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mingi-s-dimples · 4 months ago

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A Deal with The Devil - Hongjoong

"You wanted to rebel, didn’t you? “Is this what you call defiance? Letting yourself be fucked like a filthy little whore on your father’s desk?”

~"devil x pastor’s daughter" - ily sweetie ♡

pairing: devil!hongjoong x pastor's daughter fem!reader

genre: 18+, devil x pastor’s daugther, filth

summary: you wanted to make a deal with the devil.. and in exchange, get freedom of your father. but the devil got other plans.. which you utterly are a whore for.

wc: 5.1k

warnings: religious guilt/imagery, devil!hongjoong, rough dom!hongjoong, pastor's daughter, multiple orgasms (a lot), fingering, eating out, deal with the devil, lots of cum, sex against a wall, sex on a desk, marking, choking, neck holding, taunting, teasing, enemies to lovers typa shit, degradation, dirty talk, breath play, denial, oral fixation, orgasm control, orgasm denial, size kink, completely consensual!, unprotected (boo use protection irl!!), for sure forgot something, might edit later.

Author's Note: hey pooks I hope you'll enjoy this 👉🏻👈🏻 haven't added too many devilish elements cause he's in a human form in my eyes...besides his huge cock ofc and glistening eyes. ily

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction and does not represent the reality of the member in any way.

You’ve always been told that the devil comes in disguise, that he cloaks himself in beauty and charm, whispering seductive lies into the ears of the desperate. He’s the reason for your sins, the voice of temptation that haunts your dreams.

But when you finally come face to face with him, there’s no disguise.

Hongjoong is a living embodiment of sin, draped over a throne carved from darkness and desire, his presence dominating the space around him. He sits back, legs spread wide, his black shirt casually unbuttoned just enough to reveal the ink snaking over his collarbone, glistening like promises of debauchery. His silver rings catch the dim light, a promise of danger glimmering in the shadows of the room.

His eyes—deep, endless pools of darkness—glistening red, lock onto yours, sharp and predatory. The very air around him crackles with an intensity that threatens to consume you whole, yet you stand firm, your defiance a flickering flame against the encroaching darkness.

“I came to make a deal,” you state, voice steady, even as your heart pounds a frantic rhythm against your ribs.

His lips curl into a smirk, a flash of amusement cutting through the tension. “Did you, now?”

“I don’t repeat myself.”

He chuckles, a low, throaty sound that resonates deep within you. “Feisty.” He leans forward, his gaze piercing through you like a dagger. “I expected someone like you to come crawling eventually.”

You straighten, forcing your chin up, refusing to be intimidated. “I don’t crawl for anyone.”

His amusement deepens, a dangerous glint igniting in his eyes. “No? Not even for me?”

And before you can respond, he’s there—standing inches away, the heat of him seeping into your skin. His fingers wrap around your jaw, gripping you with a power that sends shivers of both fear and exhilaration down your spine.

“You don’t crawl,” he echoes, his voice a velvet rasp that wraps around your throat, holding you captive. “Not yet.”

You refuse to break eye contact, though your breath hitches as he leans in, his lips hovering tantalizingly close. “But you will.”

His thumb strokes over your bottom lip, dragging it down slightly, teasing, as if testing your resolve. “Do you know what you’re asking for?”

You swallow hard, defiance bubbling beneath the surface. “I’m asking for everything.”

He smirks, the corners of his mouth curling like he’s just been handed a delicious secret. “You think you can handle it?”

“Maybe I want to get burned.”

The intensity in his eyes shifts, darkening with something primal. “Oh, sweetheart,” he whispers, his lips brushing against your ear, “you have no idea what kind of fire you’re playing with.”

His grip tightens, fingers digging into your skin, pulling you closer. “I’ll give you everything,” he murmurs, his breath warm against your neck. “Every wicked thing you’ve ever dreamed of. Every filthy pleasure that’s crossed your mind.”

His lips ghost over your skin, igniting flames along your neck, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. “But you need to understand something.” His voice drops to a sultry growl, each word a dark promise. “When you’re mine, you surrender completely.”

You shiver at the thrill of his words, feeling the weight of his gaze like a physical touch. “You think you can break me?” you challenge, your voice steady, even as your body responds to him with an eagerness you can’t ignore.

“Oh, darling,” he chuckles, the sound low and dangerous, sending heat pooling in your belly. “I don’t need to break you.”

His hands slide down your arms, tracing every curve, exploring the terrain of your body as if memorizing every inch. “I just need to make you beg.”

His grip on your waist becomes possessive, fingers sinking into your flesh, and you gasp, the sound escaping your lips unbidden. “You think you can make me beg?”

“Don’t test me.” His voice drops to a husky whisper, his lips barely brushing against yours, the tantalizing promise of what’s to come lingering in the air between you. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

His lips crash against yours, hungry and fierce, a collision of heat and urgency. It’s raw, consuming, and the moment his mouth claims yours, you feel yourself melting against him, desire surging through your veins like fire.

You respond with a hunger of your own, fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer, as if you can somehow bridge the gap between the fiery need coursing through you and the cool darkness that surrounds him. He groans into your mouth, a deep, primal sound that reverberates through your body, igniting every nerve ending until all you can think about is him.

He pulls away, a cruel smile dancing on his lips, breathless and wild. “You see? Your body is already begging.”

“Fuck you,” you retort, but the challenge falls flat when you feel the heat pooling in your core, an insatiable hunger that demands to be fed.

“Oh, you will,” he says, voice dripping with lust and malice, “but not before I have my fun.”

He shoves you back against the wall, pinning you there with his body, the weight of him a delicious pressure that sends shivers coursing through you. His lips graze over your throat, teasingly, leaving a trail of fire in their wake as he whispers dark promises against your skin.

“Every wicked thought you’ve ever had, every sinful desire lurking in the corners of your mind?” His breath is hot against your ear, and you can’t suppress the moan that escapes your lips. “I’ll make them all come true.”

His hands explore your body, rough and demanding, tracing the curves that drive him wild. You arch into his touch, desperate for more, every instinct urging you to surrender completely to the devil before you.

“You want me,” he growls, his fingers digging into your hips, forcing you to feel every bit of his hunger. “You want everything I have to offer. Don’t pretend otherwise.”

“I want more,” you whisper, your voice trembling with desire, your heart racing as you lean into him. “Show me what you can do.”

His eyes flash with satisfaction, and in that moment, you know you’ve crossed a line you can never return from. You’re tangled in the web of his dark allure, willing to embrace whatever sin he offers.

“Then let’s see how far you’re willing to fall,” he murmurs, his lips curling into a wicked grin as he pulls you deeper into the abyss.

And you realize, with chilling clarity, that you’re ready to surrender everything.

Hongjoong's lips barely leave your skin, his mouth trailing hot kisses down your neck, but even as his fingers work their magic, you refuse to be reduced to a quivering mess beneath him. Every touch ignites a fire deep within you, but you cling to your defiance like a lifeline.

“You think you can break me?” you challenge breathlessly, even as your body arches into his every touch, desperate for more.

He chuckles darkly against your skin, the sound reverberating through you like a spell. “Oh, darling, I don’t need to break you.” He grips your jaw with one hand, tilting your face up to meet his gaze, the intensity of his stare making you shiver. His fingers slide under your skirt, teasingly slow as he drags them along your thighs, brushing the fabric of your panties. The heat pooling in your belly is undeniable, but you bite back a moan, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing you lose control.

“Fuck you,” you hiss, though the heat in your voice betrays you, and he laughs, the sound low and teasing.

“Oh, I plan to,” he murmurs, a wicked glint in his eyes.

Before you can protest, he slips a finger beneath the fabric, teasing you with a slow, deliberate touch, his eyes locked onto yours as he watches you squirm. You feel the heat rise in your cheeks, the humiliation and desire clashing within you.

“You’re just a spoiled little pastor’s daughter,” he taunts, the edge of his voice dripping with condescension. “What do you know of real pleasure?”

“I know enough,” you snap, forcing your voice steady even as he pushes a second finger inside you, stretching you, making you gasp. “I know you’re nothing but a—”

His grip tightens, fingers wrapping around your throat, cutting off your words as he leans in closer, his breath hot against your ear. “What was that? You were saying?”

The pressure of his grip sends a rush of heat coursing through you, a thrill mixed with fear and desire. You look into his eyes, defiance still burning, and manage a breathy, “You think you can intimidate me?”

His lips curl into a smirk, but there’s no amusement in his gaze—only hunger. “Oh, I don’t need to intimidate you. You’re already so captivated…”

With a swift motion, he pulls his hand away, leaving you gasping, aching for his touch. The sudden absence sends a wave of frustration crashing over you. “What the hell?”

He leans back, watching you with amusement, as if savoring the moment. “Did you think it would be that easy?”

You glare at him, fury and desire battling for dominance within you. “I didn’t come here to play games, Hongjoong.”

“Yet here we are.” His fingers trail over your bare skin, igniting every nerve ending as he watches you squirm under his gaze. “You came to make a deal… and you think you can just waltz in here and demand what you want?”

“I came to take control,” you retort, the fire in your belly urging you to push back even harder. “I’m not afraid of you.”

He steps closer, his presence overwhelming, and you can feel the heat radiating off him. “You should be.”

In an instant, he closes the distance, his grip tightening around your throat once more, not enough to hurt, but enough to make you gasp. “Tell me, sweetheart,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against yours, teasing. “Is this what you wanted? To feel me choke you until you can’t breathe?”

A thrill races through you, and against your better judgment, you reply, “Yes.”

His eyes darken, and he leans in closer, his mouth ghosting over your lips. “You think you’re so tough, but I see right through you. You want me to own you.”

“I w-won’t let you,” you spit back, but the words come out as more of a plea than a declaration.

“Then let’s see how far you can go before you break,” he challenges, his lips curling into a predatory grin. “Because I have every intention of claiming you.”

With that, he crashes his mouth against yours, a fierce, possessive kiss that leaves you breathless. You respond instinctively, your body craving the heat and intensity of him. He deepens the kiss, his tongue sliding against yours, and you can feel the way he pulls you in, demanding your submission even as you fight against it.

His fingers slide back down your body, exploring, teasing, and you can’t help but moan into his mouth. “You think I’m just going to give in?”

He pulls back slightly, eyes glinting with amusement. “You already are. You just don’t know it yet.”

He pushes you back against the wall even more, pinning you with his body, the weight of him pressing you into the hard surface. His hand slides beneath your skirt again, and you feel the cool air against your skin as he tears away your remaining barriers. “Let’s take this to the next level, shall we?”

“Stop it!” you hiss, but the fire in your voice is a thin veil over your desperation. You wanted him so fucking bad.

“Make me,” he challenges, and with that, he plunges two fingers deep inside you, and you can’t help but gasp, your body responding against your will.

“Fuck!” you curse, and he chuckles, the sound low and triumphant.

He drives his fingers deeper, and you feel yourself spiraling, pleasure washing over you in waves. Each thrust, each curl of his fingers ignites a fire within you, pushing you closer and closer to the edge.

“Admit it,” he breathes against your ear, his voice a sultry whisper that makes your heart race. “You love this. You love being my little plaything.”

“No,” you manage to say, even as your body betrays you, begging for more. “I hate you!”

“Lies…,” he growls, his fingers moving faster, rougher, and the pressure builds, your body teetering on the brink. “You’re mine, whether you want to admit it or not.”

He captures your lips again, his kiss fierce and demanding, and as he deepens his fingers, you feel the world around you dissolve. You’re lost in him, in the heat and the darkness, and with every thrust of his fingers, every possessive grip, you know you’re falling deeper into his embrace.

“I’m not afraid of you,” you whisper between kisses, but the defiance in your voice is faltering, the fire in your belly igniting as you feel the climax build.

“You should be,” he murmurs, voice low and tantalizing. “Because I’m going to make you beg for more.”

And with that, he pushes you over the edge, your world exploding in a haze of pleasure and surrender, and as you cry out his name, you know you’ve finally succumbed to the devil who has claimed you body and soul.

The air is thick with tension as Hongjoong pulls you closer, his eyes dark and filled with an insatiable hunger. The moment you catch your breath, he sweeps you off your feet and pushes you around, pressing your back against the wall. Your heart races with a mix of anticipation and defiance, the thrill of the forbidden sending a shiver down your spine.

“Still think you can control this?” he murmurs, his breath hot against your ear.

“Maybe,” you reply, fighting to keep your voice steady despite the urgency pulsing through you.

Without warning, he lifts one of your legs and drapes it over his shoulder, positioning you exactly how he wants you. The sudden shift catches you off guard, and a rush of heat floods your cheeks as you look down at him, your breath hitching.

“You don’t get to decide that anymore,” he growls, his voice low and sultry. “You’re mine now.”

