#anika snow
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Ugghhh it's almost noon I should do something
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youtube
LEGO Disney Princess: The Castle Quest | Official Trailer | Disney+
The Disney Princesses are back! Well, five of them at least. Rapunzel, Moana, Ariel, Tiana, and Snow White team up to battle Gaston as he wrests the trident of King Triton in his bid for conquest.
From a fan's Twitter post:
Returning voices: Jodi Benson as Ariel, Auli'i Cravalho as Moana, Mandy Moore as Rapunzel, Anika Noni Rose as Tiana, Richard White as Gaston, Joanne Worley as Wardrobe. New voices: Katie Von Till as Snow White. Corey Burton as Magic Mirror. Jim Cummings as King Triton (he did voiced [sic] Triton in the sequels)
Coming to Disney+ on August 18.
#Lego#Disney#Disney Princess#LEGO Disney Princess: The Castle Quest#Rapunzel#Moana#Tiana#Ariel#Snow White#Gaston#King Triton#Magic Mirror#Mandy Moore#Auli'i Cravalho#Jodi Benson#Anika Noni Rose#Katie Von Till#Richard White#Joanne Worley#Corey Burton#Jim Cummings#Disney+#Disney Plus#Youtube
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What's Left Unsaid | Frozen Fanfiction
Rating: T
Tags: Snow sisters, Hurt/comfort, Angst (with a happy ending!), mAU, not the best family in the planet, grieving, dealing with very sensitive issues haha :^), 100% set and made in Argentina bc the author believes in argie supremacy.
Summary: After their parents’ sudden death, Elsa’s life went through a lot of changes. Like getting to live again with her little sister, Anna, or processing the fact that she wouldn’t need the cold to protect her from the flames anymore.
Chapter 1: Here Chapter 2: Here Chapter 3: Here Chapter 4: here Chapter 5: Here Chapter 6: Here Chapter 7: Here
Chapter 8 | The Cemetery |
A lil’ snippet:
The day, like most of the week, was sunny. Beach-like breeze, not a single cloud in the sky, the intensity of the sun drying all signs of humidity from early morning rains, and a temperature that seemed to be around twenty four degrees.
The perfect weather for a cemetery visit.
Read the full chapter at AO3 | FFN
You can also read it in Spanish
#frozen#frozen fanfiction#elsa#anna#snow sisters#elsa and anna#frozen fanfic#fanfiction#frozen au#ao3 fanfic#modern au#whats left unsaid#anika writes#yes yes this is wlu
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thinking about "i'm safe" today.
(this is from episode 3x05 of Super Ordinary, our super powered fiction podcast where powers are tied to mental health. you can listen to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or find the show on your favorite podcast app here)
#super ordinary#fiction podcast#harvey shaw#anika song#briggon snow#miya kodama#audio drama#writing#script#super ordinary podcast
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Hey!! Can u write a story inspired by “Snow on the beach” with Taylor and Lana ofc bc they r the music industry. Love ya!!
𝐬𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡- 𝐞.𝐥
𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: when you and ethan fall for each other, a new feeling that only can be described as snow on the beach emerges
𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: none
𝐚/𝐧: i love lana and taylor so yk i had to fill this request! if you requested something earlier, i am working on it now! also this should be gender neutral, but its my first time writing for a gn reader so I might have messed up! 💗💕
you walked down the dimly lit street with your friends, while having an amazing time. however, something inside you still felt empty. you wanted someone you love you the way you had loved others. you had a couple partners in the past years, but most were hookup buddies or toxic, if we’re being honest.
unbeknownst to you, across the empty street, was a man who had been craving love, the same way you did. he walked behind his friends, who were in seemingly perfect relationships. his roommate chad was laughing with tara, while mindy was holding hands with anika. sam was absent from their meetup, probably with her boyfriend, danny.
as fate would have it, the two strangers would see each other again in the near future.
tara and you had met through a shared class, and quickly became good friends. one friday, during study period, she invited you to a frat party that she was attending with her friends later that night. you agreed, and soon you were laughing your asses off, half drunk, while walking to the house it was hosted at.
chad had seen you around campus, and your kind-hearted personality and gorgeous looks made him think you and ethan were a perfect match. once he heard you were showing up to the party with tara, he knew he had to set you and ethan up.
the two boys waited for you and tara’s arrival. chad had told ethan about you, and ethan immediately recognized your name. you were extremely intelligent, and he had plenty of classes with you. he doubted that you would even look his direction, but chad begged to differ. he spent the next few minutes hyping ethan up, until you arrived.
tara looked around the crowded rooms of the building, searching for her boyfriend. once she spotted him, she grabbed your wrist and dragged you with her. the house was filled with drunk, sweaty college students, and the aroma made you gag.
“chad!” tara exclaimed, letting go of your hand to enthusiastically hug him. “this is my friend y/n!”
you look at the boys, and are immediately caught off guard by the taller ones beauty. you quickly introduce yourself to them, before meeting eyes with ethan.
“ethan, right? i think we have econ together.” you say, eagerly awaiting his response. he was surprised you knew his name, let alone recognized him.
“uh, yeah! i’m pretty sure i’ve seen you around the school before.” he nervously responds, fidgeting with his hands.
“mhm! if im being honest, I literally have no clue what we’re doing in that class.” you reply, trying to start a conversation. chad and tara look at each other with a smile, knowing you and the boy would be getting along well.
“oh, i could totally help! not to flex, but im pretty good at econ. i could help tutor you or something, i mean maybe if you wanted to.” he offers, and you smile and agree. you exchange numbers and begin studying together every tuesday and thursday.
after a few weeks of strictly schoolwork, you start to hang out together more, as friends instead of tutor and tutuee. it started off as going out with the group, but you slowly began spending one on one time with each other.
you were currently having your first sleepover together, as friends of course. you and him were attempting to make homemade cookies, and lets just say it wasn’t going well.
“eth, how much sugar did you pour into the batter…?” you ask, noticing the extreme sweetness while tasting.
“I don’t know, like four cups? thats what you told me.” he continues mixing, unaware of the situation.
“ethan!! i said two cups you dipshit!!” you say, now laughing at his silly mistake.
“what?! you did not!! i mean, it cant taste that bad, right?” he dips his finger in the sugary substance, and immediately regrets tasting it. he starts laughing too, to the point of tears. it really wasn’t that funny, but seeing you laugh just made him fill with joy.
truth was, he was falling for you. and he had a sneaky suspicion that you felt the same. however, this state of your relationship was heavenly, and he wouldn’t dare to ruin anything by attaching a label.
he had never fallen in love with a person who truly loved him back, so this was very new to him. it was an ethereal experience, and he lacked the words to describe it.
if he had to however, he would compare it to snow on the beach. god it was weird, and yet somehow so beautiful. it was like watching a romantic movie, and he was the star.
little did he know, soon you would start dating, and this unique feeling would never go away. in other words, the snow on the beach never seemed to melt.
taglist- @nowitsmissing, @nikoschrissis, @lvndryyhoe, @ieattoesforbreakfqst, @sevenheavxns, @wonderstruck4llthew4yhome, @imkillmyselfxoxo, @lumaxstans-blog, @ilovejackchampionnn, @hyeyulove, @jackchampiongf13, @sebastiansallowsgf, @michaelangdonsslut, @1212valee, @teenagedramaqueenlisa, @fherlima, @kate4katie, @itsb3a2, @maybankfr
some names wouldn’t let me tag :(
#ethan landry#jack champion#ethan landry angst#ethan landry smut#ethan landry x reader#jack champion x reader#jack champion x y/n#jack champion x actress! reader#fanfic#masterlist#liv’s writing !
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would it be so cool if we got a mutual pining yandere ethan fic🤭🤭🤭🤭
Yesss omg i love this idea 😍 I’m thinking of making this into parts so here is part 1!! it’s very brief and basic right now but there will be more
Mad(e) For You - Part I
Pairings: Yandere! Ethan Landry x Yandere! Reader
Warnings: None for now
Summary: You lived your life fine without him. So why now did you need him to live?
Word Count: 916
C/M = College Major
You can recall the exact moment you saw him for the first time. It was a cold night, the grounds were sprinkled with a thin layer of snow and the sky was fading into an orange pink haze. You sat in Sam’s dorm room, there wasn’t anything particularly interesting going on, everyone just sat around the television having their own conversations while you glanced from the television to the window in order to resolve some boredom. Suddenly, the door clicked, and Chad trodded in, holding a few plastic bags on his arms, but the cheap Chinese takeout didn’t catch your eye, it was the person behind him. The person trailed behind Chad like a lost puppy, his eyes stayed glued to whatever was in front of him. Chad had a new roommate. Everyone else had met him, except you.
“Y/N meet Ethan, my new roomie” Chad announced, a big smile plastered on his face.
You offered Ethan a soft smile and a hello, but were too fixated on him to let any other words escape. He gave a quick awkward wave as his eyes scanned the room, he looked at Quinn, Sam and Tara, then Mindy to Anika, then to you.
You see at the time, you didn’t really know it, though you had a lingering suspicion, but Ethan was different. He was special. His brown doe eyes and his curly chocolate coloured locks that fell in front of his eyes, sure he was pretty to look at. But there was something about him that you wanted. During dinner, you couldn’t stop looking at him. What about him was so addicting? You didn’t even know who he was thirty minutes ago, so why now did you feel so addicted?
As the clock etched closer to midnight, a wave of exhaustion and sleepiness swept over you. The girls had already fallen asleep on the couch and you were about to as well.
“I think we might head off” Chad whispered, poking your shoulder.
“Uh-yeah, okay.” You yawned, watching as Ethan once again stood shyly behind Chad.
“You know I might walk with you, I live near you guys anyways” You mumbled, holding eye contact with Ethan.
“Mhm, good idea, probably better so you don’t have to walk alone” Chad answered, pulling his coat on.
Stepping outside on the snow covered steps, the night air was fresh and chilly which made you tug onto your coat just a bit tighter.
“So how far do you live from us?” Ethan allured
“Jus’ down the street, two or three minutes walk”
Ethan hummed in response, turning his face slightly to yours as you wiped the snow from the front of your hair.
“You want me to walk you back? Just so you’re not alone” He asked, nervously fidgeting his fingers.
You nodded, “thank you”
Chad walked ahead urgently, desperate to get home and out of the cold.
“Chad! I’m gonna walk Y/N home” He yelled out ahead.
“Yeah aight. Seeya tomorrow Y/N.” Chad called back, pushing open the door into the dormitory building.
You gave Chad a wave before the pair of you walked past him.
The first half of the walk filled with silence, well silence from you too at least. New York was never silent, the city never slept. So instead on focusing on the awkward silence you two emitted, you listened out for the lost sirens that echoed through the city and the sounds of distant voices, until, Ethan broke the silence.
“What do you study?” Ethan asked, stepping closer to you to close the distance.
“It’s boring, but C/M” You said somewhat embarrassed.
“Don’t say it’s boring, I think that’s pretty cool.” He spoke up
“Really?”
“Yeah. You should enjoy what you do. Plus, you’re the only person I know who does that now, so I think it’s pretty cool.” He remarked.
“I know I’m trying too, but it does get boring sometimes.”
