#he just wanted to prove he’s worth keeping 🥺

[wellthebardsdead]

Follow up from the confession I can’t help it! I love them alright?? I LOVE THEM TOGETHER!!

———

Marigold: *blearily opens his eyes and jumps seeing Taliesin laying next to him, the other high elf fast asleep, still by his side, right where he promised he’d be* … *winces a little as he shifts and rolls over to get up. His whole body in utter agony from his battle with alduin, even more so than usual. Every single joint inflamed, every muscle bruised and old seams long healed now torn open again* g-gods, don’t die trying to make him toast Marie-… *grabs one of his canes and pulls himself upright before pulling on his robe and shuffling down to the kitchen, very, slowly*

*a few minutes later*

Taliesin: *fast asleep, dreaming of laying in a bed of golden flowers, holding one in his hand and gently opening its petals to reveal a tiny version of marigold inside* my love… gods I’m in love- *leans in to give the tiny marigold a kiss*

*SMASH!!! THUD!! CLATTER!*

Taliesin: *jolts awake to find marigold missing from his side of the bed* Blossom?! *flings back the covers and runs to the stairs, feeling relief momentarily cut through the fear as he realises he didn’t fall down the stairs, only for a greater fear to grip him wondering what caused the commotion* Marigold?! *runs down the steps and into the kitchen to find the other high elf on the floor, a now upturned tray of food beside him in a puddle of shattered pottery, tea and their breakfast* Marie- *leans down and lifts him up to see tears pouring down his clearly embarrassed face* oh darling.

Marigold: *in too much pain to even speak, too embarrassed to even think of what to say having been found like this, only able to manage out two, fragile little words* d-don’t go.

Taliesin: *kneels beside him and softly kisses his hair as he dries his face with his sleeve* shhhh, I won’t dear… I’m not going to leave you. I promise.

[chelseachilly]

tired of loving from afar

pairing: mason mount x reader warnings: none, mostly fluff with a tiny bit of angst! word count: 5.3k

a/n: not me writing for someone other than ben lmao?? been really in my mase feels lately so here's a fluffy little long distance relationship fic (also was very happy to read this morning that he's likely going to be back after the international break! my heart has been hurting for him this season 🥺) have a great weekend loves 💓

-

Of the three years you’ve been with Mason, the past six months have been the hardest by far. 

You’d overcome other hurdles in your relationship, like adjusting to the exposure and demanding schedule of a professional footballer, learning to cope with your life being somewhat public and thousands of girls being in love with your boyfriend. None of this was nearly as challenging as having to adjust to him living 200 miles away from you. 

His move to Manchester was bittersweet - you were so proud of him for getting a spot at such a massive club and finally receiving the appreciation and recognition he deserves. You knew he was happy to have a fresh start and a chance to prove himself as a player. 

At the same time, it was incredibly emotional for him to leave his boyhood club, his friends, his family, and you all at the same time. You would’ve given anything to go with him, even if it meant leaving your own friends and family in London, but you were about to start your final year of uni there. You couldn’t just pack up and go, no matter how much you wanted to do so.

You’re passionate about your studies, and you knew it would all be worth it when you graduate and get a job in your chosen field - and in the same city as the man you love. You knew it was only a year.

That didn’t make it any easier to say goodbye.

You’ve both made a massive effort to see each other as much as humanly possible, going up to Manchester every time you have a break from classes or a weekend without an exam or assignment due. Mason has also come back to London any time he gets the chance, sometimes flying out just to see you for the day. You’ve been making it work, but it’s not nearly the same as living in the same house as him. Even when you were both super busy, you at least got to see each other when you woke up and before bed, and now all you have are texts and FaceTime calls. 

On a night like tonight, when you’re exhausted from the week and you just want to be wrapped in his arms watching a film, FaceTime really feels like a poor replacement for the real thing. 

“Hi, gorgeous,” Mason says, a sleepy smile on his face as he answers your call. “How was your day?”

“Hey, Mase,” you say, curling up with a blanket and admiring his face in the soft glow of his bedroom lamp. Judging by the fact that he’s in bed by quarter to nine, you figure he’s as worn out as you are. “It was okay, felt long. I finally turned in my essay, though.”

“Good work, babe, I’m sure you aced it like always.” 

You blush a little, never growing tired of how he takes every opportunity to praise your intelligence. Any time someone asks about your studies, he does a full spiel about how smart you are.

“We’ll see,” you say. “How was your day, love? Any updates at physio?”

The way his smile instantly fades makes your heart drop to your stomach, fearing the worst.

“Yeah, um-it’s looking like a bit longer,” Mason says, and you can tell he’s trying to keep his voice steady so you don’t worry too much. “Maybe another few weeks. They’re not sure.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” you sigh. “I’m sorry. I know how frustrating this is.”

The hardest part about being away from Mason has unquestionably been watching him struggle from afar without being able to properly support him. From the rocky start to the season, to being out due to injuries basically ever since, it’s been torture not being there for him. 

You went up straight away when he first injured his calf in November, needing to both emotionally and physically care for him, but you couldn’t stay long before your exams started. Since then, you’ve done your best to help from London - sending him care packages, calling him as much as your schedule allows, asking Luke and Anouska to keep an eye on him and let you know how he’s holding up. 

In moments like these, though, what you really need is to hug him and tell him everything is going to be alright. 

“Yeah, it’s a bit tough,” Mason admits, fiddling with his hoodie string. “But at least I’m back in partial training, it could be worse. I could’ve done my ACL or something, you know? I’ve been pretty lucky in my career so far.”

One of the many things you love about him is his infectious optimism, how he always sees the best in situations and in people. 

Right now, though, you’re not sure you fully believe the words leaving his mouth. He looks so disheartened and downtrodden. 

“Are you sure you’re okay?” you ask, frowning. “I know it’s not the news you’re expecting, you’re allowed to be disappointed.”

“I’ll be fine, angel, don’t worry about me,” Mason reassures you. “Just missing you a little extra today.” 

“Me too,” you murmur, touching the screen and wishing it were his face. “I’m sorry I can’t make it up this weekend, but this group assignment-“

“Don’t apologize, baby, I know how busy you are this term,” Mason cuts you off, just as he always does when you try to apologize for being so far away. 

You do the same to him when he tries to say he’s sorry for uprooting your life together, for not being there when you’re stressed about school or just having a bad day. Truthfully, neither of you are at fault, it’s just life. But it still sucks sometimes. 

“We’ll see each other in a few weeks when I have my reading break,” you remind him. “Just a while longer.”

“I know, I’m counting down the minutes,” Mason smiles. 

You talk for a little while longer before you reluctantly have to go so you can get ready for bed, and you promise to call him again tomorrow night. 

The sad look on his face when you say goodnight lingers in your mind as you shower and do your skincare routine, and by the time you climb into bed, you’ve made a decision.

First, you message your group for the assignment you’re working on and ask if you can push your planned meeting to Monday rather than Saturday. Next, you text Luke and ask him to make sure Mason doesn’t have plans tomorrow night.

Lastly, you book a train to Manchester, because you’ll be damned if you don’t go cheer up your man when he needs you.

-

The moment you arrive at the train station in Manchester the next day, you hop in an Uber and make your way straight to Mason’s.

You know that he’s still at training and will be for at least another hour or so, as you’ve been texting Luke for updates so Mason doesn’t get suspicious. It’s not unusual for you to ask how his day is going, but you don’t typically ask for the exact time he plans on leaving Carrington or instruct him to go straight home after training.

Using the key that Mason gave you when he moved in, insisting that it was still your home even if you don’t live there the majority of the time, you let yourself into his house.

You drop your bags and immediately get to work on creating the perfect cozy, romantic Friday night in.

By the time you get the text from Luke that he’s on his way back with Mason, having devised a fake plan of coming over to play FIFA after training to ensure Mason didn’t make other plans, you’re just finishing up.

You’ve successfully transformed his house, which he bought furnished and has put very little effort into making homey, into a much more welcoming environment. 

You ordered flowers for the kitchen table, as well as enough groceries to make dinner for him tonight and to replenish his far too empty fridge. You did a bit of tidying, deciding to do a few loads of laundry for him when you noticed there was quite a pile forming, and it must have been a week or so since the cleaning service he pays for came. 

You put some soft music on his speakers and lit a few candles in the kitchen as well, popping a bottle of white wine into the fridge so it’s ready for your dinner. 

You’ve just started chopping a few veggies to get a head start on dinner when you hear the sound of the front door opening followed by distant voices, one of which you immediately recognize as Mason.

“Do you hear that music?” 

The sound of your boyfriend’s voice after weeks apart fills your stomach with butterflies - you’re just as giddy to see him as you were in your early days of dating. 

“Probably the neighbours, mate,” Luke responds, still playing along with your ruse. 

“I don’t think-“

Finally, the guys turn the corner into the kitchen, and you see Mason come into view with Luke trailing behind him. His eyes widen in surprise for a moment, slightly startled by there being someone in his house, and then he realizes it’s you and his mouth falls open in shock.

“Surprise,” you say shyly, while Mason is still at a loss for words. 

He immediately drops his training bag to the floor and makes a beeline for you, pulling you into a tight hug and lifting you off your feet before you can even hug him back properly. 

You relax into his arms right away, squeezing him just as tightly as he’s squeezing you and breathing in the familiar scent of his soap and aftershave, freshly showered after training. It’s the same scent that lingers on the t-shirts and hoodies that you steal from him every time you come up, wearing them until you regrettably have to put them through the wash. 

“Baby,” Mason mumbles into your neck, pressing little kisses there. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“I’m here,” you confirm, wrapping your legs around his waist as he refuses to set you down or let you go. “I missed you way too much to wait another three weeks.”

He pulls back far enough to capture your lips in a sweet kiss, his hands sliding down to your thighs to support your weight as you kiss him back. You can feel the pieces of your world shifting back into place, your heart settling in your chest as you sink into his warmth.

Mason presses a few more quick pecks to your lips before reluctantly setting you down, arms still wrapped around you. It’s only then that you realize Luke is still here, shuffling awkwardly in the corner. 

“Thanks for your help, Luke,” you say with a shy smile, moving to Mason’s side. 

“Of course, the man never shuts up about how much he misses you, so it’s really a favour for me as well,” Luke jokes. “I’ll leave you guys. Enjoy your evening.”

“Thanks, mate,” Mason says with an eye roll and a grin before turning his attention back to you, pressing kisses to your head. 

“Night, Luke! Give my love to Anouska and the kids,” you call out, though you’ve also turned back to face Mason and bury your face in his chest. 

You remain in each other’s arms, just holding one another and breathing in and out for a minute or two. 

You knew you missed him, but you don’t think you realized quite how much until right now. It’s taken such a toll on both of you being apart for so long.

“How long are you staying?” Mason asks quietly, almost like he’s afraid of the answer, as he lightly rubs your lower back. 

“Until Monday morning,” you say. You wish it were longer, but three nights together is the best you’ve gotten in a long time. 

“Really?” Mason asks, pulling back and looking at you with bright eyes. “I thought you had to do your group assignment tomorrow?” 

“I pushed it to Monday, I had to come see you after we spoke last night.”

You reach up to cup Mason’s face with one hand, gently stroking his cheek with your thumb. Judging by the way he’s avoiding eye contact with you, you know you were right to come. He’s obviously been struggling with the disappointment of the never-ending injuries, all the uncertainty it’s brought. 

“I’m okay,” he says softly, turning his face to press a kiss to your palm. “Now that you’re here, everything’s okay.”

You melt at his gentle words, but they don’t do much to ease your worries about his emotional wellbeing. 

Mason gives you a quick peck on the forehead before looking around the room, noticing the food you’re preparing and the cozy, romantic vibe you created for your evening. 

“What’s all this?” he asks, a small smile on his face. 

You’re not keen to drop the subject, but you don’t want to ruin your rare weekend together by bombarding him with questions either. You know he’ll talk about it when he’s ready. 

“I just ordered some food for dinner and restocked your fridge a bit,” you explain. “I figured you would be happy to stay in tonight, so I got stuff to make your favourite pasta.”

Before he can respond, the dryer beeps, signalling that the load is done. He raises an eyebrow at you.

“Are you doing laundry?”

“I just threw a couple loads of your clothes in, I noticed you were running behind,” you shrug. 

Mason looks at you with complete awe, shaking his head in disbelief.

“You didn’t have to do all this,” he says softly. “You being here is enough. It’s more than enough.”

You smile, wrapping your arms around his neck once more. 

“I know, but I wanted tonight to be perfect and relaxing,” you explain, pecking his lips. “No stressing about football or school or anything else. Just you and me.”

“You’re amazing, Y/N,” Mason sighs, squeezing your waist. “Can I help you cook?”

“No, but you can pour us both a glass of wine from the bottle in the fridge and sit down and tell me about your day,” you smile, kissing him one more time before pulling away to return to your meal preparations. 

Mason does as told, sneaking another few kisses when he brings you over your glass, then sitting at one of the stools at the kitchen island.

You treasure this domesticity more than almost anything with him - the simple act of chatting about your days while making dinner is something you’ve missed terribly.

When the pasta is ready, you dish it out into two bowls and bring them over to the table. 

“God, I missed your cooking,” Mason grins as he dives into his portion, obviously starving after a day of training. “It’s delicious, babe.”

“Thanks, Mase,” you reply, pouring yourself a little bit more wine. “You want some more?”

“Might as well, it’s not like I’m playing tomorrow,” Mason says, the offhand comment hurting your heart much more than he intended. 

He’s still smiling at you as you pour his drink, but you don’t believe for a second that it’s real. 

“Do you want to go tomorrow?” you ask after a minute of silence while you both eat. “I know you usually go to the home games, right?”

Mason shrugs. “Yeah, we can if you want.”

Once again, you don’t press him further, listening as he changes the subject and starts updating you on Ben’s latest girl troubles. 

After you’ve finished and cleaned up, you head into the living room to catch up on the new episodes of Drive to Survive. You always save your favourite shows for when you’re together, sometimes dodging spoilers for weeks just so you can enjoy it properly with Mason.

The moment you sit down on the couch, Mason pulls you into his arms for the first real cuddle you’ve had in weeks. You very contently lean into him, resting your head on his chest and humming in delight as Mason slides his hand under your hoodie and begins to gently stroke your lower back. It’s not with the intention of anything sexual, though you’re sure that will come later, it’s just an innate need to be as close to you as possible. 

It’s the most relaxed you’ve felt since he left your flat in London three weeks ago, your body and mind decompressing with every moment spent in his arms. 

