#but as soon as you mentioned jealous Thena

[softquietsteadylove]

The Mermaid AU!!! Damn, it's wonderful! So Thena haven't tried walking with human feet, so how about she's trying it and Gil helping her? She's stumbling and let's give them their first kiss your honor🫡

I would also like to see Thena being so curious with human things like how things work and maybe her being jealous? I can really imagine her hissing with her fangs on someone hitting on Gil🤣 and ladies be like, uhh Mister is your wife normal? Does she often do that?

"No, that's it, you got it!" Gil encouraged Thena's every step, leaping forward to catch her when she stumbled. "Whoa!"

Thena grumbled into his chest, allowing him to help her stand straight again. "You do this all the time?--it seems exhausting."

Gil chuckled, letting her lock her knees again and resume walking practice. "That's how we feel about swimming."

Thena's jaw dropped, giving him a truly aghast expression.

He nodded though, taking one step back for every step she took forward. "It's hard work to swim with legs. You have to be strong to be any good at it."

"Poor creatures," she murmured as she watched her feet move through the sand of his little beach. He had insisted that sand was a little harder to walk on than most terrain, but at least it would be soft if she did end up falling without him there to catch her.

He needn't have worried; he had been there for her every step since the first.

She had been coming to see him more and more regularly. And with regular time spent in his presence, came her observation of his human traits--including his legs. Until one morning he came out to greet her and found her wobbling around in the shallow water, two pale legs under her.

"I know, we're a sad bunch," Gil laughed. His feet hit the pebbly beginnings of the forest floor closer to his cabin. He looked down, "hey, we made it all the way up the beach!"

Thena beamed, all but throwing herself up the last stretch and into his waiting embrace. She had been working on being able to walk without his assistance for a few weeks, by this point.

"You did it!" Gil swung Thena around in his arms a few times. He kept his arms around her waist, wrinkling the shirt of his she was wearing.

Thena swung her feet faintly within his embrace, tilting her head at him for still holding her aloft.

"Uh, why don't you let me carry you to the house?" he suggested, shifting her in his arms so he could hold her more properly around the shoulders and knees. "Sand is nice and soft, but the bottoms of feet are pretty sensitive. I wouldn't want you to get hurt walking on the rocks and roots and stuff. Plus it's dirty."

Thena had no real protests, even if she wasn't entirely sure what he was talking about. She let him carry her from the top of the beach into his cabin, which she had seen once or twice already by now. It was a lovely home, and she had come to enjoy noticing the little details about it, like where he stored the things he used often, and how the wood of places he touched looked different from others.

"Well, now that you've walked a whole beach, maybe we should get you some shoes," Gil smiled at her as he got them inside. "That will help to keep your feet safe."

"Would I be able to walk more places then?" Thena asked as he set her down at a kitchen chair.

"Uh," he paused, turning and reaching to put a pot of water on his boiler (a stove, rather). "Maybe, yeah...just not anywhere too crowded."

Thena tilted her head a few times at him, "do I not seem human enough?"

He let the flame sit low and sat in the chair at an angle to hers. His legs were longer, and his knees bent more sharply than hers. And his pants - jeans, rather - looked rough to the touch. "You seem very human, Thena. But I just...would worry about it."

"Worry about me?" she asked a little more directly, deciding she had no need for him to hide his words from her.

"Not really," he sighed. "About the humans around, more so."

"What would worry you about them?" Thena tilted her head in the other direction.

Gil considered what to say, scratching his facial hair as he did. Thena watched him do it; she wondered what it felt like to touch. "Humans are...can be...nice."

"Like you."

He paused in his explanation to give her one of his very warm, very inviting smiles. She had never seen a human smile quite like Gilgamesh. "I guess so. But they can be less nice, too, Thena. And if anyone figured out what you are, or even thought too much into it, I wouldn't know how to protect you."

Thena nodded, looking down at her legs (lap, rather). Just because she could walk around like a human didn't mean she was one, and all it would take would be one human to ensure she never saw water again.

"I'm not saying we'll never explore more places, okay?" Gil said gently, reaching over to take her hand in his. She stared at it, wondering what the point of the gesture was. She wasn't complaining, though. "Just give it a little longer?--for me?"