Before you can respond, he dives in, his mouth finding you with a hunger that makes your head spin. He latches onto you without warning, and a gasp escapes your lips as his tongue glides over your clit. Pleasure bursts through you like wildfire, and you instinctively grip his hair, pulling him closer as he devours you.

“Hongjoong!” you cry out, your body arching against him, desperate for more.

He chuckles against you, the vibrations sending shockwaves of pleasure through your core. “That’s it, sweetheart. Let me hear you.”

He works you over with precision, his tongue dancing and teasing, swirling and flicking in a way that has your knees threatening to buckle. Your mind races, caught in the chaos of pleasure and defiance. “You think this is going to make me submit?” you challenge breathlessly, even as your body betrays you, clenching around nothing as he pushes you higher.

“Just admit you love it,” he replies, his voice muffled as he continues his relentless assault. “Admit you crave it.”

You shake your head, refusing to give him the satisfaction, even as the heat builds inside you, every nerve ending alive and begging for release. “I won’t give in that easily!”

“Is that so?” He pauses for a brief moment, pulling back just enough to look up at you, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Hm, then I guess I’ll have to work harder.”

With that, he resumes, his mouth finding you with a fervor that makes your heart race. He pushes your leg higher, deepening his access, and you can feel the pressure building within you, the coil tightening as he drinks you in. The raw intensity of it all is overwhelming, and you can’t help but moan, the sounds escaping you unbidden.

“You’re so fucking wet for me,” he growls, the words dripping with satisfaction as he plunges his tongue deeper, teasing and swirling, every flick sending shocks of pleasure coursing through you.

“Damn it, Hongjoong!” you whimper, fighting against the overwhelming sensations, but he just laughs, the sound dark and full of promise.

“Tell me you want this. Tell me you want me,” he urges, his eyes never leaving yours, filled with a feral need that sends a thrill through you.

“Never,” you retort defiantly, but the fire in your belly is reaching its peak, and your resolve begins to waver.

He chuckles again, the sound low and sultry, and the wicked gleam in his eyes only fuels your frustration.

He doubles his efforts, tongue swirling and teasing, fingers digging into your thighs as he holds you steady. You can feel the tension coiling tighter and tighter, a pressure building that threatens to overwhelm you.

“Just give in,” he murmurs, lips brushing against your skin, sending shivers racing through you. “Let go of your pride. You’ll find that this is where you truly belong.”

“Shut up,” you gasp, unable to hide the pleasure leaking into your voice as he pushes you closer to the edge. “You think you can just—”

But he cuts you off, plunging two fingers inside you alongside his mouth, his relentless rhythm pushing you past the point of no return. Your body responds instinctively, every muscle tightening as pleasure overwhelms you, and you can’t hold back the moan that escapes your lips.

“God, Hongjoong!” you cry, your breath coming in ragged gasps as you feel yourself teetering on the brink.

“Tell me you want me to make you come,” he demands, his eyes locked on yours, dark and demanding.

“Never!” you scream, defiance fighting against the overwhelming pleasure crashing over you.

But he just smirks, the fire in his eyes igniting further as he doubles down on his efforts. “Then I’ll just have to make you.”

He thrusts his fingers deeper, his devilish claws feeling incredibly pleasant, curling them just right, and the world around you fades away. The pressure builds, every nerve ending alight with need as you approach that sweet release.

“Fuck!” you gasp, the word tumbling from your lips as your body quakes beneath him, and in that moment, all your defiance crumbles.

“Admit it,” he breathes, his voice thick with satisfaction as he watches you unravel. “You want this. You want me.”

“Fine!” you shout, the words spilling out before you can think. “I want it! I want you!”

With that, you feel the world explode, pleasure crashing over you like a tidal wave as you cry out his name, surrendering completely to the devil who has ensnared your heart.

As the waves of pleasure recede, Hongjoong wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, a wicked smirk dancing on his lips. The look in his eyes is predatory, dark, and intoxicating. He grips your waist, lifting you off the ground, and suddenly, you’re pinned against the wall. Your heart races as your legs instinctively wrap around his waist.

“Think you can control me?” he murmurs, his voice low and sultry, sending shivers down your spine.

Without waiting for a response, he thrusts into you hard, filling you completely. His cock was huge… barely fitting in. The sensation takes your breath away, and you gasp, your body instinctively arching towards him as he holds you firmly against the wall. Each thrust is hard and deliberate, pushing you to the edge, igniting a fire within you that you can’t deny.

The sound of skin slapping against skin fills the air as he drives deeper. He leans in, his breath hot against your ear, whispering taunts that send thrill after thrill coursing through you. The pressure builds, your body responding eagerly to his every movement.

You can feel the tension coiling tighter with every thrust, and despite your attempts to maintain your defiance, you find yourself gasping for breath. The heat pooling in your belly is unbearable. “I hate you,” you manage to say, but even you can hear the yearning in your voice.

He only chuckles, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. He lifts you higher against the wall, positioning you to his liking, and thrusts harder, each movement precise and unrelenting. The overwhelming pleasure threatens to consume you, but he holds you in place, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

As he pushes you to the brink, he grips your throat, tightening just enough to make your head spin. The world tilts on its axis, and you feel your body betraying you, craving his touch more than anything. He bites down on your shoulder, leaving a mark that burns and seals your fate as his.

The pressure inside you builds and builds, and your mind spins as you teeter on the edge of release. With each thrust, you can feel yourself breaking apart, the heat overwhelming. Your nails dig into his shoulders as you cling to him, desperate for stability.

“Just let go,” he growls, the primal hunger in his voice sending shivers down your spine. The tension reaches a peak, and in one powerful thrust, you feel the world explode around you. Pleasure crashes over you like a tidal wave, leaving you gasping his name, surrendering completely to the devil who has ensnared your heart.

He rides you through your climax, thrusting relentlessly as your body trembles around him. The waves of ecstasy wash over you, drowning out everything else. With each movement, he holds you tightly, claiming you as his, marking you for all to see.

You’ve entered a dangerous game, and deep down, you know you’re addicted to the thrill, the heat, and the devil himself.

As you slowly come back to reality, breathless and dizzy from pleasure, Hongjoong's smirk only deepens. He grips your waist, his eyes dark with satisfaction. “Is this how you rebel against your father?” he growls, moving you into the neatly tidied desk of your father's, only to throw everything in sight on the floor, thrusting deeper into you. “By making a deal with the devil and fucking hard on his cock?”

You gasp at his words, feeling the heat wash over you again as he drives into you relentlessly. He tightens his grip around your throat, choking you just enough to send a thrill through your body. “Answer me,” he demands, his voice low and commanding.

“Y-yes…!” you gasp, his words sending a thrill through you.

The room is filled with the sounds of your heavy breathing and the rhythmic thud of his body against yours as he thrusts into you relentlessly. The desk creaks beneath the two of you, the chaotic mess of scattered papers and pens a testament to the fervor of the moment. Hongjoong leans closer, his breath hot against your ear as he takes you completely.

“This is what you get for striking a deal with the devil himself,” he growls, his voice dripping with dark satisfaction. “You thought you could handle it, didn’t you? But look at you now, utterly at my mercy.”

His words send another thrill through you, the way he degrades you only fueling your desire. You meet his gaze, defiance still flickering in your eyes, but it’s drowned out by the overwhelming pleasure coursing through your veins.

“You wanted to rebel, didn’t you?” he continues, his thrusts unyielding. “Is this what you call defiance? Letting yourself be fucked like a filthy little whore on your father’s desk?”

You try to protest, but the words get caught in your throat, your body betraying you as you arch against him, craving more. His grip tightens on your hips, holding you in place as he drives into you harder, each thrust sending waves of ecstasy crashing over you.

“Admit it,” he demands, his voice rough and commanding. “You love being treated like this. You love the danger, the thrill of being taken by someone like me.”

You moan softly, the pleasure overwhelming, and despite your best efforts to stay defiant, the truth hangs heavy on your lips. “I… Ah, fuck-,” you manage to choke out, but even you can hear the weakness in your voice, the way your body responds to him with every thrust.

He chuckles darkly, the sound filled with amusement. “Mhm… you’re just a good little, innocent pastor’s daughter who wants to be a bad girl,” he taunts, thrusting even harder. “And now you’re mine. You’ll learn to embrace it.”

His words cut deep, igniting a fire within you that’s both thrilling and terrifying. You know you should feel shame, but all you feel is desire, the way he dominates you feeding into something primal and raw.

With a final powerful thrust, he pushes you over the edge once more, and you cry out, the intensity of your release consuming you. Hongjoong doesn’t relent, continuing to thrust as you ride the waves of pleasure, your body quaking beneath him.

“See?” he breathes, watching you intently, a smirk playing on his lips. “This is what happens when you give in to temptation. You become a slave to your own desires.”

As you come down from your high, he holds you close, filling you completely, your bodies entwined in a tangled mess of passion and chaos. In that moment, you realize you’ve crossed a line you can never return from. The thrill of being his—the devil’s possession—consumes you, and deep down, a part of you knows you’ll never want to escape.

“You’ll crave this again,” he murmurs, brushing his lips against your ear. “You’ll come back for more, just like the good little sinner you are.”

And with that, he begins to thrust again, igniting the fire within you once more, proving that once you make a deal with the devil, there’s no turning back.

With each powerful thrust, Hongjoong ignites a fire deep within you, your body responding eagerly as he drives you closer to the edge again. The pleasure builds quickly, and before you can catch your breath, he shifts his angle, hitting that perfect spot that sends shockwaves through your entire body.

“Look at you,” he growls, his voice low and teasing as he watches your reaction. “So filthy, so eager for my cock. You want to come again, don’t you? You want to let go and give in completely.”

You can barely manage a response, your breath coming in quick gasps as the pressure within you swells to an unbearable level. “Yes,” you whimper, the desperation in your voice only fueling his dominance.

“Good girl,” he praises, thrusting harder, his movements relentless as he pushes you further. “Let it out. Show me how much you want it.”

In that moment, the tension inside you snaps, but it’s not just an orgasm; it’s something more powerful. The wave of pleasure crashes over you as you squirt, soaking him and the desk beneath you. Your body trembles uncontrollably, caught in the throes of ecstasy, as you experience a high unlike anything you've ever felt.

“Look at you,” he breathes, watching the scene unfold with dark satisfaction. “Squirting all over me. You’re such a dirty little slut, aren’t you?” His words drip with both praise and degradation, sending you spiraling even further into the depths of pleasure.

You can barely comprehend the intensity of the moment, overwhelmed by the pleasure coursing through you. The sound of your release fills the room, and all you can do is cling to him, your body shaking as he continues to thrust, riding out the waves of your pleasure.

“Such a good little sinner,” he murmurs, his voice a mix of hunger and satisfaction. “You’re completely mine now, and you love every second of it.”

As your body trembles beneath him, he doesn’t let up, continuing to drive into you with fervor, ensuring that you feel every last bit of pleasure. The connection between you is electric, and in that moment, you know there’s no turning back from the thrill of what you’ve become—a willing prisoner to the devil’s desires.

As the waves of pleasure finally recede, Hongjoong pulls back, his breath heavy and uneven. He gazes down at you, a smirk playing on his lips as he takes in the sight of your flushed face, the evidence of your shared passion still glistening on your skin. You can feel the heat radiating between you, a tangible reminder of the intensity that just unfolded.

“Look at you,” he murmurs, his voice low and teasing, fingers brushing lightly over your still trembling body. “All wrecked and vulnerable. You really enjoyed that, didn’t you?” His tone is both playful and predatory, making it clear that he relishes in your surrender.

You try to catch your breath, your heart racing, but his presence looms large, overwhelming. “I... hate you,” you manage to say, though the words come out breathless and weak, the defiance in your voice barely a whisper.

Hongjoong chuckles, clearly enjoying your attempt to maintain some semblance of bravado. “Oh, sweetheart, we both know that’s a lie,” he replies, his fingers dancing across your skin, teasing and taunting. “You love this just as much as I do. You crave it.”

As he pulls you closer, you can feel the warmth of his body against yours, a stark contrast to the coolness of the desk beneath you. His grip is firm but gentle as he runs his hands down your sides, reminding you of the way he claimed you just moments ago.

“Let’s not pretend,” he says, his voice a mix of roughness and gentleness. “You’re not just some innocent girl anymore. You’ve crossed a line, and I can’t help but enjoy the way you’re falling apart for me.”

He leans down, pressing a soft kiss against your forehead, the gesture surprisingly tender after the intensity of your earlier encounter. “But don’t think I’ll go easy on you,” he adds, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. “You’re mine now, and I’ll make sure you remember that.”

As he pulls back slightly, his eyes lock onto yours, a wicked gleam dancing in their depths. “You’ll want more, won’t you? More of this, more of me,” he says, a playful challenge lacing his words.

You feel the heat rising in your cheeks, a mixture of embarrassment and undeniable desire. “Maybe,” you reply, trying to keep your tone defiant, but the tremor in your voice gives you away.

