#how foreboding it is in 2

[dankovskys-beetle-collection]

Pathologic Classic HD / Pathologic 2 / Pathologic 3

[luvelii]

Glad that people relate and stuff but getting notes is hmmmm

[writers-potion]

Making Fight Scenes Sound Nicer

Euphonics is all about how the words "feel". By incorporating certain sounds, you can influence the mood of the passage.

Mood: Foreboding

use words with 'ow', 'oh', 'ou', 'oo' sonds. These are good for building tension before the fight.

moor, growl, slow, wound, soon, show, show, grow, tow, loom, howl, cower, mound.

Mood: Spooky

use words with 's' sounds, combined with an 'i' sound.

hiss, sizzle, crisp, sister, whisper, sinister, glisten, stick.

Mood: Acute Fear

use word with 'ee/ea' sounds, with a few 's' sounds.

squeal, scream, squeeze, creak, steal, fear, clear, sheer, stream

Mood: Fighting Action

use short words iwth 't', 'p' and 'k' sounds.

cut, block, top, shoot, tackle, trick, kick, grip, grab, grope, punch, drop, pound, poke, cop, chop.

Mood: Speed

use short words with 'r' sounds

run, race, riot, rage, red, roll, rip, hurry, thrust, scurry, ring, crack

Mood: Trouble

use words with 'tr' sounds to signal trouble

trouble, trap, trip, trough, treat, trick, treasure, atroscious, attract, petrol, trance, try, traitor

Mood: Macho Power

If you wan to emphasize the fighters' masculinity, use 'p' sounds.

pole, power, police, cop, pry, pile, post, prong, push, pass, punch, crop, crap, trap, pack, point, part

Mood: Punishment

If your fight involves an element of punishment use 'str' sounds

strict, astride, strike, stripe, stray, strident, stroke, strip, instruct, castrate strive

Mood: Defeat

use 'd' sonds

despari, depressed, dump, dig, dank, damp, darkness, drag, ditch, drop, dead, deep, dark, dull

Mood: Victory

use 'j' and 'ch' sounds

joy, cheer, jubilant, jeer, chuck, chariot, choose, chip, jest, jamboree, jig, jazz, jive, rejoice, rejoin

In print, the effectiveness of such euphonics will be very subtle, and it can only serve as an embellishment to what you already have.

Don't use or replace words for the sake of achieving euphonic effects, but this can be something to keep in mind when you are editing your draft!

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* . ───

💎If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! 

💎Before you ask, check out my masterpost part 1 and part 2 

💎For early access to my content,  become a Writing Wizard 

[clare-875]

Irrational Fears pt.2 (Law, Kid, Ace)

_____ Pairings: Law x Reader; Kid x Reader; Ace x Reader Summary: Your fears come to light, but your boyfriend is there to protect you. Warnings: Hurt, comfort, fluff, fears/phobias mentioned at the beginning of each character pairing, Female Reader [One Piece Masterlist] [Part 1: Luffy, Sanji, Zoro] _____

- Law - (Fear of Needles)

If there was one thing that Law was adamant about, it was the health of his crew. You can't remember the number of times you bore witness to his angry facade as he finds crewmates sick or hiding injuries, neglecting their health in the confines of his ship. Whether fear of burden or bedrest, Law did not care for excuses; he would much rather have a healthy and functioning crew. You knew better than to hide from him, especially after being one of the many whom he finds out about anyway.

But god, you wished you'd tried to hide a bit longer this time.

Being Law's girlfriend, it was harder to keep confined how you truly felt about things or your general well-being than others. You were constantly prey to his ever-observing eyes, his constant worry and constant fear that he might lose you to something he could not control. After knowing of his past, you feel like you could understand where he was coming from, and you tried to be better at telling Law rather than waiting for him to figure out that you had a cold or a cut from a battle that you neglected.

You were doing better, but you just had to make an exception this one time.

You noticed your health had slowly started to deteriorate over the past week since your crew had left an island, plagued, quite literally, by some mystery illness. Your boyfriend, despite his foreboding coldness, had found a cure surprisingly quickly, and the kindness he tried to hide was brought forth as he cured an island's worth of people. And normally, you could only be proud of his endeavours, but the only problem was, the cure he made could only be administered by a needle.

Your greatest fear.

Your greatest fear, which your boyfriend was all too aware of.

You could not even bear witness to Law curing the island's people because of that needle-like apparatus disappearing so unnaturally into skin. And God, had you tried not to get sick whilst helping gather remedies and organising townsfolk as they awaited treatment. But as you compile symptoms of fever and aching pains in your limbs, and chills that seem to have no end, you know you have failed to do so.

You had tried to convince yourself you were fine, but you weren't, and you were terrified. And unfortunately for you, your time was up when Bepo found you collapsed with a fever in the kitchen.

Law wasn't surprised that some crewmembers caught symptoms of the illness he had just cured; they had much contact with patients, and sometimes illness just finds a way to spread despite the amount of protective gear he made them wear. In fact, a couple had come and received medication already. But when he sees Bepo carrying you in haste to his door, he couldn't help the fear that crept up within him despite his confidence that the medication would work.

But would it work on you?

Would it be enough?

But even more so, he hates the flash of fear in your irises as you struggled weakly in Bepo's arms, shaking your head in rapid increments.

"No... please, Law..."

A needle was already prepared, full of the cure, ready to be registered in your system, but Law knew that getting to that point would be a struggle. He was adamant on the health of his crew; on the health of you. It was one of the most important things to him, if not the most. But Law was also adamant on your comfort, on your safety, on your ease. He hated being the one who made you subject to a fear he knew you could not control.

Your breathing, already uneven from illness, starts to become even more uncontrolled as tears spring to your eyes in apprehension. You eye the sharpness of the metal edge like it would be the cause of your undoing. And you were so sure it would be. Sweat rises on skin, limbs tremble, anxiety fills you, and all you know is that you need to get away from the needle, get away from this room; away from your boyfriend.

"[y/n], please, let me cure you."

You shake your head rapidly, and Bepo sits rigidly, concerned but unable to do anything but try and hold you still. In all honesty, the weakness of your figure is no struggle for him to hold, and that makes him worry too about your state; if they do not hurry, the illness may take over your body completely.

"[y/n], come on-"

"No!! Please, Law, don't make me do this- You can't, I can't do this-"

Your voice is faint with exhaustion but thick with desperation. Your boyfriend's brows furrowed tightly together, hesitating as he glanced between you and the cure in his fingertips. God, he hated seeing you scared; despised it. But he couldn't risk losing you; he would beg you to take it if he needed to.

"Love-"

"Law, please don't-"

"[y/n]..."

You shake your head quickly, tears flowing down your cheeks as you see the inevitable outcome, despite your pleas. Your boyfriend's hands are gentle as he guides your face upwards to meet his gaze. You see within his irises worry, hesitation, and hurt. You know he is hurting from seeing you like this, you know you had to put him at ease, but how?

How can you overcome this overwhelming fear?

The hand that holds your face moves to your hand, squeezing it lightly. If you had been sober of fear, maybe you would find yourself surprised at the depths of patience this man has for you, even with his reputation as the surgeon of death. His gaze looks to you imploringly; it asks silently for permission. You don't know how long you both stay unmoving and in silence, and there is comfort in knowing that Law can do nothing in good conscience without your permission.

But you also know how torturous this is to him.

"[y/n], you know I can't lose you."

Tears slip past your lower lash again, as you squeeze your eyes shut, the thrumming of your heart unbearable as you nod.

"I promise, it will only hurt for a second... please."

You continue to shut your eyes, anxiety making you feel dizzy, but you find yourself speaking shakily to your boyfriend, knowing what needs to be done.

"Q-Quickly, b-before I notice."

With the adrenaline coursing through you, and your boyfriend's ever careful hands bridled with accuracy and experience, you only feel one prick of skin until you are told it is over. You feel Bepo's fleeting warmth as he leaves you and your boyfriend be, and when you open your eyes, you are met only with the sight of Law, carefully applying a small bandage to your shoulder. When he looks up to meet your gaze, he gives you a small smile, rare even to you.

"Thank you, love."

His hands caress your hair once he is done, and he catches the last of your tears as you nod wordlessly, falling into his arms in exhaustion of both a subsiding illness and the depths of uncontrollable fear.

"That was so scary..."

Law's heart clenches at your soft-spoken words as he finds you succumbing to sleep in his arms. He vows silently to make every illness curable, even without the sharp edge of a needle. But in that moment, he simply caresses your hair, glad you were alive and safe in his arms.

- Kid - (Fear of Snakes)

You walk with your boyfriend, whose wide strides take him a few steps in front of you, with barely a care in the world. You know that as a pirate, maybe you should exercise more caution when travelling to new Islands in the New World, but you couldn't help your ease. You were part of the Kid Pirates, your boyfriend was one of the most powerful and ruthless pirates at sea, and you could hardly talk down your own strength after countless battles won time and time again.

It seemed your crew could get through anything the world threw at you, and you had never seen your crew members succumb to fear, apart from maybe when your boyfriend loses his temper. Yes, fear was uncommon, maybe even unnatural to members of the Kid Pirate Crew. And maybe that's why you had decided not to let anyone know of your very embarrassing but very real fear of snakes.

God, you hated those slippery things.

You don't know from where such fear arose, but you knew the sight of scales and lack of limbs caused an unbelievable amount of dread to creep into your system, rendering you useless. Whenever you had had the rare misfortune of coming across the wretched creatures along your journey, it had been easy to hide amongst your crew as they either walked past or got rid of them. However, now, alone with your boyfriend, it was much harder to hide your fear.

"Tch, why do I have to do this shit?"

You roll your eyes as your boyfriend grumbles about the task of finding herbs on the island you now find yourselves on. You remember back to the previous battle your crew had faced at sea, and it was difficult to admit, but it had been an awful one. Many crewmembers had been injured and resigned to bed rest, but you hoped a week of rest, with the right herbs for medicine, would be enough to bring them back to their feet.

"We're the only ones without life-threatening injuries, you do realise that, right?" You tease lightly as the two of you start to split up and look to your natural surroundings for a treasure unlike those you usually look for. You hear your boyfriend grumble but not rebuke your words as he travels a short distance from you, doing the same. But it is only a few minutes later, when you witness a sight that fills you with sharp fear.

A snake.

A snake that moves from within a bush you stand beside.

Instantly, it is like your laid-back nature is foreign to you.

You let out a sharp yell, and you stumble backwards several steps, your heart picking up pace so suddenly it hurts in your chest. Your feet lose their usual rhythm in your haste, and a rush of movement entraps them within the other, causing you to fall. You hit the ground hard, but you don't seem to register any pain as you scramble backwards, the beaded eyes of the creature still looking at you, alert.

Maybe you should've thought logically and simply run away.

Maybe you should've noticed the pattern on its scales, displaying its non-venomous nature to you.

But how could you, when suddenly your limbs are slack and your ears are ringing with an anxiety you cannot control?

Your breath comes in faster as the creature moves slowly toward you, curious about the human before it, who stumbles backward in its path. Your hands try to gather feeling as you try to move. Sweat rises on your skin as you unravel panic. One thought clouds your mind; it begs for escape.

Luckily, or maybe unluckily for you, your boyfriend heard your initial yell of surprise and turned abruptly to the noise you made.

"Babe?"

But his call of your name had been unanswered and unheard by you, causing him to move and find you. He would deny in that moment that it was worry that filled him by your lack of response, but when he finds you scrambling in a fit of fear on the ground, he is instantly alert.

As you register your boyfriend who stands by you now, you find the strength in you to scramble, fighting embarrassment as you move to your feet. Your hands clutch the depths of your boyfriend's red coat as you shut your eyes and bury yourself in his back.

Kid is rigid and confused.

"Hey, what are you doing, woman?! Let g-"

"The snake!" You say, rushed and muffled, uncaring of your lack of bravery now that safety in the form of your temperamental boyfriend has come. "Please, get rid of it." You try to control the wavering of your voice and to control what fear has you wrapped around its finger, but you know you fail. Your trembling limbs, the choked-up noise you make, the tears that threaten to fall...

Kid bears witness to all of it.

And weirdly, to him at least, he feels no anger or annoyance at you asking him to do something, although had it been someone else, he surely would've lost his temper. Instead, a weird feeling twists his forgotten heart as he sees you, the strongest woman he knows of, in fear of something. But most importantly, in need of something; something he can provide.

Safety, protection.

In a mix of surprisingly gentle movements, you feel as hands unclench your hold on the coat, and you look wide-eyed at Kid, who feigns annoyance as he moves away from you and moves to the snake. He grabs it without hesitation, comically even, and the snake falls victim to his vice grip as he continues to move a short distance away. When Kid returns, the snake is no longer within his grasp.

He moves to you, not a word, and you feel a flush rise on your cheeks now that your fear has been frayed for him to see.

"S-sorry, I mean thanks, I guess? I- I didn't mean, well, what I mean to say is-"

You don't know why you ramble, but you figure your boyfriend seeks some sort of compensation for your show of weakness, or for his services. But he surprises you when he moves to you, and his rough fingertips catch a single tear that you had forgotten passed your lashline. He stares at it a while, eyebrows furrowed, only now realising he had never seen you cry, had never seen you fearful, and how much he despised that helpless look on your face.

Not because of weakness, but because he found he didn't like that you would doubt your safety when on his crew.

He moves past you then, grumbling something under his breath you do not quite catch.

"Tch, come on then, I though we were supposed to be looking for some damned herbs."

His voice is gruff as it reaches your ears, and you find yourself confused but relieved that he did not mock your fear. Unbeknownst to you, he makes a silent vow to rid any snakes you would come by before you witness them, so he doesn't have to see you so fearful again.

- Ace - (Fear of Darkness)

Why did you have to get lost now?

In the middle of the night?

In the middle of a forest, with your lack of navigational skills, which honestly rivalled Zoro's?

That is what you think as you travel in darkness that seems to want to encase you, invade you, torture you.

Hands tremble as they try to reach for an anchor in the uncertain world around you, but every surface your hands find and every small sound that flares in between causes you to jump involuntarily. The depths of the night seem to unravel noises you were unfamiliar with, and as your eyes fight to adjust to your surroundings, irregular shapes continue to invoke fear within you.

You let out a shaky breath, trying to convince yourself that it is alright, trying to find rational thoughts amongst those that try to persuade you that those irregular shapes you see are monsters, or that the next noise you hear brings ruin. More sounds crack and creak as your feet catch roots of trees and dried-out leaves, causing your heart to hammer hard against your chest. Overwhelmingly, you are filled with dread that you cannot escape from.

You would do anything for a flicker of light.

You would do anything for the call of a crewmate.

Anything for your boyfriend, bright with his flames to find you.

Two more steps, then suddenly a creature moves unbeknownst to you and flies swiftly past your head. You let out an involuntary scream as you stumbled and hit the hard etch of a tree. Your heart hammers so hard, you find yourself unable to get up from where you sit, and still, the darkness creeps up on you, suffocating you.

Tears fall freely now from your eyes as you try to make yourself small, knowing you should be stronger - you were a whitebeard pirate, after all - but after all that time with your boyfriend's safety and warmth and light, you had forgotten what the darkness does to you. Hands pull on arms, and you tuck your head within your limbs, squeezing your eyes shut and trying to remember how to breathe.

You are so lost in your fear, you do not hear the worried call of a man who looks for you.

Ace had been searching for what he felt like too long for your presence. After your division members returned to the ship without you, worry filled him instantly, and he had ignored the calls of crewmembers as he ran to search for you. The fallen sun and the size of the wretched forest he travelled through hindered his pursuit of you, much to the added apprehension in his heart.

But you could not know the depths of the fear he felt when he heard your scream ripple through the darkness.

His figure had instantly stilled, his call for your name rushed along with his footsteps. And yet now, as he finds you crumpled beneath a tree and shaking, he finds himself locked in dread too.

What happened?

Did someone hurt you?

Was that danger still imminent?

Lost in his worry, he forgets to move, and all of a sudden, his movement is quick as he reaches for you.

"[y/n], babe, are you okay?!"

Your eyes shoot upwards, shock rippling through your system and causing you to jump. The fear you behold lingers, and yet your sight is suddenly filled with a soothing light that emits from the figure of a man in front of you. And when your eyes meet your boyfriend's and your skin registers the warmth in his touch, you instantly fall into the depths of his waiting arms.

"A-Ace?"

His heat is overwhelming as he encases you, safe and grounded once more, and yet you cannot help but let a few more tears slip in your relief. Your trembling starts to subside, your dread lost simply because of the glowing man now with you once more; your prayers had been finally answered.

Ace breathes you in, but relief has yet to find him; he quickly releases you from his hold as eyes search your figure for injury or harm.

"Babe, what happened? Are you hurt?!"

Worried gaze searches yours for answers, and you feel embarrassed now as your fear has subsided. But as you see the franticity and nerves travel in waves from your boyfriend, as though he was getting ready to fight what has troubled you, you know you should put him at ease. "No..." You murmur, eyes moving from his gaze, but he holds your face gently in his fingertips, lifting it so he can catch your eyes once more.

"Babe-"

"I was just scared, okay... I- I don't like the dark."

Your voice is rushed and low, as though you were ready for him to be annoyed at your proclamation, and your face feels like it has caught Ace's flames and has lit on fire. But to your surprise, your boyfriend just pulls you into his embrace once more, and you feel his relief fall from deep within him.

"Thank God," he murmurs as he lets out a deep sigh that you feel rumbling against you.

"You're not mad?" You mumble into his chest, surprised by his quick dismissal of such an irrational fear.

He laughs out, but it sounds slightly choked up to you, and when you meet his gaze once more, there is love within that seems to have no end. The warm light he emits seems to glow a little more, and maybe you mistake the light for the tears that skim the lower lashes of his eyes.

"Of course not, you're safe, you're here, and as long as I'm here, I'll make sure the darkness doesn't touch you."

[rainsinheaven-if]

PLAY THE DEMO

Last updated: March 7, 2025 - and includes the prologue + chapter 1 with 14K words (without code)

Warnings: Blood and injuries, sexism, profanity, temporary character death, child neglect, parental physical and emotional abuse, optional sexual content, and more. Suitable for ages 16+. List will be updated in the future.

This game is in early development and a work in progress. There may be future changes to location names, plot etc.

You’ve never felt loved by your family before.

Born a twin but feeling more like a shadow, you’ve watched your younger brother, Nolan, receive all the love and praise you were denied. But no matter how unkind you are to him, Nolan’s loyalty and kindness towards you remains unwavering. It’s as if there’s a bond pulling you back everytime you think of leaving it all behind.

Now a mysterious illness has swept through Valorian Kingdom’s royal court, leaving many nobles, including the king at death’s door. The Oracle’s prophecy offers a single hope: the Crown Prince must gather five lost souls to join him in a dangerous journey towards Coven’s Swamp, an ominous and foreboding area hidden deep within the mystical forest.

