#finding union on old friendships
Note
Oppy my baby,can you please please please take in consideration to write something about my man Cregan Stark?🥺🥺
⊹˚₊only you could have called me back home
Cregan Stark x fem!reader
-Summary:reader is from house Manderly and she meets Cregan when they are kids,during his stay at her house she reads him a book about mermaids to help him sleep during a storm.Years later he does the same thing for their children.
-I finally gave in and decided to try.This is the first time that I write for Cregan,even though i love him very much and i can’t wait to see him(I pictured in my mind Tom Taylor)so forgive me if this sucks.
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It was night,late evening.
The sky,which was usually a dark blue,was covered by a thick blanket of gray clouds that made the stars and that moon disappear,which were supposed to illuminate New Castle of White Harbor.The blue blazon with the green merman holding a trident,symbolizing House Manderly,was dancing in the wind.
A little girl,who seemed to be not older than eight years old,was observing the world and that summer storm,one of many she had seen in just a month.Sitting in her chamber,on the carpet in front of the window that brought into that small balcony,curled up and with her arms hugging her legs,she let her eyes get lost in counting the thousands of droplets that rested on that sheet of glass.
She began to stare at a drop of rain,trying to see it flow along the entire length of the window.But this one soon disappeared,bursting into smaller droplets or joining others.
For Lady Y/n Manderly,the rain made everything so fascinating.
She came closer to the glass,almost squashing her face against the door-windows and waiting for a thunder to arrive.She had never been afraid of thunderstorms,quite the contrary.She found them fascinating.She still couldn't conceive that all that noise and lights came from nature and not from something created by men.
Watching a thunderstorm was more interesting than reading a book.Her mother used to read her dozen of them to help her sleep at night,especially during storms like this one.But at the end,the books in their library all looked alike and never change final.If she didn't want to read them anymore she could just close them.While thunderstorms are unexpected and uncontrollable.But above all,always different.
People can never predict the duration or intensity of a thunderstorm.You can just try to guess or stay and observe it.And Y/n loved to see thunderstorms.
But that wasn't the case for everyone.
The little girl knew for sure that there was someone who instead hated them and had a big fear of them.A young boy,just of two years older than she was,the son of the protector of the North,had revealed that he was very afraid of storms during one.
Lord Rickon Stark had arrived to White Harbor four nights before,just in time for dinner,to discuss with Lord Desmond Manderly,Y/n father,about the union of their houses.A calm but still noisy storm was what welcomed them,alongside the blue and green blazon of New Castle.
Y/n didn't understand what was scary about those lights and noises,but she couldn't help but think about what the boy was feeling at the time.
That boy who was also her husband to be once they would be old enough to marry.They already knew each other,they had met in different occasions and places,yet they had never forged a particular bond or friendship.
Their characters were particularly different and they both knew that they would find themselves colliding easily if they became friends.Moreover, there had never been a particular opportunity to get to know each other better.They were always surrounded by their families,politicians and maidens.
They were simply two children,two heirs of big and powerful houses and one day they will become husband and wife.Nothing more,nothing less.
And yet,at that moment Y/n was just thinking.She was just thinking about Cregan.That was his name and what he had told her to call him when she had addressed him as “Lord Stark” with a polite bow.
Y/n wondered if he wasn't scared.
She remembered once,when there was a tournament in Lannisport,he didn’t showed up to see the horses in the morning when it started to rain.Once again,during a visit a the Wall he had been more restless than usual when he had heard the sound of the thunders.
But didn't the dark sky of the evening emphasize the whole thing even more?
Y/n loved night thunderstorms,she found them even more impressive.But also scary.Especially now that her mother was heavily pregnant and needed to stay in bed to rest,meaning that she couldn’t read her stories to help her sleep better.
In Y/n that fear gave a sudden adrenaline rush,but in Cregan no,she could have said it with certainty.So,after thinking about it for too long,the little girl got up,took the cloak on the chair and without even thinking anymore,she opened the window-door wide and within seconds she found herself on the balcony,while the rain was beginning to increase slowly.
That wing of the castle was where both Y/n and her brothers chambers were,the same place where young Cregan was staying,in the room right next to hers.
Y/n stayed for a while to observe the sky,and the drops of rainwater falling on the palm of her hand that she had turned upwards,fascinated by everything as a child could be.But she hadn't gone out to the balcony to admire all that,no.
If she had only wanted to do that,she would have been content to sit in front of the front door-windows as she had until then,instead of getting wet.
No,Y/n had gone out to check on Cregan.To make sure that he was alright.
Their balconies were connected,divided only by a low wall of light bricks.She had often seen the young boy on that balcony in those days,watching people occupying those crowded streets or just wanting to breathe some air.
And on those occasions they had just waved to each other politely with kind smiles.
Y/n knew that the window on that balcony led to the room where Cregan was staying.
Still in the rain,half protected by the windowsill of the upper floor,she barely reached out her neck to observe the young boy room.But it was dark and the curtains were pulled,a sign that Cregan was probably already sleeping,as he would on any night.
The little Lady wanted to call herself a fool for coming out of her room just to make sure that he was okay,a boy whose she exchanged a few words and nothing else.The same boy that one day would have been her husband but the she didn’t knew nothing about.
Yet,in some way,she was relieved.Relieved that he was not awake yet and afraid of those thunders.
A part of Y/n wanted to go back into her room and go back admiring that storm from behind the glass plate of the window,but first she got closer to the wall that separated her from her neighbor.
To,she said to herself,just to check more closely.Just to make sure.
But check what exactly?
Y/n shook her head.She really had to be out of her mind if now she was worried about an almost - stranger that seemed to not like her at all.She made to retrace her steps,when a curled figure caught her attention.
Sitting on the ground,with his shoulders leaning against the wall of that balcony and with a black cloak on him,he stood with his head hidden by the hood.Still like a statue,with his arms around his legs.Half of his body was protected under the windowsill,while the other half was being wet by that rainwater.
Y/n tilted her head to the side,confused.
“Who is that?And what are they doing?”she wondered.
Even though she knew very well who it was.It couldn't be anyone other than him.
«Cregan?»Y/n spoke without having the slightest control over her voice,attracting the attention of the boy.
Cregan raised his head,which he had kept sunk between his legs until that moment,turning his head then towards the young lady on the other side of the wall.His eyes were usually clear and calm,but now they were wide open with astonishment.
Wide in a way that Y/n couldn't but find adorable.
She ignored these thoughts and just reopened her mouth«What are you doing out here?Don't you see .. ?It's raining.»she asked with a soft tone.
“As if i hadn't noticed,Y/n”Cregan wanted to tell her with a little voice.He wouldn't have put on his cloak if he hadn't seen the rain.
But a part of him decided to keep his mouth closed.Lady Y/n was immensely pretty under the pale moonlight and wet by the rain.He had always been fascinated by her,by the way her eyes shined bright and the way she talked fast about something she liked and knew about.She made him nervous to speak whenever he was around her,she was far smarter and wiser than him even at that young age,always so kind and he was afraid to make a fool out of himself.Especially when he was still scared of thunderstorms.
Cregan didn't answer,just staring at her with his big blue eyes.