“Good,” he replies, his smirk widening as he leans in closer, the distance between you shrinking once more. “Because I have plans for you. This is just the beginning.”

He presses another kiss to your lips, rough and teasing, igniting the fire within you all over again. It’s a reminder that even after the chaos, he’s still the devil you’ve recklessly given yourself to—a thrilling danger that you can’t resist.

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irisposts · 8 months ago

Text

Embers of Us

summary | you plot to kill your uncle aemond and avenge your fallen brother.

paring: aemond x neice!reader

warning: kissing, p n v, very smutty oh and some angst, spoilers for s1e10

note: i haven't written smut in like a year. bare with me cus it's pretty ass.

word count: 2.8k

not edited

Gold coins fall into the rat catcher’s palm, his fingers quiver as you release the last two. The cold steel of your gaze pierces through him.

“Now leave,” you command, your voice sharp and hushed.

He nods hurriedly, retreating into the shadows from which he came. Your eyes lift to the second floor—the royal floor.

You ascend the stairs silently, each step filled with the weight of your purpose. The air feels thick, almost suffocating, as memories flood your mind—of Luke, of the war, of what was taken from your mother. The dagger beneath your cloak feels heavier with each breath.

When you reach Aemond’s door, your fingers shake as they graze the frame. Taking a sharp breath, you push it open just enough to peek inside. And there he is—Aemond Targaryen, your estranged uncle. The man that would meet his fate by the end of your dagger.

The room is bathed in the warm glow of scattered candles, their flames flickering against the stone walls. Aemond sits at a table, his back to you, his silver hair catching the light. He doesn’t turn when you slowly close the door behind you and seal the space between you.

Each step you take is measured, deliberate, as you approach. As you reach him, your hand shoots out, grabbing a fistful of his silver hair. You yank his head back sharply and raise your dagger to his throat, the cold steel pressing against his skin. He hisses a breath through his teeth, unfazed.

“Niece,” Aemond murmurs, a low, cruel chuckle rumbling from his throat.

You tighten your grip on his hair, your voice taut with fury. “Uncle.”

Aemond raises his hands, a gesture of surrender. “Easy.”

Your wrist moves to swipe across his neck and then, with a swift move, he disarms you effortlessly–your blade goes clattering to the floor.

Before you can react, he’s on his feet, facing you with your own weapon pointed at your chest. You unsheathe another dagger, stepping back, trying to create distance.

His gaze locks onto yours, a faint smirk curling his lips. “Did Rhaenyra send you to do this, or are you foolish enough to act on your own?”

“My mother—your rightful queen—” you spit, your eyes burning with rage. Aemond scoffs at the words, but you press on. “—has nothing to do with this. I came for Luke.”

Something flickers in Aemond’s expression, but it vanishes as quickly as it appeared. His face hardens, cold and controlled. He steps slowly around the chair, voice lowering but steady.

“Luke was... a casualty of war,” he says, his tone almost detached. “War does not care for innocence. I am a soldier, and soldiers do what must be done. Blood is spilled, and it claims whoever stands in its path.”

“Casualty of war?” you seethe, your voice a mix of anguish and fury. “He was just a messenger! He wasn’t a threat to you, and yet you—” Your voice cracks, your chest tightening.

Aemond’s face hardens further, his hand drifting toward his eyepatch as if by reflex. “The war,” he snaps, “began the day I lost my eye to your brother’s blade. A debt was owed.”

Your heart pounds in your ears, your hands shaking as anger courses through you. “But his life?” you choke, your voice faltering as tears well in your eyes. “He was just a boy!” You place a hand on your chest and spit through gritted teeth. “…We had nothing to burn.”

Aemond’s gaze softens for a brief moment, the flicker of guilt in his eye is buried beneath layers of pride, but it’s there.

You steady yourself, swallowing the sob threatening to escape. With trembling hands, you tilt your chin high and raise the dagger once more, whispering, "Se iā daor." (And now, you must die.)

You plant your feet firmly and charge towards him. Aemond catches your wrist midair, but you’re ready. With your free hand, you unsheathe another hidden dagger and swipe it across his side, the blade cutting through the fabric of his clothes and into his skin. A grunt escapes his lips as he staggers back, and the two of you tumble to the ground in a fierce struggle. The cold stone presses against your bodies as you grapple, breaths heavy and ragged, hands clawing and striking.

Aemond throws a punch, but you block it just in time, your arm bracing against the blow. In the chaos of tangled limbs, your fingernails catch his face, tearing away the eyepatch.

Everything stills.

Aemond freezes, his breath hitching as your gaze falls to the scarred, hollow space where his eye once was. But instead of a void, a sapphire gleams in its place, glowing faintly in the candlelight.

For the first time in years, you see the familiar tremor that runs through him. Fractured memories of child Aemond floods your mind, the Aemond you had once comforted when no one else dared to look at him.

Your heart slows as you reach your hand out to trace the scar and the sapphire embedded in his eye socket. But just as your fingers near him, Aemond’s hand shoots out, grasping your wrist.

His grip is firm, but not harsh. He holds your hand there, inches from his face, and the tension in the air thickens, the crackling candles the only sound between you.

The memory returns again—the quiet moments after Aemond had lost his eye. When you had been the only one to ask if he was in pain. The only one to sneak past your mother and Alicent to see to him—to offer him kindness when others turned away. That boy still exists, somewhere beneath the man who hovers before you now.

Aemond’s remaining eye flickers with something unreadable. Guilt, sorrow—perhaps, buried beneath his pride. “I’m letting you live,” he murmurs. “I won’t give you or your mother the satisfaction of my death. Nor will I give my brother the pleasure of yours.”

He loosens his grip, gently releasing your wrist. The violence that once filled the room moments ago now dissipates like smoke.

You continue to lay on the cold stone floor as grief overwhelms you, your body withers as bitter tears stream down your face. Damn him. Damn him for not giving you the chance to avenge Luke.

“No,” you sob, weakly striking his chest, the blows are soft and ineffective. Aemond doesn’t stop you. “No!” you cry again, your words spilling out in a broken mantra. “No.”

Aemond watches you, his expression unreadable. But something shifts in his gaze, something softer, more fragile than before. For a fleeting moment, you think you see unshed tears glistening in his eye, but the moment passes quickly.

In an unexpected gesture, Aemond reaches down and brushes a silver strand of hair from your face. He tucks it gently behind your ear. His thumb then swipes at the wetness beneath your eyes, lingering a moment too long. His fingers ghost against your skin.

His eye lowers, tracing the curve of your lips. His thumb brushes softly across your bottom lip. You taste the faint salt from your tears. He pauses, his eye searching yours, waiting—asking without words.

More tears threaten to spill, your heart torn between bitter betrayal and the love you had buried deep within.

But agaisnt your better judgement, you allow yourself to relax.

And then his lips meet yours, soft and careful, as if there’s a possibility you’d reject him. But you won't. You exhale a quiet sigh, melting into the warmth of his touch.

The kiss holds a thousand unspoken truths. It’s not just born of passion, but of release—of grief, regret, and love. For all the war, all the bloodshed and losses, the love between you had always lingered, hidden beneath layers of denial. Now, at this moment, it rises to the surface, undeniable.

Your fingers slip into his hair, pulling gently at the roots. Aemond’s hand cups the side of your face, his thumb brushing your cheek as he deepens the kiss with quiet desperation.

For this fleeting moment, the storm outside the walls, the weight of the crown, and the shattered bonds of family fade into nothing. It is just the two of you, suspended in this moment where the war; your mother’s throne, and the blood between you are now distant echoes.

Aemond breaks away from the kiss and leans back. You watch carefully as he strips his top half bare. Your eyes roam over every inch of his chiseled form, taking in the smooth curve of his waist and the firm lines that make up his frame. Your gaze lingers on the wound of your doing. It sits right above his pelvis, off to the side. It's not a deep cut, but it left specks of blood on his pale skin.

Your fingers tremble as they reach for the strings of your top. Taking a shallow breath, you begin to remove your outer clothing. Aemond senses your anticipation and helps you out of your trousers. His touch sends shivers down your bare skin, as your naked form is fully revealed for his eyes to bare.

Aemond slots himself between your legs and peppers kisses across your face, neck, chest, and abdomen. His silver hair tickling your skin as he continues downward. He slides his face in between your thighs, leaving soft kisses on either side.

He glances up at you for approval once more. Your cheeks flush and you give a quick nod before laying back down completely.

Aemond delicately parts your legs, his rough calloused hands gently brushing against the soft skin of your inner thighs. A low moan escapes your lips as his skilled fingers spread you apart. He begins to massage and tease at your bud. Your back arches in pleasure as Aemond flattens his tongue and slowly licks you up in a long, sensual strip.

"Gods," you mutter breathlessly.

Both of your hands are in his hair now, tight and pushing him deeper into your heat.

Aemond is undoubtedly skilled. You can't help but feel a twinge of envy as you wonder if some woman from his past, maybe someone from his court, had taught him these tricks. He moans against you and a rush heat of heat glides up your body. Your eyes roll back, as he continues to devou you like you’re the last meal on earth.

You move a peice of silver out of his face—you want to see everything.

Your fingers tangle in Aemond's hair once more as waves of pleasure course through your body.

His tongue moves with expert precision, alternating between teasing flicks and long, languid strokes. Your hips buck involuntarily, pressing yourself closer to his eager mouth.

His hands grip your thighs firmly, holding you in place as he increases his pace. The room fills with the sound of your ragged breathing and muffled moans. You feel the familiar tension building deep within your belly, threatening to overflow at any moment.

Aemond reaches towards your breast, his hand massaging the mound. His fingers pinching and twisting at your hardened nipple. His tongue swirls and darts in and out of your wet heat, in perfect unison with his fingers. “Aemond.”

Just as you approach the precipice, Aemond pulls away, leaving you gasping and desperate for release. His mismatched eyes, one sapphire gem and one his familiar ocean blue, lock onto yours with an intensity that makes your heart race.

His lips glisten in the light with your slit.

You watch as he stands tall and wrangles himself out of his trouser. Now, completely baring himself to you as you do him. Aemond's manhood is long and thick, standing with attention and glistening with a bead of precum at the tip. You note the thick veins along his shaft. Your mouth waters at the thought of tasting him.

You chew on your lips in anticipation as Aemond brings himself back down to your level and hovers above your face. You both don’t pay any mind to your centers brushing against one another as he situates himself between your legs. Both of you are too caught in each other’s gaze.

Instinctively, your fingers reach up again to trace the scar across his eye—the one that defines so much of who he is now.

This time, he allows it. His face melts into your outstretched palm, eyes fluttering closed as your thumb brushes the sensitive area near the socket of his lost eye.

His hair falls like a sheer veil, cloaking the two of you. “iksā gevie” You say the words so softly it’s a mere whisper. (You’re beautiful.)

Aemond's eye soften and he gently removes your hand from his face.

But instead of letting go, he lifts your wrist to his lips and kisses the thin skin there. His lips linger for a moment before he lowers your hand back down to rest at your side. Aemond grabs himself between you both and positions himself at your entrance.

You mentally and physically prepare yourself for what is about to happen, knowing it is an act of betrayal. Not only to your family, but to yourself.

Slowly, he enters you with the tip of his cock, causing a simultaneous moan from the both of you. Him from feeling the warmth of your walls and you from the pleasurable intrusion. You watch as his hips move, his skin glistening with sweat as he sinks deeper into you. You watch the intensity in his gaze as he looks down at where you both meet, his face contorted with raw desire.

Your legs spread wider when your body’s are fully flushed. The sensation of being so full and heavy of Aemond is heavenly.

You cry out in bliss as he begins to move inside you. His hips rolling out and snapping into your cunt.

The rhythm of Aemond's thrusts are deliberate and powerful, each one rolling and snapping with increasing force. You feel the tension building within you, a fire that is threatening to consume you both. Your chest bounces as he growls into the crook of your neck, his breath hot against your skin.

Your legs and hands cling around him, trying to hold on as his pace quickens. Your fingers claw into his back, leaving red marks in their wake. Aemond sucks at the salty flesh on the curve of your neck, biting down hard before meekly replacing his tongue and lips to ease the pain.

"sīr vok," he whispers into the shell of your ear in between thrusts, his voice low and rough. “se mirre syt nyke.” (So perfect, all mines)

You moan in response, unable to form coherent words as pleasure overtakes your senses. The world around you fades away as Aemond continues to assault your inside, each thrust bringing you closer and closer to the edge.

Aemond reaches a certain depth inside you–hitting that one spot of nerves. A wave of pleasure washes over you and you cry out his name. Your back arches off the floor as you shake in ecstasy and gasp for air.

But Aemond doesn't slow down. He continues to fuck into you, through your orgasm, his grunts becoming more guttural and primal. He leans down to capture your lips in a fierce kiss, his tongue dancing with yours . Your hands roam over his body, feeling every ripple and muscle as he brings both of you closer to the brink.

