddle. The five had experienced an overblot before and were the ones that would try to hold Leona back - to snap him out of it. The fool girl that you were, the one that Azul was head over heels in love with, raced from the safe confines of the colosseum, the octomer shouting after you, telling you to stay by his side - it was too dangerous.

You ignored Azul’s cries as you raced to the front lines, your (h/c) blowing in the wind as your eyes squinted against the onslaught of sand that had taken to the skies. As you had done with Riddle, while Leona was distracted, you slapped the headwarden of Savanaclaw across the face. Leona had turned his attention to you as you shouted at him - claiming that you understood what it was like to be "second best," how no matter how hard you tried there was always going to be someone better than you. All watched as the magicless guest of Octavinelle stared hard into the overbloted student's eyes, the eyes of a corrupted prince.

"I feel your pain, I feel your sorrow," you simply said, "and you have forgotten yourself, Leona - you have to remember who your friends are and what it is you fight for. You are more than what you have become. Please - remember who you were, who you will be… who you are."

Azul's eyes widened as the sound of shattering glass echoed across the playing field, Leona slumping forward as the dark creature behind him faded into dust. You, as difficult as it was due to your previous injuries, knelt on the ground beside Leona as the members of Savanaclaw came forward to help the headwarden to his feet - all traces of his blot completely gone. 

Everything had been a haze for Azul following that. He couldn't believe you - his soulmate, keeper of his heart - had deliberately disobeyed him. He told you that the world of Twisted Wonderland was far too dangerous for someone like you, and yet you continuously put yourself in harm's way. What would happen if you got yourself killed? Injuries could heal and scars would remain, but if an overblot happened again and wouldn't reason with you like Riddle and Leona had done? Azul wouldn’t know what to do if he lost you - he would go mad without you.

Something had to be done.

Azul shifted in his chair before he felt the presence of two others. He looked to see a twin set of heterochromia eyes glowing in the dark.

"Jade. Floyd."

The twins appeared beside Azul, Jade on his right, Floyd on his left.

"I assume you've brought what I requested."

"Indeed, several poor unfortunate souls are in dire need of assistance with this year's exams coming up," the older of the two smiled.

"And you might like specifically who signed up for a meeting with you," the other snickered, his sharp teeth baring in the darkness.

Azul took the paperwork from Floyd and shifted through it, one brow arching as he read off the names in his head… only stopping on three names in particular.

"Hehe… it would seem that (Y/N)'s closest friends have their own dirty little secrets," Azul smiled, handing the paperwork back to Floyd, "Excellent work, you two. With this knowledge, I might be able to actually give her a reason to despise them - they won't tell her about our little arrangement anyways, thinking they'll be able to beat my game. How many students have signed up so far?"

"A little over two hundred - all houses and ranges of classes," Jade answered.

"Perfect, continue bringing them in," Azul answered, "I want the headmage to get the message that it's us who run the school, not him - the poor fool. And I have the perfect idea in mind on how to persuade him."

The twins grinned in agreement, Jade asking, "And what of your little mermaid princess?"

"I'll handle her - poor dear will be distraught, but it will work in my favor," Azul smiled wickedly, "Oh, and make sure to keep her in the dark if she asks about this - the other members of the dorm know not to get involved in our affairs; especially after how I took care of the last headwarden."

The tweels needed no further explanation as they nodded, bowed, and disappeared into the darkness again to fulfill Azul’s orders.

Azul stood and walked to your bedside, resting a gloved hand on top of yours, reaching down to kiss your forehead, "Please forgive me - but what I am going to do is only for your own good."

***

You tucked a tray under your arm as you finished gathering the last of the dishes before heading out to the lounge area.

Today seemed awfully quiet with only a few students of the dorm working today - however, there were talks about new staff members joining that had been floating around, peaking your interest. You also noticed how in the next few weeks, your schedule to work in the lounge had decreased even further - making you wonder how you were ever going to pay for the rent in the dorm, which was not cheap. You had some pay still saved up, but you still needed to eat and launder your borrowed clothing, which was also expensive. You looked up, and saw Azul standing with Jade and Floyd on the steps that lead to the entrance of the Mostro Lounge - perhaps you could discuss the issue with them.

You head over as Azul’s gaze shifts from the twins to you, his signature smile greeting you, “(Y/N). How is everything going? You look much better than a few weeks ago.”

“Thanks to your help and consistent assistance,” you smile with a nod of thanks.

“Of course, my dear,” Azul smiled as he approached, resting a hand on your shoulder, “The headmage entrusted me with your safety, after all… until I can find a way home for you of course.”

“Speaking of which,” you say, “have you found a way? It’s been about a month and a half, almost two, since I came here.”

“I’m afraid you have to give me time, angelfish,” Azul answered, “You can’t get something for nothing, you know.”

You nod in understanding, “And, I wanted to ask - my hours at the lounge have been greatly reduced and I was wondering why.”

The twins grinned wickedly, making you shiver a bit at their smiles as Azul came around you, his arm holding you close to his side as the long overcoat of his dorm uniform draped around the two of you, “Why, angelfish - it’s primarily because we’re adding a few new faces to the family, of course! A few boys owe me for using a specialty study guide I created for them that guaranteed a passing grade for the exams that took place earlier this week.”

“It’s that… cheating?” you asked.

“It’s a fine gray area,” Azul answered, “The questions on the exams have been the same for decades - a few minor changes here and there, but nothing worth losing a night of sleep over. I get the answers in a legitimate way and create the guides for students to use at their discretion. In order to get those guides, however, they have to be willing to pay the price if they fail to meet my expectations.”

“Which is what?”

Azul smiled, raising his cane with the pale lavender colored magestone within, “Well, those that fail to make it into the top fifty, of course! But, let me give you an idea of how many and who exactly would take the bait and wriggle like worms on hooks.”

The magestone began to glow and soon you heard shouting and scraping noises out in the hall before bodies of students were pulled into the entryway of the lounge before yourself, Azul, and the twins. There were roughly two hundred, if not more; over half of them were freshmen in the dorms of Savanaclaw, Scarabia, and Ignihyde while several others bore the crests of Pompfiore, Heartslabyul, and Diasomia, several others you recognized as sophomores like Azul, Jade, and Floyd, and there was only a handful of juniors among the crowd. On each student’s head was a sea anemone - teal at the base and purple on the top that waved and wiggled as if being controlled, and very likely was by Azul’s magestone. Several of the students began shouting and arguing, only stopping with a snap of Azul’s fingers, which caused the sea anemones to knock everyone’s heads together.

“Well, well, what have we here? A band of misfortune souls who failed to break into the top fifty?” Azul smirked, “Welcome to Mostro Lounge. I’m sure you’re all WELL aware of who I am, but let’s go over it anyway. My name is Azul Ashengrotto - I am the housewarden of Octavinelle dorm, the manager of the Mostro Lounge cafe, and, as of today… you have to listen to everything I say.”

“You each made a bet with me and lost,” Azul continued, “As per the terms of our contract, you are to devote yourselves to my service until such a time you graduate.”

“Hold it! This is all a huge scam!” a familiar voice called out.

“Ace?!” you asked, eyes widening, “What are you doing here?!”

 “Ace Trappola,” Azul narrowed his eyes on the red head, "a freshman, if memory serves correctly, and a friend of (Y/N). Your accusations are insulting, quite frankly. I upheld my end of the bargain and provided you with a flawless study guide for your exams. If you had used them properly, you should have scored at least a ninety."

"Yeah, I did," Ace growled, "I got a ninety-two. But you never told me you'd given the same study guides to this many people!"

"Ace is right!" Deuce’s voice called out from the crowd as voices murmured amongst each other, "No study guide could help us break into the top fifty with the deck this stacked!"

"When everyone scorin' over ninety, even with my eighty-five, my spot in the rankings is no different than when I was failin'!" Grim groaned.

"Have you boys never heard of client confidentiality?" Azul asked, crossing his arms over his chest, "All of you fools - I mean, gentlemen - all had your own reasons for seeking out my help. Details who made a contract with me, what kind of contract it was, and why it was made… Well, that's privileged data. Who am I to divulge someone's personal information to a third party? I am a man of integrity, thank you very much."

"Azul, please reconsider," you whispered softly, "These are student's lives you're playing with. They had to pay you for the contract, why do they have to suffer the consequences for failing to meet your end of the deal when they had no idea how difficult it actually would be?"

"My dear sweet child," Azul looked down at you, speaking in a condescending tone that you did not recognize at all, "All of these poor unfortunate souls had their chance to make it into the top fifty for their classes. They failed and failed miserably. Some were close, I have to give credit where credit is due after all, but they missed the mark by a mile."

"Azul, please," you say again, "Please let them go."

Azul's eyes sparkled then as a smile spread across his face, his teeth becoming bare as well as his gums - looking more like a predator by the minute.

"Well, I always was a man with an eye for a bargain," Azul answered, "After all, you would do anything for your three friends here, if I am correct?"

You shift your gaze from Azul to Ace, Deuce, and Grim as the crowd looks on, each of the students holding their breath in anticipation. You looked back at your employer and nodded.

Azul shook his head, clicking his tongue before turning toward Jade and Floyd, "Get our newest recruits working - we have a full night ahead of us. In the meantime," he wrapped his arm around you, "I have some business to discuss."

***

You perched on the sofa in Azul’s office as the headwarden pulled one of his golden contracts out of the vault, holding it up for you to inspect. 

"(Y/N), this is the initial contract that you signed with me when you began," Azul spoke, handing the contract for you to inspect, "Per the terms your agreement, I will allow you to work and live within Octavinelle until such a time comes that I find a way for you to return home. Your payment to me, as you have nothing to give, would be any pay you earned within the lounge - I have allowed you to keep any tips left behind and some of the paychecks due to your want for independence. Now, that display you showed for those fools in the lounge has made me… want to reconsider my actions."

You look up from the contract, still begging, "I said I would do anything if you would release them."

"And I will accept that, however," Azul's face turned dark as a wicked smile spread across his face, "would you be willing to accept the price and the deal I have in mind?"

He pulled out another contract, this one blank, and as he spoke, his words spread on the page as if he were writing them himself.

"The deal I have for you is simple: in exchange for the freedom of all of those who signed my contracts for the study guides this term - including the names of Ace Trappola, Deuce Spade, and Grim - you, (Y/N) (L/N), will belong solely to me. Your body, your mind… your everything. You will remain by my side until the end of your natural born life."

You look up at him, your eyes widening in realization, "Azul - this is a marriage contract."

"I would prefer 'engagement', but marriage also works," Azul answered.

"Azul! That's not fair!"

"You're right, it isn't," Azul set the contract down on the table and knelt before you, grasping your hands in his, holding them tightly, "It's not fair for me to give up two hundred souls who signed away knowing what the repercussions would be if they failed my bet. However, I'm willing to do it for you, (Y/N). I would do anything for you. And do you know why?"

When you shake your head in a negative, Azul smiles at you fondly, "It's because I love you, (Y/N). I have searched my whole life for you - looking in every corner of Twisted Wonderland to find you. And when you appeared in the mirror chamber, lost and distressed, I wanted nothing more than to hold you close and I vowed then and there I would do everything in my power to keep you safe. You are… my soulmate. My match."

"Azul, we're… that's crazy!"

"You might think so now, but in time you'll understand, I promise," Azul kept his grip tight on your hands as he stroked your hair away from your face, "Now, about that contract -"

"Forget it. I won't do it."

"But your friends, (Y/N)? You said you would do anything for them. Was that a lie?"

"N-No, but…"

"Well, then, since we seem to be in agreement…" Azul placed the contract before you, spinning his cane around before it transformed into his fishbone pen and offered it to you, "Take a gulp, take a breath, go ahead and sign the scroll."

You hesitantly took the pen and closed your eyes as your name was spread across the dotted line.

As soon as your name was completed, Azul snatched the contract up and smiled, "It's a Deal!"

A glow came from the contract before the light enveloped you yourself, a bubble appearing around you and sealing you off from the world. You slammed your fists against it, shouting at Azul to release you.

"Payment for the deal is needed, angelfish," Azul smiled, "Like I said before - you can't get something for nothing. So, I'm going to take something so trivial you will never even miss it… your legs."

You stop for a moment, fear running through you like a cold shower as you whisper, "My legs?"

"You got it, sweet cheeks," Azul smiled, turning his attention toward you, "I need to keep you nearby at all times - and the thing that separates us is, well, human features. I am by no means human - some have called me a monster because of what I truly am. I was born in the sea, live in the sea… and you will too."

***

Three days had passed by since you had signed on the dotted line… three days since Azul made the announcement that the new recruits were free to leave - all thanks to a selfless individual who would not be named… three days since he took your freedom from you. You hadn’t shown your face to the school nor in the lounge during that time - not that you could - but everyone seemed to get a sense there was something else that now lurked in the large aquariums of the Octavinelle dorm. 

Not that you could blame the guests for being suspicious.

As soon as Azul had told you you would live under the sea, your legs had been swapped out for an ornate fishtail - pale sea green in color with scales of emerald speckled here and there. He kept you confined in the large aquarium that had spread throughout the dorm like a maze, the most open area in the Mostro Lounge. Azul requested that you stay out of sight from the other students, only coming when he called for you - which was often in the evening after everyone had left. When Azul wasn’t around, you were free to do as you wish - which often was raging at him or curled into yourself to try and comfort your poor broken soul. 

You had placed your trust into someone that should never have been trusted in the first place - and you had no one to blame but yourself.

“Well, I guess your herbivores weren’t kidding when they said they suspected something happened to our guest.”

You whipped your head around to see Leona and Riddle looking at you from behind the glass of the large aquarium.

“T-this… THIS IS INHUMANE!!” Riddle looked like he was about to blow a gasket again.

“Riddle? Leona?” you asked, coming forward and resting your hands against the glass, “What are you doing here?”

“I’ll ask the questions,” Riddle shouted, “What in the sevens’ names are you doing in there?!”

“Keep your voice lowered!” you hush, “If he finds out you saw me…”

 “Who?” Leona asked.

You look down, biting your lip.

Leona crossed his arms over his chest and nodded, “I see.”

“What? What is it? Who did this to her?” Riddle asked, “I’ll have their head!”

“Riddle, you’re too quick to jump to conclusions,” Leona turned his attention back to you, “I am assuming this has something to do when several of my dorm members were pulled into Octavinelle a few days ago - as well as some of members from the other dorms, mainly those three idiots you hang around with.”

“What? Deuce and Ace were pulled in here? What for?” Riddle asked.

Leona looked between Riddle and you before explaining, “Deuce, Ace, and the little demon came to me, asking for my help - said that they made an issue and that our magicless guest was in trouble. At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but now that I’m seeing it…”

“It’s true,” you answered.

Riddle was still a bit lost, “Who did this to her, Leona?”

“Azul.”

“What? Why?” Riddle asked.

“You humans wouldn’t understand what most of us beastmen, fae, and merfolk often experience as children,” Leona answered, “However, I believe I know the reason why. Azul believes that our magicless guest here is his soulmate.”

You and Riddle blinked a bit, “Soulmate?”

Leona nodded, “There are often rumors that spread around about the concept of soulmates - how there is one special soul that is unique to one individual. Everyone has a soulmate - whether they are family, friend, or romantic - but they are far and few in between, a rarity. Those of us who are lucky to even encounter our soulmate will often hold onto that person as if our life depends on it - and in this case, Azul is rather possessive of it.”

Your hands slide down the glass, “That’s why… that’s why he…”

Leona nodded, “And I also had a part in it, too, (Y/N). However, we don’t have time to discuss it. We need to figure out a way to fix this.”

“How?” Riddle asked, “It’s not like we can just… confront Azul about it - he’ll deny it, knowing the sneaky student that he is. Rule breaker…”

“I’m assuming he used his unique spell on this one.”

“Yes, ‘It’s a Deal,’” you answered.

Leona thought for a minute before nodding, “I have an idea - usually I’d ask for some sort of payment, but it seems I owe you twice for everything that has happened to you. Consider this a free of charge gift of mine.”

You blink, “What are you going to do?”

Leona smiled, his teeth bared, “I’m going to teach that cephalo-punk a lesson he’ll never forget.”

[blackautmedia]

Tears of the Kingdom and the use of Hands

It's frustrating how well Tears of the Kingdom incorporates repeat imagery of hands in some form. It has a lot of this great concept with it, but never really capitalizes on it or uses it in any thematically interesting way since the storytelling is so underwhelming.

From the start of the game, Link's separation from Zelda shows him reaching out and trying to grab her hand and failing to make contact, a scene that's mirrored at the end of the game when you have a moment to dive after Zelda and make the catch you failed to do at the start. The game makes sure to have a button prompt section specifically for touching her hand.

Link of course loses his arm and gets...magic emergency surgery (the disability lens of how Link is portrayed in Tears is an entirely separate conversation. Hoo wee...) and from the beginning of the game Rauru and Link are bonded together with Rauru's arm fused to Link's body. My issues with the Zonai as a race aside, this is still another part of the motif.

During multiple conversations between Zelda and Queen Sonia during the memories, they deliberately draw attention to having Sonia reach out and hold or touch Zelda's hands to emphasize the sincerity and love she's expressing. Sonia verbalizes the connection she feels not just as family but even notes how she can sense the similarities in Zelda's powers.

Honestly, for all the issues in how underwhelming Totk's storytelling is, I genuinely love these little moments with Sonia. I think they likely did it to get around possible limitations of creating nuanced facial expressions they couldn't capture easily, but I still found it very effective by helping the player relate to the sense of touch.

The completion of each temple is marked with a show of loyalty with the newly awakened sage and some variation of handshake or hand contact.

All of this makes it more of a wasted opportunity that they had a scene where Mineru is touching her late brother's hand for the first time after being in slumber for ages and they do nothing with it. You could have her tense up, maybe have her run both her hands across the top of Link's hand after getting to experience some form of touch from her brother for the first time.

There's also the fact that Mineru and Link both have the unique experience of altering their bodies and selves in service of being kept in slumber for a long period of time to carry out the responsibility of saving the world. Both of them carry the emotional weight of having to leave behind their friends, family, and the world they knew all in service of this grand plan with Zelda behind it all and yet they never capitalize on any of this. Pretty much nobody else can really relate to this situation and it'd make a great storytelling point to focus on her.

Back to the hands though, we all know the most iconic enemy in Tears of the Kingdom are the gloom spawn, which everyone calls the Gloom Hands.