"For you?" she asked.

Gil blushed, which she had learned from a few of his anatomy books was something that happened when humans felt flustered. "Well, I'm hoping you'll do this especially because I'm asking you to, I guess. It can be a way to ask something of someone you're close with."

Close: that was a good word for it. Thena looked down at his hand around hers. He was so warm, and even with her blood running a little warmer than normal with her legs and using just her lungs, he was still much warmer than she was. It was nice, though.

But she knew how warm he was from when he would lift her out of the water and up into his embrace.

Gil's head whipped to the door as someone knocked.

Thena tilted her head. "How did they get here?"

Gil stood from the chair, pulling Thena up to her feet. "I think it's a friend. I called her for some stuff. But just wait until I make sure it's safe, okay?"

It wasn't as if she really got a choice about it. Thena let him guide her to sit on the stairs just on the other side of the kitchen wall, out of the light of the large windows above his sink.

"Just for a minute, Angelfish," he promised, giving her hands a squeeze between his before going to the door.

Thena watched the shadows stretching over the floor.

"Sersi, hey--thanks for coming."

"Of course."

Thena tilted her head at the soft, silken voice floating to her ears. She watched the shadows move closer and then collide, melding into one. She slid down a step, leaning to peek around the corner.

Gil released the woman from a loose embrace, patting her shoulder. "I know it's not easy to get out here, but it's just not safe to go to land considering-"

"Of course," the woman shook her head, pushing a springy lock of black hair away from her delicately featured face. She was quite pretty. "I understand. Can I...?"

Gil glanced over his shoulder, hands on his hips, his fingers tapping against his belt. "I-I don't know, Sersi."

"Oh, please, Gil?" she looked at him with wide, doe-brown eyes. They were warm, just like Gil's. "If what you told me is true-"

"It is," he huffed at her, crossing his massive arms in her direction.

Thena peeked out a little further.

"Then this could be the discovery of a lifetime!--a generation!" the woman bounced in her excitement. She was effervescent and personable, also like Gilgamesh. Who was this person?

"Exactly why I can't trust anyone to keep her secret," he lowered his voice.

Thena watched as he lowered his head closer to this mystery woman's, saying something so soft that Thena struggled to pick out the words. She leaned further, trying to see if she could read his lips at least.

Sersi gasped as Thena toppled over, stumbling out from the staircase just outside the kitchen. "Oh my-"

"Thena!" Gil rushed to her, already bending to pull her into his arms.

Thena squirmed in his embrace as he muttered something about 'patience' against her hair. She kept the woman in her sights, though, determined to learn more about her. "Hello."

"H-Hi," she replied in such a soft, fluttery tone. She gulped, her lashes fluttering as she dared to walk a little closer to her. "I'm Sersi. A-And you must be Thena."

She looked at Gil. "I thought you said no one could know about me."

Gil blinked, maybe having not expected her to be so annoyed about the current situation. He tightened his arms around her, "w-well, no. But Sersi is a marine biologist. I had questions--a-and she brought stuff for you!"

"It's true!" Sersi leapt to join the argument in Gil's favour. She adjusted the bag on her shoulder. "He asked for some clothes and things that might, um, fit you."

Thena looked down at the shirt of his she was wearing, "what's wrong with this?"

"It's-"

"Thena," Sersi stepped forward again, holding out a hand.

Thena hissed at her.

"Thena, hey, it's okay," Gil whispered, trying keep her contained in his arms. "I promise, I trust Sersi. She's here to help us."

"It's okay," Sersi said gently, setting the bag down and tilting her head at Thena. "I don't blame you for being cautious of me. I can't imagine how much you've had to adjust to."

Thena tilted her head right back at her, although Sersi matched each of her movements. Thena blinked at her. "Who are you?"

"I'm Gil's sister."

Oh. Thena halted, her breath getting caught in her throat. She was...that explained some of her observations rather conveniently. She felt heat build in her cheeks; this was what blushing felt like. "I see."