You wrap your legs tighter around him, urging him on as he pounds into you with an urgency that matches your own. Aemond buries himself between the curve of your neck, his moans loud and desperate. The familiar coil in your stomach begins to tighten once more as Aemond relentlessly drives into you.

“ivestragī ñuha—ah” You gasp at the sensitivity between your thighs. “laesi jurnegon jemome.” (let me see you). You beckon him to remove himself from your shoulder blade.

Aemond obliges and turns his face towards yours. You stare as his features twist with pleasure. How his body tenses as he reaches his own peak, his hips stuttering against yours as he spills himself inside you. You feel the warmth of his seed filling you to the brim. You let out a sigh of satisfaction. He nearly collapses on top of you, but manages to gather the strength to withdraw from your body. You both watch as your essence coats him and his own drips between your thighs.

He falls down beside you in exhaustion.

You miss the warmth of him inside you, the feeling of him being close to you.

The silence stretches, only your breathing echoing in the vast emptiness of the room, both of you lost in your own thoughts.

After what feels like an eternity, you glance over at Aemond. He lies still, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, his expression unreadable.

Without shifting your gaze from him, you say the words slowly, each syllable deliberate. “I’m going to kill you one day.”

It was a promise.

You expect a reaction—a sudden turn of his head, a flash of anger, perhaps even the feeling of his hand reaching for the dagger beside him, and driving it into your throat. But none of that comes.

Instead, Aemond remains as he is, his face serene, his eyes still locked on the ceiling as if it held all the answers. He doesn’t flinch. He doesn’t even blink.

“I know.” His words are soft and matter a fact.

You slowly turn your head, your eyes tracing the same path his do and stare at the ceiling above. The silence settles again, heavy and suffocating, but beneath it lies a quiet understanding– one neither of you are yet ready to confront.

#aemond targaryen #aemond fanfiction #aemond x reader #prince aemond #hotd smut #aemond smut #aemond x you #aemond one eye #house of the dragon smut #hotd #hotd aemond #x reader #aemond fic #aemond targaryen smut

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azealot · 1 year ago

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Edit: Hey guys the drawing is complete, you can check it on my profile.

Let's make a Siffrin!

Vote on one aspect of Siffrin's design, when the poll is done I will draw Siffrin proportional to the votes.

If you don't know In Stars And Time, this is the goober I am drawing:

(I am also running this poll on the In Stars And Time Discord, so I'm going to add up the votes from both.)

#in stars and time #isat #isat siffrin #tumblr polls #polls

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expanding-hyrule · 6 months ago

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Story Spotlights Hub Post

Reference post for links and details on the Expanding Hyrule Story Spotlights community project.

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Original Post - Review Form - Reviews - Fic Archive - Art Archive

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Works In Need of Reviews

Looking to help support a creator in Expanding Hyrule? All of these works in our collection have yet to get enough reviews for a spotlight. Works need a minimum of 3 reviews to be featured, and will include up to 5 in their post, but you are welcome to submit more, the link to the responses is available on this post for creators to read the whole list.

You can find all these works linked in the archives listed above!

Short Projects (Concept boards, under 10 chapter fics, etc)

Depths of the Darkness by @reallybadgirlcovention (2/3)

On the Shores of Change by @/leadernovaandthemacabre (2/3)

The Prince of Hyrule by @batrogers (1/3)

Shadows of History by @palmolli (1/3)

The Tale of the Realm Walker by @tnc-n3cl (1/3)

Western Hyrule by @spicymcbean

Ancestral Links by @/pagankeith (1/3)

What It Means To Be Chosen by @raginghummingbird (1/3)

Way of Courage by @/beepboprobotsnot (1/3)

Day After Destiny by @amelias-calamity-quintet (1/3)

A Taste for Adventure by @amelias-calamity-quintet

Restoration of Faith by @omegaalpha01

Moderate Projects (Started comics, <75k fics, etc)

DadLink AU by @dadlink/ @pluviatrix

Princess Link: Engaged to my sister's kidnapper??? by @sparkspsps (1/3)

The Legend of Three by @fablesfables (1/3)

Lock and Key by @louwhose (2/3)

petrichor and bones by @pastelsandpining (1/3)

Into the Dark by @deiliamedlini

The Hand That Holds the Sword by @zarvasace

Fighting Fate by @/Allendra

Desert Blight by @/jclbs

Blooming in Adversity by @/botwriter

The inconsistencies of fate by @stinkyguar (1/3)

To Fall In Love With a Goddess by @abbyz-elda (1/3)

Restoration Age by @amelias-calamity-quintet

Cinders of Life by @amelias-calamity-quintet

Large Projects (Ongoing comics, <150k fics, etc)

Path of the Infinite by @shadow-djinni (2/3)

A Conviction to Save by @advocaado

Inspiration, Illusions, and other Inconveniences by @zeldaelmo (2/3)

Hero by @karama9 (2/3)

All That Hurts Us by @karama9 (2/3)

A Crossing of Stars by @ixtaek

The Wondrous Adventures of the Righteous Maximus by @/Split Infinitive

The Weekly Hyrule News by @/BatNeko

S.T.T. by @/AzrealTheStoryteller

Epic Projects (Long running comics, >150k fics, etc)

Legacies & Bloodlines by @/nolansman

Fighting Gravity by @/CrazygurlMadness

Bright as Night by @/Allendra

Make a Wish, Make it Count by @/LiliansMalice

Cloak and Dagger by @crownedcrusader

Reality by @/Leila Editer

The Hunt by @/andrhars

And the Clouds Parted by @/SkyLeaf

I Belong To You by @mistresslrigtar (2/3)

The Magic Awakens by @/Scarlet_Curls

Alone With You by @deiliamedlini (2/3)

A Voice from the Desert by @avoicefromthedesert

The Hero of the Dunes by @webhead3345

Through Hell And High Water by @deiliamedlini

Already Spotlighted Projects

*Some works spotlighted received spotlights but were removed later due to reassessment with the EH's archive requirements or request of the author. This is not a reflection on the quality of the work, only that further readings or statements from the creator no longer qualified it as an Original Legends work.

#original legends #loz: original legends #legend of zelda #zelda fandom #zelda fanfiction #loz art #legend of zelda fanart #zelda #loz #zelda fancomic

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fandomrewrites · 1 month ago

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Legends Chapter 7: Feathertails

Hello riders! I would like to first start by saying formatting for this chapter is going to be a bit off. I’m posting from my phone instead of computer like I usually do. Once I get access to my computer I’ll edit the formatting. I already have 7 bonus scenes I’ll be writing after this story is completed, keep letting me know what you want to see. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Fourth Wing chapters 19-21

Pairings: Xaden x sister, Liam x best friend, Sawyer x reader

Warnings: Swearing, death, implied smut, sexual talk, spoilers from the book series

Word count: 7,165

Legends Masterlist

I know some times as a Duke I need to do things in the best interest of my people, like the arranged marriage between Xaden and Cat. But I don't think I'll ever be able to do something like that to (Y/N). I see how her face lights up when she's around Liam and I can't help but want her to end up with him… or at least someone like him.

-Recovered Correspondence from Duke Fen Riorson to Colonel Mairi

My dagger flies out of my hand, landing in the unbounded cadets arm. I blink. Violet isn't there anymore, she's beside me. But there's no possible way for her to have gotten there in seconds. She was just pinned across the room!

I turn to look at her, Xaden is now filling up the doorway. His eyes snap to Violet's then mine, he looks at everyone else in the room, one dead cadet, four injured. "You're all fucking dead." Xaden's eerily calm.

"Riorson!" A dagger clatters to the floor.

"You think surrendering will save you? It's against the code to attack another rider in their sleep."

"But you know he never should have bonded her!" The cadet argues, "You of all people have reason enough to want the weakling dead. We're just correcting a mistake."

"Your mother giving birth to you was a mistake. Not Tairn choosing Violet." I snap.

Without letting anyone try to defend themselves, Xaden's shadows grab them by the throat, constricting until they don't move anymore.

When the last cadet hits the floor, footsteps are heard from the hall. "Damn Xaden." Garrick says, looking at the dead cadets, "No time for questioning?"

"No need for it." Xaden says, he nods at me, "(Y/N) killed one before I even got here." I nod at Garrick just as Bodhi enters. He also does a quick sweep of the room.

A laugh bubbles out of Violet, we all turn to look at her. I place a gentle hand on her arm, "It's the shock." I whisper to her.

Bodhi sighs, rubbing the back of his neck, "Let me guess… we're on clean up duty?"

Xaden nods, "Call in help if you need it." He turns to me, "Thanks for the help, but go back to your room. I don't want you involved any further."

I narrow my eyes, "Like hell! Violet's my friend and she was just attacked! I'm going to be there for her!"

Xaden's eyes narrow but before he can argue, Violet speaks up, "Let her stay, please." She gently grabs my arm. Xaden sighs but nods, seeing that Violet clearly needs the comfort. "I'm alive." Violet mumbles.

"Yes, you're alive." Xaden confirms. Stepping over a body and retrieving mine and Violet's daggers. Garrick and Bodhi haul out the first body.

"I didn't realize I said the out loud." Violet replies, she's shaking, glancing around her room. Xaden opens her armoire. He takes out her cloak and boots.

"Like I said, it's the shock." I tell her, gently rubbing her shoulder.

"Are you hurt? Either of you?" Xaden asks.

"I'm okay." I answer, looking at Violet.

Violet takes a shaky breath but doesn't answer, "Come on, Violence." Xaden says, folding Violet's cloak over his arm and dropping her boots to the floor, "Pull your shit together and tell me where you're hurt."

She hesitates, "It's okay, Violet. You're safe now. You can tell us." I reassure her.

Xaden's fingers lift up Violet's chin, making her look at him, "You're breathing like crap, so I'm guessing it has to do with-"

"My ribs." Violet finishes. "The one by the bed hit the side of my ribs with the sword, but I think they're just bruised."

"Must have been a dull sword." Xaden replies, cocking an eyebrow. "Unless it has something to do with why you sleep in your leather vest."

Violet's eyes glance at me, "You never told him?"

I shake my head, "Of course I didn't. It's not my secret to tell. I wasn't going to break your trust."

Her lips form a small smile before her gaze flickers back to Xaden, "It's dragon scale. Mira made it for me. It's why I've lived this long."

Xaden glances at the armor, "Ingenious, though I'd say there are multiple reasons for why you've made it this far."

I snort, "Me too. But Violet here is oblivious to her brilliance."

Violet rolls her eyes. Xaden's eyes flicker to the bruise marks on Violet's neck, he then looks towards the cadet that made them, "I should have killed him slower."

"I'm fine." Violet says.

Xaden's eyes snap towards Violet, "Never lie to me."

Violet frowns, glancing at me, before admitting, "It hurts."

"Let me see."

Violet opens then closes her mouth, "Is that a request or a demand?"

"Your pick as long as I get to see if that fucker broke your ribs." Xaden pauses, "At least let (Y/N) take a look if you don't want me to."

Garrick and Bodhi step through the door, Masen and Ciaran behind them. "Take those two, and we'll get the last ones." Garrick tells them. They get to work, carrying the last of the bodies through the door.

"Thank you," Xaden says, he flicks his wrist and the door shuts. "Now let one of us check your ribs."

Violet swallows but nods. She doesn't specify if she wants me to look so Xaden steps closer when Violet turns her back to us. She shrugs out of her night dress, holding the material over her chest. "You'll have to-"

"I know how to handle a corset." Xaden says, he gently moves her hair over her shoulder. Xaden's fingers loosen the laces of the corset. "How the hell do you get yourself into this thing every morning?"

"I'm freakishly flexible. It's part of the whole bones-snapping, joints-tearing thing." I watch as Violet and Xaden's eyes meet.

I swallow back a laugh, "Should I leave you two alone?" Violet's eyes widen, a blush creeping up her face. Xaden glares, loosening the last lace. I hold my hands up, "Sorry, not a joking time."

Xaden shakes his head, he gently runs his finger over Violet's bruising ribs, "You have one hell of a bruise, but I don't think they're broken."

"Yeah," Violet says, "That's what I thought. Thank you for checking." Xaden laces Violet back up.

"You'll live. Turn around." She does, tugging her night dress back over her shoulders. Xaden drops to his knees, reaching for Violet's boots. It reminds me of Liam kneeling before me to put my boots back on at parapet and I can't help but smile at the thought.

"You're going to have to walk through the pain, and we have to do it fast. Can you lift it up?" Violet nods, lifting her foot. He puts her boots on for her, one after the other.

When he stands back up he looks at me then turns back to Violet, "Can (Y/N) go back to her room now or did you want her to stay?"

Violet glances at me, she opens her mouth then closes it again. "I'll do whichever you want. I'm here for you if you need me." I say.

Violet's eyes glisten but she blinks quickly, stopping any tears from falling, "Go back to bed. I'm okay now. Or at least I will be."