The end of each shrine you're met with a Statue of Sonia and Rauru greeting you with hands held together as they stand as one.

Hands and the constant element of contact to convey significant moments would be effective in a story about community and the connection and strength that comes from cultivating it and organizing. There's also the obvious connection of unity.

TotK kind of have an aspect and theme of community care or try to lean in on that idea, but it's also messy and undermined when taken with *gestures at everything else*

I dunno. I think the repeat imagery of hands is a really thoughtful choice to convey climactic moments of these scenes. I just wish there was more actual meat to the story to give it some weight.

I've considered doing an addendum video to my Gerudo discussion talking about TotK's storytelling and maybe some of the things that come to mind with the portrayal of Ganon and the Zonai, cuz boy do they have some...implications.

[bchanslvr]

hey! can i please request some fluff with harry potter? it can be anything you want! 💘

strawberry shortcake [hp x fem!reader]

word count — 2k (2, 954)

warnings — kissing, anxiety? overal no warnings

summary — you get a bad score and your loving boyfriend comes to the rescue to comfort you.

a/n — thank you for the request!! i couldn't think of an idea so i just came up with one from my own life. basically i had this test that i failed so my math grade from a b to a d.. and so i thought why not just use that and your request to create a fluffy harry x reader where he comforts the reader after a bad grade. i hope you enjoy. also i think i'd like to start writing on here again. and i swear i'll actually do ideas that you guys send me so please send any interesting ideas for me to do. also i tried to check for all grammar errors but im only human after all <3

you felt like your eyes were going to bulge out of your head when you saw your history of magic score. god save me, you thought.

you were stupid. you had a week to study, yet like you always do, you procrastinated and studied for 15 minutes before going to sleep.

and of course the material didn't stick in your head, so you got a poor score on the test. gosh not even poor, it was a tragedy. 13/45? come on. your grade was going to be a disaster. especially so close to break and finals. what were you going to do about it?

your mind was racing a million miles per hour thinking of anything that can help, but you kept running into obstacles.

how about i go during my free time for tutoring? you thought. yes that'll be great! oh wait. i need to go on my plant in herbology. scratch that. how about i beg for a retake? oh who am i kidding? he hates me he'll never let me re-take. maybe i can tell him a sob story, and then he'll have to be sympathetic and help in some way. i know he doesn't do extra credit but-

"hey y/n" harry said walking over to you with his messanger bag in hand.

you stood there frozen for a minute before looking up to say "oh.. hi harry..".

and well, harry could be oblivious sometimes. well, most of the time, but he saw the apathetic look on your face, and he just knew something was wrong. he was smart enough to know he couldn't ask you head on so he said,

"listen, y/n, i see something bothering you, so do you think you would want to go to hosmead after school with me to help you feel better? after all that's what i'm hear for" harry said.

"um... well... i... oh, forget it; yes, I'll come. meet me near the willow tree at 5 and we'll head there. maybe it will clear my mind. thank you again, harry," you said with a wide grin because at least you had someone who cared about you.

"no problem sugar, try to keep your head up till the rest of the day. ill see you later!!" harry said before winking at you and leaving the classroom.

you simply smiled back at him and began packing up your stuff to head out to your next class which was at the oppostie of the end of the school so you had to hurry before you were late.

the rest of the day passed by in such a blur. you didn't pay attention in any of your classes and just sat there in your seat like a statue. you almost ended up falling asleep in charms, but your partner bumped your elbow in time before professor flitchwick came by your seat and harassed you.

you couldn't wait to go to hogsmead with harry. you were having a terrible week, so you really needed this.

so you got to your dorm, did the usual stuff. put away your things, took a long shower, spent more than 10 minutes figuring out what you were going to wear, and just barely ran to the tree on time.

lucky for you, harry was just arriving as well, so you weren't late.

"hi sweetheart! im glad you made it" harry said after giving you a peck kiss on your cheek.

you felt your cheeks heat up, and pshh, whatttt that's just because of how cold it is outside since it's the beginning of november. totally not because of harry's gesture.

you still couldn't believe you scored with the pride of the school. everything that happened between meeting him and dating him was golden. you once believed that love would be black and white, but it's golden.

anyways you need to stop going back to the past and try to stay in the present more.

".. so i was just thinking we'd hit up the leaky cauldron and get a drink and then we can go anywhere you like. like if you have any errands to run. we could do that."

you smiled at him and said, "yes, butterbeer sounds great. "

he smiled back at you and intertwined his fingers with yours.

you tightened your grip on his hand, and smiled to yourself. walking hand in hand to hogsmead.

you guys window shopped until you got to the leaky cauldron. harry being close with the bartender, got to get booth seats and two butterbeers for free cause it was "long over due".

you sat opposite of each other. playing tootsie and giggling at each other's stories about random things like first years.

you stayed there until your drinks were long over, and you guys just talked about whats going on in your lives.

and all too soon it started getting darker, so you had to start leaving. harry gave the bartender a big tip after he once again intertwined his fingers with yours.

you arms swang together as you shuffled closer to stay warm.

kicking the snow on the ground and living carefree.

walking and talking all the way till he reached your dorm door.

 "so.. this is it for today. tomorrow we can go somewhere else, okay? so i guess it's good night love, sleep well-" he started before being interrupted.

"but i want you to stay!" you said, pouting.

"what?" he said, confused.

"yes, harry you heard me, i want you to stay." you said adamentally.

"but what about the enchantments?" he asked.

"oh don't worry hermione got those removed for all of us a long long time ago when she started dating ron"

"your kidding. you absolutey joking with me right?" he said looking ludocrus.

"no honey, im being 100% serious right now" you said smirking at his dumb expression. 

"and nobody told me???? i wanted to sleep next to you the entire time, but i though the enchantments were going to block me. why didn't you say anything?" he said, now being the one who was pouting.

"i don't know why my love. and i'm so sorry; can we cuddle now?" you asked. eye lashes fluttering at him so pretty he just had to give in.

"oh alright, i forgive you" he said smiling.

"yay!" you said as you dragged him by the hand and onto your bed. he would've still be mad at you but how can he be when he sees those eyes of yours that just stare at him full of love, every single minute of your day?

"...and then eat and-hello? harry? HARRY! are you even listening?" you asked, snapping your fingers in front of his face to catch his attention

"oh! woops i'm sorry dove, i got lost in your eyes"

"oh please" you asked, blushing.

"no love, i'm being totally serious right now. they're my favorite part about you. they tell me everything i need to know before it even comes out of your mouth," he said, bringing his hand to caress your right cheek in a loving manner.

"well- i-" you sputter, trying to think of something to say.

"shut up"  he says, in a demanding manner.

he pushed you onto the bed, so that your back was against it and he was on top of you. he was smirking and checking you out as you layed there.

and, to be honest, it made you.. feel things. warm cheeks and a fluttery feeling inside

you loved harry, he was a wonderful man. but God, he was so slow.

he never got any "action" in the love department before you. which you enjoyed because you liked the thought that you would be his first everything.

so far, nothing more than a heavy make-out session with some clothes off has happened. and you would never ever push him or force him to satisfy you until he comes to you.

and you'd wait as long as he made you but he was so dense sometimes.

like now. he doesn't even know the things he does to your insides as he looks at you like that.

"well are you gonna do something or just stare at me like that?" you ask.

he smiled and pressed his lips against yours. his soft velvety lips that have been bitten and chewed on were perfect against yours.

you ran your fingers through the side of his hair and pulled him close till he was one against your boobs.

his hand traveled to your neck, holding you until you had to break apart to breathe.

you giggled at his dazed expression and then pushed him over and straddled him so now you were on top.

now it was his turn to chuckle as he looked up at you with those gorgeous green eyes.

sparkling admised the red curtains and your bed sheets.

you couldn't help it as you smashed his lips into yours once again. it was safe to say you were completely mad for him as he grabbed your waist closer to him.

his hands roamed all over your body. squeezing and pinching and holding any part of your body he could reach. his hands werecoming over to squeeze your ass when-

"Y/N!!! Y?N?? WHERE ARE YOU I NEED TO TELL YOU THAT ME AND RON ARE- ohhhh..." hermione said as she barged into your shared dorm.

you broke apart so fast you must of his hit his head with your chin. ron stood behind hermione shell-shocked and she stood there with the doorknob in her hand speechless.

"im so sorry y/n oh my gosh. i can stay in ron's dorm tonight. don't worry about it. i-uhm have fun you two?.. hahaha bye."

and they slammed the door after that and you could hear them running away frantically. trying to erase the memory of each of their best friends getting it on.

you just sat there on his lap not knowing what just happened and he broke out in a loud laugh. that kind of contagious laugh that cheers everyone up.

you joined him in it and rolled him over so you were both lying on your sides facing each other.

"the l0ook on ron's face i- cant-t"

soon enough the laughing simmidered down and you both just stared at each other.

he was thinking of how lucky he was to have you when you interrupted his train of thought to say: "i actually have the matching pajama set that you got us for christmas last year remember? we couldn't wear it because we were so busy. why don't we wear it now?" you inquired.

"oh yeah! i remember! that's a great idea y/n!" he said, grabbing your cheeks in both hands, squishing them together "my baby's a genius isn't she" he baby talked to you and made you smile and laugh till your jaws hurt.

he then went to get the clothes for you. before yelling about how the girls dormitory had more room than the boys to which you giggled at from where you were on the bed. he then finally brought them back to your bed.

it wasn't anything much it had a snowman and snowflake print on the pants in a velvety soft material, and a ringer tee that said "oh deer"

you went into the bathroom to change happily. thinking about how you still went somewhere else to change even though it has been almost a year of dating him. you were still scared of him seeing you all barren like that and he didn't mind.

but if he was to say, he wouldn't mind you looking like that.

he cleared his throat and looked around to distract his thoughts of you before you showed up dressed looking the most perfect holiday angel.

he couldn't help but blush slightly as you sauntered over with a goofy smile on your face. he didn't like that it rendered his muscles into jello and his stomach to jump around like it did.

"come on now don't make me wait!" you said, giggling and jumping onto your side of the bed.

he smiled at you before joining next to you on the bed. he made himself more comfortable before he thought of something.

"do you want to go down for dinner love?" he asked

"hmphhh, i frogot about that. ughhhhhh do we have toooooo?? m' to comfortable." you said, pulling your blanket higher over you and melting into harry's side and the pillow.

he chuckled again, "that's just what i was about to say. don't worry i have it all sorted out"

he clapped twice before winky the elf walked out of thin air and bowed down to harry.

"hi there winky, how have you been?" harry asked genuinely.

"i've been good sir. how has master harry potter been?"

"i've been good. listen now, i have a request. can you bring us our dinner to our bed? i don't know if it's allowed but me and my girlfriend here don't want to walk down to dinner. can you do that?"

"sure winky can bring food for master harry potter and his girlfriend! winky would be delighted to be of service!"

"thank you winky i know i can count on you. could you also bring us two glasses of water and any dessert you have?"

"yes sir i'll be back here as soon as i can!"

and just like that she disappeared again leaving you guys in silence.

"well well well... look at you, with your own personal elf huh? what will hermione think?"

"shut up, winky actually likes to work and i'm just helping her to be in service" he said, and with that he pinched you.

"oww!! harry!! i know i was just teasing you. and you know actually in my house when you clap two times you either turn on or off a light not make an elf appear"

"oh yeah well-"

winky appeared out of thin air again with a tray in her hands

"here you are sir and sir's girlfriend. for your dessert like you asked i brought you somthing we had left over, strawberry shortcakes!! is this okay for master harry potter?" she asked.

harry grabbed it from her hand and placed in the middle of the bed.

"it's perfect winky thank you. you are dismissed now. "thank you sir. if there is anything else you would like me to do winky will be glad to service you again!"

she disappeared out of the thin air she came from.

"alright then dig in my love" he said.

"thank you harry, you're a dear" you say.

he blushed at the nickname but ate nonetheless. until you got to the dessert, you guys sat in a comfortable silence. but just when you were about to dig in on the cake both of your utensils clinked as they were reaching for the cake at the same time.

you looked at each other and laughed. "how about we do this? i know this might be a little cringe but i can feed you and you can feed me"

"ah yes be romantic in our bed with pajamas on, sure let's" harry said chuckling.

you shook your head with a smile and grabbed a piece on your fork, his mouth wide open and waiting. you gently pushed it into his mouth and brought it back out.

then it was his turn to dip his fork into the cheesecake and feed it to you like that. that kept altering until the cake was done. when it was done and about to be cleaned up you observed a small piece of frosting hanging on his chin.

you smiled to your self before putting your thumb into your mouth to collect wetness before wiping away the smudge.

he seemed surprised at first and then finally came to his senses.

he grabbed your wrist when it was just about to leave and pulled you closer. you look at him startled before he smashed his lips onto you once again. he pressed himself against you and warmed you up from the inside.

he tasted like strawberries and smelled like the leftover smell of a fireplace that's been extingushed.

you closed your eyes and gave in to his ministrations. allowing him to place you on your back on your bed again and kiss you like no tomorrow. you were panting as you broke apart.

that went on for a few more minutes till the high went off and he seemed embarrassed of what he did.

"harry. darling. don't worry. i liked it. if you hadn't started it, i would've" you said, caressing his arm.

he seemed to be reassured in your words and smiled at you. he put the tray away for the elfs to get in the morning along with your clothes to be washed.

you both set yourself comfortable and snuggled into the warm covers.

you wanted to face him but your back demanded to be faced the other way. you swore you had a back problem, and you were not even twenty!! so you faced your back to his face. thought he didn't mind. he actually preferred it this way because he could put his leg on top of you pull you closer to his chest.

you could feel his breath down your neck and his hand inching over your stomach lacing with yours. his face hidden among your soft hair.

you layed there content and belly full with the love of your life and delicious food. your bad score from the morning is a faint memory in the back of your mind. you can worry about that when exams come but for now life was good.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

harry taglist - i have no one to tag right now except the people i already know like works, because i made a new taglist which is in my navigation so if you'd like to be tagged in future works check it out! anyways @elleblxck @ronsbadidea @ladyvesuvia @heythereangels @hmupotter @toms-diary

[teaberrii]

Chapter 12: A Date with the Doppelgänger

You've been Cupid for as long as you can remember. You've brought countless soulmates together, yet you've never found love.

When you're assigned to bring two childhood friends back together, it should be simple until you unexpectedly catch feelings for the mysterious and cold Ph.D. student, Dan Heng, the man with a soulmate… the man with answers to your past.

Dan Heng/You

Chapter warnings: Please be advised that there's a very brief scene on nonconsensual sexual touching and mentions of minors doing drugs. It's not as scary as it sounds, I promise lol

Notes:

Cross-posted on Ao3

Female reader

Chapter index at the end of chapter one

Young had always been fascinated with magic. But it wasn't just his interest that motivated him to learn more; he also had an ulterior motive:  to impress the human girl he'd grown to love. You'd saved him that day, and despite being from two different worlds, he still remembered the words you said to him not long after he returned the favour by hiding you from those guards who had been looking for you.

“So what if we’re different?” you had asked. “I saved you. You saved me. We’re equal.”

He’d been told by many of his kind that humans and creatures like them were not equals. Humans considered themselves superior, and anyone different would be treated as inferior. Young had never met a human until you, but you defied the stereotypes in your words and actions.

“How do you know it’s poisonous?” Young, a teenager, was looking at an oddly coloured mushroom on the forest floor.

You whipped out a knife and cut it from the rest. Young stared in horror. Didn’t you just say that it was poisonous? As if reading his mind, you smiled. “It’s not going to kill you if you touch it.”

You held it to the light and gestured for him to come closer. Young moved closer to you, but before looking at the mushroom, he glanced at you. He’d seen other human girls but none had ever caught his attention. Not in the way you had. They were pretty, but not as pretty as you.

“Do you see how the spots change colour?” you asked, leaning closer to him.

Young’s heart unexpectedly raced. “Yeah." 

“This means it’s not dangerous to the skin.”

When you moved away, Young exhaled softly, and he can finally think rationally again. “How do you know so much about—”

“Strangely coloured mushrooms?”

Young chuckled. “Well, just plants in general.”

It was recently that you started teaching Young all about poisonous plants during your secret rendezvous. Sometimes, you jokingly quizzed him to make sure he was listening. When he would respond with more details than normal, you started increasing the difficulty. Yet, he always got your questions right, which surprised but impressed you.

“Because there’s really nothing else to do around here,” you said. You jabbed a finger at his chest. “You’re lucky you’re a guy, you know that? You get to do all these cool things and get to go on fun adventures. All women are allowed to do are menial tasks. It’s boring and”—you made a slightly disgusted face—“not my style.”

“So, you study?”

“Yes. My brother is also a doctor. I also learn from him sometimes.”

“Well, since you taught me so much, I should return the favour.”

You gasped. “Are you finally going to let me touch your tail?”

“No.”

You pouted, and Young almost smiled. “I’ll teach you a thing or two about magic.”

As the years went by, Young’s interest and knowledge in magic grew, but researchers and scholars had warned everyone about black magic, magic that involved curses, death, and even the afterlife. It was a form of forbidden magic that was like a double-edged sword. He had told you about it and warned you about its dangers.

The last person he thought he would come across experimenting with black magic was his mother.

“Mother?”

An older woman spun around at the sound of her son’s voice. Unable to stand the stench of blood in the blood, Young had his hanfu sleeve covering half of his face.

“What are you doing here?” She walked up to him as if to prevent him from seeing whatever she was… brewing. He didn't answer her but tried to look past her, so his mother quickly said, “Why don’t you go see your father?”

But Young wasn’t having it. “What are you doing?” He crossed his arms. “Does Father know that you’re messing with black magic?”

“This isn’t your concern, Young.”

Young was baffled that his mother would say such a thing. Of course, it was his concern. She was his mother. Why would he want her messing with black magic? Why was she in the first place?

“I promise I’ll be careful.”

“That’s not helpful,” Young said, frowning. “What are you trying to do?”

“You’re still too young to understand.”

“That’s an excuse.”

His mother’s gaze hardened. “Leave, Young. Now."

Young didn’t want to, but he knew his mother wouldn’t take no for an answer. He turned around and walked toward the door, knowing well that his mother kept her eyes on him. No one messed with dark magic not even for good reasons. He knew that. His mother knew that. So, what was she hiding?