"I am a marine biologist, as he said," Sersi continued, maybe oblivious to Thena's discomfort, or at least the reasons behind it. "He asked me some questions about a 'discovery' he'd made a few months back. As time went on, I had to ask more things about this secret of his in order to research and answer him. Eventually we determined that I could know a little more about--well, you."

Thena just nodded, still feeling a little stunned at the presence of the second human she had ever met properly. Gil was still holding her tightly, and she realised part of it was how stiff and coiled she was. She let out a breath, unwinding her muscles and relaxing.

Gil loosened his hold on her, although he didn't step away from her at all.

Thena met Sersi's eyes, trying to push down the twisting feeling that had consumed her just a moment ago. "I have a brother as well."

"Really?" both humans asked with equal surprise.

"Yes," Thena looked at both of them before landing on Sersi. "Although he's not nearly as nice as Gil is."

Sersi laughed, and Thena had to admit that even their laughs were similar. Sersi's was much lighter and gentler, but it had the same from-the-heart warmth to it. "I can't even argue with that. Gil has been quite a nice brother to me."

"Yeah, I'd hope you can't argue," he huffed at her, putting his hands on his hips again.

"No one's perfect, though," Sersi finished, turning her nose up at him. She looked at Thena again. "Can your brother split his tail as well?"

She had taken care to learn the words for things, too. Thena couldn't fault her on anything. "No, he's never come anywhere near humans. He doesn't trust them."

"I can't blame him for that either," Sersi offered a remorseful smile and a shrug of her shoulders. "You just got lucky and found a good one, I think."

"Yes," Thena smiled at Gil, who was back to blushing shyly at the open praise of his character. "I suppose I did."

[crguang]

hiii first all the love to all the stories ur putting out 💕 i appreciate all ur time and creativity u put into ur posts :) also may i request: eternal/human reader getting jealous of thena and arthur as per sprite’s mention of arthur in the movie? but reader thinks it’s ridiculous because they’re not even dating thena to begin with so they feel like they have no reason to be jealous and gets in denial 🤣 thank you!

i’d get jealous too💔

“What’s wrong with your face?”

You barely spared Kingo a glance as he settled next to you on the bleachers. The Eternals were in Camelot for a while, having eliminated the few deviants that threatened its habitants only a few days ago. Ajak had accepted the King’s invitation to stay as his guests for at least a couple days, even if he assured your family and you would always be welcomed on his lands. You wouldn’t have a problem with it if a certain prince managed to keep his hands and words to himself.

You wanted nothing less than to sit on the bleachers with so many other people as the prince got ready for his upcoming jousting match. It was a great entertainment around here, apparently. You didn’t see the appeal.

“There’s nothing wrong with my face,” you replied, but the purse of your lips indicated otherwise.

“Yeah?” Kingo flicked the spot between your eyebrows and you only frowned harder, swatting his hand away. “What’s that?”

“I have this headache that comes and goes.”

You could hear the heavy clash of an armor coming up behind you even through the noise of the event. You didn’t bother turning around, you knew who it was and what they wanted.

“Sir Kingo,” Arthur nodded at the Eternal, whose face immediately stretched into a smile. He loved the title and required the others to call him that as well. A roll of Sprite’s eyes was enough to make him pout.

“Oh, there the headache comes again,” you muttered, standing up to leave.

“Will Lady Thena attend this match?”

You lifted your eyes to the sky. How predictable. Thena this, Thena that, could he get any more annoying? The woman was obviously not interest in his advances, refusing offers to dance, spar or attend dinner seated at his left. You wanted to punch him.

“Oh, yeah, I think so,” Kingo replied, looking around to catch strands of blonde hair. “Aren’t you supposed to be, you know… out there?”

“In a moment,” Arthur said with a smile. “Just needed to make sure.”

His retreating footsteps were like a breath of fresh air. You sat back down, huffing. Kingo raised an eyebrow at your behavior, but for once didn’t comment on it. The public waited impatiently for another ten minutes, some not so subtly making bets on who the winner would be, others complaining under their breath at the time this was taking. All were excited to see their prince compete. You almost gagged.

You noticed a few servants running about behind the tents, whispering quickly to themselves. Your eyes narrowed. Was that spoiled brat plotting something? You left your seat and approached the guarded tents. No one did anything as you entered one of them.