«Are you hurt?»Y/n brown furrow as she scanned his pale face to find something.
The rain kept falling and it seemed that its intensity continued to increase as the seconds passed.The trees in front of that castle moved to the right and left,driven by a force they already knew,but which they were still unable to repel.
Cregan shook his head and then spoke«I'm scared of thunderstorms.»he just said.
Y/n nodded«I know that.But why are you outside?»she offered him a kind smile.
Cregan seemed to think about it for a while, undecided whether to say everything to her or keep shut up.But there was something in her,something that was pulling in from the inside.Something that was screaming at him to tell her everything that he was afraid of,because with her it would be safe,she would have kept him safe.She would’ve understood him and comforted him.
He chose the second option and returned to stare at an indefinite point of his cloak,hoping that the young lady with wet hair and sweet eyes would soon leave,leaving him alone.As he had only been until recently.
One day Cregan would have been Lord Stark,protector of the great North and he needed to learn to not be afraid of thunderstorms on his own.But Y/n presence,the little girl that would become his wife,was louder than any thunder and brighter than any light.
In fact she had no intention of leaving.
«I'm scared of thunderstorms.»he found himself repeating and then adding«I really can't stand them.»he murmured.
She listened to him carefully,standing in front of that little wall,while Cregan continued to turn his back on her and look down as he spoke again:
«I can't sleep when there are thunderstorms.And being alone in the room,in the dark with only sudden flashes to illuminate,is scary.»he explained quietly.
Y/n nodded sympathetically,although she didn't find anything scary at all in his description.But for once she tried to put herself on Cregan side.
«So why don't you go to your father?My mother always makes me sleep with her when I have nightmares.»she asked with curiosity.
Cregan shook his head,clutching in that heavy cloak«He doesn’t want to.He say I have to overcome my fears sooner or later.»he said,with a glint of sadness in his eyes.
Y/n curled her nose,confused«And do you get over them by standing in the rain?»squeezing her hands to create a little bit of warmth.
This time he took some time to respond.
Then,shifting his gaze towards the horizon«It's less scary.I can see the lights of the villages and the boats passing by and I know I'm not the only one awake.I know I'm not alone.»he found himself admitting«It's less scary.Or at least I think…»
He didn't know why he was saying these things.Especially to her.For all his ten almost eleven years he had carried that fear of his with him without saying anything to anyone.Revealing his fear only to himself.And seeking comfort only in him.
A comfort that most of the time was not enough.
His father kept telling him that he was grown up by now,that he had to overcome his fear of thunderstorms by now.A fear that was too childish for his age.For the Lord he was destined to be.How could he protect people when he was the first to be scared?He needed to start acting like a man.
But how adult can a ten year old be?
Without meditating on his words,Y/n replied«And are you going to stay out here all night?Until the thunderstorm stops?»her angel face was worried.
Cregan just nodded,without staring at her directly in the eyes.The little girl made a grimace that the other could not see.It was the stupidest thing she had ever heard.Yet she still didn't find the strength to leave him alone.Leave him there alone and go back to her room.
Y/n had felt,she had felt for a few seconds,almost a perceptible thread that drew her to Cregan.Maybe she was just imagining everything. Maybe it was just her childish mind that was playing tricks on her.Or maybe it was just that summer storm fault.
She didn't know,but now she felt tied to the boy with the dark cloak and blue eyes.
«Come.»Y/n voice was firm and warm.
Cregan jolted,surprised to still hear the young girl voice.He thought she had returned to the heat of her room by now.And instead there she is,on the other side of the low wall,reaching out to him with a pure smile on her face.
“She’s cute when she smiles.”Cregan immediately thought,noticing her soft eyes and all her teeth shining in the light of the torches in the street.
He also found her so reassuring.That kind of safety that he desperately needed.
«Where?»he asked confused.
Y/n smiled at him again,getting closer and reaching out her hand again,almost touching his face making him shiver.
«If you spend the night out here you're going to get sick.If you don't want to be alone,I'll keep you company.»she stated fiercely and he knew nothing would’ve changed her mind.
They were simple words.Words of a child of eight,almost nine,years old.Yet Cregan swore he had never heard such beautiful words.No one had ever given him such attention and didn't know whether or not to trust that young lady.
They had met numerous times and now they were even betrothed to each other,but they weren’t exactly friends.
And Cregan was very skeptical to those he knew very little.Especially the ones that made him feel nervous just by looking at him.
He decided to refuse Y/n invitation.
But when he made to decline the offer,the first of many flashes lit up the sky,followed by a noise so loud that raised Cregan hair,or more commonly called thunder.
The boy snapped to his feet in fear.Perhaps the idea of going out,so as not to stay in the dark of his room,had not been the best.Or maybe it was the worst idea that had ever occurred to him and only now did he find it stupid.
«So?Are you coming or not?»Y/n called for his attention again,noting the thin veil of blush on his pale cheeks.
She was younger than him by only two years,yet she was still more mature than him.She had this aura surrounding her,of someone that would have took care of him.Someone he could really start to trust and lay down his strength.A little sun,personal and only for him,to remind him that the storms he was so afraid of were only temporary while she would have been by his side forever.
Cregan found himself shaking Y/n hand,who helped him climb over the wall that divided them, and in a moment he was on the other balcony.
He crossed his eyes again with those of his future wife,who immediately answered him with another sweet smile and opened the window door,to let him enter in the warmth of her room and protect him from that storm.
Immediately closed the door behind them and,after a moment of uncertainty she spoke first«Give me your cloak,i’ll put it here with mine so that tomorrow the servants can wash them.»she told him,taking her off to remain in her pink nightgown.
Cregan blushed even more as he nodded as if in a trance and took off his dark cloak,handing it over to her and revealing a pastel-colored pajamas.
He thought it was impossible for a room to look like it owner,but Y/n bedroom was just like her:a mess of colors,books everywhere and with a pleasant warmth that made him feel safe.
«Why are you still awake?»Cregan suddenly asked,trying to not move around too much.
The little girl took two pillows from her bed and a blanket,walking to the fluffy carpet in front of the old fireplace that the servants had lighted up before she went to bed,once the thunderstorm had started.
«I like to watch the storms.»she said,patting the empty space next to her with one hand«Also,now that my mother is pregnant and my father stays up with his advisors,i need to check on her.»she continues.
Cregan looked at her carefully,the long hair falling free on her shoulders,her perfect face.He was right,she so much mature than he was,already taking care of everyone around her at such a young age,just like a proper lady should.
As he took place next to her on the pavement,still keeping a proper distance between them,Cregan realized that he didn't know anything about her.But he knew how much she loved her mother as he always saw the two of them holding hands.He didn't know if she had the same relationship with her father,who seemed to prefer her older brothers,but he still didn't have enough closeness to ask her for more information.
In fact,they had absolutely no closeness and it could be seen in the silence that fell between the two children.One of those silences that always arise in similar situations,when two people don't know each other but have to spend time together.
«Would you like to do something?»Y/n calm voice sounded even more melodious up close.
She tried to mask that awkwardness with a polite tone,asking her guest with a kind expression.
Cregan spoke little and for the rest of the time he just agreed or disagreed on a certain statement.