Dan Heng opens his eyes and sees the familiar white ceiling of his room. What in the world was that dream? He didn’t just dream about Young. He was Young. Dan Heng felt the same emotions Young had. How fast his heart raced when he was with you. How anxious and suspicious he felt when he was with his mother. He and Young look alike, but their similarities stop there, right?

Dan Heng was the doppelganger, but was it possible his mother was connected to Young’s mother somehow? Dan Heng’s parents had their problems, but they always came around somehow. However, when their fights escalated, they started living apart for a while. That was when Dan Heng's mother became infected with The Withering. But what about Young’s mother? Did she have marital problems? Was that why she was messing with black magic?

Was she the one who created The Withering?

He gets out of bed and heads to the washroom. After washing his face, he turns off the tap and looks in the mirror, not expecting to see someone else’s reflection. The man looked like him. A lot like him. But he had horns, and his ears resemble an elf’s.

It was Young.

Dan Heng closes his eyes and dries his face with a towel. When he looks back, his reflection is back. Is it possible he and Young aren’t doppelgangers, but they’re the same person in two different periods? No. That can't be. Young was executed. And the past is the past. Right?

As Dan Heng muses over his thoughts, he returns to his room and hears his phone buzz with a message. When he sees the name on the screen, he smiles.

Cupid: Hi. Do you want to hang out today?

He'll never forget the look on your face when he asked if he could call you his girlfriend. Stunned. Your mouth opened and closed as if trying to find the right words.

“So… You want to fake date to get out of fake dating?”

Dan Heng almost facepalmed, but he could understand your logic. He didn’t want to pretend to date Stelle, so he hoped he could say you were his girlfriend just to get his father off his back. It didn't mean you had to date. Everything was just for show.

Dan Heng could’ve said yes, but instead, he said, “No.” He took your hand and pulled you a little closer. “I want to be yours. For real.”

Your eyes had widened, but your face had turned red. “W-Wait a minute. But—”

“I know you said I have a soulmate, but she's not the one I want,” Dan Heng said. “You made yourself clear where you stand in terms of love and relationships that time we talked at the restaurant, but I don’t want to regret not saying anything.” He smiled reassuringly. “You don’t have to give me an answer right now.”

Is this a step in the right direction? Are you asking him on a date?

Back at your apartment, you’re sitting on your bed, staring at your phone for a response.

After the dream with Young, you couldn’t fall back asleep. But what surprised you was that you weren’t only thinking about Young. You also thought about Dan Heng. They were doppelgangers, but could it be possible they were the same person? You remembered how your heart raced when Dan Heng asked you to be his girlfriend despite the circumstances. Then, you remembered Young’s words from your dream.

“I should’ve told you much sooner… I should’ve asked you to be mine.”

Was fate giving you another chance? A chance… to be with Young in another time and place? The thought seemed too good to be true. You had walked to your table and picked up the locket. Opening the locket would set Young free. What did that mean?

You eventually fell back asleep, but this time… you dreamt about Dan Heng, and it left your heart warm and full the next morning. You wanted to see him which brought you to your current situation.

Dan Heng: Let’s go.

You smile as you drop your phone to get ready.

Dan Heng spent the night at his father’s place, but he still had some extra clothes in his old bedroom. He picks out a casual black turtleneck, a white jacket, grey pants, and a black belt. Of course, he doesn’t forget to accessorize with an onyx necklace and two bracelets on his left wrist. He’s fixing his shirt in the mirror when a knock comes at the door.

“Come in.”

Agnes opens the door and quietly gasps when she sees Dan Heng all dressed up. “Going somewhere, Master Dan Heng?” Dan Heng turns to her, and she says, “Oh, no titles. Right.” She looks him up and down. “Are you… going on a date, perhaps?”

“I’d like to think so.”

Agnes beams. “Is it the pretty girl from yesterday night? The one who was treating your burn?”

“Yes.”

She claps her hands together. “Where are you taking the young gal?”

There are a lot of places to pick from. It’s Xianzhou, the city that never sleeps. But he wants this to be the perfect date. It’s his one chance to impress you and change your mind about your stance on love, even though he didn’t think much about it before he met you.

“Ah, young love,” Agnes says dreamily. “Reminds me of how romantic my husband and I were back in the day!”

“Do you…” Dan Heng awkwardly looks away,  “...have any advice?”

Agnes chuckles. “Oh, you’ll be fine, Mas”—she coughs—“Dan Heng! With someone as good-looking as you, you should’ve been taken years ago.” She's about to leave but quickly turns back. "Are you still going to have breakfast?”

Dan Heng nods and follows her out of his room.

Back at your place, Pom yawns and stretches as he makes his way toward the bathroom but stops when he notices you putting up outfits in front of your closet mirror. You look a little conflicted. You’re about to hold up another shirt when you notice Pom leaning against your doorframe. He’s smiling at you as if he knows what’s up.

“Whatcha doing?”

You avoid his eyes. “Cleaning."

"Cleaning?" Pom asks if he can't believe what he just heard. "I know you, Cupid. You're too lazy to clean."

"Well, excuse me, Pom."

Pom raises his hands in defence as he walks in. "Just saying the facts." You hold up another outfit to the mirror. "It must be important if you’re thinking this hard about what to wear.” He smiles slyly. “Does it happen to involve a dashing young man who may or may not be your”—he gasps—"soulmate?”

“Very funny."

“You’re going on a date.” Pom has a wide grin. “Cupid’s going on a date!”

“We’re just hanging out!”

“Without anyone else.”

You frown as you watch him pick up a few of your clothes and puts them over you as if you’re his model. “Don’t you have something better to do?”

Pom puts down the clothes and sees the locket around your neck. “Have you figured out how to open that thing yet?”

You glance down and sigh. “No, not yet… But, I had another dream yesterday.”

“About Young?”

You nod. “Dan Heng was right. Young and I… we were lovers.”

“You… don’t look too happy.”

You toss your clothes on the bed. “What I dreamt about… it was supposed to be a happy"—you blush as the feelings come rushing back—"or euphoric moment, but after I woke up, it was like… it was like I lost everything.”

“And you don’t know why.”

You look down. “Do you remember Dan Heng telling us that Lan told him Young was executed?”

Pom nods. “Wait. Don’t tell me you blame yourself, right?”

“Believe it or not… I don’t think my relationship with him had anything to do with that.”

“Was there something else?”

“I was a King’s daughter,” you begin, and Pom’s eyes widen. “Yeah, believe it or not.”

“So… does this mean I have to call you Princess Cupid from now on?”

You almost shiver. “Please don't.” Pom smiles. “Anyway, even though I was supposedly a princess, women weren’t particularly valued back then. I was supposed to get married, and—”

“To who?”

“...Jing Yuan.”

“What?”

“Just let me finish, Pom!” After telling Pom about most of your dream, you say, “Jing Yuan was using me as an accessory. We were getting married just for show. I’m just speculating, but the only reason I can think of was that he wanted to take over the North Kingdom.”

Pom puts a hand on his forehead. “This is too much for just one night."

“Yeah, you’re telling me.”

“Okay, assuming Jing Yuan was some evil douchebag who wanted to take over the world... if he found out about your relationship with Young, he could use it as an excuse to, well”—Pom pretends to slice his neck with his hand—“off him, right?” Pom stands and grabs a hanger and points it at you. “How dare you touch my wife!”

You take the hanger with a deadpan look and toss it in your pile of clothes. "He could, and he probably did. But Young was the heir to the Middle Kingdom.”

“Middle Kingdom? Do we have a South or a Bottom Kingdom now?”

“Take a guess.”

“Geez. I wasn’t expecting a history lesson.”

“There are only three Kingdoms you have to remember, Pom. North, Middle, and South.”

“South sounds better than Bottom if I’m being honest.”

“Focus.” Pom’s expression turns serious again. “Anyway, Jing Yuan was just a general, a commanding general sure, but he wasn’t a king or of loyalty. We were going to marry, but that didn’t mean he would automatically take my father’s spot as King. And… if he did execute Young, he would be starting a war.”

Pom nods in understanding. “I see.”

“Jing Yuan was the man I saw at the festival. Remember what I told you about what he said?”

“...That you started a war?”

You sigh. "It still doesn't make sense."

Pom stands and puts his hands on your shoulders. “We still have missing pieces. And, whatever we find, I’m on your side, Cupid.”

You scoff with a slight smile. “Didn't think you'd be the mushy type, Pom."

“I’d love to take a trip down memory lane about our beautiful friendship together, but I don’t want to ruin your probably one chance at finding love.”

You look at the time and almost gasp. It’s almost time for you to meet Dan Heng, and you still haven’t changed out of your PJs.

Pom tosses you a blouse and high-waisted shorts. “Just wear this!”

“This is see-through.”

Pom looks at you as if he doesn’t see your point. “Then, wear some cute lingerie.” You give him a deadpan look as you toss the blouse back at him. He catches it and puts it on the bed. “I assume you have none.” Your jaw almost drops but then Pom tosses you a casual shirt. “Chop, chop! Don’t keep the man waiting.”

You wait for Pom to leave your room and close the door before you get changed. When you come out, your hair is brushed and you’d put on some natural makeup. You’d tied a front shirt knot. Coupled with the high-waisted shorts you wore, the overall outfit emphasizes your nice figure.

Just before you head out the door with your small bag, Pom says, “Oh, wait.” You turn around, and you see Pom looking at the pendant around your neck. “Could I… take a look at that while you’re gone?”

You glance at the locket. “Young’s necklace?”

Pom nods. Truth be told, he also had a dream yesterday night. But it wasn’t of you or Young but the locket. Pom thinks about telling you, but he doesn’t want it to plague your thoughts when you’re supposed to be having fun.

You take it off your neck, but as you hand it to him, you ask, “Why?”

“Just wanna do some research.”

“Well, be careful. Don’t lose it.”

“Of course, I won’t!” Then, he waves you off. “Go have fun with Mr. Right.”

And off you went.

Dan Heng is looking at his phone, a hand in his pocket when he senses someone coming up behind him. You’re about to put your hands on his shoulders when he turns around and takes one of your hands, startling you. He lowers his hand that’s still holding yours just as he says, “A little early to be trying to sneak up on me."

"I'll get you next time."

A small, mischievous smile. “I’d like to see you try.” You almost scoff but you decide to let it slide. Then, his fingers intertwine with yours. “Let’s go.”

You and Dan Heng exit the station as you ask, “Where are we going?”

“What do you think about the aquarium?”

You smile. “Sounds good to me.” That’s when he notices the locket isn’t around your neck. He hasn’t seen you without it ever since you found out about it. You glance at your empty neck and say, “Young’s pendant is with Pom. He asked to look at it.”

As you and Dan Heng head in the direction of the aquarium, he asks, “What for?”

“He didn’t say, but he wanted to do some research. I’ll ask him when I get back.” Then, you notice the subtle change in Dan Heng's expression as if he's mulling over something. “Is something wrong?”

“I had a dream last night.”

“Was it about Young?”

“I think I was living his life.” Then, he turns to look at you. “I also saw you in my dream.” His boyish grin makes your heart race. “You were younger, and you taught him a lot. I could feel everything that he was feeling.” Your grip on Dan Heng’s hand unexpectedly tightens. “He liked you since both of you were teenagers.”

A pause.

“But I saw also saw something else…” You notice the change in tone where your heart isn’t racing because of the butterflies in your stomach but out of anxiety. “His mother was experimenting with black magic.”

“Black magic?” 

Dan Heng nods. “Did you know his mother?”

“...Not that I recall.” When Dan Heng remains silent, you ask, “What are you thinking about?”

“That dream somehow reminded me of my mother,” he answers quietly.

Now that you think about it, you don’t know anything about Dan Heng’s mother. 

“Were there similarities?” you ask.

“Young's mother was dabbling in black magic for unknown reasons. I think she was hiding something, which…” You give his hand a light squeeze as if to reassure him. He squeezes back. “...reminded me of how my mother kept her infection a secret.” Your heart drops to the pit of your stomach. Infected? Is it what you think it is? Dan Heng looks at you. “My mother was a victim of The Withering.”

Your face turns pale. “...I’m so sorry.” Does this mean you killed his mother if you’re the one who created the disease? The thought is even more frightening than the nightmare you experienced at the festival.

As if reading your mind, Dan Heng says, “There's a possibility that Young's mother created The Withering,” You quickly look back at him. “We still don’t know everything.”

That’s true, but…

“I’m still surprised if I’m being honest.” While it’s true you don’t know everything, there's still the suspicion that you have something to do with the disease. “How can you still treat me like—” You stop as you hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

“...Because you aren’t running away.” His answer catches you off guard. “Tell me. Are you afraid?” There’s genuine curiosity in his eyes. Your breath catches in your throat as you stare into the blue eyes. “Are you afraid of what you’ll find if you keep digging?”

“Yes.” The answer leaves your lips so quickly and naturally that you aren’t aware you said it. “This wasn’t what I was expecting to find… I didn’t know what to expect, but definitely not something like this.”

“Are you going to give up?”

“No.” Again, you answer so naturally that it almost surprised you. “I came this far. Everything that I’ve done… it would be for nothing if I stop.” You sigh softly. “I can’t back out now. I have to keep going.”

“You choose to face things head-on rather than running away,” Dan Heng says as if already knowing the answer you'll give him. “It’s something I like about you.” Your eyes widen at the direct statement. “...It’s something I couldn’t do for a long time."

You and Dan Heng stop at a red light.

“...Something you couldn’t do?”

“My mother kept her infection a secret from my father and me. When I found out about it… I had a very difficult time coping.” You squeeze his hand tighter. “By then, I’d already transferred to a public school because of my family’s financial matters.”

Dan Heng had never felt so alone.

People would stare at him as if he wasn’t human. His family background had somehow leaked, making it newsworthy to the school. Some people labelled him as the rich kid who'd gone poor. Others pitied him but as Dan Heng wasn't a social person by nature, they found him offputting and thought he had an attitude problem. Then, there were those who didn't have anything against him, but his efforts at making new friends were received apathetically.  

Dan Heng had never thought he’d miss his old friends so much. He had pretended everything was fine when it wasn’t.  It wasn’t until his mother’s disease worsened that he made some poor decisions that would haunt him for years to come. 

Dan Heng closed his locker. His eyes were lifeless and there were dark circles underneath his eyes. He hadn’t been sleeping well if not at all. His health had started to affect his academic performance which was spiralling him further into depression.

“Hi there.”

Dan Heng turned and saw a couple of his female classmates walk up to him. He recognized them as the more popular girls.

“There's a party happening this weekend," one of the girls said. "We want you to be there, Dan Heng."

“Why are you asking me?”

One of the girls gave him a flirtatious grin. “You’re cute, Dan Heng. Believe it or not, you’re quite popular.”

Wow, really? So, why did people avoid him?

“Don’t tell me you don’t know.”

“...About?”

“The guys talk shit about you because they’re just jealous. Some of the girls are too shy to talk to you.”

In reality, it was these girls who were messing with the others to leave Dan Heng alone. Of course, he didn't know that or the fact that they wanted to sleep with him.

“Please come tonight, Dan Heng. It would mean a lot to us.” She handed him a special invite to a club in the heart of Xianzhou. Then, she leaned closer and whispered in his ear. “You won’t regret it. I promise.”

You have a bad feeling about where this story is going.

By now, you and Dan Heng are walking side-by-side inside the aquarium, still holding hands.

“I wanted an escape,” Dan Heng says quietly as the two of you walk into a hallway surrounded by sharks. “So, I went to the party.”

The lively atmosphere was unlike anything Dan Heng had experienced. There were people everywhere. Dancing. Drinking. Talking. Kissing. It was a foreign place where the music was so loud that you had no time to think. Just feel.

Someone grabbed Dan Heng’s arm, and he quickly turned and saw the girl who invited him to the party smile at him. She was wearing a short dress meant to show off her slim but toned body. Her hair was done up, and her makeup stood out. It was obvious she was here to party. She pulled Dan Heng close.

“You came!”

He could smell the alcohol on her breath, but she didn’t seem drunk. Not yet, at least. Then, she quickly dragged him toward a room at the back, away from the noise, heat, and screams.

“Guess who I found?”

Dan Heng recognized a couple of his classmates, but there were others he didn’t know. After the girl introduced him, he found out they were from other schools. The girl led Dan Heng to a couch. When he sat down, she sat next to him and poured him a drink.

“You look like you’ve been having a hard time lately, Dan Heng.” She gave him the glass. “Why don’t you tell us what’s wrong?”

Dan Heng looked at the unfamiliar faces in the room. “...I’d rather not.” He took the glass.

“Oh, well, that’s okay… have a drink first! We can always talk later.”

That was his second mistake. His first mistake was coming to this party.

“I kept drinking,” Dan Heng says as you continue listening carefully. “It felt nice to just forget about everything.” There's hesitation in his voice when he regretfully admits, “But then, they coerced me into doing drugs.”

“I told you it'd feel good, right?" the girl asked.

The world around him was starting to spin. Dan Heng couldn’t see straight, but this euphoric sensation was therapeutic. He was happy, and he didn't want to let this feeling go.

The girl had a small, mischievous grin. "Want another one?"

Was this what it took to… become functional again? To feel like his world wasn’t crashing before his eyes? Dan Heng looked at the smoke between his fingers. Maybe just one more… Maybe just—

His eyes widened when he felt a sudden weight on his legs. When he turned, he saw his classmate straddling him. This made him snap out of it, but his sudden rationality was fighting with his high, which made him lost and confused.

“What... What are you doing?” Dan Heng finally asked with wide eyes. God. His head was suddenly hurting like crazy.

She leaned toward him, purposely rubbing against him, allowing him to feel all of her intimate places. He felt her smirk against his neck. “You’re asking the wrong question, Dan Heng. Y ou should be asking yourself… what aren’t you doing?” She grabbed one of his hands and held it tightly as she brought it to her breasts. “Touch me, Dan Heng…”

Dan Heng slightly opened his mouth to protest, but her lips were on his before he could say anything. Her tongue slipped into his mouth, which almost made him gag. She slowly moved her hips as she opened his hand and forced him to touch her more.

By now, everyone else had left the room.

Dan Heng was shaking as he fought the natural response of his body. He didn't want this. At all. " Stop," he said breathlessly. 

"You don't want me to stop." She put a hand on his thigh and teasingly made her way to his hardening sex. "See?"

"Stop it," Dan Heng almost growled. 

