#but too many of my friends have been getting hate mail lately
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friendly reminder that authors don't owe you anything. if you don't like a writing/plot decision, you're welcome to simply stop reading. there's no need to send the author an essay about how bad their decisions are. trust the process, or stop reading. the choice is yours. you're more than welcome to write your own fics if you need certain plot points to go certain ways.
#unrelated to me#but too many of my friends have been getting hate mail lately#and i'm so over it#i had a fucking day and i feel like garbage so you all get a rant#writer friends: i love you and appreciate you and i will rejoin your ranks one day
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I'm not sure if you've had to deal with the discourse over whether mental health issues qualify as disabilities lately but I just realized i have a recent anecdote pertinent to the discussion.
I'm a truck mechanic. I work on the vehicles sometimes called big rigs, eighteen-wheelers, semis, and probably many other names. Vehicles designed to haul freight on highways. I think you and most of your followers get the idea.
Several years ago, ugly things happened to people i considered friends. I feel a level of responsibility for what happened but people I've told the story to insist it wasn't my fault. People who were there tell me the same thing. I still can't shake the feeling but my objective level of blame is irrelevant.
About a month and a half ago, something i won't be elaborating on very vividly reminded me of what happened. That reminder sent me on a spiral. I literally could not stop thinking about what happened. Literally nothing else was on my mind. I had to go into work for a swing shift (4pm-midnight) that day. I had to do an oil change on a truck. I forgot to reinstall the drain plug because i was distracted by thoughts on ugly things from my past, so when I tried to pour oil into the engine, the oil just spilled straight onto the ground. I didn't notice what I'd done until I'd wasted nine gallons of oil that way. I corrected my mistake, concluded the service, and started my next job, another oil change.
I still couldn't think about ANYTHING besides events I can't change and a burning desire to make things right. I did most of the oil change service then had the customer start the engine of his truck... Before i added any oil. The driver saw a "low oil pressure" warning on his dashboard and stopped the engine before it was too late but had he been less attentive, his engine would've been totaled, costing my company $50k USD or possibly even more. The only reasons i didn't lose my job are because my boss likes me and defended me to the corporate safety people, and because i have no other similar mistakes on record.
I've since learned that this is consistent with Real Event Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, a subset of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder wherein the afflicted is hyperfixated on correcting past mistakes. Obsession with one's quality as a person, with one's morality, is the defining symptom. I haven't been diagnosed yet but I recently started therapy; my therapist might be able to provide such a diagnosis and help me deal.
The reason I'm telling you this is because it provides you with another data point in that argument i mentioned at the beginning of this ask. Mental illness nearly destroyed a truck and interfered with time-sensitive logistics. It nearly cost both a driver and his company significant amounts of money and lost time. Mental illness nearly cost me my career. If mental illness can take an otherwise-competent mechanic and turn them into a confused and distracted mess incapable of the simplest job a mechanic can do, i think it qualifies as a disability as much as, say, cerebral palsy or Parkinson's, or any other disabling medical condition.
(I'm probably gonna get hate mail and mockery (not from you, from the peanut gallery) for telling you about this major fuck-up but whatever. Maybe this anecdote will change some minds that need changing.)
Yeah, sounds about right. 💗
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giving you two, you can do both or choose one: 1) what ship do you hate most? 2) rant about [pairing] for wolfstar - i want to hear what you don't agree with the fandom on about them
hehehehehehehehe
remadora. no explanation needed. whilst i'm here everyone who hates them too go read a grave mistake
ALRIGHT HERE WE FUCKING GO
atyd
it's an incredible story, but it's not the ONLY story, and the way its characterisations have in so many fics and fanons replaced actual canon is infuriating. remus is portrayed as toxic, aggressive, manipulative and cruel; sirius is cowardly, manipulative, over-dramatic, emotionally immature and just plain stupid. this is either completely inaccurate based on the books, or an over-exaggeration of some of their canon traits. the interplay between their individual traumas is so so simplified to become two long decades of toxic miscommunication, and they're just plain mean to each other.
if this was just one story, ya know, you take it or leave it like anything else. but the way these characterisations have been exaggerated or simplified even further from canon leads to characters that are literally unrecognisable. if its an AU, okay, they're always going to be different in different contexts. but if you're telling stories that are deliberately supposed to be based in canon, exploring those ideas, and then the characters are literally nothing like the books, then imo thats shitty writing. and the utter refusal of at least some fans (literally the entirety of fucking tiktok) to acknowledge this and produce better work is infuriating
so much of this fandom is mind-blowingly talented. jfc. i have improved my writing tenfold by reading wolfstar fic. so this sort of subsection irks me extra bc of that, when its ignoring the incredible work over the past two decades, and not least the amazing stories being published rn
the bimboification of sirius
this is such a knock-on effect of atyd smh
sirius is dramatic as hell. my boy comes straight out of azkaban and his first instinct is to go approach harry late at night as a massive fucking black dog. he tries to kill peter by breaking into the gryffindor dorms and lunging over ron with a knife. he finds out harry's broom broke so he mail orders the most expensive broom on the market with the help of a fucking cat when he is literally a wanted criminal. he finally confronts harry by dragging his best friend through the whomping willow by a broken leg and then leans hardcore into the mass murderer vibes with slightly incoherent rants and attempts to kill a rat as his first intro to harry. he goes on the run on a famously dramatic and haughty horse/bird and spends a year in tropical islands and caves instead of just fucking apparating to his ex's house and hanging out there. his emotions go from 0-100 in 0.5 seconds and he would deck half the order if it wasn't for remus holding him back
i think its pretty safe to assume he was just as dramatic as a teen, albeit in a more cocky rich kid way than traumatised ex-convict way. i think its a fair characterisation that he would be overwhelmed by a gay life crisis and feelings for remus and handle it in a pretty dramatic way
but that doesn't mean, however, that he is (a) nothing but a drama queen and (b) a bimbo. he's dramatic, he's not stupid or shallow or whiny. he is one of the absolute smartest characters in the book, and is so committed to his principles and friends he'll literally die for them. he's incredibly competent and self-reliant, to the point of keeping himself alive for years on end in extremely harsh situations. he's generally either intensely focused on the task at hand or lost in his own head. he's not goddamn whiny, or dumb, or constantly desperate for the attention and validation of remus
remus getting irritated at sirius for being ✨too much✨
yeah honestly im gonna blame atyd for this one again but also the general ableist trait of mocking people for being A Lot when those people are most of the time neurodivergent-coded.
remus fucking adores sirius. this entire fandom is based on this premise lmao. in the books they respect each other so much - remus is the only one sirius listens to, sirius is the only one to whom remus will let his emotions show and be forthright with. remus never gets angry or annoyed with sirius just for feeling a lot - he is in fact the only person to validate him and back him up. he gets annoyed when he's being an ass
he would never be irritated at sirius for being passionate or unconstrained or letting his creativity run wild or spewing out whatever thoughts were in his mind or just being full of life and fire and enthusiasm and daring. considering the kind of person remus is and the dynamic in their relationship, those are the things he would LOVE about sirius. whilst being perfectly comfortable calling him out when they lead him to be annoying or rude or irresponsible
tl;dr sirius being extra doesn't make him the idiot butt of everyone's jokes and remus being reserved doesn't make him judgmental of sirius's larger personality
prongsfoot in wolfstar fics
james isn't just sirius's "best friend", their relationship is essential to who sirius is and the fact he can even become and emotionally open enough person to fall in love. he is just as important to sirius as remus is. i really dont think i've read many wolfstar fics (that delve deep into the characters, i dont mean fluffy/smutty oneshots etc) that show james as more than a 2D sidekick or how his friendship with sirius impacts sirius's relationship with remus. i can understand why the prongsfoot fandom gets so mad tbh lmao
#this is why it takes me 3-5 business days to answer them it's one question and i have a phd thesis#wolfstar#sirius black#remus lupin#atyd#hp meta#ch: we choose who we really are#otp: i'm mental about you#hp#anti remadora
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Hate You Too- Sam Kiszka x F!Reader
Summary: Your next door neighbor is absolutely infuriating, hosting obnoxious parties that last all night and pestering you at any given chance. He’s just so annoying that he stays on your mind constantly, or at least that’s what you’ve been telling yourself…After all, when an incident leads the two of you to spend some actual time, he ends up surprising you.
Includes: just some good old enemies to lovers angst, alcohol use, a touch of fluff
Your next door neighbor was a complete asshole. In the five months since he’d moved in, that was the best way to summarize what you’d gathered about him.
You had to admit that the walls of your apartment were unfortunately thin. That meant that whenever Sam threw one of his many parties, you heard all of it from your living room. It was especially chaotic when his brothers and their mutual friend were present.
To make it all worse, he was so unapologetic about the noise and the mess left out front by your door afterwards. If he didn’t come by and pick it all up by the time you got home from work, then you’d definitely have lost it by now. Honestly, you were close to losing it anyway.
Just the other day, you’d been fumbling with your grocery bags and trying to unlock your door. For some reason, Sam decided that it was a great idea to hover and pepper you with questions and other annoyances. He would do that just about every time you ran into him in the hall or getting your mail.
It was such a drastic difference from what you expected when you first met him. God, you could still remember the interaction and it was almost funny how pleasant it went.
You had just gotten home from work when you saw a group of guys around your age carrying in boxes to the apartment next door. The place had been empty since you’d lived there, so looks like this was your first neighbor. Thought gave you a surprising burst of social energy that you didn’t normally have. You decided to head over towards the curly-haired man that just walked outside.
“Hi, I’m Y/N L/N. I live next door,” You grinned and gestured behind you towards your door.
The guy gave you a friendly smile in return and held out a hand for you to shake. “I’m Josh, my little brother Sam is the one moving in. Hey, Sammy!”
You shook Josh’s hand and moments later another guy came outside. This one definitely bearer some resemblance to the one you were speaking to, but he was taller and his hair was longer.
“Hey, I’m Sam Kiszka, it’s great to meet you…” He trailed off.
“Y/N. I was just telling your brother that I live next door. Just thought I’d welcome you to the building and all that good neighborly stuff.” You chuckled, hoping you didn’t sound like you were rambling.
Now that you were actually looking at him and talking to him you noticed that “holy shit, this guy’s attractive”, as your friends commented the first time they saw him.
That was another thing. Sam was…to be completely transparent, he was hot. But he knew it, and that made him too arrogant for your liking. But that wasn’t something he revealed right away.
“Well, I appreciate the welcome. Glad to know I have a friendly neighbor if I need to borrow a cup of sugar,” He smiled at you.
You hated how your heart fluttered like a teenage girl at the simple act, despite the overly corny joke he just made. You elected to brush that feeling off. “Do you guys need any help unpacking or anything? I know it’s getting kind of late.” You offered, steering the conversation back to something relevant.
Sam waved a dismissive hand. “Nah, we’re almost done. Between the four of us, we got it all carried in pretty quick. I should probably introduce you to all of the guys, since they’ll probably be here all the time.”
He led you over to the doorway and you waved to the other two guys unloading boxes in the kitchen. They waved back with friendly smiles.
“Jake, Danny, this is Y/N, my new neighbor. Y/N, that’s Jake, my older brother, and Danny, my best friend.” Sam pointed to a shorter guy that looked like Josh with long hair, and then the taller man with long, curly hair.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” You added, and they returned the sentiment.
“Hey, thanks for being so welcoming. You’ll definitely have to come over for the housewarming party,” Sammy elbowed you lightly with a smirk.
You chuckled and gave him a nod. “Sounds like fun.”
You said your goodbyes so he could finish settling in and returned to your apartment, happy to have a nice person for a new neighbor.
But the invite never came. Sam threw several parties a couple weeks after moving in, but he never said a word to you about them beforehand. Which was completely fine, the two of you were essentially strangers, so you could fully understand why he didn’t invite you.
Then, as time went on, everything got louder and more disruptive, and he started his little routine of pestering you. You came to the conclusion that it was best the two of you avoid each other. Well, until people started wildly beating at your front door.
It was a regular Saturday night, which you had planned to spend rewatching your favorite movie, but then the party next door started. And then guests filled the hall. And then those guests got a little too drunk and a little too rowdy.
As soon as people started slamming against your door, something snapped in you. That was the last straw, and you were tired of being passive. It was honestly inconceivable to you how no one had left a noise complaint to the landlord yet.
In about half a second you were charging into Sam’s living room, absolutely fuming.
“Samuel fucking Kiszka!” You shot daggers as you paced right up to the man in question.
He stood at the counter and didn’t even look up at you as he was grabbing another beer from the fridge. “Actually, my middle name is Francis.”
He wanted to be funny? Fine, then you’d have a delightful little conversation. “Bold of you to own that.”
He quirked an eyebrow as he took a swig. “What’s wrong with Francis?”
You gave him a mockingly innocent look. “…Oh nothing.”
He shrugged. “I’m just going to ignore that implication. Hey! Why don’t you join us?”
Oh my god, he could not be serious.
“I have a better idea, why not get your wasted friends to stop trying to break my fucking door down?” You spat.
He looked a little taken aback by your outburst before letting out a sigh. “Should’ve know better than to even ask.” He muttered under his breath. “Listen, I’ll tell them to rein it in, okay?”
You weren’t sure what the first statement was supposed to mean, but you didn’t really care about that. “Thank you,” You said evenly, and then headed back to your apartment.
Sam was true to his word at least. No sooner than you’d entered your apartment and poured yourself a glass of wine, the noise in the hall stopped. You finally got to enjoy your movie after all.
—————
Maybe you were to mean to Sam last night. This was karma. That was your first thought when you woke up the next morning freezing your ass off. Of course it had to be the dead of winter when your heater decided to die, and you’d let your friends borrow your little space heater for the weekend.
You tried to fix the damn thing, but no luck. Then you tried calling maintenance, but it had snowed considerably last night and they couldn’t make it out to fix the heat.
You were unfortunately snowed in without heat. You piled on as many layers as you could stand and waited it out for a few hours. At least you still had power.
It was just after lunch that you decided you couldn’t take it anymore. You called your mom to ask for advice, but she gave you quite possibly the worst suggestion imaginable.
“Listen, honey, I know he bothers you, but maybe go ask that neighbor of yours if he has an extra heater?”
“Absolutely not, Mom! I had to go yell at him last night because he had people over and it got out of hand again.” You scoffed.
She chuckled quietly over the phone. “I know you’re annoyed, but it could be better to apologize than sit there in your winter coat for who knows how many more hours.”
You pursed your lips together with frustration. “Okay, I’ll think about it. Love you, Mom.”
After you’d hung up, you surprised yourself and actually thought about the idea. No way. You weren’t going to do it.
He was rude, and you got pissy when you were around him. It would be a terrible plan. He definitely wouldn’t let you in, for starters. And if he did, there’s no way he’d let you borrow a heater, as if people just casually have several heaters for one average-sized apartment.
Then you sneezed and snot started running down your nose, and you decided that you didn’t want to play that game.
Stuffing away your pride, you cleaned your face off and headed to the door. You stood in the hall for a few moments to prepare yourself to suck it up and apologize and then ask for help. This was humiliating.
To you shock, Sam answered seconds after you knocked. He took in your overly clothed appearance with a chuckle. “Cold?”
You wanted to snark back at him, but stopped yourself with a pained smile. “A little chilly, yeah. Listen, I wanted to come over and apologize for yelling yesterday…and to see if you by chance had a spare heater?”
Now that made him fully laugh. “Using me for my heater, huh?”
“No, no, no!” You held up your hands defensively. “Well, yes, but I also do feel bad about last night. I was harsh.”
He folded his arms and smirked. “Yeah, you were pretty harsh.”
You couldn’t stop the eye roll his response provoked. “I was a bitch, I get it, but do you have another heater or not?”
“Well, I only have the one heater…but you’re welcome to hang out here until they get the heat back on.”
You blinked at him, stunned. “What?”
“I said you’re welcome to stay if you’re tired of sitting in your cold apartment.” He stepped aside to give you room to enter. “It’s pretty toasty in here.”
“O-oh, okay…thanks.” You nodded, slightly confused as you stepped inside.
You weren’t sure what exactly was happening right now, but the wave of heat that hit you as soon as you entered felt go nice for you to contemplate things too much. Sam pointed out the coat rack for you to shed some layers and headed to the kitchen.
“Want some coffee?” He called out as he poured himself a cup.
“Um, sure, coffee would be great.” You smiled sheepishly. This was possibly the most uncomfortable encounter you’d had in your life.
“You can change the channel on tv if you want. I really don’t care what’s on. Just make yourself at home and all that.” He added dismissively, as if the two of you hung out often and didn’t dislike each other.
The last thing you’d ever expected was to end up in Sam’s living room. Now he was serving you coffee and asking you what you wanted to watch on tv. To top it all off, he seemed so unbothered but the awkward silence.
Awkward silences genuinely freaked you out. You had to say something. At least two episodes of Friends had passed, and not a word between the two of you.
You asked the first question you could think of before your mind could stop you.
“Hey so what did you mean by that thing you said last night? About how you ‘shouldn’t have even asked me to stay at the party’?”
Sam looked briefly startled before shrugging. “Oh, we’ll I figured you didn’t want to since I sent Jake to invite you to the first one and you said no, that parties weren’t your thing.”
Now it was your turn to look startled. “Jake never asked me to come over. I haven’t talked to him since the night you moved in.”
Maybe trying to start conversation wasn’t the best plan. Now both of you were staring at each other in confused silence as you processed what was going on, or rather what didn’t happen.
Sam was the first to speak again. “I swear I told him to go down the hall to the right on the night of the housewarming party. He claimed a girl answered and turned him down on the offer.”
Well, you did live down the hall to the right, so that didn’t quite add up. “He must’ve talked to someone else then. There’s a girl across the hall from me? Maybe he went there?”
Sam thought for a minute, then something seemed to click. “You know, he did seem a little buzzed when I sent him on that mission. Fuck, who am I kidding? He was probably just drunk, there was tequila out.”
You chuckled and he soon joined in. The funniest part was that it no longer felt odd to be laughing with him.
“Sorry about that, Y/N. I promise I did have the intention of inviting you,” He laughed.
You waved a hand at him. “No, really it’s all right. I mean, it was your party, you didn’t even have to invite me in the first place.”
“So, are they your thing?”
“Huh?”
“Parties. You said the girl across the hall doesn’t go out much, but what about you? Would you have showed?” He asked, just seeming generally curious.
“I don’t know, probably. I mean, I didn’t know how annoying your parties could get at that point so I might’ve showed.” You gave him a small, mischievous grin and sipped your coffee.
He feigned hurt. “You wound me, Y/N.”
“Maybe invite me to a party, and I wouldn’t have to be so mean.”
He gave you a real smile this time, one that made your heart do a strange, almost imperceptible flutter. “Okay, I will next time.”
“Well, okay then.” You smiled back, cheeks warming slightly.
And then everything was fine. The tension had melted, and casual banter floated through the room as the rest of the evening went by. Last night you hated the man, but now…now talking to him made you feel fine. No, you were actually enjoying yourself.
Maybe Sam Kiszka wasn’t all that bad after all.