A few hours pass, and you can feel yourself growing tired, but you’re enjoying Mason’s commentary on the Alpine rivalry far too much to interrupt and suggest you go to bed. Your yawns are betraying you, though, and Mason begins to gently run his hand through your hair.

“You ready for bed, sweetheart?” he asks softly, kissing your forehead. 

“It’s so early,” you murmur as you glance at the time on your phone, barely past 9PM, yet you can’t contain another small yawn which makes Mason chuckle. “Sorry, I guess I’m tired out from the week.”

“No worries, we have the whole weekend,” Mason smiles. “Honestly, I’m a bit worn out too. Wanna go upstairs and I’ll get us some water?”

You nod as he stands and helps you to your feet, pressing one more gentle kiss to your forehead before heading into the kitchen. You make your way up the stairs to his bedroom and head into his ensuite bathroom. 

It occurs to you as you’re flicking the light on that you forgot to grab your toiletry bag from your suitcase in his room, and you’re just about to turn back for it when something catches your eye. On one of the shelves above the toilet, there’s an array of products that wasn’t here last time you visited. More specifically, there’s a version of just about every hair and skincare product you use on a regular basis, and you really doubt that Mason has taken up doing hair treatments or using Drunk Elephant serums.

Maybe it shouldn’t mean as much to you as it does - he’s always been thoughtful, and you know the expense of buying all this is nothing to him - but for some reason, the simple gesture nearly brings you to tears. 

Mason appears in the doorway a moment later, smiling softly at you.

“You okay, love?” 

“When did you buy all this stuff?” you ask, gesturing to the shelf. 

“Oh, uh, a couple days after the last time I came to London,” Mason says casually. “I took pictures of everything in your bathroom to make sure I got the right stuff, I just wanted to make it easier for you when you visit.”

As you look into his soft, sincere gaze, your love for him feels more overwhelming than ever. 

Which means your guilt does, too. 

“Mase, I’m so sorry I haven’t been up to visit more lately,” you say, your voice unsteady. “I know you’ve been struggling, and I know you’ve been keeping a lot of it from me because I’m busy with uni, but you’re my priority and I should’ve-“

“Hey,” Mason says gently, interrupting you with a hand reaching up to cup your cheek. “Don’t ever apologize for focusing on your studies. I know how hard you’ve been working, and I’m so proud of you. You don’t need to worry about me, I’m gonna be fine.”

“It’s not fine,” you shake your head, tears now streaming down your face. “You’ve always been there for me, and now you’re in a new city and a new club and you’ve been dealing with injuries and I’m all the way across the country.”

“Y/N, we knew this would be hard, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t,” Mason says, wiping your tears away with his thumbs. “But it’s not your fault I moved clubs while you still had a degree to finish, or that I’ve had a tough season. Some things are out of our control.”

You know he’s right, but it doesn’t make it any easier. Hearing his sad, defeated voice on the phone after a disappointing medical assessment or bad game and not being able to hold him has been one of the hardest things you’ve ever done.

“I just worry about you being here all alone,” you say quietly. “I know you have your teammates and you spend a lot of time with Luke, but in London you had me and all your friends and your family was closer and - I just hate that I’m not with you.”

“You’re here right now,” Mason says, pressing his forehead to yours for a moment. “You dropped everything to come see me today, babe. You have no idea how much that meant.”

“I would do it every weekend if I could.”

“I know,” he says with a sad smile. “And I would leave all of this and spend my time helping you study and supporting you if I could, but this is our reality for a little while longer, angel.”

You sigh, nodding in agreement and staring into his big brown eyes that bring you so much comfort. 

“I’ve just missed you so much,” you murmur, wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling him in for a tight hug. 

His own arms circle your waist and tug you impossibly closer, his nose buried in your hair so he can breathe you in.

“I know, baby, I’ve missed you too,” he exhales. “So, so much.”

You hold him for a while longer, cherishing every brush of his hand against your back and every kiss he presses to your temple. You want to memorize the feeling of his touch, so when you’re back in your bed in London a few days from now you can close your eyes and try to imagine you’re still in his arms.

After a few minutes, you break apart to finish preparing for bed. You brush your teeth together then go through your skincare routine while Mason watches fondly, letting you put some moisturizer on him when you’re done with it. Then he strips down to just his boxers, teasing you lovingly when you obviously check him out, and passes you a comfy t-shirt from his drawer to change into. You make a mental note to fill up your suitcase with a few of his hoodies before you leave - the ones you have at home no longer smell like him. 

You climb into the bed together, noticing that the side you usually sleep on has all of its pillows in place and that the nightstand is almost empty except for the glass of water he set down for you. Like he’s still been leaving that space for you even when you’re not there to fill it. 

“C’mere,” Mason says immediately, tugging you into his chest. 

You relax against him, laying your head over his heartbeat and tracing his tattoos with your finger.

“Will you tell me how you’ve really been feeling lately?” you ask in a gentle voice. He immediately tenses, and you know he still doesn’t want to discuss it, but you’re not leaving Manchester without talking to him about this. “I saw the look on your face when I asked about the game tomorrow, babe. Please just talk to me.” 

“I don’t want to burden you with all this,” Mason says, refusing to meet your gaze. “I know how busy you are-“

“I told you, you’re my priority, Mase,” you insist. “And it’s actually more concerning when I don’t know what’s going on with you. If you talk to me, then maybe I can help.”

Mason sighs and moves into a more upright position, still holding your hand and playing with your fingers as a way of grounding himself as he gathers his thoughts. 

“I just never thought it would be like this, you know?” he mutters. “I thought that coming here would solve everything I was going through at Chelsea, but in a lot of ways it’s been even harder.”

You nod for him to continue, gently squeezing his hand.

“I thought when all the contract stuff was resolved and I was at a new club everything would be fine, but then it’s just been constant injuries and trying to adjust to a whole new life without actually being able to do the thing I love most,” he goes on, making your heart splinter even more. “Fifty-five million pounds and I don’t have a single goal to show for it.”

“You can’t help that you’ve been injured, baby,” you say softly, though you know he already knows that. “If you were in top form, you’d be scoring goals all over the place. I know it.”

He smiles slightly, always grateful for your neverending confidence in him. You’ve been his biggest fan from the moment you met, cheering him on through every high and low of his career. 

“Maybe, but I haven’t had the chance to try,” he mutters. “I’m just stuck here, being useless to the club and hours away from you. I basically upended our lives just to end up not playing for months.”

“Mase, if I’m not allowed to feel guilty for us being apart, neither are you,” you say firmly. “Coming to United was the right decision. It may not feel like it now, but I promise it will in the long run. And if not, we’ll find a new place for you to show everyone how amazing of a footballer you are. Even if it’s in a different city or another country, we’ll figure it out.”

“Babe, I feel bad enough that you’re moving away from London to be here next year, I’m not gonna ask you to move again,” Mason says, still fiddling with your fingers. “I have to make it work here.”

“And I’m sure you will as soon as you’re better,” you tell him, bringing your joined hands to your lips. “But if it ends up not being a good fit, I will happily follow you anywhere you want to go.”

“Even the States?” Mason jokes, making you roll your eyes and poke him the ribs. “It would be cool to play with Messi.”

“You are not going to the MLS any time soon,” you reprimand him. “But yes, I would go to Florida for you, babe. That is how much I love you.”

Mason laughs, moving your joined hands so it’s his turn to lay kisses on your knuckles.

“Wouldn’t be so bad. The weather’s good, and we could hang out with the Beckhams,” he says, smiling against your skin. “We could take our kids to the beach-“

“Oh, our kids, huh?” you remark, raising an eyebrow. 

“Well, by the time I’m actually ready to play in the MLS…” 

“Alright, we’ll move to Florida with our hypothetical children in ten years,” you say decisively. “Then you can retire and stay home with them while I work.”

“I could take them to Disney World every day,” Mason sighs happily. “Oh, and the Harry Potter thing! Our kids would love that.” 

As much as you’re both joking, the thought of a time in the future when you’re settled with a family and not having to deal with all the separation and uncertainty makes your heart feel warm and fuzzy. You can’t wait to have a family with him someday. 

“In all seriousness, babe, you’ve already accomplished so much in your career and I know you’re going to do so many more amazing things,” you tell him, reaching out to cup his cheek. “And even more importantly, you are such an incredible person off the pitch.“

Mason blushes, leaning into your palm and holding it to his face so you don’t withdraw your touch. You know he struggles to take compliments sometimes, but you also know that this is something he needs to hear. 

“Which is why I refuse to listen to you call yourself useless when you do so much for your family, the community, for me - you make everything better, Mase,” you say softly. “That’s why are so loved. It’s why I fell in love with you, not because of your job.”

He takes a moment to soak up what you’re saying, still holding your hand to his face and pressing a few kisses to your palm. 

“You mean you’re not in it for the money?” he says after a minute, eliciting an eye roll from you. 

“It’s mostly for the money, but the abs don’t hurt either,” you tease, poking his stomach and making him laugh out loud for the first time in as long as you can remember. 

Mason pulls you into his arms again, leaning back and tucking you into his chest so your nose is pressed to his neck. You give him another tight squeeze, unable to get enough of his cuddles.

“Thank you so much, baby,” he mumbles into your hair as he slowly rubs his hand over your back. “For coming and for making me talk about this stuff. You always know exactly what I need.”

“Of course, my love,” you murmur. “Just promise me you’ll keep talking to me, okay? I don’t care how busy I am, I want to know what’s going on with you.”

“I promise,” Mason swears, squeezing your hand that rests over his heart. “And the same goes for you. I know how stressful this term has been, but I’m always here even if I can’t physically be there to help.”

“I know you are,” you smile. “And I know you’re the reason Ben or Woody brought me dinner or care packages before every midterm. They wouldn’t admit it, but I suspected they were under orders to check in on me.”

Mason chuckles. “Yeah, well, gotta send in the subs when I can’t do it myself.”

You hug him even tighter, throwing a leg over his and letting him shift you back into a more comfortable position for sleep. You’re yawning again, the exhaustion finally catching up to you now that the worry gnawing at your mind over Mason has been relieved.

“So, for tomorrow,” you say, your voice lower now that you’re both getting sleepy. “I think we should go to the game with Luke and Anouska, she already texted me and asked us to come over for dinner afterward. That way you and Luke can show your faces at Old Trafford and we can spend some time with them and the kids. Then, you and I can come back home and have a bit of a romantic night in.”

Mason doesn’t respond right away, and you give him a moment before you look up at him to see if something’s wrong. But when you do, you see only an adoring gaze and gentle smile on his face.

“Is that plan good with you?” you ask, “we don’t have to do any of it, I just thought-“

“No, no, it sounds perfect,” Mason cuts you off. “You’re perfect. I was just thinking about how much I love you.”

Your heart melts even more for him, if that’s possible, and you can’t resist leaning in to press another lingering kiss to his lips.

“I love you too,” you say, pressing a few more kisses to his cheeks and nose for good measure. “Now, let’s get a good night’s sleep so I can show you how much I love you in the morning, yeah?”

Mason nods with childlike enthusiasm, making you giggle again as you lay your head back on his chest. 

You can’t wait for the time to come that all of your nights end like this, curled up next to the love of your life, but for now, you’re grateful for this one.

No matter how many miles are between you, your heart is always gonna be wherever Mason is. He’s your home, whether you’re on opposite ends of the globe or in the same bed. 

You sleep better than you have in months.

please leave me a comment if you enjoyed this or send me an ask just to chat, love hearing from all of you xx

[grandlinedreams]

Hello! Can I request some first time tender smut with Law being self-conscious about spots of discoloration he has left from amber lead disease? I feel like reader kissing every spot tenderly would heal this man 🥹🫶

Thank you for all your writing and for keeping us well-fed 😚

OH 🥺 absolutely I can do that!! He absolutely deserves so much love

[!]: MINORS AND AGELESS BLOGS DNI. YOU WILL BE BLOCKED.

[Heads up!: body worship (Law recieving), oral (Law receiving), reader is not explicitly gendered, respected boundaries and consent are sexy!]

"You're so pretty, Law."

All you get in response is the soft sigh of the man beneath you, the twitch of warm skin beneath your lips.

You work your way down with soft kisses and gentle nips, making sure to lavish more attention to the kaleidoscopic patches of lighter skin as you come across them. You can feel Law trying not to tense at the brush of your lips, and your chest squeezes.

You know Law has a complicated relationship with it, the remnants of when he'd had Amber Lead disease ㅡ that he thinks that they'll somehow make him lesser in your eyes.

He's wrong. It only makes you want to prove that even more, marking a gentle but eager path further down his abdomen.

Law hisses as you bite just above his hipbone, peering at him. His cheeks are a little flushed from the attention you've already given him, and you hum before sucking another mark into his skin.

His cock twitches when you mouth at the hard swell of him in his jeans, hips lifting to help you as you tug them down. You take your time in making your way back up, pretending to be blissfully unaware of how hard he is as you lavish both of his thighs with attention.

"Don't be a brat," he warns, and you smirk against his skin when he slips a hand into your hair, grip tightening in anticipation.

"I'm not being a brat, I'm being thorough."

Law wants to argue that you are indeed being what he considers a brat, but the slide of your tongue against the underside of his length silences him.

You reach to pin his hips when he bucks, ignoring the glare you get in return. "You said you'd let me love you, and that's what I'm doing."

Law is not exactly loud when you're intimate, but the noise he makes as you take him into your mouth is one that you could happily listen to every day of your life. It's followed by something that might be a groan or a sigh, coupled with the fingers in your hair curling against your scalp.

He doesn't pull hard enough to hurt, but the pressure as he guides you along his length is enough to make you aware of the need building between your own legs and when you moan around him, he shudders.

Head thrown back against the pillow, Law fights hard not to buck his hips and make you choke, hissed curse leaving his lips as you suck.

You've seen Law in a lot of ways over the years of knowing him, become something of an expert in reading his expressions ㅡ but the way his face contorts with pleasure is absolutely one of your favorites, and your chest swells with pride in the fact that you're the one making him feel this good.

His tip hits the back of your throat and you fight hard not to gag, blinking back tears as you swallow around him. He writhes at that and when you do it again, you get a low, breathy curse of "fuck" that only adds to your own want.

His orgasm creeps in slowly, rising as you continue to suck, taking the unsteady hitch in his breathing as incentive to continue. You can feel the pulse of him in your mouth, the tense and flex od his lower abdomen as his hips jerk, stuttering in a handful of staccato thrusts ㅡ and then he's spilling down your throat with a deep, low groan.