You are chosen to be one of those five.

As you venture deep into the forest, the journey will push you to the limits of courage and loyalty, forcing you to question everything you believe about family and love. This might not just be a journey to save the day, but a journey towards self-discovery for you and everyone in your group. So when the journey ends, will there be anything left of the person who first stepped into the darkness? 

Customize your MC! Change your appearance and control your personality. MC starts out as female, but there will be transition options.

Grow a relationship with your twin! Choose to either continue being unkind to your twin brother or getting to know him instead. Your MC's relationship with him may affect some major events.

Develop relationships! There are six romanceable characters - 3 male, 2 gender selectable, and 1 non-binary. Or you can avoid romance and keep it all platonic.

Learn and improve your skills! With the option to choose to focus on offensive or defensive magic, you can learn and improve your skills to become better at what you do.

Find yourself! Journey through the mystical forest to not only find a cure, but to self-discovery. There are plenty of secrets to learn about that may or may not change the way you think and feel.

More to be added…

Below are the six romanceable characters in this story. You can choose to flirt with everyone, but at one point, you'll have to decide on one. Also keep in mind that there are other important characters as well that are not listed here.

Ver/Vera Forrest | Gender Selectable | 21

Playful and energetic with golden-retriever-like energy, V is always ready for adventure. They never fail to be there for you when you need someone to rant to, or a shoulder to lean on. Their cleverness and sneakiness keeps them out of most trouble due to the way they were raised. And it’s exactly how they are raised that has made them hide their burden under their positive enthusiasm.

You are best friends, so why don’t you know any of their secrets? 

Oliver Astoran | he/him | 21

With a cold demeanor, Oliver holds a strong desire to protect the people he cares about, especially those whose kindness is exploited. Your unkind treatment towards your brother causes him to despise you. You are always able to press on the right buttons to rile each other up. He shows a strong sense of determination that marks his mental and physical strength. But perhaps there’s something more to the reason behind his behavior than what the eye sees.

Will you ever be able to see him in a different light, or will it just be fighting, fighting and more fighting?

Ethos Van Winston | he/him | 22

Burdened by the responsibility of being heir to the throne, Ethos is reserved, guarded, and serious. As a child, he was once carefree and one of your closest friends. But after an incident that left unspoken, lingering tension between you two, he now elicits a melancholic presence. His warm side is hidden away somewhere, and you wonder if there was more than just the incident that made him change.

You weren’t the reason he changed… right?

Theodore Eaves | he/him | 24

From a young age, Theodore’s life has been defined by duty and training. He’s mature for his age and has a tendency to act like an older brother to you and the group. He’s well disciplined and stoic, rarely having time to express vulnerability. His focus on duty has left him oblivious to romantic interest, despite his admired reputation due to his looks and status. His obliviousness goes further though, for reasons that he himself hasn’t fully discovered and understood.

Will you ever get to see a vulnerable side of him, instead of just that brotherly figure?

Mattie | they/them | 19

Curious as ever, Mattie often gets themselves into trouble. But with their charming personality and resourcefulness, they’re able to get themselves out of trouble. They are playful, enjoying the work of teasing others and instigating drama to get chaotic, and hopefully flustered, reactions. Their skills and knowledge about the forest have proven him to be a good asset, but there is more to them than what meets the eye.

For someone who is so bright and playful, they can’t surely have anything to hide, right?

Yaran/Yara | Gender Selectable | 22

Nobody is sure they know who Y is. They seem ambitious, cunning, and deceiving; doing risky things to achieve their own goals at the cost of someone else’s pain. They are unpredictable, popping in and out of your group - sometimes being a guide, but other times hindering progress. Despite their ambiguity, they are charismatic and mysterious enough to leave your group intrigued. All there is to do now is truly learn who they are and what they have hidden inside.

Who is Y and can you trust them with anything, especially your life?

ROs Profiles | Discord

music inspiration

This is my first attempt at creating an interactive fiction game and using Twine Sugarcube. Please be patient and kind <3

Shares are appreciated :)

[viloxity]

Fluctuating Skies (Part 2 of 2) -- Yandere! Sung Jinwoo x Female Reader

Part 1

Synopsis: The scenario where the Monarchs rule Earth and the Shadow Monarch finds you in the New World A/N: it's finally here! thank you so much for the support on the previous part, i hope this lives up to expectation! reblogs and comments especially motivate me so let me know your thoughts <3 enjoy!

WC: 7.5k (oops)

Waking up to soft rays of light twinkling through cracks in the walls did not feel as invigorating as it should’ve been.

You slowly raised a hand to unwrap the blankets around you, stopping as yesterday’s events flashed through your mind. How could you even describe it? His behavior was becoming progressively uncanny and the foreboding that he would only get worse stuck with you. You felt like you were drowning, suddenly, weary eyes blinking to find yourself underwater in the middle of an endless ocean. You were surrounded by blue, as if you put on filtered sunglasses and now your world was the singularity of a color that reflected the same shade of the sky. Despite your circulatory system’s losing battle as the deep blue engulfed your trachea, you felt a sense of tranquility. Under the sky’s watchful gaze and the water’s gentle hands, you were protected. No longer did you have to suffer from the wars, the loss, the pain; you were free. Free to forget, free to explore, and free to experience.

You spent your time rejoicing under the guise that trepidation was a falsehood and forgetting that nothing was permanent because time waits for no one.

By the time you discerned the forgotten unpleasantry known as angst that did not belong in your Better World, it was too late.

You did not notice the inky black tendrils that were wrapping around your free-floating form.

You tried to swim away, to fight back, but they were relentless in caging you. The shadowy cage was reminiscent of a black tomb that fixated your view behind pole-like structures and entrapped you within something inescapable.

You distantly spotted a single immensely darkened creature as it swirled at the lower depths of the sea. The unknown entity eyed you hungrily from beyond the blackened bars, swimming patiently as you began to register once more the water bursting down your esophagus and into your lungs. You grabbed the bars with all your might and pulled, realizing too late that it only hastened your submerging. You were sinking deeper, closer to the unknown and closer to a fate that you would no longer be in control of. At last—before you buried the last of your desires—you screamed, attempting to curse out that disgusting monstrosity that spectated your descent to darkness; the water engulfed you, then, happy to oblige to your acceptance of asphyxiation.

The moment the light faded, your eyes shot wide open as your hands quickly moved away from clutching your throat. You gasped for breath, uncontrollably coughing as you wildly looked around. Your eyes finally settled on the streams of light pouring from the window, the rush of blood flowing past your ears beginning to fade. You then counted each beat of your heart, the tallying of each thump dissolving your heightened senses as you drifted under the threshold.

You hadn’t realized the moment you fell back asleep.

Gradually, as each night brought misery the second your eyes closed, you found yourself struggling to get a wink of sleep. The crevices of your mind were so desolate, so dolorous, that you shuddered at the mere notion of the night blanketing you. Each dream was similar, with some darkened figure watching over you like a god spectating their worshippers—never forwardly reacting, and never intervening. At the end of every scenario, you eerily felt that the entity delighted in your cycle of despair as previously neutral movements transitioned into fervent, animated motions. If it appeared like a shadowy humanoid, they would lean down and smile as you inevitably drifted towards them. In your most recent dream, it resembled a piranha that eagerly circled you as it waited to devour your impending despondence. Every single time, you remembered the creature, its face, its actions, and your anguish.

It had been a few days since your first meeting with Jinwoo, simultaneously marking the first day you began to fear the dark.

The darkness was another mask the sky used—a different side on the same coin of the marvelous bright blue you woke to. If the bright sky told you it was a beginning, the blackened night represented an end. Every day was unique; the beginning and end were never the same, nor did they repeat. A new day was a new beginning, while a new end was a new conclusion. In a society brimming with devastation, people tended to characterize ‘the end’ in this way—as a sum of its parts. This was a consequence, survivors learned, because it meant you neglected the substantiality of an imperfect world and became the first sacrifice as a method of fidelity to the strongest in the realm. The totality of the ending was the truth, because the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts in the New World.

You stopped looking at the other side of the coin because it was never meant for you. The strongest controlled the night sky and you had an inkling that Jinwoo might be one of them; a being that can write your ending so long as it satisfied him, his face abruptly flashing through your mind was enough to make you retch.

Your head turned towards the sky, somewhat covered by the walls of your home. At the very least, the morning sky was still your oyster—every morning was a fresh start that alleviated the pain of a predetermined ending. You learned to forgive it back then because you could not dream of never relying on it again.

You rose from under your bed covers. It was no longer something you could ignore.

To a degree, you were certain that there was some positive correlation between Jinwoo’s behavior and your nightmares. The more your mind flickered back to yesterday, the more unsalvageable his company looked. He was more a threat to your survivability than someone who you could befriend like the others. If it came down to it, you would possibly have to run the most you’ve ever done in your life. You were willing, but it was a matter of if you would get the chance to in the first place.

Jinwoo’s words from yesterday vividly echoed throughout your mind—in any case, there was no avoiding him today. You moved to the closet, creaky wooden doors opening to reveal you staring at your reflection. The mirror was placed in the middle of the closet, nearly engulfed by what looked to be a storm that passed through your belongings. You patted your face, fingers kneading away knit eyebrows as you tried not to focus on weary eyes and the tight line drawn on your face. Your affliction was proof of your dejection due to your new circumstance—it was unlike you to be in such a state. You survived to live freely and now you placed yourself in a predicament that threatened your state of being.

You ignored the sensation of faint prickling that tickled the corners of your lips.

Jinwoo was unpredictable, and that was a major problem in terms of survivability.

Damn it, how could you get out?

He was slowly beginning to root himself into your life and that was terrifying. Even worse, you were never clued in to his actual intentions—by a stroke of fate he gave you the ‘honor’ of his attention, and now he was feeding you handfuls. Was it a major oversight on your part, to not pay attention to such an action? Would your careless decision during a moment of vulnerability cost you everything? It was easy to envision how your life would eventually center around his, like a satellite orbiting a planet—Jinwoo’s raw strength and unknown capabilities could be enough to bend an individual to his desires. Said individual would no longer maintain the privilege of free choice; any option that was not correct—in his eyes—was a rash decision that betrayed his wishes.

Fuck. All paths that tied in Jinwoo involved a life half-lived.

Unless you were inferring too much. Everything thus far was still speculation, other than a few abnormalities in his usual solemn behavior. It had only been a few days, and yet your mind portrayed him as a villain.

And yet…

And yet it felt like he was hiding. The feeling that he was still lurking within the shadows, just like the first day you met him. That he was not… fully there. He was faded out, but if you cared to look a little closer, you would see that he wasn’t a normal shadow.

Your antsy temperance, driven by countless near-fatal encounters, never quelled itself in the presence of Jinwoo.

Either your mentality was cracking under pressure—his pressure—or the severe amount of devils advocate you played as a paroxysm of coping.

It would not be long until your mind landed itself in the grave, by his hand or yours.

You watched the intense rich shade of red trickle down your lips and onto your chin, its boldness absorbing your attention and trail suctioning color beneath its crimson hue. Perhaps the aching of your sensory receptors was a direct consequence of the peril you put yourself in—an unconscious and remorseful action.

You could not regret—there was no time, for he controlled that too.

Reaching for a towel to wipe the ruby from your face, a flash of purple streaked from the corner of your eye. You quickly turned but all your bulging eyes made contact with was the floor.

The floor and your shadow.

Your shadow was swirling, its outline swaying against the wooden floorboards and darkness crawling as it followed your movements. Within its depths was the image of a battle; the clash of fragments of hazel scattered throughout the pools of ink. Each unconquered piece slowly succumbed to the tide because lone soldiers were weak in the face of an army. As rich brown gradually swirled into deep black, you were reminded of the arachnids; the eight-legged creature that crawled where it pleased and patiently waited for its prey to fall into its carefully crafted web. The flush colored area that unluckily landed itself behind you was now trapped in a web of gloom, an inescapable route that held no other option but to wait for its end.

Akin to how your shadow absorbed the surroundings around it—colors swirling from vivid to black—you too were mesmerized by its outlandish ferocity. The way it continued to entrench on other areas despite your lack of movement gave you the feeling it was more lively than how you remembered it.

You moved a step back. You felt your heart racing as the shadow stormed after you, quickly discarding its entrapped victims and viciously tearing apart others to get to you. Once it reached your side, the shadow began to swirl around in its new area, straying slightly farther than your outline as it dragged other pieces of hazel within its midst.

You took several steps back, fearful eyes following your shadow’s barbaric barreling as its outline shook and swirling hastened. You could make out a small groaning sound, then a wave of sighs once the shadow reached you. Your shadow’s outline and swirling lessened in intensity, resuming its invasion sequence. Near the bottom of your feet, you almost didn’t make out the tiny inky strings that connected you to the shadow. You wanted to say they resembled hands, the way there were several small strings tied to one long string, but the swirling of the ink made it hard to make out.

Even in your own home you were going crazy.

Shortly after, you quickly got dressed and rushed out the door, never once looking back at your shadow.

The trek was fast because you did not bother to stop and look around for people to hand out food to. You were too absorbed in rethinking each encounter that you did not realize the man standing outside the shed.

“Glad to see you’re back.” Jinwoo greeted, body leaning against the shed with arms crossed. He was in a spot that offered him shade from the morning sun, dressed in his normal attire of all-black from head to toe.

You caught yourself from flinching, breaking out of your dazed state and willing yourself to speak to him.

“I, um, don’t see why not,” You meekly replied, the grip on the strap of your bag getting a little tighter. “The earthquake from yesterday did scare me, though.”

“There is no need to be afraid as long as I’m here,” Jinwoo said, pushing off the shed and stopping a shy few inches away from you.

You had not fully realized it, but Jinwoo really was an intimidating character. You never saw him at full height as he would always be sitting on something at some distance away from you and shrouded by shadows. With the way your eyes were nearly shoved into a face full of chest, you were struggling to maintain your fortitude against his domineering posture and terrorizing stare. His hands in his pockets could only do so much to shrink his broad shoulders that boldly shaped his black dress shirt.

Jinwoo leaned down toward you, head slightly tilted. His gray eyes immediately collapsed your own, unable to turn away as your heart beat sporadically. Soon the chirps of birds and the swaying of grass by the wind drowned out as static filled your ears. There was only static, until you made out faint whispering that echoed by your feet—it was incomprehensible, but it was there. You could not look away to confirm or deny your paranoia—to prove you maintained a piece of sanity—but that did not matter in the face of the ferocious beast in front of you. No, what you were more scared of now was if Jinwoo could hear how fast your heart raced—whether he could read your thoughts by glimpsing through your eyes and by the amount of time he’s spent in your head. You were able to push back the trembling, but how long could you hold it for?

A voice was murmuring underneath the ocean of sound, promptly silencing the whispers that plagued your ears.

“Huh?” Your mind was still mushy after the wave of panic passed you, having forgotten who was in front of you. The ringing static faded the harder your nails dug into your palm.

“No charity work today?” Jinwoo repeated, head tilting more at his inquiry. He leaned back, the mist clouding your mind finally settling as he separated from you.

Your fingers fiddling with the bag strap and the shuffling noise it emitted reminded you of the donations you were given today.

Wait—the donations. You sucked in a breath, trying to even out your breathing. It was made a point that you would always hand out food before meeting with him, as you would offer him the last piece you had. It was a consistent act that you performed despite only knowing Jinwoo for a minimal amount of time. How was he aware, that today of all days, was the one irregularity in your schedule?

You quickly cleared your throat. “I planned on going after meeting with you.”

Jinwoo hummed, eyes flashing to the small stream of red that trickled down your palm. His prolonged glare at the crimson liquid and clenched fists was nearly enough for you to voice your concern, but what could you even say? The tension in the air wound your vocal cords like tight knots with a string and you were too scared to unweave them.

The brief flicker of a violet hue immediately stilled your fiddling. The color was as vivid and deep as you remembered, so much so that your body couldn’t help but freeze.

There was no way he didn’t notice.

For a moment, the only sound you heard was the blood rushing through your ears as neither of you spoke a word.

Then, Jinwoo smiled. “I’ll go with you.”

“Ah—wait, um—“ You stuttered out a flood of incomprehensible blabber, quickly muted by the pattering of Jinwoo’s shoes as they trailed off in the direction you just came from.

Jinwoo turned after a few steps, eyelids slightly crinkled due to the corners of his lips being upturned. The way that his eyes were glazed over with a somber shade, the lines of his lips wavering from his strange smile, and his tight, restrained posture snipped the words of rejection off the tip of your tongue.

Oddly, your attention shifted to the floor. The sun was blaring strongly at the current hour, your shadow desperately clinging underneath you seeking respite from its isolation to other shadowy entities. You watched—in a state of shock and awe—as the shadow stretched its outline farther, almost as if extending an open hand, as Jinwoo crept closer to you. His silhouette looked animated as inky black pools excitedly swirled the closer it got. It was drawn to you—desperately trying to stay close to you—as if it was a planet orbiting the sun.

The gravity that must surround you enough to pull in an entity of the likes of possibly Jupiter—did it mean you were significant, someone that finally held power?

…Even then, would that be a good thing?

The sun’s gravity was strong enough to pull in other planets to its orbit, and they would remain there for however long the sun remained. If the sun moved, the planets moved with it.

The sun was significant, so the sun was trapped.

…Could the sun ever defy its fate?

Gray eyes pierced like needles into your skin.

“Shall we?”

“Please use this to take care of yourself.”

You handed a woman a portion of your donations, watching as she carefully grasped the bread before hastily running off in the opposite direction.

You did not blame the woman since the oppressive presence behind you was beginning to give you a headache. You could say he was like a shadow that followed your movement, but that felt obvious.

In any case, he felt more like a parasite. He fed off any and all emotions you had and indulged as if it were a banquet and you were a feast—when you smiled after someone was vigorously thanking you, the atmosphere felt lighter. If you so much as frowned at someone’s words, the inky shadows that trailed his form flickered harshly.

He shared your actions, albeit more ferociously.

It was out of the question telling him to leave, so was it within the realm of possibility to tell Jinwoo to calm down?

Speak of the devil—he suddenly interrupted your thoughts.

“Would you care to enlighten me for a moment?” You perked up at Jinwoo’s words. He was smiling, albeit a bit more widely when your eyes met his.

“What are your thoughts about ‘wielding power’?”

A spontaneous question; something you were never normally asked. Sure, people ask what ability you would have if you awakened but they never asked about the concept. The wording was… off putting to say the least, but….

You pursed your lips. “Power is the gauge of potential. An individual can hold a certain level of power and thus exert that same level of authority over those without it.”

The Hunters Association and all guilds used a similar basis. Individuals had power, but what about combining power? There was a reason why the top guilds all held S-ranks and many A-ranks.

“When it comes to wielding power, I don’t think my opinion matters.”

“Well, I asked specifically for it, no?”