“What do you study?” You simpered
“Economics.”
“Economics, nice. So you’re like good with numbers yeah?” You suggested.
“Uhh, well I wouldn’t say I’m good with numbers to be exact. I’d say I’m ‘okay’” He joked
“Well you’re probably heaps better than me” You kidded back.
The two of you conversed for another few minutes until you wound up on the steps of your dormitory building.
You pushed the hood of your coat off before locking eyes with Ethan, whose eyes were already glued to yours. Your heart began to pound in your chest, his voice was so soft and sweet and the way he looked at you made you obsessed. You wanted to make him yours and you wanted to be his.
“Want me to walk you inside?” He questioned, inches from your cold face.
Inside you wanted to scream yes, you wanted to take him back to your room and have him and make him yours. But, of course, he was probably just being friendly. He didn’t feel this intense obsession like you were feeling, right?
“It’s okay. I’m alright from here” You assured
“Alright. Well I should see you tomorrow?”
“Mhm yeah. After class with the others” You spoke, playing with the fingertips of your gloves.
“Okay, well, goodnight Y/N”
“Goodnight Ethan”
The moment you walked inside you ran straight to your laptop, scrambling to search his name on every piece of social media possible. You went through Chad’s followers and until you found the only Ethan that matched your Ethan. Ethan Landry.
You were going to make him yours.
#scream#scream 6#ethan landry#ethan landry x reader#scream ethan landry#scream x reader#imagines#series#ghostface#scream vi
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hi! i hope you’re doing good. you’re such an amazing writer and i’m a big fan of everything you post. could i maybe request something with ethan and the song “snow on the beach” please? i feel that ethan falling in love would feel like this song. i’m also obsessed with the vibes of the song. thank you so much! have a nice day
hi!! thank you so much 🥰 snow on the beach is such an underrated song. the whole vibe and the lyrics are super cute. hope you like what i wrote 🤍
snow on the beach — ethan landry
word count: 1,511
pairing: ethan landry x fem!reader
based on: snow on the beach by taylor swift
Y/N AND ETHAN HAD PROBABLY PASSED BY EACH OTHER UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM COUNTLESS OF TIMES. They went to the same university, had friends in common, went to the same parties, and yet they had never been introduced to each other. Until the Halloween party, where Y/N stumbled upon a boy dressed as a bare-chested cowboy, who happened to be Chad.
“Y/N! My good friend!” the tall boy embraced the girl dressed as a cheerleader.
“Get your nipples out of my face.” Y/N laughed, pulling away. She eyed the appearance of her friend “Slutty cowboy? Of course.”
“Oh, you’re one to talk cheerleader, only the most used costume of all times.” the boy rolled his eyes.
Y/N rolled her eyes “It’s not any cheerleader, it’s-“
“The cheerleader from Murder Party.” Ethan blurted out, without meaning to barge into the conversation. He blushed when the unknown girl set her eyes on him.
“Oh, Y/N, this is my roommate, Ethan. Eth, this is Y/N, the friend I told you about. The one obsessed with horror movies.” Chad introduced them.
“Now that is a good costume. Take notes, Chad.” the bubbly girl said. Ethan was dressed as the main character of Murder Party. “It’s so nice to meet you, Ethan. Your costume is truly amazing, where’d you get it?”
Ethan couldn’t help but smile. Not only she has been the only person at this party to not look at him as if he had the most ridiculous costume of all, but she actually knew who he was dressed as. That girl was awesome.
“Thank you! I made it.” he said, for the first time in the night, proudly. “You look amazing in your outfit… I mean, the costume looks amazing. Not that you don’t look amazing, because you do.” he eyed her up and down, breath hitching as he caught how the top hugged her upper body perfectly and how the flowy skirt ended by her mid thighs. “You really do.”
“I think she’s got the point, man.” Chad patted him on the chest.
“Thanks, Ethan.” she grinned widely, and he spotted the dimple on her left cheek. She was stunning. “I really have to go, but it was so nice to meet you. Hopefully, I’ll see you around?”
“Yeah, sure. Absolutely.” Ethan nodded, a bit sad that she had to leave. He hoped she meant it, that ‘hopefully’.
“Great. Bye, boys” Y/N said right before walking away.
“She’s lovely, isn’t she?” Chad asked his wonderstruck friend, who still had his gaze on the spot Y/N had been mere seconds ago.
“Yeah, she is.” he smiled to himself.
CHAD CURSED HIMSELF FOR NOT HAVING THOUGHT ABOUT IT BEFORE, FOR NOT REALIZING EARLIER WHAT A GREAT MATCH Y/N AND ETHAN COULD BE. But he was aware of it now, and made it his goal to be sure they spent more time together—hence why he invited Y/N to have lunch with them at the campus.
“I invited Y/N, is that okay?” Chad asked as they sat on a table outside.
“Of course, we love Y/N” Mindy answered, and Tara and Anika nodded in agreement.
Chad looked at Ethan, who hadn’t said anything “Oh, yeah, of course. She’s cool.” he tried to say it in a calm voice, but the nervousness was clear.
“Man, it’s okay. No need to be nervous, I know you’ll get along well. You have lots of things in common.” Chad assured him.
From the distance, Ethan saw the girl approaching the table. She was wearing a black leather skirt, knee length black boots and a black shirt with a picture of Nightmare on Elm Street. She looked even more gorgeous than the night of the party.
“Hey, guys!” her sweet voice greeted them. She sat next to the only free spot on the bench, which was next to Ethan.
She took a quick look at the boy, and she swore everything just stopped for her. The night of the party, Ethan had been wearing a cardboard helmet that only showed a small part of his face. Now, she got the whole view and she definitely liked what she was seeing. Ethan was one—if not the—prettiest boy she had ever seen. With his soft brown curls, big mesmerising brown eyes, full lips, enchanting smile, broad shoulders and tall frame.
“How was the chem exam?” Mindy asked, pulling her out of the daydream that Ethan Landry’s appearance was.
“It was awful, thanks for asking.” the girl groaned. “Good news, the old cinema down the block is projecting old horror movies, so at least I get a distraction.”
Ethan’s curious gaze landed on her “What are they showing today?”
“Nightmare on Elm Street” she replied, pointing at her shirt.
Ethan smiled at her enthusiasm “Which one?”
“Dream warriors.” electricity ran through her body when she witnessed how the boy’s entire demeanour lit up at the answer. “Want to come with me?”
“Only if you want me to.” Ethan said nervously.
“I’d love to”
ONE HANG OUT IS ALL IT TOOK FOR BOTH OF THEM TO BECOME ADDICTED TO EACH OTHER’S PRESENCE. After seeing Dream Warriors, Ethan took the courage to invite her over to his dorm to watch the rest of the movies. Of course, Y/N didn’t hesitate to say yes, so they spent the whole night watching the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.
And after that day, Movie Friday became their unmovable plan. Every Friday night, Chad acted as if he was bothered when the two teenagers basically kick him out of his own dorm, but in reality he was glad of the thing his friends got going on.
“These movies are so good, but what an awful name. Could’ve put a bit more thought to it, couldn’t them?” Y/N said as they watched Stab.
“What would you call them?” Ethan asked, putting some popcorn on his mouth.
Y/N pursed her lips, thinking for a couple of seconds. “Maybe Scream?”
“That sounds good” Ethan agreed, and they continued watching the movie. The boy’s back was killing him, and when he moved to grab the remote, a pain shoot on his right shoulder making him groan in pain.
“What’s wrong?” the concerned girl paused the movie.
“My back hurts a bit.” he replied between teeth.
“Why don’t you change position? You can lay your head on my lap if you want to.” she offered, before realizing she was wearing a very short skirt, but it was too late to back off the offer.
Ethan nodded, and his left cheek soon made contact with her bare thighs. He almost let out a sigh of delight, he had never felt more at peace—with her skin embracing his like silk sheets and the soft touch of her fingers trying to ease the pain on his back by massaging his muscles so gently that his eyes threatened to close.
“You’re making me fall asleep.” Ethan mumbled, his face now looking up at her.
“You can sleep, I won’t get mad. I know you had an intense day today. We can finish the rest of the movies other day.” she whispered. He mumbled something that sounded like ‘closing’, ‘eyes’, ‘bit’, and then his eyes fluttered close.
Y/N’s loving gaze explored his delicate features with concentration. Ethan looked like an angel, his eyes closed and eyelashes so long that they touched his cheekbones. His lips were slightly parted, and they had never looked more kissable.
Every minute she spent with Ethan felt like flying in a dream. It was a feeling Y/N had never experienced—it was weird, but beautiful. It was all around them, the magic that filled the air when they were in each other’s presence. She was falling for Ethan in free fall, and she wanted nothing more than to confess it. But the truth was that she couldn’t, she was afraid to jinx it. She didn’t even dare to wish it.
“What?” the now awoken boy asked with rosy cheeks and shy smile. “You were staring at me.”
Y/N looked him in the eyes, and she swore they were from another planet. She had never seen eyes so bewitching “Sorry. I bet I kinda look like a creep right now.”
“No” he chuckled. “I like it when you do it, no one has ever looked at me the way you do.”
“And how is that?” Y/N asked curiously.
“The same way I look at you… like you want me.” Ethan intertwined their fingers, and rested their hands on his chest, where Y/N could feel the accelerated beats of his heart through his shirt.
“I do want you. I like you a lot, Ethan.” Y/N raised their holding hands and pressed a kiss to his knuckles.
“I like you a lot too, Y/N.”
They smiled at each other brightly and widely, as if they had just won a contest. And when their lips connected, it was so perfect that they both couldn’t help but wondering if it was a dream. Love had always been something they saw on a screen, they had never felt it in real life. At least, not that intense. But this was a real thing, and now they were all for each other.
#ethan landry#ethanlandry#ethan landry fluff#ethan landry fic#ethan landry oneshot#ethan landry x you#ethan landry x y/n#ethan landry x reader#jack champion#jack champion x reader#jack champion x y/n#jack champion oneshot#jack champion imagine#jack champion fluff#jack champion fanfic#scream iv#scream fanfic#ethan landry drabble#jackchampion#ethan landry angst
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closed starter for @redstarsandnightmares
It was cold. The guards had woken Anika before dawn; dragging her out of her cot despite her willingness to cooperate lest she be beaten, they had taken her out of the tiny building that had been her home for 20+ years and marched her to the main building of the compound. Her violet eyes lifted to the sky and saw nothing but hues of gray as thick, wet snow fell all around them. It was quickly beginning to pile up, and she marvelled at the tiny crystals in her vision as the snowflakes froze in her dark eyelashes.
As they continued down the path, their boots crunched in the snow, leaving perfect imprints of the designs on the soles that were made to grip the ground and prevent them from slipping. Since she didn't have a coat, the air bit at Anika's face, leaving her nose and cheeks red while her body trembled. They had grabbed her, still in her normal clothes which consisted of black fleece leggings, a loose gray longsleeve sweater, and a black tanktop beneath that. Soon enough, the guards were opening the door to the main building, and pushed her inside; she stumbled and then quickly regained her footing, the warmth hitting her like a wall.