You milk him for all he's worth, enamored by evem the sharp inhale when you swallow around him before you pull off to wipe at your lips.

"You're a menace," Law pants as he watches you, the insult affectionate for how you nestle up to him, cluster of kisses to the mottled skin of his collarbone.

"But i'm your menace," you pout, kissing at his jaw. "And I love you, Law. Nothing is going to change that."

His heart stutters as it always does when you tell him that you love him before he moves to kiss you properly, feeling the bird-wing flutter of your pulse when he slides a hand down your side to your hip.

"You are," he says when he pulls away, "and now it's my turn."

[dairy-farmer]

The recent Dicktim ask about Dick cheating on Tim with Babs!!! It hurts so bad 😭😭😭.

I want Tim to get together with either Jason or Damian after. I don't know which would hurt more, Tim getting together with the man he once thought as his little brother or the one he slightly thinks of as his own child.

I want everyone around them having a difficult time moving on from the relationship. They really thought Dicktim would be endgame. Everyone thinks the moment will pass and they'll go back to being disgustingly in love with each other. Everyone except Jason or Damian.

Tim doesn't tell anyone about what happened because he doesn't want it to get away from their mission but Jay or Dami is just so mad for Tim. Babs eventually breaks down and admits why Dick and Tim broke up and Tim is frustratingly right in that it had affected their mission. They don't trust Dick or Babs. And it's causing conflict in their planning for missions.

So Tim decides that maybe the only way for everyone to move on is to show that he has moved on. He decides to put himself on the market again. But nothing sticks and it just makes things worse because now they think, Tim is so heartbroken he has taken to sleeping around and is afraid of opening himself up again.

Jay or Dami, misguidedly tries to help Tim by telling him that sleeping around won't heal his wounds and he shouldn't rush it. Tim is pissed because he is NOT sleeping around but since everyone thinks so, he should just sleep with Jay or Dami, then.

It starts a very messy affair where Tim kinda proves everyone right to Jay or Dami that he's been hurt really badly because of how low his self-esteem is now. Tim also can't trust Jason or Damian because those two tried to kill him and Dick is their brother first. They have sex a lot. And slowly but surely, Tim moves on. They prove to Tim he's worth everything. They fall in love.

At first, they keep it from the rest. They are proven right by their decision because their relationship garnered skepticism. But slowly Nightwing and Oracle's relationship with the Bats improves. They don't get together. Tim is kinda confused why. A part of him is rightfully angry. They ruined his esteem and broke his trust and they can't even be end game? His relationship ended for a fuck? But he stops caring.

And one day, Tim and Jay or Damian go to Bruce bearing two good news. They're getting married and Tim is pregnant with their child. The wedding was beautiful. Everyone was happy.

Everyone but Dick.

He watches as someone else gets his happy ending. He watches as Tim moves on from being his lover to just being his friend. He wasn't even a part of the wedding party. He was just an ordinary guest in the wedding. Everyone but Tim knows he's still in love with Tim and they don't want to give him a chance to ruin it even if he wouldn't.

-🦆

🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 tim gets his happy ending!!!! he's with someone who loves him and is moving on to start his own little family!!!

and dick...well dick knows he probably deserves it. knows he's learning a tough lesson in the worst sort of way. forced to watch as the love of his life, the person he was going to marry, the person who was going to be the mother to his child...he watches as they move on and start a family with someone else and dick...part of dick was almost delusionally optimistic in thinking maybe he and tim would get back together. it had happened before. with kori, with barbara even. with plenty of people. dick and someone break things off but then inevitably they find their way back to each other.

and dick hoped...maybe in time tim would take him back. dick would do better, he'd be better, he'd work as long and as hard as it took for tim to trust him again. dick just needed to show tim that he was serious. so he didn't pursue anything with barbara. he called it quits completely with her. he and her had always been too close for comfort and it should've meant something that he'd lost more than one girlfriend because they didn't like how comfortable barbara was overstepping boundaries when he was in a relationship. they didn't like that she wore his clothes that she kept from when they dated, they didn't like she had a key to his apartment, didn't like that she sometimes spent nights over and he didn't tell them. they didn't like how he and her often had inside jokes that they laughed about in front of them, they didn't like how she grabbed his arm and his shoulder, how she leaned in too close when he'd whisper to her. dick had told himself that it was just petty jealousy and insecurity. that barbara was just a friend, that boys and girls could be JUST friends, and their hyper-focusing on the fact that they used to date just made her seem like she was competition when she wasn't.

it's donna who smacks him over the head and asks if he's fucking serious. because they're friends. he's a boy and she's a girl and she sure as shit never did crap like that. not with him, not with roy, not with wally. none of their girlfriends ever felt threatened by the fact that she was a girl who was their friend. that she crashed at their places and that she borrowed their clothes. they never once thought there was something more going on and it was because theirs was a relationship that was actually platonic. if she'd tried some of the shit barbara did (whether consciously or unconsciously on her part) he would've tugged her aside and told her she was being weird because it was. it was fucking weird for dick and barbara to act like they were still dating when dick was committed to someone else.

and what exactly was his excuse for not listening to his partner's concerns and discomforts? because that was a shitty thing too. did dick think he was innocent in that regard in enabling inappropriate behavior while in a relationship?

they had history? yeah so did donna.

they'd been through a lot together? so had donna.

she was one of dick's closest confidantes? so was donna.

dick clearly had some hangups. either about barbara or about commitments because donna knew she'd heard wedding bells. after so long of seeing dick have the worst luck with dating and relationships, she'd truly thought he was going to settle down with tim. and tim poor tim her heart broke for him. to be betrayed and fucked over by two of his most trusted people like that.

she's disappointed in dick. she really is. but mostly she's sorry that tim is the collateral damage in dick learning that there is a problem with how he conducts himself.

talking to donna gave dick a lot to think about. more than he thought. and he thinks back to the moment leading up to...everything.

how barbara let herself in with her key like always how they got to talking and laughing and how it all just progressed so naturally. and dick thinks about how if that had been someone else. roy. donna. wally. it wouldn't have happened.

dick had just been so on edge and anxious when barbara arrived. the jewelry store he'd been calling about trying to get an appointment for a consultation for months suddenly had an opening in two days and...and it seemed so fast. so quick. dick had thought he'd be waiting months to see a jeweler about making the engagement ring his father had drawn on a little sheet of notebook paper to propose to his mother with.

now it was happening in 48 hours and...dick...fucked up. in the span of an hour he fucked up years of his relationships with tim. he fucked up his future with tim, he fucked up everything they could've had.

he watches as tim disappears from his side and his life.

then when donna knocks some sense into him dick realizes what he did. what he allowed to happen, what he'd been letting happen for years.

barbara is miserable when he comes to see her. cass texted him about how she hadn't been responding to her calls and asked him to go see her. its then that dick realizes that tim has told no one of what caused their break up.

dick doesn't use the key he has to let himself in. for the first time in years he knocks and waits for barbara to answer with one of her systems.

their talk is a tough one. barbara has been beating herself up for days. she's too ashamed to speak with cass who looks up to her so much.

dick knows he can't blame her. not anymore than he can blame himself but...they need to talk. the lines in their relationship have been blurred for awhile and he'd made himself blind to it because she was babs and maybe because he wasn't all that opposed to it. they can be friends. close friends. but that's all they can be. they've been dusting away the line in the sand for too long. they're not kids or teenagers. they're grown fucking adults and they need to own up and come to terms with the fact that they messed up and it was their fault.

dick should have never given barbara a key that she could use wherever she wanted. he should've specified it was for emergencies. he never should've left stuff at her place or her at his because it just...it just seemed like they were leaving a door open.

they hadn't been firm about only being friends and now it lead to this and now...honestly unless they were certain that they could only be associates and friends...maybe they shouldn't be around each other for awhile.

barbara agrees. the regret and guilt had been eating her alive and its only a few weeks later when the family keeps pestering dick with concern about tim 'moving on too fast' and 'sleeping around' that she blurts out and admits what they did.

the backlash is swift and severe and dick deserves every moment of it. he's fucked up the one good thing in his life and now tim was trying to cope by going out on dates and..dick knows he has no right to feel hurt.

but it had been almost a year of dating before he and tim got intimate. he'd been tim's first he'd been the only person tim had ever had sex with and now...

it stops for awhile and dick is relieved. he thinks of maybe visiting tim at his apartment but knows that wouldn't go well. he thinks of doing lots of things. finding ways to show tim that he will remain loyal to him, that he'll wait as long as it takes.

he and barbara hardly talk anymore and when they do they keep it professional. anything more and the rest of the family side eye them.

things get better. slowly.

and then it turns out that tim is dating damian. damian who'd been firmly on tim's side when it came out. who had followed tim around and taken to guarding him when he and tim were in the same area.

it hurt. to know that damian's opinion of him sunk so much.

but it doesn't hurt nearly as much as knowing that he and tim are together.

the family is...skeptical. concerned. dick knows bruce tries saying something but gets shut down by damian about how the two of them are free to make their own choices even if they may not like them.

there is some concern that tim is just using damian for company or comfort. but...then they see how they are together. damian and tim had always been snarky with each other but now it seems they've turned it more outward. the family ends up leaving a gala early when the two make a few of the guests cry for some stupid comment they made about damian's new animal welfare charity.

the two get along well they...look good together.

tim is wearing a slim fitting sleek dress and damian is wearing a nice suit with a bow tie complimenting tim's jewlery. they coordinated outfits to show a united front which is such a them thing to do.

but...the thing that really hitches dick's breath is the earrings.

both damian and tim are each wearing a single pearl earring. damian on the left ear and tim on the right. the earrings were from a single set that the two split between them and it was..such a romantic gesture.

it gave dick a pit in his stomach. but he continued believing...thinking that maybe this could be fixed. that he could have tim back.

but then....almost a year later. tim is pregnant. he's pregnant and he and damian are getting married and...and...dick cries.

god the night before the wedding he sits in the hotel room of where its going to be held and he just sobs. the rest of the family is busy with preparations, they're all members of the wedding party. jason is officiating, alfred is damian's best man, bruce is walking tim down the aisle. and dick...dick is going to be seated in the second row of the venue. behind damian and tim's close friends and...god it hurts more every time he thinks about it.

this isn't...this isn't what was supposed to happen.

some part of dick thinks about objecting, of standing in the middle of the ceremony and begging tim to take him back but...god the rest of dick stamps that down because he does not want to take more from tim than he already has.

dick is miserable as he watches tim marry damian. he feels like someone is carving his heart out with a blunt butter knife.

that could've been him. dressed up as a groom, smiling so softly at tim as his bride. tim glowing with joy and happiness while his sweet womb was full with their child.

that could've been him.

and now dick had no one. nothing. tim was going to marry someone else, start a family with someone else, love someone else and dick...dick would be stuck outside watching.

and he had no one to blame but himself.

[monstercampus]

Ellie help I have werewolf brain rot and Kirk has been living in my mind rent free the past few nights 😩 please tell me more about him, does he have a secret soft side or is being mean his love language and you know he cares about you if he's giving you a hard time? Why does he live in a dorm by himself? Where is he on the possessive scale? Honestly just tell me everything you know about him so I can simp to the best of my ability 🥺😫🙏

And actually while I'm here, anything about Elliott or Julian would also be tasty 👀👀👀 forgive me for the werewolf team fic altered my brain chemistry and I may never be the same

absolutely !! !!!!! i am at your mercy uwu <33 (this is mostly stream of consciousness so if u want more i am READY)

(cws: kirk being a sap + lore)

Kirk is very much that way--giving you a hard time is generally how he shows he cares about you. He's only truly mean to those he doesn't care about, and trust that there is a difference even when you get frustrated over his attitude in the beginning. He didn't grow up with a lot of love in his household so it's really not his area of expertise, he never really learned how to show it and only started experiencing affection when he joined the pack and made friends with all the other werewolves. Being snuggled, having his hair stroked instead of pulled, listening to his friends talk about him being handsome and smart even if he's got a shitty attitude.....it's weird to him. He doesn't hate it deep down, but he hates how it makes him feel vulnerable when he doesn't want to be.

'Vulnerable' is barely even in his vocabulary, which is why he comes at you with so much heat at first. He'd been hoping and praying that you two could boink, have a good time, and then you would pretend like it never happened so he wouldn't have to face any of those feelings he has when he looks at you. But when you don't, and when you're just so sweet, Kirk can't handle it and has to revert to what he knows: being a dick. Not nearly to the extent of how he is with other people, but just enough to keep you at arm's length in his constant fear that you're gonna end up making him feel like he isn't totally worthless. Because what would he do then? He's accepted the role of being an irredeemable, raging douchebag for pretty much all his life. He's got an attitude, his temper is awful, he doesn't consider himself that good-looking, he's got some of the worst grades out of the whole pack, he fixates on things and lets them consume all his thoughts, and he hasn't even got any palate to boot and will eat just about anything, even if it's on the verge of spoiling. He's total garbage and he's friends with a pack of people that couldn't be more perfect; Julian is incredibly charming, Portia's practically a genius, Nick is insanely handsome, Elliott is so gentle and really funny, Priam is a total sweetheart and Athos is the pinnacle of cool in his eyes. How could he even think of measuring up to all that, much less stick out among the rest and prove he's worth even a little bit of your love?

That may be the most frustrating part about Kirk--he can be the prickliest guy you know and he would die before he ever says those things out loud, but he seriously admires his friends and you yet he has little to no belief in himself. Granted, growing up he would've gotten his ass beat for showing that kind of weakness, so it's still deeply ingrained in him as an adult--especially since the pack are pretty much the first friends he's ever made on his own. And at his core, he's jealous. Jealous of them and their nice families, jealous of how well they all turned out despite going through their own struggles, jealous of how easy it is for them to be open when he's terrified of people finding out he's bi, jealous of you for being so brave and so beautiful in equal measure....so that's why the best thing he can do--in his own opinion of course--is to be your collective guard dog.

After all, Kirk isn't afraid to bite. His instincts are hard to control in his human form, could you even imagine how feral he can get when he's full wolf, or even just close to the full moon? If anything it's what he's good at; hunting, beating ass, and taking a punch. If he can't be as good as you and the others deserve, the least he can do is make sure that sweetness and the goodness of your souls isn't ever dominated by someone else. He'll spill blood, he doesn't care. He would even get suspended if it came to that, expelled, arrested, whatever it takes and he'll let the chips fall where they may. You'll know his love for you is real when he starts acting protective over you, not only when other people try to bother you but as far as your daily needs as well. Have you eaten properly? Are you thirsty? Do you need to sleep? When's the last time you stretched? He acts like it's a favour he's doing for you, like you're a little wolf that needs caring after, but in truth it settles his own self-doubts and makes him happier knowing that he's doing something for you--that he's taking care of you like a mate would, and when you smile at him or thank him for his help he just melts. He would do anything to keep hold of that smile.