#sam kiszka gvf#fanfic#sam kiskza#greta van fleet fan fiction#greta van fleet fic#sam gvf#sam kiszka x reader#enemies to lovers#josh kiszka#jake kiszka#danny wagner
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HELLO I WASN'T EXPECTING SO MANY OF YOU DKJSKD THANK YOU OMG <33
Okay very long incoherent ramble incoming I haven't figured everything out yet so here's just the general idea :)
Okay so basically the setting is a sort of like. Medieval setting where magic also exists! Ren is the king of the land which isn't plot relevant at all but it's relevant in my heart ASJKDKJS. Grian is a just sort of a traveler. He hates staying in one spot for too long so he's always hopping from village to village getting into trouble, the usual Grian stuff you know. He's best friends with Mumbo, who's a big name in what i'm calling the industrial district. He's a redstoner, which i'm thinking is a type of like. technology based magic. So he and Grian communicate on ye olde FaceTime via redstone/magic crystals, which is a very new technology that he's basically beta testing on Grian because what else are friends for.
ANYWAY akjsdkjs so Grian is a traveler. Pearl is his sister, also sort of does the same thing except she's been into sailing lately, so Grian can't exactly send her mail. Her address is perpetually changing. But he misses her and wants to check in on her SO he has to go to a wizard to help him send a message :) Just so happens that the next village he stops in knows of one close by...
Enter Scar :D He lives in a tower sort of on a cliffside by the ocean (dramatic flair). He's a good bit away from the village but close enough to walk, other than that he's pretty isolated. The village people act a little weird about him, like he's some kind of mysterious shut-in, or a hermit (hah), so when Grian knocks on the door he expects like. Some old and grumpy magic user telling him to get off his lawn. And it's Scar. Neither old nor grumpy, and in fact he is delighted to have a visitor.
Grian explains what he wants to do and asks what the price is, expecting like. diamonds or emeralds or his soul or something. And what Scar asks for is flowers. Grian is a little worried he's being scammed but ultimately goes through with it. Grian writes a letter and Scar conjures a bird to carry it safely to Pearl, and Grian goes outside and walks a bit until he finds some flowers to pick, and he brings them back to Scar. Scar pretty much lights up when he sees them, and the moment he touches them they get more vibrant and alive, so Grian figures out that he's nature-aligned (which just means he's got a natural talent for nature magic) which is weird because apart from the flowers Grian just brought there just. aren't any plants in his house. But he shakes it off and goes back to the village to stay in his little rented room.
He has to stay in the village long enough to get a response back from Pearl, so he has to visit Scar every few days to check! Cue awkward bonding moments and the forming of a friendship while they wait for the magic mail service to make the rounds. Finally he gets a response from Pearl and of course has to write her back. And of course has to wait for her response to that, and eventually it's just a thinly-veiled excuse to keep hanging around Scar KADSJJKD
Mumbo notices on one of their ye olde FaceTime calls that Grian's been in the same spot for like. way longer than usual. And he starts teasing him about it. ("Did you meet someone?" "...Well." "YOU DID?!")
So they're both falling in love, but Scar is. clearly nervous about something, hiding something. Grian tries to be patient but he's also worried and horribly curious. He invites Scar to walk through the market or the meadow or stargaze multiple times but Scar always looks guilty and scared and makes some random excuse. Grian's confused and a little hurt but is now fully invested in the health and wellbeing of this silly little wizard so he sticks around.
So things are sort of at a standstill. Until one day after a few days away Grian visits Scar again to find him fully panicking and freaking out, and he tells him that Jellie hasn't come back in a few days, and he begs Grian to look for her, telling him he'll do anything if he does. So Grian calms him down and promises to look for her, even as he's wondering why Scar isn't, and he asks if Scar wants to come with him but Scar just shakes his head through his tears and Grian leaves it alone.
He goes and looks for Jellie and finds that she's been "adopted" by one of the village families that thought she was a stray. Grian buys her back from them and takes a very grumpy Jellie back to Scar, who is just. so incredibly relieved and he cries into his cat for a while. Eventually Grian can't help himself and gently asks him why he didn't go look for her himself. Why he didn't leave.
Scar seems to resign himself to something, and he looks up at Grian with dull eyes and a sad smile. "I can't."
Grian asks him what that means. Scar demonstrates by standing up and trying to walk out the door. Glowing purple shackles appear around his wrists and neck, chains connecting back into the tower and fading into the walls. He steps back inside and they disappear. "I can't."
He explains that someone has trapped him here. That they think it's handy to have a wizard at the ready whenever they need one. That they force him to do magic for paying customers but that he never sees a penny of the profits. He doesn't have plants in his tower because he has not been allowed outside in years.
(i haven't decided who the evil person should be yet sdjskj please help.)
Anyway :) Grian starts feeling very, very murderous :)
#and some cute romantic stuff would also happen!!#ALSO FULLY FORGOT TO MENTION THAT GRIAN IS AVIAN SORRY#please give me feedback/ask follow-up questions in my asks! typing this out really helped me figure some things out sjkdj#came up with some of this AS I WAS TYPING :D#anyway thank you so much for asking about it!!! made me really happy thank you skadkj :]#jay's journal#hermitshipping#scarian#um for the moment i'm just gonna call this..#tower au
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Fic that I'm never going to post.
Hello everyone, this is the first chapter of a fic that I am absolutely never going to finish, but it was taking up space on my computer but I also didn't want to delete it without acknowledging it existed. So here you go! Basically, I wanted to write a short two-chapter smut fic, realized I'm TERRIBLE at writing smut, and thus never finished this fic. There is no instance of smut or anything inappropriate in what is posted here. Please ignore any spelling or grammar errors. Hope you enjoy!
Title:????
Pairing: Flora/Helia
Themes: Comfort??? Slice of Life???
Summary: Basically, Flora is bored with her life. Helia comes to save her (uncompleted). They were supposed to have s*x but that never happened.
Chapter 1
It was an unusually chilly day as Flora slowly went through the routine of opening her family’s flower shop. She watered the flowers, arranged beautiful bouquets, swept the floor, and finally counted the cash register. Then she sat down behind the counter and prepared for a wonderful day of…nothing.
Nothing new ever happened in the teeny tiny village of Marigold, Lynphea. Rural by even Lynphean standards, the village barely had a population of 100, and to get that you stretch it to include the cows. Everybody knew everybody, so close that most relationships were practically incestuous.
Flora hated it.
She dreamed to be like her childhood friends, Sakura and Lily, who both went Lynphea College to become fairies. Young women rarely left the village, and while Flora was so proud of them, she also felt resentful. Everyday she saw on social media their amazing adventures in the big city: the parties, their new friends, the freedom. She yearned for it… no, she needed it.
And she almost had it: Flora was a very academically and magically talented nature fairy, some even said she could have been a guardian fairy. She even received a scholarship to Alfea College at 16. Her future was beautiful, it was bright, and there was no stopping her.
But then her father died.
And her mother couldn’t cope.
So Flora finds herself taking care of her mother and younger sister, Miele. Then, she’s delaying her admission to Alfea. She blinks and suddenly finds herself taking over the family business (how else would the bills get paid?). And before she knows it, she’s deferring her acceptance year after year. And just like her parents and her grandparents before her, her life is confined to Marigold, and her struggling family.
She wouldn’t change any of her decisions; she obviously cared for her sister and would do anything to protect her. But she never wished for this life either.
Flora sat behind the counter, slowly flipping through a magazine that she already read too many times. Mail from the capital came only once a month, unfortunately. Her neighbors usually come by sometime in the late afternoon to pick up their daily bouquets for their wives, and all the remaining online orders were packed up and shipped out the night before. The morning was usually slow.
The bells chimed at the front door, but Flora didn’t even bother to glance up. “Good morning Mr. Nightshade,” she called, as he usually was the first of the gentleman to pick up his order, “Are you off work today?”
“Well, I’m not Mr. Nightshade, and I’m actually in the middle of my work, so I’m afraid you’re completely wrong.”
Flora’s head snapped up, and suddenly was face-to-face with a gorgeous man. He was tall, with a lean but muscular body. His features were so unique… pale skin, sharp facial features, and bright blue eyes, really long hair. This man was not of Marigold, clearly. And while she’s never left the village for the capital, she can be sure that he’s not of Lynphea.
So who was he? What did he want?
“Oh,umm…,”. Flora became very acutely aware of her disheveled state; wearing bleached sweatpants and her dad’s oversized farming shirt, hair unbrushed in a very messy bun. “Ummmmm,” she mumbled as she tried to find…words…any words to rectify this bizarre situation.
“I’m sorry, did I disturb you?”
“Oh! Oh, no! No, of course not…I’m so sorry. I was expecting someone else,” Flora murmured as she indiscreetly pushed her magazines off the counter. “How can I help you, Mr….,”
“Calypso. Helia Calypso,” he smiled, and Flora felt like the air was knocked out of her.
She didn’t know him, but she knew that he was handsome. He was handsome and different. He was…exciting.
“Mr. Calypso,” Flora felt ashamed at how much she liked his name rolling off her tongue, “How can I help you?”
“Well, to give you some background, I am a traveling photographer, and I am working on a photo series that captures planets in the Magic Dimension along with their inhabitants and native magic powers. So sun and moonlight on Solaria, music and the arts on Melody…”
“Nature on Lynphea...”
“Exactly,” Helia laughed a bit breathlessly, “So I’m touring several nature reserves and flower shops to find some candidates who are willing to sell me a large number of flowers and to consult on my shoot.”
“Oh wow… So what brings you here to Marigold? There are huge flower stores in the capital, surely even the other major cities like The City of Trees or The Region of Shimmering Flowers are more appropriate for your project?”
“You know most business owners usually don’t drive customers to other businesses,” Helia said as he raised an eyebrow.
Flora squealed as she turned away from Helia, kicking herself for being an idiot. But before she could completely retreat into herself, Helia reached out and clasped her arm, pulling her back towards him.
Flora’s face and neck turned completely red.
This was the first time a man has touched her.
“I’m only teasing, dear.” Helia chuckled, and Flora swore she’s never seen a more perfect smile, “I already visited the more famous and popular shops of Lynphea, but they weren’t…speaking to me.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. The flowers were almost…too perfect. They were beautiful yes, but they didn’t seem…authentic,” Helia’s eyes tore themselves away from Flora, finally taking a proper look around the shop, “but then I saw you and some of your business pictures online, and you’re so beautiful… er, um, your flowers are so beautiful.”
“They’re not that great…just some plants that I grow…” Flora said as she ducked her head. Her flowers were pretty, sure, but they were nothing compared to—
“I think they’re incredible.” Helia said sincerely, “Seriously. I spend a lot of time in nature, and I think that you have something special.”
Flora’s head could have snapped off, with how quickly it came up to stare at Helia incredulously. Special? Flora couldn’t remember the last time someone thought she was special. Maybe Ms. Petal in middle school? She was plain ol’ Flora, destined to stay in her little ol’ village forever and marry an ol’ man. She was pretty good at school, but anything that would come of it has come and gone. What did he see in her to think that she was special?
“Thank you, Mr. Calypso,” Flora said after some time, “You’re too kind.”
“I don’t think so, but I can see that you’re too humble to take a compliment, so I’ll let it go for now. But what do you say? Would you like to work on my shoot with me?”
Flora didn’t know. She had so many responsibilities for today alone, never mind this week. She had to pick the flowers in the garden and plant the next crop. The chickens, cows, and pigs had to be fed. She had to maintain the business and keep up with its social media. She had to buy and make lunch and dinner. She had to make sure her mother ate, got out of bed for a couple of hours, maybe take a shower…she had to make sure Miele came home from school safely, did her homework and understood it, and went to bed normally. She had to—
“You’d be handsomely paid,” Helia interrupted as if he could see her spiraling, “And you’d receive all credit from the pictures in the shoot. I just need you to provide the flowers, help with the arrangements, and pose, that’s all. It would take about a day—the weekend at most.”
Wow. It was a clearly great opportunity, when would she get another chance like this?
There was no hesitation.
“No, I’m sorry Mr. Calypso. I can’t,” she whispered.
“What’s wrong?” If Flora wasn’t so upset she would almost laugh at how flabbergasted Helia looked, “Surely this would be great exposure for your business.”’
“I…have a family to care for.”
“Oh,” Helia’s smile fell, “I see.” He let go of Flora’s hand.
She missed his warmth.
“Right. It’s um, a complicated situation…they need me every day.”
“Oh, okay. Well then,” Helia smiled softly and took several steps backward, “Well then, thank you for your time.
“You’re welcome, and thank you for your consideration. I hope that you find what you’re looking for.”
“I’ll find something similar,” he shrugged.
“But,” Helia suddenly stepped forward and leaned over the counter to whisper into her ear, “I’ll never find anything as wonderful as you.” Helia took her wide eyes and gaping mouth as his opportunity to leave. Just before he fully stepped out of the store, he turned back and met her eyes once more. “Flora, you have an amazing talent, it’s a shame that it would all go to waste…don’t set yourself on fire to keep others warm.”
With that, he left.
Flora never felt more alone.
#winx flora#winx helia#winx club#I'n trying to get into writing again and with that I'm purging the stories that I'm not going to finish#Also yes is this fic very similar (in themes) to another I posed on AO3 but am never going to finish (Lost Hopes#fanficiton#writing
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20 questions
Tagged by @appropriatelystupid and @rustingcat Thank you! It’s been a while, but I finally found the spoons to do something like this:
1. How many works do you have on AO3?
I have 25 fics right now.
2. What’s your total AO3 words count?
I hadn’t actually counted it until now lol. The total is 197,120, which means I’m like a few thousand short of 200k. Not bad.
3. What fandoms do you write for?
Right now, I’m writing for Supercorp, but I’ve also published fics for BBC Sherlock, Castle, and Final Fantasy VII and VIII. I’ve written unpublished for Casino Royale, LOTR, The Mummy, and (in my youth) HP.
4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?
1. mix the magic work of love (we’ll breed deep trust between us) 2. come to my window (i’ll keep it open for you) 3. under the crimson skies (the sun will kiss the night)
4. Wed By Candlelight (The Portrait of the Secret Bride)
5. May You Always be Satisfied
5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?
I try to, and I always want to. Like, I read every comment with a smile in my heart, and each one makes my day. Unfortunately, I have terrible anxiety about it, and by the time I get over it, I feel like it’s way too late to reply, and I’m just being rude. Just know that if you’ve ever left any comment or tag or even a like on any of my fics, I love and appreciate you!
6. What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?
Hmm, I don’t think I’ve COMPLETED a fic with an angsty ending. I have loads of angst in my fics, but not all of them end up angsty. I do have an open-ended SC fic that’s pretty angsty (The Cruelty of Illusion), and I wrote a very angsty one-shot for another fandom that was me using a character death to sort of parse out my grief over my mother’s death a bit (Real).
7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?
Oddly enough, for someone who’s a slut for angst, my endings mostly end up being happy, or at least resolved. The schmaltziest ending I ever wrote I think was for the FFVII fandom, the first fic I ever wrote. It was on FF Net, and I have no idea what happened to it lol.
8. Do you get hate on fics?
I got a bit of hate for one of my fics where I put Lena and James together, and some person seemed to take offense that they were together (but oddly enough they weren’t offended that Kara and Lex were actually married in this fic, which I think is more puke-worthy). Nope, they just hated on James, and they took my defense of him as me not being able to take criticism of my work. Oh well, you can’t win everybody, and if that kind of reader is what you get, I’d rather not.
9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?
I have dabbled in smut in several fics, yes. It’s not my forte, and most of the stuff in my fics is pretty vanilla, so the boring kind, I guess lol.
10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?
Yes, yes, YESSSSSS! Crossovers and AUs are my jam!!! I literally cannot count how many crossovers I’ve done, and I’ve had some random ones. I’ve literally mashed BBC Sherlock, Inception, Elementary and Supergirl into an AU, with a few characters from other fandoms sprinkled in (Red II, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vampire Knight, etc).
11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?
Not fics, but I’ve had gifs from a previous fandom stolen.
12. Have you ever had a fic translated before?
I’ve had at least one fic translated into Russian (I think it might be 2, but I can’t remember what the other one is). They gave me the link, but it’s in Russian and I guess I never checked.
13. Have you ever cowritten a fic before?
Oh, yes! I’ve cowritten 2 fics with a couple of friends for previous fandoms. One was for FFVII, and it was a Word doc we passed back and forth over e-mail, if you can believe it. Like this was back when I had a yahoo account (but I got locked out, and all of our exchanges got lost. A tragedy). The other one was actually for a couple of OCs that my friend and I made up as an offshoot from our BBC Sherlock fandom. There were 3 of us in the chat, but 2 of us did most of the writing. Neither fics are posted or complete.
14. What’s your all time favorite ship?
Oh, that’s a tough one. I think Supercorp might win the top spot by a small margin. My number 2 ship might get a lot of hate and it’s problematic AF, but I still hold it dear to my heart. It got me through a lot of tough times.
15. What’s a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?
Oh, God, there’s way too many. Of my posted fics, I think the one I want to finish most is my Supercorp Frozen AU. Of my unposted fics, I think the one I want to finish is a Supercorp one based on a Jim Carey movie. Ooh, also my unabridged SC Theme Park AU. And my Matrix AU. Too many damn AUs.
16. What are your writing strengths?
Making AUs, lol. I know because any piece of media I watch or read gets turned into an AU. Now, whether it should be turned into an AU is a different story. And, I don’t know, an expanding vocabulary, I guess.
17. What are your writing weaknesses?
Actual writing lol. Finishing anything, ugh. Also comedic writing, I guess. That’s hard, I’m not funny.
18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?
I always like writing in the language that the characters are speaking. I feel like it adds a sense of authenticity to the conversation and makes it feel more organic. However, if it’s a real language spoken by real people, I always try to make sure that what I’m writing is accurate, contextual and respectful. Also, if it’s entire paragraphs, I tend to stick to English, because it’s more likely to have more translation errors with blocks of text.