You shook your head. “That’s not what I mean. My opinion is that I have no opinion because it’s something I could never experience.”

Hunters? Awakening? If you had not seen the end of the world you wouldn’t have believed such nonsensical words. Your life was so awfully normal that dropping your phone on the floor was likely a weekly highlight for you.

“Wielding power… is something I’ve merely wished for. More precisely, I wish for the ability to protect.”

“The ability to protect…” Jinwoo echoed, pondering for a moment. Your eyes caught a glimpse of his eyebrow twitching, as if he had decided something. You wanted to inquire, but he looked incredibly deep in thought.

Eventually, you gathered the courage to speak.

“Jinwoo—“

“Excuse me?” A male voice spoke out from your side.

A boyish-looking male came into view and the first thing you noticed was his tattered clothing. His shoes were completely worn while his satchel was tearing apart at the seams. His clothes and face were marred with dirt and you felt your heart tug a little.

He looked exasperated.

You nodded quickly, pulling out bread and a bottle of water. You ignored the annoyed grunt from behind you.

The way the boy’s eyes lit up… it was a reminder of why you pushed so far. The loss of folks you cherished so deeply nearly tipped you over the edge. No matter how many times you begged the wind to guide you to at least a breathing sibling, or knelt down crying in front of the small cemetery that would never hold a single one of your family members—it would not bring them back. But, doing some good for others felt good. It reminded you of the days when they were still there—the small smiles plastered on grateful faces morphed into ones that resembled familiar, joyful expressions.

Familiarity was comforting in a world that was anything but.

What was not familiar, however, was the sudden warmth you felt allocating your entire body. Your wide eyes met his closed ones—he had shaky arms wrapped around you while murmuring multiple thank you’s. It was an uncommon occurrence for passerby’s to show this degree of gratitude, mostly because of fear. It took you a few seconds to realize he was hugging you, but when you did, you hugged back. Maybe it was because his hug felt like your parents were embracing you, or that he distinctly sounded like your younger cousin. Maybe it was out of pity. Nonetheless, you hugged him back and patted his shoulder.

“You’ll be okay,” You mumbled. You weren’t sure if it was to yourself or to the boy.

The boy pulled away, hesitating before saying, “Please thank the man that was with you for me.”

You raised a brow. ‘Was’? You turned around, seeking a figure that was no longer there. Your body shook a bit, hair on your arms standing. Where did he go?

You weren’t paying attention to where he fled, or whether he said anything or not. It wasn’t like him to suddenly walk out, at least, you thought so.

Maybe that was why your chest felt so light.

You waved farewell to the boy after a few more minutes of him bowing, watching him vanish among the cluster of trees. You couldn’t help but take another sweep around to make sure Jinwoo left. The numerous amount of times you’ve experienced him doing something unpredictable still did not quell the insurmountable dread racking over you.

Some time passed during your small scavenge to see where he had gone and you ultimately decided to return home at the sight of the darkening sky. The sounds of the night… on occasion there were the croaks of animals but, really, all that remained were the small insects the strong never worried about. The more you thought about it, you and the people you knew resembled those same insects. You all buzzed around as a population and prayed the predators didn’t bat an eye at the footprints left behind. The moment the noises got loud enough, the population would be wiped in an instant.

You readjusted your bag strap as you stepped over a tree root. The narrow path signaled you were getting closer to home. The familiar twisting of branches and rocks ensnared in crevices eased your spiraling mind. Leaves crunched under your foot with each step and eventually was matched by the sound of your breathing. This, too, was familiar.

You took another step. Crunch.

Then another step. Crunch.

Another step. Cr—

The crunching noise was subsided by a light splash-like sound. You took another step, not quite registering the sudden change, yet felt a sticky substance beneath your feet. You looked down, seeing splatters of a mysterious liquid littered around leaves. It looked like there was a trail, but even when you squinted your eyes you could not make out what the liquid was. You continued to walk, splatters turning into pools and your feet felt like it was moving through mud. The brisk fresh air that felt easy to breathe began to filter out as dread filled your lungs. The trees parted out around this point now, and the village was just in sight. The crimson gleamed grimly under the moonlight and you willed your shaking knees to not give out. You wanted to let out a sob but your throat tightened as the wind picked up. Leaves, some dyed with red, flew past you and all you could do was linger on the familiar flow of hair that sat atop an unmoving body surrounded by waves of blood.

You refused to move outside of the village.

The first few days, you stranded yourself inside your home. After finding the corpse, you immediately ran to the village chief and reported it. You were interrogated for a short while, but upon determining your innocence—the crime scene did not match how clean your clothes were—you were allowed to return home. The tread back did not stop you from listening to the whispers of curious crowds.

“He was stabbed a grand total of 30 times all around his body.”

“Really? I would’ve thought some sort of monster had slaughtered him, the way he was completely torn through…”

“He looks awfully young… This is truly a tragedy.”

“What caused this?”

“Does anyone know who this is?”

You shut the door, leaning your head down and bumping it harshly against the wooden door.

The familiar patch of hair covered in blood, cold amber eyes, and scarred boyish features kept you awake that night.

You did not tell the others that you had met him hours prior—had given him a portion of the donations you always carried with you. Perhaps it was so you could grieve by your lonesome, or so you wouldn’t have to face reality just yet.

You mourned the fact you didn’t even know his name.

For the first time ever, you refused to hand out donations. Instead, you helped around the village. Your guilt was eating away at you and you needed a distraction. You helped repair houses, organize food, and babysat children. Each job wore you down worse than the other, to the point where you would pass out in bed. You took nearly every job in the hopes of being kept away from… thinking.

It worked out for a while. You stopped thinking about the body, and you stopped thinking about Jinwoo.

Jinwoo. It was not difficult to put the pieces together.

He was despair incarnate—an accident waiting to happen.

It was high time you stopped fooling yourself that he would be anything less than ‘normal’.

You refused to fathom the ‘why’ and ‘how’. He was not someone you wanted to concern yourself with anymore. Each event that played out, odd occurrences, and anxiety attacks all linked to him.

To be around him… it was like reliving trauma from the day the world collapsed.

Each day away from him you continued living your past life of normalcy. You didn’t second guess actions of others, less nightmares, and you stopped paying attention to your shadow. There was a slight pull on your heart sometimes, one that resembled fear, and it motivated you go all the way for a fresh new start.

By the end of the week, you would move out. Based on the local nomads that come and go from your village, there was another shelter farther from here. It would be a long journey—not an easy feat—but you welcomed this as a new experience.

You were going to put everything behind you and live free. Your lost family, friends—maybe they would rest more easily knowing you finally stopped clinging to their memories.

You opened the closet door and looked into the mirror. Your face looked brighter and fuller. You smiled to the reflection, happy that for the first time in forever you were proud of yourself.

A heavy knock sounded at your door and you practically bounced over. It could be one of the parent’s wanting you to watch their children again; someone like May would want her daughter to get a proper goodbye.

An unfamiliar face greeted you at the door and you were taken aback by her petrified expression. Your smile dropped near instantaneously.

“T-The c-center… y-you…” The woman was quivering so much you thought she would fall.

You did not need to hear the rest of her words to start sprinting towards the village’s center.

The center had a good amount of space for larger-than-normal gatherings and meetings. Closest to the center housed the village’s chief, so any and all important duties always beelined to the center.

Certainly there was not a special meeting today, otherwise you would’ve heard about it. A surprise occasion, perhaps?

You spotted a giant cluster of people swarming the center. Roughly speaking, nearly the entire village’s population was gathered outside with even the scavengers joining the party based off the number of familiar heads you saw. The large crowd of people made you more suspicious. This was definitely not normal. You could make out numerous terrified whispers beyond the turning heads and mouths behind their hands. It was only when you got closer that you realized this was not a normal gathering.

At the edges of the crowd and covered in a thick, deep black were multiple entities. They varied in form from large bears, elves, ants, and wolves to humanoid figures covered in armor. You would’ve assumed them to be beasts if not for their color and that they were not attacking the unarmed civilians they surrounded.

A gut-wrenching feeling was pooling. All of the village was gathered, there were beasts patrolling thought to be untamable, and you specifically were reached out to. Your house was a bit out of the way—it was the one closest to the edge and furthest from the center. It would make sense why you did not hear the commotion, but it did not make sense for you to be called on out of everyone else.

In a moment you made up your mind. The beasts were busy watching over the crowd so you took quiet steps to back away. It was better to make distance in case you needed a head start—something you wish you did when the portals opened and you were too awestruck to move.

There was growling heard from a wolf as a woman attempted to leave.

You took a few more steps back. If you reached a bit farther back you could block yourself with the bushes.

In any case, the situation looked dire enough for you to debate running to another village for help. The closest one was about a day or two’s worth of walking, it was a risk but what other option did you possibly have? All the people here were in danger, yet again, you were powerless. What a bitter feeling.

You took another step only to stop at the sound of groaning behind you.

You turned, nearly falling to the floor at the sight in front of you.

The figure was tall—tall enough that you had to turn your head up to see its head. Similar to its peers, it was completely encased in an inky black. Now that you could get a closer look, you also noticed dark clouds pooling around the entity, almost like a mist-like substance was protruding from it. It confirmed that whatever these… things were, they were not normal portal creatures. Your eyes trailed slowly from its darkened plates—was that armor?—to two white orbs. Its white eyes were staring holes into you, face hidden behind an armor helmet. You watched in horror as the plume atop its head waved, metal creaking as it bent its top half forward. You were expecting hostility; perhaps the being would usher you forcefully into the crowd or treat you as if you escaped. To your surprise, the head dipped—it went low enough for the white to disappear. The right hand of the knight was placed gently against the center of its chest and it kept its head down for a few moments. Was it… bowing?

You moved to sprint but the knight’s head shot up. It narrowed its eyes in a way that said ‘don’t’. The moment you saw the heavy sheathed sword strapped to its side you stopped. You felt your eye twitch as it waved its hand in the direction of the center, motioning for you to step forward first. You could clearly see, then, the other shadowy entities staring at you and how the armored knight perfectly stood atop your shadow. You were caught in the same trap as the others, the sinking feeling in your chest unyielding.

You reluctantly made your way towards the center. Following your steps behind you was the sound of metal grating and heavy thudding against the clear plain. No matter how many times you pinched yourself, the sight remained the same: large crowd and beasts. It reminded you so vividly of back then that you couldn’t stop the trembling in your legs. As you approached the crowd, their faces reflected your shaking: uneasy and fearful. Some shadows moved to part the crowd, allowing you an easier entryway towards the center. They mimicked what the knight from before did, all bowing in their own way.

You felt everyone staring and never before did you feel so anxious.

The sudden hushes from the crowd that swiftly turned into silence allowed you to hear the booming voices in the distance.

The familiar sinking of your heart stimulated the fully formulated sensation of fear—a new-found source of dread entirely because one of the booming voices you recognized.

“…This offer is beneficial to you, is it not?” A deep voice said, sending a tremor down your spine.

“It is a negotiation, not an offer,” Another voice said, “I am uncertain of your terms so I cannot comply.”

There was a long, drawn-out sigh. You peeked from behind the shoulder of a soldier in front of you, praying you wouldn’t be noticed.

Jinwoo ran a hand through his messy dark hair, eyes practically glowering at the village chief. The leader of the community—the one who allocates and organizes everyone’s resources while ensuring safety—is known as the village chief. For the minor semblance to how past society lived, they were elected periodically by the community. You talked to him recently about the body, but… why was he talking to Jinwoo?

Wait, why was Jinwoo even here?

“Well, it doesn’t matter. I only asked for your permission out of convenience.”

“After all, the person I was waiting for is finally here.”

You cowered behind the soldier, watching as his eyes raked through the entire crowd until stopping on you.

“Isn’t that right, Y/N? Come out now.” He was beckoning you forward with his hand, index finger wagging at you as if trying to cage a scared puppy.

Jinwoo, of the attire you’ve seen him in previously, was wearing something different. Instead of slightly ragged clothes he was wearing a long black coat with silver engravings around the shoulder and wrists. He wore a clean white shirt underneath along with black pants and formal black shoes—the outfit would’ve screamed ‘money’ to you if there was such things as designer still.

He was befitting to be someone of high society, in fact.

Your eyes met with the village chief and it seemed he immediately understood the situation. He was mouthing ‘no’ at you, trying to deter you—this was enough to keep your feet planted.

You remained still. Soon enough, you felt something spike in the air, the shadows beneath his coat tail flicking wildly at your impertinence. The entities surrounding the crowd grew restless, with the shadow-being you were hiding behind shaking. Jinwoo was staring bullets into you, even behind the soldier, and the shadows were as well.

“Move.” Jinwoo flicked his wrist towards the soldier and it immediately crumbled into a dark cloudy mist. The essence then moved back towards Jinwoo’s shadow, becoming absorbed into his outline.

Petrified, you stood still. A lot of things started to click as you began to realize what Jinwoo’s true power was. The way his shadow never stood still or how your own never acted quite right… it made sense.

Now you were staring at him and he was staring at you. Jinwoo gave you a slight wave.

He smiled. “I missed you.”

You were too scared to open your mouth with how tight your throat was.

Jinwoo turned to the tall knight next to you. “Good work, Igris. Now—“

The knight nodded his head, white eyes still watching you.

“—I’d like to discuss our future.” There was a glow emitting from Jinwoo’s eyes, light shining on his violet pupils.

He held out his hand, tapping the right palm of the hand using his left index finger. “From now on, the people living here will act under me.”

What? What did he say?

“I reject!” The village chief roared. “For someone like you to show up like this…”

“Quiet.” Jinwoo held a finger to his lips, purple eyes violently flashing.

“I wasn’t talking to you.”

He turned towards you. “I will protect all that live here.”

Jinwoo licked his lips. “In return, Y/N, you will be my betrothed.”

No. No, no, no, no.

No.

After all that has happened, maybe it was because of him. Just him. He single-handedly ruined the remaining good parts of your life and for what? To be some selfish bastard?

No. No way.

“What the fuck are you talking about, Jinwoo?” You shouted, holding back tears. No wonder his behavior was so goddamn psychotic—he wanted you to be his lover?

“I barely know who the hell you are, and what you’re doing right now is absurd. Just who are you?”

Jinwoo tilted his head. “Do you really not know?” He tapped a finger against his cheek.

“Have you heard of the Monarchs?”

Monarchs? Did he mean the Monarchs of Calamity?

Although you experienced the end of the world, you were unfamiliar concerning its origin. There were multiple theories that were shared with you, such as planned gate-opening or that multiple outbreaks occurred simultaneously due to probability. A leading theory was that there were beings, named Monarchs, who acted as divinity because they possessed power that rivaled gods. Even when the S-rank hunters of other countries joined forces, they were unable to be on equal footing with the Monarchs. These Monarchs, for an unbeknownst reason, released an unnatural calamity upon the world—hence the name ‘Monarchs of Calamity.’ You never pondered this theory—why would you want to reflect on the idea that a disaster was intentionally brought upon you? The fact that it was brought up means…

“…Are you a Monarch?” You asked, eyes flashing towards the darkened knight he called ‘Igris.’

“I am the Monarch of Shadows.” Jinwoo sneered at the title, the corner of his lips momentarily quirking upward as he watched despair flash over the village chief’s face.

It seemed Jinwoo did not like your own befallen expression, though.

“It’s of interest to you because that means I am also the leader of Monarchs.” You curled your right fist, squeezing your nails as hard as you could against the palm of your hand.

“In terms of protection, I am the best there is.” Jinwoo continued, waving towards his army—monstrosities that have already conquered countless civilizations within a blink of an eye.

“The people you love now… I can take care of them. All you have to do is say yes.”

You looked back towards the crowd. They were still anxious and afraid. The familiar faces you saw, the children, the families… this was cruel. If you said no, would he—

“Do you remember the conversation we had the other day, about power?” Jinwoo asked suddenly. The way his eyes were watching you so intently, that he was eagerly awaiting your responses frightened you more than anything. You saw him flick his wrists, pulling out something from within his shadow. There was a gleam of red and immediately you let out a scream for him to stop but it was far too late.

There was a loud thud next to you and you nearly vomited.

“Your wish to obtain power… I can grant it, so long as you become my Queen.”

There, lying on the ground next to you, was the unmoving body of the village chief. The one who attempted to protect this little community to the very end, who tried to shield you despite the circumstances, and stood up to a Monarch despite not wielding power himself. There was a large, red dagger driven deep into his chest. As his blood pooled out onto the floor, the screaming began. Men shouted and roared out of fear and anger, some women screamed while others covered the childrens’ eyes. The dagger currently lodged in his chest made you blink once, then twice.

You gasped suddenly, your mind flashing back to the corpse of the boy who was overly cheerful—the image of the deep slash marks, riddled with slashes that tore out skin from bone churned through your head.

“You… the boy—it was you, wasn’t it?” You choked out, reaching for the village chief.

“He overstepped, by touching what is mine,” Jinwoo hissed, expression smoldering and hair bristling. “It’s unforgivable.”

The shadows were shrieking now, trying to tame the crowd while their Monarch was simmering. He was about to burst, but you were already on the edge. You were so overwhelmed, so tired of him and whatever despair he brought with him, that you started letting go.

“You’re a monster. A cruel, unruly, disgusting monster.” You sharply emphasized every word, hoping it stabbed as deep as he did to those innocent people. “I will never agree to your dogshit proposal.”

The yelling of the crowd began turning into shattering shrieks and now everything was unraveling to be a slaughter. There were brave people who fought and those who fled. Those who were caught began to follow the village chief. The sound of constant thudding flooded your mind but all you could simply do was tearfully stare at the corpses.

It was like the end of the world all over again.

Jinwoo held a firm hand against his face, a purple eye peeking through his fingers to peer at you.

“I still have yet to understand you. Death is such an easy thing yet you act like it’s your first time witnessing it everytime…” Jinwoo softly gritted his teeth.

“However, if death is the only issue, then it’s fixable.” Jinwoo raised a hand towards the village chief, the shadowy cloud quickly enveloping the corpse.

“Arise.”

Everything happened so quickly that you were nearly convinced you had blacked out. From the corpse that remained on the now bloody floor rose a new shadowy figure. This time, it was in the very shape of the man who you saw killed just moments ago. In fact, multiple other figures emerged from unmoving bodies that sat on the ground. Each face was a face that you recognized as people you interacted with daily. They were familiar, yet not at the same time—their faces were dull, expressionless, as if they became puppets and were waiting for the master to pull the strings.

“Queen,” The village chief spoke next to you and you stepped back out of alarm. “You are the Queen.”

“Queen,” The crowd repeated in unison. “You are the Queen.”

Stop.

Queen. It was like standing in an echo chamber.

You are the Queen. Was he this heartless?

Queen. You are the Queen.

“Stop,” You whispered.

Queen. Some children were repeating it too.

You. Are. The. Queen.