.....Which is why he's got a plan in his head for after graduation. He and Nick are the oldest and thus are going to graduate first of all of you, so once that's over and done with he's got plans to start building a place for you all to properly call 'home'. It's nothing crazy--just a cabin in the woods--but if there's one thing he can confidently say he's good at it's woodworking, and he's sketched out the designs to make it everything you could ever want.

Personal rooms for you, him, and Portia who has trouble falling asleep when it's noisy. A big living room with enough sofas to fit you all. Polished oak walls like Julian grew up with and always wanted to see again. A bathtub big enough to fit Nicky's giant, muscly legs without spilling over. Tables and chairs to fit everyone and more, to fit all the family gatherings and maybe even the pups you might have one day. A garden out back where he'll plant those ugly little flowers Elliott loves. Trees and greenery around where they can run and hunt and play during the full moon, totally obscured by the rest of the world. A big fucking chandelier in the dining room to intimidate any friends you bring over that think they're hot enough shit to snatch you. It's gonna be perfect, it's gonna be the one thing he can say he's proud of in practically his whole life. It'll be a gift to all of you for putting up with his assholery for so damn long, for sticking with him even when he couldn't find a single reason why you should.

That's the kind of love Kirk shows. Words don't mean much to him--actions and acts of service are how he expresses his affections, because it's much simpler for him to put work into something he can touch and measure and paint rather than throw some flimsy words around and call it love. Plus, one of the reasons why he lives in his own dorm is because his downtime is incredibly important to him. Usually he would request a private one-bedroom apartment, but this year he was assigned roommates that he very quickly drove away with his annoying habits almost entirely on purpose. If he's not comfortable with someone, then like hell is he going to share an intimate living space with them--and after a long day he just needs time to be completely alone. He has to think, work on his projects, exercise, chew on something, and have no prying eyes around that will impede his progress in trying to figure out how the hell he can try to make himself worthy of being loved by you. A dumb, violent wolf reaching to grab the very moon from the sky.

[beevean]

I keep not understanding what exactly are Lenector shippers seeing in their "dynamic". At least they agree that it had poor development, but then what is the appeal?

If you like the abusive, toxic, manipulative, imbalanced, BDSM, "good boy" part of S3, there's none of it in S4. Hector and Lenore talk like good friends, without a hint of their previous sexual tension, unless her puerile dick jokes are what passes as tension now.

If you like them as foils, if you see Lenore as the only person who has ever been kind to Hector, if you think it's romantic that the two want to protect each other in S4, then you have to ignore or justify Lenore's previous physical, mental, emotional and sexual abuse of Hector.

And if the appeal is the "development" (which one of these commenters called "enemies/lovers", literally where, Hector was never Lenore's enemy, he was her victim)... then it sucks majorly. There is no development. There's a switch! Like someone changed the radio station! It's jarring! And there is no good way to fill in the gaps without downplaying the horrible things Lenore did to Hector, or without justifying them because "she only meant well 🥺 it was the best solution 🥺", which makes me want to tear my face off my skull.

In fact... Lenore really didn't develop at all. I talked before about Hector in S4, who regressed to the point where he'd want Dracula back just to feel better about his mistakes and never addresses his apathy towards humanity or his tendency to cling to people who give him scraps of appreciation, but a similar thing happened to Lenore. Remember these wonderful lines:

"Oh, shush, you were having fun."

"I'm sorry for everything you went through."

Lenore doesn't care. She doesn't care that she has hurt Hector, that she has used his feelings to lie to his face and force him into an arrangement he hadn't consented to. She doesn't apologize for her own actions. She doesn't even try to explain herself, only retorting Hector's understandable irritation at the ring against him - "well you got hard, what are you complaining about?". Because that's what relationships are in this show: nothing but "cute" banter meant to camouflage abuse.

Oh, she wants to "protect him"? Big deal. She still doesn't seem him like a person who can be hurt by her actions. She still fits the description of vampiric love Carmilla gave in S2. He's still her pet in her eyes, even if she does nothing with it. Nothing has changed. She has just lost sexual interest in him, because now it's no longer fun to put a leash on him and talk to him like a dog. She got what she wanted, so now there's no point in flirting and being nice to him :)

Lenore is nothing more than a power-hungry coward when you read between the lines, less interested in power over the world (which she dislikes) and more in power over singular people. She's happy to beat Hector to an inch of his life when he's weak and in a cell, to prove that she's not to be underestimated, but when she is in a cage, she won't attempt a damn thing to flee it or protect herself from Isaac. She stops molesting flirting with Hector once he gains more confidence, because flirting for her is a mere weapon to psychologically bend someone to her will. After she "solved Hector's problem", she does nothing but whine because she doesn't know what to do, because she feels useless - her spending time with Hector seems nice on the surface, but it might also be seen as her going to be a brat to the only one willing to tolerate her. And, of course, the dialogue frames her choice to kill herself not as her being horrified at her own nature and what it has lead her to do, because villains in this show get to be painted as tragic without doing the work to earn it (*coughcoughdraculaandisaac*), but as her wanting to flee her cage - her position of powerlessness. Not even spending a few more decades with Hector, the man she supposedly has grown to care about and who only wants her in his life, is worth not being in total control.

And the clincher? This doesn't sound bad for a villain! Selfish and pathetic at the same time, under a veneer of "kindness" or "good intentions": that's interesting! And if this had been intended, good job for not spelling it out like I'm stupid, allowing me to put the pieces together? Problem is, the story and its fans insist that actually Lenore is a great person and she really liked Hector no really they should have stayed together and married each other because aren't they so uwu and 🥺 and why couldn't the story give the abusive rapist a second chance 🥺

And I can't see it. I can't. The deeper I look into this story, the more rot I unearth. And it's definitely not because I don't like unhealthy ships; in fact it's precisely because of it that I think this example is terrible. I haven't even touched other issues such as how I don't care for the power imbalance because I'm prevented from caring for the lump of flesh in the shape of Hector in S3 lol.

And to be honest, the more I see fans complaining about the lack of screentime, the more I suspect that the appeal of Lenector is the same as Trephacard's: you get to make shit up in your head and ignore what the screen shows you. Which sure you can do that, but then the actual story doesn't deserve praise, does it?

[theforgottenmcrmy]

Honor~ Part 1/2 (Ser Harwin Strong x Reader)

᯽ Please note that this is an overall part 8 of the series “Growing Strong”, the masterlist of which can be found HERE ᯽

Pairing: Ser Harwin Strong x Tyrell! Female Reader

Warnings: GOT typical sexism, canon divergence, suggestive themes, violence

Summary: Honor was subjective; it meant different things to different people. That was one of the most difficult concepts you’d ever had to come to terms with, but that didn’t mean that it wasn’t a lesson worth learning.

A/N: Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻 I hope you guys are having a much better day/night than I am, cause your girl is going through it rn🥲 *handing out tissues* so, how are we feeling about the season finale, everyone?🥺 … on that note, I regret to inform you that these next two chapters will have some angst. I just ask that you hold off on throwing tomatoes at me until you’ve read it all. Part 2 will be up on Thursday 11/3.

As always, thank you all for the love🖤 eat all the candy you want today/tonight/whenever, you deserve it!🖤

Ser Laenor Velaryon was many things.

He was kind; he’d never laid a hand on Princess Rhaenyra. He’d been knighted at a young age, and had proved to be an asset to the Crown during the war in the Stepstones. He was daring; he’d claimed Seasmoke, one of the more nimble and faster dragons that the Targaryens boasted.

But, like all others, Ser Laenor also had his shortcomings.

As you purposefully entered the banquet hall you’d been directed to by a chambermaid, you frowned immediately at the sight that you were met with.

Ser Laenor was seated upon one of the tables in the middle of the room, apparently having decided that a chair was not suitable for such a purpose. His most recent companion, Ser Qarl Correy, was seated upon the table as well, right beside him. The pair talked loudly about something you couldn’t quite pick out the specifics of amongst their inebriated babblings.

You continued to watch with dissatisfaction as Ser Qarl raised a goblet of wine to you as a poor form of greeting before handing off said goblet to his drinking partner.

A few servants waited in the periphery of the scene, ready to jump in and assist the prince consort with whatever he may require at a moment’s notice. The looks on their faces ranged from neutral to weary.

“My Lord.”

Ser Laenor flinched at your bellow, but regained his composure fairly quickly. “Good morrow, Lady Tyrell!” He took another gulp of wine and before wiping his mouth with his sleeve. “How fare thee? Ser Qarl and I were just breaking our fast.”

The near empty plates beside and around their seated rear ends had gone unnoticed initially. You’d been far too distracted by the notion of Princess Rhaenyra’s husband and his companion already indulging themselves at such an early hour of the morn.

Ser Laenor inquired curiously, “To what do we owe the pleasure?”

“I was told the Princess’s labors are drawing to a close,” you informed him neutrally. “Perhaps you might be a bit more… coherent, when you go to her?”

“... Ah, yes, yes. Of course.”

Despite your increasing irritation with the situation, you knew better than to show it. You bowed your head and gave the pair a strained smile before excusing yourself without another word.

Ironically, Ser Laenor Velaryon’s degree of interest in his family was like the weather over the sea: constantly changing with the seasons and tides.

And, for all the many things that he was, Ser Laenor Velaryon had never been a particularly attentive father- a fact that had cultivated a dangerous situation for you and the ones closest to you over the past decade.

As you made your way through the halls of the Red Keep, headed back from whence you’d come, you realized with dread that the castle had begun to awaken for the day.

You were not naive; cruel whispers had never been foreign among the halls of the Red Keep. But it appeared that the vipers had only become more venomous over time.

And those brazen whisperers had not spared you as a subject of their poisonous words.

Though… you had hoped they might have.

You were the Lady of House Tyrell, Mistress of Highgarden, Defender of the Marshes, Lady Paramount of the Reach, and Wardeness of the South. In the ten years you had taken up your family’s seat, you had come to live up to both your father and brother’s names. With your husband’s unwavering support, you worked tirelessly to ensure that you earned your right to the family titles that King Viserys had declared belonged to you. Sleepless nights preparing contracts for the crops trade, countless hours of council meetings regarding the issues facing the noble and common people, and thousands, perhaps even millions of gold dragons invested back into your homeland and the people who lived and worked there had finally begun to pay dividends.

Most of your time throughout the year was spent in the Reach, as was what you deemed necessary to adequately fulfill your obligations. You were well respected there, with only some, though plainly, expected, dissension… primarily from the likes of those who resided over in Oldtown.

You’d have been content to stay in the Reach, but your loyalty and friendship to the Princess had repeatedly called you back for visits to the capital. At first, you had been regarded with the respect you had earned over your years of service to the Reach and the Crown.

But with each passing year, the esteem the other lords and ladies placed upon you slowly began to diminish. And now, most of your noble peers did not hesitate to reveal exactly what they thought of your… circumstances.

In passing, most of them only seemed to offer you one of three looks: a look of pity, sympathy, or disgust.

Pity, for how could you have “failed to keep” your husband’s attention?

Sympathy, for how could you be held responsible for your husband’s lustful “wiles”?

And disgust, for how could you have “allowed” your vows to each other and before the gods to have been soiled so easily?

If only they knew…

…

You must have had the gods’ favor that morning, for you managed to make your way through the Red Keep without happening upon too many others. That was just as well; you’d gotten hardly any sleep the night before, and if you had to tolerate another single pitiful look at that moment, you might not have been able to properly mind your tongue.

And that would be an awful slip that neither you, your husband, nor Princess Rhaenyra could afford.

As you entered princelings’ chambers, you were pleasantly surprised to be greeted with the voices that had been suspiciously absent when you’d awoken that morning.

All four of the boys had their backs turned to you as they played in front of the fire with their miniature knights and dragons. They were so consumed in their games of pretend that your sudden reappearance had gone unnoticed.

But you hadn’t gone unacknowledged by your husband.

Harwin, who had been ever so carefully watching over all four of them, saw you enter immediately. As you walked further into the room, he rose from his crouched position and gave you a soft smile. 

You watched the boys in silent amusement for a few moments before finally deciding to make your presence known. “There you are. I had wondered where the four of you might have wandered off to this morning.”

Just a few hours before, you’d been given a bit of a start. Right before the sun rose, you’d stirred from a less than pleasant sleep to find yourself alone in the room, despite having succumbed to your dreams sometime in the night to the sound of animated whispers of four young boys filling your ears. But you’d known there’d been little cause for panic; Prince Jacaerys and Prince Lucerys seldom made a move without eyes upon them. And wherever the young princlings went, your own sons were never too far behind.

Upon hearing your voice, all four of the boys turned and lifted their heads in your direction. They smiled and rose, before bounding over to you with excitement.

“Has there been any news?” Prince Jacaerys, or Jace, as Princess Rhaenyra had nicknamed him early on in his life, asked. He was the Princess’s oldest son, and nearly ten years of age. Though being third in line for the Iron Throne would have deemed him worthy of such attention regardless, additional interest had been placed on him shortly after his birth. Prince Jacaerys had been born with dark hair and eyes; he blatantly stood out in the sea of the other Targaryens he lived amongst.

“None yet,” you answered him truthfully. Upon seeing the disappointed look on the boy’s face, you quickly promised, “But soon.”

“We went to the dragon pit this morning!” your oldest son informed you enthusiastically, coming to stand beside Jacaerys.

Derrik, despite having been named in homage to your predecessor, bore little of the physical characteristics that had been passed down through generations of House Tyrell. At nearly ten years of age as well, just a few months younger than Prince Jacaerys, you imagined that he was a spitting image of what Harwin must have looked like at that age. His grandsire, the Lord Hand Lyonel Strong, had frequently made such a comment to that extent. Derrik was already the tallest of the four boys, and had even begun to encroach upon your own height. In addition to all the other traits he took from his father, he also shared Harwin’s dark curls. But his eyes were your own, as was his generally agreeable temperament.

Upon your oldest son’s admission, you looked at Harwin with surprise and mild concern. “Did you, now?”

“Look, Lady Y/N!” Prince Lucerys bid, running to the table beside you. You hadn’t noticed the sizzling pot upon it until the youngest of the Princess’s sons called your attention to it. But you knew what it contained, even without the young boy having to remove the lid.