19. First fandom you wrote for?
Really wrote for: Casino Royale (teenage me had a crush on Eva Green). Posted: Final Fantasy VII
20. Favorite fic you’ve ever written?
Oof, another hard one. I love all my fics, they’re my children. But if I had to...For Supercorp, my favorites would be the Horny Witch fic, and the Corpse Bride fic (under the crimson skies would make it, because I loved thinking up that fic, but unfortunately, I really did not enjoy writing it). For Adlock, my favorites are Her Morning Elegance, Beautiful Children, Dinner and a Bath (still the single biggest plot twist I’ve ever written lol), and A Midnight Spell in New Orleans (this one’s close to my heart cos I love NOLA)
Tagging @ekingston @thelastandonlyunicorn @coffeeshib @spicycheeser @the-queen-of-the-light and anyone who wants to try! No pressure though :)
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homebody diaries .002.
the amount of reading that i’ve been doing lately makes me think of when i first discovered booktube: i learned about all these popular books and i was broke for like a consistent year because i wouldn’t stop buying books, but i only made like $9/hr. even now, with a full-time job that pays me almost twice that much, i still don’t know why that worked out for me. it definitely should not have.
anyway, yesterday was “free comic book day” and a local comic store gave me a bag of like sixteen free comics, and then i turned around and spent $80 on more comics. it also reminded me that i had two comics in my favorite series that i haven’t read yet. so i’ve got volumes 10 and 11 of “saga,” and yesterday i purchased the first volumes of “deadly class” and “something is killing the children,” as well as junji ito’s manga interpretation of mary shelley’s “frankenstein,” and then “old man logan,” which is about an elderly wolverine (whose healing capabilities are faltering) who gets picked up by an old hawkeye. it’s what inspired the movie logan, which is objectively speaking the only good x-men movie (do not come for me, i watched those movies for the first time in release date order like last month ago, and i am lowkey way more into the x-men than i am the rest of the marvel heroes, save for like agents of s.h.i.e.l.d.). i also received a package in the mail containing the fifth book in one of my favorite series: the witchlands series by susan dennard. oh my god, and i started the wayward children series by seanan mcguire and it’s so good. and i’m waiting on two more books in the mail, both for my bookclub.
i am so content with it too. i am doing it because i love reading and it brings me joy. plus, who doesn’t love some easy escapism? same reason i love video games.
speaking of which, i gotta start a farm with some friends. there have been so many updates and i haven’t played the pc version of it in so long. maybe i’ll convince a few of them to let me stream it. that, and palworld. i’m just not sure when i should start streaming; it feels like i have so much left to do, but it also feels like i’m not doing anything at all. so i might have to try streaming for 3-4 hours on my days off, with or without friends. my problem when it comes to streaming is that i’m my own boss, so not following through with a schedule doesn’t really have any consequences. but i really gotta get that started, otherwise i feel like i’ll never get around to it. it certainly would be nice to eventually make some extra money off of it. thought i wanted to be a val streamer, but i shockingly haven’t even really touched the game since i moved into my new place.
izzy and i watched four movies in a day on friday: mr. and mrs. smith, bullet train, baby driver, and everything everywhere all at once. all of them were so good, although everything everywhere all at once was… interesting. like the whole overall message of it is great and everything, like we love old traditional parents learning how to accept the things they can’t control about their child, but like… the buttplugs. wow. what a scene. (and that is all i’ll say on that; if you know, you know.)
i’m working on a linktr.ee with all my currently active and soon-to-be active accounts, which includes tumblr, discord, snapchat, and twitch. i was thinking about making a patreon, but i feel like i should gather an audience before i attempt managing another account. i already hate social media as it is which is why i only have what i have… we’ll see where it goes.
anyway, it was a solid weekend. i’m still tired, but i did drink quite a bit at a party last night and now i’ve got five days of work ahead of me, and my coworkers alone make that exhausting. but i’ve got lots of reading and writing to do to keep myself relaxed in between moments of masking (totally gonna be the name of my autobiography), especially once the new bookclub pick arrives. i’ll try not to be too miserable by tuesday.
#dark academia#studyblr#writeblr#reader#light academia#academia#notes#aesthetic#art#cozycore#reading#readblr#books and reading#currently reading#comics#comic books#free comic book day#nerd#nerd shit#books#blog#book club#book review#bookish#booklr#book blog#book photography#books & libraries#bookworm#bookblr
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Dark Cupid--Happy Valentines' Day!
I know I'm a bit late, but suffice it to say that I had a lot going on. Just wanted to pop in, say hi, and give you a mini-recap on one of my favorite episodes in Season 1 of Miraculous, Dark Cupid!
Because most of you Miraculers who follow me are in season 5 by now, and have probably watched this episode as many times as I have, I'll make this quick.
So basically, we start with Miss Bustier's class, talking about fairytales. Adrien is writing a love poem, and when called out, gets savage toward his teacher, yadda yadda yadda...
Adrien then throws out his poem, thinking it not good enough for Ladybug. Sabrina and Chloe make him sign his autograph, even though he hates it, by telling him it's for a good cause.
After class, Marinette goes digging in the trash to see what it is that Adrien was writing. She finds what she was looking for, but not before Chloe and Sabrina imply that she's poor and homeless. (I guess they were feeling good about themselves after getting Adrien to sign that poster)
Marinette reads Adrien's poem, assumes it was about her (thanks to Tikki), and celebrates.
Marinette meets up with Alya, and they see Max and Kim talking about a ~mystery girl~ Kim wants to ask to be his Valentine. Like the great friends they are, they encourage and support him. Then Kim becomes a runner and a trackstar.
And can I say that the look Max gives as Kim leaves? Like a proud dad. This was definitely one of Max's best episodes.
So Marinette is encouraged by Kim's situation (and Alya) and decides to write Adrien a poem. We then see an amazing BFF handshake we NEVER. SEE. AGAIN.
We skip to Chloe and her lackey torturing Adrien's fanclub with the signed poster of Adrien. We get the infamous "she's not crying hard enough" scene, and that's that.
Marinette is working hard to write a poem for Adrien, and Alya nags. She finally gains inspiration, and they head to mail it off.
Meanwhile, Kim catches up with Chloe. Of course he would like Chloe. Man, I am so glad he gets Ondine later. Anyway, Chloe acts like a total jerk, so nothing new there. He gets akumatized, surprise, surprise, and turns into *GASP* Dark Cupid!
Dark Cupid makes people hate each other. So yeah. If you needed a comic relief, there's this guy shouting, "STUPID FLOWERS!"
Chloe gets what's coming to her, as Sabrina gets hit and does to her exactly what she did to Kim. So yay.
Chat Noir tries to confess his love to Ladybug, but instead protects her from getting hit by Dark Cupid, where we get this famous sequence:
(Funny how even then, he would sacrifice himself to save her) So anyway, a whole battle goes down and Ladybug realizes that she has to kiss Chat. Obviously, the "Get back, you savage!" had to be put in here.
So Chat Noir (even more Noir than before!) and Dark Cupid are working together, and can I say that they become bros so quick?!
Anyway, you all know what happens next: Chat foreshadows Chat Blanc, as well as Destruction by saying that he wanted to cataclysm a person. Then, Ladynoir's famous first kiss. And Evil Chat is enjoying EVERY SECOND of it.
And then Ladybug yeets Chat at Dark Cupid.
And then the good guys win, as per usual. Chloe gets what she deserved; her poster of Adrien is ruined by Sabrina (even though it should've been reversed by the magical ladybugs).
Adrien gets Marinette's Valentines card, but it isn't signed, so he thinks it's from Ladybug for some reason. Like, what?! And then he doesn't put two and two together until Season 3, episode: Stormy Weather 2. Um, excuse you?!
Calm down, simpy boy.
Personally, I think because we've had a couple of Christmas episodes, we can probably have another Valentines' episode. There is so much you can do with Valentine's day, and I feel like they cramped a lot of really good ideas into one episode. Oh, well...
So yeah, that's my recap of one of the best episodes in Season 1. I love this episode, and it mostly serves as a comfort episode when things are too serious.
Any commentary I made in this post is purely opinion, and it's not meant to be taken seriously. Love you guys, byeeeeee
#miraculous ladybug#miraculous#tales of ladybug and cat noir#ladybug and chat noir#ladybug#chat noir#cat noir#dark cupid#ml season 1#valentines#valentines day#adrien agreste#adrienette#alya cesaire#le chien kim#max kante#geekerella reviews
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MavDad: Letters From Home
A/N: Here is some more MavDad, as always please leave ideas for more chapters in the comments! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😁
1. He Knew | 2. Superhero | 3. Career Day | 4. Little League | 5. Father's Day | 6. Home, Sweet Home
Also on Ao3!
PS - this is a longer read, 1900 words. It got away from me!
----
Mav quickly made his way to the ship’s mail room. Today was a pickup day and he was sending a letter to Brad and Carole. While he did get the opportunity to make phone calls from time to time, mail was a more reliable means of communication for them.
He missed his family, and had read the last letters from them so many times over he almost had them memorized by now.
Maverick,
We hope that you are staying safe, after that scare a few months ago, we have been a bit more worried as of late. Brad is doing well in school, and baseball. He wants to sign up for a travel team over the summer, don’t worry I will be sure to send you lots of pictures from his games. He knows that you would be there if you could.
Don’t worry about me, I’m doing okay. I have made friends with a few mom’s from Brad’s baseball team. We have hired a babysitter together and are getting some drinks next week. Its been nice having other people to talk to, its usually a bit more lonely when you aren’t home with us. I included a few pictures for you and a letter from Brad. The first one is Brad’s school pictures, doesn’t he look so handsome? I swear he looks more and more like Goose every day. When you get home you will have to show him how to shave, The second picture is of him and I at Goose’s grave. We miss your stories at our visits but I’ve managed to tell a few that Brad didn’t know yet.
How are you? Is there anything you need us to send you? A care package perhaps?
Stay safe out there and remember, we love you.
Love,
Carole
Brad’s letter was included inside the envelope too.
Uncle Mav,
I am glad that you are staying safe on your missions, I am always a little worried about you. Mom and I are doing well, I am holding down the fort here at home. Mom is going to sign me up for travel baseball this summer so by the time you get home I might be even better than you! Winning isn’t as much fun when you aren’t home to take us out to ice cream. When you are home we will have to celebrate the ones you have missed.
I am doing good in school and I made the honor roll last semester. My friend Jake taught me how to ride a skateboard. I have to show you all the cool tricks I can do now when you come home. Mom has been making me wear a helmet all the time when I am on it after I came home one night with a scraped up knee and a bruise on my elbow.
Mom and I went to visit dad at the cemetery last week. I hate going without you, your stories always make it a little less sad. Dad sounds like he was a lot of fun. Mom told me about how he used to play the piano, even in the middle of a crowded restaurant or bar, and he would sing at the top of his lungs. And that she always used to be so embarrassed by him, but eventually he made her have some fun. I feel like I remember that, but all the memories of him are kinda fuzzy. Maybe I can learn the piano too?
Mom has been rather sad recently. I think she is missing you and dad. I hope the Navy lets you come home soon. Do you know how much longer it will be? Have you gone on any cool missions? Who is your wingman now?
Love,
Bradley
Mav smiled to himself, he wanted to make sure he got his letter off in time. This one was important because it was Brad’s birthday coming up and he wanted to make sure it arrived with time to spare.
He put it in two envelopes and wrote DO NOT OPEN TIL June 24th on the outside of the first envelope before addressing the second. Even though he wouldn’t be home for Brad’s birthday, he wanted it to be special.
Carole,
I promise that I am doing well. I have been staying safe and patrol has not given us any issues as of late. Please don’t worry too much about me, I’m sure you have other things you need to be focused on.
I miss you guys too. I am thinking of trying to apply to a state side position for this next deployment. That way I can be home more and perhaps a little safer. I can’t wait to come home. It sounds like I have a few months left at the very least so it will be a while still.
I’m sorry that I am not there to come with you to see Goose, leave a beer from me the next time you go yeah?
I have been decorating my quarters with the pictures you sent me. I’m sure every man on the ship knows not to open my locker on the off chance that one of the several photos taped up falls out.
I will never say no to a care package, maybe a small one to fly under the radar? I would love some of those cookies that you and Brad made for me the last time I was gone. They might be stale by the time they get here but they are still damn good compared to anything else on this ship.
Don’t let Bradley open his letter until his birthday. I included a special gift for him! Staying safe.
Love,
Maverick
Brad’s letter was tucked into the second envelope and had a slight bulge to it from the different items he had tucked inside.
Bradley,
Happy birthday bud! I hope you are having an amazing day. I’m sorry that I cannot be there to celebrate with you again. I will try to get permission to make a phone call out to you today. If I can’t then know I am thinking of you and that I love you and I hope you have the best 13th birthday.
I am doing my best to stay safe for you. You’ll also be happy to hear that I have avoided making anyone too mad at me the last few months. Hopefully I can push for a state-side position when I come home so that I don’t have to be away from you and your mom any more.
I included a few birthday presents for you. The first and most important item in here are your dad’s dog tags. I’ve been keeping them safe for you and now that you’re old enough its time I hand them over. You know I don’t believe in luck, but those tags are lucky. They have saved my butt a few times and I hope they do the same for you. The second item is a challenge coin I picked up off an Admiral. Keep this one for the future, it’ll come in handy, just trust me. Lastly, there is a picture for you. It’s one of your dad and I after we had been told we were going to Top Gun. Your mom tells me that you are looking more and more like him every day. I wish I was there to see it.
I’m glad that you are riding your skateboard in style! Safety first as you always tell me. I’m so proud of you for making the honor roll, we will have to celebrate when I come home. Make sure your mom sends me lots of pictures of your baseball games. I know it sucks that I can’t be there, remember that I am always with you. And don’t think, just do.
It is hard for your mom to be alone. I hope to be home in a few more months, probably in time for the holidays. I haven’t been on any missions recently, just patrols. Right now my wingman is Warlock, he has been doing a good job of watching my back.
I hope to see you soon bud, I love you.
Love,
Uncle Mav
Mav finally made it to the mail room, a smile on his face, he didn’t miss the outgoing batch of mail.
“Got something to send Maverick?” Brody, the ship's mail attendant, asked.
“Yes sir,” Mav replied proudly, “got a letter for my son’s birthday.”
“Something special then!” he smiled at him before taking the letter, “let me put some extra postage on there for you to make sure it makes it in time.”
“I would appreciate that, I’m sending it a little early to make sure it gets there,” Mav informed him.
“You can’t be too careful!” Brody shot back with a smirk, “the postal service is not what it used to be.”
“Yes sir, thank you for your help,” Mav said as he turned to head back to his bunk.
As he laid there, trying to fall asleep before patrol, he smiled, knowing that his letter would be there for Bradley to open on his birthday.
—-
Brad had been waiting by the door for the last three days watching for the mailman.
“Honey, dinner is almost done!” Carole called to him through the house.
“Just a second mom, he is coming down the street now!” Brad shouted back as he raced out of the house to meet their mailman at the box.
“Good afternoon Mr. Bradshaw, I believe I have something for you today,” the older man said with a smile, presenting him with a beaten up looking envelope addressed to Bradley and Carole Bradshaw.
“YES!” He shouted as he grabbed the letter quickly, a loud, “THANK YOU,” sent over his shoulder as he raced back in the house to his mom.
“Mom, MOM, its here!” he yelled as he made it into the kitchen, a huge smile on his face.
“I’m guessing you want to open it before dinner, huh?” Carole questioned, with a sly smile on her face.
“OF course I do!” Brad exclaimed.
Carole laughed at his excitement, “alright honey, let’s open it up then!”
As they tore into the first envelope, Carole was confused, why were there two? When she saw the writing on the outside of the second she started laughing, “I guess your Uncle Mav sent this on the just right day, didn’t he?”
The letter had made it just in time, on Bradley’s birthday.
As Bradley tore into the envelope, the phone rang. He looked at his mom before running over to pick it up.
“Hello? Bradshaw residence!” Bradley stated proudly.
“Is this a Mr. Bradley Bradshaw?” Mav asked, laughing at how grown up Brad sounded.
“Uncle Mav!” Brad shouted, “We just got your letter!”
“I must have sent it at the right time then,” Mav replied with a smile, “happy birthday bud,” his voice cutting out towards the end.
“Thanks dad, I love you,” Bradley said with a smile.
“I love you too Bradley,” Mav got out before the phone lost signal.
Brad hung up with a smile.
“Did he lose signal?” Carole asked him.
Brad huffed out a sigh, “Yeah, he got to tell me happy birthday though.”
“I’m sure he would have spoken longer if he could,” Carole said comfortingly.
“I know…let's open our letters, I want to eat some cake!” Brad said, smiling at her.
It was the best birthday Brad had while Mav had been deployed, and thankfully, the last one without his Uncle Mav.
#top gun fanfiction#top gun#top gun maverick#bradley rooster bradshaw#nick goose bradshaw#carole bradshaw#pete maverick mitchell#maverick mitchell
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Metalocalypse #36: “Snakes n’ Barrels II” | August 25, 2008 - 12:00AM | S02E16
Well! This certainly is a momentous episode! I guess. Well, it’s the first thirty minute episode, which isn’t nothing. The next season would be presented in the half hour format, I’m guessing in part due to the direct success of this episode. This is sorta the “Fonzie's Getting Married” of Metalocalypse.
This one is basically about the perils of sobriety. Pickles old band Snakes n’ Barrels gets back together without him. The effects of the dangerous drug they were dosed with in the first Snakes n’ Barrels episode turned all but Pickles into a blank slate, prime for reprogramming. Ricky Kixx, an obnoxious sober rock star (voiced by Mike Patton), happens to be the first guy to waltz into the band’s orbit. He does indeed reprogram them as a “bragging about sobriety” band. Pickles intends to settle the score with them, but they have a restraining order against him. Pickles will have to violate a legal boundary!
Meanwhile: Ricky Kixx turns out to be a rageaholic who murders one of his assistants after revealing to him that he hates being sober, and considers it to be a terrible prison. He preaches sobriety just to make those around him as miserable as he is. Murderface feels angst from not having his side project PLANET PISS properly registered, and goes apeshit when he finds out Toki registered every planet piss web domain there is as a mean prank. Murderface goes to confront Toki at the Snakes n’ Barrels concert but Toki has gone absolutely mental beating an especially obnoxious straight-edge fan half-to-death. This is during the show’s climax when lingering effects of the drug in the bands' systems cause mass chaos.
It is time for me to list stuff now. Here are some other things in the episode: Dr. Rockso is in this, no longer a clown and two months sober (give or take). He is eventually tempted by his old clownsona in a series of hallucinations. There is a funny scene where Nathan explosion slaps the vendors at the sober rock show, he just slaps them silly. Uh, that’s only two things, which isn’t really a list. Okay, a third thing: they cut the theme song short for fun. That’s fun!
I like this episode fine, but I don’t think I loved it. It ends fairly strong, it feels slightly experimental in that we get some longer scenes, like when Dethklok bash their manager’s lamp collection, and a fun aside where Pickles gives his tour of LA. Both of these things would have probably been cut from an 11 minute version of the episode. They’re fun, but I wouldn’t consider these among my favorite scenes in Metalocalypse history. I will forever be curious what an edited-down version of this episode would be like. It will haunt me for the rest of my days.
MAIL BAG
Hello, I am here and I'm nice. Time to answer some messages that the people (my many very real fans) are sending me:
these "tasty tuesdays" have really been running me for a loop
Oh, I don't know... tuesday is tasty to me, but maybe for you? (??)
i log it and there's nothing, every tuesday, for whatever reason. out partying with your friends? hmm? can you at least have a microblog every tuesday about the tastiest thing you had in the past week. people would actually like it. that's the thing.
Okay: for real: My initial post on this blog I basically said "I'm gonna update mostly every day but please don't mind it when I skip a day" and I'm basically exercising that clause right there. But yeah, I have a thing I do on Tuesday nights and I seemingly, no matter what, wind up working later than usual on Tuesday so I almost never have time. I also tend to burn out on the blog when I consciously build up a backlog. Maybe you noticed or maybe you didn't, but MONDAY evenings have sorta become a crapshoot for me lately, too.
Very fun fact: I was going to attempt a Tuesday post last night, and figured I could knock out this episode/write-up very easily, and then put it on and saw it was a double episode instead of the previously-assumed 11 minutes. So I bailed! What could have been!
Also, the elite group of very real hackers who humiliate me by titling my Tuesday posts as some variation of "Tasty Tuesday" have gotten in touch with me and told me that they need more time to come up with new titles. I hate that they are disgracing my blog with their vandalism, but I respect the creative process enough that I feel I must oblige.
