Location: The Barbican Centre Conservatory Who: @msmelissalin

It had been some time since she had see Ms. Lin, from their meeting at the coffee shop. Ayda was still uncertain how this was going to play out, but there was a political angle she wanted to lean towards, and part of her wondered if getting help from the devil herself would be in her favour.

"You look beautiful." The only compliment she would hand out. "Ready to see how this night turns out?"

@vcndetta ; melissa & faye

so. faye wasn't wrong. melissa was a witch. she had a burn mark on the bakery floor to prove it. "so." she started, glancing over at the other brunette "i guess i should apologise?"

𐙚‧ "the next time you text me 'we need to talk' i'm going to text you back saying 'yes we do' so then both our anxiety levels are high. got it?" / @returnedfavor

[ @manslaught, 🌿 ] ❝  you seem pretty pissed off for someone who finally got rid of the girl who won't leave her alone, ❞ she notes dryly, her brow raising as she looks for some kind of explanation from mikayla. maybe she shouldn't, because melissa herself is already regretting not joining tai's excursion, because bravery is something that's always been expected of her, and yet the thought of leaving with the others terrified her. she's trying not to think about it, focusing instead on trying to figure out what's up with her. ❝  — pj? i'm pretty sure she actually thought she was going to impress you. ❞ maybe there's a part of melissa that's bitter over it for personal reasons, because as annoying as pj may seem, she still intrigues her, too  — at least more than she seems to do for mikayla, who clearly doesn't care. ❝  i mean. did she? ❞

Hm, no bubbly for Melissa, then?

"No, sorry. It makes me too gassy, ehehehe. It upsets my stomach, too..."

CLOSED STARTER for @stingslikeabee.

★. ―

In the morning, Melissa came to get him. She was accompanied by a handful of human soldiers. Feeble scraps of mortal life who couldn't stop a bear, let alone protect their queen ― and Daigo hissed between his teeth at all of them. As the beast predicted the day prior, the horses were too spooked to allow him to mount them. Instead, the dragon opted to run. He kept pace with Melissa's mare easily, which only unnerved the pitiful guards more.

At the first sight of the palace, Daigo felt his insides twist. Dragons didn't have the same anxieties as humans. That this was the day of his wedding meant very little to the dragon, who possessed no notion of this event's historic importance ; instead, he rather hated the feeling of being confined in such an artificial home. The fake lighting stung his eyes, and the overwhelming odor of human combined with others like obnoxious perfumes and cooking spices suppressed his sense of smell. He pressed closer to Melissa in the entryway for these reasons, scaled fingers seeking her own.

A servant came forward and hesitantly introduced himself : Sasaki. Though his voice was weak, his will was quite strong. The queen had selected him to be the king's chief aid once he arrived. Unfortunately for the poor man, Daigo would not be moved from Melissa. With the understanding that pressing the creature could spook him, Sasaki backed away, and the decision was made that the bride and groom would be prepared for their ceremony together.

The aids assumed that piecing together Melissa's elaborate, breathtaking gown would take up the bulk of their time . . . but their previous calculations failed to account for the difficulties of dressing a dragon. Daigo was no easy charge, and his bride was ready long before him. After watching the fifth attendant to work with the future ruler nearly get bit for dragging cloth too harshly over the patches of scales on the creature's human figure, Melissa shooed the servants out of the room. Another breach of tradition that made many of them murmur, but she didn't care. Her soft voice soothed the dragon, who was eager to have her near. Daigo nosed into her hair, breathing deeply, while she coaxed the rest of his shirt on. Melissa was respectful of where his body was different, and her gentle fingers were able to finish getting the minimal amount of clothing on him with no further trouble. The battered pair of trousers that he wore down from the mountains were set to the side. Daigo trembled under Melissa's hands. This was all too much stimulation for him ― nonetheless, he would carry on for her.

For the dragon, the rest of the day was a blur. He sat through the ceremony fairly calmly thanks to the presence of the queen at his side. The boring messages about marriage and unity left little impression on the beast. Daigo occupied himself with picking at his outfit instead.