The younger of the two was shrinking her minds to think of some kind of game to play together, but the boy next to her would just stare at her,frowning,as if he was annoyed by that situation,while standing close to window of that room like he wanted to escape that situation.
Y/n curled her nose,bored by that sudden superior attitude that Cregan was carrying on himself.
«Look,you can still go back in the rain if you prefer.»she told him,with a sour tone.
She felt bad to see him frightened by that thunderstorm,but if he didn't even show her a minimum of gratitude or a spirit of collaboration, then he could very well leave.Y/n was a sunny child,always with a smile on her face and ready to raise the morale of anyone who needed it.
But“This boy is really unpleasant”she thought.
Cregan crossed his arms to his chest,squeezing his eyes and staring at her,offended and angry at the same time.He thought that he shouldn’t have accepted her invitation and that both their fathers had made a mistake by promising them.They would never get along.
He could very well go back to his room and overcome that storm on his own,as he had always done until then.He didn’t need Y/n help.He made a grimace in the direction of the little girl,who responded to the gesture by raising her eyes to the sky.
But when he was about to open the window door and return to his room,without his dark cloak,a flash illuminated the sky and his face.
Cregan eyes went wide,as he was falling backwards and ending up on the ground on his butt as he waited for the arrival of the thunder that did not take long to arrive.His lower lip trembled,while he couldn't move any muscle.
He hated how thunderstorms could do this to him.He hated how they could make him tremble and frighten.
“They are a normal thing,dictated by nature”his father had always told him.
Yet Cregan didn't believe it.He continued to hate thunderstorms.
And something told him that this fear of his would never go away.
«Cregan.... are you all right?»he heard a soft voice behind his back.
Cregan looked up and saw Y/n standing on her knees on the carpet and he only remembered at that moment of her presence.
The boy gasped,looking for an answer.But before he could speak,another flash lit up the room,and before the thunder could be heard,Cregan had already put his hands on his ears.
The arrogant facade,which he had previously put on,had now completely crumbled, revealing his insecure and frightened side.
Y/n didn't know what to do.
The annoyed face she had a little while ago,was gone.Now she was really worried for him.She just wanted to find a way to distract him,and to put an end to that clash of lights that illuminated the room.
Cregan did not move,with his head resting on his bent knees,and the palms of his hands were still covering his ears,in the vain hope of not hearing that almost metallic and shackled noises.
«It’s alright,don't worry.»Y/n tried to reassure him.But it seemed that no one could move the young boy.
«They usually just make a big noise and then they go away.»she continued with a reassuring voice getting closer to him.
But Cregan was still shaking, scared,and Y/n didn't know what to do.She was never scared of thunderstorms.She would have liked to hold him tight in a hug,to drive away all his fear.But she knew that if she did,she would only make things worse.
In the meantime,Cregan continued to make himself small,smaller and smaller,curled up almost on himself on that light pavement.
«I mean…deep down it's just water,isn't it?Water and lights.As if it were an ocean... and the oceans are beautiful,aren't they,Cregan?»she asked with a hint of hope.
Y/n was used to the water,she lived near the sea and she had grew up running up and down on her fathers boats with her brothers.Her mothers read her stories about fishes,sailors,mermen and mermaids.
And while he did not respond,too busy controlling his fear,Y/n came up with an idea.
«I know what to do!»she almost screamed,catching Cregan attention and shicking around the room,as if looking for something.
The boy looked at her confused,forgetting – but only for a short time – of the thunderstorm.
«There you are.»Y/n exhaled,almost relieved.
Cregan blinked,observing the more confusion she had created throughout that room,the books scattered on the floor and the cabinets wide open,just for that medium-sized old book she now held in her hands,with a proud and satisfied smile.He didn't understand what use that book could have,but he didn't breathe,limiting himself to observing the young girl sitting carefully next to him and opening it.
And then millions of billions of fishes began to swim between the old pages.Cregan mouth widened into an “o”, but he quickly closed it again before Y/n could notice his astonishment.It's just a very simple book of fairy tales,he said to himself.
Yet,in some way,it had distracted him.
«If you lie down on the bed,you can see them better.»Y/n spoke,making herself comfortable on her bed and starting to turning the pages.
Cregan grimaced,watching how she was smiling.That wasn’t proper.
«Why should I lie down-»yet another thunder«Alright... I lie down.»he immediately changed his mind.
He hurriedly took the steps that separated him from that bed,before sinking into the lavander sheets that smelled of flowers and vanilla.
Y/n by his side smiled at him.But Cregan didn’t,remaining impassive and jolting at every thunder.She closed the curtains around her bad,only the soft light of the candle on the nightstand remain.The 'lightning' factor had been solved.
«They're beautiful,aren’t they?»she said,tracing with her fingers the different fishes.
They were.Their shapes,colors,sizes were mesmerizing.
Cregan didn't know to answer again.Those bright,fishes seemed to moved quickly on all those pages in a continuous flow.They were simple,so damn simple,yet they had caught the his attention.
«Yes,they ar–»he tried to agree with her,but here's yet another thunder made him jump out of fear.
Y/n by his side watched him close his eyes and plug his ears with both hands.
She had to find a way to distract him from the sounds too.
«You see him?»she turned the page and pointed to a strange figure on the right corner.
A man with a tail of a fish.
Cregan turned to her,taking his hands off his ears and moving his eyes on what Y/n finger was pointing to.
«It’s a merman?»he sounded uncertain,the figure on the book looked like the blazon of house Manderly.
Y/n nodded her head confirming his question«They said that he loved another mermaid and when the pirates had captured her,driven by grief,he turned his body in marble creating White Harbor.»she explained him,showing him another picture of the place where now she was living.
Cregan looked confused,his eyebrows raising«Why would he do that?»
The girl next to him sighed,her shoulder touching his,the sweet perfume of her hair was tickling his nose.She was warm and soft and made his stomach twist and his hands sweat.
«I guess that he couldn’t live without her and preferred to die.»she simply answered«Years ago i used to cry when my mother read me this story.»she continued as she flipped the page.
In the dim light,he could see that her eyes were a little glassy and only now he remembered that just like him,she was still a child with fears like him and stories that made her cry in her mother arms.
«How about her?»Cregan eyes and hand went to point to a female picture.
A mermaid with a red tale and long wet red hair on her shoulders,sitting on a rock near the coast.Her beautiful expression seemed pained,her mouth opened as if she was saying something.In the distance seemed that a storm was coming,the waves crashing into the shore,dark clouds on the horizon.
Y/n smiled,stretching the book out to him so that he could take a better look«She was a princess that fell in love with a sailor.Her father,the King of the fourteen seas had forbidden their love.»she started to explain with a soft tone«They could see each other only on the beginning of the Long Summer,when her father was away in the ocean»she said.
Cregan yawned«And how did they knew when the Long Summer came?»he seemed genuinely interested now.
«The storm.»Y/n quickly answered«It was her way to let him know that she was waiting for him.She was calling him back to her.»in her expression he could find a hint of teasing.
He shuddered,the thing that scared him the most,for this children book,was just a mermaid calling for her lover.