Also the tastiest thing I eat each week is always PUSSY
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A recount of my trip home
Feel free to skip if you don't want to hear about nice things, or drama, or me being contemplative about life
Got home from NJ/PA at about 4am Monday morning after setting off at 4pm Sunday. I'd intended to drive in the late afternoon because that's when I tend to become fully alert, but I was so tired from the week that I still had to stop and take a nap at a rest area on the way home (and on top of that I set my alarm for a 45 minute nap but never turned it on, so I slept in my car for over an hour and a half).
It was really amazing and good and wonderful and heartwarming to see everyone. Except mom's husband who I nearly attacked like twice while I was there, but that's besides the point. It was really good to see mom and she is actually doing AMAZING and has this new almost glow and energy about her, and she's able to do so many things post-half-successful-transplant that her doctor told her it was miraculous. However, she is so deep in her own depression and stress and pain she can't see it, and she's 62 and never learned to sort out her emotions or mental shit, so she's like ... created this reality that doesn't exist where everyone's against her and wants her abandoned in the hospital -- except the actual people at the hospital who want to get rid of her and send her home.
She got her third chance at a new liver the first full day I was there, which was Wednesday, however after taking her all the way down to the OR for prep, at 2am she was wheeled back up to the room because they decided the liver wasn't going to work for her. Of course neither her nor her husband can see ANY silver lining among the disappointment, and while I can understand that because I have been in such a dark place before (though not because of needing entirely new organs and being in a marriage to someone I hate etc), I still attempted to remind them both that that's the third candidate they had in less than two weeks so the offers are coming in MUCH faster now than they had been before the initial transplant.
Thursday morning, however, after that lack of sleep and the stress of waiting to find out if it would fall through or not followed by the reality that it did fall through, and having to deal with her fuck ass husband and his entire personality and him giving the nurses incorrect information as well as my mom catastrophizing every single thing because she was exhausted and upset, I had to leave despite promising I would stay all day. The need to escape was dire, as I was slipping into panic attack mode and wanted desperately to just get in my car and drive home to Ranger's Rest.
At least my mom "allowed" me to leave because I stressed how much it was all setting me off, telling her it was primarily her husband and the exhaustion, so I went back to my aunt and uncle's place, ate lunch and saw a few cousins and met a few that were born after I moved away which was nice, then I slept for 3.5 hours without moving a muscle. I came back to the hospital that night until mom got her nightly meds then left so I could get some sleep before driving back to my home town to collect some of my stuff and see more family and friends.
Then I stayed up talking with my Aunt until 2am about the insanity that had gone on that morning and was too tired to go back to mom and her husband's house to get my stuff. We agreed he'd take photos of what was left, since I didn't actually leave much, and I could just tell him what I wanted to keep and he'd mail it down to me and throw out the rest. I took the deal so I didn't have to interact with him any more than necessary and so I could sleep more because holy shit, I was so bone tired.
So Friday I skipped stuff collecting and headed down to the shore (later than I wanted because I was dragging ass) to have lunch with another aunt and uncle I hadn't seen. I stayed longer than intended because we were gabbing and it was really nice. I'd planned on making everyone a lasagna dinner when I got back to where I was staying but time got away from me particularly when I met up with Nicole. We hung out for a few hours at Starbucks and in my car in the parking lot and then in her driveway, initially planning on going to look at the ocean but I realized that wasn't as important as just hanging out.
I didn't realize how much I missed my extended family and my friends (or I mean, at least Nicole who was the only one I was able to see as Sarah's son was sick and I couldn't risk picking up extra germs lol) until I saw them again. I managed to keep my shit together but I honestly wanted to weep seeing everyone again. It felt like yeah, I hadn't seen anyone in three years, but also, it felt like I'd just seen them maybe a few weeks ago. It was the most warm and lovely feeling I can remember having in a long, long time. NIkki if you do read this I hope you know I love you and I treasure our friendship so much <3 It's been 28 years since we were in Mrs Gioiella's class together O_O
Tried to see more cousins on Saturday but it just didn't work out with scheduling, plus some of the kiddos were sick and again, I couldn't risk bringing any extra germs around my mom in the hospital (not to mention my uncle is also immuno-compromised and can't risk it either, even with his own grandkids. So I left the cards I'd brought for them with stickers in them and spent the afternoon/evening at the hospital.
Where I had to try my best to talk my mom off her delulu cliff and gently walk her back to reality, which she didn't like and was not receptive to because I wasn't agreeing with everything she said or how she was interpreting things said to her by family members. Went home that night and things seemed better but Sunday morning it was all back on and her husband was present, too. The motherfucker tried to scold me?? Or something?? We were trying to have yet another come-back-from-delulu-land conversation which was making my mom angry, especially because I was being so calm and was using things I'd learned in therapy to try to talk with her. She absolutely hated that. Anyway he came back from pissing or getting coffee or trying to bullshit with the nurses who all know he's full of shit or whatever it was he was doing and was like "I DON'T WANT ANY FIGHTING. POSITIVITY ONLY." and other nonsense because he doesn't know how to be a human being or have actual working close relationships with people. And then he went on about how my aunt (who was being made the scapegoat because A my mom was misinterpreting ENTIRELY what she said to her and B she's the only person who doesn't yes mom's husband to death just to get him to shut the fuck up, and actually challenges him on his bullshit so he hates her) wasn't blood so she doesn't matter and he literally said and I quote, "Her husband never taught her to shut her mouth."
I swear to god I deserve a medal for remaining so calm in that moment, but I very, VERY pointedly made a show of it by closing my eyes, taking deep breaths, and speaking softly when I said things like, "We aren't fighting, we're talking. This isn't about Aunt. We're just talking about feelings." Then I wanted to help by talking to mom's nurse about maybe jotting down notes whenever they came in or a doctor came in to help her remember what was said, because mom feels like she can't do it herself, and her husband again was trying to control me or tell me what to do or whatever by insisting it would never work, don't even bring it up, don't bother the nurses, DON'T BOTHER THE NURSES!!!!!!! Until, when I kept calmly insisting, "Well I'm going to try while I'm here anyway," mom finally spoke up and told him to let me try. Let me try. "Let." As if I'm not almost 37 fucking years old, her daughter, and no relation to his narcissistic ass.
Look. I'll admit I'm grateful that my mom can convince him to pay for things that I/we need down here, like our water, and tires for my car so I could visit, and slipping me money for gas and parking and tolls. I am grateful for that even though I know he's not doing it out of the kindness of his heart. It's still money I didn't have that helped me take the trip and take it safely. But he's a phony piece of shit and I don't think I could handle another visit that involved him, and I was reminded of why I had to move away in the first place by being in both his presence and my mom's presence. I am doing so well right now and I never, EVER would have gotten to this point if I was still there. I'm willing to help my mom divorce him and get her moved down here or something, but even my aunt said it would just be a transfer of her thinking she was helpless and me having to do everything for her, rather than her husband. And before this trip, I thought that wouldn't happen, but now I think that's exactly what will happen. I'll still help her get divorced but she really needs to re-learn how to be independent because she's been crippled by her marriage.
So I left Sunday, got home early Monday, and today (yesterday as of posting?) I had my iron infusion early in the morning. Over six hours of riveting life adventure, and by that I mean receiving steroids and iron via IV and trying to read my book and playing on my phone and falling asleep and sweating my ass off because they keep the room so warm for the people there getting chemo and as much as I can actually chit chat with strangers easily I didn't want to be part of the group that we all found ourselves in trying to make conversation.
Anyway. It was also Kate's birthday so I got her an asshole birthday banner and exactly what she asked for (a Harry Styles coloring book and pack of crayons) and I got us food from our favorite local pizza place after we tried and tried to see how we could make getting Olive Garden from Asheville work with her working a double and me being dead ass tired still. But we had a good dinner and she felt like she had a good day so that's all that matters.
I go back to work tomorrow and I work 5 days in a row so next week I might be full on dead again. I have to remember to take my work keys with me tomorrow afternoon or I'm fucked to close the store. I really want to help my store be successful so I'm motivated to get in there and help us get a system going we can all work well in as we approach the holidays.
Next week is my birthday and honestly no one really ever does much for me on my birthdays so I kinda just ... do whatever on them. I have the day off so at least I can sleep or lounge or whatever as much as I want but otherwise it's just a day I don't really enjoy because I stopped feeling special on my birthday a long time ago. 37 isn't a big deal, just a year closer to 40 and thus towards death. i'm not depressed about it, I just ... I dunno I always just remember the way people I'd make an effort for wouldn't make an effort for me, so it does leave me just a little bummed.
Anyway that was honestly just like a GLIMPSE of my trip and its insanity and joy and misery etc. Thanks, if you made it this far.
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Rubatosis - 01
Chapter 1:
Summary + Chapter list:
Rubatosis
Noun. The unsettling awareness of your own heartbeat.
*Thump Thump*
The one thing Harry has always welcomed, hated and loved was the constant familiarity of his beating heart. It was soothing as it was agitating in its presence. A constant reminder of his always moving and changing life even if Harry felt like he was stuck in time with nothing but his mind for company.
01/08/94
Harry woke up feeling much better than he had in days, he had been sick and unwell for the past few days to unknown causes. The sickness had stumped the entire household, as Harry had never been sick before and the Dursleys were just as confused as they were angry for doing Harry’s usual chores. Though, the end of the sickness meant Harry could hear his heartbeat at its normal pace rather than the rapid thump of his heart.
Getting up from his bed and checking the time, he turned to freshen up. It was currently, 5:37 am, a bit late for his normal body clock. Cleaning himself up in the bathroom was going routinely until Harry had looked up into the mirror and registered his lack of his glasses.
Despite the lack of eye wear, he could see perfectly, something he couldn’t do even with the glasses. Confused, Harry chalked it up to magically healing. Would have preferred this a few years ago, but Harry shrugged it off and went back to his room to study a bit.
While Harry wasn’t the top student, but he made sure to make the top 15 students for most of his subjects, not including Potions, since Snape hated him too much to fairly give him a proper score. Hence, he picked up the book about Runes that Hermione had recommended. Harry wanted to hit himself for choosing Divination, but thankfully, due to Professor Mcgonagall’s advice, he was able to switch courses for his fourth year.
*Click-Tick* Harry turned to look at the source of the noises when we saw a finger knock at his window. Bloody hell! There’s a fucking finger knocking at his window. It wasn’t until Hedwig hooted at him to realise that it was probably an invisibility cloak.
Warily, Harry opened the window as a sudden swish noise was made and the window closed again. The stranger took off his cloak to reveal a well dressed man in his thirties wearing a uniform, or so Harry assumed as he took note of the Gringotts’ logo on the robes.
“You’re a hard man to contact, Mister Potter.” The stranger said in lieu of a greeting as Harry stared. “We sent many letters to you, but no one replied, that was until I was sent to monitor the letters to see exactly why they weren’t reaching you.” The Gringotts employee informed.
Harry jaw opened to protest, until he realised, shouldn’t he be getting bank statements like everyone else? “I’ve never gotten any letter besides my friends, what do you mean? Has someone been taking them?” What could someone want with his letters, the idea of being stolen from put Harry on edge. The stranger seemed to assess Harry’s response with a curious look.
“Mister Potter, my name is Charles MaMillian, I’m one of Gringotts wixen liaison.” Charles introduced himself, “I’m here to talk about your C.I or Creature Inheritance as it is commonly known.” Harry’s expression must have shown his confusion because his heartbeat most certainly sped up, hence it prompted Charlus to elaborate.
After the entire ordeal Harry didn't know what was worse, someone had his mail redirected but had not opened them, confirmed courtesy to Gringotts’ monitoring systems, or the fact he had more than one vault, and he had properties that he could live in since he was the last heir of the family and could be emancipated and no one had informed him of it.
The Creature Inheritance was harder to process, Harry didn’t even know a wixen could have creature blood in them without external sources like werewolf bites. Charles didn’t know any spells, nor was he a certified Healer to check what Creature Harry is, and because of the pending meetings that should have happened years ago, Charles told him that they would be going to Gringotts through apparation, but before they could leave he had Harry grabbed all of his belongings and let Hedwig out in case they didn’t return.
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If there was one thing Harry hated more than Skele Gro was wizarding transportation. Arriving at the bank Harry was hauled into a infirmary like room, and after an exhausting hour and half, Harry was fed multiple potions all with awful taste. Another thing Harry had the displeasure of finding out was that his Magical Guardian was Dumbledore whom had never met until Hogwarts, though, despite being his guardian, Dumbledore, nor anyone else was able to enter his vaults or take things out using his key as the Family Magic would not accept them. ‘Small blessings’, Harry had muttered during the meeting whilst rubbing his pulse points. It was something Harry did unconsciously and consciously when he wanted to feel his heartbeat rather than hear it. It was calming, it was consistent.
Harry walked out of the bank with the Potter Lordship ring and the Black family Lordship ring in his hand, full control of his assets and the knowledge of him being a Vampire. That conversation went tensely, Harry had no idea that his family had Vampire blood in its lineage, but he was informed many wizarding families had creature blood and it was an honour for the family to receive the inheritance.
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Harry has sifted through properties and decided on the Ancestral Manor of the Potter family, thankfully the bank provided a premade portkey for it. “Mortem Ante Dedecus.” The activation key was the family motto, ‘Death Before Dishonour’ The motto was something Harry could tell was applicable to his family, and no matter what the context, Harry loved describing a family as his.
Hoping to avoid throwing up, Harry straightened himself up. A gasp left Harry lips as he took in his family Manor, it was gorgeous. Gorgeous and home, that was the best way Harry could describe it. He could feel what he assumed were wards wrap around him in safety, it made Harry want to curl up and cry for he had never felt as safe as he did in the moment.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, Harry was interrupted by a sudden but very familiar crack. A small but well dressed house elf appeared, but before Harry could say anything, the elf burst into tears. “Young Master Harry has returned! The house has missed you so much!” And wasn’t that a lot to unpack, exactly how do houses have feelings, Harry had no idea.
“Um,” Harry began awkwardly, “Hello, I was checking the Manor to move in? What’s your name?” She beamed at the notion of Harry staying and excitedly introduced herself, “I is Mimsy, the Head Elf, there is Whimsy and Bibble.” At the sound of their names, two more house elves appear, a female and a male.
It took less than ten seconds before Harry was whisked away into a bath with his new trunk taken away from him to be organised. Harry had bought an entire wardrobe for himself and a multitude of books on being a proper Lord as well as wizarding traditions, the library at Hogwarts was sorely lacking in this genre. Thankfully, the Potter family didn’t have vassals anymore or else Harry would have eaten himself with guilt over not taking care of them earlier.
When it was time to get dressed, Harry was once again dragged, this time to the large wardrobe. His room was the Master bedroom, and no matter what Harry did, the thought of never being able to picture his parents in this Manor with him churned his heart.
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Love Amidst the Darkness
Chapter 19: Moments of Bliss
Althea twirled her pen between her fingers with anticipation as she stared at her bedroom door every few minutes. She was currently being fitted for a dress for her visit to the Chowa empire, but she could not focus knowing that the mail carrier could arrive any minute. She was glad to learn that she could send letters to the army and even better she would get responses from everyone! The war had been raging for over a month now and she couldn’t wait for everyone to come home. She was worried most for her mother though, she had been working herself incredibly hard since her father and the armies left. Althea could not convince her to take a break and rest. It took Althea writing letters to her godmother to finally convince her. Now, Althea and her mother were getting ready to spend a few days in the Chowa Empire with their close allies and friends.
“Althea…how would you like to wear your hair today?” Althea perked up as she smiled at Marina briefly before looking at the door again. “The mail carrier will be here soon.”
“I know…I just wish he would arrive faster. I would like my hair tied up please. I just hope this trip will be good on my mother…”
“I’m sure that it will be. She just misses your father terribly and is worried for him.” Marina sighed sadly as she brushed through Althea’s hair. “You just have to continue to be here for her and rely on each others strength.”
“I know…you’re right…”
“We should head downstairs…your mother is probably already waiting for us. I can’t wait to spend some more time with you again. It has been far too long since we enjoyed each others company.”
“Yes I know…we get to experience a new land and spend time with each other again.” The pair made their way through the palace and Althea could not help the sigh that escaped her as she frowned at her mother. The queen was sitting on a bench once again signing and looking over her paperwork. She ran a tired hand over her eyes before getting back to it.
“Mother…”
The queen kept her writing up, not quite hearing her daughter call out to her. Althea walked to her mother and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. The queen jumped slightly and looked at her daughter with a confused glance.
“Yes, my love?”
“We have a long trip ahead of us mother…we really should get going. Someone else can look over things while we have some time to relax.”
“I can’t relax…this must all be done. I don’t want your father working on anything when he comes back. Our friends know that we are coming…if we show up a bit late they will understand…”
“They will worry about us. There has been so much danger that it will fill their hearts with fear…”
“….” The queen considered the words of her daughter before she sighed and closed her book. “You’re right…I’m sorry my sweet rose.”
Althea smiled as her mother finally joined her side and they climbed into the carriage and the knights packed their bags up. Marina sat beside Althea and gave her an encouraging nudge before she began to read a book. Althea wrung her hands together before she looked at her tired mother.
“Mother…I miss him too…” The queen flinched hearing the sadness in her daughter's voice. “We have barely spent any time together since he left. I know there is always work that needs to be done, but I still need my mother…I hate seeing you overwork yourself so hard…”
“….” Hestia stood and kneel in front of her young daughter and held her cheek. “You are absolutely right…I…I haven’t been the best mother at the moment and you deserve me at my absolute best…”
“I know…”
“So…when we get to the Empire you will have me at my best. Plus, I hear that the empress has many exciting things to show us. Despite my mood, I do hope that you are excited to see a new place.”
“As long as we are together…I’ll absolutely enjoy it!”
The queen and princess held each other in a tight and warm embrace and enjoyed some small talk, while Marina smiled behind her book, happy that he pair were able to talk to each other again.
♛
“Oh!”
Althea and her mother looked out their carriage with wide, but excited eyes. The Chowa empire was nothing like either of them had ever seen. All of its many colors were vibrant and the architecture was unique and beautiful. Althea looked at the people and noticed that it was not just the empress and Liling, but all the residents had animal like features. There were so many different smells in the air and the young princess was excited to try them all. She hoped to learn some new things to cook for her family and friends. The carriage soon arrived at the imperial palace and they were greeted with an entire staff of maids.
“Greetings, Queen Hestia, Princess Althea and Lady Marina. We will be your caretakers while you are staying in our lovely country. The empress is awaiting you in the gardens. We will handle and put away all of your belongings.”
“Thank you…I hope that we didn’t take too long in getting here.” The group ascended the stairs and their head maid smile kindly at them.
“Oh not at all. You arrived right on time. The festival is tomorrow and we only need to get your measurements for your hanfu. The empress had told me that you favor golds and reds, while the princess loves blues and purples.”
“Hanfu?”
“Yes…it is traditional wear that is worn for such special occasions. The empresses…wife…has been spending the last few weeks preparing the finest silk for you both.”
Althea frowned and found herself uncomfortable with how she addressed Liling. Liling was such a wonderful and sweet person. She hoped that the older woman didn’t have to hear such things from the people meant to serve her. Glancing at her mother, Althea was not too surprised to see her mother sporting an icy glare at the back of the woman’s head. The flames of the candles in the room slightly flickered harshly.
“Is this common behavior in the empire?”
“Hmm?” The maid looked over her shoulder and almost tripped when she gazed at the queen. “W-What ever do you mean, Your Majesty?”