"This way." The guard grunted in their native tongue of Russian, and she nodded in compliance as he gestured towards the end of the hall. With one man in front of her and the other behind her, they marched her to a thick metal door that had several industrial strength locks on the outside as well as a retinal scanner. The first guard leaned down and opened his eye wide; his eye was scanned and accepted, and the locks disengaged. The man stepped to the side and grabbed Anika by her wrist, jerking her inside and then pushing her as he backed away and shut the door, sealing it behind her.
Anika looked behind herself, the violet of her irises swirling like storm clouds as a confused expression flitted over her features. What was she supposed to do here? She hadn't received any commands, nor had they briefed her on a mission. This seemed to be a training room, she noted as she looked down; the floor was covered in a firm, thick padding that was meant to cushion blows only so that there would be minimal damage. After a moment, she turned around to take in the rest of the room.
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[CN] Victor’s Cold Winter Date (Eng Translation)
⌚Warning⌚ This post contains detailed spoilers for a date, 凛冬之约, that is yet to be released on the global server! ♡
[Translation under the cut]
•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•
【Subbed Video】
[anika’s notes]: I do very very very highly recommend to watch the video for full immersion + absolute god-level voice acting + the gorgeous music pieces!!! ༼;´༎ຶ ༎ຶ༽
youtube
—
【Prologue】
I behold
My homeland disappear in the daylight, and emerge in the night.
I behold
The everlasting power engrain within the vast blood of my people.
I behold
A snow-white rose bloom in the winter,
And I behold as it withers in the winter
– each petal sailing across the ocean,
To a kingdom no one can reach.
—
•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•
—
【Chapter 1】
As the night gradually deepens, the heavy curtains in front of the window are drawn by the attendants, veiling the silvery, meandering moonlight.
I take a deep breath and push open the doors to the royal bedchamber engraved with a luxurious imperial coat of arms.
Inside the bedchamber, my newly wedded husband, King Victor, is fast asleep.
Not long ago, at the behest of my father, Duke William, I was betrothed to Victor.
Regrettably, before the ceremony could be held, my parents died of ailing health.
However, the wedding was not delayed due to the unexpected tragedy, and the ceremony proceeded as scheduled, with the Church as witness.
After all, to those people, what mattered the most was not the protagonists of the wedding, but the wedding ceremony itself.
–– That’s right, it’s not just me; even the king, Victor, is not held with significance in their eyes.
After all, it’s known to everyone in the capital that the royal family’s influence is eroding with each passing year. And since Victor succeeded to the throne, he remains in a coma all year round and is merely a puppet in the hands of the Church and nothing more.
The elusive fragrance of beeswax pervades the air in the room. I step on the soft woolen carpet and draw closer to the bedside. [1]
Lately, the capital has been shrouded in a haze of doubts and suspicion regarding the disappearance cases, and it was not the appropriate time for grandeur. Therefore, after the hasty wedding, I was ushered into the imperial palace.
And tonight marks the third night I’m spending alongside His Majesty, the King, who’s been in a state of perennial coma.
Victor is still in a deep slumber.
The light from a few candles illuminates one side of his profound features, while the lingering shadows dance across his face as if with fondness.
Throughout the generations, the kings have always been in robust health. But during Victor’s reign, his health has been continuously plagued with illness.
It seems even the gods cannot bear to be too cruel to him. His illness has only brought a touch of frailty but has not marred his looks.
I inhale softly and sit on the edge of the bed, propping my chin up as I gaze at Victor in his slumber.
MC: ...why are you still sleeping?
I’ve already started to grow accustomed to this— the bedchamber echoing only my own whispered monologues.
MC: I thought the Church was so wary of you because you had some secrets that were unknown to the outsiders.
MC: Now it seems your biggest secret is that you were born this good-looking.
I crack a joke to myself, which also lightens my mood considerably.
MC: When I think about it this way, being married to you is far better than being forced by the Church to marry one of those evil, rotten old men.
In addition, within the palace, at least, there are no hypocritical relatives and those ever-watchful eyes—
I have enough space to contemplate my plan for revenge.
MC: Revenge... revenge...
MC: But how can I go about taking revenge on the Church...
Clutching a corner of Victor’s blanket, I cover my face with it in anguish.
The Church conspired to murder my parents.
Because my father was a leader of the reformist faction, they extended their malicious hands targeting my family.
And this marriage, which was arranged by my parents, is now being wielded as a means to threaten my life.
As I ponder on this, the resentment in my heart swells. I heave a sigh, deciding to change my mood and say something interesting.
I sporadically recount some happy and entertaining anecdotes from the past, treating Victor as a well-behaved “sleeping beauty doll.”
MC: ...in autumn, you know, there wasn’t much to do. Winter, in comparison, was way more fun.
MC: When I was young, what I loved doing the most was building little snowmen in the courtyard of the duke’s mansion after it snowed. Look, I could make them this big—
Of course, Victor can’t see any of this, and there’s no hope for a response either. After mustering the spirit to prattle on for a while, all I am left with is endless emptiness.
I tug at the corners of my lips, forcing a smile, and as if driven by some strange impulse, I reach out and poke Victor’s face, wishing to get him to have the same expression as me.
MC: Sigh, it’s no fun. I won’t say anything more.
??(Victor): Why won’t you say anything more?
An icy voice suddenly sounds in my ears, carrying with it the raspiness of just being awakened.
I turn my head and nearly let out a scream.
MC: Y-Your Majesty... when did you...! [2]
I’m not sure when, but Victor has regained consciousness at some point. Leaning on a soft pillow, he rubs his temple with one hand.
Victor: I’m conscious, not revived back to life.
MC: ... I’ll sincerely obey Your Majesty’s command!
In a low voice, I respectfully offer him a curtsy. Victor seems to find my behavior amusing, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Victor: The term of address was “you” even just a moment ago. A certain someone changed her tune rather quickly. [3]
MC: I’m not “a certain someone,” I am...
Victor: I know, Duke William’s only daughter.
MC: [surprised] Eh...?
Victor: At the age of seven, you received a scolding for building a snowman with the servants. When you were nine, you had a quarrel with a parrot and suffered a crushing defeat––
MC: Wait a minute, you... you heard all of that?
Victor: You’re too noisy. It’d be hard not to hear, [breaks into a coughing fit] cough, cough...
His words are cut off by a cough. I hastily pour a cup of water and offer it to him under his scrutinizing gaze, keeping silent.
I can’t help but break into a cold sweat.
Could it be that... all the past events I casually mentioned, all those self-deprecating remarks, and even... did he really listen to everything?
But, two days ago, when I plucked up the courage to poke his face, he didn’t react at all... So, when did he actually become conscious?
A vague, looming sense of oppression involuntarily makes me shrink my neck, and I tentatively open my mouth.
MC: ...you know about everything regarding me?��
He tilts his jaw slightly upwards, studying my features. His eyes are submerged in the shadows cast by the candlelight, reminiscent of a predator in the dark night.
A good while passes before he eventually accepts the cup, speaking in a tone that is neither amiable nor impassive.
Victor: I do.
I nod and, after a rapid mental calculation, make up my mind. I take a step forward, wearing a small smile on my face as I speak.
MC: Including the fact that I was sent as a spy by the Church?
Victor: [seemingly chokes on water] …
Victor: Are you aware of what you’re saying?
MC: Yes, I’m aware.
I wish to work together with the king to bring down the Church.
And when working with a person like Victor, being transparent and honest is the first principle.
I crouch down at the edge of the bed, looking up at Victor from below.
MC: Your Majesty, I don’t want to hide anything from you.
MC: Prior to our nuptials, my parents were brutally attacked by the Church due to their advocacy for the reformation of the Church.
MC: The Church, to exploit my worth, spared my life and assigned me to spy on you.
Victor arches an eyebrow, clearly still assessing the credibility of my words.
Victor: Continue.
I press my lips together and lower my head, trying to convey my utmost sincerity.
MC: ... I’m unsure of to what extent you know about me, but I’ve never once considered surrendering to the enemies who murdered my parents.
MC: Now, in terms of both sentiment and reason, we are a family, and I cannot betray my husband.
MC: So... Your Majesty, will you take me under your wings?
I blink my eyes at him with a pitiful look, not knowing whether Victor would buy into it.
Victor: …
As if in need of a moment to compose himself, Victor seems to momentarily avert his eyes before he turns them back to me again.
Victor: Family... you seem to have accepted your new identity quite readily.
MC: Besides you, what else do I have to rely on?
MC: On the contrary, even after hearing my confession, if you’re unwilling to help me, I don’t have anything to lose.
I flutter my eyes at Victor.
MC: Your Majesty, I’ve already got nothing left to lose.
Victor holds a straight gaze on me. In his eyes, while there is finally a hint of recognition, it’s more as if he is peering into the past through me.
Victor: ...I will help you.
His well-defined hand sweeps my loose hair strands back for me. But before I can breathe a sigh of relief, the next second, my chin is cupped and pivoted to face him.
Victor: The prerequisite is that you can offer sufficient value to me.
His grip is surprisingly strong for someone who has just regained consciousness. As our eyes interlock, his penetrating gaze intently scrutinizes my innermost thoughts.
Victor: In your eyes, your husband, whom you’d never met before, is nothing more than a puppet who remains in coma year-round, isn’t that right?
Victor unfolds his hand to me, revealing a gem as vividly red as the human heart in his pallid palm, and then he encloses his hand—
In the blink of an eye, the signs of illness are shed off his face, and a rosy hue colors his cheeks, and he seems to be bathed in a divine light.
MC: This is... do you know witchcraft?!
Victor places the gem back in its case, then casts a brief look in my direction, apparently turning a deaf ear to what I’ve said.
Victor: This doesn’t concern you.
He slowly curls his lips, and his pupils, akin to the deep sea in the darkness, are as profound and enigmatic.
Victor: There’s a set of clothing on the bedside table. If you want to prove that you’re not just a noble canary—
Victor: Tomorrow morning, change into it and accompany me out of the palace.
──────────
[Notes]:
[1] Beeswax is often considered a symbol of “eternal love” in Eastern cultures.
[2+3] During her monologues in the 1st quarter of the date, MC was addressing Victor by “你” (informal ver. of ‘you’) pronoun. But the moment he butts in, i.e., gains consciousness, MC immediately switches to “您” (courteous/ respectful ver. of ‘you’) and the respectful address “Your Majesty,” which he teases her about here, haha.
Point to be noted: MC doesn’t switch back to the informal terms of addresses until the 3rd chapter of the date, when they’re already in love and inseparable for the time being. ༎ຶ‿༎ຶ
—
•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•
—
【Chapter 2】
While I’m still struggling with myself, Victor has already closed his eyes again.
Victor: You can sleep anywhere you want; just don’t make any noise.
MC: ...Yes, Your Majesty!
The idea of having this mysterious and aloof king sleeping next to my pillow feels more chilling to me than freezing in the cold itself.
I don’t hesitate at all. I swiftly grab a pillow from the bed and get prepared to spend the night on the sofa.
But it turns out I actually overestimated my ability to withstand the cold. Before the clock hands have even moved a few notches, I quietly tiptoe back to the bed, hugging the pillow.
MC: [to herself] It’s just that the weather is too cold. I just want to feel a bit nice and warm—
With a huff, I murmur in a soft voice and gently lift the coverlet to slip inside.