I nod. I glance at Xaden, reaching out to gently squeeze his arm. "I'll see you both in the morning." I turn to walk out the door. Heading back to my room.

"Good work, Night Orchid." Nyx says. "Now get some rest."

*_*_*_*_*

The next morning at formation, Violet stands next to me, whispering. "You need to have a conversation with Aether, it's important."

I narrow my eyes in confusion but nod, "And maybe bring Garrick. He should know too." Violet continues.

"Garrick? Why does he need to know about Aether?" I ask.

"He's bonded with you because of Nyx. He needs to know about Aether, he'll find out at some point. Might as well be with you."

"Did Andarna say something last night? You went to see the dragons, right?"

Violet nods, glancing around but no one is listening to us, they're focused on Captain Fitzgibbons, "We did. & she told me some things… about feathertails. You need to know too."

I nod in understanding, "Aether? Can I come see you at lunch?" I don't specify what for, I know he knows everything that happens with me, he knows what he needs to tell me.

"Of course! Nyx will be there too!" Aether replies.

"I'll tell Chradh to tell his rider." Nyx says.

"Thank you." I reply.

Fitzgibbons reads off the last name, "We commend their souls to Malek." Six of the eight names on the list were the unbounded cadets that attacked Violet. The other two were third years, killed on a training operation near the Braevick boarder.

"I can't believe they tried to kill you while you were sleeping," Rhiannon says. She's still seething from when Violet told the squad what happened at breakfast.

"Even worse, I think I'm getting used to it." Violet replies. Captain Fitzgibbons is making some minor announcements. I don't bother paying attention.

Xaden is striding past the formation, stopping in front of Dain. "There's a change to your squad roll."

"Wingleader?" Dain asks, confusion evident in his voice. "We just absorbed four from the dissolution of the third squad."

"Yes." Xaden agrees, he turns to at Second Squad, Tail Section and I know exactly what he's doing. "Belden, we're making a roll change."

"Yes, sir." Belden nods once.

"Aetos, Vaughn Penley will be leaving your command, and you'll be gaining Liam Mairi from Tail Section." I can't help but smile.

Dain's mouth snaps shut, and he nods. The two first years switch spots, Liam nods at Xaden as he passes, standing in line behind Violet.

"I do not need a body guard," Violet snaps. I bite my lip to stop my smile from growing. Poor Violet, that is absolutely not going to work.

Xaden ignores her, focusing on Dain, "Liam is statistically the strongest first year in the quadrant."

"Actually that would technically be me." I pipe up.

Xaden sends me a quick glare before turning his attention back to Dain, "He has the fastest time up the Gauntlet, only lost one challenge, and is bonded to an exceptionally strong Red Daggertail. Any squad would be lucky to have him, and he's all yours, Aetos. You can thank me when you win the Squad battle in the spring."

"I. Do. Not. Need. A. Bodyguard." Violet repeats, louder this time.

One of the first years behind us gasps. Imogen snorts, "Good luck with that approach." I giggle, no longer able to stop myself. I quickly place my hand over my lips to quiet the sound.

Xaden walks past Dain, standing directly in front of Violet. "You do, though, as we both learned last night. And I can't be everywhere you are. But Liam here-" he points at my best friend, "he's a first year, so he can be in every class, at every challenge, and I even had him assigned to library duty, so I hope you get used to him, Sorrengail."

"(Y/N) was already there for me, and you're overstepping." Violet snaps.

"You haven't begun to see me overstepping. And good thing (Y/N) was there. Now you have two of the top cadets in your year watching your back." His voice drops, "Any threat against you is a threat against me, and as we've already established, I have more important things to do than sleep on your floor."

Violet's face heats, "He is not sleeping in my room."

"Of course not," Xaden agrees, smirking, "I had him moved into the one next to yours. Wouldn't want to overstep." He turns around, walking to the front of the formation.

"Fucking mated dragons." Dain mutters, keeping his eyes forward.

Once Fitzgibbons finishes his announcements, he steps to the side allowing Commandment Panchek to step towards the dais.

"What's going on with Panchek?" Rhiannon asks.

"Not sure." Violet says. But I do, it's about her. There's no way Xaden was going to let this just slide.

"It has to be something big if he's fumbling with the Codex up there," Rhiannon says.

"Quiet." Dain snaps. He glances over his shoulder, looking at us for the first time. He does a double take, noticing the marks on Violet, "Vi?"

"I'm fine." Violet reassures. Dain continues to stare, "Squad Leader Aetos, people are staring." She waits for him to react but he doesn't, "Dain!"

He blinks, clearing his throat, "Is that what Riorson meant by last night?" Violet nods. "I didn't know. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm fine." Violet says again, "Later." She nods towards the dais, causing Dain to turn back around.

"It has been brought to my attention as your commandant that a breach of the Codex has occurred." Panchek starts. "As you know, breaches of our most sacred laws are not to be tolerated. This matter will be addressed here and now. Will the accuser please step forward."

"Someone's in trouble," Rhiannon whispers, "Think Ridoc finally got caught in Tyvon Varen's bed?"

I snort as Ridoc answers, "That's hardly against the Codex."

"He's the executive officer for second wing," Violet says, sending Ridoc a pointed look.

"And?" I say, "It's still not against the Codex. I say get it, Ridoc."

Violet sighs, "I miss sex."

I hum, a smirk on my face, "I know someone who might be interested."

Ridoc talks before Violet can ask who, "If you're looking for a little fun, I'm happy to oblige-" He winks, brushing his hair off his forehead.

"I miss good sex." Violet counters. "Besides, apparently your spoken for."

"We're not exclusive," Ridoc says, "It's like Rhiannon and what's-her-name…"

"Tara," Rhiannon replies.

"Will you all shut the hell up?" Dain scolds.

I bite my lip to stop my smile, I love pushing Dain's buttons. "Of course you do. Never one for authority." Nyx chortles.

"I can't help that it's funny when he gets angry."

Xaden is walking up towards the dais, "This is about me." Violet whispers. Dain glances back at her with confusion.

"Early this morning," Xaden begins, "A rider in my wing was brutally, illegally attacked in her sleep with the intent of murder by a group primarily composed of unboundeds."

Murmurs fill the air, "As we all know, this is a violation of Article Three, Section Two of the Dragon Rider's Codex and, in addition to being dishonorable, is a capital offense."

"Having been alerted by my dragon, I interrupted the attack along with two other Fourth Wing riders." He pauses, dipping his chin toward Garrick and Bodhi, who step up beside him on the dais. "My sister, (Y/N), another Fourth Wing rider, was also alerted of the attack by her dragons, she made it to the room first killing one of the attackers."

There's a brief pause before Xaden continues, "As it was a matter of life or death, I personally executed the other five would-be murderers, as witnessed by Flame Section Leader Garrick Tavis and Tail Section Executive Officer Bodhi Durran."

"All Tyrs. How convenient," Nadine, a new addition to the squad, sneers. I roll my eyes, but continue to face forward.

"But the attack was orchestrated by a rider who fled the scene before I arrived," Xaden's voice raises, "A rider who had access to the map of where all first years are assigned to sleep, and that rider must be brought to swift justice."

Another pause, "I call you to answer for your crime against Cadet Sorrengail," Xaden's gaze shifts to the center of the formation, "Wingleader Amber Mavis."

"What the hell?" Dain asks.

"She's a Tyr, too, Nadine," Ridoc says over his shoulder, "Or are you only biased against marked ones?"

Nadine keeps her mouth shut. Dain shakes his head, "Amber would never. A Wingleader would never." He turns to completely face Violet, "Get up there and tell everyone that he's lying, Violet."

"But he's not." Violet replies.

"It's impossible." Dain argues.

"I was there Dain."

"Wingleaders are beyond reproach-"

Violet cuts him off, "Then why are you so quick to call our own wingleader a liar?"

Amber steps forward, "I have committed no such crime!"

"Of course she would try and deny it." I whisper.

"See?" Dain says, ignoring my comment and pointing at Mavis. "Put a stop to this right now, Violet."

"She was with them in my room." Violet states.

"That's impossible." Dain continues to argue, he steps forward, lifting his hands.

My eyes flare in anger, I step in between him and Violet, "That is you best friend. Don't you dare disrespect her by trying to force her to share her memories." I hiss, quiet enough that only Dain and Violet hear my words.

Dain blinks, his hands dropping back to his sides, "How do you-?"

I don't allow him to finish the question, "It doesn't matter, get away from her. Because if you try to touch her without her permission it will be me you'll have to get through and I can promise you, you will not want to deal with me when I'm angry, Squad Leader."

Dain's jaw clenches, behind him Xaden speaks once more, "Wingleaders, we need a quorum." Dain look over his shoulder at the dais where the rest of the wingleaders gather. Dain moves away from Violet and I, shoulders tensed.

Wing beats are heard above us as the wingleaders gather to talk. One by one each of the wingleaders dragons land on the wall, Tairn is with them and so is Panchek's Green Clubtail.

"Shit's about to get real," Sawyer says. He breaks formation to stand at Violet's side.

"You can stop this all right now, Violet." Dain says, "I don't know what you saw last night, but it wasn't Amber. She cares too much about the rules to break them."

I shake my head, Dain needs to shut his fucking mouth before I shut it for him. "Don't do anything rash, he'll know the truth soon enough." Nyx says.

"You're using this to get your revenge on my family!" Amber yells at Xaden. I roll my eyes. "For not supporting your father's rebellion!"

My jaw ticks, but I give no other reaction. In a matter of minutes she'll be dead, she's just just talking out of her ass to try and save herself. Xaden doesn't acknowledge her, he continues his conversation with the other wingleaders.

A scene flashes before my eyes, Amber making eye contact with Violet then dashing out of her room once she realizes she's caught. "That spineless wretch," Rhiannon seethes. Everyone in the quadrant saw what Amber did last night.

Dain pales, "Believe me now?" Violet asks him, "You're supposed to be my oldest friend, Dain. My best friend. There's a reason I didn't tell you."

He staggers backwards like he was slapped. "The wingleaders have formed a quorum and are in unanimous agreement," Xaden says, he's flanked by Nyra and Septon, "We find you guilty, Amber Mavis."

"No!" She shouts, "It is no crime to rid the quadrant of the weakest rider! I did it to protect the integrity of the wings!" She paces, looking for anyone to help.

As a whole, the formation moves back, away from the wingleader. "And as is our law, your sentence will be carried out by fire," Nyra states.

"No!" Amber looks at her dragon, "Claidh!"

Her Orange Daggertail snarls at the other dragons. Tairn swivels his head, snapping at the smaller dragon, causing Claidh to cower.

I hear Violet whisper, "Please don't." I instinctively grab her hand. I don't feel bad for Amber, she deserves to die after what she did, but I understand that Violet needs comfort in this moment, so I'll provide that to the best of my ability. She turns to Xaden, begging, "Please give her a chance."

Xaden holds her gaze but doesn't say anything. "Claidh," Amber whimpers, looking at her dragon. The formation splits down the middle, leaving Amber standing on her own.

Tairn leans low, extending his neck and head. He opens his mouth wide, flames erupt from his mouth. Claidh screams, everyone's hands fly to their ears, trying to block out the sound of the Orange dragon mourning.

*_*_*_*_*

After morning classes when the rest of the squad starts heading towards the dining hall, I break off from the group, heading towards the flight field. "Where are you going?" Liam calls after me.

I look back, seeing the squad watching me. "I'm meeting Garrick. We need to speak with our dragons."

"Will you make it back for lunch?" Sawyer asks.

I shrug, "I don't know how long it's going to take. Don't worry about me though, skipping one meal isn't a big deal."

"I'll sneak something out for you if you don't make it."

I smile, "Thanks." I turn, walking away from the group, "Garrick is meeting me, right?" I ask my dragons, but before they respond I see the tall rider waiting in the courtyard.

"Smiley." Garrick greets, he wraps an arm around my shoulders when I get closer, "So why do we need to talk with our dragons? Chradh wouldn't tell me anything."

"Beats me. Violet said that Andarna told her and Xaden something about feathertails last night. Said I should talk to Aether about it and bring you."

Garrick shakes his head, "I can't believe they stooped that low. Attacking her in her sleep."

I scoff, "Honestly, I'm not surprised. There's so many people in this godsforsaken college that would do anything to bond, especially a dragon as powerful as Tairn."

"I'm just happy it wasn't you." Garrick cringes, "That sounds like I don't care that it was Violet which isn't true…"

I smile, "It's okay, Gar. I know what you meant." We're just approaching the flight field, the three dragons standing next to each other. Aether bounds forward, I run towards him, stepping out from under Garrick's arm.

Aether and I meet in the middle, he nudges me with his head, making a sound like a purr. "Hi, baby." I say, giving him a kiss on his nose.

"Hi (Y/N)!" He replies, keeping his head nuzzled against me. Nyx and Chradh approach from behind Aether. Garrick walks closer as well.