“Is it common to speak in such a tone about the ruler of your empire? To clearly disrespect them in front of guests from another nation? That is an act of treason and shows weakness in the country…”
“I-I…that woman isn’t-”
“That woman” is the empress as well and she will be ruling over you and ensuring that things in the empire are running smoothly. She is making sure that you still have work and have a roof over your head. You live a good life because she has made the empress happy…so keeping such a tone about her love is not something you should continue to do.”
“Yes…such a thing would be foolish to continue.”
Althea and her mother looked toward the throne as they had finally made their way further inside the palace. The maid had failed to realize that the empress was standing by her throne, and she was wearing a glare that could freeze oceans. The maid looked ready to cry and with a snap of her fingers, several guards stormed into the room and snatched her away.
“Y-Your I-Imperial Majesty! Please! I meant no disrespect! Have mercy on me!” The empress ignored her pleas with a roll of her eyes before she smiled at Althea and her mother. Althea looked at the retreating woman for a bit, before she realized that she probably shouldn’t stare.
“Your Imperial Majesty…” Hestia nodded at her fellow royal as Althea and Marina dropped into curtsies. Hestia gestured for her gifts to be brought forward and the empress raised a brow at the sheer volume of them. “I thought it would make up for years of communication and meetings that were missed. I also thought some wedding gifts were in order.”
“Thank you for the gifts. I’m sorry that you had to experience the…personal feelings of my own subjects. Ever since we came back after the wedding…it has been…difficult…”
“Well…” Hestia approached the empress and grasped her hands tightly. “I do hope that this fades soon and you both can be happy. I hope that our presence here will bring you both some comfort.”
“Thank you…I really have appreciated your friendship over the months. Come…why don’t we head to the gardens. Liling has been setting up all day for your arrival.”
The group arrived at the gardens and Althea found herself once again taken aback by the stunning architecture. A large tree with branches took up most of the garden. Its long and sweeping branched were almost making a natural shade over the area. A small pond with flower petals floating in its waters was teeming with aquatic life she had never seen before. She took notice of General Honghui helping Liling set up the table that was at the base of the large tree. Walking over to the pair, Althea looked at another larger pond with an intricate bridge running over it to another section with interest. It seemed that some construction was happening.
The stone pathways were designed almost like a chessboard with their black and white colors, but every other stone had dragons etched into them. Althea was never one to really take notice of architecture but she was about to. A shrine was attached to a small gazebo to the northern part of the garden and the smell of incense filled her senses, the loveliest scent of…roses?
“I see you like the gardens princess.”
“Oh!” Althea flushed as everyone was looking at her with a smile. She didn’t realize that she was staring so much. “It’s very beautiful here…it’s so different from the types of gardens that I have seen. I also didn’t expect to smell roses her either.”
“Well…trade has proved quite lucrative and Liling used the roses you let her have to their fullest.” The empress smiled and held her wife’s hand when she walked up to them. “I didn’t realize that she had such a green thumb.”
“Well neither did I…I thought it would make you both feel more at home to be surrounded by the scent of roses.”
“That is very kind of you…thank you Liling.” Althea was about to thank her as well, but feeling something against her legs she looked down and was quite shocked.
“Lyna? What on Edrion are you doing here?” Althea knelt as the lioness licked her palms and rubbed against her.
“Surprise!” Althea and her mother both snapped their heads back to the large table as empress Yvette appeared from behind the tree. Matteo made an immediate run for Hestia, who knelt quickly to scoop him into her arms. “I thought I would visit too since I heard you both were coming.”
“Yvette!” Hestia rushed to her friend and engulfed her in a tight hug, but pulled back to glare harshly at her. “You should be home resting! I’m always glad to see you, but your baby could be born soon!”
“Oh I still have another month…besides…I…I couldn’t bear staying in the palace much longer with Klein out there…it’s too much on my heart…”
A noticeable and harsh silence fell over the group at her words. It was surprising that emperor Klein had joined the war efforts with king Kyros and Zacharias. He had been very concerned about his wife’s pregnancy and was never far from her. Their empire had also had a terrible storm and was in the process of being rebuilt. Althea imagined he left for the same reason everyone else did…to ensure the safety of their loved ones. Emperor Klein was going to be a father again and she could only imagine that the empress was more upset than she let on.
“We are more than happy to have you in our home and would love to visit while the war is still going on.” Liling offered with a kind smile, but Althea didn’t think her smile matched her words. Everyone was tense and worried about the war right now. It was a hard thing to worry and wait on news for. Althea did her very best to keep her spirts up, but the only thing really keeping her going was the letters she received. The only problem was that the mail carrier didn’t arrive before they had left.
“Let’s eat and we can discuss plans for the festival tomorrow.”
The collective agreed easily as they sat around the table and began to converse. Everyone fell easily into their conversations. It was friendly conversation, but it was also so very forced. No one wanted to talk about the war, but it was the only things on their minds. Althea wondered if it would be like this the entire campaign. Hushed conversations, restrained feelings and frantic hearts had suddenly become the norm, and Althea desperately wanted things to go back to the way it was.
♛
Althea sighed as she walked through the halls of the palace and wished that she was in a better mood. It seemed the week in Chowa had done little for her and her mother. They were only going to stay for three days, but her mother insisted that they stay longer. The festival was fun, but she honestly could not really remember it, despite how beautiful it was. Her mother had seemed to grow more and more quiet as time went on. Despite their conversation on the way to Chowa, their ride back was silent except for Marina occasionally striking up conversation.
Her mother often was in meetings or would lock herself in her drawing room. Althea had to continue her lessons, but she barely paid any attention. She probably wrote an entire book with her recent thoughts she had been having. She had gone through two books at this point and the mail carrier had still not shown up. She was beginning to fear that something had happened to him, or worse something had happened to the armies. The knights and other nobles were even becoming restless and anxious as the days passed without a word.
Althea wrapped her robes around her body tighter as she walked the halls, occasionally greeting the odd knight here and there. It was hard for her to sleep at night, so she found walking to be the best remedy for it. She was surprised by her own bravery at doing such a thing. The incident with Lord Derrick was often in her mind, but she had more control of her fire and that gave her more confidence than ever. Finally resting, she sat by a window as she looked up at the full moon.
“Gods…please…whoever is listening…let my father and my friends come back home safely. I want nothing more than to see and hold them again. It has only been a month and a half…but I fear that without word my mother and I will worry ourselves sick and I…” The young princess looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was around before looking back at the moon. “I wish to hear news from my love…I want to know that he is safe and doing his best. I wonder if he thinks about me as much as I think about him. I…I long for his touch…for his kiss…
Holding a hand to her heart, she prayed with every ounce of feeling in her heart. Surely word would come to them soon and they could breath a sigh of relief. It was very optimistic, but she hoped that news of the war ending would come sooner rather than later. It would be good to push such an awful thing as far from their minds as possible. The distant sound of banging metal made her jump, and she squinted in the darkness of the palace as several knights came into view.
“Y-Yes?” No sooner had she thought about Lord Derrick…now there were knights approaching her in the cover of darkness. It brought back awful memories, but she held firm as one of them stepped forward.
“We would like to ask for your assistance in regards to the queen.”
“What? What has happened to my mother?!” Althea sprang to her feet and rushed to her parents bedchambers. The knights were close on her heels as they hurried along. “Is she ill? Why haven’t you taken her to the doctor?”
“No princess…she is…” They had reached the door, but when Althea went to grab the handle she paused just shy of it. Her heart sank to her chest as she heard the very distinct sounds of her mother crying her heart out. From the sounds, she was trying to mask her cries into one of her many pillows, but it was clear all the same. Looking at the knights, they all looked saddened as they looked towards the ground. The knight who asked for her assistance stepped forward again.
“She has been crying every night since you both returned from the Chowa empire…”
“What? Why have I just been informed of this?”
“She…she usually stops after about an hour…but she has been crying for well over three hours at this point. We did not want to disturb your rest before princess. We just figured that she was upset about the war and the king…since there has been no word for awhile.”
Althea clenched her hands tightly before she looked back at the door. Her heart broke hearing her mother so sad and heartbroken. She quickly dismissed the knights before readying herself and quietly opening the door. Holding a small ball of fire, Althea was surprised by the state of the room, it was covered with half painted canvases and ones that had been torn to shreds. Pillows were thrown all over the floor and it looked as if her mother had burned some of the paintings. Looking towards the bed, Althea felt her heart sink more as her mother had her face buried into a pillow.
The queen was trembling as her cries rocked her body. Only a thin sheet covered her lower body as her left hand gripped the pillow tight. Her other hand was tightly clenched around the sheets on the other side of her…where her husband should have been. Althea finally found her courage and stepped towards the large bed. “Mother…”
The queen gasped as she shot up from under the pillow. Althea almost cried as she saw how red her mother’s face and eyes were. The queen quickly wiped at her eyes and cleaned off her face as Althea climbed into the bed. Clearing her throat and conjuring her own ball of flame, the queen gave her daughter the weakest smile she had ever seen. It was hard to fake any other emotion when she looked the way that she did.
“My…my sweet rose…what on Edrion are you doing up so late? You should be in bed and resting…you have lessons in the morning.”
“I can’t sleep that well at night…I’ve been taking walks throughout the halls. The knights were concerned and asked me to check on you…mother you…you don’t have to be alone in your sadness. I’m here too, let me be here for you.”
“….” The queen released a tired and sad breath as she looked at her daughter. How strong she seemed to become over the course of this year….where had the time gone? Flipping back her blankets…Hestia gestured Althea forward and the young princess climbed in beside her mother. Hestia reached over to hold her daughter, but Althea surprised her again by grabbing her instead.
“We don’t have to be sad, mother…father and the armies will be back. We just have to have faith in them. We have the toughest men and women fighting beside him. If you ever get sad…we can go out riding or you can teach me how to paint and I’ll show you how to cook.”
“….” Her mother remained silent before she buried her face into her daughter's chest. Althea held her mother tighter as she felt her nightgown get wet. “Thank you, Althea…”
“I’ll always be here for you mother…”
“You miss Duran terribly too, don’t you?”
“Everyday…but…I know that he’s going to be ok. I have to believe that…it’s the only thing I can do.”
“….” Althea continued to hold her mother tight as her sniffles started to fade. Figuring her mother was falling asleep, Althea moved away to let her rest, but she was surprised to see that her mother was wide awake and wearing a look of intense thought.
“Mother? What’s wrong?”
“Have I ever told you about how I met your father?”
“You haven’t actually…it is a story that I have always wanted to hear though.”
“Mmm…well it is quite the tale…so get comfortable my sweet girl…”
~~~
“We have to do something!”
“Obviously you fool! Who knows what could happen if we don’t act quickly!”
“How could he even do something like this?!”
“Silence you fool!”
The collective group of council members all glanced at the end of the long table. The young prince was silently writing and signing papers in deep concentration. A boy of only seventeen, but he carried the true poise and strength of a royal twice his age. The council had been apprehensive about talking around him, but they were getting restless and so were the citizens.
It had been over eight months since king Rasvan disappeared. The kingdom had since been in a state of panic at the loss of their ruler. It had been silent the first couple weeks, but the information had been leaked to the public. A panic had ensued over it, but the army had managed to keep things in order. Although, it was only a matter of time before they were riled up again.
The young prince had said not a word since his father disappeared. No words of worry, anger, fear, nothing. He simply dressed himself and went to collect his fathers work. He fell into this routine for the past eight months without complaint. Those around him often worried about his mental state, but he was diligent in his work and the kingdom had fallen back into order slowly…but there was steady progress.
“We should be more considerate of his highness…” One of the councilmen whispered to his peers. “This is his father we are talking about…”
“The boy does not care! It’s been months since he left!” Another councilman growled back, throwing his arms in the air. “We need to discuss how the king didn’t leave anything to help!”
The young prince sighed deeply as he leaned on his hands and looked over his foolish council. He had finished his work a while ago, and now he just listened to the useless prattle of tired old men. They failed to notice his gaze so he just waited and drummed his fingers on the table. He glanced to his left and smiled at the woman in the corner.
“Should I get their attention?” She whispered amused at their arguments.
The prince smiled and shook his head. Their constant prattle was humorous at times. He needed to rest his writing hand anyway. They would stop their bickering soon enough he hoped. It was a full fifteen minutes before he yawned and caught the attention of one of his councilmen.
“Prince Kyros! I see that you are finished with your paperwork, excellent!” The young prince resisted the urge to roll his eyes as the men looked over the documents with satisfied expressions. “We have looked over some potential candidates for a wife and we have some very good options!”
Kyros winced at the prospect of “shopping” for a wife. He considered the whole thing pretty barbaric and he didn’t really see the need to be married. Sure he liked women, but the only reason they wanted him to have a wife was to have heirs and secure the bloodline. Something else that wasn’t really needed. Ever since his…ever since the king left, the council had been frantic about everything. Many kept up the search for the fleeing king, but Kyros didn’t really see the point.
He kept silent about it though, if he had to hear them whine anymore and he’d lose his mind. “I think that I’ll rest for the day…I’ve been signing things all morning.”
“Your highness-“
“He’s tired…he needs his strength if you want him to lead this country. We will convene again tomorrow.” Kyros smiled at the annoyed faces of the men around them, with a firm nod he left the room quickly.
“Thank you…I have no idea how the king dealt with them after all these years…”
“He didn’t really…he often ignored them and only paid attention when he was bored.”
“Yeah…that sounds right…” Hearing the bitter tone in his voice, the woman placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “How are this annoying afternoon though?”
“Well…just looking after the young prince who has not been very happy lately. I would have hoped that after so long, he would finally show me his wonderful smile.”
“Heh…I have to much to worry about right now…this whole wife business is pissing me off. I just want to make sure that the kingdom prospers and is safe for the future ahead.”
“I see I see…so when will your happiness be at the forefront of your duties?” The young prince looked away at her words, knowing that she was right. His head maid had a way of reading him, but it was to be expected since she raised him when his mother left. He often wondered at times if she teased him just because she could. Many whispered behind their backs if something was happening under the surface, but both of them just ignored such things.
“You should get some air…it will be good for you…maybe you could have a nice flight?” He thought about her suggestion, not really wanting to take a break, but he probably did need one. “Go on…shoo…I had better not see you in here for a few hours.”
“H-Hey!” He groaned as she pushed him through the hallways, a small giggle escaped her lips. “I’m going already! You are so pushy, Ms. Boulviere!”
“Have fun!” She gave him a parting smile before she slammed the palace doors in his face. Scratching his head, he looked around the garden quizzically. He was not often in the large gardens of the palace that he had lived in for so long. The scent of the roses were sweet as he walked through their thorny bushes, and sat beneath a tree.
“Ugh…maybe she was right. I hope that those idiots in there can handle not being alone without me for awhile.” The young man sighed as he leaned his head back against the tree, preparing to take a short nap. That was the plan, but it seemed that fate had something else in store for him. Hearing something rustle above him, Kyros opened one eye as leaves started to fall from the tree. Fully opening his eyes, he stood and narrowed his eyes as a large mass moved in between the branches.
“What the?”
Hearing a distinct snap, the weight of whatever was in the tree finally gave way, but Kyros saw the last thing that he had ever expected to see. With a startled yelp, a young girl fell from the branches right on top of him. The pair groaned at the rough landing and when he sat up, Kyros was met with a girl with the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. The pair blinked at each other before the girl blushed, or he think she did, it was hard to tell with her messy appearance. He was about to say more, but a fist to his face was not what he expected.
“Ow! What the hell is wrong with you?!”
“Fuck you! You’re nothing but a pervert feeling up on me like that!”
“You fell from the tree you stupid girl! I had to catch you!”
“You call that a catch!? You felt up my ass!”
“I did not!” Kyros blushed a deep red at the insinuation. “Why would I want to feel up on such a dirty girl like you anyway!”
For the second time that day, Kyros received a fist to the face from the girl. He fell back on the ground and held his nose as he looked up at her in anger.
♛
“Mother!”
Queen Hestia chuckled in embarrassment as her daughter looked at her in horror. “I was…quite the angry young lady.”
“I thought a young lady wasn’t supposed to use such language either…” The queen smirked at the sassy remark from her daughter.
“Yes…well I didn’t have such a great upbringing like you do, my love.” She rubbed her daughter’s cheek tenderly. “I thought that your father was an insufferable brat.”
“How did you know about all the other things that happened that day?”
“Your father recounted everything that happened that day to me. It is something that I could never truly forget.”
“Well continue! I want to hear more!”
“Alright alright…now where was I?”
~~~
“She punched me…right in the face! Like some some…animal! Ouch!” Kyros looked at Ms. Boulviere when she slapped his shoulder. She rolled her eyes before she twisted another tissue into his nose. “What was that for?”
“She is still a young lady…you should at least go and apologize to her.”
“Apologize! She punched me in the face! Even if I wanted to, I can’t! You ran off after she punched me in the face.”
“Kyros…” He winced when she gave her “mom” voice. Despite being the heir and in charge of her, she had raised him, so he was awfully weak to her when she got mad at him. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes, because she would just scold him again. “You go find her right now and apologize to her.”
“Alright alright!” Removing the tissues from his nose, he marched to the stables to retrieve his horse. A few knights accompanied him, but he didn’t see the need for it. Although, he suspected that it was he didn’t run off like the king did. He wouldn’t abandon his responsibilities like he did, he loved this kingdom and its people. He would never let anything happen to them if he had anything to do with it. So, now he left the comforts of his home to search for a girl that was not really worth his time or energy. She was rude and had barely even let his say anything, some “young lady” she was.
The young prince grumbled to himself as he went through the woods with his knights in silence. It was not often that he ventured out to the forest by the kingdom. He only really traveled when visiting the allied nations. Speaking of which, he would have to do that very soon since it looked like the king was not coming back.
“Stupid old man…”
“Your highness, I think we need to rest the horses for a bit…” Kyros shook himself from his thoughts and dismounted his horse as the men took a break. Peering through the trees, he couldn’t really see the palace anymore. Looking back at the knights, he decided to just keep walking on foot for a bit. They would be alright for a while.
Once he was sure they weren’t paying attention, the prince disappeared into the brush. He continued walking even as he heard the panic from the knights. He gave them some credit for noticing that he was gone so quickly. Ignoring them, he continued ducking and weaving through the thick bushes.
“I can’t believe that I’m doing this!” He grumbled and slapped a branch away, but failed to realize it, returning and hitting him in the face. “Damnit!”
“Heehee…”
Hearing a giggle above him, he looked up and held his nose to see the dir-…the girl up in the tree and smirking at him. She was lounging across it so leisurely and he wanted it to break again so she would fall on her face.
“Glad to see that my pain is enjoyable for you…”
“It is actually…nothing like seeing a little pervert get some karma…”
Kyros’s face flamed a bright red as he jumped to his feet. “Stop calling me that! I am not a pervert! Ugh! Look…I…I’m sorry. If I accidentally touched you inappropriately…I did not mean it.”
She made a surprised noise at his apology before she leaped from the tree and landed easily on her feet. She walked up to him and he tensed up, alert and ready for another possible punch. She was his height so he was sure he could take her, but it wouldn’t be right to do that.
Although with how hard she hits…she might as well be a man.
“I didn’t think the prince knew how to apologize…fine I accept your apology…now shoo shoo…I was having a nap.”
Ignoring her tone, he glanced up at the tree and noticed she had made some sort of makeshift bed. Several articles of clothing were strewn about the various branches as well. It seemed that she had been living here for some time.