«But how does he know?»he asked again and his voice was becoming softer,his eyes closing a bit,yet he stayed very curious about the story.
«Does he know what?»Y/n whispered.
«That it was her.»he continued.
«Because he had loved no else but her in his life.Only her could have called him back home.»she explained and he swore he could’ve seen her eyes shine bright.
«I hate her father.»Cregan mumbled.
He found it stupid,it was just a fairy tale to help people sleep,but if the mermaid father didn’t get in the way tonight he would’ve been scared.And that’s also must had been the reason why she wasn’t afraid of them.
Y/n giggles made him blush,as she shook a little onto him«But you know what’s the best part of it?For the rest of the summer there wouldn’t be any other storms,just the bright sun as the two of them could be together.»she whispered.
It was a way to say that after every thunderstorm that would’ve been the sun.Always.
«Wasn’t she scared of her father founding out that they were still together?»his voice was sleepy and his eyes heavy.
Y/n shook her head«Love is stronger than fear.»she stated«Don’t you find it beautiful?»she said then,a dreamy look in her eyes.
There was no answer.
Y/n turned to him,finding him with his eyes closed and his mouth half-open.His chest would rise and fall at a regular pace,while his slight breathing could be heard.She smiled at that sight as she stroked his hair.
Cregan had fallen asleep.Y/n was satisfied.Satisfied and happy.
She succeeded in her intent,help him and distract him from the thing that scared him the most.She wondered what Cregan would do at this time if Y/n hadn’t invited him?
He would probably still have been awake.Because the thunderstorm hadn't stopped,no,it had never stopped.The mermaid was still calling for her lover.
The flashes,however,had mixed in the images on the pages and the noise of thunder had been lost among the stories of Y/n mermaids.Cregan had been so busy observing those images drawn on the book and hating the King of the seas,that he completely forgot about the thunderstorm.
Y/n closed the book,placed it carefully on her nightstand and reached out to grab a thin sheet at the bottom of their feet and covered the young boy who slept well by her side.
«Good night,Cregan.Tomorrow there will be the sun,i promise you.»she whispered kissing his forehead and drifting to sleep too.
And for the first time,after so many years,he slept.After so many years,Cregan was sleeping peacefully with a thunderstorm.
On any day in the early summer,ten years later,Lady Y/n Stark of Winterfell was laying in the bed she shared with her Lord husband.
Wife and husband,that’s what her and Cregan had been for the past four years.But before pronouncing their vows in front of the Seven and their families,they had became the best of friends.
When did they start calling each other that way?When did they become friends?Could they find a precise moment when they had gone from being strangers to even best friends?Were they able to establish the exact moment when their bond changed?
No,they couldn’t.
Maybe it was the year after that fateful rainy night.Maybe it was the next month when Cregan had spent all of his moments and attention in Y/n presence,falling in love with her more and more.
Or maybe it had happened at the exact time their hands had touched,when Y/n had proposed to be together in that thunderstorm,to mark the point of change for their relationship.
They didn't know that though.Neither of them knew for sure.But they didn't even ask.They fell in love with each other before they got married and that was that mattered.There are bonds that are born before the interlocking of the hands and connections that are born before touching each other.It was just pretty to think that,all this time,there was some kind of invisible string that was tying them together.
Anyone who cared for Cregan had to understand that he needed a little looking after.Someone who could help him sleep,who reminded him that he was just human and that he could still a child sometimes.And Y/n understood that,she held him gently,far more gently that anyone ever did.She stayed up with him when he couldn’t sleep at night,she stood next to him to greet the arrival of Prince Jacaerys Velaryon and supported him in his decision to fight for the Dragon Queen.
All because she loved him more than anything and because he loved her.To love and to be loved was to rest.
Yet,now that Cregan was away,on the Wall of the great north with the young prince,Y/n couldn’t seem to find sleep.It was raining heavily outside,the long summer had arrived earlier that year and a violent storm was what welcomed it.
The pale rays of the moon filtered through the clouds,the wind was blowing against the windows,the lights of the lightning shaped the dark room she was in.
Cregan had ruined her,she thought to herself,ever since they got married and started to share the bed she couldn’t sleep if he wasn’t next to her,holding her in his arms,kissing her lips softly and whispering how much he loved her.But she knew that,with the war at their doorstep,he was busy with the young prince Jacaerys who came two weeks ago in ask for the help of the North.
Her husband was a man of honor,the Lord of Winterfell that never forget his oaths.
When a particular loud thunder broke through the quietness of the castle,Y/n got up from her bed.Taking the candle on the nightstand,she started walking down the dark corridor to reach her children chambers.Her sons,Rickon and Brandon,only four and two years old,looked exactly like their father:true men of the north but with their mother eyes and kind smile.
Just like their father they were scared of storms,it took her hours to put them to bed that night since the first drop of rain had hit the ground.They both reminded her the first time that she had spent with Cregan during one of those,curling up on her as she read them one of her books to help them sleep.
But that night was different,after two weeks of writing letters and longing,Cregan was finally home.As she quietly opened the door,the candle that Y/n was holding in her hand almost fell,when she saw her husband sitting on a chair in between the two beds where their sons seemed to sleep so soundly and well.
He was still wearing his dark fire coat and his long were wet,the tip of his nose red from the cold,while in his hands he was holding a old fairy tale book that they both knew very well.As if he had heard her behind the door,he smiled,and his face was like the sun.
He had came back as soon as he had heard the first sounds of the thunders,like a sailor bewitched by the melody of a siren voice.His sons were the first ones to greet him,running barefoot down the hallways to reach comfort in their father strong arms.
Cregan had been there before,his heart clenched in his chest as he dried the tears off their eyes and saw the fear on their little faces.But he knew what he had to do,unlike his father,he would always be there for help his children no matter what.
«The mermaid had waited all winter for her lover return,her voice guided him through the storm.»his voice was quiet and soft like a warm blanket«With the first lights of the new sun,he came back to her.»in his hands the hold book.
His oldest son yawned«But wasn’t he afraid of the storm?»Rickon asked,holding his teddy bear closer to his chest.
«He was.»Cregan nodded«But you know what is stronger than fear?»he whispered,noticing his younger son fast asleep.
Rickon shook his head,his eyes fighting to urge to close«What?»he chirped.
«Love.»his father simply answered«The idea of coming back to his lover was stronger than the fear of the storm.»Cregan stood up,caressing his son head.
«One day i want to love someone this much.Just like you love mama.»Rickon murmured sleepy,with a little smile on his face.
«And you will.»he promised«One day you will have someone that will help you overcome your fears and that will always call you back home when you are wondering too far.»he kissed both of his sons forehead.
Cregan was still a little nervous about storms,but that night he was finally back home as sun on water.Y/n reached for him and skimmed her hands over the light of him.
«I missed you.»she whispered on his lips,kissing him sweetly.
Cregan was holding her in his arms,gently caressing her hair,his forehead on hers«I saw the storm and i knew.»he smiled,trailing his lips on her chin and cheeks.
Y/n shivered,not only because his icy fingers were rubbing up and down her back,but because only her could understand the meaning of those words.The intimacy of having something only them could share with each other.
«So you came back early because of the storm?»she giggled as his beard tickled her beautiful face.