A man, probably the one who was supposed to be Arthur’s opponent, was moaning in pain on the ground, holding his ankle. A servant bursted inside with hot water, babbling about a medic being on his way. You stood there, watching as the man tried to contain his pain. You could get Ajak and have that healed in a second, but…

“What a magnificent change of plans!” The King’s voice resonated through the field, quieting all idle chatter. “My son, Prince Arthur, shall have another adversary this afternoon.”

The crowd’s confused voices soon drowned the noise of Arthur’s armor as he took his place. He raised his visor, eyes studying the bleachers until he found what he was looking for. Thena was quietly replying to something Gilgamesh had said, and the prince smiled confidently. Today, he would shine and she would finally witness it. Focusing on his task, he easily mounted his horse, waiting for his new opponent.

“Oh that, I want to see,” Kingo’s tone was amused with a smile to match as you made your way to the front, a lance in your hand.

Gilgamesh let out a laugh at the sight of you hopping on the horse, but Thena slightly pinched her eyebrows. You weren’t wearing an armor.

The match didn’t last very long, as is often expected during these tournaments, but it did shock many when Arthur hit the ground in defeat. You didn’t bother containing the satisfied grin on your lips as you heard Kingo and Gilgamesh cheer. Your eyes didn’t meet Thena’s but you did catch the hint of a smile as she stood up to leave. You could vaguely hear the prince talk to you, his helmet being thrown on the ground. Your gaze was on Thena’s back as she stepped away from the crowd. She never did like big events like this one, so that was unsurprising. Still, the thought of you amusing her made you smile.

The banquet afterwards felt like a chore you needed to get out of the way. You didn’t think you would become so popular with some of the nobles after what you pulled earlier. Everywhere you turned had someone waiting to ask you a few questions and you were becoming annoyed. You caught a glance of Thena’s dress as she left the party and wanted nothing more than ignore the noble talking your ears off about something you didn’t care for. So you did, you excused yourself without an explanation and left in the same direction the blonde did.

It took a while to find her, leaning on the balustrade of a balcony, stare lost in the ancres of land surrounding the castle. You knew she was aware of your presence without you having to announce it. Leaning next to her, you followed her eyes and looked at the horizon line, where shades of reds and oranges met greens.

The distant noise of the feast a bit far away from you was the only thing filling the silence for a while. Neither of you minded.

“You could have gotten hurt, earlier,” Thena finally spoke quietly, still staring ahead.

You took in her words for a moment. It was true that you weren’t much of a fighter, but you could handle a childish game like jousting.

“The way Arthur tried to save face afterwards was worth it, though,” you said with an amused smile at the memory. He was so red.

There it was again, that small smile on Thena’s lips. You saw it clearly this time. You chuckled and she raised her eyes to the sky with an almost imperceptible shake of her head.

“Besides,” you continued, gesturing to yourself. “I’m okay. Not a scratch on me.”

“Good.”

You thought you misunderstood her murmured reply, and her neutral expression was no help. You paused for a few seconds, looking away so she wouldn’t feel you staring. Thena cared about her loved ones, it shouldn’t be that surprising to hear her relief at the thought of you being unharmed, but the feeling in the pit of your stomach was new. You exhaled, deciding to stop dwelling on it. It was probably nothing.

“Someone needed to take him off his high horse, pun intended,” you kept going, resting your cheek on your palm. Your brows furrowed in irritation. “He is so annoying.”

Thena hummed. “He has a pretty sword, though.”

You didn’t reply. Excalibur was a beautifully crafted weapon and you knew Thena always had an eye for that sort of thing. Still, you didn’t like it and you refused to think about the reason why.

“…I’m not interested in him, you know. I’m aware that you dislike him.”

You turned to her at that, head tilting sideways to catch her eyes. She glanced at your questioning expression, but didn’t elaborate.

“I don’t… dislike him,” you said, back leaning against the balustrade as you crossed your arms. “Just wish he’d break a bone.”

“Right.”

You felt the need to explain yourself. You had been irritated at Arthur the second he came up to thank the Eternals for saving Camelot and you didn’t want Thena to think that you were weird for it. You didn’t know why he annoyed you so much, he just did.