“Gonna make fun of how I live now too?”
“What? No no I…I’m just curious…how long have you lived out here?”
“Oh…my whole life.”
“Huh?! How old are you?”
“That’s rude to ask me my age.” She huffed and rolled her eyes at him. “If you must know…I’m nineteen…”
“Oh alright…” Now Kyros found himself at a loss for words. He had come to do what was asked of him, but now face to face with the strange girl again…he was unsure of his next course of action. “Right…goodbye then.”
The girl waved her hand dismissively as she climbed back up her tree. Kyros watched her the entire time before he turned to find his frantic knights. The trip back to the palace was as silent as the trip there. Although she was rude and annoying, he could not help but feel bad for her. A young lady really shouldn’t be living in the woods in a tree.
The rest of his day was consumed with thoughts of the tree girl. He barely ate dinner that night and no one could rouse him from these intrusive thoughts. He laid in bed that night thinking more and more before he finally had enough. Throwing off his blankets, Kyros marched to the kitchens, skillfully avoiding the night patrol.
Peering into the kitchen, he quickly went around and gathered some food into his robes. He thought about grabbing some utensils, but she probably didn’t care about that. Just as he was about to sneak back out, he jumped in fright seeing his head maid staring at him.
“Gods…don’t do that! How did you know I was down here?!”
“You have a compassionate heart…that’s how I knew you were down here. It isn’t in your nature to leave someone in need alone.”
“What? No I…I’m just getting a late night snack…”
“In your boots? With a cloak to match? Also sneaking around the knight rotations?”
“….”
With a heavy sigh and chuckle, she walked around him and found a large basket and began to fill it with food and some blankets he didn’t realize that she was carrying. She really did know him well and figured he would do this.
Clever woman.
“Now make sure that you stay safe…I want you back here in bed in no more than two hours.”
“Yes yes, thank you mother…” He had said it in a joking manner, but he caught the soft look in her eyes all the same.
“Go on…” She pushed him along towards the stables and quietly shut the large doors behind him. Holding tight to the basket, Kyros went back to the woods with haste. The knights would occasionally check to make sure he was sleeping, but hopefully they wouldn’t check on this night.
Seeing the familiar tree, Kyros dismounted his steed and conjured a flame to his hand. The forest was a much more frightening place under the cover of darkness. Every sound made him more and more on edge. Finally reaching the tree, he glanced up trying to see if she was asleep.
“Psst! Psst! Hey you!”
“That is not my name…”
“Gods!” Kyros jumped at the voice behind him, the basket soaring through the air. The girl caught the basket easily and peered inside curiously. “Why would you sneak up on me like that!”
“I thought it would be funny…and I was right.” She laughed at him and his face grew red. This girl was going to be the death of him. “Having a picnic in the dark?”
“No, you blasted woman! I brought that for you!”
“Huh?” She looked down at the basket and then back at him before looking at it again. “Yeah…I don’t want this…”
“What? Why not?”
“I really don’t want you pity…or whatever this is kid…”
“Kid?! I’m only two years younger than you! That hardly makes me a child. Just take the damn basket!”
“No.”
“Ugh!” Throwing his hands up, the young prince stormed in a circle in agitation. Such a difficult and stubborn woman! She was so annoying! He could see why she lived in the woods…who would be able to stand her! He sure wasn’t going too! So with that all set he stormed off back to his horse.
“Hey! Wait!” Ignoring her, he grabbed the reins of his horse and was about to mount, but she pulled hard on his arm. “I’m sorry…I’m only teasing…”
“….”
“Listen I…I really appreciate this…you really didn’t need to do this though…”
“Yeah well…apparently I’m a compassionate person…even to crazy tree women that punch me in the face…”
She giggled and he found that she had a nice smile…only nice…it wasn’t extraordinary or anything. She reached into the basket and nibbled on some of the bread and her eyes sparkled in delight. She really did have beautiful eyes though. Coughing awkwardly, he looked away from her as he rocked back and forth on his heels.
“So…I’m gonna go now…”
“Oh please…you came this far, you might as well join me and eat. So sit down.”
The young prince grumbled at her commanding tone, but sat down anyway. He bit into an apple she tossed at him and they both sat in a comfortable silence. He glanced at her every few minutes and watched her eyes light up every time she ate something. She must not have had anything fresh to eat in a very long time.
“Why were you at the palace?”
“Huh? Oh…well…I’ve never been to this area of Edrion before…and I wanted to explore.” She twirled a strand of hair around her finger, suddenly becoming quite shy. “I’ve never really been around many people and I thought about going to the marketplace…”
“If you wanted to meet people…camping in the tree in my garden was not a great choice.”
“Yeah well…” She huffed and sighed as she looked at the bread on her lap. “I thought…I thought the palace looked pretty. A sweet smell was also coming from over the wall, so I wanted to see it.”
“Oh yeah…you’ll notice that a lot. The scent of roses is strong throughout the kingdom.”
“I don’t think I’m staying much longer…”
“Huh?” That was not what he expected.
“I’m not very good around other people and this is all I know…”
“You would really rather be out here…just because your social skills aren’t up to par?”
Her casual shrug bothered him. It bothered him more than it should have and he just couldn’t fathom why. Despite her aggressive nature, she did not seem to be any real trouble…
“I think you should stick around…my cooks at the palace are really good…I could bring you more food…”
“I don’t want your pity…”
“It’s not pity! I swear I just…I could help you with your people skills I mean. Perhaps you could visit the marketplace. I also…I don’t really have anyone close in age that I can speak to…so…yeah…”
Her sudden giggles made his face burn up and he was ready to change his mind immediately. This was truly the most infuriating girl he had ever met, and he met the princesses from across the seas! Now that was an annoying bunch of royals.
“Aww…how sweet of the little pervert…fine I’ll stick around for a bit, but it won’t be for long.”
“Enough you annoying woman!” Kyros rose to his feet angrily as his face turned as bright as a tomato. “My name is Kyros! Learn to use it!”
“Oh? What a strong name your parents gave you…too bad it’s wasted on you…”
“Oh shove off, you crazy tree woman!” Despite his rising attitude and anger, she laughed at him. Her giggles filled the still air and Kyros found himself enamored with the sound. It definitely didn’t fit such a wild animal.
“My name is Hestia…I look forward to giving you hell.”
♛
“Mother…”
“Hmm?”
“You were awful…”
The queen burst into laughter at her daughter's deadpan expression. It was so much like her father’s face in his youth when she teased and did such wild and wicked things. The princess was completely floored by the story that she was hearing. This sounded nothing like her calm, collected, poised and graceful mother. This girl in the story sounded truly unhinged in her mind.
“Oh my rose…I knew that this story would surprise you. I can assure you, this is a true story. I was a wild child and your father had no idea what to do with me half of the time.”
“So…how exactly did he fall in love with you?”
Hestia smiled as the memory rushed back into her mind. A love story for the ages is what it was called. A brave and strong prince, and the wild girl that managed to capture his heart.
“Alright…I’ll tell you the rest…”
~~~
It was not long before a deep friendship formed between the two new friends. Kyros had come to enjoy her company and so did Hestia. He would often travel to the forest and the pair would explore and talk. He would tell her about everything that happened in his day, and she would talk about her time in the forest. He was always fascinated by the things she would experience pass the palace walls. Before he knew it, the days become weeks, and the weeks became months, and before long a year had passed. Months had passed and Kyros was the happiest that he had been for a long time.
Ms. Boulviere was incredibly happy to see him so filled with joy. He would often come back to the palace and talk about his adventures with the young lady. She often wondered if something more was brewing under the surface between them. Even if they weren't…it was nice to see him having a friend to spend time with. She worried for him though, the council had been getting more and more pushy with their “suggestions” and it was starting to bother the prince. He was good at hiding his feelings, but he couldn’t keep them from her.
So, she figured it was time to bring the mystery girl to the palace after so long and see who had captured his attention. What she didn’t expect…was that the knights took the retrieval a bit too seriously.
“I’ll cut your damn eyes out! Let me go right now!”
Kyros was busy talking with the council, so she thought it would be a nice surprise to have the young lady brought in. If only the knights could be gentler with her, they were really giving her a bad impression.
“Ow shit!” It would seem that she still liked to punch people as well.
“Guards…you can let her go! I will take care and watch over her.” Hestia growled low in her throat at the guards before looking at the older woman warily. She seemed to be the woman that Kyros seemed to always rave about, but that meant little to her. Those guards showed up to her home and just dragged her away! Where the hell was Kyros!?
“Where the hell is the prince? I want to see him right now!”
“I’m terribly sorry about how the guards brought you here…the prince is busy at the moment and once he is done I will bring you to him.”
“What purpose do you need me here for?” The tone in her voice made the elder woman pause. It was filled with a worried type of strength. Her eyes darted to the knights warily every time one of them even shifted his weight. She was on edge and seemed ready to bolt at any second. “I would rather talk to him outside.”
“He doesn’t know that you are here.” Hestia visibly flinched at that and she slowly backed up to one of the large doors. “I brought you here as a surprise for him…his birthday is tomorrow and I wanted to ask you to join the festivities.”
“His birthday?”
“Yes…it will be the first one without his father. I thought having a friend come would make him feel better about it.”
“...”
“I once again apologize for the way the knights brought you here…if you don’t wish to-”
“No no…I…I’ll come…” Hestia fingered her hair for a bit before looking at Ms. Boulviere. “I…I don’t have anything…t-to wear…”
“Oh sweetheart…you won’t have to worry about that! If you would follow me, I can get your measurements and we can show you how to dance if you’d like…”
It was at this moment that Hestia really thought about what she was agreeing to. She would be around a lot of other people. It would be nothing like when it was just her and Kyros in the forest. Important people would be around her, and they would judge and probably laugh at such a dirty forest girl. Although…she really wanted to see Kyros. He had been busy for the last week and he assured her that he would be back soon…but she really missed his company. This was completely out of her comfort zone, but she would face her fears, especially if it meant more time with him.
“I…I can do that…ma’am…”
“You can just call me Ms. Boulviere. Come along…we have much to do it a short amount of time.”
~~~
Kyros wanted to burn the entire palace down at the moment. His stupid council had invited everyone across Edrion to his birthday ball. They had even conjured up a ridiculous story about the king being sick, so he couldn’t make the ball.
“Not like he would care or show anyway…” He grumbled under his breath and glanced around his ballroom, confused that Ms. Boulviere was not around. He had seen her earlier in the day, but she had since vanished from his sight. She would be able to keep his mind clear of all these intrusive thoughts and feelings. All the noble daughters and princesses would piss him off, but he would have to be courteious and friendly, because one of them could be “his future wife and queen”.
“They just want the pretty dresses and the chance to bear my child…disgusting…”
If he was to be truly honest with himself…he wanted and wished for only one thing. He would love nothing more than for Hestia to be here with him. She did not need pretty dresses and jewels, it did not matter to him what she looked like. She was real and she was funny and when it would slip through her cracks, she was kind and gentle. He leaned his chin on his hand as a maid shined his shoes, glancing out toward the forest, he resolved to sneak away to see her. He longed to hear her laughter more than anything, it was the only present he wanted. She was not like most of the girls in his life, she was much much better.
“Your highness…it is time to greet your guests…”
“Alright…here I come…” With a tired sigh, the prince threw his cloak over his shoulders and marched down the halls, the sounds of merriment and music soared into his ears. He couldn’t find joy in these parties anymore. It was just another event to him, and it was event he wanted to wrap up quickly. Ignoring the fanfare, he went straight to the princesses and after a brief chat, he took one by the hand and let her have the honor of the first dance.
“You look rather dashing tonight, your highness.”
“Yes…”
“I’m honored that you would choose me to dance with…I heard that your favorite color was blue…is that what drew your eyes to me?”
“Mmhmm…”
“Ahaha! Oh I knew that you would!” The princess laughed obnoxiously and looked at the others, who were fuming in the crowd. Kyros had forgotten her name once they made it to the dancefloor. He was looking everywhere except at her. He wondered what Hestia would think about balls…would she think they were silly? Or would she enjoy them? If he could bring her he would ask her…and the sight of her in a dress made him smile. She would look so silly…
“Oh I knew you would find that funny!” Another obnoxious laugh made him look at the princess, tearing him from his thoughts. Was she always this close to him before? She was pressed against him quite close.
“Right…” He would have to finish this dance quickly, and maybe he could find some way to slip away. Holding her waist, he almost rolled his eyes at the purr that came from her lips. He twirled her around the room, and he caught the council nodding approvingly. It was at that moment he caught Ms. Boulviere at the top of the staircase in the back of the room. He kept up his dancing, but kept looking at her highly confused. She was beckoning someone to enter the room, but he could not see who.
He slowly danced closer and dipped the princess and just as he looked back up at the staircase he froze. In his stunned state, he dropped the princess and she cried something fierce but he could not focus on her. He slowly stood straight as he looked at the stunning creature at the top of the stairs. The sight was unlike anything he had ever witnessed, and in his opinion nothing could ever compare to it either.
Hestia stood at the top of the staircase with a burning red face. The ballroom grew quiet as everyone looked to see who had captured the attention of the prince. She was a vision in a deep red dress that perfectly hugged a figure that Kyros didn’t even think she had. A light dust of makeup accented her surprisingly delicate features, her gorgeous eyes seemed to pop, and that alone rattled his heart. She nervously tugged at the fabric of her dress as all eyes were on her. The thing that really surprised him was her hair. Her hair was always a mess and it was so often riddled with dirt and grime, he thought she was a brunette, but no, she was so much more.
He could only describe it as the color of moonlight. It was not white, but it was definitely not fully blonde. It was like the rays of the full moon had trapped itself in her hair. Roses were entwined in the strands that cascaded down her back, and even from this distance, he could smell her sweet perfume. She was…he just had no words. He did not care that he was staring like an idiot up at her, she was magnificent.
This was the scariest thing she had ever done in her life, and she had fought monsters before! So many people were staring. Did she look bad? Did she still smell bad? She had been bathed and scrubbed with various oils over ten times! She wanted to run away, maybe everyone would forget that she ever showed up if she left quickly! Already starting to back up, a firm hand on her back stopped her.
“Dear…you look so beautiful…it would be a shame to waste such a pretty dress.” Hestia looked at Ms. Boulviere as she whispered to her.
“I look foolish! I should go…”
“Do you really? How about you look at the prince?”
“Huh?” Looking at her pointed finger, Hestia’s face burned up as she locked eyes with Kyros. She had not even seen him standing there! A much prettier girl was on the floor pouting under him, and she almost laughed at her pitiful face. Her body did go stiff having his gaze on her, but she found that she liked to have his undivided attention. She could be brave…yes, she could do it! It was just her and Kyros…that was all she had to imagine in her head…she could do this!
“Hestia…” Hearing him call her name, made her heart skip a beat. He had stepped over the girl and was holding the railing of the stairs, with his hand outstretched to her. His gaze was gentle and his smile that was across his face was even more so. It was in that moment that everyone around them seemed to disappear. Holding the skirts of her dress up in one hand, she slid her other down the railing as she slowly descended the stairs. She slipped her gloved hand into his, and he led her down onto the floor. Their eyes never parted as the crowd separated for them. The two of them were in their own world and nothing could break such intense eye contact.
Remembering what Ms. Boulviere said, Hestia quickly dropped into a deep curtsy. “H-Happy birthday, your highness.”
Kyros frowned as she curtsied to him, it just did not feel right to him. She should never have to bow to him. He pulled her back to her feet and laid a gentle hand against her waist. She sharply inhaled a breath as he pulled her close to him. His lips were right at her ear as they moved across the ballroom floor. “Never lower your gaze from mine again…you are not beneath me Hestia. You are…so much more to me than that…”
Her heart was ready to leap from her chest as she leaned her head against his shoulder as he held her ever closer. She could not let him see her red face, she could not let him see how much that meant to her. He did not see her as less than him, even though she was. She was nothing, she had no one. Her own mother left her for dead…she didn’t deserve to feel…happy. She didn’t deserve to…to love him. It was something that she refused to acknowledge, but she could not deny it no longer. She loved this stupid kid and she didn’t know what to do about it.
Had she always been this delicate?
Holding her body against his, he was reminded of just how much smaller she was than him. It was not by much, but she just felt like it. She was also very soft…wait was that inappropriate to say? Now, his face was taking on a red hue as they danced. He wondered if she thought he looked handsome tonight. He did not really pay any attention to his looks, but now he wished that at least glanced at a mirror, but how was he supposed to know she would come! Looking like this no less! A ray of moonlight gifted from the Gods themselves.
“Kyros…” Her voice against him made shivers go up his spine. “Everyone is staring…”
“Are you nervous?” He whispered back to her, sending glares over her head at the council staring hard at her. “You don’t need to be…just stay by my side…”
“Ok…” He left out a breath as her hand tighten against his shoulder. As they continued their dance, she opened up more and soon they danced to a more upbeat tune. The other princesses were getting more and more angrier at the pair. They did not care about the glances from the other occupants of the room, they only had eyes for each other.
“Hestia…”
“Hmm?”
“You…you look very beautiful.”
“Oh…t-thank you Kyros…”
“I didn’t think you had it in you. Here I thought you would be the crazy tree girl forever…didn’t think you could clean up so well-”
It had been a while, but there was something familiar and kind of comforting to feel her fist crack his nose again. He fell back on the floor and looked up at her flaming face as her fist shook in anger. He had said it to get her riled up, but he didn’t expect a punch. It was a comforting and he loved her fiery personality. All he could do was laugh as he held his nose and stood up. The collective were gasping and whispering amongst themselves, but he could care less.
It was not long before she joined him in his laughter, and hearing her laugh was the final missing piece in this surprisingly perfect night. It was what he wanted to hear the most, and he loved it.
No, he just loved her. He loved her in all her imperfections. He would love her when she couldn’t find things to love about herself. He would do it all for her. She deserved the world and he would make sure she would have it.
Forever.
~~~
The months seemed to fly by and any thoughts about the king had left his mind. He only thought about her and that was enough for him. They were never vocal about their mutual feelings, but those around them could see it clear as day. The council were not happy about this new development one bit, they could not stand to see such a rough girl in the palace walls. Ms. Boulviere had been showing her the ways around such high society and it had been rough, but she was getting the hang of it. Kyros was surprised to see that Hestia seemed to like the pretty dresses. So Kyros would often leave them for her as gifts. He didn’t tell her they were from him, but maybe he would one day.
Hestia loved that she had her own room in the palace. The bed was comfortable and she had the best sleep she ever had in her life. She would have delicious food, nice clothes, and she was around the person she loved. It was not how she expected her life to take this course, but she was grateful for it regardless. Her lessons were infuriating though, but after a while she came to enjoy them. It was fun to learn about the world and its inner workings. Those old men on the council seemed to hate her, but she really could care less about them. Ms. Boulviere had been so kind to her, and Hestia wondered if that was what it felt like to have a mother.
Kyros was lucky in that regard.
“Hestia?” Ms. Boulviere peeked into her room just as she was jumping on it. Hestia quickly sat down, embarrassed to be caught. “Oh don’t be embarrassed dear…Kyros did the same thing when he was young. Now…he would like for you to join him on a ride into the forest. He thought you would like to visit your home again.”