He smiled even more,tightening his grip on her smaller body«I came back because of you.Only you could have called me back home.»he whispered placing a kiss on her lips.
The smell of her hair,the taste of her mouth,the feeling of her skin seemed to have gotten inside of him or in the air all around him.She had become a physical necessity,not only to ease his fear,but to have someone to come back to.
She placed her head on his chest,listening to his heartbeat beating alongside hers.They stood there for a moment more,embracing each other,in the dark corridor.
«Do you hear it?»Y/n softly asked suddenly.
«Hear what?»Cregan voice was low.
«The sound of the rain.»she explained,closing her eyes and relaxing against his touch.
For a while they just listened to the incessant ticking of the rain,while a thousand fish continued to swim on the pages of their book.
But suddenly a flash illuminated the corridor,followed by the due thunder.
Y/n jolted,expecting her husband to do the same.
Yet this was not the case«Aren't you afraid of thunderstorms anymore?»she teased him.
«How can I be afraid of thunderstorms when I'm by your side?»he said,caressing her cheek lovingly.
«Tomorrow there will be the sun.»she smiled against him,brighter than any light.
She was right,after the storm there was always the warm weather and Y/n was the golden sun at the horizon.That one thing that gave him hope for a brighter future,the only one that could bring him back home.Because his sleepless nights are better with her than any nights could ever be alone.
#house of the dragon#hotd#hotd spoilers#house of the dragon x reader#house of the dragon spoilers#dance of the dragons#team black#cregan stark x reader#cregan stark#cregan x reader#cregan fanfiction#cregan x you#cregan x y/n#hotd cregan#cregan stark imagine#tom taylor#jacaerys velaryon#hotd x y/n#hotd x reader#x reader#x y/n#hotd imagine#fluff#love#imagine
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50 FR Lore Questions!
I made these because I love answering questions about my lore, and I know other people do too! I also want to encourage people to interact with each other's lore and send each other asks, so there's one rule for this one— send an ask to whoever reblogs this from you, and whoever you reblogged it from!
huge thanks to @cecils-dragons who helped me come up with topics for these :D
✨🐉✨
1. a character loved by their community
2. a character despised by their community
3. a character trying to find a place in their community
4. an outsider to the community
5. an existing member of the community
6. an ex-inhabitant of the community
7. someone who loves their job
8. someone who hates their job
9. someone who wants to get better at their job
10. two characters who work together
11. two characters who would rather die than work together
12. two characters who would end the world together
13. a one-sided dislike or rivalry
14. a one-sided friendship
15. a one-sided affection
16. an affection reciprocated
17. an affection filled with sorrow
18. an affection lost to time
19. a character with taboo magic
20. a character with unconventional magic
21. a character without magic
22. someone's specific spin on magic
23. someone's favorite spell or enchantment
24. someone's least used magic ability
25. how magic is used for good
26. how magic is used for evil
27. how magic is used in everyday life
28. an artifact or magical item
29. an heirloom that's been well loved
30. an otherwise unremarkable weapon
31. the death traditions in your clan
32. the marital/union traditions in your clan
33. the traditions taught to youngsters in your clan
34. a local festival or celebration
35. a local food dish or cuisine
36. a local deity or worship practice
37. your clan's most difficult moment in history
38. your clan's most joyous moment in history
39. your clan's most bloody moment in history
40. how old your clan is
41. how your clan was founded
42. how your clan sees their flight/deity
43. who leads your clan
44. who who fights for your clan
45. who raises your clan's youth
46. where your clan began
47. where your clan is now
48. where your clan is headed
49. your favorite character!
50. your favorite lore tidbit!
#kal rising#flight rising#fr lore#fr dragon share#flight rising lore#flight rising dragons#ask meme#fr ask game#fr ask meme
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prologue. love, sae
series masterlist > next
take a deep breath and start at the beginning. tell them how we first met.
itoshi sae finds you weird. he observes how you’re always sat in the back, never talking unless spoken to. perhaps you’re just shy, he deduced. shy enough to constantly divert your eyes when approached. or maybe a little bit too shy that you escape the scene as soon as you pick up on any sign of social interaction.
you’re like a melody that doesn't quite harmonize with the rest of the song, sae mused to himself. nevermind, he’ll just leave you be. after all, he’s going to become the best striker the world has ever seen. he has no time for friendships.
ignoring the weird person in the corner was easy for sae. after all, you don't really do anything. you just sit there. you just keep sitting there. not even bothering to get up during recess, instead you stay at your desk and ponder. peering out the window with longing and loneliness in your eyes.
it was rainy after school. with your mother getting called to stay overtime at work, you had no choice but to wait on the bench under the shed. swinging your tiny legs back and forth as you gaze at the falling tear drops from the sky. sae watches you from inside the car. since his mother was still talking to the principal, he was left alone in the car.
itoshi sae met you at 5 years old. rain boots splashing with every step as he ushers you under the umbrella with him.
tell them that ever since we shared our dreams...
“sae, i dreamt last night.” you told him while you were eating ice cream together at the park. your older brother at the slides, playing with a four year old itoshi rin. sae glances at you, wincing as he saw you bite your popsicle. you took his silence as a sign to continue.
even your weirdest dreams..
“you know a donkey?”
“why? were you a donkey in your dream?”
“kind of but not really. hear this.” you turn to him, popsicle long forgotten in your hand, melting and dripping everywhere under the sun. but neither of you were focused on that. sae was too busy listening and anticipating your dream while you were too giddy to even be aware of your surroundings. “i was its ears!”
for a moment, sae was unsure of what to say. if it were anyone else who said that, he’d reply “that’s stupid!” with a frown etched on his face. but this was you. how could he ever tell you that your dreams were stupid, no matter how weird they are and how weirder they might get.
“well, was there at least a pretty earring adorned in you?” sae asks, taking the stick in your hand, holding to both of them after giving you a tissue from his pockets. he sees your nose scrunch up in thought. “now that you say it… i don’t think there was one. i was just a boring old ear. a donkey’s ear.”
“then, i’ll buy you the prettiest earring out there so you won’t think you’re just a boring old donkey’s ear.” sae smiles at you softly, eyes crinkling at the corners, while locking his pinky with yours. a silent promise. one he could only hope he can keep.
no. keep that as our secret.
“for those i haven't had the chance to say hi to properly, i’m sae.”
a white veil occasion. a union of lovers, a promise to forever. definitely a dream come true for most, but not for sae. no when he’s here at the wedding of his best friend since childhood, giving out a speech that’ll surely make you cry. it would’ve been a dream come true, yes. i mean, he’s loved you for so long.
but it seems like he’s late once again. another fool played around by fate. but he doesn’t dare cry. how can he? it’s your special day after all. he wouldn't wanna ruin it and sae knows well that his brother, who’s sitting beside you, will love you with all his heart.
tagging: @arogiest @kiyohdasimp @hyomagiri
send an ask/dm if you wanna be added to the taglist !
#blue lock#blue lock x reader#blue lock imagines#blue lock fluff#blue lock angst#blue lock sae#bllk fluff#bllk imagines#bllk#bllk x reader#bllk x you#sae x reader#itoshi sae#sae itoshi x reader#itoshi sae x reader#itoshi sae fluff#sae angst#itoshi sae angst#tim writes.