“Jace let me pick out the egg!” Prince Lucerys, or Luke, beamed up at you. The youngest prince was over seven years old, though closer to eight. Like his older brother, Lucerys also had dark hair and eyes. But there’d never been any doubt as to who his brother was, nor his mother- his smile mirrored Princess Rhaenyra’s perfectly.

You returned his familiar smile with genuine ease. “I see that. Well, I am certain that your little brother or sister will be very grateful, Your Graces.”

It had become a custom during King Viserys’ reign for all newborn Targaryen children to have a dragon’s egg placed in their cradle. While you were wary of Princes’ safety whilst they underwent whatever necessary to secure the egg before you now, you were relieved at the thought that Princess Rhaenyra would be spared a trip to the dragon pit. Though she was likely to be exhausted, the Princess’s stubbornness had not diminished in the slightest over the years. Both of her older son’s eggs hatched in their cradles, and there was no doubt that she would wish the same for her next child.

While the Princes smiled to each other at your praise, you almost lost your footing when the fourth boy, your youngest son, threw his arms around your waist in an impromptu hug.

The boy looked up at you with wide eyes pleadingly. “We’re sorry we didn’t wake you when we left, Mother.”

Your resolve faded; it was extremely difficult to be cross when such a look was being given to you.

Selwin, the youngest of your boys, was a few months Prince Lucerys’ junior. He had been named after Harwin’s grandsire. Despite this, and in contrast to that of his older brother, not many physical traits of House Strong were made apparent in him. In fact, your youngest son resembled your late brother Derron so greatly, you found it to be unnerving at times. Selwin, though also tall for his age, was more lean and slender than Derrik. His hair matched your own, but he had your husband’s hazel eyes. Like Harwin, it seemed that he had inherited a bit of a fiery temper… which had been discovered fairly quickly after the boy was old enough to spend time in a training yard. But, also like Harwin, Selwin treated his family and those he cared about very sweetly, and never showed them anything but the utmost kindness.

You patted Selwin’s hair soothingly as silent acceptance of his apology. In the gaggle of young babbling boys surrounding you, you had failed to realize your husband had made his way over to join you.

Harwin, dressed in his armor and gold cloak, gave you an apologetic look.

Your family’s recent trip to King’s Landing had become less of a visit, and more of an extended stay. As he usually did, upon your return to the capital, Harwin had resumed his old post as a captain within the City Watch.

But through extenuating circumstances, the Commander of the City Watch had been forced to resign recently, and King Viserys had appointed Harwin in his stead… A perk of being the son of the Hand of the King, and retaining a close friendship with Princess Rhaenyra, you supposed.

It had been an unexpected appointment, but Harwin took it in stride. Though your family would eventually depart King’s Landing, he was determined to serve dutifully until that time came. In fact, just the previous evening until early that morning, he’d been out in the city, on patrol. Despite the tiredness that you could see lingering in his eyes, you knew he’d never let it show in front of the children.

Now that the boys had greeted you, their attention quickly returned back to their games. The boys fled back their miniature knights and dragons, but you remained where you were, watching them fondly as Harwin took another step towards you.

“When I returned this morning, you were still asleep,” he explained quietly. “I thought it might be best to let you rest whilst I escorted them to the dragon pit myself.”

Before Princess Rhaenyra had begun her labors the previous evening, she had asked you and your children to keep her sons company in the princes’ chambers. She wanted Jacaerys and Lucerys to be comfortable, and more importantly, kept distracted. Your sons, who had become close companions to the princlings throughout the course of their lives, fit the bill. You’d never spoken of it with her, but you suspected the fate of her late mother was never too far from her mind. Watching over her sons while Princess Rhaenyra labored was a small price to pay for ensuring that she had some peace of mind.

You gave Harwin a small but appreciative smile. “I am surprised the boys were already awake,” you confessed. “They were talking and playing well into the night.”

All of the boys, but particularly the Princes, were ecstatic with the idea of another addition to the royal family. At some point past midnight, you’d given up on encouraging them to get some rest. They would fall asleep wherever and whenever their bodies told them too, and not a moment sooner, you had realized in defeat. While the boys had engaged in another spirited game of pretend, you had drifted away on one of the sofas.

“Well, the Princes and Derrik were awake,” Harwin recalled, somewhat hesitantly. “I may have had to stir Selwin a bit…”

You gave him a mock look of disapproval at this revelation.

“In my defense,” your husband added hastily, “He was sleeping at a rather odd angle. I feared his neck would ache and pain him this morning, if I continued to let him lie as he was.”

On the contrary, and comically so, your youngest son briefly caught the room’s attention by breaking into an energetic sprint about the room, maneuvering a toy dragon to soar through the air as he did so. Prince Lucerys was just a step behind him, flying a dragon of his own.

“Although, he certainly doesn’t look to be in any discomfort,” Harwin observed bewilderedly, letting out an amused chuckle. “... Come to think of it, I don’t believe there is much at all that is able to truly dampen his spirits.”

You accused teasingly, “He gets that from his father, you know.”

“Funny,” Harwin exhaled, looking down at you with an amused twinkle in his eyes. “I always thought he got it from his mother.”

A comfortable moment of silence passed between you. Only the sound of the children’s laughter and the crackling of the fireplace was able to be heard.

It was an oddly peaceful moment that made it so very easy to forget that there had been any strain at all between you and Harwin as of late.

A knock on the door shattered the moment of calm.

You gave Harwin a forlorn look as you went to answer it. You opened it slowly, revealing one of Princess Rhaenyra’s handmaidens. She reported the information she’d been tasked to relay, excused herself, and you shut the door once more. When you turned around, all five of the room’s other occupants looked at you expectantly.

You announced, “The Princess has had a boy.”

All four boys broke out into cheers.

“A brother?” Lucerys exclaimed with a smile.

Derrik asked, “Is he healthy?”

“Is Mother alright?” Jacaerys added on.

Selwin demanded, “What’s his name?”

You held your hands out in a gesture you hoped would calm all of them. “I was told both the Princess and the young Prince are well. And, as for his name- I do not believe he has one yet.”

“Be patient, lads,” Harwin encouraged the Princes upon seeing their fallen faces. “I am sure your mother and your brother will join us in a few hours.”

“In the meantime, perhaps we might call for some food?” you suggested then, immediately piquing the group’s interest. “After your trek across the city this morning, I dare say the five of you must have worked up quite an appetite.”

The boys agreed, and after a servant had been called to request the meals be brought up, they returned to their games once more.

None of them noticed the uneasy look exchanged between you and Harwin.

When Princess Rhaenyra entered the room some time later, you were pleasantly surprised to see that she was accompanied by her husband. Ser Laenor looked vastly more coherent then when you last saw him. That was much to your relief, considering he was holding the newborn prince in his arms.

Harwin, who had indulged the children by participating in their most recent game, stood tall, and you rose from your seat on the sofa nearby.

Upon noticing their parents' attention had been diverted, Derrick and Selwin also rose to their feet, and quickly bowed to Princess Rhaenyra and Ser Laenor.

You couldn’t help but smile at them, happy that despite the commotion, their manners had not been forgotten. For all the shame you had felt as of late, your two sons had never made you feel anything but pride.

“Mother!” Jacaerys greeted, swiftly rising and rushing over to the door. The other three boys were quickly on his heels. When he reached the table near the door, he removed the lid of the pot sitting atop of it, revealing the dragon egg. Crackles of embers filling the pot in the effort to keep the egg warm filled the room.

“We chose an egg for the baby,” Lucerys explained to his mother.

“Ah,” Princess Rhaenyra mused, flinching as she carefully took a step towards the sofa. “That looks like the perfect one.”

It was obvious by the Princess’s voice that she was still in great pain. You immediately grabbed two nearby cushions, fluffing and putting one upon the seat of the sofa, and the other up against the back of it. Harwin came up from behind the both of you and offered her an arm, which she took gratefully, before cautiously lowering herself down onto the sofa.

Jacaerys lightly swatted his younger brother’s curious hands away from the egg, and your own children leant closer to it as they tried to get a better look.

“Not everyday an egg leaves the dragon pit, Princess,” Harwin informed her. “I thought it best to escort the lads.”

Princess Rhaenyra smiled at him genuinely. “Laenor and I thank you, Commander.”

“Another boy, we heard,” you chimed in. You lowered yourself onto the sofa beside the Princess slowly, so as not to disturb or cause her additional pain. “Congratulations, Your Grace.”

Princess Rhaenyra looked at you with a veiled expression and gave you an appreciative nod. She was clearly tired, and in decent discomfort, as was to be expected. But there was still a sheen layer of sweat upon her face, meaning that either the midwives had not bothered to wipe her brow, or something else had happened more recently that had caused her to strain herself further.

You suspected the latter.

“Might I?” Harwin asked Ser Laenor, his eyes darting downwards towards the babe in the prince consort’s arms.

Princess Rhaenyra turned away from you. To her husband, she said, “Ser Harwin wishes to be introduced to Joffrey.”

Joffrey.

You took care to hide any facial response you might have had to the announcement of the newest prince’s name. A well enough name, you supposed, but it was greatly unlike the names of his older brothers. It didn’t take much thought to surmise who the responsible party must have been. Come to think of it, the name sounded awfully familiar…

Ser Laenor nodded understandingly. “Of course.”

Harwin gently took the newborn prince from the other man’s arms. Despite everything, as Harwin smiled down at Prince Joffrey and began to bounce him lightly, you couldn’t help but feel warmness begin to stir in your heart. Seeing Harwin with a babe in his broad and protective arms reminded you very much of when your own children were that young. It was a sight which you were unsure if you would ever witness again.

“Father?” Lucerys asked Ser Laenor, “Please, may I hold Joffrey?”

“No, no, no,” Ser Laenor said, patiently, but firmly. As the second-born prince made grabbing hands at the babe in Harwin’s arms, Ser Laenor had little choice but to calmly redirect him, and his elder brother, towards the door. “Back to the dragon pit for you two, before they send out a search party.”

The Princes grumbled as they were led out of the room.

You looked at Derrik and Selwin, and asked them both pointedly, “It is about time you both reported to your tutors for the day, don’t you think?”

Your sons also grumbled in protest. Thankfully, your husband caught on to your not so subtle hint at once, and he gently deposited Prince Joffrey back into Princess Rhaenyra’s awaiting arms.

“Come now, lads,” he beckoned Derrik and Selwin, before placing guiding hands on their shoulders. As he led them towards the door, he continued, “Let the Princess rest. We shall see your mother later.”

Harwin’s eyes lingered on you as he closed the door. You gave him a grateful look before he disappeared from view.

Once you were finally alone with the Princess, your focus was able to be solely put on her and the babe.

“How was it?” you dared to ask, though you knew her answer.

Princess Rhaenyra deadpanned. “A perfectly pleasant experience, as it always is.”

It was quiet for a moment, before you both let out a few hearty laughs. But when Princess Rhaenyra abruptly hissed in pain, you sat up straight.

“What is it?” you demanded worriedly, reaching out to support her hold on Prince Joffrey if needed.

The Princess gritted her teeth. “‘Tis nothing,” she attempted to dismiss your concern. “... It seems I have simply overexerted myself.”

“Then let me take him,” you offered readily, glancing down at the newborn prince in her arms. “Or, I can call for the wetnurse, if you’d prefer.”

“No, no,” the Princess insisted. “It is not that.”

“Then what is it?”

Princess Rhaenyra’s eyes never left the babe when she spoke next. Perhaps it was in an effort to keep herself composed. In the years since you had both become mothers, you had noticed it was nearly impossible for the Princess to be in a foul mood whenever she was around her sons. She loved them deeply. They gave her great joy, and, to put it simply, she was completely devoted to each of them.

“The Queen requested that Joffrey be brought to her at once.”

You blinked. “Now?”

“No. After. Laenor and I have just come from her chambers.”

Your brows furrowed. “... Surely you do not mean-”

“But I do.”

“Gods.”

The thought of Princess Rhaenyra, minutes after giving birth, being forced to walk the halls of the Red Keep to present her newborn son before Queen Alicent was appalling. You wanted to believe it was a joke, but you severely doubted that Princess Rhaenyra would ever jest about such a thing. And the hardened look in her eyes confirmed to you that it was anything but.

You leaned closer to her, attempting to get a better look at the babe you had yet to hold. “Why in the Seven Hells would she-”

Prince Joffrey fussed slightly, causing the blanket he was wrapped in to shift. The fabric around his head fell, revealing a crown of dark brown hair.

You fell silent.

Princess Rhaenyra quickly adjusted the blanket, covering the babe’s head once more. But the damage had been done.

“... I suppose the blood on his father’s side runs strong,” you found yourself commenting tactfully, referring to Princess Rhaenys’ brunette locks.

Princess Rhaenyra laughed once, shortly, and looked thankful for having been offered an out. But she said nothing further after that, choosing instead to focus back on the squirming child in her arms.

A very uncomfortable silence took over the room, and the pair of you had no choice but to endure it.

Later that night, you laid in bed, wide awake and restless, staring blankly up towards the ceiling of your chambers as your own thoughts tormented you.

…Another princeling born bearing little resemblance to that of his father… more fuel for the fire… those reprehensible whispers that you now knew would never cease…

The only person in the world with whom you wanted to talk to about your thoughts and feelings was lying right beside you. But he was fast asleep, and despite everything, you did not have the heart to wake him.

If sleep claimed you that night, you do not recall it.

…

Little did you know, Harwin had not slept that night, either.

Like you, his own thoughts only ever came back to two things… the third princeling born with hair and eyes unlike either of his parents… and the cruel rumors swirling about the Red Keep that he knew would only become more twisted because of it.

The following morning, you found both of your sons awake in their chambers.

You entered without announcing yourself, genuinely curious about the scene that awaited.

Selwin was already dressed and sporting his training armor. As he fought an invisible enemy with an invisible weapon of his choice on one side of the room, Harwin was assisting Derrik with securing the last few straps of his breastplate on the other side.

Once Harwin was satisfied with his work, he looked at the armor appraisingly. Your son looked up at him patiently, and somewhat timidly, waiting for his father’s opinion.

“It looks as though you’ll need some bigger armor soon, at the rate you’re growing,” Harwin decided, causing Derrik to smile widely. The pride was very evident in your husband’s voice. As Selwin suddenly ran past them, Harwin fondly rustled his hair in passing, and added, “You too, lad.”

You couldn’t help but beam at the scene.