“Oh! I would love too!” Any time to spend with him she would take it. A cough soon caught her attention and she turned back around quickly. “Are you still sick? The doctor said that you should be resting…”
“Oh no I can’t…I have too much to do. I always get sick when the seasons change. You run along now, Kyros is excited to head out. He should be by the stables.”
“Alright…but you should drink some tea!”
After getting dressed, Hestia quickly went to the stables. A happy and excited smile gracing her lovely face. The knights smiled seeing her race by, despite the council expressing their dislike for the girl, the knights and common people had quickly taken to her. She was a breath of fresh air after the kingdom had been in disarray of the king disappearing. So they all welcomed her, despite knowing that she probably would not stay forever. Marriage proposals had been flooding the palace ever since the prince’s birthday ball, and it was only a matter of time before he choose a bride.
“Hestia! Over here!” The young prince was completely smitten with his love. She might not know it, but he sure was. He helped her mount his horse and the pair set off for a quiet ride through the forest. Hestia held him tight around his waist and rested against his back. She loved listening to his gentle breathing and strong heart, she just felt safe when he was near.
“How come you didn’t let me ride my horse?” She had been ecstatic when he surprised her with a horse for her birthday. He had showered her with gifts but nothing she said had deterred him from getting her things. She had just learned to roll with it really, there was nothing to be done about it.
“I thought it would be better this way…besides I wanted to talk to you about something…”
“Oh? Well you sound serious…”
“Yeah…I am…” He reached up and held her hand that was around his waist, she blushed but squeezed it back as they continued to travel.
“You know you passed my tree some time ago right?”
“Yeah…I just wanted to go further into the forest.” It was not long before they dismounted, and Kyros held his hand out to her and intertwined their fingers as they walked. Although he suggested it, Kyros found himself incredibly nervous and shy at the moment. Hestia felt exactly the same as they traveled onward. “So…you come out here often?”
“Oh shut up!” She shoved his shoulder and he playfully shoved her back. It was not long before she pulled his crown from his head and held it away from him. “Come and get it, your highness!”
“Oh no! I need that back, you crazy woman!” He lunged for it, but she jumped out of the way. She stuck her tongue out at him as he jumped at her. “I’m going to catch you Hestia!”
“I don’t think that you will!” The pair laughed as they chased each other through the woods. It was the most carefree that either of them had felt for a long time. Hestia felt like she finally belonged somewhere and Kyros could actually show his true smile to someone other than Ms. Boulviere. The trials and tribulations brought about by the king had fled his mind. None of it mattered anymore, he had Hestia and Ms. Boulviere and that was all he would ever need. He could finally know what true joy and happiness felt like.
Hestia had managed to avoid and evade him for longer than she thought. Stopping to catch her breath, she fixed his crown on her head and peered into a creek. “Hmm…not bad…”
Glancing over her shoulder, she expected to see Kyros at any second. After a few minutes, she realized how quiet it seemed to be. “I guess he got lost…”
Trekking through the woods, Hestia started to get worried as she traveled deeper into the forest. There was no sign of him. “Kyros! Kyros where are you?! You can have your crown back…you’re scaring me…”
After another fifteen minutes, she finally had found him. Letting out a deep exhale, she smiled as she walked over to him. “Kyros…I was calling you. You can’t not say anything…scared me half to death…Kyros?”
He wasn’t saying anything as he looked down at a small pond in front of him. She could not see his face, but the tightness of his shoulders and his clenched fist worried her. Stepping forward, her heart leaped into her throat, as she looked upon a body floating face down in the pond. His head had been separated from his body. The pond was a bright red as his blood filled it to the brim. It did not take a genius to realize who it was. The regal clothing, the crown, the same dark hair as the prince. They had found the missing king. She looked at Kyros and her heart broke seeing his expression.
There was nothing.
The light seemed to have faded from his eyes. He just stared at the body of the king like he was a foreign object. There was no type of attachment, no anger, no sadness, there was nothing there. He said nothing as he stared.
“Kyros…” She slipped her hand into his and squeezed it, but there was no response from him. “Kyros…I’m sorr-”
He tore his hand away from her and just walked away. She looked back at the body and then the retreating form of Kyros before she ran after him. He had already mounted his horse and just waited for her. She silently climbed on and he took them back to the palace. She barely could say two words to him before he disappeared into the depths of the palace. Hestia was at a loss for words as the days flew past her.
The funeral for the king was silent and the kingdom mourned for their king, but the prince said nothing. He gave no speech, he shed no tears, and he didn’t even look at the coffin. He was there when the body was buried and then retreated into the palace. Hestia had stayed behind, but Ms. Boulviere had encouraged her to check on him, and so she did. The palace was quiet as she tried to gather her thoughts on what to say to him. It was hard to console someone when someone died, but she hoped to comfort him somehow.
As she drew closer to his room, she heard the distinct sounds of crashing and banging. Rushing to his room, she threw open the door and ducked as a vase flew at the door. Kyros had torn his room apart and was a disheveled mess. His crown was stuck in a mirror and his clothes were a mess. His fists were red and bruised and she saw the other mirror in the room was smashed. “Kyros! Kyros please stop!”
“Bastard!” Hestia flinched as he threw another vase against a wall. “Why am I not surprised that he did this?!”
“Did what?”
“This!” Kyros threw his hands in the air as he paced around his room. “He never wanted the responsibility of the kingdom! He never gave a damn about anything! He sure as shit didn’t care about me!”
“Kyros…”
“I was only born to throw this kingdom onto! My mother didn’t care about me either! She just wanted the kings cock and money! Fucking bitch! Fuck the both of you!” He punched the mirror and blood flowed from the wound as he angrily looked into its broken shards. “He never cared about me…he ignored me my entire childhood…I was just his replacement. My birthdays didn’t matter to him…his people did not matter. He just wanted to drink and lounge around. The kingdom almost collapsed in on itself if I didn’t care so fucking much!”
“....”
Kyros collapsed to his knees as he laughed humorlessly and weakly hit his hands against the mirror. “He never loved me…I was nothing to him. I did not matter. He always made sure that knights were everywhere I went…that was the only way he “cared”.” He couldn’t let something happen to his precious asset. The king never cared about his prince…his son. He left once he realized I…I could do it…nothing left for him here. Fucking coward!”
Hestia held her hand against her heart as Kyros poured his emotions out. It was heartbreaking to watch and she often felt that way about her mother. Her mother had left her when she was young and had never looked back. She was grateful for the elderly woman who looked after her, but she couldn’t replace her mother. It was a temporary feeling, but it was just not enough. She had held onto the fact that her mother would come back, so she never really got attached to the old woman, but her mother never did return. It was a hole in her heart that she thought she would never fill…until she met Kyros.
Kneeling beside him, she touched his shoulder and he finally looked at her and her heart shattered. Tears were running down his face and she wiped his tears. “Hestia…please…don’t leave me too…”
No more words could be said, she would never let him feel such pain again. Seeing his tears were too much to bear on her heart. He deserved love, they both did. The world had been cruel to them and it was high time that they truly grasped their happiness. Her body had moved on its own as she kissed his tear stained cheeks and he pulled her close as he kissed her neck. Their bodies moved as one as they kissed each other. The kiss was salty from his tears, but Hestia did not care…she would take in all of his tears. He didn’t deserve this pain, she would accept it too. She would accept all of him.
Their bodies moved across the room as their clothes left their bodies. Desperate to love the other, desperate to make the pain go away. It was not their imagined first time, but despite the situation, it was theirs. It belonged to them and they cherished it, and they would continue to love each other, even during the rough times, the sad times, but especially during the happy ones.
♛
“Mother?”
“Hmm?”
“Oh you…you just stopped…”
“Well…it was getting to be a bit much. I never thought that I would tell you this story without your father here. It wasn’t always such happy times for us in our youth, but thankfully, we still found each other and now…now we have you…the ultimate testament to our love.”
Althea smiled as her mother caressed her cheek. She never knew much about her grandparents and now she could see why. It was probably hard to talk about them. She was glad that her parents loved her as much as they did. She was also glad that she had Duran…someone that she could love and who loved her back just as much.
“The story is almost over, my sweet rose. Once it’s done…we can have a nice long rest.”
“Ok! I can’t wait to hear more!”
~~~
The council was not happy when Kyros informed them that he intended to marry Hestia. They had no real say and he was ready to torch them all. It had been six months since his father had died and the pair were planning their wedding. Hestia had been drilled in many many things that were to be expected of a royal and she took them all with a grace that surprised him. It was a happy time for them, but the kingdom was facing a crisis. A sickness had overtaken it, and many people were dying from it. He imagined that the council was too worried about this than his wedding, and he was selfishly glad for it. As the princess consort, Hestia had taken her new duties seriously. He suspected after what happened with his father she wanted to help as much as she could. She really did have a kind heart under her tough exterior. It was not all good news for the happy, but busy couple.
Ms. Boulviere had contracted the illness and she seemed to grow worse and worse as the days dragged on. The doctors weren’t any close to finding a cure, and Hestia could see that this fact was killing Kyros. He visted her everyday and made sure she was comfortable and Hestia would visit her and read her favorite books to her. It kept her happy and that was enough for her. She was happy that Kyros was not going to be alone, but he hated when she talked like that. The days were blending together and Kyros finally received the news that he was dreading.
“This is unacceptable! Where the hell is that other doctor that I sent for?!”
“He said the same thing, your highness. She doesn’t have much longer…you…you have to prepare yourself for the worst…”
“I don’t have to do anything!”
“Kyros…” Hestia placed a hand on his arm and he visibly relaxed, but he was still a bit tense. With a heavy sigh, he took her hand and the pair left the room. “I…I know this is scary,..but we should speak with her…see what she wants…”
“....” Kyros hesitated outside her door and Hestia patiently waited for him to open the door. After a good ten minutes he pushed open the door. Ms. Boulviere was sitting up and staring out the window, but hearing the door she turned and brightly smiled at them.
“Oh! Hello…I thought you both had a meeting to go to…”
“...” Kyros just looked at the ground, so Hestia stepped over to the bed and took a seat as she grabbed her hand.
“We did but…we don’t have good news…”
“I’m dying aren’t I?”
“Don’t say that!” Both women looked at the prince in surprise. The candles in the room burned bright in his anger. “You won’t die! Just let me heal you!”
“Kyros…I have accepted that this is my fate. I will not fight it…”
“You can! This is ridiculous! I can’t lose you!” Hestia looked between the pair with worried eyes. Kyros could not accept that she just wanted to let nature take its course. Hestia did not wish for ir either, but she had to respect her decision. Kyros was essentially losing his mother and he couldn’t take losing that connection.
“Come here…” She held her arms out to him and he reluctantly sank into her embrace. “I know that you don’t like this…but it is my decision. I already am quite old…this would become reality soon enough. I won’t live forever like you will my sweet boy. This is the reality that you have to accept. Now I know that its not fair, but this life. You have a new chapter of your life that you are going to embark on with Hestia. A life filled with love and happiness. I want you to enter that life joyfully and wholeheartedly.”
“I…” Hestia walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder with a warm smile. Her smile once again was powerful enough to give him strength. He would need that when…when she was gone. “Alright…I…I respect your decision….:
“Hmm…thank you…now I just hope that I can make it to see your wedding…” He let out a sad sigh and Hestia had a brilliant idea.
“You can still make it…we can move the date up!” The others looked at her in surprise, but she just nodded excitedly. “You deserve to be at the wedding! We can do it in three days…that way the nobles and other royals won’t be so upset and can maybe make it.”
“Hestia…my princess…are you sure that you want to do that?”
“Of course…don’t fight me on this! You know that you won’t win!”
~~~
Once again, the council was not happy about the wedding being moved up, but their words mattered little to the young couple. They only had eyes for each other that day. Nothing would sour their moods on this joyous day, especially not some irritating old men. The pair married in the gardens surrounded by thousands of roses, and despite the ongoing illness in the kingdom it was a beautiful and loving day. Ms. Boulviere had made it and she could not stop crying watching the prince marry the woman he loved more than anything. The coronation would take place in another month, the couple wanted time to enjoy being newlyweds for a bit, and Kyros wanted to spend as much time with Ms. Boulviere as much as he could.
It seemed that life was against him though, for it was only after the wedding that she grew sicker and it was reaching the time for goodbyes. Hestia stayed by his side the whole time as he held her hand. Ms. Boulviere smiled at him and rubbed his cheek as her coughs grew worse. Hestia quickly fetched her water, and helped her drink it as she tried to speak up.
“No no…save your strength…” Kyros was putting on his bravest face, but his voice kept cracking and his hands were shaking as he held onto her frail hands. “You don’t…you don’t have to say anything…”
“No I…my Kyros…I just…I’m so happy that you found your other half…” Kyros grasped both of her hands as the tears finally fell from his eyes. “You have been…such a wonderful light in my life…my sweet boy…I just hope…wished you never have to feel this pain again…but Hestia…she…”
“Ms. Boulviere…” Hestia knelt beside Kyros and touched her hand. “He will never know the pain of losing me. I…I was going to tell him later, but…I am also a phoenix. I will love him until the end of time.”
“Oh! You…how wonderful…” Kyros looked at his bride in surprise, and she shrugged and smiled sadly at him. He always thought the time would come when they would part, but he didn’t have to fear that anymore. She would be his forever, but he couldn’t even enjoy that now as Ms. Boulviere grew weaker and weaker. She didn’t have the strength to grasp his hand anymore, and the light was fading from her eyes. “Kyros…”
“You…you were always more than my maid. I want you to always remember that! You…you mean everything to me…I can never thank you enough for raising me. I love you so much…thank you. Thank you for being my mother…Althea…”
“Thank you for letting me…love…you…thank…you…for letting me be…you..r…mo..th..er…” With her last words, she finally closed her eyes for the last time. Hestia held Kyros close as he cried against her, her own tears fell down her face as the woman who had raised him, and her own mentor had left this world.
Her funeral was a solemn affair, but Kyros had Hestia by his side, so he was able to make it through, but his heart still ached. It was another few days before he was in a better mood. He wanted to be alone in his grief, and Hestia had respected that, but she was still close by if he needed her. A few nights later, he joined his wife on their balcony as the sun started to rise on a new day.
“So…a phoenix…”
“Mmhmm…”
“That is quite a secret to carry around, dear wife…” She smiled as he wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her back against his chest. “I guess…that means that we have forever…”
She smiled warmly at the thought as they swayed back and forth in each others arms, before she turned around, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Yes Kyros, forever and always…”
The two lovers of fire kissed with a passion that would burn away despair, ignite hope, and in those ashes would a kingdom be reborn, into a legacy that lasted over four millennia, and that would only know love and hope.
♛
Althea found herself at a loss for words as her mother finished the story. It was a lot to take in, it was a fantastic tale, and she wished that she could have witnessed it. Her parents had gone through so much, and she imagined that her mother left out some details. Althea leaned into her mothers arms and Hestia smiled as she held her beloved daughter tight.
“Thank you…for loving me as much as you do mother.”
“Hmm…thank you for allowing me to be a mother and loving me as much as you do.” Hestia squeezed her daughter tight and Althea giggled.
“I didn’t know that’s where my name came from…”
“Oh yes…we were always planning on telling you some day. I thought we would do it together, but plans do change. When we found out that I was pregnant, your father was hoping that you were a girl. We both knew that we wanted to honor her if our baby turned out to be a girl. A beautiful name for a princess and the wonderful woman who raised the king.”
“Father will come home mother…I know he will…” Althea yawned as she settled against her mother. Hestia rubbed her back as she pulled the blankets around them both. “He definitely will come back…”
“Yes…yes he will.”
The queen and princess drifted into a peaceful slumber, one filled with hope and anticipation. Hestia resolved to keep her spirits up and pray for the best. Although no more letters came, Althea and Hestia wrote several. The pair kept busy and soon enough, when the war campaign reached its third month, a familiar sound rang throughout the kingdom. Althea burst from her bedroom and the queen was not far behind as she raced from her study. The knights were tripping over their feet to catch up to them.
Althea and her mother stood outside the palace, looking over the fields and the trumpets blew. The two waited with bated breath, and then, finally over the far hill, the army arrived. Being proper about their return was the last thing on either of their minds. It seemed that most of the kingdom felt the same. People were rushing towards the army as they drew closer and closer. Althea heard the all too familiar sound of people crying and mourning the ones who didn’t make it. Her heart stung but she had to believe they were ok.
Her father should have been in the front of the army, but he was nowhere to be seen. She raced through the army with her mother, but her mother spotted the knight commander and they stopped, breathing heavily from their sprint.
“J..Jeremiah…where…where is my husband?” Hestia tried to keep her shaky voice still, but not seeing Kyros terrified her. “He…he should have been in the front…”
“The king is alive, your majesty.” Hestia let out a breath and almost collapsed if Althea wasn’t holding onto her. “Some knights were struggling in the back, so he stayed back to help them along…he should be coming over the hill now.”
Althea and her mother turned just as the king rode over the hill. He was messy and tired, but he was in one piece. Tears sprang to their eyes as they raced across the fields. The king seeing them coming dismounted his horse, and just as his feet touched the grass, he was tackled to the ground by his wife.
“Hestia omph-” She crashed her lips against his and he held her tight as they shared a desperate and happy kiss. They parted for only a second before their lips met again and again. Sitting up, he held her face and wiped her tears. “I told you I would come back…”
“Yes! Yes you did…” She sniffled and laughed as he kissed her forehead. He went to kiss her again, but another tackle, courtesy of his daughter, took him down.
“Oof!”
“Father! Oh I’ve missed you so much! I’ve been counting the days since you’ve been gone! I love you! I love you! I love you!”
“I love you more rosebud…I could never leave you and your mother…” He pulled his girls close and the family just drank in the feeling of each other. So much needed to happen, but not now. Now, it was their moment and they would cherish it. So many had lost their lives, but so many had made it back to their beloved kingdom. “Oh Althea…your friends have all made it back. They should be right behind me…go ahead and see them.”
“I…but father…”
“Go ahead…I will see you in the palace.” Althea glanced at her mother who nodded her head. Gathering her skirts, the princess took off and she indeed saw Liam and Honora battered and bruised, but they were alright. They saw her and waved and she tackled them in a strong hug. She had missed them terribly and she never wanted them to leave again.
“I knew that you would be alright! I just knew it!”
“Of course we did! Honora and Duran are monsters on the battlefield. I had nothing to fear.” Liam puffed out his chest and Honora just punched him in the gut. He quickly deflated and Honora hugged Althea again.
“Duran is waiting at the usual spot…” Honora whispered into her ear and Althea felt the butterflies in her stomach start to swarm. She was definitely going to fly back to her room now! Once she made double sure that Liam and Honora were alright, she took to the skies. She was glad that she left her window open. Landing in her room, she didn’t have to look far as Duran appeared and took her into his arms, kissing her deeply and passionately. It felt like heaven to be able to hold him and kiss him again.
They were both breathless when they finally parted and Duran kissed her tears away. She was shaking, but she was also laughing as she touched his face and kissed all over it.
“M-My knight…you came back to me…”
“Always, my princess. Always.” Althea wanted to spend more time with him, but he needed to see his family and she needed to see her own. A celebratory victory would be held in the coming days, but Althea did not find herself caring much for it. She would much rather have something smaller and intimate with her family and friends. She had a lot of time to think about what she wanted in her future, Duran was never far from her mind and it only made sense to her what she wanted to do next.