“It’s just…” you paused and she let you compose your thoughts. “He’s so arrogant. And flirty. I mean, how many times do you have to say ‘no’ for him to get it?”

Her eyes were on you but you were lost in your rant, talking with your hands as you listed all the times Arthur had tried to catch Thena’s attention. She barely listened, gaze lowering to your moving mouth for an instant.

Your name left her lips quietly but firmly, successfully shutting you up.

“I’m not interested in him,” she repeated, slower as if implying something else, eyes boring into your confused ones.

“Okay. That’s good.” She raised an amused eyebrow and you looked away, realizing how that must have sounded. “Because… I would’ve judged you if you were.” You added, heartbeat picking up a pace. It did feel good though, to know that Thena never liked him either, at least not the way he liked her. You managed to contain your smile.

At the end of the day, you were the one whose company Thena enjoyed enough to share her space with, the both of you quietly talking into the night, unbothered by the noise of the party below you. Thoughts of Arthur easily slipped from your mind when the blonde smiled a little bigger at your antics. You couldn’t help but want to make her smile so freely again. What that meant, you didn’t know and you didn’t care. You were one of the few allowed to see this playful side of her and it was the only thing on your mind for the rest of the night.

[blueroan-equestrian]

Dark/Grey Druig part1

I'm off to a ruff start I think part two will be better but It's getting a bit long for a one shot so I'm doing parts sorry if I missed the mark for you I'm trying. First attested dark character.

mention past abuse from ex, manipulative Druig/obsessive

Request

the reader is friends with sersi and soon after the events of the film she meets Druig. he manipulates people to speak well of him to her. they eventually start dating and he becomes very jealous and starts trying to convince the reader to come back to live in his community but she wants to end the relationship. he ends up controlling her so she can go with him. if there's any part you don't want to do, no problem.

“Sirsi?” I called as I walked into her small classroom.

She smiled seeing me, “Hey, (y/n), what’s up?”

“Um I just wanted to give you your students progress report this week so that you have an idea where their at.” I say awkwardly.

“Oh wow, thank you so much and thank you covering I know with it being moved to a different room had to be chaotic and you normally do the carbon dating in the lab. Thank you again, I had a family emergency.” Sirsi babbled.

“Oh it was my pleasure. Family comes first. I hope everything is alright now.”

“Oh yeah… unfortunately my mom… and my brother died… and one ran away.”

“Oh my God! Are you sure you don’t need more time?” I say stepping closer.

“No, no it’s fine… they lived a good life. But we’re having a little party to commemorate their lives and I thought perhaps you would like to come. Have some free food and meet my family. I just want to thank you for all your help.”

“Oh please, it’s what friends do. You don’t have to worry about thanking me or inviting me to your family thing, it sounds very personal and I don’t want to intrude.”

She stands waving the idea off before bringing me into a hug, “It’s no intrusion, come please. I know my mother would have loved you and so would my brother. But more importantly I think the rest of the family would too. Please come it’ll be at (local pub). It’ll be fun, 9pm Saturday.”

She gives me a bright smile, that just makes me cave, “Alright, if you insist.” I giggled.

“I do! I do insist!” She laughed patting my shoulder.

I laughed, “Will Sprite be there?”

“She will. She will. She will be glad to see you.”

…

I have tried on a dozen or so outfits but I couldn’t decide what was most appropriate for the occasion. I decided on a nice but modest sundress and made my way to the gathering. There Sersi and Sprite came to greet me warmly. I met the elegant Thena, the chatty Kingo and his charming driver, the kind Phastos, his lovely husband, and witty son and lastly Druig.

Kingo was a bit self absorbed, but alright. Thena was hardy in spirit. Phastos and his family all so witty and thoughtful. Karun the drive was hilarious. And Druig… seemed stand offish and aloof. So I stayed away from him.

Druig pov

Sersi had insisted on a family get together but apparently she invited a friend. A very attractive friend and that made this worth my while. I tried to play it cool but that didn’t seem to work with her and my only other card without forcing her, was sarcasm and I doubt that would work with her so I decided to go offer her a drink.