He was done playing nice. It took all of the energy left in him to force his hand out of her grip and rudely push her onto the couch. His heart was hammering in his chest, and as he stood, he stumbled as he started seeing double. He needed a moment to refocus, but the girl had grabbed his hand.

“Where are you going?”

His response was slightly delayed, but he managed to glare at her and pull his hand back. Without answering her, he quickly headed toward the door... only to find it locked.

He heard a soft giggle. "Oh, Dan Heng, did you really think we would be that stupid?"

Dan Heng was afraid to look back at the sultry way she asked the question. T here was a sickening feeling in his chest that she was laying in some provocative position. He quickly reached for his phone inside his pocket, but the colour drained from his face when he felt nothing.

"Looking for this?"

Dan Heng finally turned back, and he was right. She was laying on her side, exposing her laced lingerie. Her dress was barely on. But that wasn't what caught Dan Heng's attention. It was his phone in her hand. Dan Heng clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles almost turned white. He  wished he could hit her, but he wanted to hit himself more than anything. How could he be so stupid? This wasn't him.

"Give it back," Dan Heng said angrily.

She got up and undid the zipper of her dress and allowed it to fall to her feet. "Stop playing the good boy, Dan Heng." She removed her lingerie. "You can't fight your natural urges." 

Fine. If this was how she wanted to play. Dan Heng would fight fire with fire.

Dan Heng walked towards her, his eyes never drifting away from her face. He could see her gaze darkening with desire. She slowly stepped back while he approached, and eventually, she sat back on the couch with Dan Heng leaning over her. Yet, his hands never touched her. Instead, one of his hands was on the couch beside her head, and the other was beside her waist. He fought back a cringe when he felt her hands around his neck.

"Fuck me, Dan Heng," she whispered. "You know you want to."

It was now or never.

His hand found hers, forcing her to drop his phone onto the couch. He kept his eyes on her face as his lips came dangerously close to hers, almost as if he was teasing her. His other hand, holding her underwear, found hers and raised them up over her head.

"Then, you'll have to do as I say."

His voice was low, husky, meant to drive her senses wild. And that was exactly what he got, but she was so caught up in her emotions that by the time she wanted to grab him, she couldn't.

"What the—"

Dan Heng grabbed his phone and swiftly moved away from her with a cold look. The girl's hands were bound with her underwear that Dan Heng had tied together to a small hook above the couch. 

"Untie me, you bastard!"

Dan Heng turned away with an indifferent look. “I don’t want to have sex with you, so stop forcing yourself onto me.” 

“Are you gay?” she spat.

Dan Heng walked to the door. "There's something called dignity. Try learning about it." With one concentrated kick to the place just above the lock, the door opened. "Careful you don't catch a cold."

Before he left, he heard her shout, “You son of a bitch!”

You are at a loss for words. You never would've thought someone like Dan Heng would have a past like that.

"My father found out about the drugs, and... it just made things worse."

“Do you want to disappoint me further?” his father asked, the anger seeping into his hard tone.

Dan Heng stood in front of him, still unable to believe that a photo of him and his classmates doing drugs had spread around the school. While the drug itself was legal, Dan Heng and his classmates were underaged. Unlike other places, Xianzhou was strict and didn’t tolerate minors doing drugs. Despite Dan Heng’s willingness to take any punishment, his father refused to let this taint his image and Dan Heng’s future. So, he’d spent a hefty fine to erase this from his son's record. 

“Get out of my sight.”

His father wasn’t even looking at him when he said it.

“For a long time, I kept thinking I should’ve handled myself better," Dan Heng says. "I should’ve done something rather than just wallow in my emotions. I should’ve been looking after my mother.”

You’re facing him as you say, “You can’t blame yourself. We feel. It’s what makes us human.” You put a hand on his cheek. “Everyone has a past. No one is perfect.”

Dan Heng takes your hand. “You’re right. It took years for me to accept my mistakes, but before then, I always wished I could forget about what happened.” He slightly smiles. “Then, there’s you, who’s doing a job you hate because you want to find out about your past. You're not shying away from what you find.” Dan Heng puts a hand behind your head and says your name. “You intrigue me.”

When you look up, your eyes meet his and then land on his lips. Your heart is pounding in your chest as you and Dan Heng slowly lean closer… and closer…. You close your eyes, and as you feel his soft lips against yours, you also hear a very much unwanted voice.

“How romantic.”

You and Dan Heng quickly pull back and turn in the direction of the male voice. Just then, a large, great white shark swims by behind you and Dan Heng.

“You shouldn't keep a pretty woman all to yourself, Dan Heng. I want in on the fun, too."

He recognizes the voice, and so do you. Dan Heng steps in front of you once the main comes into full view. You knew you’d meet him one way or another but just not here.

“Should I introduce myself?” His golden eyes meet yours. 

You don’t need any introductions. You know him. You know him very well.

“Jing Yuan,” you say without realizing it.

Jing Yuan has a hand inside his pocket as he looks at you. “Well, looks like I’m more popular than I thought.”

Chapter 13

End notes:

 I wasn't expecting this chapter to be so long lol

I'm curious if you guys have any thoughts on Dan Heng's flashback. The initial draft was actually quite tame, but my mind went... WHAT IF. And yeah, that happened. I'm sorry, Dan Heng T_T

Also, a reader drew a sketch of her interpretation of Cupid!

Tag list: @suoshiii @lordbugs @lxry-chxn @seirenspinel @tanspostsblog @theprinceofkhaos @nqctre @lunavixia @akwardbiscuit @kplatzman @sunsethw4 @hiqhkey

[haloxsaisha]

This Love.

(Part 2 to 'So Good'.)

[Lewis Hamilton x Actress!Reader]

Based on: This Love by Taylor Swift.

Warnings: a little bit of a cliched reunion (?), mentions of weight loss and depressing stuff, mediocre writing.

Word Count: 13.8K words.

Author's note: Thank you so much for all the love you've shown for "So Good", it was so overwhelming <33 Today happens to be my birthday too so I'm really happy about posting this part now. Also the reader is about 5 years younger than Lewis. I hope this is a fitting happy ending and reaches up to what you expected. Please ignore any mistakes because I haven't proof reading hasn't been done yet.

A year later.

Red carpets, flashing camera lights, champagne flutes were things that Lewis was not unfamiliar with in his life so far. However the perspective of today's event for him was definitely different.

Lewis always loved doing some or the other thing to keep himself busy, trying out new things and this was the start of something new for him. Starting his own production company and entering the film and television industry. Definitely something different from his cameo in 'Cars 2'.

Little did he know that it was going to be a new beginning for more than one thing in his life.

After giving his trademark model look in front of the cameras on the red carpet, obviously with a very fashionable outfit on, he entered the big hall.

It was an event for directors, producers and actors in Hollywood, he was hoping to meet some people who he could work with in the future, creating the same magic on the screen like he did on the track.

The evening went on like most events do, starting with 'hi's and 'hello's and going on with conversations about work and a few jokes being cracked, sipping on whatever alcoholic beverage was available.

That was until, the corner of his eyes spotted a rather distant yet familiar body.

He looked multiple times to make sure if it was the same person he was thinking of and after a slight tilt of the face, his thoughts had been confirmed.

It was you.

There you were, exchanging hugs and starting conversations with many friends and acquaintances that you'd met on a couple of occasions, sipping on the champagne that you had always been fond of.

The sight of you had brought in a swirl of emotions in him. Love due to all the memories you shared, happiness because he hadn't seen you in so long but what really blew him in the chest was disappointment in himself for letting you go and not even trying to reach out to you despite knowing that there was unfinished business between the both of you, anxiousness because he could reach out to you right now but didn't know how to do it.

You always brought out emotions that no person managed to do with him. That was the connection you shared.

After the last lap of the Abu Dhabi race last year, he felt so numb and empty on the inside. And everyone knew that the decisions made at a time one wasn't in a right state of mind weren't good ones at all, he had already experienced it before in life and yet, he let his emotions take over that day. He could've asked you for some space and then returned when he was alright, so as to not burden you with his pain and recovery but he just pushed you out completely.

He'd seen the articles which hinted about your loss in weight, tweets from your fans about how your social media activities came down. Even after your break from filming to heal, there was something he noticed himself— it was how your smile stopped reaching your ears like it used to, always so bright and how the sparkle in your eyes had gradually disappeared.

And he hated himself for doing that to you. You were nothing but understanding and loving despite knowing that his work was always what he'd hold the highest in his life, something that most of the women he'd been with had chastised him for. In fact, you were the one who always compromised your schedule to follow the COVID restrictions so that the both of you could meet during his race season. He didn't really take that much effort so as to meet you while you were busy shooting a movie and that always made him wonder if he'd taken advantage of your kindness and empathy.

Walking with his head running through multiple thoughts and emotions, he bumped into somebody, feeling something wet fall on his clothes.

"Oh gosh- I'm so sorry." apologies in a very familiar voice fell on his ears, a voice he'd recognise in a heartbeat. He looked up at you and let out a shaky breath.

God, you were so stunning.

You wore a red satin dress with a deep v back and the way you carried yourself in it reminded him of the goddess you were. He was reminded of the multiple times you told about how a cherry red lipstick and satin dress was enough to make you feel sexy, and he was right infront of the sight of it right now.

"No no, please don't apologise. I wasn't watching where I was going." he said, eyes falling on the spot on champagne that had been spilt on your dress "I'm so sorry about the stain, let me help you."

"It's alright Lewis, I'll get it done myself, it’s just going to the restroom and using some wet tissues." you told him, shaking your head and giving him a polite smile. Hearing his name in your voice after so long made him feel a pang in his chest.

He was pretty surprised about how nice you were to him after everything he did to you. Not giving the relationship enough priority and then breaking up over a bloody text message was absolute cowardice and a dick move from his side. Yet you gave him a sweet smile and didn't cut him off rudely.

"Please, I insist. It's the least I could after all the mess I created." he requested and the way your eyes softened told him that you understood that he wasn't referring only to the champagne stain.

You thought about what he said for a moment, staying in a dilemma if you should let him accompany you. You somehow managed to get over all the pain he caused and Lewis wasn't somebody who held back from speaking his thoughts, no matter how much sugarcoated the words would be. You knew that if you did let him help you, it would take you back to some memories that made your heart hurt at the same time but still brought in a fuzzy feeling.

But no matter what the brain warns you about, the heart wants what it wants, always.

"Sure." you said and he let out a relieved breath, giving you a grateful smile which made his eyes crinkle.

That was a sight you definitely missed, those damn brown eyes with the crinkles by the side.

Being the gentlemen he always was, he placed his hand on your lower back to guide you through the crowd of people, the feeling of his touch on your skin making a shiver pass through your body. God, the man still had the same effect on you.

“Well, what do we do now?” Lewis asked, confusion etched on his face at the sight of the separate washrooms in front of the both of you. The unusual innocence from him the moment had you close to laughing, considering how Lewis didn’t seem to bother about the gender separation in restrooms when he wanted to be with you away from the crowd.

"Well, it's not like the both of us have gone into only one of these together" you shrugged in an unbothered manner and his confusion increased, you were usually the one overthinking in situations like these and Lewis was the one who would pull you in, being his usual rebelious self. 

"But those were different situations.” he weakly argued, knowing that it was going to fail. The roles had reversed tonight and you sure as hell that you were going to drag him in like he used to when things got pretty handsy.

"I'll check the women's, you check the men's; we'll go into whichever's empty." you instruct him and he nods his head.

You check the women's restroom, finding that it wasn't empty. You went out to find Lewis with the door of the men's restroom open, giving you a look which you could understand that the restroom was empty and you nodded your head in understanding.

It was crazy how he didn't have to say anything but you still understood what his expressions meant.

You entered the room and he immediately goes to the corner to get some tissues for you.

"Thank you." you tell him after taking it in your hands "I could've just done it myself you know."

"Like I said, I wanted to help in cleaning the mess I created. If it makes you uncomfortable I can-" he stopped the sentence midway as you gave a nod that indicated that you didn't feel any discomfort, then continued "I watched the recent season of your series, you did an amazing job on it."

"Thank you." you tell him, passing a smile as you worked on cleaning the champagne stain "I heard about your production company by the way, that’s great." you congratulate him.

"Thank you. Um, did you watch this year’s season?" he asked, referring to, looking a bit nervous.

“I watched only Bahrain and Australia. Skipped Jeddah and honestly, I-” you sighed, knowing the answer wasn’t going to be a great one “I just felt better that weekend so I thought maybe just, not watching F1 for a while would be better for me.”

Guilt completely drained into Lewis after hearing that. He knew how much you loved the sport and how passionate about it, it was one the things about you that got him attracted to you— the way you’d grin while discussing about your favourite races, the frown on your face and the irritation in your tone when you rambled about a race that went bad for any of your favourite drivers, which included him. You mentioned how watching F1 got your mind off your hectic life and really helped you in a way, now he had taken it away from you.

But he was grateful about how honest you were, you could've easily blabbered something about how you continued watching the sport because you were very fond of it. He always loved how you didn't hesitate on being open with everyone and even showing vulnerability to the people very close to you.

“How did the season go though?” you asked him rather awkwardly just to push away the silence, fiddling with your dress.

"Well, kind of a shit show to be honest" he let out a dry chuckle " We got the aerodynamics and the floor wrong, a shit ton of break problems too. So just couple of podiums but no wins,I spent most of it just experimenting with the car and getting my back broken."

"That sounds like a complete nightmare, I'm sorry." you apologise. It must've been pretty rocky for him to deal with the season after having a great car for the preceding years; the backache must've been quite a nightmare too.

You couldn't even fathom how Lewis even managed to deal with all the shit that happened to him.

"Lewis, I've been wanting to say this for a while. I'm sorry......for not being there that day. During Abu Dhabi." you finally manage to tell him, leaving out a shaky sigh.

"You already apologized a lot about it then." he nodded, giving an understanding look "it's not your fault that you couldn't be there, you had to be there for your work just like I was for mine."

"Yes, but I still should've been there for you. I don't mean to impose but-" you start but he still continues nodding his head.

"Love, you've never imposed anything on me." he says, placing his hand on yours to comfort you "The problem wasn't you not being there, it was me making the wrong decisions because I wasn't doing great emotionally at the time. You probably hate me now" he mumbled, looking down at the ground in disappointment.

"I've always loved you for the F1 driver you have been, but after meeting you, my feelings for you went beyond because of the person you are. There were days I used to fight with my dad because I wanted to watch the race while he wanted to put on the news, he must've told you about it. And now, despite loving the sport so much, I couldn't watch a single race without losing my mind, I think you can guess why."

"Then why are you still being so nice to me?" he exclaims and you frown at him. You didn't expect him to feel so guilty about it. Did he also feel like there was something unfinished between the two of you?

"I really loved you Lewis. I always felt so loved and in this bubble of happiness and positivity around you. And like I said, you are an amazing human being so I didn't want to hold any hard feelings against you. I don't want to sound harsh but-" you let out a sigh, knowing it was going to sound harsh anyways "you haven't really had many serious relationships because of your work life and our relationship was probably like that too-"

"Woah, wait hold up-" he cuts you off and you wave your hand in front of him, thinking that he felt bad about upsetting you.

"No no, I'm not upset about that or anything. It's alright, I understand." you cut him off and he gives you a pointed look.

"Sweetie stop for a bit and hear me out . Did I really make you feel that way? Like our relationship didn't really mean anything?" he asks you and you shrug at him with a weak expression on your face, not knowing how to explain how you felt.

"Hey, look at me." he says, placing his hand on your cheek and you eyes fall on the face of the gorgeous man in front on you "I want to be very very honest with you right now. For the first time in years, I felt really comfortable and wanted to spend more time with somebody that I was dating. All those moments we had— just cooking together and then watching a movie at my place or all the times you surprised me with something special you planned, I always felt so much at peace with you, like none of the problems from the track would cloud my mind. I missed having your arms wrapped around me after my races, the feeling of your hand running through my hair after a bad race and that beautiful smile after a great one. I miss everything about you so much, I've always loved you and you'll always have a special corner in my heart, I'm so sorry if I didn't express that well." he finishes his soliloquy and you could only look at him in surprise, eyes getting misty and your mind still in a haze of shock, trying to let Lewis' words sink in.

Lewis wasn't really a person who expressed his emotions, the very heavy ones very often. He always kept his guard on, something that sunk into him deep over the years because of the constant emotions that came thwarting as an after effect on him racing. This was the most vulnerable he'd been to you after all the time you spent together.

You craved to see that side of him while you were together, the guy beneath all the solid rock exterior he had but you never voiced your thoughts to him. You wanted him to take him time to open up to you, to feel comfortable and during the race at Monza last year, it finally felt that he was beginning to feel the comfort with you, just like you did with him. But because of the way he broke up with you after Abu Dhabi, it felt like you looked into everything too much and that Lewis probably didn't feel that way around you.

Now that he voiced his feelings, it was like your feet had been stuck to the ground and everything around you stopped moving. You felt scared yet so fuzzy on the inside.

"Then why did you let me go?" you asked him and the broken look on your face made him want to wrap you in his arms and soothe all the wounds he caused, giving you all the love you deserved.

"I just- I felt nothing at the time, it was just numbness. It was one of the worst things that ever happened to me, I couldn't burden you with my problems and all the emotions I was going through." he explained.

"Lew," you tell softly, taking a step forward so as to be closer to him "that wouldn't have been a burden to me, never. I've always cared about you and loved you. It's totally alright to lean onto somebody and let them hold your hand. That's what I wanted to do. Remember Monza? You don't really have to talk or open up until you want to, just being with a comforting company does it all. I was your girlfriend, all I wanted was to just be there for you. Through whatever it was, happiness or pain. Just like how I was there during your seventh at Turkey, I wanted to be there the same way after what happened at Abu Dhabi. There's nothing wrong in showing your emotions or letting it out, you're just as human as everybody is"

"I've missed out on so many things in life because I've given it all to racing and I don't want to let go of you, you make my life so much better. I don't deserve you but-" he starts and you shook your head at him.

"Don't be ridiculous now. I always felt so loved, safe and at peace around you. You're all I've ever wanted." you tell him, taking his hand in yours and intertwining them.

"I barely came to support you at work, you'd been to so many races." he said but you gave him a look, indicating him to stop the self blame knowing how deep he'd go into that.

"We've already spoken about that before, we've both missed a lot of events because of our work and the pandemic restrictions. Now that it's done, we can work on that too yeah?" you tell him.