Once I’ve got my body settled comfortably, I cautiously look towards the person on the pillow next to me.
Victor isn’t awakened by my movements. Even in the darkness of the night, his skin is luminously white, his features handsome— he is reminiscent of a sculpture crafted from snow.
Considering this person’s track record of feigning sleep, I simply watch him quietly without making any more rash moves.
As I continue watching like this, my mind inexplicably begins to wander.
Although just moments ago, I kept addressing him as “my husband” repeatedly, when I look at Victor’s cold and handsome demeanor, I always find it difficult to connect him with that identity.
In my impression, the image of a husband and wife is like that of my parents. So, in the future, will Victor and I also be joined at the hip and inseparable like that?
Thinking about that reserved and unsmiling face, I can’t help but get chills.
In his eyes, I seem to be nothing more than a “useful person.” But what value can I provide for him?
The more I ponder, the more my head throbs, and it’s not until the horizon starts to turn slightly pale that I eventually drift into sleep.
──────────
With the break of dawn, I promptly get out of bed and change my attire. Victor has woken up as well.
Seemingly noticing the dark circles under my eyes, he arches an eyebrow, lifts his hand, and tosses a cloak over to me.
Victor: It seems like while your courage is not at all small, your confidence sure is lacking.
MC: I just don’t wish to unnecessarily show off in front of you.
I fasten the cloak tightly and purposely straighten my neck.
MC: Your Majesty, please lead the way.
We exit the palace through a small gate, cross through the commoner’s district, and Victor leads me straight into a small house.
──────────
Going from the small house into the cellar, and after navigating through a labyrinth of winding pathways, the cramped field of view suddenly opens up to a wide panorama.
Everyone: Your Majesties.
I never anticipated that the entire hall would actually be filled with guards, all standing in a perfectly ordered formation.
— To pull together an assembly of so many armed personnel, Victor must have spent a substantial amount of time, hasn’t he?
I’m hardly able to restrain my inner shock as I think back to the frequent news in recent years of nobles associated with the close-knit sects being removed from power or inexplicably meeting tragic ends. Now, it seems...
Every single person, myself included, severely underestimated this “dying” king standing before me.
At this moment, Victor picks something up from the long table, and it’s only now do I notice that there are all kinds of torture equipment laid out on the table.
The appearance of these torture instruments is menacing, and at their tips, dried blood remnants are still visible.
Practically, the moment I get a good look at them, the reeking of blood and rust assaults my nostrils. I subconsciously cover my nose and mouth, tightly gripping the cuff of my sleeve.
Subordinate: Reporting to Your Majesty, these are the “refining” equipment we found at the scene.
Subordinate: But those people are as cautious as rats at dusk; we’ve only found these pieces of material evidence so far. The remains of the blood sacrifice are still being sought.
Victor nods calmly, and once the arrangements are made, the guards depart in an orderly manner through various secret passageways.
Victor and I are the only ones remaining in the large hall. I make a conscious effort to restrain myself from looking at those torture instruments, regulating the rhythm of my breathing.
MC: Your Majesty, did you bring me here to witness something so horrifying to disclose some kind of truth to me?
Victor: Face has turned pale, but still got some courage.
A smile tinged with what appears to be praise appears on his face, as he takes out from his bosom the gem that resembles a human heart from last night.
The crimson light radiating from the gem spreads across his cheeks, eerie yet bewitching.
Victor: The purpose of all these blood sacrifices is to provide energy for this “Blood King Crystal.”
My eyes widen in incredulity as I stare at the pulsating vivid red in his hand, sensing a faint inkling of what it might signify.
MC: When you hold this Blood King Crystal, your complexion appear rosier, and you don’t cough as much...
MC: Could it be that the Church officials want to extract energy from commoners to enhance their physical strength?
Victor: Not the Church; it’s the Royal Family.
Victor doesn’t shy away from nodding his head. He stares fixedly at the red gem that provides him with strength, but in his eyes, there is only icy coldness.
Victor: The vitality and longevity of successive kings across the dynasties were all due to their possession of the “Blood King Crystals” that were assembled from the lives of countless ordinary people.
Victor: The Church refines it, and the Royal Family uses it, thus resulting in the Royal Family being controlled by the Church from then on.
Victor: And anyone who uncovers this secret will die.
My thoughts go back to my parents, as well as the reformist cabinet ministers— could it be that they all had...?
My heart immediately falls into a valley.
I close my eyes for a moment, then fix my gaze firmly on the unwavering king before me, a king who has endured extreme hardships and made sacrifices to stand where he is now. [4]
MC: Your Majesty, currently, there is a significant following of the Church among the populace. We must find the evidence of the blood sacrifices and bring it to light for everyone to see.
MC: I will carry on my parents’ legacy and work alongside you to find evidence of the Church’s blood sacrifices.
In those forever serene eyes of Victor’s, I see the glint of a smile.
Victor: [assuredly with obvious happiness] It appears you’ve perfectly inherited the chivalry and wisdom of Duke William.
MC: Well... it’s not entirely that. Whether in public or private matters, it’s only right that I stand by your side.
I wink at him, half-jokingly breaking the somewhat somber atmosphere.
MC: After all, I’m not only the daughter of Duke William. I am your wife and, more importantly, the queen of this country.
Victor: Is that right? It doesn’t seem to me that a certain someone possesses the temperament of a queen.
MC: Regarding that... I will work hard, so you can’t keep teasing me all the time.
Victor laughs in spite of himself and reaches out his hand, gesturing for me to take his arm.
Victor: [laughs helplessly] Very well. My Queen, we should return now.
──────────
After coming out of the subterranean passageway, we follow the same path back. We were in a hurry when we came here. It’s only now do I take notice of the surroundings.
In the nearby roadside, peddlers are selling fresh produce, while in the distant square, a group of less fortunate are circled around a fire, warming themselves and singing songs.
The streets in the commoner’s district are intersected, narrow, poverty-stricken yet bustling with life, in stark contrast to the overwhelming dead silence of the royal palace.
I hardly ever left the mansion, so I find myself unable to resist taking in the surroundings repeatedly.
Victor: Does the Duke’s daughter find these things interesting?
MC: ...no, no, I’m just looking around in passing, that’s all!
Victor’s hand offhandedly adjusts a corner of my cloak. He takes a long stride, veering from the route back to the palace and heading in a different direction.
Victor: That path is too narrow. Let’s stroll this way and get some fresh air.
We slowly stroll along, taking in the surroundings as we walk. Not far ahead, there is a dilapidated small tavern. Victor gestures for me to take a look.
Victor: I just suddenly recalled that you mentioned being curious when you were little and licking the snow with a fork.
Victor: During winter, the iron cups in the tavern also have an element of sweetness. You should try it some other time.
My scattered thoughts, fluttering around like wild and untamed grass, suddenly drop to the ground, and I can’t help but choke.
MC: ...Your Majesty, are you teasing me?
There is a slight curve at the tip of Victor’s brow as he gently curls the corners of his lips into a smile.
Victor: [laughs softly] Perhaps I am, or perhaps, it is a sincere recommendation.
MC: Could it be that you’ve drawn that conclusion after experiencing it firsthand?
Victor: You could say that.
Seeing him take the bait, a massive smile spreads across my face.
MC: So, speaking of, does that mean that you’ve also stuck your tongue to an iron cup in the past?
Victor seems to choke on his words for a moment. He shoots me a wordless look and walks forward, paying no mind to me.
MC: [teasingly continues] So, did that really happen? Did it happen or not...
We’ve almost circled the area surrounding the palace. Victor is tall and has long legs, but from the beginning, he has maintained a matching pace with me, making it so that I can always touch his shoulder by simply turning sideways.
The weather is very cold today; my hands and feet are freezing, yet I deeply breathe in the bitingly chilly but liberating air.
Even though I cannot purchase any dubious items to bring back to the palace, and even though I know the end of this path leads to the imperial palace that holds me captive—
But perhaps because I have someone walking alongside me, I feel surprisingly at ease.
In my sight, obscured by the chilling breeze, I see Victor squatting down and petting a skinny kitten at the corner of the alley.
The cat stretches its body and lays down lazily under Victor’s hand, meowing. Victor smiles, and both of them then look at me together.
Victor: [extremely softly] The winters in the future won’t be as chilling anymore.
──────────
[Notes]:
[4] The idiom used here is “越王勾践,” which came to life from the true story of King Goujian. I’d encourage you guys to just even google and see the small wiki on him if you can. This idiom in and of itself is the essence of the date in terms of Victor’s perseverance, and how he imposes suffering on himself for the constant reminder of what it is he’s fighting for by refusing to use the “Blood King Crystal.”
—
•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•
—
【Chapter 3】
Victor soon announces the news of him regaining consciousness to the masses, sending waves of shock to everyone across the country.
Amidst the reigning turmoil among the Church and the nobles, he proposes visiting the prominent noble households.
In my capacity as the queen, I rightfully visit every noble residence with him, where we find numerous correspondences implicating the collusion between the nobles and the Church.
The nobles kept the letters for the purpose of blackmailing the Church, both sides engaging in mutual exploitation, but they never once considered that there could be one day when they’d have to face the consequences.
Using the letters as a starting point, a series of pivotal evidence regarding the Church’s blood sacrifice is unearthed through Victor’s thunderous methods.
I, on the other hand, use my identity as an orphan of the reformers to help him win over the newly elevated nobles. More and more people begin to rally to our side...
When a former subordinate of my father hands me a letter, as if in tacit agreement, both Victor and I simultaneously realize that the final piece of the puzzle has fallen into place.
It’s about time for the verdict to be pronounced.
──────────
Tomorrow, Victor will convene a National Convention to expose the crimes of the Church to the masses.
I can’t fall asleep, so I rise from the bed and pace around the bed chamber in my nightgown.
Victor: [laughs helplessly] If memory serves me right, the person set to address tomorrow is not the queen; it’s the king.
He is lying in bed with drowsy eyes. Turning towards me, he speaks in a low, raspy voice, infused with a teasing tone.
MC: ...I didn’t realize I’d wake you up despite the carpet being so thick. I guess I’ll just go outside and sleep elsewhere.
As I drape on my outer garment and am about to head outside the chamber, my wrist is suddenly gripped from behind, pulling me back onto the bed.
Victor: [in an overwhelmingly sensual tone] You’re the queen. Where do you plan on sleeping when you look like this?
Tangled up in my thoughts, I have tousled my hair, causing it to become disheveled. Victor sighs, who then picks up a comb and sits behind me.
Victor: [switches to an overwhelmingly tender tone] Dummy. What is there to be nervous about?
The moderate pressure on my hair pacifies my restless heart. I rub my ears, which have heated up, trying to shift the topic of conversation to conceal my shyness.
MC: In the past, when my father would go to visit the king, my mother would become anxious like this and often wouldn’t even be able to eat anything.
Victor: So, what would happen next? I’m afraid the duke probably wouldn’t let his duchess remain in a constant state of worry.
MC: Mm-hmm. Whenever this kind of situation arose, my father would always hold my mother’s hand...
As I speak, I immediately begin to regret it a little. It feels like I’m sending a rather awkward hint.