I got up and passed her looking at her nonchalant, “I’m going to go grab myself another beer, could I get you a drink?”

She thought for a moment, like she was trying to decide if she could accept a drink from me (never accept a drink you haven’t seen prepared.) I kept myself out of her head to give her privacy, the privacy I would have to learn to give if we were to date. She looks at me and then says, “an amaretto sour would be nice, thank you.”

“One amaretto sour coming right up.” I trotted over to the bar and grabbed the drinks. When I handed her the drink she smiled like the sun.

“Thanks, Druig… right?”

“That’s right.” I smile or I think I did.

She takes a sip of her drink, “That’s an interesting name.”

I sipped my beer and smirked, “Suppose it is but I’ve had it all my life.”

She snorted, I got a her to snort, it was adorable. She was the sun and I the moon. She was perfect, “Would you like to go grab a coffee with me sometime?”

She smiled shyly biting her lip but then she spoke, “I don’t know…. I don’t really know you…. I don’t really feel comfortable going out with a complete stranger.”

I nodded trying to keep it cool and casual, “Alright, then let’s talk here, what do you want to know?”

Your pov

Druig was starting to make advances and at first I tried to be polite and then I tried being a little more direct but he wasn’t really backing down so I looked around for Sersi or Sprite to signal to save me. But they were talking to Sersi’s boyfriend. How ever luckily for me Kingo noticed and came over and threw an arm around me and in a light yet boastful voice, “Lovely (y/n), have you had the chance to see some of my work?”

I turned my attention straight to him, “No! But why don’t you show me a sampling.”

I watched a few clips for good measure, before excusing myself to go home.

Druig pov

So she needs to get to know me better. That’s fine but clearly my social skills have deteriorated while living in my isolated compound. So I would have to have others help me introduce myself to her in a matter of speaking.

But to do that I would have to one stay here… for now. Two at least make it look like I know some of the people she knows and make it reasonable for them to know me. So I would get a job at a coffee shop near her work where some of her coworkers must frequent and if I am lucky she’ll frequent so I can make it her idea to approach me.

…

Your pov

Apparently Sirsi’s brother picked up a job at my favorite coffee shop and have him flirt with me. Sirsi tells me he’s just a recovering recluse. Do perhaps he’s just an awkward, yet cocky introvert. Most of my coworkers like him but I don’t know how they think he’s so charming to them… but if he’s an introvert and he likes me, perhaps it’s just him trying too hard. If I just give into his little banter I can figure him out more. He’s not James… my last boyfriend… he’s Sirsi’s brother and Sirsi is an amazing friend. I was letting my past haunt me. I would start with just talk.

I went to the coffee shop the next day, and Druig brightened up like does when he sees me, and calls “Good morning! Shall I get you your usual?”

“Yes please.”

“Has anyone told you that your beautiful today?” He flirted.

“No, just you.” I quipped.

My response made him beam, “That’s three words today. Feeling good today are we?”

I wiggled my brows “I don’t know, maybe just a little.”

Raised his eyebrows, “I’d say, it’s raining words in here.”

“Well get ready for more… we can do coffee here sometime.”

He smiled softly.

Druig pov

I got her to blush. She agreed to a date. Don’t get too excited but also don’t be creepy. “You got it beautiful. How about Friday afternoon after you get off work?”

“Okay, Fridays I only work till two. How late do you work?” She asked as I handed her, her cup of coffee.

“I work mornings. 5 to noon. So that works out perfectly.”

…

Friday I got off work and ran home to get ready. I couldn’t be idle. I had to continue moving or I would just over think things. I haven’t had to think about interacting with anyone in decades. Family is easy they know who you are and love you dispite your faults but I know I need to tone it down a bit for her. She is a kind and giving girl, she won’t go for my usual cocky attitude. I need to be myself but at a more humble level or I guess less bold. I hopped into the shower and started getting ready.

Your pov

I sat at my desk thinking about my date, not every man could be like James, right? Not every guy was crazy possessive. Not every guy would insist on me staying home away from the world and beat me when I didn't...right? I would be in public... it was just a date. One date... with the brother of a good friend. This will be good for me. I need to heal from this.

Part two