"So, what's so important about feathertails?" I ask, looking between Aether and Nyx.

Aether looks at Nyx, they exchange words between each other before Aether turns back to me, "I'll start with the least important… Andarna and I are twins."

"Andarna and you are twins… that makes sense I guess? I mean I figured you guys were about the same age anyways." I shrug.

"That can't be the only reason they wanted to talk with us." Garrick says, brows knitted together.

Nyx growls, low and deep. "Pretty sure that means patience." I smirk at him.

Garrick holds his hands out, "Sorry."

"Feathertails are adolescents." Nyx says.

My mouth opens in shock, "He's a baby?" Garrick asks. My head snaps to him. Chradh must have told him.

"Not a baby." Aether replies. "Just young. I'm two."

I turn towards Garrick, he's waiting for a response, "He said he's two."

A new male voice enters my head, its deep, almost like a growl, "Dragons age differently from humans. We age faster. Though feathertails usually don't bond."

I open and close my mouth, "Did Chradh just talk to me?"

I ask Garrick but Chradh is the one who replies, "Yes, child. Just like Nyx can talk with Garrick."

Garrick shrugs, "It's part of the mated bonds, why we're connected too." I nod.

"So if feathertails usually don't bond, how come Aether and Andarna did?" I ask.

"And why don't they usually bond?" Garrick adds.

"Andarna and I trusted you and Violet. We know that you would never do anything to hurt us. You would never abuse our power." Aether says.

I look towards Garrick who is waiting for an answer, so I repeat what Aether said. "What do you mean your power? It's different from adult dragons?"

"Yes. I can give you my power directly. The power usually goes away once we reach adulthood but when we're feathertails, if we bond, we can easily be drained of that power."

Once again I repeat what was said to Garrick, "So it's different than a signet?" Garrick questions.

"A signet is the magic manifested through our power together, as dragon and rider." Nyx says.

"As a feathertail, there is no signet. It's just pure magic given directly to the rider." Chradh adds.

"Which is why feathertails can be easily drained if they bond." I state.

"But I know you would never do that. I trust you." Aether says, resting his head on his paws.

"Of course I wouldn't." I confirm.

"You both let a baby-" Aether shows his teeth, "Sorry. A two year old, bond?" Garrick asks, disbelief clear on his face.

"You act like Aether and Andarna are ours." Nyx snaps, "They're parents died, they're orphans. No one controls the twins, even though sometimes we wish we could."

"The most we do is guide them. They listen when they want." Chradh says.

"So what's yours and Andarna's power? I'm guessing Andarna used hers last night. There was this moment…" I trail off shaking my head, not sure how to describe it.

"It's not my place to tell you Andarna's but I can reverse time." Aether holds his head up with pride.

"Reverse time?" I ask in shock.

"Yes. Just about 5 minutes previously."

"Oh. No big deal then." I say casually, trying to wrap my head around this power. Garrick looks confused so I tell him what he said. "Gods, no wonder feathertails usually don't bond. If the higher ups found out about this…" I shake my head.

"That's why you both can't tell anyone. Don't even talk to Violet and Xaden about this. They already know what they need too. No need to discuss it more." Nyx warns, swiveling her head to look between me and Garrick. We both nod. "We'll see you later, you're going to be late for class."

Aether gently nudges me one more time, then backs away, launching himself into the air. Nyx and Chradh follow.

"Well that was a lot." Garrick mumbles, he throws his arm back over my shoulders, "Let's go, Smiley."

*_*_*_*_*

During dinner the whole squad sat together, bombarding Liam with questions. "Do you have any embarrassing stories of (Y/N) when she was younger?" Ridoc asks, grinning.

I roll my eyes, "Can't have embarrassing stories when I never get embarrassed."

Liam smiles, "Exactly. Nothing phases (Y/N)."

"Well you must have some interesting stories." Violet says.

Liam and I exchange a look, "(Y/N) loves dancing and singing, the amount of times I've walked in on her having dance parties in her room." He shakes his head, a small smile on his face.

"Is she any good?" Quinn asks.

"Yes," Violet and Rhiannon answer in unison.

"Well, she's good at singing, we don't know about the dancing." Violet adds.

"How do you know that?" Sawyer asks.

"She sings in the shower." Rhiannon shrugs.

"I perform in the shower, thank you very much." I correct.

"She's good at dancing too, she was required to learn ballroom dancing when she was younger." Imogen says.

The group turns to look at me, "You were?" Violet questions.

I nod, "I was in line to be a duchess. I had to learn all types of etiquette, dances, how to play instruments. I hated the etiquette classes but the dancing and instruments were fun."

"She always said she was born to be a rider not a lady." Liam adds, laughing.

"Liam is a good dancer too. I used to beg him to be my dance partner during lessons. I hated working with the other kids when he wasn't there."

"I hated it, the only reason I started doing them was because when we were 10 and the lessons started (Y/N) threatened me."

"I did not threaten you!" I roll my eyes.

"You held a dagger to my throat!"

I smile, "I did, didn't I?"

Liam rolls his eyes, "Yeah, you did. But honestly, I probably would had done it anyways. I'll do anything if it means making you happy."

I lean over to kiss his cheek, "You're so sweet."

Imogen smirks, "They were also each others first kiss."

I laugh, nodding, "I think we were eleven."

"I'm sure she's improved since then though." Liam jokes, winking.

"I mean, I have nothing to compare it too, but I'd say she's a pretty great kisser." Sawyer shrugs.

Everyone at the table, besides Rhiannon turns in shock, "What? You two? You kissed Sawyer?" Ridoc asks, "You kissed (Y/N)?"

I snort, "We've done more than just kiss."

"Way more." Sawyer confirms, smirking.

"How long has this been going on?" Violet asks.

Sawyer and I look at each other, "Um, like the first week here?"

Sawyer nods, "Yeah, it was before challenges started."

"Wait." Liam looks at me, "He was the one, the night you were late." He doesn't elaborate further but I know he's talking about the night of the first meeting between the marked ones. I nod in response.

"Why do they both get to kiss you?" Ridoc asks.

I laugh, startled by the question, "What do you mean?"

"I'm right here, (Y/N)."

I smile, "First, Liam and I haven't kissed since we were kids. And second I usually go for older guys."

"What about girls?" Rhiannon asks, jokingly blowing me a kiss.

"Are you asking me to kiss you? Because the answer is yes." I smirk.

"I mean…" Rhiannon trails off.

"Back to me." Ridoc says, "Will you kiss me?"

Sawyer snorts, "Don't sound too desperate, Ridoc."

"I am desperate and I'm not afraid to admit it. Have you seen (Y/N)?"

"Thank you." I smile.

"I've seen a lot of (Y/N), many times." Sawyer confirms.

"How many times?" Liam asks, drawing the attention to him, "Just out of curiosity."

"5? 6?"

"Multiple rounds each of those times." I nod.

"She does this thing with her tongue." Sawyer whistles. Imogen laughs, shaking her head.

"I wanna know what you do with your tongue. Your room or mine? We can leave right now." Ridoc says.

"I'm not sleeping you with Ridoc." I laugh.

"I'm good though, (Y/N). Probably better than Sawyer."

"I take offense to that." Sawyer replies, pursing his lips.

"Okay, Ridoc. Convince me." I say.

"Does it have to be with words?" Ridoc asks, eyebrows knitting together.

I smirk, "You just want to kiss me."

"Yes, but I know it will convince you so it's a win-win."

I nod, "Okay then, Ridoc. Lay one on me." Without any hesitation Ridoc grabs the back of my neck, pressing his lips to mine.

"Gross." I hear someone mutter. Pretty sure it was Violet. Ridoc slips his tongue in my mouth, deepening the kiss.

I hear Imogen whisper, "Oh shit."

There's a cough behind us. Then a deep voice calls out, "Gamlyn!" Ridoc and I separate, turning to see Xaden with his arms crossed and Garrick standing beside him, "If I ever see you make out with my sister again, I'll cut your tongue out of your mouth and feed it to Sgaeyl."

Ridoc's eyes widen, gulping, "Noted."

I laugh, "You can't scare off every guy, Xaden." I roll my eyes, looking across the table at Imogen and Quinn.

"I can try." Xaden's glare flickers to me. "Don't kiss people in front of me. We've already talked about this."

I smirk, remembering our conversation. Instead of acknowledging the previous conversation, I decide to tease Xaden, "Only if you promise not to kiss in front of me once you finally grow the balls to confess your feelings for a certain sil"-

Xaden's glare hardens as he cuts me off, "You may be my sister but I will hurt you."

I smirk, "Love you too, Xade." Garrick and Liam both shake with laughter. "Honestly at this rate, I should just kiss everyone in the squad." I glance around the table at everyone, "Who wants to be next?"

Imogen smirks, "Honestly, I wouldn't mind a kiss."

The whole table snaps there gazes in her direction but Imogen continues to look at me. "What?" Xaden snaps.

"I mean, she looks like she'd be a good kisser. And bonus points because it will piss you off."

"You'll seriously kiss me, Gen?" I ask, mouth parting in shock.

She nods, "Absol-" I don't give her a chance to finish, I launch myself over the table grabbing the back of her head and pulling her in to a heated kiss. Imogen smiles against my lips.

I can't see the faces of the rest of the squad but I know they're looking on in shock. "Okay, enough!" Xaden says, pulling me away from the pink-haired girl.

Imogen laughs, running her thumb over her bottom lip, "I was right, you are a good kisser." She winks.

"Well now I really want that kiss." Rhiannon says from down the table.

"No more kissing my sister in front of me." Xaden glares, "Do whatever you want when I'm not here but I'll murder the next person who kisses her in front of me, I swear to Malek."

I smirk, "He's just bitter because he still hasn't kissed So-" A shadow quickly wraps around my mouth, stopping me from saying more.

"If I release you will you behave?" Xaden glares. His onyx eyes meeting mine.

My eyes twinkle with mischief but I nod in agreement. His shadow slowly falls away from my mouth, "I won't tease you anymore and no more kissing my squad members in front of you." I turn towards Rhiannon, "I'll meet you at your room later, we can kiss then." Rhiannon laughs, nodding.

*_*_*_*_*

A week later the squad heads to battle brief, "I want to be like the cool kids," Rhiannon says, watching as first years from second and third wing file out of the stairwell coming from Professor Carr's classroom.

"We will," Violet reassures. She links her arm with Rhiannon's.

"You may be cool, but you will never be as cool as I am!" Ridoc says, slinging his arms over the two girls.

I roll my eyes as Violet explains, "She's talking about everyone who's already channeling." She pauses, rearranging the books in her arms, "Though at least if we're not channeling, we're not stressed about manifesting a signet before the magic kills us."

I groan, "Don't remind me. I still haven't manifested a signet. I'm a ticking time bomb!"

Liam's blue eyes twinkle, "Remind me not to stand too close to you." I stick my tongue out at him.

"Oh, I thought we were discussing how I owned that physics test." Ridoc grins, "Definitely the highest score in the class."

Rhiannon rolls her eyes, "Please. I scored five points higher than you."

"We stopped counting your grades months ago." He leans forward slightly, "Your grades in that class make it unfair for the rest of us." He looks towards Liam, "Wait. What did you get, Mairi?"

Liam smirks, "Not getting into the middle of this."

Violet laughs as we break apart , entering the bottleneck. A cadet steps into our path, "Sorry about that Riorson, Sorrengail."

I ignore him, unconcerned, but Violet replies, "Nothing to be sorry about!" She turns back towards us, "I'm never going to get used to that."

"I like it. People should be afraid of me." I reply, a bright smile on my face.

Liam snorts, "Of course you would be happy with people being terrified of you."

I hum, "I like being scary. I think more people should be afraid of me."

Violet snorts, "I'm pretty sure most of the quadrant is afraid of you."

"Gods, I hope so." We all enter the battle brief classroom. Riders file in, finding their seats. With the amount of deaths that have occurred in the quadrant, there's plenty of seats available for everyone to sit, unlike the beginning of the year.

I sit next to Liam, Violet on his other side. "Riorson just got here." Liam says. He's working on a new dragon carving, he gave me the carvings of Nyx and Aether last week. They're sitting in my room on my desk.

"Figured." Violet says. She keeps her gaze forward but holds up her middle finger in Xaden's general direction.

Liam snorts, grinning, a dimple flashes, "And now he's glaring. Tell me, is it fun pissing off the most powerful rider in the quadrant?"

"You could try it yourself and find out." She suggests.

I laugh, "Oh, pissing off Xaden is so much fun. But you know who's even more fun to piss off? Aetos. I want to laugh every single time he gets annoyed with me." I look at Liam. "You should try it sometime."

"That's going to be a no from me. For both pissing off your brother and Aetos."

I shrug, "Your loss. I'm having a great time."

"I swear, you'd think there were assassination attempts on me during every class with the way he makes you shadow me." Violet says, shaking her head.