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Under the Blooming Moon | Woosung x Reader
Masterlist
A/N: Something a little different, but since listening to The Rose and Woosung's solo work, I've had this scenario kicking around in my head for a while. Had to get this one out of my system and omg I think this is the longest thing I've ever written on this platform 🥲
Summary: Every year the blood moon rises, potential mates gather with their wolf pack for The Union. A carnal game of cat-and-mouse parlays into the wolves finding and claiming their mate for life, and Woosung already has his heart and claws sunk onto his omega best friend...
Warnings: light violence, blood (biting, scratching), some allusions to sexual harassment, werewolf smut
⋆ WORD COUNT — 8.2k
It was that time of year again. The air had picked up a particular sharp chill as it blew through the trees of Namhae Pyeonbaek forest, branches bustling and scattering loose raindrops across the thick thrush. The rains had fortunately lifted hours ago, setting the stage for what was sure to be a messy and chaotic night.
The moon hung high over the tree canopies, deep ruby in colour, with beams of sinister red light slicing through breaks in the leaves to provide only small semblances of light, all of which were drowned out by the roaring bonfire in the middle of the forest. What was just a typical spacial phenomenon to the lay eye represented a far more lecherous promise.
Far off from any trails or where humans dared to lurk, the wolf pack had gathered for their annual Union ritual. They were all relatively young, equal parts eager and anxious with a libidinous, insatiable appetite for tonight's activities. While the ritual sounded dastardly and vile at first, at the end of the day it was a massive cat-and-mouse game, a competition for beta wolves to find and capture their perfect life mate.
And Woosung had already his eye on his potential prize.
While the other beta wolves engaged in lively banter and indulged in drinks, he chose a more reserved and introverted approach, leaning against the weathered trunk of a thousand-year-old pine, sipping cautiously from his plastic cup. His intense gaze remained fixed on Iseul, undeterred by her unawareness as she conversed with her friends. Her soft bangs and long, dark locks swayed in harmony with the gentle breeze, occasionally brushing against her exposed skin, causing him to detect a subtle shiver running down her spine due to her lack of a coat. However, Woosung was well aware that Iseul had knowingly embarked on this evening's adventure, and if their plans unfolded as intended, a jacket would be the least of her concerns.
From his earliest memories, Woosung harbored a deep desire for Iseul. Their mothers had been best friends, and they had envisioned their pups sharing the same bond. Time proved them right. Raised side by side, they navigated the challenges of being hybrids in a world often unforgiving to their kind. In the face of adversity, Woosung and Iseul clung to each other, learning to rely on one another. This dependence evolved into a lifelong friendship. It was only when Woosung encountered his first heat cycle that he confronted a truth far more profound: his longing for Iseul extended beyond the boundaries of friendship. She was the one he wanted, fully and without consequence. However he was a little awkward back then, and the idea of confessing his feelings to Iseul was just as daunting as the notion of being scalped for a hat.
But he wasn't a teenager in his first awakening anymore. He had grown up, worked on his self confidence and -- of course -- his body. Obviously, there was nothing he could do about his height, he felt he was finally up to the challenge to pick and claim Iseul.
If she would have him, though. There was indeed the possibility that she would shut him down about as gently as a... well... a wolf.
Many betas pursued mates by resorting to quite vile and degrading methods, but Woosung and his friends weren't about that. They remained steadfast in their conviction, undeterred by the ridicule they sometimes faced from larger betas. For Woosung, the idea of a mate was intrinsically tied to mutual desire and respect. He wanted her to be as willing and eager to be with him as he was with her.
"Woosung? Earth to Woosung!" a pale hand waved in front of his face, breaking him out of his trance and his focus landed on one of his best friends, Dojoon. The happy-go-lucky beta chuckled at his shaggy-haired friend, "Where'd you go? I was talking to you,"
Woosung cocked a brow, "Where did I go? I've been here the whole time," he sassed back.
"You know what I mean," Dojoon rolled his eyes, "You're staring at Iseul again, aren't you?"
"I am not," Woosung replied sharply.
"Oh-ho-ho, yes he is," their other friends, Hajoon and Jaehyeong suddenly appeared at Woosung's other side, "He's been staring at her like Jaehyeong stares at ramyun,"
He glowered at the younger betas, "Aren't you guys supposed to be stalking potential mates instead of me?"
"Don't say it like that," Dojoon grimaced, "It makes us sound like animals,"
Jaehyeong cocked a brow, bumping Hajoon with his elbow, "Who wants to tell him?"
"You know what I mean, smart-ass," Dojoon scolded back, "Why are you even here? I thought you and Ji-Woon were already a thing?"
"We are, technically," the youngest beta shrugged back, "But she wanted to do this so we can make it 'official', or some shit,"
"Aw, adorable," Woosung smirked, "You better hope Muscle-Brain-McGee over there doesn't claim her, first," he nodded in the direction of the betas gathered closer to the fire, where a handful of them surrounded the pack's beloved figure, Yung. Yung was in the midst of shotgunning a beer can, encouraged by the echoing chants of his friends. With a mighty gesture, he tossed the empty can into the grass, then raised his fists triumphantly into the air, proudly displaying his array of bulging muscles through his snug t-shirt, captivating the attention of everyone around.
Hajoon rolled his eyes, "What a show dog," he muttered. Woosung couldn't agree more, the view of Iseul in the warm glow of the fire much more interesting to him, anyhow.
However, he was surprised when he shifted his gaze and discovered that she was already watching him, suppressing a mischievous smile. The shock nearly caused Woosung to fumble with his drink, but he managed to maintain his composure and playfully winked in her direction. Iseul chuckled softly and discreetly waved back in response.
Dojoon chuckled beside him, slinging an arm around his shoulders, "God, you are so obvious,"
"Oh, leave him alone, Dojoon," Jaehyeong scolded.
"And who are you to scold your alpha?"
"Well, for one: he's taller than you," Hajoon decided, "And he's the only one out of us who's actually got a mate,"
"Can't argue there," Woosung snickered.
On the other side of the bonfire, Iseul only swiveled her head when she caught wind of the boisterous revelry. She couldn't help but see Yung and his friends' juvenile behavior, and despite Yung's chiseled physique and k-drama good looks, she found his personality less than appealing. Naturally, she scanned the sea of radiant faces until her eyes locked onto Woosung, who met her gaze just moments later. Her heart skipped a beat when he winked at her, his charming, boyish grin quickly replaced with an expression of distaste as his friends took the piss out of him.
Woosung had been her most trusted confidant, privy to secrets about her that not even her closest girlfriends knew. She had observed his transformation from a slightly awkward, endearingly nerdy teenager into a sharp and agile young beta. He stood out in their pack as one of the few wolves who treasured her intellect, determination, and confidence over her physical attributes. Even during the times when she felt like the least among the female pups, as they underwent their awakenings and developed in ways she hadn't, he never failed to make her feel beautiful. Her fondness for him had gradually evolved into a subtle crush, particularly when she witnessed his prowess during pack hunts. It wasn't just about his physical appeal; she loved him regardless of his shaggy wolf's cut or sharp cheekbones. Not that she'd dare admit it, but he was the only one she ever thought of when she experienced her heat cycles.