“Stop it!” You screamed, holding both hands against your ears as you finally let a sob rack over your body.

You heard footsteps approaching you, but you didn’t care. You just wanted it all to stop—everything. All the pain, the suffering, the memories. You were tired. Enough fighting, enough thinking—just, please, stop.

A warmth enveloped your body and you felt a hand gently uncover one side of your ear.

“I have waited so long for you, so accept me.” Jinwoo’s breath tickled your ear and you couldn’t help but shiver.

"Just as you belong to me, I belong to you. Any item you want, I will give. Any person you dislike will vanish within an instant.”

If you want the stars in the sky, I will lay them at your feet. If you want to conquer the entire sky, it will all be yours."

“Just be mine.”

[stevesgother]

I Don't Want You Like A Bestfriend - S.H

Pairing - Bestfriend!Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

WC - 2.3k

Warnings - mentions of anxiety, reader not liking large gatherings, swearing, alcohol (reader works at a bar). As always, let me know if I missed anything!

AN - Part 2 of the Dress mini series! This could technically be a standalone fic, but for the full context I would recommend reading part 1 :) 

Dress Series - Pt 1, Pt 2

December 1987

2 bowls of popcorn and 4 movies later, you’re laying on opposite ends of your twin bed with your best friend; gossiping lazily with droopy eyelids.

“I cannot go to their wedding without a date, Rob.” looking at her exasperated, “That’s like, totally embarrassing! Steve’s gonna have this Madonna-ey, bombshell blonde and with giant boobs and I'm gonna bring who? My cousin? Not happening.” You say with finality.

“Well forgive me,” Robin deadpans. “I only know like,” She gestures dramatically, trying to count in her head, “7 boys!”

May 1985

Immediately upon opening your eyes, you’re met with the blinding pain of your too big brain bouncing around inside your skull and a foreboding sense of dread upon recalling the way you behaved the night before.

You could only remember bits and pieces of the wretched night, but you were humiliated nonetheless. Had you said something you shouldn’t have? Your stomach churns at the thought and briefly you fear you might yak again.

A few weeks later, you were walking the stage, diploma in hand. Steve had broken up with Nancy Wheeler the week following prom. Feigning some bullshit about him leaving for college; not wanting to do long distance. Those cliche, overused excuses that everyone knows loosely translate to “I don’t love you anymore.”

Steve didn’t even get into tech, unbeknownst to Nancy. He was dodgy when you asked him about their breakup. “I just felt like we didn’t make sense anymore, you know? But it-” he sighed, “it’s just, it’s not like I could say that to her.” 

You didn’t want to push the subject further, despite your bewilderment. Part of you felt desperately guilty at the idea that you may have been the catalyst for what happened to their relationship. You didn’t dare ask, though. Maybe you didn’t want to know, or maybe you just didn’t want to make it about yourself. 

December 1987

The Wandering Dog was especially busy tonight. Folks trying to escape their in-laws for a few hours during the holiday season, college kids home for break trying to get wasted; and all of it was your problem. The pay was nice, you made good tips bartending. Right as you watch someone knock over an entire tray of drinks, a familiar head of hair makes its way to sit in front of you at the bar. Distracting, but not enough to suppress the groan that leaves your throat when it dawns on you that those drinks are your mess to clean up later.

“Steve-o,” you force a smile at him, “what can I do for ya on this..lovely evening?”

“Can’t a guy visit his favorite lady without needing a reason?” He lilts.

You try not to let on how flustered you feel at his usage of ‘favorite lady’. 

“You hate this bar, you’re also technically banned-” he cuts you off with a wave of his hand “Still? Seriously? It was one time-” Your turn to interrupt, “No actually, year prior? That was your first warning.” You’re met with a roll of the eyes, forgetting how utterly sassy he’s become in the last few years. You can’t decide whether you love or hate the development.

“I actually uh,” he runs a hand through his hair- a nervous habit, “I wanted to ask you something,”. You look at him quizzically, unable to pinpoint what's caused such a sudden shift in his demeanor.

“Okay…” you draw out the last syllable, more confused than unkind. “Spill it Hairspray, you’re kind of freaking me out.” you give an awkward chuckle. Your friendship is hardly what you’d consider serious. Sure, you’ve had your share of late night, existential conversations; but you can count on one hand the amount of times you’ve made the other actually nervous.

He clears his throat, “sorry yeah, sorry. I was wondering uh, ifyouwouldbemydatetojoyceandhopperswedding.”

The rest of his sentence comes out as one jumbled word. You do a double take when you finally process what he’s asking, and you choke a little on the Coke you were sipping. “What?-”

“-As friends!” he blurts loudly as his hands shoot out in front of him in a defensive gesture, “obviously, as friends. That’s- what I meant.” his words lose confidence every time he opens his mouth.

You stare for a little too long, mouth hanging open like a trout. “You don’t..already have a date?” You hope he doesn’t take offense to the inquiry. Steve Harrington can most certainly find a plus one to a simple wedding.

“Yeah I- something like that,” his mouth opens like he’s going to explain further before deciding against it; settling on a lopsided smile instead. He’s terrified he’s blown his cover. If he had given any effort at all to the endeavor, surely he would’ve been able to find a date. Fancy car, rich parents, million dollar smile and his infallible charm. The problem was that he didn’t want to go with another Heidi. Another Jessica. Another Stacy.

He wanted to go with you.

Even if it meant just as friends. You two were just friends.

-

Joyce and Hopper’s wedding was at Pokagon State Park, and the drive up was less than stellar. 3 hours stuffed inside a cramped BMW with Robin, Eddie, and Vickie. You were fortunate enough to be riding shotgun next to Steve for the trip, Eddie muttering something about ‘date privilege’.

When you arrived at the cabin you’d be sharing with your 4 friends, you were a little mortified. There was a room for Vickie and Robin, and Eddie claimed the pullout couch almost immediately. This leaves one more room. With one bed. For you and Steve Harrington. It’s possible Joyce may have misinterpreted the reality of your situation when booking the rooming accommodations.

If it bothered Steve, he didn’t show it. You guys had had sleepovers before, but almost never in the same bed. His house had a plethora of guest bedrooms, and your father would be found dead before he let a boy sleep in your room, even at the ripe age of 20.

We’re adults, you think. We can be mature about this.

There isn’t much time to dwell on it before you’re being stuffed by Robin into a too tight, wine red bridesmaid dress.

“I feel sick,” you say, groaning. “Do not barf on me,” she warns with a stern look, though you can tell she’s not really annoyed. “I really like these shoes.” Despite the itchy fabric of the dress and the obnoxiously loud color, you do look breathtakingly beautiful. Red has always been your color. 

“Hey dingus! Stop gawking and zip me would you?” Robin lightly kicks you with her bare foot, taking you out of your own head. When you exit the bathroom, you’re immediately met with the 2 boys. Even Eddie, who you don’t believe you’ve ever seen not in ripped jeans, cleans up nice.

Steve looks���strapping. Not handsome in the boyish way you’re used to. He’s all slicked hair, cufflinks and well-pressed wool. He meets your gaze and you swear his pupils dilate just slightly. An arm is offered to walk you to his car. He smells like cinnamon and cedar, woodsy and spice. He opens the passenger door for you and God, he’s a gentleman.

It’s going to be a long night.

- 

The venue was terribly charming. Floor to ceiling windows highlight the snow falling outside in big, fat flakes over the water. The room was lit entirely by yellow string lights, casting a permanent warm hue over the lodge.

On a table clad in lace, there were 5 notecards scribbled on in cursive ink. The one that adorned your name was directly adjacent to one that read Steve Harrington. They were paired with party favors wrapped neatly with a white silk bow.

Steve wanted to pull out your chair for you. He wanted to sit beside you with his hand in yours. Hell, he would’ve bought you a corsage if he thought it appropriate. A death by a thousand cuts; he was again reminded of the fact that you were not his, and he was not yours.

You were unable to identify the source of the nagging anxiety you felt. You were never partial to big gatherings like this, but the unease you were experiencing now was different. All you could do was relax, and try to enjoy the reception. Try not to pay mind to the stark, masculine presence sitting beside you.

The newlyweds’ first dance was to the beloved ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ By INXS. You think about how remarkably fitting a song it was for them and everything they had endured together. The restlessness you had previously felt started to steadily fade after that; laughing and chatting with your friends. It started to feel..normal, for a while.

Just then, like some sick esoteric joke, you hear the unmistakable beginning notes of ‘I’ll Be Over You’ by Toto. When you turn to your left, Steve has a poorly concealed, shit-eating grin on his face.

In the most sober tone he can muster through his unseriousness, he asks, “Can I have this dance?” while extending his hand to you. He prays you don’t notice it trembling slightly. It’s the undeniable corniness of his request that manages to strangle a laugh out of you.

 “I thought you’d never ask.”

With one hand delicately placed on your hip, he threads the other one with your own fingers as he starts to sway. You clumsily try to match his rhythm; so nervous that you’re becoming uncoordinated. His chest is nearly touching yours, and your noses are a hairsbreadth apart. It feels profoundly intimate.

'as soon as forever is through, I'll be over you.'

He leans his head down so his lips just brush your ear as he whispers, “You okay?”

You scoff, unconvincingly. “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” You know he can see right through you. It’s fruitless to try and deceive him.

“You just seem,” he gives your waist a small squeeze, “a little tense.” You swallow hard.

“Just say the word and I'll take you home.” ‘Home’ meaning back to the cabin. Not the comforting safety of your own bed back in Hawkins. You appreciate his earnestly either way.

“I know, Steve.” you lilt, trying to lighten the intensity of the moment with a teasing tone. You rest your head against his shoulder, if only so you don’t have to keep holding his all-consuming gaze.

-

Despite the thermostat being set at a comfortable 75 degrees, you were still shivering slightly. You always ran cold. You stood in front of a dusty vanity mirror trying to extend your arms behind your back far enough to unzip this godforsaken dress.

You felt him more than you saw him. Steve’s presence displaces the air in the room as one does to water when they sink down into a steaming bath: noticeably, and comfortably. You pay him no mind as you continue to struggle with the zipper. Mulling around the same room; busy with your separate tasks, this was familiar to you. Not often did you have to acknowledge the other for them to know you were grateful for their company.

“Need a hand with that?” he asks, slightly amused as he saunters over to you.

You hesitate for a moment before looking over your shoulder and offering him a shy smile, “Yeah, if you wouldn’t mind?” You know he doesn’t.

His scent envelopes you like a thick fog when he approaches you. His calloused fingers pinch the clasp and pull it down its tracks slowly. The sound is piercing in the quiet of your shared room; your senses dialed up to 11. You can feel his warm, freshly minty breath fan over your shoulders and the nape of your neck. Your arms erupt in goosebumps at the sensation.

He stands there, he realizes, longer than he needs to. 

“Okay I’m gonna-” “There you go-” you both speak at the same time. 

You huff an awkward breath of a laugh before you finish your thought, “I’m gonna..go change.” you throw a thumb behind you in the direction of the ensuite. “Right, yeah,” he shakes his head as if to escape his own thoughts; his turn to act shy.

-

Lying in bed, you’re suddenly grateful that Steve has always been something of a personal space heater. The warmth he radiates makes you want to curl into him, against your better judgment. The silence in the room is deafening; the only sounds to be heard are rhythmic breathing and the creaking of the ancient plumbing.

“Can I tell you a secret?” Steve’s voice is hoarse, no doubt from the boisterous singing he’d been doing earlier in the evening. Still, you’re grateful for the crack in the wall that's been plastered between you.

“I like secrets,”

“I hate weddings.”

The stiff fabric of the pillowcase crinkles as you turn your head to look at him.

“I am happy for them, it’s not that,” he starts, “it’s just, what if it’s never me up there ya know?”  It’s not that he’s scared he’ll never marry; it’s that he’s scared he’ll never marry you.

You want to reach out for him then. Hold his face in your hands and tell him you understand. There are so many unspoken words between you. Things unsaid, but implied. The desire to yell and scream and confess how much you love him is overwhelming.

“Steve. You’re only twenty,” smiling lightheartedly, “there’s so much time for you. There are plenty of women out there that would be delighted to swear themselves to you for eternity. Believe me.” You chuckle and pretend like the reason you know that to be the truth isn’t because you’re one of them.

“I know, I know,” he brings a hand up to card through his bed mussed hair, “you’re right, it’s silly.”

“I didn’t say it was silly,” you elbow his side gently, consequently moving your body closer to his.

He doesn’t say anything then. Instead, his hand cautiously moves over the bed until it’s touching yours; intertwining your pinkies. He doesn’t breathe, as if any sudden movements might scare you like a frightened doe. If he breathes, you might remember you’re not supposed to be doing this.

“If we’re not married by the time we’re,” he pretends to ponder, “32, will you marry me?”

You laugh, the unexpected loudness of it making you cringe a little, “yes,”

“Promise?” He sounds deadly serious.

You tighten your pinky around his, “Promise.”

[texas-gothic]

Dracula Daily Prep: Gather Your Paprikash!

It's that time of year again. Even as we speak, Jonathan Harker has departed for Transylvania, and the unhallowed halls of Castle Dracula. And as he makes his way towards that foreboding country, he will encounter a singular, most enticing of dishes: Paprika Hendl, or as we might know it better, Chicken Paprikash!

This traditional Central European dish explodes in popularity each May as we all gather around our virtual mess hall to enjoy the spirit of this most influential of gothic novels. Perhaps you yourself are considering throwing together a pot this year? Well, if you are, let this be your guide.

So, first, let's discuss the most important of the ingredients here: authentic hungarian paprika. Now, the recipe I first used last year called only for Sweet Paprika, but I personally found that version to be a little bland. I'm remedying this by adding some Hot Paprika as well. However, this is just my personal experimentation. Hungarian Hot Paprika can in fact be very hot, so if you're not comfortable with anything too spicy, feel free to opt only for the Sweet Paprika.

(Both of these I had to order online.)

Next, is another very important addition. As youre gathering your basic cornerstones of cooking (namely yellow onion, roma tomato, and garlic for this recipe) you may find yourself passing up on something that could vastly improve your dish. I'm talking, of course, about Hungarian Wax Peppers. These peppers range in heat, from meak and mild to slightly hotter than you'd average jalapeño. As per instruction, you should only use one. But on my end, I found the single pepper to be a little underwhelming, and I had trouble picking out it's flavor. So, this year, I'll be using two of them.

I got these from Central Market, an upmarket gorcer on Westheimer. They're a cousin of HEB, and you can find one or two in every major city in Texas. If you're elsewhere, try an alternative like Whole Foods, or try to find a European or International food market in your area.

Next, let's talk chicken. You can't have Chicken Paprkiash without the chicken, after all.

You're going to want to go with dark meat cuts for this. Traditionally the dish would use a mix of legs and thighs. Personally, I suggest using only the thighs, which you'll want to get bone-in and skin-on. The thigh provides a flater surface for browning than the leg, as well as more meat.

(A note on food safety, raw chicken will usually only last 2-3 days in the fridge. So you'll want to grab that fairly close to the day you're actually cooking this. If not, you can do what I'll be doing, and sticking it in the freezer until about 24 hours before I start cooking.)

So, as you gather your meat, produce, and spice you're probably asking yourself, "what on Earth am I going to be eating this with?" And the answer to that is spaetzle! A popular dumpling present in lots of Central European cooking, this is exactly what you need to tie this all together.

Now, while you should be able to find some in the international isle of most major grocers, you might also have to visit an international food store, or perhaps something more upmarket. If none of these options work, then there are a variety of other side dishes that work just as well. Egg noodles are a very popular choice, and in my very American attempt last year, I found that mashed potatoes work especially well.

Now that you've got all these things together, you're very nearly done. All that's left is the thickener. Paprikash is thickened using a blend of flour, heavy whipping cream, and sour cream. We'll get onto preparing this mixture in my post on actually cooking the paprikash, but until then, acquiring them should be a cake walk at any place food items are sold.

Now that will conclude the actual grocery list for just the Paprikash itself, but I do have one more pointer on how to really liven up this meal. Now, if you're under 21 or if perhaps you take after our dear, depraved, beloathed Count

Then you can skip this next bit. As a wine professional myself, I find that a well paired glass can add a tremendous flare to nearly any already great dinner. In the case of something like Chicken Paprkiash, and keeping with the Central European theme, I could hardly think of a better match than a good German Pinot Noir, also known as a Spatburgunder. Pinot from Germany typically has a very light body and a refreshing acidity that plays very well with the rich and creamy sauce of Chicken Paprikash. The palate of earth and red fruit should always pair nicely with the smoke of the paprika, as well as being a general good partner for any chicken. I myself am going with this 2020 Rheingau from August Kesseler.

And with that, we are done! Hit those checkout isles and make sure to get home before dark. Terrible things have sway over the world once the sun has gone down. So if the crowd does keep you locked up until nightfall, make sure to graciously accept any crucifixes given to you by kindly, elderly grandmothers and inn keepers. But whatever you do, make sure to pop in on Friday, when I'll be sharing a step by step guide on taking these ingredients and turning them into a dinner that will make our good friend Jonathan go red as a fire truck!

Happy Dracula Week everybody!

[girlwiththoughts13]

No place for a Dragon

Aemond Targaryen x F!reader

Warnings: Targ-cest/ smut!