~~~
It was easier said than done for what she had in mind. The celebratory victory had lasted all week and it was hard to spend time with her friends, espcially with Duran. Her parents were attched at the hips, but Althea gave them their space, and her father made time with her every second he could. Duran had been with his family and was doing patrols around the kingdom. So, she had only seen him a few times since he returned. She was determined to get some time alone with him, and she would have it!
Or else, she would lose her courage and let the moment pass.
In a rare stroke of luck, she finally spotted Duran near the palace gates. He spotted her and waved, she bit her lip gently before approaching him. He raised a brow at her as she leaned against the wall. “Something I could help you with princess?”
“Well…I was wondering if…we could meet at the usual spot?” She whispered low as some knights walked by. Duran made sure they were gone and looked back at her.
“I think I can tonight…”
“Could you stay for awhile?”
“I…yes I probably could…”
“Great! I um…great!” She awkwardly laughed and backed away from him before full sprinitng to the palace. Duran watched his love sprint away with a smile and a shake of his head. She was such a silly girl, but he loved her all the same.
♛
Althea paced around her room as she waited for Duran. She had made some food, but it had gotten cold, and she tried to heat it back up, but she just bruned it.Sighing, she looked over her attire with a wary glance.
“This might be too much…”
“Althea…sorry that I’m…” Duran clmibed into her window and when he looked at her, his breath caught his throat. Althea blushed a deep red as she fiddled with the ruffles on her nightgown. It was a light blue and transparent. She had run a brush through her hair over a hundred times. This was a big moment for her, and she was rightfully nervous. “U-Um…did you want to put on a robe?”
“N-No! I…I did this on purpose…” She bit her lip as Duran looked away from her. Did he not find her appealing? Or was he just being respectful? It was sweet of him…but she wanted him to see her.
“Um…Althea…am I missing something?”
“No Duran…could…could you sit on the bed please?” He quickly sat down and Althea giggled before she took a breath and sat on her bed. “L-Look at me please?”
Duran turned to look at his love and his face burned a bright red. She was wearing so little, but he kept his gaze on her beautiful eyes. She looked like a perfect angel as her face turned redder and she looked nervous. Did she want to…?
“Duran…I…I can’t possibly imagine my life without you in it. It was so clear to me when you were gone and my heart ached. I didn’t know what could have happened to you…and well…tomorrow is nver promised. I don’t want to wait and not love you to the fullest so…I…I…I hope…I want…I…” Althea fisted her hands tightly into her nightgown as she looked down at her hands. “I…I want to…m-make l-love…w-with you…”
She refused to look at his face and he was glad that she wasn’t. His entire face was red, all the way up to his ears. He felt lightheaded hearing her say that. He knew that someday down the line they might make love, but he didn’t think it would be so soon. He wanted to love her, but this was all happening so fast.
“Althea…” He tilted her chin up and her sparkling eyes entranced him. “I want to make love to you…but is now the right time? Are you sure that’s something you want to do now? We can always wait…I’m in no rush.”
“No I…you never know what could happen in the future. What if we never get the chance to show our love for each other? I…I don’t want to wait to love you in that way…”
Duran released a deep breath seeing how serious she was about it. How could he deny his princess when all she wanted to do was love him? She was right…you could never know what would happen. He just never imagined that she would initiate this. “Althea…you know that…being together for the first time…it will hurt…”
“I know, but I trust you more than anyone.”
“If…if it hurts, you have to let me know. I don’t want to hurt you, and let me know if you get uncomfortable! You can hit me if you want! O-Or um…”
“Duran…I trust you…” His face lit up as she touched his cheek. She moved closer to him and he held her close as they kissed. It was a sweet kiss, but it ignited a fire in them both. It was not like their other kisses, this was a kiss filled with desire and passion. She worked off his shirt and she marveled at his tone body. “Oh…wow…”
“Hmm…I’m glad that you approve…” He slowly reached out and touched her waist, she jumped slightly and he quickly backed off. “I’m sorry!”
“No no…your hands are just a bit cold…” He sighed in relief before he held her close and kissed her leaning her down against the bed. He laid kisses down her neck, and her sudden moan turned him right on. He could feel himself getting hard in his pants, he wanted to make sure she really understood what she asked of him. So, holding her waist gently but firmly, he pressed himself against her.
“O-Oh!” Her body jerked in his hands and he smiled as he continued to kiss her neck. “T-That…it felt…g-good…”
“I’ll make you feel even better love…” Althea blushed even more when he pressed himself against her again. It felt good and she wondered how it could possibly feel better than this. Sitting up, she grabbed the straps of her nightgown and slowly pulled it down. Before he could really see them, she held her arms over them.
“I-I’m sorry…s-sorry if they aren’t very…large…” She looked away from him and he gently took her chin to look him in the eyes.
“Althea…I love you for more than your body. I love you for who you are. Our relationship is built on more than just looks. It’s built on love and trust. I don’t care if they are big or small. I care that it is you…” He caressed her cheek as she smiled and he wiped a stray tear. “I love you Althea.”
“I love you more, Duran.”
The young couple joined in a night of bliss and fiery passion. Nothing more mattered to them in that moment than each other. They were together at last, and they would always be together. Love was powerful, love was raw, and for Althea and Duran, it was what kept them going. It was what they hoped to continue for a lifetime. As they laid in each others arms, all doubts and worries for their future evaporated. Duran had the courage to tell the king how he felt about his daughter, no matter the outcome, and Althea would face them right by his side.
For love was strong, love was true, and it was the most powerful thing in their world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next: https://www.tumblr.com/goddessofeternity/702903234974679040/love-amidst-the-darkness-chapter-20-end-of-the?source=share
Previous: https://at.tumblr.com/goddessofeternity/love-amidst-the-darkness-chapter-18-final-hours/uo92z3naqtvg
Thanks for reading!
Likes and reblogs are welcomed! Comments are appreciated!
#Althea#Duran#Queen Hestia#King Kyros#Empress Xiaoli#Empress Liling#Honora#Liam#love#the distant past#royals#original story#original work#oc#writing'#my writing
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No the song was not GOOD I mean have you heard the original?! It's hilariously bad so the Eng version is even worse better idusjdhdhdusbdbs. Yeah we can be his cats 👁👄👁
Hwa is a siren HE LURES US WITH HIS HIPS! Vampire Seonghwa is always on my mind it's just peak Hwa for me
Yessss I think he used to be too shy to do those "cool" things, but now despite feeling embarrassed he goes for it anyway because HE LIKES WHEN ATINYS ARE FOOLED 😭 and the reactions yeah he loves that and good for him. Pls leave Jongho alone 💀 also Hongjoong HE DOESN'T WANNA SHOW YOU HIS ABS MAN HATES EXERCISING TOO
There seems to be some spiders epidemic going helpppp. Also there are so many bugs in general 😭 why can't they leave me alooooooneeeeee, get your own houses! Shockingly there aren't many mosquitoes these days?
I heard from my Exo-ls friends that some things haven't been continued and they're still waiting for more clues. Yeah Skz doesn't rely on their storyline as heavily, but you can see elements of it throughout their MVs like Side Effects, Astronaut, Levanter. Noeasy and especially Oddinary had huge story behind them with the sound monster, then Felix was the main character in Oddinary we theorised they referenced Alice in Wonderland. Some people dislike lore which is fine, but I don't get the complaints? I think Aespa and Kwangya is a bit cringy and SM is trying too hard to incorporate Kwangya in other artists' music, but the AI and black mamba ideas are actually not bad
I saw the leak I wonder which one is the title? So many leaks with this cb, kinda sad. So the pre orders dropped and tbh I'm not too happy we're back to squares RIP MY SHELF DESIGN also it means smaller photobooks...whack, not to mention they got rid of the lyric postcards and replaced them with ID PHOTOCARDS?! Yeah I get it the whole government thing, but those are so useless. I saw people on twt being happy and I'm like huh? The covers are... whatever, I gave up on interesting Ateez cover designs, lmaooooo. I woke up and I need to complain maybe it's the period and I need to deal with my GO too 😭 I saw USA has some exclusive versions like jewel cases 💀 and the amount of fan signs/video calls already. Maybe I'll win one 😭
Omg really?! I forgot about The Great Seducer, but now it makes sense that bb!Hwa was based on him
Size kink when she's 2cm taller than San 😭😭😭 you'll never catch me with that kink too.
Lmao but people are on much higher levels though. I play during work when I'm bored which is almost always hhahahdahaghaga. I know bestie I'm going to another party this weekend COME OVER. I missed two ATZ songs because I arrived late I was big mad :////
That sucks you can't see her even though she's coming to your city, fuck uni who needs to be a lawyer! Yes and her response after the backlash was a bit, hmmm... tainted her image for sure, but it was probably her company so it's not her choice, but yeah some companies actually see the backlash and cancel their NFT plans, like A.C.E's company for example
The fake tweets are funny, but yes sometimes I'm just like???
NEED TO SINK MY TEETH INTO SEONGHWA'S COLLARBONES BUT HIS ARMS ARE NEXT! My friends went to Uni Kon and said it was scorching so no wonder the artists were sweating buckets 😭😭😭😭 but I also hate seeing Hwa in the Wang shorts again because that man is 💀💀💀💀💀 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10736079/Designer-Alexander-Wang-returns-accused-sexually-assaulting-male-transgender-models.html sorry for the Daily Mail link but yeah. So when I saw someone say @ AW on twt PLEASE HIRE SEONGHWA AS YOUR MODEL I WAS LIKE NOOOOOOO DO NOOOOOOT.
Oooooh I saw that miss tenelkadjowrites published another Seonghwa fic 👀 I think I need to wait until I'm period-free to read it cause now the vibe is ruined khdhsudhjsbshshs - DV 💖
hello hi!!
No the song was not GOOD I mean have you heard the original?! It's hilariously bad so the Eng version is even worse better idusjdhdhdusbdbs. Yeah we can be his cats 👁👄👁
FBWMFBWK WORSE BETTER 😭😭😭 his cats??? what type bESTIE theres categories fbwhhdjd
Hwa is a siren HE LURES US WITH HIS HIPS! Vampire Seonghwa is always on my mind it's just peak Hwa for me
FORGET SIREN HWA BELLY DANCING AU FT.MISS SHAKIRA FBWNFHS 😭😭😭 vampire hwa omg,,, i don’t think there’s many out there tbh ive seen someone but it’s usually that period sex thing and 😭😭😭???? 🔫🔫
Yessss I think he used to be too shy to do those "cool" things, but now despite feeling embarrassed he goes for it anyway because HE LIKES WHEN ATINYS ARE FOOLED 😭 and the reactions yeah he loves that and good for him. Pls leave Jongho alone 💀 also Hongjoong HE DOESN'T WANNA SHOW YOU HIS ABS MAN HATES EXERCISING TOO
YESSS BRWNDHEK EXACTLY HE FUCKING DOES IT ANYWAY ITS LIKE A ENEMIES TO LOVERS CAT MOUSE RELATIONSHIP AND WE ALL KNOW HE MF LOVES THAT no fr pls leave him alone,,, i knew someone who would constant say “i wanna lick their abs” bestie pls it’s been 2 mins 😭😭🤚🏼 FBWNDHSK EXACTLY JUST APPRECIATE THE SONGS 😭😭
There seems to be some spiders epidemic going helpppp. Also there are so many bugs in general 😭 why can't they leave me alooooooneeeeee, get your own houses! Shockingly there aren't many mosquitoes these days?
NO FR SPIDERMAN : EVERY ONES HOME 😭😭😭 GORRRRL THE MOSQUITOES ARE THOSE THIN ASS ONES THOSE ONES THAT GO STRAIGHT THRU THE NET WINDOWS 😭😭😭 u are a spider whisperer <3
I heard from my Exo-ls friends that some things haven't been continued and they're still waiting for more clues. Yeah Skz doesn't rely on their storyline as heavily, but you can see elements of it throughout their MVs like Side Effects, Astronaut, Levanter. Noeasy and especially Oddinary had huge story behind them with the sound monster, then Felix was the main character in Oddinary we theorised they referenced Alice in Wonderland. Some people dislike lore which is fine, but I don't get the complaints? I think Aespa and Kwangya is a bit cringy and SM is trying too hard to incorporate Kwangya in other artists' music, but the AI and black mamba ideas are actually not bad
EXACTLY THAT !!!! been waiting ages for a proper comeback so we can get answers but sm 🔫🔫 aHHHHHH is what is their universe called?? AYO ALICE IN THE WONDERLAND?? 👁🤚🏼👁 why is it disliked? is seems too coolio??? tbh i didn’t think jyp would be a group to ever have theories yet here we are dbdbd YEAAAH THAT KWANGYA SHIT i get the idea but why not just let groups have their own universes 😭😭😭 i liked the black mamba concept esp!! the two world between AI and them,,, bc kwangya don’t make sense 😭😭😭
I saw the leak I wonder which one is the title? So many leaks with this cb, kinda sad. So the pre orders dropped and tbh I'm not too happy we're back to squares RIP MY SHELF DESIGN also it means smaller photobooks...whack, not to mention they got rid of the lyric postcards and replaced them with ID PHOTOCARDS?! Yeah I get it the whole government thing, but those are so useless. I saw people on twt being happy and I'm like huh? The covers are... whatever, I gave up on interesting Ateez cover designs, lmaooooo. I woke up and I need to complain maybe it's the period and I need to deal with my GO too 😭 I saw USA has some exclusive versions like jewel cases 💀 and the amount of fan signs/video calls already. Maybe I'll win one 😭
YEAH SOMEONE SENT IT TO ME 😭😭 it looks intimidatingly good tho esp the songs,,,, no.2 (this for anyone wondering is not the name no im not gonna reveal it fbdb) sounds better be some bombass beat drop,,,, FBWKDHWK NO BC WHY ARE WE BACK AT SQUARES THEY FUCKING NEVER FIT AND ARE SO THICK 😭😭😭 omg i forgot,,, smaller photo books but watch the photos be so pretty and we can’t even see half of it 😭😭😭ID CARDS RIGHT??? LIKE SOME GOVERNMENT JAIL CELL OR SOMETHING omg did u see the blue version, the poster looks like them in their halateez outfits yeah gave up on the designs 😭😭😭 saw this one by an atiny and the way id buy it all in an is at buy if they were like this,,, BESTIE DID U GET THE SIGNED ONES????
Omg really?! I forgot about The Great Seducer, but now it makes sense that bb!Hwa was based on him
YES ESP FROM THIS GIF
Size kink when she's 2cm taller than San 😭😭😭 you'll never catch me with that kink too.
Lmao but people are on much higher levels though. I play during work when I'm bored which is almost always hhahahdahaghaga. I know bestie I'm going to another party this weekend COME OVER. I missed two ATZ songs because I arrived late I was big mad :////
FHWKDHWK HEY SIZE KINK BUT WITH YUNHO AND MINGI ���🔫🔫 JDBWK BESTIE DAMN UR FAST AT GAMING AYO 😭😭😭 I WILL COME HAVE A SEAT FOR ME PUT UR BAG ON IT SO I KNOW ITS RESERVED FBFB 😭😭😭🤚🏼 if u missed fireworks id literally never forgive u 🔫
That sucks you can't see her even though she's coming to your city, fuck uni who needs to be a lawyer! Yes and her response after the backlash was a bit, hmmm... tainted her image for sure, but it was probably her company so it's not her choice, but yeah some companies actually see the backlash and cancel their NFT plans, like A.C.E's company for example
LMFAOOOO 😭😭 i tbh would rather go see dean bc he comes here often dbdbd rEALLY?? omg i just saw it and the ratios of the twt’s fbwnfbsn oH YEAH DEF PPL ARE SAYING GASLIT?? GIRLBOSS?? 😭😭🤚🏼 ACE FTW TBH AT LEAST THEY ACKNOWLEDGE WTF IS WRONG WITH THEM NFTS u know kun was my bias but that mofo also got an nft 😭😭😭 for jay chou 😭😭???? disgrace???
The fake tweets are funny, but yes sometimes I'm just like???
LMFAOOOO RIGHT FREE LIKES I GUESS HIT TWEETS 😭😭
NEED TO SINK MY TEETH INTO SEONGHWA'S COLLARBONES BUT HIS ARMS ARE NEXT! My friends went to Uni Kon and said it was scorching so no wonder the artists were sweating buckets 😭😭😭😭 but I also hate seeing Hwa in the Wang shorts again because that man is 💀💀💀💀💀 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10736079/Designer-Alexander-Wang-returns-accused-sexually-assaulting-male-transgender-models.html sorry for the Daily Mail link but yeah. So when I saw someone say @ AW on twt PLEASE HIRE SEONGHWA AS YOUR MODEL I WAS LIKE NOOOOOOO DO NOOOOOOT.
JFVWDE DV ANON VAMPIRE ERA STARTING FBFBF 😭😭😭 omg no wonder it must be like one of those hot wind days 🔫🔫 one of my friends korea met btob’s minhyuk (at a fanmeet outside) aND HE WAS SWEATING ALL SHINY BUT HE STILL LOOKED SO FINE FBFBF oh man yeah,,,, when i see idols w him i just want to log out 🔫 i also understand that some idols have to end up being civil to them at events bc they also cant directly say shit,,, the when he first wore it a while back?? in fireworks era and did that one sigh 😭😭 NAURRR PLS NOT AS THAT BRANDS MODEL FBEN SEONGHWA EITHER FOR DIOR OR CHANEL OR YSL NO IN BETWEEN
Oooooh I saw that miss tenelkadjowrites published another Seonghwa fic 👀 I think I need to wait until I'm period-free to read it cause now the vibe is ruined khdhsudhjsbshshs - DV 💖
OHH BESTIE I READ IT IT SOOOO GOOOD 1000% BEST FOR RAINY DAYS DBDB man’s a fuckass tho but <3
also
ALSO
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Geez Max Raids are annoying… just to get one max mushroom after 3. And then I need two more mushrooms. Just to make soup? To change dynamax forms? This seems inefficient.
Anyway, hi! Cyrus here. I discovered something quite interesting recently, in that rainstorms caused by our mutual friend Pelliper are highly localized and brief, but on a large scale- such as when there’s a whole flock- things get understandably messy. Just the other day I was having a lovely picnic when I was rained on by migrating Pelliper. Not all of them were sending mail, but it was so absurdly many that I worried for the mail service. Probably none of my business, though.
I also heard, not too long ago, that the Gorons eat rocks. That’s funny. Though, I hear that lately, their supply has been… infected somehow? Seems someone’s making meth in the Goron mines… somehow.
Anyway, that’s about all from me. Seeya around!
soup? almighty suop or some shit?
What?
What?
i'm confused.
What.
Uh, anyway— Pelipper are... something, aren't they? I personally try to give people (and Pokemon, in this instance) the benefit of the doubt but they are really trying my patience.
you mean you don't hate them already?
They're just doing their jobs, aren't they? Better to blame the senders, I think, though the senders use a rather unfortunate live medium.
fair. also Cyrus, don't worry about the Goron meth. as long as there's a blond and questionably gendered crytid running around Hyrule, they should be fine.
You all still have yet to tell me about the sandstorm corpses apparently invading Gerudo.
told you, don't worry about it! it doesn't happen until like a century later.
Regardless.
ah, do you really wanna hear about the Queen Gibdo...?
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