"You want to work on us again?" he says and the way his eyes brightened up in hope brought a smile on your lips.

There was nothing the both of you would leave unfinished.

"Only if you don't shut me out again." you tell him, knowing what damage it caused the last time "Nothing about you is a burden to me. We can make it through, I'm always here for you."

"I'm so sorry." he says, pulling you in for a hug by holding your waist "I won't let things go wrong this time, proper communication this time okay?".

"Please don't let me fall again." you mumbled, placing your forehead on his.

"I'll hold onto you tight, I promise. Never letting you go again." he says, wrapping his arms around your waist and placing a kiss on your forehead.

You were back with your person and it filled you with peace, that love came back to you.

[babypinkromantics]

It Always Leads To You In My Hometown .𖥔 ݁ ˖

Ship: Halle Bailey / Jonah Hauer-King

Summary: Halle anxiously waits when the day Jonah arrives back home in London from being away shooting his new film, she misses him terribly and reminisces on her memories with him during their last fall/winter break together in hopes this time around will be just as magical when he’s finally hers again..

Warning’s: unprotected sex, teasing, choking, pet names sort of, dirty talk a bit, blow jobs, P in V action, explicit language, lots of fluff, romance, longing & yearning, Taylor Swift references and lyrics, autumn and christmas activities

Word count: 5k

A/N: In this universe, I was thinking this took place about eight months to a year after they first start officially dating. So although they’ve moved in together, Halle is still getting used to the new environment around her, and also what it’s like to be in a relationship with someone who’s job is to be away for months at a time. It’s still very new to her — and missing Jonah is all that runs through her mind the whole summer she’s been in his hometown without him.

Just like the title, this work is based off of Tis’ the damn season off of Evermore by Taylor swift. So there’s lots of references and easter eggs to the song through the fic for all my fellow swiftie’s or anyone who notices :)

.𖥔 ݁ ˖✧˖° ⁺ 𓂋 𓈒 ♡

It was one of those bright but foggy days, where the sun had been shining down on the mucky streets of London after a half an hour shower of rain.

Halle hoped for a rainbow, or anything really to appear within the large gaping fogged up window of her the fitting room. Just one multicolored stripe to take her mind off of the next pin stuck she was anticipating, or an even bigger nudge at her nerves when she’d see her phone light up with a text from her ever traveling prince.

Even though it’s been a little over a week since Halle knew Jonah would be thousands of miles away filming, and returning back home to London — to her, she still had been awaiting the moment time and time again. She couldn’t tell if she was nervous or excited, but she knew the slight nausea deep down, the aching put there had to of meant something. And she knew from the outside it could of seemed a bit looney to be so highly strung about her lover making his way back home. But she also knew no one could understand.

The way it’s been almost three months since she last held him in her embrace, ran her fingertips through his waves, and kissed him like there were no other humans on earth.

They just wouldn’t get the immense feelings of warmth in her heart when she got to have him in a way not one other soul could relate to. It was a sacred feeling. It was her feeling. Just the remembrance of the sensation had Halle hardly able to focus on her dress fitting at hand. All she could see in her mind was getting loose of the hands measuring and adjusting her body — and running into the arms of the man who she called home.

“Halle ?”

A voice flushed over her, and nearly frightened Halle right out of her daydreams. She jumped and caught a breathe as she turned to her smiling, yet confused, assistant holding a tablet in front of her.

“Yes?” Halle spoke with a lose note to let her heart race simmer down.

“We wanted to know your input on if the dress for the gala should be hanker shift or pleated ?” Her assistant asked.

She gazed at Halle in a long pause before the overwhelmed girl batted her eyelashes in tension and looked up from the ground to give her answer with at least indecision as possible.

“I’m leaning towards hanker shift, I want to be comfortable for the evening. And I don’t want to worrying about the spills at brunch — I know those pleats can be impossible to clean.”

“Noted.” her assistant stylist dotted her i’s on her tablet and turned away. Scurrying back to work and leaving Halle to dote towards the window once again, as her fingertips lead up to her necklace. Pearly and encrusted with chipped shells that were laced with the smell of summer and salt air. She held it. Getting lost in her thoughts and imagery once more.

-⟢

When Halle had finally finished up at her fitting and got back to the flat, she opened the front door and took a deep sigh along with a glance around the place.

She thought if she should clean ? But it was really always clean. The only time the space wouldn’t be tidy was when she and Jonah would be carelessly doing their afternoon activities. Like when they had paint Saturday’s and they would fill their home up with splashes of almost every color on the walls. Or when the season changed they would make new canvases.

Halle’s heart filled with warmth for the memories of getting to express her artistic side with Jonah. The way he taught her so much about how different the art culture was to the English was so fascinating. She could listen to him talk about it forever — she loved how he was so knowledgeable on almost everything. It meant the most to have her craving for deep and meaningful conversation to be filled with her time with him.

She decided everything was perfect as is and would go to feed Poseidon instead.

“There you go baby,” she spoke gently to Poseidon with a smile as she set down his bowl and gave him a sweet stroke on his fur. She took the milk and honey out of the fridge and set it on the counter. It was Jonah’s favorite after a long day of traveling this time of year, and Halle would always sit on his lap and enjoy a cup with him.

They would stay at the house Jonah’s parents owned in north London where it always snowed the most, the fire would be on, and even with the heat breaking through the crisp air, nothing made her warmer than being interwoven with the man she loved right there in the flesh. To know he wasn’t leaving and she had him all season long. Curled up and snuggled on the couch, Jonah would tell her to let him keep her there forever. Even if she wanted him to let go so she could use the bathroom for a quick second, he was always going to refuse — and she would laugh.. and when she looked, he was laughing too. With eyes smiling right at her in admiration and pure love. Halle waited all summer long for this time around just for moments like that again.

Blinking quickly Halle had realized she was intensely watching Poseidon devour his food while she lost her own conscious mind to let her heart yearn. Forcing herself off of the kitchen counter she entered the bedroom and turned on the head of the shower faucet and let the water run for some time so it would heat up to the temperature of her liking.

Halle made a promise to herself that she wouldn’t look at her phone unless it was a text from Jonah letting her know he was on his way home. She knows Jonah is a busy man and that shooting her a text could slip his mind, something she completely understood. But she much rather not look than drive herself mad with missing him. So she stripped down and carried on to washing up —

Grabbing her towel and wrapping up in it before turning off the water, Halle stepped out of the shower and got dry quickly, taking a deep sigh sitting on the bed, with nothing but the white cloth and wet hair.

She stared at her feet for a while. Wiggling her toes. And even her finger nails, she tried hard not to pick at them. Laying back and staring at the ceiling, getting washed away by her thoughts. It was about fifteen minutes prior to Halle finally drifting off to sleep. Cold from the after math of her steamy shower, but letting it be to make the warmth she would feel in Jonah’s arms later on, even more heavenly to the touch.

What felt like decades to Halle, was no more than thirty long minutes when she finally heard the clicking of the door down the hall being unlocked and the sound of shoes on the hardwood floor.

The sleep hazed girl nearly jumped up out of her slumber and hurried to the bedroom door where she walked out and stopped when she saw Jonah standing by the front door petting Poseidon with a huge smile on his face, he looked up at her and grinned when he saw the girl who put the sunshine in his day staring back at him.

Halle started walking over to him, but the closer she got the more exited the skip in her step was.

“Halle,” the dark haired man smiled as he stared at her face “Halle..” there was a dip in his voice and his eyebrows furrowed when he looked down at her attire to see the girl wrapped up in nothing but a short towel.

And when she finally embraced him, her arms slid up his back and her cheek hit his chest ever so gently but with all the force at the same time, nearly making him lose his balance. Jonah let out a chuckle and placed his lips on the top of her head while holding her small frame to him. Halle said nothing for a minute as she settled into the feeling of his large hands gliding across her back and hugging her like there was no tomorrow. She couldn’t get enough of it. She didn’t want enough of it.

Jonah already knew he wouldn’t get a moment of freedom once he stepped foot through the door and Halle got to him. But he missed her so much he didn’t care to mind it at all.

“I missed you,” Halle finally spoke and she twisted her head to look up at him. “Why didn’t you text me ?”

“I wanted to surprise you ! ” He looked down at her happily. “And this is definitely… a surprise.” Jonah had to laugh at the fact Halle didn’t even bother to slip on proper clothes before coming out here to meet him.

“I showered then I fell asleep,” she blushed at the way he stared down at her and her towel just meeting the start of her thighs.

“I’m sure you did.” he thought it was more likely this was one of Halle’s stunts to throw him off track of just getting home and attending to anything that wasn’t her. And Halle couldn’t bear look him in the eyes like this.

The feeling of his crystal blues staring down at her especially when she hadn’t really had clothing on — would never be something she’d get used to. She’d get way too shy and melt right there. So her eyes drifted to just beneath where one of his curls fell over his face. A faint but new scar had been revealed as Halle brushed her thumb over the area.

“What’s this ? Does it hurt ? ” She asked gently.

“Stunts on set aren’t technically safe. But it’s nothing really.” He told her and continued to stare down at her as she examined the reddened scar.

She tugged on his shoulders so he’d come to her eye level and he did. Halle kissed the top of his forehead where the scar had been and she smiled.

Jonah couldn’t help the sensation of excitement and butterflies Halle gave him, she was all he could think about while he was away.. he even wondered if Halle drove herself as insane as he did while they had been apart last summer.

He always tells himself he can manage the falling asleep together over Face-Time and trying to update one another on what they each had for lunch, but nothing could ever compare to holding her right here in his arms. Looking into her honey like eyes and breathing the same sweet air she breathed. He would go to sleep at night dreaming of when he’d have her again and he almost couldn’t believe she was real and with him in this moment right now.

Not being able to take another minute without her lips on his — Jonah scooped her up off the ground and Halle squealed in delight as she wrapped her body around the man tightly.

They were so close. The closest they’ve been in three whole months. Finally content in each others embrace and smiling like idiots, Jonah brushed his nose against Halle’s as he held her, a soft soothing smile on his lips and Halle took what she wanted by kissing them.

It started off slow, and they gradually melted into each other, being able to take it a step farther and reach the perfect angle being level to one another. Halle deepened the kiss and her fingers started to get lost in his curls as more time passed and they started to smooch with hunger by the second.

Soon, Halle's hands had called to cup Jonah’s face and she could feel the touch of his beard scratch against her palms, he hesitated no more to start leading them both to the bedroom and Halle wanted to pull away to speak again, but she just couldn’t stop herself from pulling Jonah’s bottom lip into her own for more. To kiss him forevermore.

And he let her.

Eventually she pulled her face from his, lips almost going crimson. “Don’t you wanna unpack ?” She had spoken nearly out of breath.

“The only thing I want to unpack now is what’s underneath that towel,”

Normally Halle would of blushed or giggled like a school girl if her skin wasn’t so lit and fiery from the way they just made out in perfect unison. It was safe to say how lucky she got knowing her boyfriend knew how to really kiss a girl.

Jonah had gently let Halle fall to the bed in front of them, and she bit her lip slightly as she backed up comfortably, not breaking eye contact with the gorgeous built man above her once. He followed her only shortly after, hovering just above Halle's placed body and reaching to remove the towel from her before she stopped him.

“No.” She shook her head just a bit, a more mischievous smirk running across her lips as she now looked at the more confused Jonah staring at her from only inches away. Halle looked down ever so slightly and Jonah followed her eye-line to where her delicate hands had been innocently inching towards the belt buckle of his denim’s, Halle had unlatched it. He hurried to lean up — giving her more room to finish what she had started and Halle did exactly that, following him, she let her thumb flick open the button. She unzipped his pants, leading up to her taking his length out into her hands and glancing up at him once more as she did so.

Jonah could only hope Halle couldn’t hear the way his heart was pounding in his chest, but little did he know hers was probably going ten times harder. She slowly and carefully moved her hand up his shaft.

“Mmm, I missed you” Halle spoke softly and Jonah let a heavy breath out from his lungs as he watched her hands work on him in the most silky way. Like her hands had never been there, but were all over him once. An angel that only he could see like this. And her words were like prayers to him. All coming true at last.

Halle had let her tongue run against against the tip of his dick for a moment and she loved the way his addams apple bobbed as he watched her movements. Eye contact being tested when he noticed her lips sink around him, and Jonah tired with every molecule of his might not to let his eyes flutter shut. He couldn’t miss a single moment of this.

All Halle wanted to do was give him everything he wanted, it was all that mattered to her. To make him feel at home after all this time. She stared up at him with the most wide eyes as she took him into the back of her mouth, her hand still going at the same time.

“Halle, baby…” Jonah huffed out quietly as he reached for her hair, Halle had wished so badly he’d just pull it, but she knew Jonah was always going to be gentle with her no matter what. He thought her lips were just so…. Perfect. He wanted nothing more than to move his hips, and she let out a whimper from somewhere in the back of her throat as he nearly did. Sucking slowly with the only push of her going faster to take more of him into her mouth.

The sight of his lips parting so gently to let out a soft moan just set Halle off. She thought every inch of him tasted just like heaven, she felt like she could do this to him all day if he wanted, and she really would.

Jonah then suddenly pulled out of her mouth in a hurry and he held himself with his panting chest going up and down. “Halle” he caught his breath.

She could only grin softly as she watched the state he was in and she wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her palm.

“I-I still want to.. be inside of you” he told her with a soft smile and airy pant as his heart got back to beating at a normal rate.

Halle has gotten closer to him once again and placed her hand on his hip as he stood to take off his shirt, the feeling of him being absent already haunting her. Jonah took off his pants fully and soon enough he was coming back to her with a sly smile across his lips. Giving her a peck on the lips, she fell back on the bed again and this time submitted herself to him effortlessly. He had pulled at the top of her towel and let it fall, revealing in his opinion, the body of the most gorgeous woman he had ever laid his eyes on.

He wanted to lay his touch on her skin so quickly and just worship the body she had surrendered to him. And with a small lick of his lips and a quick glance up at her face, he had to restrain himself to admire every inch of her glowing brown skin in the evening light of the sunsetting just beyond the cold window glass.

Halle didn’t think she had ever been so love stricken by anyone, and definitely not now when all she could think about was the way Jonah’s teal blue’s made sure to cover every inch of her. Never really having anyone look at her this way before made her heart ache — but in the most glorious of ways. And as intimidating as it could seem, she couldn’t have felt any safer with him. Like this. Vulnerable and in his embrace finally.

Closing her eyes just before he had left a kiss to her neck, and once more till he was leaving a trail down her collarbone and his hands slid up her rib cage to cup her breast in his butter like hands. When she let out a quite but divine moan she couldn’t stop reminding herself that if he wasn’t hers she’d just be so envious of anyone else who got to feel his kind of love not only physically, but emotionally too.

“So, how do you want this ?” Jonah had came up to push some of her hair from her eyes and Halle looked up at him with lustful eyes and a smile that only spoke of adventure.

“Surprised me.” She said with a bubbly note, and Jonah held her with complete stillness like she was the most fragile and priceless gem in the world.

“You really don’t get enough of those do you ?” He chuckled. And Halle rolled her eyes playfully.

“Just shut up and fuck me already,”

Jonah couldn’t deny the fact he loved Halle’s vulgar side that would come out when she was really wanting him. He missed the carefreeness of her attitude in times like these and it only made him more excited to pull her over the edge with him.

He lined himself up with her entrance as best as he could. Halle had reached for his arms, and before she knew it her nails had already been semi digging into his skin when he pushed into her slowly.

Halle’s jaw had fallen as she let out an obvious moan, and her lips had trembled a bit. It had been a serious while since she had the sensation of practically being split in half by him. And it was no easy feeling to get used to. She held onto him tighter and Jonah’s head had fallen to the crock of her neck with an airy whimper as he slid through her with ease the farther he got.

“You got this wet just from sucking my cock didn’t you ?” Jonah grinned as he whispered in Halle’s ear — getting a rush of immediate pleasure when he felt her tighten around him when his words passed through her, and she buried her face in his shoulder only to make muffled noises when he had sunk into her fully, then repeated it again, sending her head flying back against the pillow. Jonah had thrusted into her slowly only until her core had gotten so used to him by now he could eventually go faster.

Halle had whined out as Jonah kissed her lips and went to wrap his arms around her fully, to where there had been no space between them and he could feel her heart rate speed up against his.

“Oh my god.. yes-” Halle could feel sweat beginning to form on her skin as Jonah picked up the pace in just the right spot and they moved in perfect unison.

Halle fought not to close her eyes — she loved the way she could feel every vein of him against her walls as he pounded into her. Jonah let out a deep groan while Halle’s hair had gone wild the more he fucked her with less and less restriction, letting all his pent up passion from every time the teasing girl would send him kisses through the phone or pictures in the shower. It was so much he couldn’t help himself. Halle had gasped when Jonah leaned up to glide his hands around her neck, firmly but all with tenderness as he thrusted into her harder and she pulsed every inch with spreading herself for him more.

“Jonah..” Halle sobbed out as her hands and legs began to shake and she had bitten her lip tightly in pleasure, her head starting to spin with every time her body and core would fall weaker each time Jonah would pull completely out of her and thrust back in harder.

“Hey, look at me. Keep looking at me Halle,” he breathed out quickly, grabbing the girl’s attention back on her lover and she did exactly that. She looked up at him even with her heart pounding out of her chest. And her toes curling like crazy, Jonah still brought a thumb to her cheek to stroke gently as he worked her through it, he didn’t break eye contact with her once as he started to fuck her more roughly into the bedding beneath them. Tears started forming in Halle’s eyes while she moaned uncontrollably and wrapped her hands around his wrist on her collarbone.

The heedless sounds being formed between them only bounced off the walls and echoed back to her ears. It was intense, and Halle would be lying to herself if she didn’t admit to quite liking the idea of being so exhibited for him, she thought he was beautiful on top of her and that’d never change. Jonah had leaned his forehead against hers combining their sweat as he groaned along with a swear under his breath.

“I’m gonna- I think I’m gonna.. fuck ! ” Halle cried out. “Hold me.”

“Let it out sweet girl, I’m right here.” Jonah had reminded her gently and that’s when he felt Halle’s body shake uncontrollably underneath him, whimpering as she came on his dick. And he couldn’t help but to let himself watch in awe as she did so.

“Yeah, just like that… shit..” his movements had only gotten sloppy as he started to spill inside of her — Halle shut her eyes and dug her nails straight into his back at the feeling of him filling her up to the point she couldn’t stand it. Her body froze and fell into complete Arcadia, and she couldn’t move as she took any and everything.