Word count: 1k

~~~~~

The cold winds and bitter snow that dust over your skin feels far more harsh against the heat your body naturally emits. The frigid temperatures of Winterfell is no place for a dragon. The thought of remaining here until the ends of your days is more frightening than the prospect of marriage. For the lord stark is a kind and honorable man, that rarity alone makes your dreadful thoughts gently fade.

Despite this union being an arranged one-all to strengthen the north as a ally for your mother Rhaenrya- Cregan Stark had done his best the last 2 sennights of your residence in the foreboding halls to quail your concerns of a loveless marriage. He vowed to aways be faithful, and in time, come to love you as deeply as a man loves a woman.

There was no doubt you would preform your duties and give the wolf of the north your companionship, your body, and your name, but your heart was not as compliant.

It's not that you didn't find him attractive or kind or all the things a lady would hope for in a future husband; however your heart simply did not beat, at his more than adequate attributes.

How you wished to rip put your own heart, tear it asunder and remold it to fit the lord stark. He may speak true, as the years come love will grow.

In the main Hall of the keep you clutch onto the furs wrapped around your shoulders and await to meet the kinslayer himself. It has been long since you set your eyes upon your uncle. It seems he is still as brazen as ever, showing up to a house that went against Aegon's claim and alone at that. You wondered what was crossing through his mind. Did he think to take on the soldiers on his own? Even vhagar would not be able to defeat thousands of angry northern men.

Regardless of the trap you suspected, if able, capturing the second son of the whore Queen would be a feat for your side.

Lord stark stood beside you, jaw set and hand tightened around his sword. You could feel his eyes move to the side of your face, no doubt blaming you for the arrival of the man with the largest dragon in the known world.

Continuing to stare straight you decide to break the thick silence. "Will you turn me in to save your house?" The worry has set in your thoughts since the circling of the monstrous beast was spotted. Aemond surely is not here to discuss the notion of peace.

"Do you think so low of me?" You finally meet his gaze and find nothing short of offense, Starks were no oath breakers, to be accused by his betrothed of all people, made him believe he was not doing enough for you or the war efforts.

Before you could answer, the large wooden doors creaked open snapping your stare to the approaching men.

Four men surrounded the dragon prince as they walked, ensuring he did not try to assassinate there liege lord or their princess.

When the men came to a halt your betrothed stepped forward shielding you from view.

"I'd say I admire your boldness but I believe it's just stupidity that has lead you to my lands" Cregan spoke with clear distain and although his back was to you, you know his face is just as thunderous.

"I had to see for myself if the rumors were true, my dear niece being sold off. Tell me Lord Stark has she spread her legs for you yet? If she's anything like her mother then I suppose that answers that." Aemond speaks with a cruel tone and a smirk that never falters splayed across his face. The allegations against you and your mother, wretches a small gasp from your lips.

"How dare you, come here, dishonor Lord Stark and spew vile insults toward my mother the Queen and her daughter? I could have your head for that, send it to your bitch of a mother" The sudden sound of your voice and the threat against his mother struck a nerve if the hard-set in his eye was anything to go by.

"Nyke gōntan daor māzigon kesīr naejot vīlībagon nyke jorrāelagon naejot ȳdragon lēda ao mērī" I did not come here to fight I need to speak with you, alone. His switch to your mother tongue was a obvious slight to Cregan, but you had not time to dwell on that, not when he was asking the impossible of you.

You did not give him the satisfaction of answering him in your native language. "Do you think I'd go anywhere with you alone? So that you may slit my throat or worse take me to the red keep as a hostage of the usurpers?"

"Give me one reason not to string you up? Or send you to the Dragon Queen?" Cregan obviously had picked up on Aemond's intentions and had begun to reach his limits of his presence.

The sinister smile returned on Aemond's face, making your blood run cold, knowing his hand was about to be revealed. "You're right. You could kill me right now or keep me as a prisoner, but not before Vhager burns this entire castle to the ground. I am prepared to meet my maker, are you Lord Stark?"

The Lord of Winterfell goes to rebuttal such a threat but Aemond continues. "Or, niece, we could have civil conversation, after which I promise to return you to your pup."

You step around Cregan, prompting him to reach his hand out to stop you from advancing. He gives you a pointed look, one you return.

You place your hand atop his to soothe his worries. You lean up to his ear and he angles his face down to meet yours. "I'll be okay, your house shouldn't suffer over a mere denial of conversation" The whisper of your voice reaches him and only him. You pull away to show your resolve leaning up once more to press a firm kiss on his cheek. Squeezing his arm as you pass.

Reaching Aemond he holds out his own arm to you, one you ignore. He lets out a chuckle and gives his head a light shake.

As you walk Aemond tells you of a cottage he happened upon, a near by place he had left Vhagar awaiting his return. Although you hate the idea of leaving the safety of Winterfell grounds, Aemond will not budge to a private audience in your quarters, therefore you walk silently beside him.

You stop walking when you both reach the door of the quaint cottage. Vhagar a little off to the side puffing out hot air, that reaches you from where you stand. He looks back at you with amusement. "Scared niece?"

Donning a smirk of your own you proceed onward aware of the mistake you were making and finding you did not care at all.

"Ohh.. Fuck!" The moans run out of your open mouth as your slammed up and down on Aemond's cock in rapid motions. The echo of your skins clapping together Is heard throughout the small space and should any one happen to find themselves taking a stroll near the grounds would surely hear the raptures of your pure pleasure.

Aemond latches onto your bouncing tit, suckling at your nipple and bringing a hand to knead the other. His free hand that rested upon your lower back, reaches up to take a strong hold on the back of your head, yanking the sliver tresses back from where you hidden your head in the crook of his neck.

He moves his feet to root them to the ground, to meet your thrust, your rhythm restrained by the small chair you ride him on.

"Does your pup still believe you a maiden?" His thrust growing harsher at the mention of your intended. "Does he know I've ruined you? Gotten deep inside this tight cunt and imprinted my name on the mouth of your womb?" It is a wonder he speaks as if not strained from supporting your weight atop him and the excursion of fucking up into you.

There is no desire within you to answer. You wish to forget of the realities of the outside world and be here and now. Feeling his warm skin on yours creating fire that stokes you completely alight. This will be the last time you lay together the war of fire and blood rearing its rotten head. You realize that was the reason for this. Showing up and demanding an audience with you. Risking his life for one more night with his princess, his niece, his love.

You place one small palm on his mouth to stop more vulgarness from spewing out. "Just shut up and fuck me harder, unless the dragon would like to yield to the wolf?" Aemond lets out a growl and winds his arms around you, standing to his full height with you in his arms. He manages to stay inside you as he walks you to the near by table. When he sets you down he pushes down on your stomach to lay your back flat against it,

The way he was fucking you earlier has nothing on the way he pounded into you now, practically embedding your skin in the oak of the table. Aemond has one hand on your hip and the other comes up to wrap tightly around your throat cutting off your air immediately. Your hand grabs his wrist but you make no attempt to free yourself from his grasp. Despite the circumstances there is no fear in your body, instead you find hot arousal, one that makes your already wet cunt gush more liquid at the base of his cock.

"My, my, look at this, what a sight" You glance up at him, his eye trained directly on the place where his cock disappears within you.

His deft fingers circle up to your clit and that is your undoing, your legs shake from around his waist and your back arches up, head thrown back, a loud moan tearing through you.

Aemond lifts you up to him, from the gap you made when your back raised off the table. Your head falls on his shoulder, limp from being throughly sated. Gone are the precise thrusts, replaced by quick hard shoves inside you, desperate to reach his peak. Once more he tugs your head back and kisses you deeply passionately, It remind you of when you were children, ignored by your elders and seeking love in each other. Kisses hidden beneath the blanket of darkness.

Aemond's stills and groans quietly as his seed fills you to the very end of you and there is a small part of you that hopes it takes root, so that you may have a piece of him always, even when he is gone.

"I love you" You both whisper, low as if you will be strike down by all the gods if heard.

Mayhap's you have already been scorned by their fury.

[yanderecrazysie]

A Dragon's Hoard Part 2 (Yandere Malleus)

Title: A Dragon’s Hoard (Part 2)

Pairings: Yandere! Malleus Draconia x Female! Reader

AU: My Fantasy AU

WARNINGS: yandere themes, dead bodies

Part 1: here

You woke unsure of how long you had been asleep. There was no sunlight in your eyes, like there always was back in the fae kingdom. Deep inside a cave, you couldn’t tell if it was still night or a new day.

Deciding to check for yourself, you swung your legs over the side of the bed and stood up. You still wore what you were wearing the night before- a fairly long, strapless dress made of palm leaves and woven flats. 

In any other cave, you would probably be shivering, your bare arms and ankles exposed to the air. However, the green crystals jutting out of the stone walls seemed to cast not only light but warmth as well.

At first, when you padded out of the alcove and into the main cave, you couldn’t see Malleus. His throne was empty and the piles of gold and gemstones remained untouched. Then, you spotted him, walking towards you with silent footsteps around the corner. 

“Did you sleep well?” the dragon asked you, coming to a stop a few feet away from you.

You nodded, ‘Yes. Um… what time is it?”

“The sun is high in the sky,” Malleus said with an amused smile, “You slept long. I wouldn’t expect anything else, after such a long journey.”

You nodded again, unsure of what to say.

Malleus lifted a black-gloved hand and motioned for you to follow him, “Come. I have prepared a meal for you.”

Knowing dragons were meat eaters, you were apprehensive to see what kind of meal he had prepared for you. Fae were all vegetarians, after all. He led you deeper into the cave and turned into a dark alcove.

In this “room” was a long table with chairs pulled close. There were no crystals on the wall, but there was a crystal standing straight up straight and tall as the tables centerpiece, casting a candlelight-like glow on the room.

At the foot of the table was a gold plate, a gold goblet with rubies encrusted in its carved pattern, and silver silverware. Upon the plate was a variety of fresh fruits and nuts, cozily placed in the crook of a lopsided loaf of bread. 

You could smell the fruit and warm bread from where you were standing and your mouth began to water. You hadn’t realized how hungry you were before seeing this delicious meal set out for you.

“I trust this will suffice?” Malleus asked. When you eagerly nodded, he continued, “I am unfamiliar with the needs of fae, so I will need you to correct me when necessary. However, I have studied all of the species in Wonderland, and know the basics of how to care for you.”

The statement seemed a little foreboding, but you were very thankful for the meal. “It’s perfect, thank you,” you said.

You pulled the chair from the table. There were carvings on the back of it, shapes of dragons in the clouds sticking out to you with great detail. The cushion was velvet-covered and cushy. Taking a seat, you tucked into your meal, biting into a juicy strawberry that spurted juices into your mouth and against your lips, turning them red.

Malleus watched you eat with an unwavering gaze, studying you in fascination as you chowed down on the meal as though it would be your last. Your teeth tore chunks of bread a little too large to be polite. Your wings fluttered in discomfort under Malleus’s stare, but you couldn’t care enough to slow down.

You finished with the nuts, cracking open their shells with the silver knife. As soon as you’d finished, Malleus began to speak, “Tell me, little fae, what brought you to break King Riddle’s rules? Not many fae are able to stand up to the king.”

You hesitated to answer, but finally settled on a safe response, “I didn’t agree with his asinine rules. The Great Ones may have all come up with rules for their descendants, but none set as many as the Queen of Hearts… They’re suffocating. All I wanted was a little freedom.”

Malleus tilted his head, “Freedom,” he echoed, “A noble choice, yet dangerous for a fae.”

You lowered your eyes, feeling the sting of tears in them. It was hard to believe you could never return to your little cottage in the confines of King Riddle’s castle. 

“That’s why I came here,” you said softly, “I thought I could find freedom on my own.”

Malleus chuckled softly, “Freedom is so delicate… oftentimes it is just an illusion.” You felt a little uncomfortable, especially as he continued, “Fear not, you are free from the fae court here. I protect what is mine.”

You met his emerald gaze, “What if I want to leave one day?”

Malleus’s expression froze and tightened. His features grew hard as he said in a deep and rumbling voice, “We shall cross that bridge when it comes to it, little fae.” Then, a smile graced his lips, “I believe that you will find there is no reason to leave soon enough.

The mark on the back of your hand pulsed faintly, as if agreeing with his words. You clenched that hand into a fist and looked down at the dragon carved into your skin.

“I have something to show you,” Malleus said, “A part of my hoard I believe you will find interesting.”

You pushed your chair out and stood up. Malleus was quick to push the chair back in its place and motioned, once again, for you to follow him. He led you even deeper into the cave, passing several alcoves on the way. This passage opened into a small cavern, the sheer amount of green, pulsing crystals causing a warmth that was almost uncomfortable.

As soon as you saw its contents, you screamed.

Skeletons piled high, along with rotting corpses. Whether there was nothing left on the bone, or just a scalp of dead hair or melting faces, they all still had clothing adorning their figures that told stories of what they once had been. 

One skeleton’s bottom half looked like fish bones and another had a spine that curled way too long, coiled over itself like a snake’s tail. Some wore black gothic dresses, reminiscent of vampires, while others wore leather like were-creatures. There were even one or two wearing dragon scales, like Malleus’s black-scaled cloak. None wore fae clothing.

“What is this place?” you asked, your voice barely a whisper.

Malleus smiled and, in the bright glow of the green crystals, his face was lit up in a terrifying way, “This is the most precious part of my hoard. Treasures I’ve gathered over centuries.”

You were going to throw up. You clapped a hand over your mouth and began backing out of the cave, fear pulsing in your chest.

Malleus chuckled, “But these are mere trinkets compared to the treasure I’ve just added to my collection.”

His eyes looked at you with meaning and you let out a squeak of horror. You turned and ran, your wings fluttering madly, too stressed to actually take you off the ground. 

The cave twisted and turned. You could not sense the entrance anywhere, but still, you ran, terror speeding up your legs and filling your muscles with adrenaline. Tears spilled down your cheeks and strange little hiccups left your mouth.

Was he following you? You glanced back and could not see him. While looking back, you rammed your shoulder into a sharp turn and let out a squeal of pain. Stumbling slightly and holding your throbbing shoulder, you desperately looked for the exit.

Finally, as you rounded a corner, you realized you could see a light that wasn’t green. You sprinted out onto the ledge and crouched down. Your wings steadied and you took flight with a leap into the air. 

Suddenly, as if an invisible rope had wrapped itself around your hand, you cried out as a tightening feeling squashed your hand, the dragon on the back of your hand glowing with a green fire.

You were forcibly tugged backward so roughly that your wings folded in front of you and you plunged backwards back into the cave, hitting the stone wall so hard that you heard a crunch as one of your wings was caught between your back and the cave.

You slid down the wall and laid on the ground, panting from effort and terror. Your spine ached, your left wing was slightly bent, and the back of your head throbbed from where it hit the wall.

Malleus walked around the corner and into the sunlight, the scales on his cloak shimmering in the light. He walked over to your crumpled form and crouched down, petting your braided hair with a soft sigh.

“Do not fear,” he murmured, his voice soothing, “I will keep you safe. If you do not leave, you will never know hunger, pain, or loneliness ever again.”

You let out a sob and Malleus’s smile grew a little. “Why?” you asked him brokenly.

“You are the most precious addition to my hoard. More precious than gold or jewels…

…How could I ever let you go?”

[gynandromorph]

the colors on idletry drive me crazy in the best way. even when the art has the 'correct' colors it still gives the vibe of a painted cel that only had a handful of shades to work with, you keep the values so consistent. so my question is, is there a rhyme or reason to how you shift hue from panel to panel, or is it all intuition from a shit ton of practice? does it have rules? if this has already been asked then i apologize for wasting your time. the analysis and explanation of your process is just very interesting and useful.

i actually have a whole ass post about the coloring style on my patreon.

colors are selected with ~5 primary methods: 1) selecting for mood. the red foreboding panels need no explanation for why i picked them. 2) selecting one color i wanted to be dominant, then coloring the rest of the image around them, usually making the background either complementary or neighboring colors. 3) altering colors from the previous panel to "slide" the hue to a nearby color. 4) selecting for symbolism. many panels have hot pink or teal as representations for jessie and shiloh either overtaking the panel or lurking in the background. or 5) copying a previous panel's colors as a reference or callback to the previous panel and its contents. these methods can obviously be combined, such as with the three shots of the city, which slide to progressively go from blue and green to being overtaken by pinks and purples, so 3, 4, and 5 all contributing to palette decisions. i've really been trying to avoid nurturing "rules" and going with what looks nice and feels right, but a list of my reasoning can make it easier to understand how i got to the choices here. i'm typing it now because i will forget my thought process otherwise, lol. some of the panels i left looking "bad" to me to have a reference for what i didn't like, and it'll all blend together without writing down what i was thinking.

here's a small sample...

there are gradients, but objects don't necessarily slide at the same pace. i don't necessarily color the panels in order and there can be a "goal" color that i have to work backwards from as well.

[cosmerelists]

Pros and Cons of Stormlight Characters in the Middle Seat Next to You on a Budget Airline.

As requested by anon. :)

1. Kaladin

Cons: His legs are so long. His hair is so luxurious. His shoulders are so broad. This large, beautiful man is not trying to be in your space, but the budget airline seat cannot contain him. Pros: You started what you thought was an idle conversation, but by the end of your flight, he had diagnosed your chronic pain and become your therapist??

2. Shallan

Pros: Well, she's more of a regular-sized human and she's friendly but quiet. She seems to just want to sketch the whole flight, so no complaints! Cons: Why does she keep staring directly at a space across the plane and sketching the creepiest symbol-headed creatures you've ever seen with her eyes vaguely glazed over like she doesn't even know she's doing it holy shit is this a Twilight Zone situation where there are invisible gremlin monsters on this plane that only she can see and is it your imagination or do you hear humming from somewhere

3. Adolin

Cons: Listen, this is a budget airline, and this guy seems to think it's a fancy spa?? He's got the slippers, the posh eye mask, the luxurious travel pillow, some really nice face creams, and he seems to be video chatting with a girl even though the internet on the plane doesn't even work. Frankly, you're jealous and grouchy about it. Pros: Okay, he actually seems really sweet and he gave you some of his way-too-nice-for-an-airplane snacks. You take it all back; this guy is awesome.

4. Szeth

Pros: He is so still. So quiet. Almost folded in on himself. Barely...breathing? Honestly, you keep forgetting the middle seat is occupied, and how rare is that! Cons: You just...you think you'd feel better if he just blinked. Just once. Please.

5. Lift

Cons: You had to sigh just a little when a little kid plopped down next to you. Also, she goes to the bathroom every five minutes, and comes back with food every time. You think she might be robbing people. Pros: She complimented your butt quite sincerely. You've always been kinda self-conscious about your butt! But apparently yours is the "second best she's ever seen." Feels nice.

6. Jasnah

Pros: Like, is it possible for someone to just be really good at flying? She came in, expertly stowed her luggage, sat down elegantly, did her seatbelt, used a wipe to clean up the tray table and surrounding area, and immediately starting reading some thick tome. Do you have a crush on her? You might have a crush on her. Cons: She glanced at the book you're reading, and you know she judged you for it.

7. Wit

Cons: Does this guy EVER stop talking? Pros: Okay, actually, you found him kind of annoying at first, but that story he told you about the temple and the duck might have healed years of trauma? Did you just realize that you don't have to forgive your mom and that's okay?

8. Renarin

Pros: He sat down and you were like, "Okay. Cute nerd. I dig it." Cons: You just wish he wouldn't scrawl foreboding-seeming numerals on the back of the airline chair in front of him. Is it counting down to...just before the plane lands? What does it mean???

9. Amarem

Cons: He came in and was IMMEDIATELY like, "I am taller than you and so I should have your seat." And then he just...waited? Like he thought you'd just comply??? Pros: He seems intent on pretending that never happened. Fine by you. That guy seems like an asshole.

10. Zahel

Pros: He falls asleep, like, immediately and doesn't stir for the entire flight. Cons: He's just kinda stinky.

11. Dalinar

Cons: He sits down and, unprompted, says something like, "In my youth I would always battle to occupy every armrest but now, after reading The Way of Planes, I have realized that it is the journey, not the armrests, that matter, so you can have them" and then you're like, "Dude, the person in the middle seat gets the armrests that's just common courtesy" and then he looks at you and you look at him and it's vaguely awkward the whole flight and nobody uses the armrests. Pros: Actually, after a while you do take the armrest and the tension goes down a lot.

12. Taravangian

Pros: He just kinda seems like a nice old man, you know? Kinda confused about stuff, but harmless enough. Cons: He falls asleep partway through and droops his head onto your shoulder and drools a bit and you know you sound ridiculous but it feels somehow calculated. Intentional. Evil.

13. Sebarial

Cons: The very second beverage service starts he's all, "Bring me a BOTTLE of wine" and you're like, "Oh no. It's one of those dudes who gets way too drunk on planes!" Pros: You know? This guy actually seems pretty jolly and chill. You catch yourself thinking, "I wish I could pretend he was my uncle." You're not sure where that came from.

14. Rock

Pros: He scoffs at the provided airline snacks and gets out this thermos and gives you the best damn soup you've ever had in your life. Cons: He's just a large, warm man. Very large. Very warm. Not his fault, of course, but now YOU are very warm.

15. Elhokar

Cons: Every time there is plane turbulence, he mutters something about how it's the assassins coming to finish the job. Poor dude must be really scared of flying. Pros: You feel a warm, parental feeling growing in you as you look at this sad, scared man. Maybe your mom was right. Maybe you WOULD be good with kids.

16. Eshonai

Pros: This lady is, just, SO excited to be traveling that it can't help but make YOU excited to travel. Like, you always thought plane travel sucked, especially budget airline travel, be she is so delighted by everything that you find yourself thinking, "You know, it IS pretty amazing that we're soaring through the sky right now traveling to a new land." Cons: Cons? No cons. You wish you could ALWAYS see flying through this woman's eyes.

[satinestales]

❝he turns me scarlet❞ | qimir x reader, 1

pairing: qimir x reader

summary: qimir decides to test your loyalty, playing with your mind, testing it, see how long it would take for you to break.

warnings: english is not my native language, dark undertones!+18, cnc hints, blood, sexual innuendo, mind tricks, soft somnophilia, mental torture, improper use of force, physical violence, toxic relationship, yandere behaviour

part 1: this is more of a little foreplay, stay tuned for part 2

a/n: we don't know much about qimir's character yet so let's just pretend this is well written

now playing, desert rose by lolo zouaï

You stumbled through the dense undergrowth, your breath visible in the frigid air. The trees loomed tall and foreboding, their skeletal branches forming a tangled web above your head. You were lost, alone, and cold. Your hands trembled as you clutched your tattered cloak tighter around you, every nerve on edge.

"Master?" you called out, your voice a thin thread of sound swallowed by the forest. There was no reply, only the eerie silence of the woods. Suddenly, a drop of crimson splashed onto your cheek, warm and sticky. You raised your hand to wipe it away with trembling fingers, your heart pounding in your chest. Blood.

More drops followed, a relentless rain of blood falling from the sky. You gasped, the metallic scent overwhelming your senses. The trees offered partial shelter, their branches catching some of the blood, but you could feel it seeping through your cloak, chilling you to the bone. Panic surged through you as the blood pooled around your feet, soaking the forest floor.

You scanned the area, your vision blurred by fear and confusion. Then, through the crimson haze, you saw them. Two figures lying on the ground amidst the torrent of blood. One was your master, Qimir, his dark robes drenched, his body motionless. Your heart dropped seeing him like that. Your feet almost moved towards his direction before the second figure caught your eye. She was a civilian, a young woman, equally drenched and shivering, her eyes wide with terror. Your heart started racing against your chest bone.

The blood fell heavier, a deafening roar filling your ears. You looked from Qimir to the woman, your mind reeling. The woman's eyes pleaded with her, filled with fear and desperation. Your fear mirrored in her, but you forced yourself to focus. Your thoughts raced. The civilian was innocent, a life worth saving. But Qimir was your master, the one who had trained you, who held your future in his hands.

I cannot abandon him.

You took a step towards Qimir, and your decision was made. As you moved, the blood rain slowed, and the surrounding forest began to dissolve. Suddenly, everything vanished. You found yourself falling, tumbling through a black emptiness, with nothing but darkness surrounding you. The sensation of weightlessness consumed you, your mind spinning with disorientation and fear. With a jarring thud, you landed on your legs in a vast, dimly lit hall. The air was thick with an oppressive energy, the walls adorned with menacing, ancient symbols. Flickering torches cast eerie shadows, their flames dancing to an unseen rhythm. The hall seemed to pulse with a dark life of its own, and your breath caught in your throat.

Good.

You flinched as you heard an enchanting voice in your head. Master. You nodded, acknowledging his praise, adrenaline still coursing through your veins. The blood, the forest, the woman - all gone. Like a nightmare dissipating in the morning light.