"In his defense, people are fond of trying to kill you." Rhiannon replies.

"One time!" Violet argues, "It happened one time, Rhi!"

"Right, and what do you call that whole thing with Tynan?"

"Threshing. And he went after (Y/N), not me."

"That's true." I mumble in agreement.

"Fine Oren, but while we're on the matter, a lot of people are fond of trying to kill you too, (Y/N)." Rhiannon states.

I shrug, "It comes with the last name, plus no one's succeeded. I think the only first year who has killed more people than me is Barlowe."

"Speaking of Barlowe," Rhiannon turns her attention back to Violet, "What about his constant threats?"

"She has a point there," Sawyer chimes in.

"They're just threats. The only time I've actually been targeted was at night, and it's not like Liam here is sleeping in my bedroom."

"I mean, I'm not opposed-" Liam begins.

"Don't even start." Violet's head whips in his direction, "You are a shameless flirt."

"You have no idea." I mumble, a small smile on my face.

"Thank you." Liam grins, going back to his carving.

"It wasn't a compliment." Violet scolds.

"Don't mind her, she's just sexually frustrated. Makes a girl crabby." Rhiannon jokes, writing the date on her empty page.

"That has nothing to do with it!" Violet says, exasperated.

"And yet you're not denying it." Rhiannon smiles sweetly.

"I'm sorry I don't make the cut," Liam says. "But I'm sure Riorson would be fine with my reviewing a couple of candidates, especially if it means you'll stop flipping him off in front of his entire wing."

"Or maybe Riorson would help you out." I smirk.

Liam's eyes widen and Violet whips her head to me, "What?" She asks, her cheeks are red.

"I was talking about me. I'd gladly help you out and bonus because you know I won't try and kill you."

"Is Liam still going to have to review you? I mean how exactly would you go about that? What would you be scoring?" Rhiannon grins, raising an eyebrow, "This I have to hear."

"I mean… I wouldn't say no to reviewing you." Liam says, looking at me.

My eyes flicker over his body. I'm not blind, Liam's hot. "Hmm… Can't say I'd mind either." I wink.

Violet bursts out laughing, "Thanks for the offer, both of you. But I'm good. I'll make sure to run any potential liaisons by you, Liam."

"I mean, you could watch," Rhiannon continues, "Just to be sure she's fully covered. You know, so no one… sticks it to her."

I giggle, watching as Liam's face turns red. "Oh, are we telling dick jokes now?" Ridoc asks from my other side, "Because my entire life has led up to this very moment."

Sawyer laughs, causing Liam to mutter under his breath, "Fuck me." He talks a little louder, "I'm just saying that since you're protected at night now-" we all laugh harder.

"Wait." Violet stops, "what do you mean I'm protected at night? Because you're next door?" Violet's smile vanishes, "Please tell me he's not making you sleep in the hallway or something obnoxious."

"No. Of course not. He warded your door the morning after the attack." His expression changes, "I'm guessing he didn't tell you?"

"He what?"

"He warded your door," Liam says quieter, "So only you can open it."

"He did it to mine too, he's very protective." I say, doodling on my paper.

"But if he's the one who warded it, he can get in, too, right?" Violet asks.

"Well, yeah." Liam shrugs, "But it's not like Riorson is going to kill you."

"Right. You see, I'm still adjusting to that little change of heart." She fumbles her quill, dropping it to the ground as Professor Markham and Professor Devera get their things ready for class to begin.

"If we can get started?" Markham calls out, quieting the students. Just as the words leave his mouth, a sharp pain causes me to reach for my head.

Markham says something else but I'm focused on rubbing my forehead, trying to get the pain to stop. Markham is making an announcement but all I can focus on is the massive headache that is forming.

The cadets around me break into cheers. Liam nudges me, "Are you okay?"

I nod, "Just a headache." I drop my hand, trying to focus on anything except the pounding in my skull.

Then I hear Violet's voice, "Surely he didn't say that." I blink, unsure what she's talking about. Markham is currently talking about a previous battle, apparently the front lines were quiet today, which I think is bullshit considering they haven't been quiet since the beginning of the school year.

But again, I don't focus too much on what's happening around me, the headache is getting worse. "An entire village of Navarrians was ransacked last night along the border and supplies looted." Again I hear Violet's voice.

I feel a mental block slam into my skull, "Talk to me, Night Orchid." Nyx says.

"What?" I ask.

"Talk to me, continue to talk to me throughout the whole class. I don't care what you miss. This lesson isn't important. Talk to me and don't stop. And when the class ends, get back to your room as quickly as possible."

So I do. Nyx blocks her powers, stopping me from channeling. She only allows me to talk with her and Aether who pops into the conversation right after Nyx's initial statement. The headache went away as quickly as it came. Throughout the lesson I focus on nothing but Nyx, Aether, and the doodles on the paper in front of me.

Taglist: @littleemissperfecttt @galaxystern08 @thegirlwiththepurpleshelves

#series rewrite #fourth wing #the empyrean #xaden riorson #xaden x sister!riorson reader #violet sorrengail #dain aetos #bodhi durran #garrick tavis #liam mairi #imogen cardulo #rhiannon matthias #sawyer henrick #ridoc gamlyn

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katy-133 · 10 months ago

Text

How Do Spy's Disguises Really Work? [TF2 Lore]

This is NOT a tutorial nor guide on how to use disguises in the game. This is a Team Fortress 2 essay about Spy's ability to disguise, how it works in-universe, and some implications we can deduce through it.

(This essay contains spoilers for the TF2 comics Old Wounds and The Naked and the Dead, and the Valve animation, Meet the Spy.)

Note: As of the time of writing, issue 7 of the comics has not been released.

Point 1) The Disguise Kit's Backstory

The Spytron 3000 is the personal device assistant Spy uses to disguise as the other 8 mercs. This name is listed in TF2's official website's page for Spy, while in-game, it's named as the Disguise Kit in your inventory. We also see the name Spytron 3000 printed on the model in-game.

The Disguise Kit is made to look like a cigarette case, and Spy keeps his cigarettes in it. Evidence that Spy smokes cigs kept in this case is seen in Meet the Spy, Expiration Date (seen pulling a cigarette out of it), and in-game (when you Taunt while holding the Disguise Kit, and animation can play of Spy smoking and flicking the cig away).

(Image: Meet the Spy)

(Image: Expiration Date)

The Sniper Vs Spy Update gives us this image, which is a catalogue advertising spy gadgets, with (assumedly) Spy circling the gadgets he wants to order.

(Image: Sniper Vs Spy Update)

The Dead Ringer (pocket watch) and the Cloak and Dagger (wristwatch) are items Spy can use in-game.

Another section on the same image shows Spy's catalogue order:

The Disguise kit doesn't appear here, but this image implies that the Disguise Kit came from the same manufacturer. This is significant, because it means that the Disguise Kit is something that Spy didn't make himself, and therefore has to rely on someone else for the Disguise Kit to provide what he needs from it (as he may not be able to edit or change the way the Disguise Kit works by himself). Keep this in mind going forward.

Point 2) How the Enemy Sees Disguises

In-game, enemy players see disguised Spies as whichever merc they are disguised as, from whichever team (as you can also disguise as one of your own teammates to fool the enemy). Enemy buildings (Sentry Turrets, Dispensers, and Teleporters) are fooled by this disguise.

In-game, as disguises are being activated, you can see smoke appear around an Enemy spy disguising. Remember that for later.

(Image: Weapon Demonstration: Disguise Kit, OfficialTF2Wiki, YouTube)

But what about outside of the game? In the comics, we see Classic BLU Spy (from Team Fortress 1) disguised as RED Heavy. The disguise is so flawless, it fools everyone. When he undisguises, there's a smoke effect.

(Image: Old Wounds, TF2 comics)

What about the animated shorts? Meet the Spy is the only example where we see a Spy use disguises in a Valve animation. In this example, a RED Spy is fighting a BLU Medic alone and Spy shapeshifts into Medic.

(Gif: Meet the Spy)

We see the following details in this scene:

Rows of red stripes of light appear over Spy.

Heat distortion (also called a mirage).

Smoke appear around Spy.

Spy's face changes into Medic's.

Let's break this down step by step.

I think we can infer that the stripes of light are red because it's a RED Spy disguising. This means that if a BLU Spy disguises, the stripes would be blue.

The heat distortion (the wiggly lines of air you see when you're looking past hot air) implies that there's some sort of release of heat that happens when Spy disguises. Another word for this is a mirage effect. Mirages are associated with illusions and being deceived.

The smoke implies something is burned when Spy disguises. It also adds significance to the Disguise Kit being disguised as a cigarette case (smoke = lighting a cigarette).

Then Spy's face changes to Medic's. It happens less like a morph and more like a liquid (or layer of a soft material) covering over Spy.

So the takeaway is that Spy's Disguise Kit allows Spy to look exactly like another merc, through some sort of process that involves extreme heat creating a cover over Spy. What is this heat and why does it change Spy's appearance?

In-universe, the technical mechanics behind Spy's shapeshifter effect are left vague. But we can look to another Valve game for inspiration to finding a possible explanation: Portal 2.

Poral 2 includes a technology described as hard light. They are used to create bridges in the game. Touching them is described as feeling "like standing outside with the sun shining on your face. It would also set your hair on fire," (according to GLaDOS). It is made from natural sunlight.

(Image: Hard light bridge in portal 2. Image from the Half-Life Fandom Wiki)

My theory is this: I think Spy's disguises are created using holograms that work in a similar way to hard light bridges in Portal 2. It is light bending around Spy, changing his appearance, feeling solid, and creating intense heat to form and unform.

Point 3) How Teammates See Disguises

In-game, teammates see disguised Spies wearing paper masks with an image of the merc they are disguised as.

(Images: Team Fortress 2 Official Wiki)

Why is this? How does this work? How does the Disguise Kit even produce the mask? Does it print it out? What is the smoke for?

Team Fortress 2's developer commentary includes this insight by lead designer Robin Walker:

"With nine classes of characters, and so many weapons and unique abilities, one of our biggest challenges was exposing all these combinations to players without overwhelming them. […] We tried to avoid attaching 2D elements to the HUD as much as possible, since we wanted players to be looking at the 3D world we'd built rather than some abstract representation. For example, players always see their own team's spies as a spy, but they need to know how the spy is disguised to the other team. We tried a quick hack where we put an icon representing the spy's current disguise floating above his head. The icon proved baffling to playtesters. When we tackled the problem by putting cut-out paper masks on the spy, it not only fit the humorous style of the game, but it let players get all pertinent information directly from a quick look at the spy's model, thus keeping them focused on the characters and on the action of the game." —Robin Walker, Hydro Map Developer Commentary

This is practical, because it stops teammates from trying to attack their fellow teammates whilst also being able to see what class (merc) the Spy is disguised as. Even teammate Sentries are not fooled by your disguise, and won't fire at you.

This is a play on an old trope in storytelling where a character is wearing a disguise that obvious to the audience, but fools the fictional characters. This prevents the audience from getting confused or fooled themselves. The TV Tropes dot org article for this is called Paper-Thin Disguise, making Spy's masks really on-the-nose in a funny way.

So can all teammates automatically see through disguises if the Spy is on their team? In-game, it appears so. What about outside of the game?

In the TF2 comics, we see just the smoke effect used. We never see Spy wearing a paper mask at any point in the TF2 comics. Nor in any of the Valve animations.

In The Naked and the Dead, Spy disguises himself as Tom Jones, which fools Scout. When his disguise vanishes, he emits smoke.

(Image: The Naked and the Dead, TF2 comics)

This is interesting because they are both RED teammates, but Spy was still able to fool Scout. This indicates that Spy can choose to have his disguises fool his teammates.

A Detour About Quantum Leap

Let's talk about Quantum Leap. It's a 1989 time travelling series about a man (Sam) who, through a sci-fi mishap, leaps into the life of another person each episode. Sam is always played by the same actor (Scott Bakula), but when he is seen in mirrors, we see another actor in his place. This other actor is how everyone else (the other characters) actually see him:

Scott Bakula as Sam pictured screen-left in both images, looking at his reflection.

(Images: Quantum Leap, 1989)

How does this work? The actor always being Scott Bakula is for the benefit of the audience. He is the main character in a revolving door of different settings, plotlines, and time periods. He is the anchor of the show that unifies episodes, and that's comforting for the viewer. It's non-diegetic.

Diegetic refers to an element in fiction that exists in-universe of the story and is able to be perceived by the characters. It's the soundtrack if the characters complain that it's too loud. It's the camera if they bump into it. It's meta.

So non-diegetic is something that doesn't exist in-universe and is perceived by the audience but not the characters. It's the title of the movie overlaying the screen without the characters commenting on it. It's a stage musical swapping set pieces as the characters talk and don't notice. It's for the benefit of the audience. It values encapsulating a feeling of something, over how something literally is. It's vibes.