Halle felt her last tear roll down her cheek and she began to feel funny, but in a blissful way. Like the stars in her eyes were the way of showing up after a blessing had been done and gifted.

She never loosened her grip on Jonah at all. His chest heaved as he leaned up on his knees and brought Halle with him. At this point she had been sensitive to every slight movement, and the feeling of Jonah shifting the both of them only made her cling to him tighter as he was still attached to her tender core.

He kissed her cheek softly and rubbed her back as he breathed out into the side of her neck. His heart slowing back to normal, as well as hers while they both came down from their high.

“I love you” Halle said quietly. Hearing those words leave her lips in her sweet little voice made Jonah’s insides flutter all over again. It’s all he’s been waiting to hear in person for weeks and he couldn’t be happier he got to love Halle into mangled bits like this. To be the only reason she would happy cry. And to feel her release on him like nectar from the sweetest honeycomb. Jonah would give Halle the world and entire galaxy if she wanted and he hoped she knew that deep down like she knew faith in her heart. He rose to meet her eye line again.

“I love you, Angel. Thank you for everything.” He gave the girl a loving smile as she cupped his face, a smile delicate and happily widening on her face as well. She kissed his lips and softly led him back to the pillows with her again. This time under the covers to fit snug in each other’s arms — where they held quite conversation until they both drifted off to sleep.

-⟢

The next day Halle had rose from what she would have said was the best slumber she’s gotten in months. And she could certainly blame it on the sex from the night before, but overall — feeling safe, and protected all night long with Jonah’s arms cradling her cozily throughout the night.

She rubbed her eyes with the hand that had been gently placed on his chest, looking up to see dark curls and the familiar sight of her beautiful man sleeping soundly. She smiled fondly as her tired eyes examined the room in the new daylight. Halle could spend a lifetime with him here. Just like this.

And the certification that she would have mornings like these guaranteed all season long, was exactly what she had been dreaming of since the beginning of last summer.

The girl leaned up gently to check her phone. As soon as the screen lit up Halle read the time had already been 2pm, her eyes went wide for a quick second. The fact that they had already slept in half a day making her chuckle to herself softly. Usually, it was almost always Jonah waking up at the crack of dawn, and Halle had no clue how’d he have so much energy that early in the morning — she envied him for it. It was a little bit unbelievable he had stayed asleep with her for so long, but she could understand the jet lag and obvious tiresome muscles from what a night they had.

The feeling of Halle’s sudden absence had started to wake Jonah up slowly as he reached out to feel her forearm gently. He groaned,

“Where’d my girlfriend sized pillow go ?”

“It’s two in the afternoon sleepy head.” Halle turned to look at him and he had sat up quickly to face her.

“Jesus,” he had blinked up at her in confusion “I don’t think I’ve ever slept in this late since… well, ever.”

“Oh, I know.” Halle laughed softly and hugged her knees to her chest against the cushions. “But there’s a first time for everything I suppose.”

Jonah had focused on Halle and realized she had been wearing his blouse from the night before. He raised his eyebrow. “Remind me when you slipped yourself into my shirt last night you little thief ?…”

“I have my ways.” She shrugged and zipped her lips.

“It’s swallowing you.” He laughed.

“I sleep in your clothes every night when you’re away !” She had crawled to him with giggles leaving her lips and she sat in front of the amused man who chuckled at her enthusiasm. “What else would I wear when I have to touch myself to the thought of you ?”

Halle grinned and Jonah tried to keep his cool by messing with her.

“Creepy and a minx. Got it.” He told her slyly and Halle gasped.

“You stalked me for like three years-“ Jonah cut her off by yelling “Tickle time !” As he pulled her into his lap. And Halle let out a high pitched squeal along with a trail of giggles and laughter shouting “stop it !” In between her squirming. And Jonah laughed as he ran his fingers all over her, too pleased with himself and how easy it is to get Halle to stop talking and giggle.

Halle knew for a fact she hadn’t been this giddy in months, with the daunting day to day responsibilities, and her boyfriend who brought the warmth in the cold of autumn to her doorstep, being thousands of miles away. But now that he was here, with her, making her heart shine bright and giving her every reason to smile — She just wanted to ride around with him like they would do last time around. Look at the Christmas lights decorated on house by house throughout the neighborhoods. Or the beautifully lit stores and seasonal stops that would go all out for the holiday’s.

He made everything so fun here — like a second home town to her. She had felt at home in his home. And the possibilities were endless now that Jonah was hers at last. He loves her and she loves him.

And just that was enough to convince her she’d never leave the warmest soul she’d ever known.

[aggold15hi01]

Paula's Tumblr Fan Fiction- The Australian Grand Prix 2024- A Lolex Fan fiction- Chapter 1

Author's note; I did this originally on my Blogspot and I am feeling truthfully infuriated with how does Blogspot has issues with me today obviously.

Anyway; enjoy this Lolex Fan Fiction I did wrote this 'toughest' fan fiction I ever done in my very own life.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the respective pictures and none of them are mine.

Credits goes to Alex Albon, Logan Sargeant; P*ntr*st and also the people whom they worked their magic behind the scenes both in person and online too as well.

Written's from Logan's P.O.V

Trigger Warning: Mentions of Alex Albon's intense accident from Australian GP 2024 and also mentions of D*pr*ss**n(?) [I'm not so sure]

Logan's P.O.V

While I am truthfully minding my own business as usual by having to truly listen to V-Cha's 'Girls of the year' through my pair of Space Grey Airpod Max Headphones: I am also singing along to the song very quietly just as I am now watching the Free Practice session on the screen as well; then all of the sudden; when Alex had gotten into a very heavy crash, I did ended up turning my head away from seeing that crash from Alex ever since not only it does looks truthfully super intense for a crash but also at the same time by the when I take look up at the screen after I shield myself from looking at the screen: I did remembered there are commotions of how the first free practice session had to be cancelled with a red flag session while the commentators had mentioned that the car had been severely damaged plus this really makes me turn to the thought of Alex who is my current team mate as although he is five years older than me and yet he also had experience as well during his time in F1; my heart suddenly plummet out of nowhere just as I am now feeling worried about my current team mate whom he and I--we both are the opposite attracts personality wise.

While Alex is very outspoken with his wicked sense of humor; meanwhile I am more of the soft-spoken and reserved type of person: knowing that sometimes I'd think I did truthfully ended up overthinking too much about the little things that I shouldn't be worrying about as well; I felt as if sometimes I kept having the thoughts of the performance which I did truthfully have on me: myself and I plus yet, I didn't truthfully realize that there are certain times when I had placed too much high expectations on myself to the point where I had became a people pleaser thus  . . . this is where music does came into the picture and usually it does truthfully helps me to truthfully focus on whatever I can truthfully control in my very own life instead of focusing on what I couldn't even control in my very own life obviously.

As I am about to walk out of the garage; I did bumped into Gaetan Jego who is my race engineer and the first thing I did spoke to him are those words:

"Hey, is he okay? Is Alex okay?" I asked him breathlessly while I press the button on the right side of my Air pod Max to go from 'noise cancellation' mode to 'transparent' mode while I am asking him the question about Alex's status of his health condition.

"Yes, he seems to be okay; no serious injuries on him despite how he had survive a heavy crash; Logan." He replied to me he looks at me ominously just as I am feeling truthfully worried about my outspoken team mate.

I let out a gasp before I replied to my race engineer with a set of distressing words which I did truthfully said it all in one sentence just before I take off into a sprint: "No, I got to check up on him."  

"Wait, are you sure: Logan? Don't you think you should be preparing for the second practice session?" He ask me before I can response to Gaetan's question while running into a sprint where I went to Alex's garage where now his car does looks as if it does looks more like pieces of debris you could truthfully find it either under the sea with countless shipwrecks and also sometimes they could wash ashore on the edge of the beach.

As I frantically search for Alex; I did finally found him at one of the motorhomes where he is now sitting down on a couch with his pair of long sleeve blue fireproof shirts which create a contrast between the outer layer of the white racing suits which we are now sporting as part of our 2024 Livery as he had his head down with a dejected look on his face.

"Alex, are you okay?" I asked him while I enter the motorhome without even knocking on the door but because of what had happened earlier on how intense the crash is earlier that Alex had experienced it earlier and oh boy, it was so scary to the point where I did felt as if I wanted to truthfully check on him despite how I did have to truly go out later on the second free practice session.

"Huh? What? Logan?" He ask me while he is feeling truly dazed from what had happened earlier.

"Yeah; it's me, what on earth had happened to you?!" I ask; sounding both shock and surprised while I place my headphone around my neck after I paused the song.

"I am feeling okay but I truly don't know if I can probably race again; bud."

"What do you mean you don't know if you can truthfully race any more; bud?" I ask, now feeling truthfully confused.

"I really don't know, man: it is just way too much for me to handle especially how intense it was earlier despite how I am feeling thankful that it is a miracle I did managed to both survive and escape from that harmful crash unscathed."

"I know but you can't let that discourage you." I protest, now sounding equally both genuinely distressed and scared at the same time just as I am feeling stressed out all because of a crash must had given him a scare and yet; when I spoke to him in this way: I did felt as there is a waves of protection washes over me mentally and spiritually just if someone tries to hurt Alex in every step of the way just as the same as how Alex would do as an older brother if they did the same with me.

Although I may be younger than either Alex or my older brother Dalton but I am not letting anyone or anybody simply just speak about them especially in a very toxic way.

"I know but . . ."

"Listen to me, Alex: i know you may not have a car to drive and I knew you experience a scary accident but it doesn't mean you can truly let it deter you from having to continue on with Formula 1 career and you knew how far you had made it obviously and I'm serious; man." I said while placing both pair of my hands onto Alex's shoulder as I felt as if I did truly wanted to shake him so hard to give him a well-deserved wake up call from having to truly criticize himself just as when he did went into an unexpected downward spiral from both the self hate and self harm by having to simply destruct him as a form of self abuse.

"Logan; I don't think I truly can do this and all and  . . ."

"Just listen to me, would you; Alex?!" I protested; now sounding equally distressed; shocked, hurt: angered and scared about what exactly he is truthfully experiencing now in his very own life.

I know I maybe years younger than him however I am not going to let him became deterred by the waves of both the self destruction and the self abuse to simply destroy him out of nowhere.

"Logan?" He ask me after waking up from the hazy feeling of the numbness he had to truthfully experience in his very own life.

"Alex . . ." I moan while I had mentioned his name out of instant concern plus my pair of Pacific eyes sparkles with nothing but concern and sadness.

"Look man, I know it is too much to ask however . . . can you give the space? I mean . . . right now; i do need the space to truthfully take the time to think." He ask me tiredly while heaving a deep and an equally heavy sigh just as when he tries to wake up very early in the morning,

"Wait; what?" I ask him softly to match his current voice which my present team mate is talking towards me despite how he is now staring down on the floor; wishing the floor can open up a huge hole where it could swallow him out of nowhere then he would instantly disappear out of nowhere.

"I mean I would like to truly get the space and time I do truthfully needed, Logan." He replied to me very softly.

[therisingphoenixden]

So, I was feeling kind of rough at the end of last week and decided to dip into my stash of comfort video games.

What did I pick?

The first Pillars of Eternity game.

Longish ramblings about why I love this game under the cut!

I feel like I have very weird tastes in comfort games because Pillars of Eternity is not at all what I'd call a cozy or comforting game. In fact, it's quite bleak in a lot of places. But it has amazing depth to its lore and story that grounds you while also pulling you in, wonderfully written characters that make the world of Eora feel alive, gorgeous music (if you watch Critical Role, especially during campaign 2, you'll recognize a lot of the music in the game), and several very unique races to use as your player character in addition to the usual standards of dwarves, elves, and humans. The dialogue system lets you shape your character even further with race, class, stat allotment, and your reputation and personality scores opening up different paths to pick from.

The story also deals with questions surrounding faith and religion, the nature of the soul, and features heavy reincarnation themes. If you know my love of Morrowind, you know that this kind of stuff is my catnip.

Combat-wise, I play on story mode because I'm a story-first kind of player. I'm also usually very exhausted and am up very early in the mornings on weekdays. But even story mode can be a bit of a challenge when you prefer to roleplay as a character and not what the "best" race/class combos and builds are for Path of the Damned mode. Granted, I'm overleveled for where I am in the story (both in base game and in White March 2), but it's still enough of a challenge for my permanently exhausted mind to enjoy. You still have to think tactically so your party isn't overwhelmed, which tickles the part of my brain that grew up playing rts games.

I'm currently dawdling with completing act 2 on my fire godlike cipher, Xiuhitl, just because I missed playing around in the world of Eora so much and I'm not ready to hit Twin Elms and proceed to the endgame yet. I'm taking options that I haven't before and discovering quests that I completely missed in my first few playthroughs of the game. It's almost like playing it for the first time all over again, especially since I haven't played in a while. I remember some of the major story beats, but not all of them, and I'm not ashamed to admit I got lost once or twice because I think the last time I played was during lockdown. But I prefer to say it's a testament to the game itself where I get drawn in and turned around because I wanted to read the ambient dialogue or listen to the bard in Stalwart sing.

The real adventure is the journey - not the endgame. And in a world that's still very magical while maintaining firm and believably realistic roots, why would you want the adventure to end so quickly?

[blackjackkent]

Need to take a moment to percolate on Rakha's emotional hook here right now because I feel like I haven't solidified it yet. I'm really trying to lean into the idea that she really does remember nothing - she's surprised at her own magic, willing to believe she and Lae'zel could be the same race, doesn't remember her own face, and isn't entirely confident the whole world isn't like this terrible ship. Which is fun, but it's making it a little complicated to find an emotional throughline, which I want so I can get attached to her and have all the feels. XD

So... some ponderings as we move towards getting Shadowheart:

She's scared, certainly, and violently angry for reasons she doesn't fully understand. The vibe I'm getting is kind of in the realm of 'kicked dog'; she's ready to lash out at anything unfamiliar, but EVERYTHING is unfamiliar right now, and any other potential personality is getting pretty much smothered under that fact for now. She only hasn't killed Lae'zel because Lae'zel managed to provide an anchor point of absolute confidence during the time when Rakha was too bewildered to strike.

I just now got to Shadowheart's pod and the Arcana check that a sorcerer gets to detect the magic connecting the pod to the console, and have been sitting here for a moment pondering on why Rakha would stop to help her when both her own instincts and Lae'zel are telling her to gtfo.

The answer that I'm coming up with is that she's fascinated by the magic itself - both her own magic and that in the world around her. As a sorcerer, it seems, she has a certain innate sense of its presence ("Warding runes - you feel them drawing energy from the console near to the pod.") and I think it probably stands out as an interesting contrast to the only other things she is feeling which are fear and rage.

She's also striking me as having a very analytical mind (cf. the 'listing of facts' in the first post, analyzing Lae'zel's characteristics, etc.) and likes knowing how things work, despite her INT not being numerically very high; focusing on the Cold Hard Facts is a reasonable default when the only emotions making themselves known are negative ones.

So - obviously this can and likely will change over time but my initial impression is of a magical prodigy, instinctively drawn to any connection with the Weave she encounters, constantly taking in the world around her and trying to understand it - and constantly ready to lash out at anything that threatens or angers her (or anything she doesn't know) with a level of instantaneous rage that she doesn't understand.

OK, I feel better for having rambled that out. XD We'll see how it holds up in the long run.

With all that in mind...

-----

Rakha is absolutely AGITATING Lae'zel by stopping to figure out how to open the pod. And agitating herself, in truth. They need to keep moving. The answers will be on the bridge, not here.

But the undulating force of that warding magic is compelling; it tastes familiar, like safety. She wants to see where the connection lies, manipulate it, communicate with it.

She examines the console carefully; her fingertips flick in an automatic motion, instinctive renderings of symbols taken from within the magic's own pulse.

[SORCERER] Inscribe the device with the glyphs you sensed from the pod's warding runes.

Narrator: The console hums to life.

A smile, for the first time since she woke up. Just the hint of one. Good. That was good.

[ARCANA] Take a closer look at the powered-up console.

Narrator: Nothing in the appearance of the device betrays its purpose. It could do anything.

She sets her jaw angrily, slams her hand down against the button as much in irritation as intention.

Place your hand on the console.

Narrator: Suddenly you feel a hideous squirming in your head. The parasite. Then discomfort fades... and another sensation washes over you. Connection. Authority...

Authority. Yes. It feels natural, it feels right, in the same way that it felt right to inscribe those runes a moment ago. And what else does she have to go on?

[ILLITHID][WISDOM] Will the pod to open.

Narrator: You feel the biomechanical brain of the console process your command... and yield to it. A shiver runs across your mind. You feel... sated...

"Ha--ahh..." she grunts, her head drawing back, pulling away from the connection with the console. Lae'zel is watching her with an irritated expression.

Rakha scowls at her. Do not look at me like that. It called to me and I answered. "Let us get the girl and go," she mutters.

[copiousloverofcopia]

Exciting news Primo lovers! I couldn't help but write the next installment of Potpourri early and guess what? IT IS LIVE!!!!

Thank you all for all your love and support! Once I reach either 100 fics on AO3 or 1500 followers on here, whatever happens first, I will be doing a fic giveaway. More details to follow but anyways thank you all so much for reading!

Please if you like my work, share it!

Potpourri

During his retirement, Papa Primo Emeritus falls in love with a new Sister of Sin who has suffered a tragic loss. While the new sister settles into the Abbey, Primo can’t help but grow more infatuated with her. Promising to give her everything she desires, but can he win her affections when she still can’t let go of the past?

Chapter 7: Honeysuckle

Also available HERE on AO3! Haven’t started yet, start from the beginning HERE!

Definitely NSFW below the cut

Guinevere lie awake in her bed, staring up at her hand. Tracing the lines of her palm as she held it out before her. Hand illuminated in the moonlight that flooded in from her window. Her mind still lingering on the feel of Primo’s hand on hers into the early hours of the morning. 

It had been such a long time since something as innocent as holding hands had affected her so. Fuzzy memories of middle school puppy love, swirling in her mind. Her heart, racing at the thought of it. Wondering if she would ever return to a time when love was a magical thing—one that brought her happiness and not pain. 

She knew it was Primo. He was the one making her second guess. The one who made her wounded heart feel as if it might be capable of healing for the first time. The one who felt like he might change everything.