Without waiting for me to dwell on more embarrassing thoughts, Victor’s hand has already enveloped mine, and the warmth from his palm flows to my icy fingertips.
His temperature is reminiscent of dandelions in a garden, floating gently, landing on my face and neck.
We are the puppet king and queen, husband and wife in name only. Even though we reside together in the same bedchamber, we’ve never been this intimate.
I feel a sensation as if a feather quill is caressing my throat, making it impossible for me to conceal the true feelings harbored in my heart.
Reflexively, I tighten my grip on Victor’s hand and turn to face him.
MC: Victor, to be honest, even though I never mentioned it before, I used to think you were quite unfeeling.
Victor: There was no need to say it; it was written all over your face.
Victor: Also, not addressing me as “Your Majesty” anymore?
MC: In any case, you are not going to hold it against me now, will you?
MC: During this period of time that I’ve spent with you, running here and there together, I’ve come to realize in every passing moment that I hardly knew anything about you before.
MC: For instance, in the case of those Church henchmen, according to the old laws, their families should have been exterminated, but you chose to exercise your discretion and grant amnesty to those who were unaware.
MC: And regarding the commoners who have fallen victim to the blood sacrifice, you’ve been supporting their families with long-term financial aid.
MC: You always project an image of keeping people at a thousand-mile distance, but in reality, there is also a tender side to you.
A flicker of astonishment crosses Victor’s eyes, but he simply tightens his grip on my hand.
Victor: [with a very evident hesitation in his tone] It sounds like... getting to know me is something that brings you joy?
MC: Yes, it does. I wish to know you even better— the past you, the present you, and the future you.
I gaze deeply into his eyes.
MC: But you’re so encumbered by everything. I can only utilize the little time you set aside for me each day to learn about you amidst the calls of the people.
Victor: ...MC.
Victor’s eyes tighten, and a heartfelt and regretful emotion swirls within them.
MC: I don’t wish to rob you of your time because of my selfish desires.
MC: So, after the National Convention concludes, and when you’re no longer so busy...
I draw in a breath, low and slow. And like that, just like the first time I met him, I lay bare all my yearnings and affections before him.
MC: Reserve some time for me, will you? Not in your role as the king, but as my husband. Share your stories with me.
MC: Will you, Victor?
All my thoughts translate into clumsy words, pouring out like the way winter grass eagerly awaits spring rain, confessing everything I have in me.
Victor continues gazing at me like this, until that gaze of his becomes infused with almost sorrow and a reluctance to part.
Before I can decipher those cryptic code words, he has already cast his eyes downward, veiling the emotions within.
Is this a silent rejection? I exert myself to force a smile, intending to crack a joke to ease the situation, but then he speaks first.
Victor: [if a person’s voice alone could shatter one’s heart, I swear this would be it] There’s no need to wait till later. Let’s do it now.
In astonishment and jubilation, I look up, locking eyes with his sincere gaze.
On the night before the pivotal moment in destiny, I finally witness Victor’s wordless confession.
──────────
The following day, the National Convention proceeds as scheduled.
Attired in royal robes, Victor stands at the forefront. Below the platform, countless eyes, some treacherous and others devout, are all converged on him.
Victor: In my capacity as the king, I stand here only to declare one thing.
Victor: The mysterious disappearances in the capital over the years have all been caused by the Church.
The earth-shattering statement stirs up a commotion among the people, and the followers of the Church appear visibly unsettled.
Victor: The Church extracts energy for the “Blood King Crystal” through the massacre of civilians in blood sacrifice rituals.
Victor: As for the particulars, I will leave it to the Knight Commander to elucidate.
The attendants toss numerous sheets of paper into the crowd off the platform, each containing records of clear and unmistakable evidence.
In a matter of moments, the crowd transitions from initial silence to restlessness, ultimately erupting into an agitated uproar.
It turns out that the matter of the true culprit behind the disappearance cases has been an enduring emotional anchor for the people, completely overturning everyone’s cognition.
Some hurling curses, some wailing, and some even charging to express their scorn at the Church...
Amidst the chaos, only Victor’s voice, his calm and powerful words, continues forward with a steady resolve.
Crowd: Overthrow the Pope, give us back our people! Overthrow the Pope, give us back our people!
As the chants and shouts cease and amid the furious uproar of the crowd, the Pope, who is ringed, calmly casts a glance in Victor’s direction.
The Pope: Silence. Dear Compatriots.
The elderly Pope walks slowly to the center of the platform, an inscrutable and chilling smile playing on the layers of wrinkles on his face.
The Pope: His Majesty speaks the truth. The Church does indeed extract energy for the “Blood King Crystal,” and the blood sacrifice of civilians has truly occurred.
The Pope: However, all these casualties and deaths stemmed from the demands of the royal family!
The Pope: Throughout history, every king has relied on the “Blood King Crystal” to survive, and even our righteous and dignified king, His Majesty, is using it at this very moment!
The Pope: The very purpose of the “Blood King Crystal’s” existence is to secure the longevity of the king. Without a king, who will lead the country? How can the kingdom have a future?
The Pope raises the scepter high, directing it towards Victor.
The Pope: Your Majesty, the Church has been faithful and devoted to the Crown for all these years. As you pronounce judgment on the Church’s sins today, do you not feel a sense of guilt?
The wrath of the masses below the platform has no outlet after his manipulative and distorted speech, and their eyes shift to Victor.
Silent inquiries and judgments flood the eyes of the crowd, prepared to tear everything to shreds at any second.
The noble king, however, has maintained his impassive demeanor from the beginning. He lapses into a moment of silence, gazing into my eyes.
Amid the scrutiny of the spectators below, I lock my eyes with him, and in that gaze, I see the very same expression of unwillingness to part that I wasn’t able to discern last night.
But at this moment, I seem to understand its meaning.
Holding back the bitterness in my eyes, I take a step forward and speak in a loud voice.
MC: What the Pope said is true. The kings of the previous dynasties colluded with the Church for their personal gains, resulting in the slaughtering of civilians.
MC: However, the Blood King Crystal has never been a precious treasure, but rather a curse.
MC: As each king became more reliant on it, the health of the royal descendants suffered increasing repercussions, which led to an even deeper dependence on the Church.
MC: His Majesty has been working tirelessly to put an end to these nefarious activities, solely for the sake of the future of this country.
MC: As for the Blood King Crystal...
I close my eyes, my eloquent speech coming to an abrupt halt. This elicits puzzled murmurs from the crowd off the platform.
At this time, Victor walks to the forefront of the stage.
He retrieves the vivid red gem from his bosom, and the blinding luster falls on his chest, projecting an image as if blood were coursing through.
Victor: Behold, the Blood King Crystal.
Before anyone can comprehend, Victor swiftly exerts a slight force with his fingertips, and the Blood King Crystal instantly disintegrates into fine fragments in his hand.
Pope: You...!!
Countless crimson red powder, reminiscent of blood, streams out from between his fingers, and his complexion has already turned a shade of pallor.
The elixir of immortality, amassed from the sacrifice of countless human lives across generations of kings, the venomous sac upon which the Church depends for survival, has been completely eradicated before the eyes of everyone.
Victor: Those deserving of being brought to reckoning, not a single person will be spared.
Victor: That includes the Church, as well as the Royal family.
He unfurls the hand that holds the Blood King Crystal. His palm now only holds a thin layer of gemstone powder, and he allows it to be carried away by the northern breeze.
Victor: Henceforth, dust will return to the earth, and blood will be bestowed upon the people.
Victor: I shall personally redeem the filth that has accumulated for far too long.
—
•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─���───•
—
【Chapter 4】
In the wake of the National Convention, Victor instigates a series of reform policies to root out corruption, setting off a massive surge across the country.
He works tirelessly day and night, paying no heed to my attempts to dissuade him. There is an urgency in him that I don’t want to understand, a rush that drives him to get everything in order.
Throughout this time, I’ve been seeking out renowned physicians from everywhere, but all I’ve received are negative answers filled with a mix of dread and despair.
Until one day, he slips back into a coma again, and even the duration of his coma seems to be stretching longer and longer as the days elapse.
And all I can do, or more accurately, want to do, is simply to remain by his side.
With his eyelashes hanging low, a gentle shadow falls upon that beautiful yet pallid face, and it seems even his breathing has become very light.
As I gaze at Victor’s side profile in deep slumber, I can no longer find the same relaxed and carefree state of mind I had when I first stepped into the royal bedchamber.
He is no longer someone who could have confined me, the husband I had never met before, but rather my beloved with whom I have been through thick and thin together.
My only wish is for him to open his eyes and look at me, share some dry jokes, and then walk with me through the streets and alleys again and observe how people are living nowadays...
Victor’s life began wither away the instant the Blood King Crystal was shattered. All he can do now is expend every ounce of the remaining warmth.
He knew the consequences better than anyone else, yet he still orchestrated his own ending with his own two hands.
I remain by the bedside, tightly holding onto his hand. I can’t tell whether I’m trying to comfort him or myself.
MC: [sobbing] Victor...
Tears well up and stream down my eyes. A hand reaches up to caress my cheek, gently wiping away those tears.
Victor: Why are you crying?
Victor has woken up at some point without my notice and is now frowning as he looks at me.
Quickly, I wipe away the tears in a haphazard manner, the corners of my eyes stinging from the abrasion of my forceful fingertips.
MC: I’m alright. Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?
Victor doesn’t answer. Instead, his gaze passes over my shoulder and settles on the view outside the window.
Victor: It’s snowing.
It’s only now do I take notice that the imperial palace courtyard has already been blanketed in snow, transforming into an expanse of pristine white.
Victor: Weren’t you most fond of building snowmen when you were a child? Why not give it a try now?
MC: But your health...
Victor: [in an even tender and heart-wrenchingly weaker tone] It’s just building a snowman.
I press my lips together. The truth is, I have long grown to despise winter, and I don’t like building snowmen anymore.
After the death of my parents, the attendants who had been my companions from childhood to adulthood were all substituted with the informants from the Church, and the duke’s mansion became eerily cold and desolate.
The winter season I once loved became increasingly colder as time went on, and I no longer had the desire to go out. Warmer seasons began to become more likable to me.
But none of these are worth mentioning to Victor. Because this winter— it is marked by the moment I met him.
I nod.
MC: Of course.
MC: In that case, I must show you the snowmen-building skills I’ve honed since childhood!
I force a smile and step outside with Victor after donning our outer garments. He tucks my hand into his cloak.
Victor: A certain someone was shivering in the cold during the last outing, and she still forgot to bring her gloves this time.
MC: I did it intentionally. Otherwise, how could I get Your Majesty to help warm my hands?
With this said, I slip my chin into my cloak, and the smile at the corner of my mouth instantly fades away.
Victor’s hand is much colder than mine. Taking a deep breath, I grip his hand even tighter, and together, we step into this pure white world.
──────────
The chilly breeze howls as Victor and I tread through the snow, neither of us uttering a word. [5]
Reminiscent of a wanderer losing its way, the mist hangs over the frigid ground and eventually dissipates into the pale grayish expanse above.
Victor suddenly loosens his hold on my hand.
Victor: Didn’t you want to showcase your skills to me? Why aren’t you going yet?