If anyone was going to claim her tonight, she secretly hoped it would be Woosung.
"Iseul, stop staring," her friend, Duri, poked her shoulder, "You're being obvious,"
"What?" Iseul whipped around.
"Yeah," her other friend, Chae-Won, nodded, "Don't pay those mutts any mind,"
"I wasn't, believe me," she assured them.
"Good. Here's to hoping they won't pick up our scent," Chae-Won sighed, grimacing at the thought of Yung or one of his friends forcing her down, "I'll castrate one of them if I have to,"
"Ji-Woon's already covered," Duri smirked at their friend, "Jae had her scent pegged loooong ago,"
Ji-Woon gawked at her, scolding her with a whisper, "You didn't tell anybody, right?"
"That you two are already fucking? No, your secret's still safe with us," Iseul chuckled.
"Good," Ji-Woon huffed, "If the alphas were to find out --"
"They'd give you a stern talking to about breaking ritual and that would be it!" Duri assured her.
Chae-Won chuckled with amusement, "I bet I know someone who already has Iseul's scent pegged,"
Ji-Woon grimaced as she turned to Iseul, "Ugh! If that muscle-headed-meatball even comes within a hair of you, I'll tear out his gizzard and feed it to the strays," she growled, talking about Yung
Iseul rolled her eyes, "Chae's talking about Woosung, Teen Wolf,"
"Oh!" Ji-Woon nodded, sneakily stealing a glance at the group of boys behind them. She offered a fleeting smile when her gaze settled on the silhouette of her man engaged in conversation with Woosung. She then briefly assessed the older beta before returning her attention to Iseul, "No, I won't tear his gizz out,"
"How thoughtful of you," Iseul chuckled back.
A prolonged, resonant howl echoed through the air, capturing the attention of all the betas. They turned to face one of their alphas, Yoongi, who stood at the center of the encampment. Yoongi was a robust, unflappable, and sagacious leader, earning the unwavering respect of every beta under his and his brothers' protection. It was an exceedingly rare sight to witness alphas co-leading, given the often intense clashes of egos and struggles for dominance. However, all seven of them brought unique and distinctive qualities that made their pack one of the most formidable in South Korea.
"The Union is about to start! All participating betas are to meet at the edge of the clearing -- asap!" he called.
"At start of project!" his co-alpha, Jimin, called from behind him.
With that the mass of excited (and quite horny) betas migrated to the edge of their makeshift campsite. Duri sighed as she walked arm-in-arm with her friends, gazing longingly at Yoongi and Jimin, "If only alphas were allowed to participate in the Union,"
Iseul cocked a brow at her, "You forget they're the fucking alphas. They don't need to participate in this shit," she pointed out.
"Yeah! If Namjoon points at me and tells me to get on all fours, I'm there without question," Chae-Won nodded.
A familiar voice from behind the girls called out, "C'mon, girls. She's just saying that because she wants the privileges of alpha's mate," Dojoon said.
The girls turned around, smiling appreciably at their friends. Duri spoke up first, "And you don't fantasize about being alpha one day?" asked curiously.
"Of course he does, just not the boring parts," Woosung pointed out, "Diplomacy, security, pack treaties, mange breakouts..." he shuddered at the last one, "Nasty stuff,"
"Says the guy who spent a full two days lounging in a literal mud bath," Iseul teased back.
Woosung smirked back at her, "I didn't hear you complaining, Iseul," he pointed.
"I lost a bet; I wasn't supposed to complain," she replied, "You're lucky I didn't catch ticks,"
"Like I'd let that happen to you,"
Their friends meanwhile exchanged knowing glances between them, the boys tittering amongst themselves as they followed the male betas. Jaehyeong passed Ji-Woo and tossed a saucy wink her way, and the young beta couldn't help but blush and smile with giddy. Duri looped an arm around Ji-Woo's shoulders, tutting at her.
"God, you guys are gross," she commented with a smirk.
Ji-Woo rolled her eyes, peeling Duri's arm off of her as she followed the females, "Oh, go fantasize about Jungkook,"
"If Yung catches you, not even your wet dreams will save you," Chae-Won teased back. Duri flipped her off, she and Chae-Won chased after Ji-Woon meanwhile, knowing Iseul would catch up with them.
The young beta crossed her arms, nervously nibbling on her inner lip as she locked eyes with Woosung. His usually dark eyes were now speckled with gold, radiating beautifully against his illuminated complexion in the warm, flickering glow of the fire.
"So... are you ready?" he asked, praying his own anxiousness didn't show through his exterior.
They started walking together, "Am I ready to get shoved face-first into the dirt while a neanderthal tries to fuck me into his submission? Sure, why not?" she replied.
Woosung chuckled, "Sounds like you don't plan on getting caught tonight," he noted.
"If I can help it," she shrugged back, "You get the better end of the deal, anyhow: you get a say in who you want," her lips fell into a pout and Woosung saw he never saw anything cuter that night.
"Very true," he nodded, "But you never know, maybe you'll be tracked by somebody who would treat you right?"
"And maybe Duri's going to become an alpha's mate?" she chuckled back, "You have to agree though, Woo, this whole blood moon ritual is kind of ridiculous. For the twenty-first-century, anyway,"
"Maybe. But I like to think some of us adopted the twenty-first-century way of thinking," he replied.
"Besides you, I can't think of a single person," she said, "... Well, your friends are alright, too,"
"I'll let them know you said so," Woosung simpered.
They were coming to the starting line, with the girls grouped separately from the boys, all anticipating the howl to begin. Iseul glanced at Woosung, her stomach filled with excitement as the adrenaline surged, and her curiosity reached its peak, "So... out of curiosity... is there anybody here you're hoping to mate with?"
Woosung looked around, hoping he could throw her off his intentions as she shook his head, "I don't know. Obviously someone very obedient, submissive, knows how to cook and clean but fucks like a banshee, obviously," he smirked at her, living for that annoyed expression overtaking her face. She smacked his arm and he simply laughed.
"I know you're only joking, but if any part of you is serious I hope you die old and alone," she huffed.
Woosung's smirk never left as he started for his group, walking backwards to keep her in his line of sight, "In that case, you better hope I don't catch you, Iseul!" he teased.
Iseul tittered under her breath, her confidence flaring as she cocked her chin up, her own dark eyes illuminated with flecks of gold, "... I might not fight if you did," she admitted.
How it was that seven small words could get his heart racing so quickly he had no idea, but Woosung swore his mind blanked out as those seven words echoed in his head. There was a possibility that she was just teasing him, but then he knew when she was kidding around. Something in her tone told him she wasn't this time.
He couldn't help the pep in his step as he turned around, running to find his friends to tell them, "Dojoon!"
The group of female betas were chattering with giddy, some of them dressed skimpier than others, some had slipped notes into the pockets of potential suitors they wanted to tip off. And from the smell, so, so many of them were smack-dab in their heat cycles. Either way, the surrounding atmosphere was thick with lascivious anticipation, and of course there was a little bit of fear involved, too.