Gwen closed her eyes, the tears beginning to form from beneath her heavy lids. Swallowing back the knot in her throat at the thoughts that accompanied her. She rolled over and buried her face in her pillow. Thankful that no one would notice just how tear stained it had become.

Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t help but imagine it. Allowing herself to envision a life with him. A life of romantic glances from across the table, shared laughter over things no one else could possibly understand, and if she was lucky, a child who had her smile and his Emeritus eye.

She pressed harder into her pillow. Heart aching as she mourned the loss of things she never had. Sniffling back and her lips quivering as she tried to stop herself from crying. Then suddenly a hand settled atop her shoulder.

“Gwen?” Fiona asked, her voice full of concern. Gwen looked up from the sanctuary of her pillow. Catching a glimpse of Fiona’s worried face. “Are you ok? I can hear you crying.”  

“I’m ok, just having a rough night is all. I will be fine in the morning Finn. Go back to sleep.” Gwen insisted, wiping away her tears and sitting up beside Fiona on the side of her bed. Fiona put her arm around her. Letting out a heavy sigh before telling Gwen something she hadn’t quite expected to hear.

“I say give him a chance Gwen…it's no secret he gave up his life for yours. What more love and devotion could you ask for.” she reasoned. Gwen said nothing, only staring blankly into the darkness of the room. Fiona, giving her a final pat on the back before returning to her own bed. Guinevere left to contemplate the heavy words still thick in the air. 

Love and devotion, Gwen thought to herself. The words, though heavy, felt light as they reached her heart. Drying her eyes of tears, resolved to return to the comfort of her bed. Her mind, still on the feel of her hand in his. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“It is so good to be back.” Copia cheered, raising a glass to the room full of siblings and clergy members. All of them clinging to his every word. The energy jubilant and bright as Copia was welcomed back into the Abbey’s bosom with open arms. “Thank you all for coming…truly it has been an honor to serve you all. To serve Lucifer. But like all good things, it has come to an end and now I am home with you all. My friends and family. Please now let us all raise a glass to the Ministry for their efforts and praise Satan for this beautiful party here tonight si? May he walk with you all in darkness—leading you from the light.” 

“Nema!” called out the crowd. A sea of crystal glasses, all practically spilling over with the finest of Italian wine, clinging together as the celebration continued. The Great Hall, sparkling in glitz and glamor from the royal blue and Rose gold adornments of the room. So much beauty as far as the eye could see, but for Primo, his eyes never once left Gwen. 

Her hair was pulled up into a loose bun. A few curly tresses, trickling out and framing her face. He could stare at her all night. The way her black dress hugged the curves of her breasts and hips was sinful. Sending Primo into a constant fit of adjusting himself in his chair, praising Lucifer for his being able to remain seated at the table. 

“Is that her?” Copia asked him as he came to sit down beside him, Primo’s eyes still locked on her. As good a sign as any that this was the case. 

“Si, that is Sister Guinevere.” 

“She is very beautiful fratello…and if I know you, and your tastes, then she must be beautiful inside too.” Copia smiled, giving Primo an approving pat to the back and taking a sip of red wine from his glass. 

“She’s the most beautiful creature that I have ever seen.” Primo professed as suddenly his eyes were met with Gwen's, honey-colored and sparkling.

"Well, I will tell you one thing…she'll give you a beautiful child." Copia smiled, watching the two of them stare from across the room. Both of them, so enamored, it was a wonder to Copia how they’d been able to remain apart.

"Fratellino, would you be offended if I took my leave?" Primo asked him. The glint in his eye telling Copia all he needed to know. 

"Of course…give her my best." he replied, sending Primo off with a wink as he got up from his chair. Leaving the massive head table with a nod of his head. Approaching the far-right side of the room where she was sitting. Fiona and a few other siblings sitting beside her at the lavish table. Covered in its center by deep blue roses and hints of golden alchemilla. 

"Sister Guinevere, would you do me the honor of accompanying me? I have something I wish to show you." He asked her, holding out his hand for her to take. 

"Promise you won't try anything." Gwen playfully jabbed, though inside her nerves were firing from all sides.

“I wouldn’t dream of such a thing.” he said, both of them beginning to laugh. What a sweet laugh it was, one Primo thought could be matched by no other.

"Then of course Papa." she told him, taking his hand as he helped her out from her chair. Gwen glanced back for only a moment.  Fiona sent her a smile and a wink. The whole Abbey, watching on as Gwen left the hall on the arm of the first Emeritus son. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Where are we going?” Gwen asked him as Primo led her down a part of the Abbey she had yet to explore. Their hands held tightly together as they turned the corner. “Oh my—” she began as her question was answered. Eyes widening at the sight before her. “What…what is this place?” 

“This, amore mio, is my most sacred of places.” he explained, leading her inside. It was the glass-walled, crystalized wonder that was his greenhouse. A magical place that led out to the massive garden on the southern side of the Abbey. Primo’s well-tamed foliage and flowers, tended to by his own two hands, laid out for passersby to admire. They were, however, only able to peer at them through the glass, Primo himself the only one ever allowed inside—until tonight. 

Gwen was in awe of it. The spray of botanical life—greens and hues of reds, pinks, and yellows all like all swirling together like a painting. She squeezed his hand, looking over to him with excitement written all over her face. Her smile, hitting Primo’s heart—hard and fast. She looked happy for perhaps the first time ever. Seeing her this way was one of the best things Primo had ever experienced. 

As he led her inside, they could see the small specks of light from the fireflies that floated in from outside. Their glow like stars spread out across the night sky. Gwen turned to face him, clearly overcome with emotion. “It’s so beautiful.” she told him. Reaching out to allow the small bug to land on her. Crawling along her palm until it once again took flight. 

“Not as beautiful as you–the flower I cherish most.” he told her as they passed under the honeysuckle-covered trellis. Blooms of pastel pink—their insides a rich red. Strikingly beautiful and their scent enticing. A sweetness from inside, one that Primo imagined would be like something else he’d longed to taste. 

The inseam of his pants was beginning to tighten as the thought of it sent his blood racing. The need to bury himself between Gwen’s legs. Tasting the sweet nectar from inside her. Pleasure pouring from her, into his willing mouth—it was almost too much to bear.

He struggled against his thoughts, trying desperately to calm them as he watched her taking it all in. Wonder and excitement in her eyes. Primo pulled her closer towards him. His eyes gently falling upon her face. Watching that tell of blush hit the apples of Gwen’s cheeks. 

He wanted to kiss her so badly. To take her in this, the place he loved most when suddenly he watched as Gwen’s gaze changed. Primo, wondering if she could feel it too. A moment where they both longed to kiss the other. 

“I must confess cara. I—I have imagined this moment between us. Though my mind could never have conjured just how beautiful you would look right now.” Primo confessed. Gwen felt it, that much was true. As much as she wanted Primo, the ache in her chest and the urge to run and leave him behind lest she be hurt was so strong. She began to cry, feeling overwhelmed with all the emotion stirring inside her. 

Primo gently caressed Gwen’s cheek, feeling the warmth of her tears as they hit his hand. His palm, filling with the pain that lay inside her. She looked up at him, seeing the compassion and love in his eyes. Wanting so badly to allow herself to do as her heart desired—to show him how much she felt it too.  

“I—I think I need to go.” Gwen sniffled back and wiped the tears from her eyes. Pulling away from him and collapsing into herself. Her eyes, drawn to the traces of petals and dried leaves that graced the ground.  

“Why mio fiore, is it something I said?” Primo asked her. Gwen looked back up at him, pained to think he blamed himself for her upset. She was so scared to speak her truth. So she took in a deep breath and tried her best to muster the strength of will to tell him. Knowing in her heart, he deserved at least that. 

“Oh no Papa…it’s not you…you have never done anything but be kind and compassionate with me. Hell you've even given me back my life, binding yourself to me…something I can never repay you for…or for one ever imagine you wanting to do but…it’s just—it’s just because of the way I feel around you…it…it might make me lose control.” she confessed. Primo lifted her face, urging her to look at him once more. Smiling softly down at her as he watched more tears well in her eyes. 

“Would that be so bad cara mia? To allow yourself the reprieve? To let go and let things happen as they may?”

“It scares me. I don't think my heart can take any more.” she answered. 

“I want nothing more than to make you happy Guinevere. I would never hurt you…never.” Primo vowed as he pulled her close once more. Kissing her deeply—passionately. Gwen, quickly melted into his arms. Held by him in a way no one had ever held her before. His hand, gently tangling in her hair. Holding her close to him. His devotion, on full display as her inhibitions fell to the wayside. Losing herself in the comfort of his arms.

They pulled away reluctantly for a moment, staring into each other's eyes. Mouths open and breathing heavy as Primo spoke again. “In case I hadn’t made it perfectly clear before amore—I am desperately in love with you.” Primo said, as his hands fell from Gwen’s shoulders to the small of her back. She turned her head, a bit shameful as she struggled to hear the words. 

“How can you be in love with someone who’s so broken?”

“You’re not broken Guinevere…You never were.” Primo assured her as a single tear fell from her eyes. He gently wiped it away as their mouths met once more. Tongues dancing in sweet serenity, surrounded by the light of the fireflies and the sweet smell of the honeysuckle. 

They spend several moments getting lost in each other's arms. Primo and Gwen, both lowering to the ground, just out of sight of possible onlookers. Primo hovered over Gwen. Basking in her radiance as he hung above her. Gwen, settling into the ground beneath her. Allowing Primo to explore her. Kissing over her mouth, her jaw. His soft lips, traveling to the delicate line of her neck. Hand, sliding gently over her breast. Tenderly kneading it as he brushed ever so slightly over her sensitive nipple. Gwen closed her eyes with the sensation. Her soul, practically  ascending from her mortal coil as she felt Primo free her breast from her dress—drawing her nipple into his willing mouth. 

“Ah…mmm…Primo…” she moaned, finding her hand creeping over the back of his head. Holding him to her breast as she felt the steady heat rising from between her legs. Occasionally feeling the swell from Primo’s cock as it rubbed against the inside of her thigh. Already writhing beneath him, her tousled hair collecting an array of petals from the ground. The fall of the loose strands, making her even more desirable to him.

“I want to taste you, to savor every drop of your desire—say you will allow me.” Primo begged as he positioned himself between her legs. On his knees as he waited with bated breath at her word. Permission to descend upon her.

“Yes, yes…” she whimpered, wiggling out from her panties as Primo pulled them down from her legs. Painfully slow as his fingers caressed the gentle skin of her thighs. Fingertips dimpling them as he waited for them to part. 

“Spread them for me, please…” he groaned, his desire mounting. Gwen allowed her legs to fall open. Revealing her swollen, wet folds. Waiting and ready for him. Gwen, desperate now to feel his touch once again—his love. 

“Oh fu—” Gwen moaned out, working quickly to cover her mouth as Primo’s lips grazed over her clit. The swollen bud, throbbing at the sensation. Her insides too, pulsing with the anticipation of him inside her. His tongue, rolling over her and traveling up through her folds. Settling once again on her clit.

Primo, gently sucking and licking as Gwen’s grip on his head tightened up. His ministrations drawing her ever closer to release. He lowered his mouth, his tongue teasing at her folds, the tip of his nose pressed against her clit. Primo brought two of his fingers carefully inside her, working her until he had unlocked her orgasm. 

“Ah…oh…Primo!” Gwen called out as he absolutely devoured her. Lapping up every drop she had to give. A smug smile on his face as he emerged from between her thighs. His face paint smeared delightfully across his face. 

“I need you amore. Please say you’ll have me.” he begged, his cock leaking withs need. Gwen reached down to feel him. Her hand full of his desire, a bit in shock of his size. She left out a shaky breath and she dragged her fingers back up to the zipper. Pulling it down to allow Primo’s hard cock to be free of the confines of his paints. 

“You weren’t kidding.” she chuckled, steadily panting and biting her lip as she allowed herself to look at it for the first time. 

“Absolutely not.” Primo growled as he brought his lips back to hers. His cock hanging out freely between them. Gwen took it into her hand, both of them gasping a bit as she stroked him. Mouths, still touching, wanting not to part. 

“Take me.” Gwen spoke against the tenderness of his lips. The words soaring through him as he grabbed her, rolling her to straddle him. Gwen panting, filled with excitement and joy for the first time in as long as she could remember. Watching Primo’s loving eyes cover her body with their gaze. Knowing how badly he wanted her—needed her. It was intoxicating. 

Gwen helped Primo find his place just at her entrance. Her eyes, rolling back in his skull as she allowed him inside her. His well endowed cock, slowly spreading her open. Her body, tugging against him—already desperate for him to fill her. 

“Cazzo, ti senti così bene... come per magia. Ti amo cara, così tanto!” Primo groaned, stifling his moaning as he felt her squeezing him around from inside. The throbbing of her walls was almost too much. Primo, working hard to contain his orgasm, wanting to last as long as he could. Hoping that he might be able to cum with her. 

“Ah…ah…ah!” Gwen mewled as she rode him. Her thighs pressed tight against his as she rose up and fell onto his shaft. Both of them, creating more heat and humidity between them than the greenhouse ever could. Their efforts, hot and sticky—yet slow and deep. 

It wasn’t long before Primo could feel her insides begin to shake—to quiver. Her resolve, falling fast as she began to cum. He worked fast, flipping her back onto her back and pulling her up over his lap. Sliding into her with ease and continuing to thrust steadily deeper and deeper as she came. The fluids of her satisfaction, leaking all around his cock.

“Si amore, now cum for me again…Show me how good it feels.” Primo moaned, relishing the feel of her cunt pulsing around him. 

“Ah…oh my god…”Gwen cried out as he drove his cock deeper inside her. Primo gripped tight to the moist flesh of her thighs. Holding them up as he thrusted into her with intention—worshiping her.

“Amore…mmm…I—I’m going to cum.” Primo groaned, feeling himself beginning to give way.

“Wait! No, no…don’t!” Gwen cried, pushing back against Primo, forcing him out from inside her. 

“Gah…” Primo groaned, already too close as his orgasm came bursting through him. Pulling out just in time to spill his seed over her belly. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Gwen and Primo lay together in the greenhouse. Held still but close together as they remain content even in the silence. Both still breathless and drained. Gwen snuggled up closer to Primo. Resting her head on his chest as Primo played with her disheveled hair. The golden-brown locks, flowing like sand through his fingers. 

Gwen hoped he wasn’t upset. She knew how badly he wished to cum inside her. She just couldn’t risk it. Unable to let go of the fear that lingered on. 

Thankfully Primo didn’t mention it as they lay together under the glass ceiling of the greenhouse. The stars in the night’s sky, shining down upon them. Gwen would push the thoughts away again. Burying them down for the time being—waning nothing more than to enjoy this moment between them. 

“I think you are the most wonderful man I have ever known Papa.” Gwen whispered as she nuzzled into the small patch of hair on Primo’s chest. He brushed her hair behind her ear, watching her head raise up to face him, an exhausted, but content smile on her face.  

“And you my dear are like thunder—a roar amongst the heavens.”

Notes: 

mio fiore- my blossom

Cazzo, ti senti così bene... come per magia. Ti amo cara, così tanto! -Fuck you feel so good...like magic itself. I love you dear, so very much.

[katherineholmes]

The New Deal

Read on AO3

She inhaled softly as she opened the door, the stench of death filling her soul and making her shiver. A thousand questions raced through her mind, wondering if he had come there for revenge, or if he had found out about Elena being alive. 

“What do you want?” Bonnie had almost killed Klaus just three nights ago, she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her tremble in fear. 

“Now, is that any way to greet me witch?” He smirked and she wanted to rip his face off. Wanted to give him an aneurysm so bad his brain would bleed out of his eyes. 

“You killed my best friend.” It was another thing that she had brought Elena back to life, but he couldn’t know that. Not now, or ever. 

“Yes, yes, and you lot plotted my death with my brother,” there was something saccharine about the way Klaus smirked at her, a cold look in his eyes. “You should be lucky that I’m in a good mood, or you all would be dead.” 

Bonnie couldn’t resist it then, if Damon was infuriating, Klaus was seemed to hit where it hurt. Even if Elena was alive, Jenna wasn’t. All the work, all their planning had amounted to nothing, and now Klaus had absolute control, unlimited power. “You should be lucky your brother betrayed us, or you would be dead.” 

For a moment, the look on his face froze, but he recovered quickly. “My brother is a bit of a….sentimental fool.” 

“Where is he?” She asked, wondering why any of them had ever trusted Elijah, but also wondering what Klaus had done with him. 

“Indisposed, I’m afraid,” Klaus’ cheeks dimpled as he smiled, something entirely too superior and pleased in his gaze, “but I’m not here to talk about him. You see, I’m leaving town.”

“Great,” she muttered. Klaus was leaving, and Damon might die. While she wasn’t happy about Damon dying, she wasn’t exactly regretting it either. 

“Without a witch,” Klaus looked down at her significantly then, and she had a bad feeling, “someone killed mine you see.” 

“So what?” 

“I’d like you to accompany me.” 

She grit her teeth, focusing on him as she allowed the magic to flow out of her like water in a dam. Hitting her target with force. She could see the pain in his eyes, the way he clutched his head, but it only lasted for a few seconds. Seconds that seemed to stretch into eternity, her body and magic drained from the power she had lost during the sacrifice. 

She was breathing hard by the time she was done, and was pleased to see that some of the amusement had drained from his face. 

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” 

For a moment, she thought Klaus would lash out, react in anger, but that was gone fleetingly too. “As I said, I am in a nice mood, given that the curse binding me has broken, but I do still need a witch sweetheart and you would do well not to defy me.”

“I’m sure there are other witches you can find.”

“Perhaps, and yet, you are no ordinary witch, are you?” He stepped closer to the boundary of her house, his footsteps heavy on her porch, “you are a Bennett witch, and you were strong enough to almost kill me. Your ancestor was just as special, perhaps even stronger than you.” His hands were on the doorframe now, and she tilted her head. 

“You knew Emily?” 

“I knew Ayanna, a thousand years ago.” She frowned as she tried to remember grams’ rambles, any mention of a witch like that, “after she died, my brother took possession of all her grimoires. Of course, they lie with me now.” 

“You think I’ll go with you because of a few grimoires? After everything you’ve done?” Anger rolled in her stomach and fire lit up within her throat, the flames of it rushing out through her tongue, hoping futilely to burn him. 