I cast a brief glance at the mounds of snow under the trees, nod in silence, and reluctantly let go of his hand despite my heart breaking. [6]
MC: Well, Your Majesty, please wait for just a short while.
I tighten Victor’s cloak for him, then dash to the snowdrifts and begin building a snowman.
My hands move at a blazing pace. There is only a single thought circling in my mind right now, and that is to swiftly end this time-wasting game and return to his side as fast as possible.
To add to my woes, the newly fallen snow proves challenging to shape, much like bleached wool. Despite my vigorous efforts to press the snow together time and again, the snowballs continue to fall apart, each and every time.
A mix of vexation and restlessness churns in my heart. I have nearly exhausted all the strength left in my body to mold the snowballs, and both my hands are now aching from the cold.
Victor: [with endless helplessness] Dummy, no one is competing with you for first place. There’s no need to be in such a rush.
Subconsciously, I pause in my movements, turn my head, and find him gazing at me with a serene expression.
The urgency and anxiety in my heart seem to find equilibrium, and my hands unconsciously settle into a steadier motion.
Regrettably, the snowman I end up crafting doesn’t even qualify to be described as “adorable.” Even so, Victor earnestly lowers his head, observing it with the bearing of a connoisseur appreciating a gem.
Victor: To create this shape without it falling apart is indeed a testament to skill.
His teasing remark elicits a chuckle from me. I pick up a twig and walk over to him.
MC: There’s still one last step, but it requires Your Majesty and me to complete it together.
Placing the twig in his hand, I then hold onto his hand, and together, we draw eyes and a mouth on the snowman’s face.
Victor chuckles softly, and conversely, he grasps my hand, guiding it to make strokes.
Victor: You’re holding so tightly; its eyes are all crooked now.
Looking at the snowman with its enlarged eyes due to our modifications, I’m just about to crack a few jokes when I notice a touch of weariness on Victor’s face.
MC: We’ve almost completed the snowman. Would you like to rest for a while?
Victor: I know a tavern. Come with me.
We’ve arrived at the alley where we met that kitten before. It has undergone a complete transformation, and the newly opened tavern is bustling with patrons.
It’s a snowy day, and the tavern is filled to capacity. I initially thought that there would be no seats available. However, the owner leads us straight into a room.
MC: Huh? Did you reserve the room with the owner in advance? But you weren’t...
Victor brushes away the snowflakes off my head, seeing through my puzzlement.
Victor: I arranged it in advance, yes.
Victor: Since I didn’t know when I would be awake, I told the owner beforehand that I would have this room reserved for as long as it snows.
The fire in the hearth produces a crackling sound. Victor’s facial features are enveloped in the cloud of heat, his eyes gentle.
Victor: I just thought that one day, I would take you out to see the snow.
We sit on the terrace, sipping the warm wine. Amidst the aroma of wine wafting in the air, he speaks in a soft tone.
Victor: I did stick my tongue to a cup in the past. It happened when I was five years old and had a taste of my father, the king’s red wine in secret. My mother, the queen, had gotten quite the shock.
MC: Eh? What are you talking about...
Victor: Dummy, aren’t you always clamoring about wanting to hear my stories?
He says it as if it were the most natural thing, as if this were merely an ordinary winter day, as if we were an ordinary married couple offhandedly conversing about our everyday life while enjoying a drink and keeping ourselves warm by the fire.
The north breeze makes my eyes sting, but I still force myself to smile as I look at him.
MC: So, it turns out that His Majesty was a dummy, too, when he was five years old. How about when you were six? What was it like?
Victor: When I was six...
In the back-and-forth questions and answers, more than twenty years of Victor’s life have become etched in my mind.
I dare not listen. I can’t help but feel as if once I’ve heard everything, he will leave me. And yet, I listen carefully to every single word.
I listen to the way he speaks each word— the way his teeth collide, the way his two lips meet, the way the nuances of his trailing notes alter between closing and releasing.
Victor: Next, it’s the day when I got married to a certain someone.
MC: ...there’s no need to tell the next part of the story. After all, the stories related to me have only begun.
Victor pauses, but doesn’t follow up my words with a playful remark.
MC: ...Victor?
Victor: What’s wrong?
I shake my head, and when I open my mouth again, the name that has been lingering on the edge of my lips and weighing on my heart spills out involuntarily.
MC: Victor.
Victor: Mm, I’m here.
He tacitly acquiesces to my almost naïvely foolish behavior, responding to my call of his name over and over again. It feels as though, if only I can keep confirming like this, the hole in my heart would be filled.
MC: ...Victor.
This time, he doesn’t speak. The silence forces me to stop.
MC: [sobbing] I just want to know... what can I do to make you stay... [7]
Victor sighs softly and beckons to me.
I lean over and nestle in his frigid arms.
As if he can no longer support the weight of his long, ink-black eyelashes, he casts his gaze downward. His nearly translucent skin appears as if it’s about to blend with the sunlight.
Victor reaches out and touches my cheek, his finger pads caressing the contours of my face with utmost gentleness, as if sketching my features.
His fingertips carry with them the chill of death, making me shiver involuntarily.
Slowly and stiffly, I weave my words together, but the sentences that come out of my mouth are still shakily out of tune.
MC: [teary-eyed x1] Victor, do you find it a little chilly? Maybe your cloak is too thin?
MC: [x2] The fire is obviously burning so strongly, and the mead is also very warm... [8]
MC: [x3] Look, there’s a kitten on the eaves over there. Isn’t it the one we met that day?
MC: [x4] It looks so lively today. Seems like its frame of mind is as cheerful as ours.
When I utter the last sentence, I hear his gentle sigh.
At the same time, the laughter of playful children chasing each other, the chatter of young people, and the sighs of emotions of the elderly can be heard amidst the wind and snow.
Victor: Hear that, the sounds outside.
The sunlight seeps through the terrace, haloing and enveloping the surroundings with a layer of warm and bright haze.
Bathed in that glow, my body’s consciousness returns little by little. I tightly clutch his hand, no longer shaking.
MC: [x5] I can hear it. It’s almost New Year, and the streets are bustling and serene.
Victor: The snowfall this year is promising. So, the harvest will be abundant next year.
MC: [x6] Yes, people will become more affluent and happier.
Victor: You will be a part of it all, too, and that’s really good.
I bury myself in his chest, silently listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat, one beat after another.
The heartbeat in my ears, following its rapid pace, begins to grow increasingly feeble. A realization dawns on me, and I force myself to lift my head and look at him.
He is akin to a wan rose, wilting before my desperate eyes that seek to make him stay, withering within my outstretched arms as I reach out to hold on.
From limbs to blood, to the light in his eyes— bit by bit, the luster fades.
My king entrusts the future of this country to me, and then he steps out of time, heading toward eternal peace.
I gently incline my body, kissing his peacefully closed eyes.
MC: ...good night.
This time, I don’t receive any response from him, but the snowstorm suddenly ceases.
The curtain of the evening has already descended, and the vermillion sun sinks below the horizon. The final ray of the splendid afterglow thaws the ice and snow of the land.
MC: Victor, I will take you to witness the tomorrow of this kingdom.
──────────
[Notes]:
[5] The exact phrase here actually was “冷风呜呜作响,” which literally means “the chilly breeze is producing a mournful sound”-- the “呜呜” used here is the onomatopoetic word for “sobbing/ wailing.” wanted to include this note as an example to gush about the brilliant atmospheric descriptions LZY writers use, e.g., the picture painted here echoes that even the nature is mourning at this slow, rather unfair, transition, mirroring the heroine’s and LZY’s pain of parting. ༎ຶ‿༎ຶ
[6] The expression used here is “依依不舍,” one of my favorite phrases and hated ones to translate LOL. You’d usually see this phrase being translated as “reluctant/unwilling,” but it doesn’t even come close to expressing the depth of its meaning. The phrase means “reluctance to part with sb you love/ being broken-hearted at having to leave,” with an underlying tone of “wanting to be with that person regardless,” -- and I tried to retain the OG meaning without being too wordy haha~
[7] Not sure how much of the sentiment I could make it come across in the translation—the term (留住) MC uses here literally means “ask sb to stay/ keep sb for the night/ ask them to wait.” the beauty of it lies in the fact that it expresses such a multitude of emotions— desperately wanting to keep sb in your life despite knowing it’s not up to either of you so you want to know if they can wait for you even though you know it’s not possible~ ༎ຶ‿༎ຶ
[8] Mead (蜂蜜酒), also known as honey wine, is a type of alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey mixed with water and other fruits. You can google it to know about it in detail if you want LOL.
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#you guys probably already know how I’ve been screaming about this date since release haha.#it actually sits very high in my most favorite date list hahaha. and naturally as much as i wish to go on a screaming parade#- i just don't have the time right now. I'll get back to it later and do a thread on twitter B/C I HAVE SO MANY THINGS TO TALK ABOUT~#MESSIAH ARCHETYPE AT ITS FINEST. GOD FALLING IN LOVE WITH HUMAN TROPE AT ITS FINEST. YOUR NAME IS A SPELL TROPE AT ITS BEST#this date is everything EVERYTHING literally EVERYTHING— JUST UHHH#mlqc victor#mlqc li zeyan#mlqc#mr love victor#mr love queen's choice#恋与制作人#李泽言#love and producer#mlqc cn#mlqc spoilers#mlqc translations
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Week 6 Reblog Masterlist
}Welcome to Week 6 2024 or Week 214, as always, fics would be listed in the order I read them.
I hope you enjoy it!
«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»
♥ You can check my reading guidelines here.
♥ You can check my masterlist here.
♥ You can check my main reblog masterlist 2024 here.
♥ You can check my February reblog masterlist 2024 here.
♥ You can check Week 5 2024 here.
♥ You can check Week 7 2024 here.
«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»
𝙺𝚎𝚢𝚜:
💛 ᵒʳᶤᵍᶤᶰᵃˡ ˢᵗᵒʳʸ
💜 ʰᵒʳʳᵒʳ
🖤 ᵈᵃʳᵏ
❤️ ˢᵐᵘᵗ
💚 ᶠˡᵘᶠᶠ
💙 ᵃᶰᵍˢᵗ
🧡 ᶜᵒᵐᵉᵈʸ
«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»
This is the list of the fics I read and recommend in Week 6 2024:
Idiots in love (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @moonvis 💚💙
Favourite food (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @buckys-wintersoldier 💚💙
I know where I belong part 8 (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @sosa2imagines 💚
Ghosts of the past (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @the-soot-sprit💙
The right size (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @bolontiku 💚
For the longest time (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @dem-obscure-imagines 💚
Will jilted (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @sarahowritesostucky 💚
Ever present shadow (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @the-soot-sprit💙
Never pegged you for a deviant (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @androidsalienswizards❤️
Jilted part 1 (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @sarahowritesostucky ❤️
Epilogue (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @the-soot-sprit💙
Are we still for (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @intrepidacious 💚
Blackberry (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @mariaxxxxx❤️
I want to go down (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @howlingscarlet❤️
Jilted part 2 (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @sarahowritesostucky ❤️
The spectre of hope (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @the-soot-sprit💙
Mission 100 (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @sebastianstanisahotmf💙
Imagine by @moonlit-imagines💙
Yandere Steve alphabet (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @yanderemcu 💚💙❤️
Wonderstruck chapter 11 (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @messedupfan💚
Trust (Bucky Barnes X Reader) by @kgficz💙
Let me in (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @happy74827💙
Dashing through the snow (Brock Rumlow X Reader) by @e-dubbc11💚
Back and forth part 4.1 (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @anika-ann 💙
Worth to wait (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @stargazingfangirl18❤️
Back in time (Logan Howlett X Reader) by @kgficz💙
Drip (Stucky X Reader) by @biteofcherry❤️
Unbreakable chapter 8 (Steve Rogers X Reader) by @crazyunsexycool 💚💙
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WELCOME
hello! my names maylee and i go by she/her :)
WHAT I WRITE:
i write fluff, angst and smut. feel free to request whatever you want. although i may be uncomfortable with certain topics. i will just archive them to make you still feel comfortable without feeling shamed :)
this is my general character list. i write for several characters listed below. this list isn’t all of the characters i will write for. i usually don’t accept request with characters i don’t write for, but occasionally i forget to add some. feel free to request either way!