What followed the wedding proper was a large celebration with a grand feast. It was obvious that this was the greatest excuse for glee that Solaris found in years. The dragon also sensed the thick relief that ran under everything. While no one dared to use vocabulary similar to DEFEATED, there was a shared feeling among the guests that the threat of many generations that usually hung over them was GONE. Placed into a human - sized shape that they could familiarize themselves with and gossip about. Daigo was able to ignore the bulk of the chatter ; the intensity of the music, which added to the dense noise filling his sensitive ears, helped to drown it out, anyway. Melissa was pulled away quickly by social obligation, and the dragon busied himself by examining the floral arrangements around the outskirts of the hall. For a time, they calmed him, reminded him of the fragrant strains he grew in the corners of his lair.

Daigo was holding a bloom he plucked when the queen found him again. It appeared that the beast was at his limit. Whispers in her ear informed her across the room that her husband was chasing away nosy aristocrats and innocent well - wishers alike. The cracks in his shape were starting to frighten some of the attendees, as well. Daigo's half - halo of amethyst was sunk into his brow and hair, and his irises were exceptionally bright. He eyed Melissa warily at her approach, unsure if he was about to be reprimanded for the crawling scales now covering his arms. Instead of greeting her verbally, the dragon moved to tuck his flower behind her ear. It was a dark purple, and he liked the color on her.

The way he relaxed at her suggestion that they leave spoke volumes about his level of discomfort. He rumbled appreciatively at her. Daigo clung to the queen as she guided them out. Their disappearing backs prompted the conversation in the hall to shift. THE WEDDING NIGHT. A topic many of the aristocracy clutched their pearls over and that the court discussed with pale faces.

Daigo stepped over the threshold to Melissa's rooms and exhaled loudly. He had never been here before, but he recognized it as her space. The scent of the royal, which he practically ached for, was thick in this place. It was quiet and significantly calmer than any other atmosphere of the day, and Daigo responded well to that.

As soon as the main door closed, the dragon reached up. His clawed hands curled into the front of his shirt. Snarling, Daigo removed it in shreds. He was sick of being stuck in these decorative fabrics ( what he saw as itchy, pathetic excuses for hide ). The dragon let the remains of his top fall to the floor, where he bared his teeth at them. Fingertips combed through his tresses and loosened the few clips and braids there. Everything needed to go. Only the beast's trousers were allowed to remain for now. They were loose enough. Daigo shook out his head, grumbling.

FINALLY. He settled and forcefully huffed out a stream of warm air. Daigo stretched leisurely. Once he was satisfied, he reached for Melissa. Even just brushing his palm against her arm brought a sense of refreshment to the dragon.

"Today . . . made you my wife ??" he asked quietly, drawing up the lessons she gave him in his lair while the official arrangements were being made elsewhere. " ― or do we have to produce an heir first ??" Daigo wrinkled his nose thoughtfully, fingertips going under and lifting Melissa's chin. His visage was still ever so slightly distorted, and the dragon's voice was colored by a curious vibration. "That is next, isn't it ??"

closed starter for @aquamanandfriends

​

"i may or may not be wearing anything under this," melissa said softly, her eyes darting over the room, avoiding the others face.

Fave Five: Sapphic Fairytale Reimaginings, Part I

Fave Five: Sapphic Fairytale Reimaginings, Part I

These are all reimaginings of Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, or a combination of the two. Briar Girls by Rebecca Kim Wells (YA) Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust (YA) The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder (YA) A Spindle Splintered and A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow Malice by Heather Walter

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[ Continuing with @flashingmarkii ]

That sound certainly earned raised brows from Yoruichi. She momentarily glanced down at her own fist, still raised, as though perhaps expecting to find she'd had brass knuckles on and forgotten, or something like that. Of course she didn't, and she made ready to grab the mechanic in the event the younger woman toppled over, only to stop short as Melissa caught herself.

"No need for that, I was just saying: you're doing a great job but you're working too hard and you ought to grab something to eat." That she hadn't been heard and the punch had done so much perhaps made the point...