Harwin had taken to fatherhood like a duck to water. He’d always been fiercely protective of his younger brother and sisters, and when it came to you and your children, it was no different. He’d been hands on with their learning and training since the day they were born, as had you. It hadn’t always been easy, but you had no doubt that there was no other man in the Seven Kingdoms that you would have wanted to raise your boys with.

Though initially you’d both been nervous at the prospect of parenthood, it was later proved that neither of you had any need to worry. Your children loved you as much as you loved them; and in turn, they’d always been decently behaved. In due time, they’d make fine lords in their own right.

“I can’t wait to take on Prince Aemond!” Selwin declared excitedly.

You weren’t sure why he had called out that young Prince specifically, but you made a mental note to speak with him about it later.

Derrik countered with a disapproving frown, “Prince Aemond is several years older than you.” He was right. Prince Aemond was closest in age to Jacaerys and himself, but even so, the Queen’s second son was still older than both of them.

“But we’re about the same size. I’d be more than a fair match!” Selwin argued lightly. He looked up at your husband with pleading eyes, giving him the same look the boy had given you the day before. “Please, Father? Can I spar with the Prince?”

Harwin sighed, and shook his head regretfully. “Sorry lad, but you know the rules. You are to sit and watch- and only watch- until the Princes’ training is done. I’ll work with the both of you after that.”

“But we’ve trained with Jace and Luke before!” Selwin protested.

“Aye, and that is only because the Princess Rhaneyra gave you permission to do so,” Harwin reminded him patiently. “The Queen has not given you such permission. Prince Aegon and Prince Aemond are to have more attentive instruction… as they deserve.”

Selwin did not look too happy, but he relented nonetheless.

“Besides,” Derrik said to his younger brother then, “You know Mother doesn’t like us sparring with the Queen’s sons.”

“She worries too much,” Selwin denounced.

“Come now,” Harwin frowned disapprovingly at the boys. “Your mother has every right to worry about you, as do I.”

Derrik and Selwin looked up at their father, slightly taken aback by the seriousness of his tone.

“What I am about to say is not meant to scare you, but it’s about time that the two of you hear it,” Harwin cautioned them. He let out a small sigh as he visibly contemplated his next words. “... Those around you, especially those here in the Red Keep, may treat the two of you with respect, but that is only because your station commands it. Some of them may even be pleasant enough to you… But that does not mean that they will have your best interests in mind, or that they are able to be trusted.”

Though he had prefaced his warning, your sons still looked alarmed by the gravity of Harwin’s words. You didn’t relish in the fact that they seemed scared, but it was necessary.

The plot against you the night before your wedding; the scheme devised to swindle your birthright out from underneath you… Ten years had passed since both had occurred, and you had no more answers now than you did back then. Over the years, you’d wondered if your brother Derron had been able to uncover any more information into either of those matters, particularly in regards to those who may have been orchestrators…

But if Derron had discovered anything, that knowledge had died with him.

With the exception of the gossip swirling about the Red Keep, neither you nor Harwin had been the target of any further conspiracies since then. But just because an enemy was dormant, that did mean that the threat was at bay. You had children now, and the reality of the situation was that you and Harwin were more vulnerable now than ever before.

Noting the sudden fear on the boys’ faces, Harwin placed one hand on each of their shoulders comfortingly. “But you can always trust that your mother and I will look out for you,” Harwin promised them, smiling softly. “And that is why we worry. That is why we want you to study, so that you might become wise, and be one step ahead of anyone else who may target you. That is why we want you to train, so should the situation ever call for it, you will know how to defend yourself.”

Derrik and Selwin looked up at their father with large eyes as they clung on to his each and every word.

“Do you understand?” he coaxed.

The boys nodded eagerly. “Yes, Father.”

You decided that that was the best time as any to make your appearance known. You stepped further into the room, putting a smile on your face as you did so. “Good morning.”

“Mother!”

You braced yourself, and smartly so, as your boys rushed over to hug you. You laughed and patted their backs lightly; the metal of the small armor was still cold to the touch. “Look at the two of you… You look as though you're ready to go man the Wall!”

“We’d never go that far away, Mother!” Derrik corrected quickly.

“Good,” you affirmed. “I’d miss you both terribly.”

“Run along to the training yard, lads,” Harwin suggested then, his eyes locking with yours. “I’ll be right behind you.”

Derrik and Selwin gave the pair of you knowing smiles before promptly heeding their father’s suggestion.

“Be careful!” you called after them cautiously, though only half-heartedly.

The sounds of the boys’ laughter slowly dissipated the further they ran down the corridor. When it was just the two of you left in the room, you turned to Harwin expectantly.

You weren’t sure what look you anticipated him to have, but it definitely wasn’t the one upon his face at that moment. Sadness lingered in his eyes… or perhaps guilt.

“Might we talk?” he asked, nervousness and uncertainty plain in his voice. It reminded you faintly of when you’d first met him, “Later, I mean. Over supper, perhaps?”

You did have a great deal to talk about. “Of course… That sounds quite lovely, actually. I’d like that very much.”

Relief visibly washed over Harwin’s face at your agreeable response. He nodded firmly once, though it looked like it was more to reassure himself than to confirm anything to you, and went to leave.

You stood still, expecting him to walk by without another word to follow your sons to the training yard, as promised. But instead, Harwin came to a halt beside you. You looked up at him curiously, your guard slightly raised.

Harwin leaned down and placed the lightest of kisses upon your forehead. Any emotional shield you tried to craft crumbled at the simple but extremely meaningful action. Despite his gentleness, you could feel the emotional depth behind it. Your heart lurched at the feeling of his lips upon your skin, and you found yourself feeling remorse when he slowly pulled away.

“I shall see you tonight, My Love.”

And with that, he left.

It was only when the room was quiet and still that you breathed out your response, despite the fact that there was not a single soul around to hear it.

“Until tonight, Dearest.”

A/N: Thank you for reading! Part 2 will be posted this Thursday, 11/1. If I remember, I’ll try to post a link to it here. Either way, I’ll make sure it is added to the masterlist. I hope you all have a wonderful week!🖤

[youuuimeanmee]

RWTGI 35.1 - 35.2 Thoughts

I forgot chapter 35.2 is already out WAAAHH

I say Kirishima's name a lot this time, maybe I should call him Kiri.

Okay, this chapter confirms my suspicion. So his family really did neglect him.

Uhh I don't think the diary is meant to prove himself as a victim. I bet it's to keep record of what makes him happy 😅

BAHHAHAH Gaddamit.

I thought he was mourning, or at least self-reflecting. Who knew he was playing soccer 🤣 (where is your sympathy kid, tf) At least he knew not to play in the middle of people mourning, lol

Oh yeah, I just remember, Sumire (Kiri's great-aunt) did say his parents tried to get him to talk after that incident, but no matter how much they tried, he never answered them. Maybe it's because he's aware he's too different from them, they wouldn't understand him anyway? If that's the case, that's kinda amazing of Kiri for being able to (kinda) open up to Gaku even though he never met him, because just from a short meeting he knows his great-uncle is not normal like himself.

(If Kiri is your average kid, even if Sumire dropped some hints that Gaku is similar to him, he wouldn't be able to take the hint because he's too clouded with "no one understands me" prejudice. But no. Our Kiri here uses his brainn, bro)

Aww baby 🥺

Turns out his "friend" is more normal than he thought, his plan failed, he got into trouble. He did so much, yet, didn't get anything in the end lolol

I'm surprised Kiri is the first one who asked to be adopted. I don't think Sumire or his parents ever told him that the man in front of him is a yakuza. He must've put two & two together and concluded it himself.

If I could guess why Gaku accepted a brat like Kiri, it's may be because he saw his potential. I'm sure he never heard about Kiri until his sister introduced him, but the fact that she asked for his help is enough prove that his family couldn't handle him anymore. He never introduced himself as a yakuza but Kiri, with limited informations and short time, knew right away. He's not scared or nervous like normal people. In fact, he just focus on getting what he wants, and willing to do anything to get what he wants. Talented. Abnormal. Obsessed. Unhinged. Gaku could really use those traits. Even if he couldn't become his grandchild, at least he could become a reliable subordinate. Maybe that's why he accepted him so quick 😂

(Turns out there's another reason in the next chapter tho, so I'll save my thoughts for later.)

This is just a reminder to myself: Gaku barely provided Kiri with the neccessity needed, probably because he needs to test his worth if he wants to earn that "yakuza's grandchild" title. Or at least that's my theory. Maybe Gaku is just naturally apathetic. Maybe both.

Kiri might've liked Gaku to a certain degree because he's one of his few family who accepts him as who he is, but I'm pretty sure growing up with a man like him in a yakuza household has worsen his mental condition, until he meet Yoshino.

Wow. Turns out it's not the first time he waits for hours in the rain 🤣

AUGH. beautiful. Beautiful. I'm crying 😭😭😭

That's smart of the author. We wouldn't know if he really blushed because of her or if it's just the rain, lol

Yoshino saw a wolf. Renji saw a a guard dog 🤣

I don't like how Aoi kicked my son, but I have to agree with him here. Don't lick your blood on the floor, yuck.

Daww look at his happy lil feet seeing his obsession crush 🥺🤭

We know that Kiri used to date older women to leech, but seeing it with my own eyes disgust me. Not just Kirishima, but that grown-ass woman too; having sex with a minor, what the fuck. That's what I like from the author tho, just bc the ML did it, it doesn't mean it's romanticized.

OOHHH the day when Kirishima is appointed to be Yoshino's guard dog. Never thought I'd see this day come so fast, I thought we gonna have to wait for ch 80 or smth.

Hmm? The guy who killed Kyousuke? Do we know him? Is it Suo Azami? Nah, if he's around the same age as Kiri, he's practically a baby at that time. Wait, didn't he change his face tho? How old is he again? Or myb it's not Azami at all, myb it's his boss, Akime Hishibe? Oh I forgot Shouma said he's already dead, but I highly doubt it. Maybe the mastermind is still alive.

Um, if Kirishima is owned by Gaku, and Gaku leaves him under Renji's care, does it mean he's now owned by Renji? He doesn't have to obey Gaku anymore?

I'm confused with this whole ownership thing now.

Wait. A month? You gotta go big??

Wait wait wait.

Wow, oh wow. I need to recalibrate everything.

This panel gives chapter 2 a whole new layer. Wow.

So like. He told her to sell her body not only because he was tired of her, but also because Renji told him he could make Yoshino go back to Osaka if he didn't feel like up to the task?

Though I don't think Kiri did that because he values his life; he did that merely because he thought she's boring and not worth his time. But then everything change 😂

Yo Renji. You're the one who said it's okay for Kiri to make Yoshino go back to Osaka. You said you'd take care of the rest, you even said he can be creative. He was doing such a great job at making her feel like she wanna leave, yet, you won't let him have his way?

Was Renji intentionlly flaming them both? Is this his plan all along; to have both children go screw each other in Tokyo and forget about Osaka for a year?

(Istg Renji's death flag has been up for a while now, I'm scared for Yoshino)

Oh wow, Kiri really did not lie. Their interest really do align perfectly.

To continue my point above about why would Gaku accept Kiri into his house, it seems like he wanted to use Kiri's talent and obsessiveness towards Yoshino to make him protect her, because he feel indebted/guilty towards Renji? Was he feeling responsible for what happen to Kyousuke? If that's the case, this makes Akime seem even more sus bc he used to be Gaku and Renji's close friend.

Seeing Kirishima's reminiscence sure brings tears to my eyes. From obsession to genuine love and affection. He really does come a loong, long way, huh. Maybe I should make a meta about this particular scene but idk, let's see if I feel like it.

But I don't think he would've feel this way if Yoshino didn't acknowledge his quirks and treat him "normally." She really is amazing.

The way he's so scared when Yoshino didn't move for literally 1 second he decided to check her pulse, like she could just drop dead in a blink. Even though he has seen how strong she is up until now. That irrational fear of losing someone, he finally understand 🥺🥺

I'm really REALLY surprised Yoshino relented and agreed to eat parfait 🤣 Kirishima you always win huh 🤣

Aww, he returned to the same place when he first entered the yakuza household, eat the same parfait he used to eat, but now he's together with a friend/lover he treasures for life, enjoying the life he found boring at the beginning 🥺😭💞

These past chapters have been a treat. Even after he declares he loves Yoshino multiple times, we never stop doubting him because the fear he instilled at the beginning is too strong to dismiss. Just like Yoshino, we have this lingering doubt that he doesn't really love her, he's just obsessed. These flashbacks managed to shed some lights into his character, making him seem even more human. Kiri really HAS been trying to show how genuine he is -- in his own awkward way -- and it shows 🥹

Just 2 more chapters until we catch up to the raws, I can't wait. I've seen it, and all I can say is, it's beautiful. And Kirishima says some crazy stuff while sober. I just can't with him. I love him, I hate it.

See you next time 👋

[beelsbignaturals]

AN: This is part of my larger worldbuilding series. Which can be found under that tag. I will finish my demon form headcanons at some point but I'm taking a break from that until inspiration strikes once again. Sorry Lucifer and Beel 🥺 anyways this installment will be in three parts, part one which will have Pride, Lust, and Sloth, and parts two and three which will split up the remaining four sins.

TW(almost all of these are just vauge mentions ngl): manipulation, demons being demons, mentions of torture, dubious boss-employee dynamics but not in the sexy way, aphrodisiac mentions, drugging mention? , sex work mention (support sworkers ♡), violence, sleep deprivation, insanity, sleep paralysis, nightmares (I think that's everything? It's not like. Super bad I just want to be on the safe side)

OBEY ME! SHALL WE DATE WORLDBUILDING

😈 Avatars of Sin: Part One 😈

The seven brothers are not the first avatars of sin. That title was previously given to high-ranking nobility. They spend centuries trying to prove their worth while also undermining the competition. So it was a big slap in the face when a bunch of former angels suddenly got such coveted positions.

Mephistopheles was particularly angry because the general assumption was that due to his relationship with Diavolo, Mephistopheles would be practically guaranteed a place as an avatar. 

The Avatars of Sin are expected to watch over and make sure that demons of that particular sin are doing their jobs and staying in line. Punishment of subordinates falls on the avatars unless it is a big enough misstep to have them taken to the Demon Lord for judgment. 

Pride demons use various means to fuel an unsuspecting human's ego. They tend to prey either on those with low esteem or an inflated sense of self-importance. They'll worm their way into the victim's life slowly but surely. An entry-level Pride Demon job would be masquerading as a human hairdresser, personal assistant, or occasionally, a potential lover. They spend their time building up the confidence of the human, giving compliments that seem normal but soon morph into reminding the victim regularly that they are better than everyone else. Then, after the human is effectively convinced that they are the best…it's time to tear down all that self-confidence they built. Driving the unlucky soul to either fall into despair or fight to bring themselves back to the top, no matter who they hurt along the way.