HARRY POTTER:
ron weasley, george weasley, fred weasley, ginny weasley, harry potter, hermione granger, cedric diggory, luna lovegood, sirius black, remus lupin, neville longbottom, james potter, lily potter, and fleur delacour
CRIMINAL MINDS
aaron hotchner, spence reid, derek morgan, elle greenaway, emily prentiss, jennifer jareau, matt simmons, and luke alves
NHL + NFL
trevor zegras, jack hughes, luke hughes, quinn hughes, nico hischier, jamie drysdale, vince dunn, joe burrow, matthew knies, ethan edwards, mitch marner, rutger mcgroarty, luca fantilli, and mark estapa
SCREAM
sidney prescott, stu macher, gale weathers, samantha carpenter, tara carpenter, jill roberts, tatum riley, roman bridger, mikey aliteri, amber freeman, chad meeks martin, quinn bailey, we hicks, anika kayoko, and ethan landry
OUTER BANKS
rafe cameron, sarah cameron, topper thornton, jj, john b, and kiara
THE HUNGER GAMES
finnick odair, peeta mellark, katniss everdeen, cato, lucy gray,and young snow
#ethan landry#jack champion#scream 6#ethan landry imagine#ethan landry smut#ethan landry x reader#jack champion x reader#scream 6 imagines#avatar#scream imagine#scream smut#harry potter#harry potter smut#fred weasley#george weasley#ginny weasley#cedric diggory#the walking dead#carl grimes#rick grimes#rosita espinosa#the vampire diaries#stefan salavatore x reader#klaus x y/n#caroline forbes#the originals#total drama#total drama island#criminal minds smut#criminal minds
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Arts and crafts day!!!
#look anika's talking!#the library was closed for snow so i had to entertain myself elsewhere#my arty things#collage#journaling
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Daughter of the Rain and Snow
Concept: Around ten years after the events of Crooked Kingdom, 25-year-old Captain Inej Ghafa frees Maya Olsen from a pleasure house in Ketterdam. Maya is looking for revenge against the man who put her in her position, a man who she knows nothing about except his name: Kaz Brekker.
Tags: @wraith--2 @lunarthecorvus @just2bubbly @real-fragments7 @cartoon-clifford @origami-butterfly @lady-a-stuff @thelibraryofalexandriastillburns @inej-ghafa-deserves-the-world @thatdelusionalnerd
If anyone wants to be added let me know :)
Content Warnings: in more general terms I want to remind people to be aware of the nature of Kaz and Inej's experiences and relationship since even if I'm not directly addressing these things they tend to be implicit in any writing about them, but specifically to this chapter there's ptsd references, anxiety, violence references, blood, wounds, and fear of losing loved ones
Note: Oh my goodness we only have the epilogue left to go... this is insane I can't believe we've reached the end
AO3 link: Daughter of the Rain and Snow - Chapter 145 - She_posts_nerdy_stuff - Six of Crows Series - Leigh Bardugo [Archive of Our Own]
Chapter 144 - Kaz
At least the Crow Club was back in working order. Beyond that things weren’t looking at their best. Kaz knew from Anika and Pim’s reports that the damage was mostly repaired and they’d reopened the closed wing a few months ago, but he also knew from the income reports Yara had been sending him that they’d taken a hit. Her projections looked sunnier for next month, but Kaz wasn’t feeling particularly confident. There was a nervous energy about the Slat when he walked in, still as rowdy as it usually was in these early hours of the morning but with a slightly frantic edge. Kaz had known his extended absence would take a toll, but he’d tried to keep in control of what he could.
“I assume there are rumours going round about -”
“Your mysterious disappearance? Yeah,” said Anika, “We’re treading water trynna cover up for you being missing,”
“Anyone get wise?”
“To the fact you weren’t here or to what you were actually up to?”
Kaz shot her an unamused glare. Clearly he needed to stop telling Anika up to 50% of the truth, because she was getting too good at picking up what the rest of it was.
“I don’t think so,” she said, “Not with any proof you weren’t around. Few people here and there are convinced you’re dead,”
That didn’t particularly surprise him.
“Any attempts at territory grabs since you last wrote?”
“Liddies are still riled up, but nothing new except a pretty hollow looking threat from Black Tips,”
Kaz sighed. They weren’t staying in Ketterdam for long, he’d have to get through work quickly and make a few choice appearances if he could spare the time.
As far as Kaz and Inej knew, the plan was for them to drop in on Jesper and Wylan for the afternoon, then go to the house overnight whilst Nina stayed on the Geldstradt. They didn’t have the space to have her at the house by the harbour - especially when Alyssa was staying with them too - and anyway she would only be kept up all night by Sadja. But apparently Jesper and Wylan had other plans, as soon as they were through the door it was all but a demand they at least stay there the first night. They’d even set up a room for Alyssa upstairs, so she was close if Inej or Sadja needed her.
“How are you feeling?” Kaz had asked, watching Inej’s hand find the railing on the porch of the Hendriks house.
“I’m fine,”
Kaz shook his head, looking down at Sadja.
“Once you can talk I’m going to teach you to shout at your Mama every time she says that,” he told her, gently readjusting the sling in hopes of helping her settle.
Nina laughed.
Sadja had done well on the boat, Kaz thought, for a stubborn two month old who had never travelled further than the Grand Palace until a couple of weeks ago, but she hadn’t slept well last night and still didn’t seem to be interested in sleeping now.
“Kaz, really,” said Inej, shaking her head, “I’m okay. I’m just tired,”
Kaz nodded, but he and Nina had shared a brief glance. Inej rang the doorbell and Sadja immediately jutted out her bottom lip in indignation; for a moment Kaz thought she was going to cry but she settled again, still looking a little grumpy. He readjusted his cane so that he could remain balanced whilst he offered her his finger, and once she’d acknowledged it he gently rubbed his hand up and down her tiny tummy.
“Do you not like doorbells, Sadja?”
“I think it’s quite normal for babies not to like loud noises, Kaz,” said Nina, peering over the sling, “You’re okay, aren’t you Sadja? You’re a brave little muffin,”
“Brave little muffin?” asked Kaz.
“Hey, that is just about the highest compliment I’ve ever given anyone,”
“Well, you are brave aren’t you Sadja? You’re just like your Mama,”
She wriggled a little in the sling, as though she was trying to look up at him properly, and smiled. Kaz glowed.
The door had barely been opened when they were met by the practically shouted words:
“Where’s my niece?”
“Well, hello to you too, Jesper,” said Inej, sharing his soft laugh.
She leaned into the arm he offered and he kissed her on the cheek, ushering her over the doorstep. Kaz followed, nodding at Jesper.
“Saints, I’ve missed you,” said Jesper, hugging Inej again.
“Oh, I’ve missed you too,”
Nina cleared her throat, glaring teasingly at Jesper. He threw an arm around her shoulders.
“I’ve missed you too, darling, obviously. And I guess I missed you Kaz,”
“Always with the compliments,”
Where’s Wylan?” asked Inej.
“Couldn’t get out of a meeting,” Jesper replied, shaking his head, “He won’t be long. Now, where’s this little Sadja you’ve been withholding from me?”
“Withholding-? She’s only been alive two months - and you were in Novyi Zem for one and a half of them,”
“Withholding,” Jesper repeated
Inej laughed. Kaz gently scooped Sadja out of her sling and into his arms, rocking her for a moment before he passed her to Inej so Jesper could lean over and greet her. He looked like he was about to burst with glee.
“Oh my goodness, you two she’s so beautiful. Aren’t you? Yes you are, yes you are,”
Jesper looked up at Kaz and Inej, grinning.
“She’s wonderful,”
“She most certainly is,” Kaz smiled, pushing the door to behind him before they walked together towards the living room, “It’s good to see you, Jes,”
“You too. And honestly you with a baby is quite possibly both the funniest and cutest thing I have ever seen, so thank you for that,”
Nina snorted. Kaz glared at them both.
“And how are you?” Jesper had asked Inej, as they sat on the sofa together.
It was about twenty minutes later and Wylan had just got back, all apologies for being late and overjoyed to see them all again. He was now sitting in between Inej and Kiada with Sadja in his arms, smiling.
“Well, I haven’t slept in about two months,” Inej smiled, leaning her head onto Jesper’s shoulder, “But other than that I’m doing pretty well. How are you? - How was Novyi Zem?”
“I’m good, we’re all pretty good at the minute, actually. And Novyi Zem was lovely, good to see my Da, and everyone did a very good job,” he squeezed Aimee’s hand lightly, from where she was perching on the arm of the sofa next to him, “There were a few moments where we thought we’d have to come home early - that was always in the plan as an option, if anyone needed it - but we ended up staying the whole time,”
“How’s Colm?” asked Nina, leaning forwards to pick her coffee up from the table.
The conversation floated on, and Kaz had drifted in and out of paying attention to it as he kept his eyes on Sadja. She started wriggling uncomfortably and Wylan passed her back to Inej, then a moment passed before she started crying.
“Is she alright?” asked Kaz.
“She’s just hungry,” said Inej, looking at Kaz in a way that meant calm down, she’s a baby, she’s going to cry, you do not need to worry as she stood up and gently rocked Sadja against her chest, whispering to her in Suli, “I’ll take her upstairs,”
At some point, Kaz wasn’t exactly sure how long it had been, it was only him, Nina, and Jesper still sitting in the living room. Focus had switched freely: the trip to Novyi Zem - two weeks with Colm followed by a month and a half through in Weddle and Shriftport, then another two weeks with Colm - Kiada had struggled with the boat, Aimee had struggled on the farm, Kiada has struggled in Weddle; news on the Ravkans and their new little prince and princess, twins about three months older than Sadja; Clemmie Boscht had started renting an apartment in the city and came to the house to share roast dinner with the family once a month; updates on something Kaz had forgotten to pay attention to as he was wondering how long Inej and Sadja had been gone and if he should go upstairs to find them. Now Nina was asking about wedding plans - the original date should have been last month, but it hadn’t been set in stone when Kaz and Inej first went to Ravka so Jesper and Wylan had decided to postpone and visit Jesper’s father instead of him coming out to them.