~~~

His dark figure stood in the dimly lit chamber, his imposing silhouette casting long shadows on the cold, metallic walls. His eyes, dark and intense, were fixed on you, lying in your bed, your breathing steady and peaceful. In sleep, you seemed so vulnerable, a stark contrast to the fierce warrior you were now in your dreams.

He moved closer, his presence almost ghost-like. Gently, he sat down next to you on the bed, his fingers tracing the scars on your arms, each mark a testament to your trials and sacrifices you made for him. The pale light accentuated the lines and curves of your figure, and he couldn't help but admire the strength you exuded, even in repose.

As he gazed at you, a complex mix of emotions stirred within him. Pride in your achievements, a deep connection to your struggles, and a pool of mistrust. You always chose him in your hallucinations, always saved him, always sacrificed innocents for him. But those were dreams, illusions he put in your mind to test you. Like the one he was applying now. Dark foggy forest, overflowing with blood. Would you choose him in real life?

The question kept dancing around in his head as his fingers traced your forearm down to your waist. You didn’t bother to lay under a blanket, this night was warm. His thoughts reached a deeper part of his mind, a small smile appearing on his lips. He could easily kill you right now. You were so vulnerable in your sleep. He could do anything, and you would have no choice but to let him.

His fingers traced down the scar on your torso, aware he killed the person who gave it to you. Your body reacted to his touch, but your mind didn't, as you kept lying down, forced to be tested by his illusions even in your sleep. He had complete control of your mind right now, your body left unguarded. He let his fingers dance on your exposed skin, admiring you, wanting to be close to you.

His fingers felt the skin of your thighs, your shoulders, your neck, your stomach. He touched every scar, every mark, every imperfection. He liked to play with your hair, pushing them away from your face.

When he first met you, you were nothing. A former jedi. A failure. Then you found him. He took you in and trained you. Formed you.