A human that is more weak to demonic influence may fall prey to a Magic Mirror. Only a few of these cursed objects are in existence. A Pride demon uses their magic to expertly enchant a mirror to know exactly how to break those unfortunate enough to find it. Whether it's making whoever looks upon it to see the most beautiful version of themselves or emphasize every little flaw and insecurity. These mirrors can only be destroyed by powerful magic.

The more elite Pride demons, handpicked by the current Avatar, spend their days at parties with the rich and famous. These demons, in particular, have benefited from influencer culture. They mingle, acting as producers and managers and other such important people. They find the most weak minded at these events and do basically the same as their lower ranked counterparts, just with more entertaining prey.

Lucifer is, predictably, a very harsh boss. He doesn't tolerate imperfection. How can you hope to influence humans if you aren't flawless? Praise from someone who is everything you could ever dream to be is much more effective after all. Demons working under Lucifer often have their workload increased. Another decade of work for each hour you waste by not being Perfect. Repeat offenders become Cerberus' chew toys. It is very hard to become one of his Elite. And even harder to keep that position.

Lust demons are like sirens. They hang out in nightclubs, singing along to every song that is even mildly sexual in nature. It's quite easy to pretend to just be another drunk person having a good time, only for their voice to influence the unsuspecting humans. It's a running joke in the Devildom that Lust demons put their blood sweat and tears into their work. That's because they do. All their bodily fluids contain some degree of an aphrodisiac. Some pose as bartenders, adding a little secret ingredient to make the patrons a little more likely to give in to their desires.

Of course, bars aren't the only place Lust demons hang out. They are all around. Flirting with the cute cashier, rizzing up people on the street. Some even take the easy route and become sex workers in the human world. It's much easier to tempt someone when they already planned on doing something. Though some think this is 'lazy' and many who choose this strategy are teased, saying perhaps they have more of an affinity for sloth. There aren't really different jobs for Lust demons the way there is for others. That's not to say they don't have preferences on how to get the job done. Some demons prefer to sleep with humans themselves, while others like to use their powers to make the humans do all the work, killing two or more birds with one stone.

Asmo can either be the best or worst boss, depending on his mood. If you break rules (hypnotism is for NON WORK RELATED ACTIVITIES ONLY) or just piss him off… the poor demons who just don't live up to his standards quickly become glorified assistants so Asmo doesn't have to do as much work. Or they are gutted, torn apart by perfectly manicured hands.

Every few years, there is a mass orgy organized by Asmo's current #1 employee for all sorts of folks to come around. If you have a pact with a Lust demon, you are sure to get an invite. Witches, succubi, and demons alike are eager to score a ticket. It doubles as a networking opportunity!

Sloth demons have two main jobs. Terrorizing humans by causing nightmares and influencing them to be lazy. Some opt to cause such aggressive nightmares that make their victim wake up in a cold sweat, becoming so afraid of sleep that they abuse stimulants until they either go insane from sleep deprivation or pass out from exhaustion, making the cycle repeat. Sloth demons can manage a subtle form of possession once their victim is tired. Masquerading as the human's own inner dialog and convincing them that, "no… you should just rest. Fuck the deadline, you had a hard day. Just a little break won't hurt." It starts out with convincing the human they deserve to rest but progresses as the poor idiot becomes more and more susceptible to demonic influence.

The highest honor the average Sloth demon can achieve is becoming an official Sleep Paralysis Demon.

Most of them start out as a child's Boogeyman before graduating to possession of those with weaker wills. After completing those stages, the demon will either be promoted to Nightmare or Demonic Influence. Being demoted back to Boogeyman would make a Sloth demon the object of ridicule by their peers.

Belphegor is relatively easygoing as far as an Avatar goes. His preferred method of discipline is to just send someone back to the rank of Boogeyman. Which, some would rather deal with torture over the humiliation, but, hey, you can't win 'em all.

[charliethomascoxuniverse]

When the funniest and most intriguing crack pairing bursts into life in your brain but it’s so niche you’re probably the only one who can appreciate it. 🥺

Firstly, it’d help a good deal if you’re a Crowbarrow fan to begin with.💗

Secondly, you’d need to have seen both Kin and Ackley Bridge to fully appreciate why the thought of Michael Kinsella (Charlie Cox) and Martin Evershed (Robert James-Collier) meeting is just sending me right now. 🤣❤️

Martin and Michael seem like such perfect opposites on the surface (one is a frequently surly yet comedic high school teacher and the other is an unexpectedly soft-spoken and sad Irish mobster) that I have a sudden perverse urge to see them forced to interact regularly. 😅 

(But if you haven’t seen both shows, a gif’s worth a 1000 words...)

And how are we getting these two in the same place? 

Anna, Michael’s daughter - whom he loves more than anyone - decides she wants to live with her dad even though he doesn’t have legal custody of her, and never will, thanks to his past. Though he tries to dissuade her, Anna is stubbornly resolved and eventually Michael gives in though it means having to leave his criminal family and Ireland behind to start a life somewhere else. 

They end up in the small Yorkshire mill town of Ackley Bridge, hoping to avoid too much notice since Anna was reported as having been abducted to the Irish authorities. Anna enrolls in the local high school, and, naturally, who should one of her new teachers be but Mr. Martin Evershed? 

Anna begins settling in but Michael is still hyper-vigilant about either of them being recognized, not only because Michael would be arrested for “abducting” Anna but because he knows the Kinsella family have enemies who’d like nothing more than to take Michael out now that he’s alone. He insists on escorting Anna to and from school every day, even though she keeps telling him he needs to chill out because he’s just making himself more conspicuous. 

Her words prove prophetic as one day Martin notices Michael following Anna at a distance and confronts him, thinking he’s a creep. Michael thankfully refrains from pulling a gun on him or just beating the shit out of him, though he’d been solely tempted at first, and explains that he’s Anna’s father - which she confirms and introduces Martin as her teacher. Michael is impressed by his willingness to protect his students and tells him so. The subject of an upcoming school dance is raised and Martin asks if he’s interested in attending, because they’re still short of chaperones. Michael agrees, much to Anna’s consternation. 

As they’re leaving Anna suggests Michael let her give him a bit of a makeover, because he still looks like an Irish mobster and they’re not in Dublin anymore. Michael reluctantly agrees, asking her not to go overboard with it. 

The makeover the night of the school dance: 

I did mention this was a crack fic, right? 😂😂😂

[anabsolutemyth]

Hc for oneus being needy af or pent up for their s/o?

Seoho

Lee Seoho. He'll come at you hard and fast with the same passion he puts into dancing and belting out high notes.

The second you come into his view, he's on you. Kissing, biting, hands roaming over your body like you're the last person on earth and he's been waiting for 100 years. His attack comes with a soundtrack of desperation, "Need you. Want you babe, need to be inside you. Please, I'm so hard."

He really wastes no time in getting your clothes off, and his own. Your heart will be beating out of your chest trying to keep up with him.

Nothing slows down when he enters you either, if he's been this pent up all day he'll fuck like a rabbit and moan into your mouth until he comes.

Leedo/Geonhak

This man appreciates foreplay. Horny as hell, but he still wants you to worship him a bit first, it just makes the prize at the end all the more sweet.

He'll ask you to strip him slowly, ensuring that every muscle, every curve and line of his body shown enough attention. Whether that be with your hands, your tongue, or your lips is a complete guess. He changes his mind at random.

And as you're working your way down his phenomenally sculpted body, he'll be moaning and groaning and letting our the dirtiest of sighs. With that deep voice of his? Yeah, expect to be very fucking turned on by the time you get to his dick.

Another one where you'll be more pent up than him by the end of it.

Keonhee

Oh Keonhee, Keonhee, Keonhee... poor guy.

He'll try to play it cool, try to go down the Youngjo route of making the thought of fucking him so irresistible that you can't help yourself, but it never plays out that way.

He doesn't have the self control needed for it. After about 10 minutes of trying to make you the needy one, he'll give up and just turn into a whining mess. Not a sexy one either, honestly just the most adorable and endearingly needy man you've ever seen. Crocodile tears, pouting, saying "Pretty please" over and over again until it becomes gibberish, he'll do it all. Epitomises the 🥺 emoji.

Will it work? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Even when it doesn't work though, you'll make it worth his wait later that night (or when you get home to a very sulky Keonhee)

Hwanwoong

Now, this all depends. Sub or dom Hwanwoong?

I'm feeling sub-Woong vibes today so we'll go with that for now.

If he's feeling submissive then he's going pathetic and pliant and just an absolute dream. He'll text you to say how badly he misses you and wants to feel your hands on him again.

Anything you ask of him, he will be happy to obey and send delicious photos and videos to prove it. Putting on a nice harness or collar? Check. Using the new P-spot vibrator you bought that you can control from anywhere? Check. Edging himself on camera and sending it to you? Check.

If he's really feeling submissive though, expect him to set up his phone somewhere to have a view of the room and send you a private stream link. Truly he's an exhibitionist at heart. Don't be surprised if he handcuffs himself to the bedpost (it may be hard, but not impossible) with the vibe on so that you can watch him come to pieces as if you were right there.

Xion/Dongju

Master manipulator.

He'll settle down next to you on the couch after getting in from practice and start his campaign of conquest. He's been thinking about you damn near all day, much to the annoyance of his hyungs.

He hides how needy he is very well, just resting his hand on your thigh innocently to start with. Biding his time, shifting a little on the couch to hide the bulge in his joggers, he'll start massaging your thigh. Gentle and slow, but steadily growing bolder, moving higher and closer to your centre. Up until now you didn't pay any notice, but looking at him now you notice the need in his eyes and how hard he is.

That's all it takes, he's got those stupid big eyes that he can use to get whatever he wants from people. Especially you.

[carnivorousyandeere]

working on my yan/yan dynamics post and i just want you to consider the following :

· erik as one of sterlings professors

· drew and ian being friends w bianca and angel (my married couple yans who're also girlboss/malewife)

· marcus x me /j

@.devourable

First— honestly can’t blame you for the Marcus one 😂😭

Secondly, Bianca and Angel look sO CUTE?!?! I’m so excited to learn more about them. They look like such good parents 🥺!! Imagining the play dates with their kids and the Bardots’ 🥹

Absolutely adore Bianca and Drew being girlbosses while their hubbies cheer them on and cook for them. Angel 🤝 Ian cooking breakfast in sweatpants and an apron with no shirts on my beloveds 🫣🤤

Thirdly, Erik and Sterling interacting may have given me incurable brain rot so… unsure whether to thank you or curse you for that one (/j, I wouldn’t curse you 🫶). The fact they’re a music major and a music professor at a small private school (using Sterling’s setting~) and therefore could not avoid each other for long is so fucking fun 😈

The following is just Erik and Sterling as Professor and Student with no other dynamics at play, but I think their competition over a Darling would be legendary, brutal, even Shakespearean (can’t imagine they’re good at sharing 💀). They would also make interesting Darlings for each other— would Sterling still be as rude to Erik as he would to a student Darling, or would Erik’s control over Sterling’s grade keep him in line a little? 🤔

Erik feels a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment at being hired by such a prestigious university. They deserve it, after all, having spent so many years perfecting their skills and proving their worth as an instructor.

It’s not long before Erik gets a feel for the interpersonal politics at play at the college, and who’s who. There’s whispers among the faculty about Sterling, of course— brilliant but ruthless, rumors of sabotage— and Erik can’t help the simmering hatred that begins to build for a student they haven’t even met yet.

They’ve been on the receiving end of such underhanded tactics during the course of their academic and professional careers, and lost a scholarship opportunity or promotion for it. The fact that Sterling has near-perfect immunity over it nearly makes Erik break out in hives. (To be clear Erik is a total hypocrite here— they’ve also engaged in some sabotage in their time. Just doing mental gymnastics to justify it to themself 😭)

They take it upon themself to grade Sterling a little extra harshly. If Sterling confronts them about it, Erik merely justifies it by expressing that higher talent requires higher expectations. Sterling’s the best, after all— doesn’t he want to be treated like it?

And loathe as Erik is to admit it, Sterling is quite talented and hardworking. Over time, he may even come to respect, and even like, Sterling despite the previous record of sabotaging other students.