Aside from the Quantum Leap example, there are other works of fiction that have done this type of visual style of using multiple actors for mirror reflections. Another example that springs to mind is the 2011 sci-fi film Source Code. In the film, the main character has to re-live a time loop whilst in the body of another passenger on a train in order to figure out which passenger left an explosive on it.

So in Quantum Leap, Sam still feels like himself (and is thus shown that way to the audience), but is actually projecting an "illusion of [the person's] physical aura" (Sam's words) through sci-fi tech that makes everyone around him see the person he's "leaped" into, instead of him.

Why am I talking about Quantum Leap? I think something similar happens when we see Spy disguised in-game.

The paper face masks are for the benefit of the audience. They don't exist to any of the characters.

Point 4) How Spy Sees Himself Disguised

In-game, he sees himself as himself. If you're playing Spy disguised, you see his (undisguised) hands and the weapon he's holding.

You also see a little portrait of the merc he's disguised as (at the bottom-left corner), so you (as Spy) still know how you appear as to enemies.

So Spy perceives himself as himself. He doesn't see his own body as changed.

Point 5) How Voices Work

When Spy is disguised, he also gains the voice of whoever he's disguised as.

In Meet the Spy, Spy disguised as Medic doesn't speak, so we don't get an example of this in any of the Valve animations.

In the comics (issue 5, Old Wounds), Classic Spy speaks as RED Heavy, and fools RED Spy, so we can assume Classic Spy was imitating Heavy's voice (as the webcomics, while they include scripted panel changes, don't include audio).

In-game, when you're disguised, all voice lines switch to the merc you are disguised as. If you call for Medic, you yell as the merc you are disguised as, etc.

This leads to two theories:

a) Spy can imitate voices himself and therefore can imitate voices while not disguised (example: He's on the telephone, he could imitate voices before he joined RED/BLU and can do it without the Disguise Kit)

b) Spy is only able to imitate voices using the Disguise Kit and can't imitate voices without it.

Both possibilities lead to interesting potential plot ideas.

It's worth noting that while on fire, Spy will still sound like the merc he is disguised as. This leads me to deduce that it's the Disguise Kit, as why would Spy bother to maintain the voice impression? He's already been caught and he's possibly about to die.

Point 6) How Spy Undisguises

If Spy's disguises by using technology, how how does he "turn it off"?

There appears to be two ways: Unintentionally or intentionally.

Unintentional examples would include getting hit with Sniper's Jarate in-game. It's like the liquid somehow disrupts or "short circuits" the disguise. Another example would be Spy getting shot while disguised in The Naked and the Dead comic, which seems more like an emotional/psychological/physical response (in this case, pain).

Intentional examples include trying to attack in-game, which instantly undisguises you as Spy. And Spy's disguise fading away after fooling Scout with it in Naked and the Dead. He doesn't say anything or make a motion, he appears to simply will the disguise away.

So it may be that Spy has some sort of "connection" with the Disguise Kit that lets it detect his intentions.

Point 7) Is This Body Swapping?

So when Spy is disguised, is he actually in a copy of the body of the merc he's disguised as? If so, there's multiple implications:

Does he need glasses when he's Medic?

Does he no longer have a right hand when he's Engineer?

Does he lose an eye as Demoman?

How does the clothing swapping work? Can he remove clothing, or would it cease to exist if it travels too far from his body/the Disguise Kit's influence?

There's multiple counter arguments suggesting that this is not the case and Spy is not body swapping:

Spy can switch weapon items of the other merc when he's disguised by switching to his other items (and pressing B).

If Spy was actually using Medic's real glasses, that would presumably mess with his vision. And Spy has no visible issues with his vision.

Spy can't run as fast as Scout, nor double jump, so he doesn't gain Scout's physical capabilities.

As mentioned in Point 4 earlier, Spy sees himself as himself. His body doesn't change from his own POV.

In the comics, when Spy is shot in the leg while disguised, he keeps the same injury afterwards. The person who he was disguised as was Classic Engineer. Who has metal prosthetic legs. And therefore wouldn't get injured from a shot in the leg at all.

(Image: The Naked and the Dead, TF2 comics)

In Meet the Spy, Spy's missing Medic's glasses when he shapeshifts into Medic, but that may have been done to make the scene cooler (he steals Medic's glasses after defeating him).

(Image: Meet the Spy)

Spies also can't use weapons of the merc they are disguising as. Attacking instantly undisguises the Spy. This implies that the new weapons Spy holds when he is disguised are the same weapon with an illusion cast over it, not a weapon swap.

It not being body swapping also opens the door to the potential that Spy can disguise as a person who doesn't exist, allowing him to create an entirely new persona.

Point 8) Spy-Checking In Game

In fiction, shapeshifters often have a "tell" of some sort, where they can't quite perfectly mirror the individual they've shapeshifted as. On TV Tropes org, it's called "Glamour Failure," in reference to glamour, an archaic term used in mythology for a type of beauty spell, or a spell to make the shapeshifter appear human. Common glamour failure examples in fiction include the shapeshifter's eyes being the wrong colour, or their reflection revealing their true form.

(Gif: The Little Mermaid, 1989)

Does Spy have a tell? Well, in Meet the Spy, the audience is surprised by Scout being the Spy. He looks like Scout, sounds like Scout, and acts like Scout. What makes the audience twig on that it's not Scout is when he does a trick with Spy's balisong (knife). Scout wouldn't do a knife trick with a balisong.

And I think that's illustrative to how you can detect a disguised Spy in the game. It's (in part) spotting a teammate acting oddly. Medic running around not healing anyone, that sort of thing.

Other ways to Spy check in the game (but not limited to) are:

You can't walk through enemy Spies like you can with teammates.

Teammate attacks don't hurt teammate Spies.

Sniper's Jarate instantly ruins an enemy Spy's disguise if it splashes on him.

Spy mimics the speed of the merc he's disguised as, but can't run as fast as Scout.

The speed difference between Scout and Spy is notable. Is the Disguise Kit making Spy slow down, or is the speed change just Spy trying to act more like the merc he's imitating? Could he run faster if he needed to? It's unclear.

There are also in-game support-type effects that affect disguised Spies differently:

Teammate's Sentries will always be friendly to disguised Spies. Enemy Sentries will fire at Spies unless they are disguised.

Medic's crossbow heals teammates and hurts enemies. It hurts disguised enemy Spies.

When Soldiers activate a banner, nearby teammates that do not emit a glow are disguised enemy Spies.

If Spy is disguised as an Engineer with a Beep Boy cosmetic, it will always appear with a sad expression, instead of happy with various emotions.

(Image: A Beep Boy with a sad, pained expression)

This means that some forms of technology are fooled by Spy's disguises, but others are not.

This raises the question of whether Spy's disguises can sometimes/always be seen-through by animals. Maybe the dove Archimedes isn't fooled by disguises?

Related to glamour failure, there is a trope in fiction where dogs, cats, pets, etc. are not fooled by disguises because they can sense the morality of the person in a way that humans can't, or because they know their human so well. (The TV Tropes article for it is titled, Evil-Detecting Dog.)

Point 9) Other Characters/Things Using Disguises

Can other characters who are not Spy use the disguise kit? What is stopping them?

Aristotle is a raven Spy has on his shoulder as a cosmetic (an item you can wear in the game). This raven is wearing a tiny paper mask with an image of Archimedes (Medic's dove) printed on it. This implies that other characters are perceiving Aristotle as Archimedes, which is very funny. This also means that other characters can use disguises. It's just that Spy is the one who uses the Disguise Kit, as it's part of his job.

(Images: Aristotle, left. The Counterfeit Billycock.)

The Counterfeit Billycock is an in-game hat disguised as another hat. This being an example of objects using disguises.

This also infers that inversely, Spy can use disguises to appear as an animal or an inanimate object. We just haven't seen him do that yet.

This leads us to...

Point 10) A Note on the Disguise Kit's Interface

In-game, a screen overlay appears when you select Spy's Disguise Kit. This shows the different merc disguise options, but it's for the benefit of the player. It's not what Spy sees in-universe.

What Spy sees is what's behind this overlay: His Disguise Kit being opened. As written earlier, it's made to look like a cigarette case on the outside. The inside of the case includes a screen and three buttons below it. I interpret the interface as a screen displaying portraits of different mercs, with the two yellow buttons being left/right keys, and the red button (or blue button for the BLU Spy in Meet the Spy) being the select key.

(Image: Meet the Spy)

So we can come to the deduction that what stops Spy from disguising himself as someone other than the mercs is the same reason we can't in-game: He isn't given the option in the interface. Not that he has the option, but he chooses not to. Or doesn't think to do it. Or a situation hasn't come up where doing so would be useful.

This doesn't explain how Spy was able to disguise himself as Tom Jones, but maybe the option was given to him at some point near the start of the comic series.

If only Spy were given upgrades to his Disguise Kit for plot reasons, hmm...

Point 11) Applying Canon to Fan Works

So with all this canon information, we can take this knowledge and apply it to fan works to create something new. This includes fan fiction, animations, webcomics, etc.

So let's start asking questions. In the restrictions of established canon, can Spy…

Disguise as another character, such as Saxton Hale, Miss Pauling, or the Administrator?

Can Spy disguise as an animal, such as Archimedes?

Can Spy disguise as an inanimate object? … without contravening canon?

Spy Disguising as Saxton Hale, Miss Pauling, and the Administrator

(Image: Jungle Inferno)

Saxton Hale is not one of the mercs (he's the owner of MANN CO., which RED/BLU get their weapons and hats from) and is much larger than Spy. Maybe Spy can't disguise himself as non-mercs? Again, size does not appear to stop Spy from disguising as Heavy, and Spy has canonically disguised himself as Tom Jones, who is not a merc. So in theory, Spy could disguise as Saxton Hale.

(Image: Meet the Director comic)

Miss Pauling and the Administrator bring up the question of whether or not the Disguise Kit allows the user to disguise as someone of a different gender. Spy's teammates are men, with Pyro's gender being unknown. So Spy disguising as another gender does not contradict canon, it's just unknown if he canonically has done so already.

(Image: Expiration Date)

While not a disguise, we do have official Valve art of Spy wearing the gold/blue "colour illusion" dress (the original dress being designed and manufactured by Roman Originals) in celebration of Steam's 20th Anniversary.

While wearing a dress is not the same as shapeshifting into a woman, this illustrates that Spy has not been stopped by gender expectations of the 1960s from presenting himself more femininely.

(Image: Steam's 20th Anniversary. Art by Claire Hummel)

So the thing stopping Spy from disguising as Saxton Hale, Miss Pauling, or the Administrator would not be because the Disguise Kit is incapable of ever doing so, but because the kit doesn't provide those options, out of the company's benefit. Remember back in Point 1 that the Spytron 3000 is an (unknown) company's invention that was shipped to Spy? It would not be in TF2 Industries' interest to give a merc the ability to disguise as one of their bosses or boss's assistants. It would be a infiltration liability waiting to happen.

Spy Disguising as Animals

This once again falls into the realm of size not stopping Spy from disguising as something, just in the opposite direction. Spy can disguise as Engineer and other mercs shorter than Spy.

Is there a limit to how small? Can Spy disguise as a mouse? A Spycrab? Again, it's just unknown if he can because hasn't happened in the canon.

(Image: Spycrab cosmetic)

Spy Disguising as Inanimate Objects

There's a reoccurring joke I've seen in different fan works of Spy disguising as a lamp by wearing a mask that has an image of a lamp printed on it. I saw it enough times that I had assumed it was from canon, but I couldn't find a canon example of it anywhere. I'm unsure of its original origin in fan works, but it has since been embraced by the fandom.

Another example of a fan work letting Spy disguise himself as an object is Fortress Film's (the creators of Emesis Blue) fan film, Spy's Disguise. In this 28 minute animated film, Spy figures out how to disguise himself as a sentry gun.

(Gif: Spy's Disguise by Fortress Films, YouTube)

12) Conclusion: So How Do Disguises Actually Work?

In conclusion, Spy's disguises can be interpreted as a smokey aura or hologram that surrounds Spy through a piece of tech known as the Spytron 3000.

It is a perfect visual and audio disguise to all the mercs, both for teammates and enemies. We see Spy's paper mask for the benefit of the audience and is possibly non-diegetic (metaphorical and not existing in-universe). The paper masks are not seen by any of the mercs, teammate or otherwise.

A teammate Spy can choose to allow teammates (and possibly enemies) see through this aura, whilst still knowing that the Spy is disguised, and who he is disguised as.

Nevertheless, part of the fun of fan works is that they can deviate from canon. Want Spy to body swap? Yes! Want Spy to be able to remain disguised while attacking someone in a fight? The power is yours.

Fan work is universes within universes.

#tumblr won't let me add links sorry #essay #team fortess 2 #tf2 #my text #storytelling #tropes #quantum leap #portal #emesis blue #long post #the little mermaid #my essays

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