He wasn’t just training you to be an exceptional force wielder. He was training you to be his. He enjoyed being known by you, protected by you, and one day maybe even loved by you. He was never going to let you go. You saw his face. You knew his soul. You touched his heart. He was prepared to kill you if you ever chose a path on which he didn’t stand.

~~~

You awoke the next day, disoriented and shivering with goosebumps from a lingering sense of unease. The comfort of your bedroom provided little solace against the remnants of your nightmare—visions of a blood-flooding forest that had felt all too real. Your mind was so focused on the frightened dream that you failed to notice the remaining shadow left over by your master.

Rising from your bed, you began your morning routine, determined to shake off the dread of the night and prepare for whatever mission your Qimir had in store for you. You moved with purpose, your mind already focusing on the tasks ahead, hoping to regain your composure and strength. As you stood in front of the mirror, still clad in your robe, you reached for your clothes, your thoughts momentarily drifting to the intense training you knew awaited you.

You didn't even hear the door creak open, nor did you sense the immediate danger.

Beginners mistake.

Suddenly, without warning, strong hands wrapped around your neck, cutting off your breath. You gasped, your eyes wide with shock as you were slammed against the cold, unyielding wall. Panic surged through you. Struggling against the iron grip, your hands clawing at the attacker's wrists, trying to break free.

Their face was obscured by a hood, their grip unrelenting. Your vision started to blur, but you fought to stay conscious, your mind racing through the techniques you had learned.

Drawing on your training and the power of the Force, you focused your energy, pushing back against the darkness closing in around you. With a burst of strength, you drove your knee into the attacker's abdomen, loosening their grip just enough to create a small gap. You twisted your body, breaking free and dropping to the floor, gasping for air. Scrambling to your feet, you assumed a defensive stance, ready to face this unexpected threat. Your eyes locked onto the figure before you, and you could feel the tension in the air, thick with the promise of violence.

You fought with all your might, but the intruder's strength was overwhelming. Their struggle intensified, the room echoing with the sounds of their violent clash. You landed several blows, but each time you thought you had gained the upper hand, he countered with brutal efficiency.

Desperation surged through you as you found yourself pinned to the ground, your arms restrained, the cold floor pressing against your back. You strained against his grip, but he was too powerful. Your breath came in ragged gasps, your body trembling with the effort.

Fuck.

As you struggled against his grip, the room filled with a palpable tension. Each movement was a desperate attempt to break free, but the man's overwhelming strength held you firmly in place. Your breath came in short, ragged gasps, your body trembling from the exertion and adrenaline.

It was in the midst of this struggle that a realization began to dawn on you. The brute strength, the familiar scent, the unmistakable energy—it could only be one person. Your body tensed even more as recognition flooded your mind, a torrent of confusion and disbelief mingling with a rush of other, more complicated feelings.

"Master?" you whispered more to yourself, your voice barely audible, choked with a mixture of shock and something else you couldn't quite name.

Qimir's hood fell back, revealing his stern, unyielding face. His eyes bore into yours, a storm of dark intensity that made your heart race. The shock of seeing him, of knowing it was him all along, sent your thoughts spiraling.

Your mind reeled. The realization brought with it a flood of memories and images, some of them inappropriate, crossing the line between master and apprentice. You tried to push them away, but they only made you more aware of the heat of his body, the firmness of his grip.

What are you doing?

You desperately asked through the force, unable to form words from the shock. You were frozen, lying on the ground, Qimir's knees crushing your thighs, his firm arms holding your hands above your head. His intense eyes hiding behind the curtain of his dark waves, but you could see the smirk playing on his lips. You saw the smirk many times, and it never ended well.

"Do you yield?" he spoke, his eyes never leaving yours. You could feel his grip on your wrists getting stronger, feeling your bones crush against each other. You couldn't help but let out a moan, the pain forming black dots before your eyes. He was so close, his body almost resting on yours, his face only a breath away. Under different circumstances, you'd enjoy this. But as he kept crushing your wrists together, your mind was only focused on the pain.

"I asked you a question." You almost didn't hear him, trying to hold back the tears forming in your eyes. You didn't cry because of his firm voice but because of the pain, he was inflicting on you. His knees digging into your flesh, his nails ripping your skin open on your wrists and pushing your bones together. You injured way worse, but your master, being the giver of this pain, brought it to another level.

You didn't answer for a while, and you realized that his hands left your crimson wrists to lay above your head alone to put them around your neck. Your hands were so paralyzed that you couldn't even use them to try to push him away. Instead, you let his fingers curl around your neck, stealing the air from your lungs.

"You really won't protect yourself?" He whispered against your cheek as if to mock you. His lower body pressed against yours as he held his upper body up, your neck as his support. "You're going to let me do this to you?" His tone was softer but still humiliating. He was your Master. You were certain this was one of his tests. To test your endurance, your breaking point. Your loyalty. You were loyal to him, but not out of love or care. Fear kept you loyal.

But you knew there was a hidden second reason why you stayed. Why you stay nights awake, excited to see him again, for him to test you again. But you didn't want to accept that.

He liked it. The way he made you shake with terror, fear, and confusion. He enjoyed the power he had over you, but at the same time, he also wanted you to be his equal, his friend. But he knew your feelings towards him. You never considered being his equal. He terrified you. He played mind tricks on you. You were scared. No matter how gentle or soft-spoken he was outside of training hours. Your head was horrified, your heart uncertain, your body, welcoming.

He was aware of the effect he had on you. He smelled it every time he even looked your way. He smelled it now. The way you tensed. One could argue that fear played a role in your stiffness. True. Partially. He sensed everything that was happening in your room, and every night you had a training routine together, you hid in your room, filled your head with images of him, and traced your body with fingers that you wished were his.

He smelled your needs, felt your skin get hotter, the sweat dripping down your forehead. Many times, he wanted to open those doors to your room and give you that for which you were so ashamed to wish. Instead, he used the force, meditating in his room, watching you through the walls, amplifying your pleasure.

You sometimes thought as if you felt another hand, touching yours, pushing you to go further. You felt the warmth, felt it in places only you touched.

"Very well," you heard him murmur to himself before putting all his strength into his hands wrapped around your neck. If he wanted to, he could kill you right now. You were at his mercy. You couldn't move your legs, your hands were recovering from bruised bones, and your body pressed by his against the cold stone floor. You were ashamed you secretly enjoyed the proximity.

"Pl-" you failed to form even a few words as he slowly took all your air supply. His eyes scanning your reactions, watching you carefully, every breath, every small movement. Like a hunter watching his prey. But you didn't count as a prey anymore. You didn't run, you were already served on a golden plate for him.

"You thrive on pain and fear." he leaned in closer to you, his hands softening his grip around your neck, letting a small dose of air run through you. But he didn't let go. You could feel his lips against your ear, his breath, his hair tickling your nose. You could feel the heat of his body, The Force letting you see the colors of his thoughts, up close. Your body tensed, the hunger slowly reaching out for you too.

"You like the torture," he whispered into your ear, scaring you as he quickly rose up, sitting steadily on your hips and raising one hand, leaving only his left one around your neck. Your frozen arms slowly recovered as you managed to pick them up, instinctively wrapping them around his hand that kept suffocating you. He didn't move a muscle and watched you struggle underneath him. You could never overpower him. You weren't stupid enough to believe that, but you didn't want him to see you not try.

"You must learn how to master them." he continued, a psychotic smile on his face as his other hand slowly rested against your chest. "Use them as your tools." You felt his fingers making small circles below your collarbones, his touch sending goosebumps around your body.

After a while, you noticed you never once felt the familiar darkness around you. He kept you on the edge, knowing where exactly to place his fingers on your neck. To cause you enough pain, to make you quiver but never to let you fall over the horizon.

"Was that you?" You tried to let out, to ask him, confirm that the dream of the blood storm was his work, but instead, it sounded like a cat squeaking. “The dream.”

“Hmm,” was all he let out, his eyes scanning your body up and down.

It wasn’t the first time you caught him doing that, but never under circumstances like this. Never when he held you down, pressing himself against you, letting you feel all his curves and edges. Not when you were at his disposal.

His captivating eyes found yours again, reading your thoughts as if they were written in black ink on a white paper. You were transparent to him, no imagine managed to slip underneath him. As if you were bare. The grin on his face told you all you needed to know.

“I don’t trust you,” he whispered, digging his nails into your neck, forcing you to cry out. “Well, not fully.” The way you struggled beneath him was amusing to him. If he could, he’d let you struggle below him every day, every hour for a different reason. “I wanted to test you.”

“I killed- for you.” You breathed out, trying to push his hand away as you slowly regained your strength in your arms. But he didn’t move an inch. “I, serve only you.”

“Yeah?” you heard him purr, totally forgetting about his fingers reaching the top of your robe, right between your breasts. Your heart skipped a beat feeling him so close, not daring to look him into his eyes. You felt his fingers push into your flesh; his fingers alone strong enough to leave a mark. The pressure hurt but not as painful as the one around your neck. “Your heart is saying otherwise.” He uttered under his breath, his fingers bending, going underneath your robe.

“Why are you lying. Don’t lie.” He added, shaking his head, his eyes soft. He almost looked pitiful. “Why are you so scared.” His voice was low, gentle even. His hand around your neck loosened, letting you gasp a cough for air. He waited for you to welcome the air into your lungs before pushing your head back on the ground by your hair. He forced your head against the floor so hard, you were sure for one second, you’d lose consciousness. Fortunately, he kept you awake, healing any of your injures with The Force.

“What are you so scared of?” he asked gently, still holding your head back, accidently grinding on you as he leaned in, his face right above yours. You could feel his breath, tickling your skin. His plumb lips so close to yours, so pink, so desirable. He was ethereal.

“That,” you squeaked, stopping as his hands reached the tie of your robe, painfully slowly trying to untie it. His response was raised eyebrows, his eyes going up and down your eyes and your lips. You struggled more with breathing now than you did mere seconds ago. “That I won’t be good enough for you.” You managed to let out, closing our eyes out of embarrassment.

Not being good enough. Your fear ever since you were born. Not enough for your mother, for your father, for your brother, for your friends. For him. You had no one else left, but him and you were scared you were going to lose him too.

Qimir stopped his movement, his eyes stopping, staring right into yours. You felt a warm touch on your face, his fingers making slow circles on your red cheeks. As you stared back into his eyes you swore, you’d volunteer to drown in them. You imagined they’d taste like dark chocolate. His lips like strawberries. His skin like black cranberries.

His lips formed a small smile as he caressed your face gently.

“Let’s see about that, shall we.”

[darkserenity24]

𝘽𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚

Loki x Reader

𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 2 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝘽𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨

𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦.

𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵: 8.4𝘬

𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨: 𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙨𝙩, 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙠𝙞, 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙠𝙞, 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨

𝘈/𝘕: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘐'𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘩 (𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦) 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 (𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭) 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴.

“Are you done already?”

“Yes.”

You squinted at the canvas beside your own. “What is that?”

“A tree, of course.”

“A tree? That doesn’t look like a tree. Looks like a coat rack or something.”

You instantly felt his heated gaze on your form. “I beg your pardon?”

“What? I’m just being honest here. That’s what you want right? Honesty?” You shrugged with a sly smirk. “I am a professional at this, after all.”

“Oh? Well if we are both being truthful at the moment, I’d say yours needs a bit more work.”

“No it doesn’t.” You protested, eyes growing wide as you witnessed a large paint brush dipped in bright pink making its way over to your canvas.

“No need to be shy, pet. Here, let me assist.”

“No! Loki, stop!”

“Just a touch of this will make it all better.” He grinned evilly.

You quickly smacked the paintbrush out of his hand and it flipped backward. Horror filled your body when a large bright pink splatter landed on his face. Loki sat there in shock as the paint dripped down Loki’s face in long streaks.

You opened your mouth to apologize, but all that came out was a high-pitched peal of amusement.

Your laughter started off slow but grew louder the longer he sat there with paint all over his face, blinking dumbly.

“Oh my god.” You wheezed, holding your stomach. “I totally did not mean for that to happen, but honestly you kind of deserved it for trying to mess with my painting.”

Released from his brief bout of shock, he slowly turned to you, a foreboding expression darkening his striking features.

You tried to slow down your laughter for the sake of his pride, hopping off your stool to provide some kind of assistance. “Here, let me help you. I’ll go get a cloth or someth-”

“Oh, no. Not so fast.” 

He picked up the paintbrush and in an instant, you felt the cold swatch of paint on your cheek.

“No!” you gasped, utterly dumbfounded, shooting Loki a look that was immensely more menacing than his. 

“Why would you do that?” you cried.

“Payback, darling.” 

You wanted to slap the smug grin off of his perfect face.

“Payback? What I did was an accident. That was on purpose!”

“Nevertheless, it was an attack. I do not respond to attacks on my person kindly.”

Your eyes narrowed, a devious expression growing on your face. “Let’s see how you respond to this.”

Reaching across the table, you scooped up a glob of dark blue before quickly smearing it over Loki’s dark hair. 

He tried to move out of your way, but it was too late. The damage was done and the war was won. Temporarily.

“You little demon!” was all you heard before a more pink liquid was thrown your way.

Before you knew it, you both were covered in paint and so was your apartment kitchen.

The fighting only stopped when you heard the gentle slam of the front door of your apartment.

You both turned to see Thor standing by the entrance with his arms crossed, giving you both an incredulous look.

“I only left for five minutes…” he trailed off, observing the chaos that quickly ensued in his absence. You could only imagine what you looked like from his point of view.

You were embarrassed to admit this wasn’t the first time that you and Loki went to war whenever Thor left the two of you alone. 

Three months had passed since the incident at Thor’s birthday party and both brothers had taken it upon themselves to grant you with their presence more often than not. You were not doing well after John’s attack. The drug that he slipped you really affected your memory of that night, and you only recall bits and pieces of what happened. But you still remembered enough. 

The drinks making you feel nauseous. John taking you to the bathroom. The struggle that ensued between you, then Loki bursting in and… well, basically almost killing the man. Even though your memory was hazy, you knew you never witnessed him be that angry before. You were also confused because you thought he hated you. Regardless of how he felt about you, he came to your rescue when you needed it and you’ll always remember that.

Thor and Loki both took it upon themselves to be your protectors. Your Asgardian guardian angels of sorts. 

At first, you didn’t know how to feel about it since you were used to being alone most of the time, but then it started to feel nice. They made you feel safe and knew you needed someone to be with you even if you didn’t realize it yourself. You never had to leave your home unless you wanted to, and when you did they both were right there alongside you. Together, they brought you groceries, brought in your mail for you, and even helped you ship some paintings to your customers. 

Somedays were a bit harder than others, and if you were overstimulated you would turn off your phone for a few hours and lay in your bed in the dark. This really worried them, and they basically bullied you into not ever doing that again. This made them show up unannounced just to check in on you, and when you got tired of buzzing them in you gave them a copy of your apartment keys. It was clear you couldn’t stop them from coming over, and if they truly cared about you this much you didn’t want to. 

With their constant presence in your life in your time of need, you began to feel safer. You began to feel normal again and wanted to let them know they didn’t need to be around all the time anymore. In your opinion, they certainly had more pressing matters to attend to.

It was obvious that Thor felt awful about what happened that night. He felt that it was his responsibility since John attacked you at his party after all, but you didn’t agree with him. John had crashed the party, and no one noticed because they were all busy having fun. That’s what people do at birthday parties. How was Thor, you, or anyone else for that matter supposed to know John Walker was a huge creep?

He never told you what they did with him. You knew he was still alive (all thanks to Thor) but you still had no clue where he was, and didn’t bother to ask. You didn’t care, just as long as he was far away from you and any other woman in the near vicinity. Ever.

You told Thor on several occasions that he was not to blame. No one except John Walker was to blame, but you knew that didn’t erase his guilt. You hoped one day he would be able to forgive himself, and so you made it a point to show him how well you were doing now. You made it a point to show both of them.

You didn’t second guess Loki’s increased presence in your life after the incident.

After the attack, Loki must have punished himself so much that he actually became a more bearable person to be around. Nice, even. At least to you. Initially, it had you on edge, not having been used to this side of him. You were used to his snarky comments and glowering expressions being thrown your way, but those were rare now. In fact, if he did insult you, it was done with a tinge of playfulness. It took you a little while to learn to interact with him in a normal way. His sudden softness towards you felt unfamiliar and took some getting used to. 

You had been waiting for the act to drop for months now, but he kept it up. The strange part was that you actually started to enjoy his company like you did Thor’s.

You looked forward to seeing him whenever he and Thor came by to hang out. Whether it was to go for walks in the park or eating dinner together. You especially enjoyed it when they came over for movie nights.

About once a month, you would host a movie marathon at your loft apartment. You invited several of your other friends, but Thor and Loki would always make sure to show up if anyone else hadn’t.

Unfortunately for anyone else, Thor loved watching the Fast and the Furious movies, so the night would be filled with endless car races, crashes, explosions, and terrible dialogue. Thor would be the only one extremely excited about it. But you always persevered through it because if those movies made your friend happy, then so were you.

On top of that, you had Loki there to trade entertaining critiques about the movies with.

One night, Thor was on a mission and couldn’t make it to the movie marathon. Used to them coming in a pair, you assumed no one would come by. To your surprise, Loki showed up to your door with a bottle of wine and your favorite snack.

“How did you know I liked these?” you asked as you let him in, taking his coat and placing it on the rack by the door.

“Easy.” He drawled, walking over towards your kitchen to grab two wine glasses out of your cabinet. “You are not as discreet as you think you are. I have witnessed you consume these treats many times at Stark’s tiresome gatherings.”

“Really?” you questioned in mild surprise. “I didn’t think anyone would notice that. Seems I underestimated how observant you are.”

“That was your first mistake,” he smirked while carefully pouring the dark liquid into the glasses. “Nevertheless, it is not exceedingly difficult to identify the things you enjoy. You do not exactly hide your preferences or distastes.”

Placing your hands on your hips, you raise a challenging brow at him. “What are you trying to say? That I’m obvious and predictable.”

The sound of his deep, silky laughter had your heart skipping a beat. Loki shook his head, walking around the kitchen island to hand you a glass.

“Oh no, certainly not, dear. Not to the average person at least.” He grinned, long fingers lightly brushing past yours as you grabbed the glass from him.

“Now let’s take advantage of Thor’s absence and watch anything but those dreadful racing movies.”

You happily agreed, placing your snacks on the coffee table as you searched through movies on the TV screen. Unfortunately for Loki, you had a series in mind that was equally as bad, if not worse than The Fast and the Furious movies. 

The Twilight Saga.

The other day he made the mistake of admitting he wasn’t aware of who Edward Cullen was when you made a vampire joke.

As expected, he complained, no– provided “intellectual commentary” throughout the entirety of the first two movies while you nodded, hummed, and acknowledged his issues and concerns with what was happening on the screen.

It amused you to no end, and you actually found that you were enjoying your time with him. Alone. 

That was the first time you and Loki hung out together without Thor or anyone else present. The first time you had to admit to yourself that you didn’t feel the lack of Thor’s absence. The first time it was becoming clear to you that Loki was actually a great person to be around. 

And it was the first moment you felt something other than annoyance or anger towards him.

Then you began to notice more and more things about him. His quick-witted quips and natural charm. His uncanny ability to know just how to make you laugh whenever you were feeling down. 

Then you started to notice details. How the light reflected off of his jet black silky curls. The sound of his smooth, deep timbre drew you in, compelling you to hang on to every word he articulated with perfect precision. How flawless his brilliantly white teeth looked whenever he smiled, and how mesmerizing his piercing, forest-green eyes were—you could rave about them endlessly.

Then you started to think about him when he was gone, excitedly looking forward to the next time he'd come by your place. Alone.

That’s when you realized that you were falling for Loki Laufeyson, and this completely devastated you. 

The scariest part about your newfound feelings was that they seemed to have been there all along, just lingering in the back of your mind. Hidden somewhere deep within you just waiting to be discovered. They were covered in a mask of ire and fear the whole time, even before the incident.

How could you have developed feelings for your ex arch-nemesis of all people? It was wrong, and as hard as you tried to ignore them, those feelings didn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.

Something had to be done before you ended up falling too deep. So you thought about it hard and deep. But instead of handling the situation in a mature manner, you decided to do the complete opposite. 

One morning Loki arrived at your apartment, just as you expected him to. You opened the door and were met with a gentle smile and a warm greeting. You were tempted to shut the door right in his face just to get him to stop looking at you that way.

“Hi, Loki,” You responded lacklusterly, giving him minimum eye contact. 

A dark brow rose high on his face. “Are you going to let me in? Or am I to stand out in your hall the rest of the day for your neighbors entertainment?”

“Yeah, um sorry. Come in.”

You backed away from the door allowing him in, not missing the incredibly enticing scent that he always carried with him as he walked past you.

He sauntered further into your place with an air of familiarity, not seeming to notice your awkwardness as you watched him nervously. 

Opening your fridge he peered inside of it quizzically.

“Stark’s having another one of those god awful parties tonight.” You heard him grumble. “ I was thinking we’d go together this time. I need to appear preoccupied with someone else so that I do not get pulled into another dim-witted conversation with any of the other attendees.” 

You didn’t say anything, just watching as he perused your pantry next. 

“Because if I am forced to hear about the recent trends of that inconsequential thing you humans call the ‘stock market’ once more, I may be inclined to sew a mouth or two shut, and I don’t think anyone would be too happy about that.”

He closed the pantry doors, giving you a look. “It seems as if the items in your food chamber are getting low. We shall stop by the farmer’s market later today and-.”

“I need space.” You blurted out haphazardly. 

You couldn’t help it. There was no easy way to begin the conversation you were about to have with him. It had to be done cold turkey.

He paused, tilting his head slightly. “Space?”

“Yes,” you nodded, swallowing nervously. “You… you don’t have to be around so much anymore, you know? I appreciate what you did for me all those months ago and what you’ve both done for me since then, but I don’t need you nor Thor around all the time. I’m just fine on my own.”

Loki slowly straightened to his full height, arms crossing over his chest as he observed you curiously.

“Yes, I understand that. You are very capable of taking care of yourself. We do not think you to be a helpless damsel, at least I don’t.” He shrugged lightly. “But I do not mind our visits. They allow me an escape from Thor and his band of buffoons. I assist in their missions when I can but I would much prefer being here instead.” He chuckled. “I am afraid I’d go completely mad if I had nowhere else to spend my time.”

You didn’t ask, but you assumed the “buffoons” he was talking about were the Avengers. This would have made you laugh if you were not trying to separate yourself from him.

“That can’t be true. I’m sure you have plenty of ways to spend your time other than coming here or going grocery shopping with me. Other people would probably kill to have only a second of your time.” You huffed. “You should go out more. Meet new people. That way you’ll gain more friends or even potential suitors. If you’re interested in that sort of thing I guess.”

“No. I am not interested in any of that. ” He grimaced. “Sounds horrifying.”

“What about Asgard? When was the last time you visited?”

His face slackened as he glanced towards the floor. “It has been… some time. Even so, I am in no rush to go back anytime soon. I do not believe the Asgardians are very eager for my return.”

Your heart broke at the look of uncertainty he was trying to hide. The man felt unwanted in his own realm and here you were, yet another person trying to push him away. 

“I’m sorry to hear that. They don’t know what they’re missing out on.” You whispered.

“I do not care. That does not matter since I am here and not there.” He raised his gaze back to you. “If you feel as if you are hindering me in any way, believe that you are not.” 

He took a step towards you. The gentle but nervous look on his face only increased your own apprehension.

“I’m aware that we did not have… the best of starts. I was not very welcoming to you. It was… incredibly troubling when I think back on how I treated you.” His brows furrowed deeply. “But, I experienced something akin to an awakening during the aftermath of Thor’s party. I should not have said those horrible things to you. They were not true, and I put you in a vulnerable state. Anything could have happened to you-”

“But nothing did, because you were there.” You assured him. He saved you.

“Yes, but if I had not arrived in time-”

“But you did. And I’m safe. I’m okay.” You reminded him, gesturing to yourself. “None of that was your fault or your responsibility, Loki. What happened was-”

“-the result of me being incredibly cruel to you. You wouldn’t have stumbled into that monster’s grasp if I didn’t ruin your night with my foolishness.” 

“You don’t know that.” You stressed. “Maybe I would’ve or maybe I wouldn’t have. The fact of the matter is, that was not on you. But for some reason, you continue to blame yourself for that, and that is the real reason why you’re here. That’s why you come around so much. It’s because you feel guilty.”

He stared at you incredulously. “Is that what you believe? Truly? That I am only here out of guilt? That I feel obligated to be around you?”

You swallowed, looking away from his exasperated expression. “Yes. Maybe.”