Tagged: @msmelissalin

Location: Venue

Tonight's prospects remained ever the uninspiring monotony of club life in London, which might have inspired some, but for Giordana it lacked a certain thrill. Her intended target for the evening appeared to think better of a public presence, and well, her Nonna always condemned idle hands... Luckily, a sliver of entertainment made itself known at the bar counter before the Italian saw herself out. "Melissa Lin, in the flesh." A beat. "Well, nearly. I almost didn't recognize you with your clothes on." Features canted to one side as a deceptively polite smile graced her lips. "Enjoying your evening?"

full thread 🧵-> linked here! 😊

Who: @msmelissalin

Where: A cafe

Ayda was a little apprehensive meeting Melissa, but figured she'd give it a chance, seeing what might come from the meeting.

She arrives before her, hues sweeping around the room for any familiar faces before she finds a table off to the side for them. A leg crosses over the other, bouncing her knee in anticipation. Her head turns when the door opens, and in walks the familiar woman who she didn't quite know what wanted with her, a smile seeps on her lips.

Ayda stands when the Rutherford walks over.

"It's been awhile."

@masqce ; event starter for melissa && shen qiao

"you're safe in here." melissa smiled at the person who had found their way into the bakery "no murder taking place, just fantastic baked goods." she chuckled.

Tagged: @msmelissalin​​​​

Location: Westminster

Bodyguards were superfluous in his opinion–– unneeded and deeply unwanted after a lifetime of being shuffled to and fro like a fragile vase. However, in light of recent events, Kosta was not to be argued with and Mikhail preferred to evade the ongoing line of proverbial and literal fire. So they flanked his movements like the irritating shadows they were, right up until he ordered them to stand indefinitely outside of this makeshift office. To their credit, they only failed to obey when the Rutherford Second requested a rare audience with him.

“Melissa Lin on my doorstep.” Figuratively and decidedly not a question. He’d never allow her entrance to his actual home, but this location remained detached enough to field a little chat. “To what do I owe this visit? Is my brother sending your calls to voicemail?”

💬 [ @cr4shjackets ]

❝  we’ve all done the worst kinds of things just to stay alive. but we can still come back, we’re not too far gone. ❞ 

For: @erdogan-nevra​

When: Mid December, 2022. 

Where: Limo, on route to Haringey. 

The limo rolled along the London streets, falling to a halt of a stop as they hit the traffic lights on their way to Haringey. The achromatic sky was a tell tale sign of the mood that hung heavily between Melissa and her protégé. They knew what needed to be done, the sacrifices worth it once their goal had been completed. But at what cost? There were certain innocence that should remain untouched and even Melissa felt that sickness bubbling in the pit of her stomach like a boiling cauldron.

Benjamin rolled his neck, tension sitting at the nape. For most what was coming would have brought a sheen of sweat, but he was bone dry. His mind was clear, the mission sitting at the forefront, silence sitting on his lips while the burning sensation of Melissa’s eyes could be felt. He knew this was her call, yet there seemed to be something amiss in her this day. 

‘’You sure about this?’’ He asked, voice low. 

She did not utter words in response, instead giving a curt nod. He knew that was all he was going to get out of her, flickering his gaze to Nevra. How much did she know? It was a prowling thought; he knew how Melissa liked to keep things under wraps until people needed to know. Sometimes walking in darkness was better than knowing too much. Because the truth was sometimes a lot worse than the reality humans preferred to live with. 

Benjamin was a cold hearted monster, much like the woman he adored so much. So he pressed back into his seat, chin held high, letting his eyes wander to the passing streets. His mind drifting to a different time, where his mothers laugh had lit up his day. Now there was only a dull silence of what was. 

Melissa looked to Nevra, face avoid of emotion, stoic in nature. ‘’Thank you for joining us, and sorry I’ve been so quite on the specifics.’’ She wasn’t sorry, she’d watched as the woman had thrown herself into the ring for Berat. Felt that disgust rise up her throat like bile. ‘’As you’ve probably guessed we’re on our way to Haringey.’’