“Well, love,” and then her heart stopped as he crossed over the threshold and entered into her house, “I was thinking the motivation of keeping your father alive would spur you to make the make the right decision. Not to mention all those friends of yours,” he gripped her shoulders and leaned towards her. Her fingers clenched into fists, and she thought of all the spells she knew, of all the things she could do to him. “One bite from me, and it would be the end of Caroline.” 

“How did you-”

“It seems your father only wore vervain, he didn’t consume it.” The fire in her was replaced by shards of ice stabbing her from the inside, cold fear spreading through her veins as she thought of her dad. “Relax love, nothing’s happened to him yet. Although he was kind enough to invite me inside.”

She thought of Elena, the deal she had made with Elijah, despite how badly it had failed, she wasn’t sure there was anything else she could do. The witches’ power had left her, and without it, she wasn’t sure she could take Klaus down permanently. Damon and Stefan maybe, but not Klaus. Not yet. 

“So what? If I leave with you, you won’t hurt them?” 

“If you leave with me, help me,” his hands glided over her shoulders to her neck, warm on her skin, “I won’t have reason to come back to this town. And they’d be safe. You can even speak to your father if you wish.”

“Do you think you’re doing me a favour?”

“Well, this could all be a lot more unpleasant, little witch.” 

She knew that, and she had also known how desperately Luka and Jonas had looked for Greta. How Klaus had seduced her away. She wondered now, if it wasn’t something more like this, like threats and the promise of power that he had used to take her with him. Besides, if he really did have those grimoires, along with others, she could eventually grow strong enough to kill him. 

He’d stay away from here too, away from her father, and her friends. From Elena. 

“Fine. But I have a few conditions too.” 

He seemed pleased as he looked down at her, and she wondered what she had gotten herself into. 

@feralcherry Thanks for encouraging me to write it! @sevensistersofsussex @jennifersminds @amandamonroe

[clivedenniscole]

Giulietta's Memoir

Giulietta Capelletto is no ordinary young woman; with a heart full of curiosity and a spirit ablaze with passion, Giulietta is on the brink of womanhood, ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and exploration.

As Giulietta opens the pages of her memoir, you are invited into the lively world of her teenage self. Through her own words, Giulietta paints a picture of a young woman eager to unravel the mysteries of life and love, to cut across the winding pathways of the city and soak up its energetic  sights and sounds.

During the hustle and bustle of daily life, Giulietta's memoir is a reflection on the central theme of love, a force that shapes her experiences and defines her journey. Giulietta will speaks of the innocence of her youth, of the thrill of first love that set her heart racing, and of the turbulent emotions that accompanied matters of the heart.

But woven into the structure of her account are hints of the challenges and obstacles Giulietta would face on her quest for love. The age-old hostility between her family, the Capelletto’s, and Roméo's family, the Montecchio’s, casts a shadow over her tale, threatening to tear her apart from the man she loves most dearly.

Yet, despite the threatening shadow of tragedy, Giulietta's memoir is not just a story of sorrow; it is also a celebration of the joys and sorrows of teenage life. Through her words, Giulietta invites readers to join her on a journey of self-discovery, passion, and ultimately, tragedy. And as we turn the pages of her account, we are reminded of the timeless power of love that echos through the ages, touching the hearts of all who dare to experience its depths.

.. .. .. .. .. ..

Love At First Sight: 1

thin line between love and hate

Today, I experienced something extraordinary – a moment that felt like destiny. It all began with a glance, a fleeting meeting of eyes that sparked a fire within me. — Tonight finds me immersed in deep contemplation, my mind a whirlwind of this evening's events and the intricate emotions they've aroused. Nurse's revelation about the identity of the young man who held my hand at the torch dance has left me in a state of turmoil: Roméo Montecchio. His name looms ominously in the air, laden with both anticipation and uncertainty.

In the flickering candle light, I find myself torn between conflicting sentiments, pulled in opposing directions by duty and my own desires. Roméo's name stirs within me a potent blend of fascination and apprehension. Despite the longstanding ill-will between our families, I cannot suppress my curiosity and yearning for something more.

Alone in the sanctuary of my room, I grapple with a myriad of thoughts and fears, uncertain of the path my emotions may lead me down. As I prepare to surrender to sleep, a heavy veil of uncertainty shrouds my emotions. Yet amidst the confusion, I cannot ignore the fluttering anticipation of love's potential. Despite the perilous nature of our clandestine encounters in the lane, Roméo dares to pass by my window once more, his eyes brimming with love and longing.

Each fleeting glance he bestows upon me ignites a emotional passion within my heart. With a tentative gesture, I open my window, hoping to convey my own affection in return. These wordless exchanges, steeped in love and sincerity, somehow bind us together in an unspoken language of devotion. As I close my diary for the night, I carry with me the memory of that fleeting moment when our eyes met, a moment that has left an indelible mark on my heart. For even though our encounter was fleeting, it has planted the seed of love within me, a seed that I know will blossom into something beautiful. As I close my diary for the night, I carry with me the memory of that fleeting moment when our eyes met, a moment that has left an indelible mark on my heart. Until tomorrow, when I can once again relive the magic of love at first sight.

[marenwithanm]

Ok in a burst of inspiration I've finished this snippet lol. Basically, Legend gets de-aged by weird portal magic shenanigans, Wolfie gives a ride, Wind's a weird older brother, Four gaslight gatekeep girlbosses his way through babysitting, time gets sad, sky gets defensive, and warriors has four lines. Enjoy :)

Little known fun fact about time travel and dimensional travel: they do not mix well. Something about the magics being too similar but different enough they didn't mesh? Who knows, certainly not Wind! All he needed to know was that was the reason for the current predicament.

Legend had come through the most recent portal with Wild at the end of the group, but it wasn't Legend who came out on the other side. Beside Wild stood a kid shorter than Aryll with strawberry blonde hair and a pair of bright yellow bunny ears on his head. He jolted and looked around in bewilderment. Each Link was equally bewildered as they stared at the tiny kid in place of their friend. Were those… pajamas?

"Wh-... What's with the bunny ears?" Warriors asked. It was an utterly useless question but one Wind was actually wondering as well.

The kid, for his part, scrunched his face up as he looked up at Warriors. "They make me run faster!" The kid responded before kicking Warriors in the shin and bolting in the opposite direction. First of all, what? And second, fair enough, Wind could respect that.

"So, uh, does anyone know what just happened?" Four asked after a few seconds had passed.

"What just happened is I got downed by a child." Warriors said, rubbing his rapidly bruising leg.

"But where did Legend go?" Sky asked, pursing his lips in worry.

"I think… maybe that was Legend." Hyrule said, scratching his head. "Remember when Legend suddenly had pink hair for like a week? Plus he looks really similar."

"But that was a child. Legend's, like, 19 or something." Wild said, crossing his arms. "Although, to be fair, I was next to him and there's no way Legend could have left without me noticing so…" Wild ended with a shrug.

"It just might be possible." Time cut in. "There was a time in my first adventure where I switched between my child self and my teenage self using time travel. I don't see why that wouldn't be possible."

Warriors perked up at that. "Oh, yeah, during the war there were a couple instances of soldiers going back in time when they went through dimensional portals that opened up. Never happened to my men though so I can't really confirm that."

"So, if that was Legend just now," Wind cut in, planting a hand on his hip. "Why hasn't anyone gone off after him?"

Suddenly there was a mad scramble as people tried to figure out where he'd gone. Hah, Wind loved creating chaos. He was also a big brother and therefore contractually obligated to care about little kids, but he wasn't worried. Twilight had run off almost immediately and he had the best tracking ability out of everyone so he could definitely find Legend.

___

Twilight raced through the woods in wolf form, tracking a familiar yet new scent that was moving surprisingly fast. Maybe the bunny ears really did make him run faster? Wouldn't be the weirdest thing out there.

He came upon a clearing where a head of pinkish hair sat upon a rock with one shoe off. The kid, Legend apparently, was shaking his boot upside-down as small rocks tumbled out. "Stupid boots with their stupid holes in the stupid toes." He muttered quietly enough that only Twilight's dog ears would be able to hear it.

Twilight took a step back, planning on transforming back before approaching. Apparently, Legend had some rather impressive ears of his own because he spun around immediately and locked eyes with Twilight's. Twilight froze, previous reactions flashing through his mind: Rusl's torch waving in his face, Uli's screams, the terror on Colin's face. None of these prepared him for the widest grin Twilight had ever seen and eyes as bright as Colin's on his birthday. "It's a dog!"

Legend ran up to him, completely forgetting his boot on the rock. Only once Legend was face to face with a terrifying wolf (Twilight had seen his reflection in the water, he knew how intimidating he looked as a wolf) did Legend decide to hesitate. "...are you a nice dog or a mean dog?" He asked, squinting.

Twilight decided to play along, and sat on his hind legs like he'd seen some dogs be taught to do. He wasn't a fan of acting like an animal, but, well, Twilight had never been good at saying no to kids.

Legend, for his part, resumed his grin and enthusiastically held his hand out for Twilight to smell. After Twilight gave it a sniff, Legend stroked Twilight's fur, muttering "so fluffy" to himself. From this angle, Twilight had the opportunity to observe little Legend's face. It was practically the same, just in child proportions. His buck teeth were more prominent, as were his freckles, but his ears were just as long and his boots (or rather, boot) were awfully familiar.

Well, they'd waited long enough, Twilight didn't want to worry the others. He stood up and nudged the back of Legends knees with his side until the kid fell over, right onto Twilight's back. Legend sat up, confused until he sucked in a gasp. "Are you going to give me a ride?!" He asked with barely contained excitement. "Let's go!"

Twilight ran off towards the rest of the group (although he swung back around to grab Legend's forgotten boot first). It didn't take long, less than five minutes with Legend giggling the whole way.

Breaking through the trees, Twilight came to a halt a few feet away from the group, Warriors turning around at the sound of his paws. Legend tensed on his back. "Nooooo doggie!! I thought you were nice! Betrayal! Betrayal of the highest degree!"

Twilight paused at Legend's words, it sounded like the type of thing Legend had overheard once before and was repeating. Despite the playful tone, Legend really was tense on Twilight's back. He hopped off, ready to run at any minute as he glared up at Warriors in particular.

Warriors' eyebrows creased together, and he slowly raised his hands up and away from his weapons. "Hey, kid, we're not gonna hurt you. We just wanna talk."

Legend squinted, visibly contemplating his words. "... really? You don't think I kidnapped the princess or anything?"

"The princess? No, why would I think that?" Warriors asked.

"Hmmmm." Legend said, tapping a foot on the ground in agitation. "Ok, I believe you. Most of the guards didn't spend any time talking before trying to kill me." Warriors recoiled at the dark words spoken with such a cheerful tone. Legend went on. "But that doesn't mean I trust you! Besides, I need to put the master sword back in the lost woods so I'm just gonna go."

Unseen by nearly everyone, Time's fist clenched at the sight of the master sword on someone so small. What made Legend so different, why wasn't he deemed too young the way Time had been?

"Well, we're heading that way too, why don't you escort us? We'd be honored to be led by the hero himself." Wind said, hooking an arm over Legend's shoulder.

Legend looked up, surprised. "You know I'm the hero and you still want me to guide you? Usually that goes the opposite way around."

Wind simply shrugged. "I mean, when you're in monster-infested woods, who'd turn down the legendary heroes protection? That's just stupid!"

Legend, however, wasn't fooled as he glanced around at the glinting armor and sharp swords of the Links. Sky carefully adjusted his cape over the hilt of the master sword before Legend could see. Good call, Sky. "Yeah, ok, whatever, follow me if you want-" he stopped suddenly before a wide grin spread across his face. "-if you can keep up that is!"

With that, he clicked his heels together to activate his pegasus boots and ran off. "Not again!" Warriors exclaimed, exasperated.

Wind smirked, time to reveal the ace up his sleeve. Activating his own Pegasus boots, he raced after the pink headed figure in the distance. To his complete and utter surprise, Four kept pace with him. A small pair of wings that Wind could've sworn weren't there just a minute ago fluttered on his shoes. Huh, well, that was Four after all: full of surprises.

Unceremoniously, Wind slammed into someone's back and they both tumbled to the ground. Four skidded past them before circling back around to help them both back up. "Them" consisted of Wind and Legend, because of course it did. Luckily, based on his petulant glare, Legend didn't seem particularly hurt. That was good, because it meant Wind couldn't get angry at him guilt-free. "What was that all about?! You gotta give a guy some warning before stopping so suddenly when going at mach speed!"

"Hey, I didn't think you were gonna actually keep up!" Legend said, crossing his arms. He dropped his defensive stance after a moment, however, and looked around in confusion. "I stopped cuz I realized I don't recognize these woods. I mean, the lost woods are never easy to navigate but this is just ridiculous!"

"Well, I hate to break it to you, but this isn't the "lost woods"." Four said, brushing his windswept hair out of his face. Wow, it was, and he meant this is the most hilarious way possible, a mess. No wonder he wore a headband all the time if this is what it did. "You just appeared within our group from a strange portal, don't you remember?"

Wind squinted at Four, trying to tell if he was withholding information on purpose or if he really had not been paying attention at all. Legend, for his part, furrowed his brow and looked down. "I mean… I guess I did just appear here all of the sudden, but I don't remember a portal…"

"Maybe the portal caused some disorientation, causing minor memory loss?" Four offered. "If I had to guess, I'd say there's a reason you're here. If you were trying to return the master sword before you arrived, perhaps this is a sign from the goddesses that the sword should remain in your possession a while longer. That, and maybe it's a sign that you're needed here."

Wind felt his eyebrows shoot up, practically brushing his hairline. Wow, he knew Four was smart, but this was straight manipulative. Quite frankly, Wind wanted lessons.

Legend sighed, defeated. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Alright, let's go back to the scary knights… If we have to…"

Four smiled. "Yes let's." He nonchalantly tapped his heels together before his smile turned into a grin. "Last one there's a rotten Cuckoo!" He shouted over his shoulder as he sprinted off.

"Get back here ya dirty cheat!" Wind yelled after, activating his boots and sprinting after Four, Legend on his heels.

---

Having a miniature version of Legend around the camp was… painful for Time. The sight of those tiny hands wrapped around the hilt of the sword that cost him his childhood, well, it hurt.

Apparently, Sky had noticed his unsubtle staring. The fact that he had willingly volunteered for second watch was so far out of character that even the child version of Legend knew something was wrong, even though he'd only been with the group for a few days now. Combine that with the fact that Time had third watch and it was pretty clear what was going on. Still, there was nothing to do about it now, so he tried his best to at least get some sleep before Sky subjected him to the Concerned Mom Look™. The boys were scared of Time's neutral face of disappointment, but they didn't know true fear until Sky turned that sad expression onto them.

Sure enough, right on Time for his watch, Sky shook Time awake, gentle but firm. "Time," he began. "Could I talk to you for a bit?"

Time sighed, resigned to his fate. "Alright, just give me a second." Sky nodded, wandering over to the firepit and sitting down. Briefly, Time contemplated running away and becoming one with the woods, but, while Sky's stamina was atrocious, his bursts of speed were truly terrifying.

He sat down heavily upon a log, and looked Sky directly in the eyes, ready to get it over with. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Well," Sky began, fingers brushing against the hilt of the master sword, less in anticipation to draw it and more in a self-comforting gesture. Or, perhaps more likely, in association with the topic at hand. "I know you're under a lot of pressure as our leader, and I understand that you have to stay strong around the boys. But if you ever need someone to talk to, I promise I'm here and willing to listen." It was said with all due concern and care, but something in the way Sky sat, something in the glint in his eye made it feel a bit more like a threat than a reassurance. Considering Sky's relationship with the master sword, it certainly wasn't out of the question.

"I appreciate your concern, Sky, but really, I'm alright." Time said, voice pleasant but stare deadpan. Sky's expression became slightly more disbelieving in response, and Time flattened his gaze even further. Sky raised an eyebrow. Time held his ground. Sky's other eyebrow joined its twin. Time clenched his fist in his lap. Sky's eyes didn't move, but somehow he knew, he was winning. In a last ditch effort to get out of this alive, Time lowered his eyebrows into a glare. Sky's mouth twitched upwards to match his eyebrows. Time slumped, finally admitting defeat. Sky was far smarter than anyone gave him credit for. "I just… feel unsettled seeing Legend so small and already a hero."

Sky remained silent, clearly unsatisfied with a partial truth. Darn it all, Time really couldn't get a thing past him. "I know your feelings on the matter, the master sword is a dear friend of yours, but I just can't abide by her choices. She deemed me too young to wield her when I was just about his age and sealed me away for years. Why the sudden change of heart?" The unspoken "why me" hung heavy in the air between them.

Sky pulled the cursed sword off his back, studying her cold face between his hands. The wind (no pun intended) had clearly left his sails. Sky sighed. "I'm sorry, Time. I get so defensive since, like you said, Fi is very dear to me. And… I miss her. But the fact remains, she hurt you."

Time looked up, surprised to hear Sky admit that. Any questions to the validity of either Hylia or the master sword were usually met with Sky's cold, simmering anger. Despite everything, Time felt his own guard begin to lower. He stood up, reseating himself next to Sky instead of across from him. "Truly, it means a lot to hear you say that."

Sky's eyes remained locked on the smooth surface of the blade, but he nodded sullenly. "I suppose…" he began quietly. "Maybe she learned something from you. I know that doesn't change things, but maybe she realized that her interference caused more harm than good and resolved to do better in the future."

Behind them, clutched between the child version of Legend's sleeping arms, the master sword pulsed softly with light. Sky laughed quietly. "I think she agrees."

Time felt a soft smile pull at his lips. "It feels like an apology." The pulse flared brighter for just a moment before dimming. "Apology accepted, Fi."

---

The next time a portal appeared before the group, all eyes were on Legend. The only discernible cause for the switch last time had been a portal just like this one, after all.

Legend wrinkled his nose at the combined stares of eight people and shoved his way to the front of the group. "Well, are you all going to stare at me all day or are we going to get going?"

"Of course, let us proceed." Warriors said, ignoring the glare Legend threw at him for having the audacity to exist.

As soon as the group emerged from the portal, eight heads swiveled to check on the state of Legend. He stood there, back to his short, barely adult self, blinking in confusion for a few moments. Once he noticed the stares, he wrinkled his nose and stepped away from the group. "Well, are you all going to stare at me all day or are we going to get going?" He didn't understand why everyone suddenly burst out laughing at that one.