You know it was not what he wanted to hear, but it was the truth. How could you develop feelings for someone who felt as if they owed it to you to be your friend from a guilty conscience? Why else would he have switched up his attitude towards you so fast?

His mouth opened and closed as if he was trying to figure out the right thing to say but couldn’t.

He quickly composed himself, taking a deep breath before nearing you. He stopped only a foot away and carefully placed his hands on your arms. You shivered at the warmth you felt coming through your shirt. He was so close that you had to crane your head to meet his eyes. The combination of him touching you and looking at you was becoming too much for you to handle.

“I believe you have a great misunderstanding of the situation, darling. Let me explain something to you. Do I still carry guilt for the part that I played in your attack that night? Yes, and I don’t believe that I’d ever be rid of that.” He admitted jade eyes troubled. 

“But, despite that, I do not linger around you out of some pitiful notion of guilt. To be allowed the chance to spend time with an incredibly smart and talented woman only to make myself feel better? How foolish would that be.” he scoffed. “I have a feeling that both you and I understand that I do not willingly go anywhere I do not want to be, or be in the presence of others I do not care for. As difficult as this may be to get through that stubborn head of yours, I am only here because of one reason. It’s because I want to be.”

Your breath hitched at his words, a rush of warmth filling your chest.

“I want to be here. As infuriating and stubborn as you can be, I do enjoy your company. I enjoy spending time with you. Truly,” He confessed softly. “That is it. Everything I said about needing to get away from Thor and the others was partially true. Nevertheless, they are mere excuses to hide the fact that I willingly come here to see you at every chance I get. That I look forward to it every day, and that my mood seems to worsen when I am not able to. Just ask Thor.”

You shook your head, not knowing what to say to that. “Loki...”

“It’s pathetic, I know, but I have already accepted it. I just want to be a friend to you.”

His chest visibly rose and fell as he took a breath. “If you’d allow me to be.”

Your mouth was completely dry as you stared at him wide-eyed.

“I…” you began, attempting to string some words together as he waited patiently for your response.

You never thought you’d witness the day Loki allowed himself to be this open with you. Yet here it was. It was a beautiful thing to see and felt like a dream come true. This was it. The time to pull your big girl pants on and tell him how you truly feel. 

But for some reason, you couldn’t do it. You weren’t ready.

“... I… I’m sorry, but I can’t be your friend, Loki.” You said, slowly shaking your head. “I don’t want to be your friend.”

He blinked, face falling in an instant. Extreme disbelief settled onto his elegant features as you regarded him with a straight face. The straightest you could muster. 

The more convincing you were, the better it would be for the both of you.

“You saved me from John, and I will forever be grateful to you. But no matter how hard I try, I just can’t seem to get over the way you treated me beforehand. The things you said to me.” 

You shook your head, backing away from him. “I know you’ve apologized for it, but you were so unnecessarily mean to me, Loki. You called me pathetic, and disgusting. You accused me of trying to seduce your brother. What kind of “friend” says things like that?”

“I…” His face was twisted in anguish. “I did not mean it.”

His voice was so uncharacteristically soft. You could hear the hurt as clear as day and you felt like a monster.

“It was a mistake. One I have regretted terribly since then. I would not ever treat you that way again. Not ever.”

“It doesn’t matter.” You muttered, turning your back to him. Fresh tears built up in your eyes, and you took a deep breath before saying your last words to him.

“It’s too late. I’m sorry that it has to be this way, but I don’t think I can do it. I don’t like the person you are and I can’t be your friend.” You wiped a stray tear from your face, sniffling.

Your apartment was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. 

You stood there feeling, his gaze burning into your back for what felt like forever before you finally heard the slam of your apartment door.

You instantly bursted into tears, hands muffling the sobs that wracked your frame.

You couldn’t believe you did that.

******

A knock sounded on your apartment door a week later. When you didn’t answer, the urgent knocks quickly turned into loud bangs, making you leave your bed and rush to the door in panic. You didn’t need your neighbors complaining about noise yet again.

Before you could look through the tiny peephole or even ask who it was, you heard a familiar accented voice from the other side of the door.

“Friend! Are you in there?”

You opened the door and were met with troubled blue eyes.

“Thor?” You gave him a confused look. “What… what are you doing here?”

He texted and called you several times in the past few days but was met with the same excuse. I’m not feeling too good. I think I caught the flu or something. Need some time to recover. 

You let him in and shut the door behind him. He plopped down on your sofa and you slowly sat across from him.

“I understand you instructed me not to bother you but I really wanted to check on you since I know you fell ill. Are you well, friend?”

You gave him a sheepish look. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Hmm.” He leaned backward on the sofa, gaze narrowing. “Other than your unusual state of disarray, you do seem to not be drowning in sickness.”

You shifted in your seat uncomfortably, not knowing what to say to that. You were sure you looked like hell. It was noon and you were still in your pajamas, and your hair had not been touched in days. The most you had the energy to do was shower and eat. Even those activities took a lot of energy from you.

Your normally tidy apartment was a mess. Clothes and random objects were carelessly left all over the place, and a tall pile of unopened mail laid messily on your coffee table. Thor was extremely kind to just call it a state of disarray.

“I must admit that there are other reasons for me arriving unannounced.” He cleared his throat, brows furrowing as he sat forward, folding his hands. “I did not understand at first, but I gathered something has happened between you and my brother. I do not know what unfolded between you two, but I am assuming it was not good.”

You bit your lip nervously, looking down at your lap.

“Still, I am very confused. If I’m not mistaken, things were improving between you two and all seemed to be well. Now you are hiding inside your home with little to no contact under the guise of unwellness, and Loki’s been acting stranger than usual. His mood sours at the mention of your name. I have tried to talk to him but he will not speak to me about the matter either. Please tell me what has happened.”

Thor was clearly very concerned about the situation, and it would do you no good to lie to him. He’s been a great friend to you and so you felt obligated to tell him the truth.

You sighed before meeting his gaze with a look of exhaustion on your features. 

“Would you like some tea?”

His brows raised at your question and you chuckled. 

“With what I have to say, you may be here for a while, Thunder.”

You returned from the kitchen with two hot mugs a few moments later, sitting down across from Thor and carefully explaining the situation to him.

As you explained how your last conversation went with Loki, you watched as his expression shifted—from understanding to shock and confusion—before finally settling into a somber state. You weren’t exactly sure what he was thinking or if he was sad for you or his brother. Most likely both.

“I lied to him.” You admitted with a shameful shake of your head. “I told him that I didn’t like him.” 

Thor shook his head, clearly confused by your actions. “I don’t understand. I thought you two were getting along quite well. Did he do something to upset you?

You shook your head, rubbing a hand across your forehead. “No, that’s part of the problem, Thor.”

The look on his face was almost comical. He stared at you, waiting for you to continue.

You did, but not without letting out a long sigh beforehand. “I’m used to him being a complete ass. I’m not used to this nice, considerate, helpful Loki that’s been coming by my apartment.” You exclaimed, raising a hand in the air. “I’m not used to this Loki that talks to me like I’m a normal human being, or brings me food when I’m feeling down, or the one who watched cheesy movies with me. I couldn’t handle being around him anymore. I had to run him off before I-.” You paused, eyes fluttering shut.

“Before what?”

You took a deep breath and looked at Thor. Your friend, one of your best friends in the whole world. Your friend who was a brother to the person you…

Your voice lowered to a barely audible whisper. “Before I fell in love with him.”

All of the confusion from his face dropped, leaving warm eyes and a gentle smile on his lips.

You squeezed your eyes shut, covering your face in embarrassment. “It’s ridiculous to say, isn't it? I’m being so stupid.”

“No!” Thor exclaimed, reaching a hand out to you. “Never in a millennium would I ever think that of you. What you are feeling is not stupid. I-.”

He cut himself off, shaking his head with a look of disbelief. “I am just puzzled how I did not see this coming much sooner.”

You peeked at him through your fingers. “Huh?”

“See your true feelings for Loki.” He explained. “I was so focused on ensuring your well being that I did not see what was happening right in front of me. Maybe I could have prevented this from happening.”

You frowned, hands sliding away from your face,

“What do you mean you could have prevented this?”

A sheepish look spread upon the blonde god’s face.

“I am sure this is difficult for you given your history with Loki so I completely understand your hesitance when it comes to his motivations.” He explained. “But I must admit, I thought you were more aware of his feelings for you than it appears you are.”

You said nothing, having no clue where he was going with this.

“You see, friend, Loki was only harsh to you before because he did not know how to tell you that he admired you.”

Oh…. what?!

“The best he could do was antagonize you until you snapped. Unfortunately for him, he has never been great at talking about his feelings.”

He sure could have fooled you a week ago. There he was, in your kitchen pouring out his heart to you and you completely shut him down. You were beginning to question if you made a mistake.

“Loki cares for you immensely.” Thor strongly insisted. “He always has. But I did not know you felt the same way. I would have whipped him into shape and made him behave a long time ago. I can think of no one else that would be as perfect for him as you would be.”

If you weren’t so thrown off by what Thor was revealing to you, you would have blushed at his compliment.

“Why… why didn’t he say anything?” You asked. “He didn’t– all he said was that he wanted to be my friend. I didn’t think he cared for me the same way that I cared for him. That’s why I pushed him away. I don’t think I could have stayed friends with him without always feeling something deeper.” you admitted, tears kissing your eyes.

Thor looked at you seriously, blinking slowly. “You’re right. Loki doesn’t just care for you,” He informed. “It is so much more than that. Truly.”

Your face dropped.

“I should not be the one to inform you of this, but he did not tell you about his true feelings because he was worried of…. Well, the exact reaction you gave him for simply requesting to befriend you.”

Your heart felt like it was breaking into a million tiny pieces. You wanted Thor to stop talking because he was making you realize how much you fucked up. Big time.

“N-no… that’s not true.” You said, shaking your head in disbelief. “Loki hated me, he always has.”

Thor raised a brow. “Do you truly believe that he despised you to that extent? He was a simpering mess and was jealous of our friendship because he desired to be as close to you as I was. But he did not think he could do so. He did not know how to get closer to you, so I tried to convince him to simply talk to you more. But as you know very well, my brother is the most stubborn man in the nine realms. I believe that he was truly afraid of your rejection. That is what was stopping him from revealing his true feelings to you.”

You dropped your head to your hands, shaking your head slowly. “And I did exactly what he thought I would do.” You flat out rejected him. Of course, it wasn’t because you actually disliked him, but it was because of your own fears of inadequacy. All this time you thought he was the asshole. Turns out it was really you. The roles had flipped because you let those same feelings of rejection Loki had gotten in the way of you becoming closer. Of you two possibly becoming more.

No one was more surprised than you were when you received an invitation to a birthday party a couple of weeks later after your talk with Thor. And not just any birthday party either. 

It was Loki’s.

Thor was the only person who could have sent this to you because there was no way Loki could have invited you to his own party. This was confirmed when you realized it was supposed to be a surprise birthday party.

You could think of a billion reasons why that was not a good idea. One being that this surprise party was supposedly for a god who could get annoyed enough to start another war against humanity, and two being that he certainly hated your guts right now, and for a very valid reason this time.

Nevertheless, with your guilty conscience weighing heavily on you (and a bit of gentle bullying from Thor) you decided to go to the party anyway.

It was at a fancy hotel in downtown Manhattan, and Loki wasn’t supposed to arrive for another thirty minutes or so, but the way your heart was rapidly beating you’d think he was already there. You searched around the room in apprehension, fingers toying with the dark green ribbon of the small box you were holding. Eventually, you sat the present down on the gift table, forcing your hands to stay still as you waited for him to show.

Apparently, Thor gave Loki some misleading excuse for him to come to the hotel so he wouldn’t know that there would be a party, especially for him. 

But something told you that Loki was smarter than that.

The next time you glanced at your watch, thirty minutes plus had passed and Loki had yet to arrive like Thor asked him to. Then an hour had passed and people started to get antsy, but once Sam had turned on the music and Tony announced that the bar was open, everyone seemed to relax and enjoy themselves a bit more. They were having the party as if the birthday boy wasn't MIA.

This disappointed you greatly.

“I’m sorry, friend.” Thor sighed, patting your arm gently. “I truly thought he would be here, but he must have found out about my plans and decided not to come. He’s never been one for a surprise.” 

“Maybe he’ll show up sooner or later. Who knows.” you shrugged, forcing a sad smile. To say you were disappointed was a great understatement. You thought you’d feel relieved that you wouldn’t have to face him today, but you realized that you were really looking forward to seeing him again.  

You sighed, looking around. “I think I'm gonna go. I’m not really in a party mood right now. I only came here because… Well, you know.”

Thor nodded sympathetically. “Of course. I will see you later.” 

He gave you a departing hug and you exited the ballroom. You were barely halfway down the hall, almost making it to the lobby before an arm reached out of a dark room, snatching you inside. It happened so quickly that you barely had time to scream.

You yelped when the door slammed shut, then light quickly flooded the room. 

Your eyes blinked rapidly, adjusting to focus on the tall figure in front of you. There, barely a few feet away stood Loki, dressed to the nines in a killer black tux that fit his body as if it was created just for him.  

The small closet he pulled you into was pretty cramped. He regarded you coldly, a displeased expression on his face. Brows furrowed deeply and jaw clenched.

It was clear that he was not happy to see you.

“Wait, you’re here?” You gaped at him dumbly. “Have you been here this whole time? Everyone’s been waiting for you in the ballroom.”

“Yes, I am fully aware. I’ve known about this ridiculous party the entire time.” He snapped, a great amount of annoyance in his tone. “I do not care about what anyone is doing. What I want to know is why you are here?”

You swallowed down the lump in your throat, doing your best to meet his heated gaze head on. “W-well, i-”

“Spit it out, mortal,” he growled impatiently.

Oh, so we’re back to mortal now, you thought to yourself grumpily. 

You cleared your throat, squaring your shoulders with a heavy sigh. “I wanted to say that… that I’m sorry.”

He continued to stare, entirely unfazed by your apology. You fidgeted nervously under the weight of his gaze.

“For what, exactly?”

“For everything.” You frowned, shaking your head. “For saying those horrible things to you. For saying that I didn't like you.” You sighed heavily. “None of what I said that day was true and I know I hurt your feelings-”

“Feelings? I don’t have any feelings regarding you.” He scoffed, taking a small step back away from you. “None other than utter disdain.”

Your heart twisted painfully at his words. You guessed you deserved that.

You continued on anyway. As hard as he tried to hide it, you could hear the pain seeping through the anger in his voice.   

“Regardless of whether I hurt your feelings or not, I wanted you to know that what I said wasn’t the truth. I lied to you when I said I didn’t want to be your friend. The truth is I really, really do.” 

His severe expression remained, only growing harsher as his frown deepened.

“Did my idiot brother put you up to this?”

“Of course not,” you answered quickly. “I’m apologizing because I want to. You didn’t deserve that. Not at all.”

“Then why?” He demanded, stepping closer to you. “Why would you say those things if you did not truly mean it?”

A heavy silence hung between you, broken only by the faint sound of the bass from the ridiculously loud music leaking through the closet door from down the hall.

“I… I don’t know,” you muttered lamely.

You instantly regretted your words as you watched Loki’s face fall. You could take his anger, you were used to it by now, but any trace of irritation had completely disappeared from his expression. All that was left was disappointment. Confusion. Sadness. 

"You don’t know," he said, his tone laced with disbelief.

His mouth parted as if he were about to speak, but the words faltered and died on his lips.

A suffocating pressure filled your chest as he avoided your gaze, deftly stepping around you to open the closet door.

“Loki wait–” Your call to him was silenced by the sharp slam of the door.

Your eyes squeezed shut, the weight of unshed tears pressing against your lids.

You were a coward. He had given you the chance to explain yourself, the chance to tell him the truth, to tell him how you really felt, and instead you decided to hurt him even more by lying to him yet again. 

Trying to tell someone like Loki that you cared about him was proving to be extremely difficult for you. Yet no matter how hard it was, you could not risk losing him. 

Grabbing the knob, you swung the door open, running down the halls of the hotel in your heels like a mad woman.

“Loki!” 

You saw him heading towards the exit. You ignored the curious glances of the hotel staff watching you from behind the desk as you sped past them.

He didn’t stop. He didn’t even turn around to acknowledge you, long legs striding towards the doors with determination

You stopped in your tracks, letting out a breath before calling out to him.

“I said those things to you because I was scared.”

He didn’t stop, and you continued.

“I-I was scared because I liked you too, but more than a friend, and I didn’t know what to do about that.”

He immediately halted in his tracks, the sliding doors opening for him. Relief filled you when he didn't walk through them. 

Your voice lowered now that you had his attention. “I didn’t know how to feel about that, because I’m not supposed to like you, Loki.” 

This was it. There he was, standing by the entrance of the hotel waiting for you to say more, only a second away from bolting out the door. This moment was all you had, and you couldn’t mess it up. Not again.

You swallowed hard, nails biting into your palms from the pressure of your closed fists. 

This was it. Only the truth would save you now.

“I wanted to keep myself from falling in love with you.” You whispered. “But I think it’s too late.”

"He slowly turned to face you, looking thoroughly paralyzed. As if he'd just seen a ghost. His eyes grew wide, and he blinked, his breath caught in his throat. “What did you say?”

You took a step forward, a watery smile growing on your face. 

"I tried to push you away," you said quietly. "Because I began to feel more than just friendship, and I was afraid it was all one-sided. I didn’t think you could feel the same way about me as I do about you... as I still do."

You saw his features morph from surprise to disbelief, then eased into relief, all in the blink of an eye. Before you realized it, he was stalking toward you with even more purpose than before, stopping barely a foot away from you.

“You simple-minded woman,” he chastised softly. “How could I not feel the same way? How could I not love you as well?”

A sharp intake of breath escaped you as you stared at him, stunned by his words.

“Did you not believe I loved you when I couldn't stop being  fixated on you? When I became jealous of my own brother just because he met you first? When I almost successfully murdered a man with my bare hands for daring to cause you harm? It's something I'd gladly do again and finish what I started.” He growled.

“I am not bypassing the fact that I made it extremely difficult to see, but it was always there.” he paused before lifting a hand towards your face, placing it on your cheek gently. “I was entranced with you from the very moment I met you, and was devastated when I thought I could never have you.”

Your breath came in shallow gasps, your chest heaving as you gazed at the man in front of you. It was as if the world had shifted, and you were seeing him in a new light—seeing him for who he truly was and what he meant to you. Your heart swelled, and instinctively, you took a step closer, lifting yourself onto your toes to pull him down towards you, pressing your lips to his with an intensity you couldn’t control.

For a brief moment, you saw surprise flash across his face, but it was gone just as quickly. He steadied himself, cupping your face in his hands and kissing you back with the same fierce passion.

It didn’t take long for his tongue to find the inside of your mouth. the taste of mint on his lips sending a rush of euphoria through you. The feeling was absolutely heavenly. Gripping his arms for dear life, you were desperate for support as each passing second made you feel more lightheaded, overwhelmed by the sensation of Loki Laufeyson kissing you fiercely right there in the hotel lobby.

You let out an involuntary moan when his hands moved from your face, traveling down your neck and back.

A throat cleared, catching you off guard. “Um, Excuse me.”

With great reluctance, you both pulled away from each other, turning to look at the awkward looking hotel manager that was standing a few feet away from you.

You hadn’t even heard him come near. Loki cleared his throat and you blushed, straightening the top of your dress as two women, no–now four women giggled behind the lobby desk. 

“I don’t mean to interrupt, but considering that things look a bit… intense between you two, may I suggest you take this interaction to one of our rooms? We have a few more suites available. I would suggest our honeymoon suite.”

You met Loki's gaze with a sheepish smile, but he didn’t look the least bit apologetic. In fact, he seemed rather pleased with himself. The last thing you wanted to put on was a show for everyone to see, but you couldn't help but get swept up into him once he started kissing you back.

“Maybe we should go to your party,” you suggested, turning to him with a guilty expression. “That way everyone will know you’re here.”

“Yes, I suppose we should.” He acknowledged. “I should at least tell Thor that I appreciate his basic efforts. He should know to do a better job at keeping secrets from me in the future.”

“Yes,” you agreed. “Let’s go do that. Right now.”

You caught Loki's hand, gently pulling him away from the nosy hotel staff and in the direction of the ballroom. The closer you got to the party, the more you were regretting your decision in not getting that hotel room. 

You and Loki were standing just outside of the grand double doors, silently staring ahead.

“We should go in, shouldn’t we?” you asked.

“We should,” he agreed half-heartedly.

You nodded, running a hand over your mussed hair before taking a step towards the door, grabbing the door handle. You didn’t get the chance to open it before you were pulled away. You were suddenly pressed into Loki’s hard body with his lips pressed to yours.

Barely five minutes later, he was dragging you into the recommended suite, slamming the door shut, and placing you up against it. Your mouths connected again in an instant, hands running through his dark locks and legs wrapped around his waist. 

“We should… get back to… the party.” You said in between kisses. 

Loki pulled away for a split second, quirking a brow. “Why in the hel would we do that?”

You felt a rush of warmth in your cheeks. “For one, all your friends are waiting for you, and here I am keeping you from them.”

He chuckled darkly, leaning down to place a kiss under your chin. “Those imbeciles can wait. Right now, I prefer that I have you all to myself.” 

“You can have me.” You whispered lightly. “I wouldn’t mind.” You more than wouldn’t mind. You’d be absolutely delighted.

He pulled back to meet your lust filled gaze.

“As would I, my love, but not yet. Not fully at least.”

You paused, blinking at him in slight confusion.

“You are a profoundly beautiful and intelligent woman, and I would prefer to court you properly before we go any further.” He explained, smiling softly as he ran the back of his hand down your cheek. “You deserve that and so much more.”

And here you were ready to rip his pants off. You were a complete horny mess, and by the prominent feeling of him rubbing against your stomach, you knew he was too.

However, he was right, and it turned you on even more that he respected you enough to hold back on his primal instincts. For now. 

“Well,” You grinned, eyes searching his. “What would you like to do birthday boy?”

"I want to be with you. Just you." He confessed. "I want to hold you close, and look into your eyes—it's something I've dreamed of doing for a very long time."

Your heart skipped a beat, and you nodded. “I’d like that too.”

Before long, you found yourselves exactly where you needed to be. Both of you stretched out on the luxurious soft king-sized bed, nestled in his arms with your head resting against his chest. At that moment, you couldn’t remember ever feeling so secure, so complete.

“I have to confess,” you heard him murmur softly. “I did not expect this. I had already prepared myself to walk into that party, miserable as ever, and force myself to listen to people I could care less about drone on about how lucky I was to be related to Thor.”

You nestled closer to him, breathing in his scent.

“But then I saw you, standing there looking as enchanting as ever, and my whole world turned on its head. Regardless of what I said earlier, I am happy that you are here.”

He kissed the top of your head.

“This is truly the best surprise. Better than I could ever have imagined.”

𝘈/𝘕: 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵, 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘐?

DarkSerenity's Masterlist

✦ 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰. 𝘙𝘦𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 ;)

✦𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 ✨

[writers-potion]

Is Your Story Not Working? Change the Weather.

The weather is a GREAT tool for crafting the overall atmosphere of your story, and it profoundly affects how the scene is placed in the minds of readers.

Create Atmosphere

Describe temperature changes, smells and visual details to indicate an emotion.

rain puckered the surface of the water.

wind rattled the shutteres

fat lethargic flakes drifted past the window

the road glistened with black patches of molten tarmac.

Deepen the POV

Writing a sentence about how the weather affects the POV character creates a sense of realism.

her cardigan clung to her body, sodden and cold, and her boots squelched with water.

Needles of hail pricked her face, as if she had dipped her head into a pincushion.

Make It Difficult

Think of ways to use the weather to make the POV character uncomfortable, especially in scenes where they are tense.

a long trek through the broiling heat with neither water nor shade.

slipping on an icy pavement.

Strained Tempers

Weather impacts how we feel and act.

After weeks of grey skies and rain, MC feels lethargic or grumpy.

Heat makes people short-tempered and aggressive than usual.

Foul weather in general can make your character impatient or make foolish mistakes.

Mood and Foreboding

If you want the reader to feel what the POV does, describe the whether using words that convey that emotion.

POV is happy -> The wind caressed the branches and sent golden leaves dancing.

POV is angry -> Wind lashed the branches and ripped off the last leaves.

Beware the Pathetic Fallacy

Selecting the weather to reflect the mood can lead to cliched writing. A way to avoid pathetic fallacy - the weather changing to adapt to a character's mood - is to contrast the weather with the POV's mood.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* . ───

💎If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! 

💎Before you ask, check out my masterpost part 1 and part 2 

💎For early access to my content,  become a Writing Wizard 

[electraslight]

literally not having any coherent thoughts in the slightest but luz and her friends living in gravesfield.... as someone who lives in near-forest east coast hell I think a lot about how endless forests and endless kudzu and animals dying in my backyard everyday always felt kind of magical and foreboding... living in a rickety old house with mold and mice, sleeping next to 3 other girls who scream in their sleep as much as you do. hunter and willow going into the woods to kill something for dinner because theyre running out of money, hunter and willow having fistfights in the backyard so they dont weaken and succumb to the inertia of endless cloudy days, amity sitting on the porch catching a firefly in her hands, gus picking up trash off the street and hoarding it in his room because the objects mystify him. insert also a ramble about east coast colonialism and religion which i have so many absolutely incoherent thoughts on (gravesfield has like 2 churches within a block of each other) but yeah, not a headcannon or nothin', just me being nostalgic and projecting