“Doesn’t matter,” Jesper was saying, “Nothing will ever make up for the fact that Kaz Brekker got married before I did,”
Nina flopped against the back cushions of the sofa.
“Yeah, it’s a real blow to the ego isn’t it?”
“Aren’t you two just the height of comedy?” said Kaz drily.
“To be fair, Jes,” Nina added, “I think we were all surprised you weren’t the first to get married. I mean how long had you two known each other before you moved in, two months?”
“No, well I really only joke,” said Jesper, glancing briefly at the door and lowering his voice, “Wylan told me ages ago he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to get married, after everything with his parents he just kinda… lost faith in it,”
Jesper had told Kaz about it at the time. It was years ago, around the time of the Van Eck trial, and Wylan was having an unsurprisingly bad time of it. He said he’d burst into tears and told Jesper that it had been evil of him to trap him in a relationship that would never go anywhere, and that he could leave if he wanted to and Wylan would understand. Apparently Jesper had stared at him for almost a full minute, and then said:
“Wy, you’re seventeen,”
“Well, clearly,” Kaz had said, “You handled that well,”
“I helped him afterwards!” Jepser had cried defensively, “That was just my first thought,”
Now Kaz sat behind his desk at the Slat, flicking through the endless pile of papers laying in wait and watching the hands move on his timepiece. Almost five bells. He wanted to be back by six.
Sadja had woken up not long before three bells, screaming loud enough to bring the entire house down. Kaz fumbled in the dark, searching for his cane, before Inej turned on the gas lights and handed it to him, smiling and shaking her head. They sat next to each other on the side of the mattress as Sadja nursed, and for about half an hour afterwards Kaz was still rocking her slowly whilst Inej lowered the lights and lay back down. Sadja seemed on the verge of settling back to sleep and Kaz stood to return her to the cradle next to the bed, only for her to immediately start wailing again.
“Well I hope you’re not still hungry,” he said softly in Suli, giving her a gente bounce “I think Mama’s asleep,”
She flailed one of her tiny fists into the air and it whacked lightly against Kaz’s chest.
“Not bad form,” he told her, “But you need more strength behind it if you want to do real damage. We’ll work on that when you’re older. What can we do to help you sleep now though, hm?”
Sadja wriggled in his arm and Kaz moved to sit on one of the armchairs so he could set down his cane and support her more comfortably.
“I don’t have anything new to read to you,” he said, “But I could tell you a story if you’d like,”
There was a pause broken only by Sadja’s impatient cries, before Inej’s soft voice came from the darkness on the other side of the room:
“You know the whole idea of us using one language each with her whilst she's still learning kind of depends on you speaking to her in Kerch, right?”
Kaz looked up.
“Inej? I thought you were asleep,”
“Kaz, if you think anyone could fall asleep through this then I have serious concerns about your hearing. And, again, you’re supposed to speak in Kerch,”
“I’m still not convinced that’s going to work,” he replied, “Isn’t she just going to hear us using both with each other anyway?”
Inej groaned.
“It’s three in the morning, Kaz, can we talk about this later?”
He laughed softly, nodding though he wasn’t sure if she’d see in the dark. He’d known that he needed to go to the Slat - the last word from Anika and Pim had been concerningly vague - but he could stay here a little while yet, couldn’t he? What harm would it do, just to stay here for a little longer? He sighed.
“You need to go, don’t you?”
He didn’t know how she did that.
“It can wait until tomorrow,”
“You can’t,” said Inej, quietly, “Go on. I’ll get her settled, just don’t be long, okay?”
“Never,”
He really needed to stop watching the clock, or he wouldn’t get anything done and have to bully himself into staying longer. It was a good while past five bells when he left, ignoring the shouts for attention that followed him from the crowd. The Hendriks house was mostly still sleeping, though Wylan was unsurprisingly up and in the kitchen making coffee by the time Kaz arrived at six bells. Inej was awake but she was still upstairs, not long dressed and part way through brushing her hair when Kaz knocked softly on the door. She opened it slowly, pressing a finger to her lips as he slipped inside.
“Sadja’s asleep,”
Kaz stood over the cradle for a moment, watching her. She really was perfect. Inej appeared next to him, her arm slipping around his waist once he’d nodded confirmation. She leaned her head against his shoulder.
“She already looks like you,” she whispered.
Kaz shook his head.
“She’s beautiful. That’s all you,”
Inej shook her head then, her hand finding his and slipping beneath the rim so her fingers brushed his wrist. Kaz’s heart leapt, thinking of holding her on the floor almost a year ago, a knife in her gut and her blood soaking over both of them. He swallowed and she felt him tense, starting to pull away to give him space. His fingers tightened over hers, holding her to him.
“We’ve not…” she hesitated, “We’ve not talked about a plan for where to live. For what to do next,”
Kaz had been avoiding the conversation, because he didn’t actually know what he was going to say. But it was a year ago when he couldn’t tell her everything he’d thought he should be able to say by now -
Their happiness, together. In Kerch, in Ravka, they could move to the permafrost in Fjerda for all he cared. He would carve a life for her in the face of a mountain, if that was what she wanted.
- and so much had changed since then. He should be able to tell her that now. And he did.
Inej turned and leaned her face up towards his, glowing in the soft dancing light of dawn leaking through the window, her dark eyes shimmering. She lifted a hand up to cup his cheek, and slowly they leaned into each other. Their foreheads pressed against each other, Kaz’s hand slipped down Inej’s back, and their lips met in the warmth of spring and joy and a family that for so long Kaz had convinced himself he didn’t want, because he never thought he’d be able to find it.
The entire world was golden.
#Should I post the epilogue tonight too or leave y'all with one last bit of suspense???#(it's already written btw)#maya olsen oc#no beta read#six of crows#grishaverse#crooked kingdom#leigh bardugo#kaz brekker#inej ghafa#jesper fahey#wylan van eck#nina zenik#kanej#kanej fanfiction#kanej fic#kanej supremacy#kaz x inej#kanej kiss#kanej fluff#kanej baby#grishaverse oc#grishaverse fanfic#grishaverse fandom#soc f#soc fanfiction#soc fandom#soc fic#six of crows fanfic#six of crows fandom
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What's Left Unsaid | Frozen Fanfiction
Rating: T
Tags: Snow sisters, Hurt/comfort, Angst (with a happy ending!), mAU, not the best family in the planet, grieving, dealing with very sensitive issues haha :^), 100% set and made in Argentina bc the author believes in argie supremacy.
Summary: After their parents’ sudden death, Elsa’s life went through a lot of changes. Like getting to live again with her little sister, Anna, or processing the fact that she wouldn’t need the cold to protect her from the flames anymore.
Chapter 1: Here Chapter 2: Here Chapter 3: Here Chapter 4: here Chapter 5: Here Chapter 6: Here Chapter 7: Here Chapter 8: Here Chapter 9: Here
A/N: The first scene doesn't have anything typically CW worthy, but keep in mind it's the same (or worse) vibe as the flashback from chapter 6, as is kinda a direct continuation.
Chapter 10 | The Memory |
A lil’ snippet:
Cati was the only one that noticed, because Elsa didn't answer any of her messages until a day and a half later. And she was lucky her best friend was in Punta del Este, or she would already have knocked on her door with the police. All because Elsa answered ‘I’m back home.’
This thing of sharing personal secrets was supposed to lift a responsibility off her shoulders, yet until now, it was the other way around.
Read the full chapter at AO3 | FFN
#frozen#frozen fanfic#frozen fanfiction#Elsa#anna#elsa and anna#snow sisters#modern au#frozen modern au#ao3 fanfic#frozen au#what's left unsaid#yes yes this is wlu#anika writes#YES I UPDATED AGAIN I CANT BELIEVED EITHER#PLEASE GIVE ME ATTENTION IM TRYING MY BEST OKAY#CW is more bc of the implications of what happen than what its shown#Im team 'dont do it for shock value'#so u gotta figure it out#I MEAN#its the point of the tittle lmao
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It's so wild how long it's been since we started the company with Super Ordinary. If you've found us recently and don't know where we started, this is the very first cast we ever brought into a studio and put script to audio.
Super Ordinary was created by Marissa Tandon, and it follows Anika Song, a teenage girl who finds out she has super powers. The only problem? They're connected to her devastating, uncontrollable panic attacks. When we meet Anika, she's already been cast as the villain in her world because of the nature of her powers. Anika struggles to tell her side of the story, and as seasons move forward, to find people who understand her, too.
There are 4 seasons out now, and they feature voice actors you might recognize, like Miya Kodama, Briggon Snow, Dallis Seeker, Eli Barazza, and Julia Morizawa, along with a ton of other incredibly talented performers.
You can listen anywhere you get your podcasts: here's a link to most players.
This is a fiction podcast, so make sure you start with season 1, episode 1 -- Mail Dump!
#Youtube#tandon productions#anika song#harvey shaw#super ordinary#super ordinary podcast#superordpod#miya kodama#briggon snow#dallis seeker#eli barazza#julia morizawa#fiction podcast#audio drama#podcast#podcasts#podcast rec#podcast recs#podcast recommendations
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Disney Princesses Click in ‘LEGO Disney Princess: The Castle Quest’ Special For August 18 On Disney+.
An new bricktastic adventure begins today with the release of the official trailer and key art for LEGO® Disney Princess: The Castle Quest. The all-new animated special from Disney Princess and the LEGO Group will premiere August 18 on Disney+, leading into the World Princess Week celebration.
youtube
Tiana, Moana, Snow White, Rapunzel and Ariel are off on an adventure as they are each unexpectedly transported to a mysterious castle. Shortly after arriving, they soon discover that Gaston has hatched an evil plan to take over all their kingdoms! The Princess characters must work together to solve challenges hidden deep within the castle walls and try to save their kingdoms from Gaston. Will bravery, quick-thinking and teamwork prevail?
LEGO Disney Princess: The Castle Quest features the voices of Jodi Benson (The Little Mermaid Franchise) as Ariel, Auli’i Cravalho (Moana franchise, Disney TVA's Hailey's On It!) as Moana, Mandy Moore (Tangled franchise) as Rapunzel, Anika Noni Rose (The Princess and the Frog franchise, Disney TVA's Amphibia Franchise) as Tiana, and Katie Von Till (Sofia the First) as Snow White.
Additional cast includes Richard White (Walt Disney Animation Studios "Beauty and the Beast") as Gaston, Joanne Worley (Walt Disney Animation Studios "Beauty and the Beast") as Wardrobe, Corey Burton (Disney "Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers" Franchise) as Magic Mirror and Jim Cummings (Disney "Winnie The Pooh" Franchise) as King Triton.
Michael D. Black is the director and Robert Fewkes, Pamela J. Keller, Joshua R. Wexler and Sanjee Gupta are producers.
#LEGO Disney Princess The Castle Quest#LEGO Disney Princess: The Castle Quest#The Little Mermaid#Little Mermaid#Snow White#Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs#Tangled#Disney Tangled#The Princess and the Frog#Moana#Michael D. Black#Disney Princesses#Disney+#Disney Plus#Disney+ Originals#Disney Plus Originals#Disney+ Original Specials#Disney Plus Original Specials#Disney+ Original Animated Specials#Disney Plus Original Animated Specials
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