[fullmetalscullyy]

For a made-up fic title, Royai of course:

Oh, smile so softly

ohhhhh this would be so 🥺 right off the bat 🥹it's all my brain will think about. again, its written in note form as i've thought of it

roy gifting riza something - something she once revealed to him she enjoyed in her childhood - a book, a story, a poem, etc. and roy thinks it sad that she refers to Her Childhood as before. as long gone. despite the fact she's still there. or she still should be. he knows she's old beyond her years.

and so he spots something. which she once mentioned from Before. and manages to talk the kindly shopkeeper into keeping it back for him until he saves up enough money to pay for it to purchase

he smiles at it. the corners of his mouth twitch upwards ever so slightly as he gazes upon what he knows, deep in his heart, would be perfect for his riza, it reminds him perfectly of her

(they see the determination in his voice, see the plight in his eyes, so of course, in this small market town and knowing of the quiet, secluded, Hawkeye girl, they will indulge him entirely - but all he need to do is ask for it outright for it - they'd give him it in a heartbeat)

(of course, roy is too proud for that. he wants to work for it. to earn it. its how he was raised, fairly enough)

but being a student, he couldn't afford much. had to save up his allowance from his alchemy creations he sold at the weekend markets and the pocket money his aunt sent him every week. just for this, to give to her.

but it never came to pass, after all the years. it slipped through the cracks as his ambitions grew, as his sights extended further.

but he never forgot entirely.

was always thinking of her.

before he leaves for the military academy from the Hawkeye residence, he finds himself outside the same shop. the shopkeeper has kept it back for him after all these years, much to his surprise - and chagrin. he should have been back a long time ago to make good on his promise. he feels as though he's not only let himself down, but the shop keep and his friend

but the owner reminds him - he still remembered. that's all that matters. and still diligently worked to afford to purchase what he desired for his gift

and so, on that day, roy bought it

and promised to give it to her when he was more worthy of her. after he'd graduated the academy

...........

one day, in roy's office - a random day. there's no significance. riza's now the most recently employed member of his team though, and has been for the last week or so

roy drops It on her desk

"as a thank you," he says, off the cuff. so nonchalant and unconcerned. he wanders over to his desk after unceremoniously dumping the brown package - a feat, in itself. because it deserved so much more than that. it was worth so much mor than that

but he has a reputation to uphold. he's brand new. still wet behind the ears. he has to prove himself.

but the letter he snuck inside the plain brown wrapping explains it as so much more as he treated it

riza, reading it after hours, with only the two of them in the office, smiles softly. she can't conjure up the words for a moment, but eventually finds her voice. she thanks him. she is professional. civil. appreciative.

roy can see it in the way her eyes shine in the bright lights overhead.

every so often, before she leaves for the night, she spies it on the corner of her desk and can't help but smile.

at home, though, where she is free to feel what she feels, with no one else around to see, to judge, to know, she feels something completely different about this gift which has been bestowed upon her

she aches

(for what could have been)

(for everything)

riza almost calls roy, then. she manages to refrain, but she...

she wants to tell him......

she wants to speak to him.

and roy.

he sits on his bed that night. anxiety churns in his stomach. it causes his heart to flutter, his mind to conjure up a thousand different scenarios about what she truly thought about which he gifted her

if only he'd done it sooner

if only he'd done it when he'd intended to

if only, if only, if only

whereas riza aches, he doesn't sleep a wink that night. not while wondering about her true feelings on the matter

roy feels he knows riza well enough to understand, to know...

but sometimes... he just wishes she could freely express to him herself her true thoughts on the matter

she never does

its "forgotten". a passing fancy. a fleeting thank you

(it's never forgotten. by either of them)

[valleyfthdolls]

You got any art or doodles of my boy Rian? If not, you just wanna talk about him and his shawty⁉️🥺

YESSSS!! I don't have any new drawings of him, but I do have this old one of his og adult design

I absolutely find it fascinating that all of Rian's friends are female. He befriends maybe two male characters through the story, and though he's implied to have a superficial crush on a third, they're not close. Rian's relationship with his masculinity/femininity and trans identity is really interesting, specifically for how it influences his relationship with those around him. Rian is known to experience impostor syndrome, and he probably doesn't get that with girls like he does with guys, because whether girls see him as a boy or as one of them, they never think he's pretending to be one of them and failing. And in that regard, he feels like they treat him normally.

I also think it's interesting that Rian is insanely protective over Alice. No matter the situation- starting when they team up once in chapter one, and then when Alice becomes an important part of the group post chapter two and continuing through both killing games- Rian will always choose her over him, no matter what the consequences of that loyalty are.

She confronts him about this on several occasions, but overcoming that is such a slow process for him. It starts with them helping each other out in chapter 1, when Alice trusts him with her secret that proves her innocent of the murder after being suspected. Over time, Rian and Alice become increasingly close, and Rian gets more caring and protective to the point of reckless self sacrifice. Alice gets really frustrated with him for this, demanding he explain why he's the only one who's allowed to get hurt to justify his worth. This conflict leads to chapter 5/6, when Alice nearly gets herself fucking executed by risking herself in retaliation against Rian's self destructive behavior, and Rian interferes to save her.

Even when Rian isn't hurting himself for her though, he's still super, super protective of her. Part of their conflict in the second part is because Alice had rejected Rian's offer to stay in Tokyo with him following the killing game at HPA. This put physical distance between them, and made it harder for Rian to be there for her- and on top of that, Alice's parents are abusive as hell, and he refuses to understand why she would willingly return to them instead of letting him keep her from getting hurt.

During their first killing game, Rian asked Alice to promise him not to get hurt or die. While she promised she wouldn't kill anyone or get herself executed, she told Rian she had absolutely no control over it, and she couldn't promise in a death game that she would survive by some miracle.

Rian has, in a sense, internalized that, wanting to have the power to keep her alive without any miracle to do it for him.

[candyheartedchy]

Alright, I'm sorry this turned out obscenely long I have such a horrific habit of rambling, apologizing again in advance

This is (placeholder name) Umi! He's of a sort of race of beings that live in a place similar to heaven except its just like for what you assume Cupid would live most of them are half (Cupid) and half something else and they move here to live and work I'm gonna try snd no info dump on you too much with what I have planned but basically he's considered off for his species; he's short (a whopping 4ftnothing), has no natural wings, and seemingly doesn't love in a way others do or they even approve of he has a very by the book and everything has a checklist personality and his lovr languages follow suit he struggles to fit in with Anyone barely having any friends and relationships don't last but he has a nice cushy job as a high ranking inspector business to business basically he comes in and has the authority to shut a place down (and will) if they're not meeting every made with love expectation snd regulation the problem is conjoined to his place of work is other inspectors and instigators Actual Cupids people who go down to earth and shoot love arrows to make people fall for one another kind deals they're basically the baseline celebrity status you can get in that world and he STRIVES for a place amongst them but keeps failing qualifications which he assumes if just higher ups picking on him because he's otherwise Great at everything he does the idea is he ends up taking up secretly (illegally) someone's place while they're out sick to prove himself and he butchers it with his little story out of the way what made me feel he's a cute pick for you was becausr I've always imagined some with his endless failed relationships yet desire to lovr and be loved he actually has a crush on someone he passes by going to work or at work the vibe I've been imagining them with (see: charming, kind, considerate, bright, etc little things I associate with you) but also doing something in passing with him that would've cemented the idea to him "They're not like the others" (other being people who tease him or talk behind his back, etc) someone like you is a great inspiration to this role of a character I want to make him crush on because they're a big motivator for his character to risk it all the idea of becoming a celebrity worth hanging around with no one would bully someone he loves for being with him but Also proving to them and himself he can meet these invisible bars to expressing love properly it's just rhe idea some life is an endless bitter espresso after another for him and someone like you would be a perfect sweetener to his life something that'd make his day to day bearable and ultimately that crush leads him to risking his current job and reputation and even breaking the law a little to prove something he's a dork, he's a workaholic because there's no reason to be home (alone), he flusters and lashes out in a non-threatening way when flirted with or even someone being genuinely kind to him snd it catches him off guard, he wears heels because he's embarrassed about his height, he balances his lovecore aesthetic with his masculinity because he wants to feel good in his skin but also fit in with society even if he'll never win with them, and I wrote a tidbit once with him intimidatingly chewing out and closing down a business for having stale pastries when he was in a bad mood (and this is him in his casual wear not work wear) SORRY FOR THE RAMBLING

Thank you. Sorry.

I ADORE HIM ALREADY!!! 💕

And I could see how I would balance him out in a way since he’s a workaholic and make his days bearable, especially the part “life is an endless bitter espresso after another for him and someone like you would be a perfect sweetener to his life” is just 🥺

And I do like his design! :D

[sonderkore]

✉ extraordinary attorney woo | ep 16 final thoughts feelings, friends, and fulfillment

proud of you, attorney woo!

feelings

my heart is so full 😭🐳

their breakup literally took a toll on me. i wasn't kidding when i said i get way too emotionally attached to kdramas, and i actually couldn't eat properly just thinking about them not being together. (this is also the same reason why i'm never watching 2521)

the reconciliation scene was so sweet and so full of sincerity and RAW HONESTY AND PATIENCE!

"an unrequited love for a cat"

this man can't express what he truly feels for the life of him. he's eloquent when it comes to other things, conversation just flows when you talk to him, and he's ready to jump and explain discussions to youngwoo. but when it comes to his feelings, he gets all jumbled up. thanks to everyone who pointed that out, i just fell in love with him more.

he's cheesy. he's a puppy who is very much in love. he practices what he wants to say so he it comes out right, even though all he can come up with is "i like you."

this confession shows us that.

there was communication on his part, keeping his honesty that although there will be times that he'll feel lonely, she makes him a million times happier just by being with her and caring for her. she's not a burden.

commitment was made obvious, the love subtle but very present. and that, to me, is more than enough of a promise.

and she loves him so very much. the look in her eyes as he says all that, the relief? (oh my god, park eunbin)

"cats love their owners/humans too"

I SCREAMED SO LOUD

cats make people lonely sometimes but they're loyal and cuddly and love their humans that care for them and love them, too.

she used that to correct him and also to confess to him, and it's perfect! she runs but looks back at him and smiles, and we all fell head over heels in love for her (AGAIN) 🥺

this finale proved to us even more that they work as a couple. they're right for each other and they both give each other strength. junho took inspiration from youngwoo to be brave and tell her how he feels. junho will step up to help her when needed (needed that energy in ep15 but i digress). youngwoo knows that junho is her partner, someone who she can ask to stay and listen in on whatever news this mysterious man wants to tell her. youngwoo is now reassured that junho is happy with her and wants to be with her no matter what, and youngwoo reassures him back that she is with him, too.

that she loves him!!!

ending it with the two of them by the revolving doors, although this time junho waits for her instead of the other way around, was an ending worth the pain they and we all endured in the past eps. 🥺 my beautiful parents are happy and that's more than enough!!

although i don't know if the writer wrote this series with a 2nd season in mind, there are still many things to explore in this relationship. like junho's life, meeting the parents (both of them), and a few more hiccups, maybe?

and marriage. moving in together?

an ocean-themed wedding.

marriage?

giv me it.

ps.

i'm glad he's back

he never left?

they made him leave her to deal with the reporters in ep 15 for angst. i'm still mad. it makes me want to think lee junho in ep 15 is a figment of our nightmares. he does not exist in this canon, nope.

(there's a fix it fic on ao3 about it tho, so!! it's fine)

and he made up for it anyway :D

in the end, he got the girl and he's happy. <3 he's living his best life right now, frankly.

friends

i miss you already, hanbadaz!!!

they all had satisfying endings that, again, isn't fully complete so there's more room to further delve into them in a possible season 2, but they were all happy at the end and that's all i could ask for.

but i want to take this time to talk about minwoo for a sec.

he's... changed. sort of. and i want to say it's all for love because if it weren't for suyeon telling him to be a fool for his colleague, i fully believe he wouldn't have gone to tae sumi to tell her he's giving up on getting youngwoo fired.

he still helped and encouraged tae sumi to make it happen, given that he told tae sumi that youngwoo's vulnerable at the time and would willingly go if she told her to. (very VERY untrue) but i'm sort of glad he did that, looking at it in a character standpoint. it makes sense for him, tactician kwon minwoo, to do that.

it also makes sense that he tries to befriend youngwoo after, in that scene where he tried to cheer her on.

no. nice try, tho.

when he told tae sumi that youngwoo broke up with someone, and when tae sumi looked taken aback that she was in a relationship (your daughter's an attractive woman, maam), minwoo was like yes? and? i was shocked??? idk i read it as him getting confused why she wouldn't think that was possible, and that earned him points. then again, her reaction was exactly like his upon finding out about junwoo the first time...

*sighs*

but, again, it makes sense.

that's his redemption arc in a nutshell - barely there but it makes absolute sense for his character not to completely change his ways. should it have been made a wee bit earlier? yeah. pushing him into the "good guy for love" agenda in the last 5 eps is meh.

suyeon's arc was completed when she finally fell for a guy that wouldn't hurt her (assuming) and would change for her (he's trying) and one that actually likes her back. i'm glad they left it open-ended between them. kissing scenes are reserved for junwoo only!

geurami is and will be forever by youngwoo's side, and the look of pride on her face in her last scene made me cry. she's always been happy and carefree and youngwoo's #1 fan (maybe #2 because junho) and she will remain the same always.

and minsik. he finally has a few new regulars in his pub!! THAT'S MORE THAN WHAT HE NEEDS! i'm glad they didn't make minsik and geurami a couple, because it was never implied. they have a funny platonic boss/employee relationship from the beginning and it stayed that way. (but if they open up season 2 with yearning between them, i'm on board!!)

and atty jung, who is recovering and got his wife back! will he stay in hanbada? i honestly didn't catch it 😭 he winked but?? youngwoo's reaction was how i felt like sir?? wdym??? as long as he's happy and taken care of, and that he keeps his promise to his wife that he'll go easier this time around for his health, then i'm glad.

*sobs*

i'm going to miss them very much. 😔

fulfillment

i had to pause for a sec, like junho pacing in front of youngwoo's house, to try and find the right words to express how i feel and how much i love woo young woo.

if i had to find one word to describe how i feel about her, it will also be a sense of fulfillment.

(am i crying? you'll never know, won't you?)

youngwoo just makes you love her without any real effort coming from her. she's beautiful, kind, hardworking, playful, adorable, and thoughtful.

she compared herself to a narwhal lost in the midst of beluga whales that hinder her from being who she is, but she believes her life is still valuable and beautiful - because it is! it's so fulfilling (!!!) to hear her say that after everything that we saw her go through.

going from the shy rookie attorney who had first day jitters and hesitated giving her opening statement on her first real trial to becoming more and more confident, in her zone, and ultimately renewing her contract at hanbada as a full-time attorney is an amazing arc. she's living her best life! she works at a job she loves in a line of work that she's passionate about, she has an amazing support system, and she has a boyfriend who loves her.

hearing her say that she loves working at hanbada made me feel warm inside. she didn't quit and found some place else where she could defend the good like atty ryu jaesook, and that's alright. that reassurance that she wants to stay put and is enjoying her work is more than enough.

i'd say her journey from ep 1 to ep 16 isn't smooth sailing, but then we got an ending that eases all our worries and reassures us that from then on, youngwoo will be more than okay. 💙

the line that really sent me a breath of fresh air was, non-verbatim, "my mom wasn't around growing up, so why should i go to the states for her?"

and that was that, the boston plot done in a single sentence. the mother plot extended to the brother plot, and i would watch 10 hours of sangyeon and youngwoo interacting tbh.

it's fine that nobody else found out about her mom, because like she said, it doesn't matter. she wasn't around when she grew up, so why bring that up now?

i can't fault tae sumi too much, given that she was forced to have the baby. but then she had to be selfish and treat both her daughter and son the same way (as in, putting herself and her position first before her child's needs and wants). so. i'm conflicted. but it's fine. she got what she deserved in the end.

youngwoo has grown so much over the course of this series, and i'm so glad to have met her and spend this time with her as i watched the show. (i'll be rewatching over and over again)

this post isn't about what i learned as a neurotypical, but i'm glad that this show exists and that i delved into the fandom and read through a lot of takes, thoughts, translations, and things in general about autism spectrum disorder. i'll strive to be a junho, geurami, and atty jung in a world full of minwoos and atty jangs.

whale hug!!!

attorney woo youngwoo, i whale love you always <3

ps. season 2 is possible, but not set in stone. i read some news that no official offers have been made to eunbin about it and her management only found out that a season 2 might be happening is through the news as well, so. let's all wait for now <3