Iseul glanced behind her nervously, hoping to spot any trace of Woosung in the sea of faces. She caught him briefly, warming up with his friends for what she'd promised to be a long chase ahead of him. He caught her eye briefly, neither of them paying attention as Jimin reiterated the rules they'd heard time and time again. He winked at her again.
Iseul swore her heart stopped.
"Are you ready, girls?" he announced. The female betas let out a chorus of sharp howls, the sound echoing through the trees and across the horizon. Woosung could distinguish Iseul's pitched tone from miles away, her passionate howl igniting a fire in his core.
"Then... GO!" Jimin's call transformed into a prolonged howl, nearly overwhelmed by the sounds of excitement and squeals as the girls sprinted off into the shadowy depths of the woods. They usually had a minute's head start, but they all knew it wouldn't be long until the boys were upon them.
Iseul tried to keep close to her friends as best as she could, though when she looked over her shoulder again she was dismayed to find she was on her own. Nevertheless, her blood was pumping steadily, her legs burning with adrenaline and her feet thundered across the muddy landscape as she ran as fast and as far as she could. She leapt over bushes and careened around tree groves. Already she could hear howls and screams of the other females echoing through the trees, some twisted with salaciousness and eroticism. The boys were already prowling through the forest, and it wouldn't be long until they came upon her, too.
She slowed down at an old pine, stopping to catch her breath. It felt as though she had been running for hours, when Iseul knew that five or so minutes had only passed. This game wasn't supposed to end until dawn broke over the horizon, or until the males and females had found their mates. Either way, the night ahead of her was long and already the air was thick with the stench of sweat and sex.
Disembodied cries of lust continued to rattle her heightened hearing, intermingled with predatory howls. She could pick out Jaehyeong's pitch in the cacophony, and she had to wonder if he'd already pounced and claimed Ji-Woo, just like she'd always gone on and on about. Iseul shook her head at her friend's fantasies, never the less finding her enthusiasm endearing. Among the racket, Iseul could also pick out Yung's howl; a deep, ground-shuddering sound that reflected his own brutishness. She didn't like how close he sounded.
While she continued to run, Iseul came to the alarming realization that she hadn't heard Woosung's howl, not even once, not even when the boys initially set off. She couldn't help but wonder where he went, debating whether or not it was safe to call out to him, or if she'd gone too far for him to find her. But the latter was ridiculous, she knew he had her scent down to memory, if he wanted her he could find her easily.
That is... if he even wanted her in the first place. Who was to say he even took her previous pass at him so seriously.
The sharp snap of a twig pricked at her ears and Iseul turned hastily on her heel, her fingers curled God willing she needed to unleash her claws. But alas, there was nothing behind her.
Iseul, feeling a mixture of panic and indignation, turned around to find Yung's towering and imposing figure looming over her. His eyes bore a determined look, flecked with fiery gold and oranges, and his intent was clear - he was ready to claim her as his mate by any means necessary.
"Hi Iseul," he greeted, feigning politeness, taking a step forward. She took a step back, her worst nightmare coming true.
"Oh. Hey Yung," she said, doing her best to keep a brave front. The fact was she couldn't lie; she found Yung quite intimidating to be around on normal days. A frat-party-eque sex fest was even worse.
"I found you," he noted, his smile disgustingly lecherous.
"That you did," Iseul took another step back.
"So, you know what that means for us, right?" he asked, taking a step closer.
"That I didn't run far enough," she gaped back, not eager to a chase but she was willing if she needed to.
Yung chuckled darkly, "Oh, don't be that way, Iseul. You know the rules of the Union..." he reiterated, reaching out to stroke back her hair.
Iseul moved her head away, glaring sourly, "Yeah. The rules state you need to catch me, not just find me. That's just lazy," she pointed out.
"Somehow, I think you'll grant me the exception," he noted, "You and I would have beautiful pups together,"
She simpered back, "Not in this lifetime, show dog,"
Yung reached out, attempting to grab her, but with a swift movement, she extended her sharp claws and scratched him across his cheek. Yung yelped in pain and surprise as the sting of her claws met his flesh. It was a warning, a defense against his forceful advances.
Iseul wasted no time. She turned and bolted into the trees again, away from Yung, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. Yung, nursing his bleeding face, roared in frustration as she disappeared, picking off her scent and taking off after her.
Sure, he was fast, he was practically the golden boy of the betas, but he wasn't as fast and agile as Iseul was. She knew he'd be hot on her tail and she had to find somewhere to hide, she'd even take the bog if she could find it. She didn't know where she was going, hell she couldn't even concentrate on looking straight ahead. Yung's vile scent was still in her nose and so long as that scent lingered, she knew she wasn't safe.
Rounding a grove of trees, Iseul was ready to hurl herself into the thrush when a pair of arms grabbed her. She screamed, fighting like a caged animal when she heard a familiar, soothing voice.
"Calm down! Calm down, Iseul! It's me! It's Woosung!" her friend held her tight against his chest as he fought to keep his grip on her. Iseul then relaxed, surrendering in his arms as her body suddenly felt incredibly heavy.
"Oh, thank God!" she panted, "I was this close to being mauled," she pinched the air with her pointer finger and thumb.
Woosung took a whiff of the air, "Don't thank the big guy, yet. Yung's still coming,"
As though on cue, the mighty werewolf emerged from behind the tree trunks, taking both of them off guard. He snarled viciously at Woosung, his own claws bearing from his fingertips.
"Let go of my mate," he growled.
Woosung shook his head, "Yung, c'mon -- we can talk about this. You know, like -- civilized men?"
Yung chuckled with pity, "We're not men, Woosung. We're barely human. And you have what belongs to me. I want it back,"
Iseul snarled back, "Oh, fuck you! Calling me an it!?" if she was stronger then Woosung she would've lunged for the beta, but Woosung held her fast against him. She could feel his heart thundering through her back.
It was then that Woosung had an idea, the only way he knew he could get Yung off of Iseul's back. Though, Iseul may not forgive him for it.
"She's not yours though, Yung," he pointed out, "I can smell her, you didn't claim her,"
Yung scoffed, "We were about to get there,"
"Not even in your dreams," Iseul spat back.
"But that means," Woosung continued, "That if you didn't claim her, then she's still fair game," he gave the bigger beta a cocky smirk. Yung's expression went from sheer anger to panic. He knew what Woosung was thinking.
"Don't do it," he warned him, "Don't you even think about it,"
Iseul caught on. If she wasn't so frightened, she may have been a little excited at what he was proposing. Woosung's breath cascaded down her ear, his vice-like grip on her loosening as he brushed his nose across the swoop of her neck. She smelled so fucking good. Iseul shuddered.
"I'm sorry," he whispered in her ear. Before Iseul had the chance to even ask, she felt his sharp teeth puncture the skin where her shoulder met her neck.
Her scream echoed across the forest.
As quickly as he latched on, Woosung released his bite. But the damage was done; her heat had overwhelmed her the moment he'd broken her skin. A sharp, pleasurable sensation coursed from the crown of her head to the tips of her toes. Her heat had never felt so visceral before, consuming her to the point she fought to catch her breath. She could feel her blood trickling down her chest, and even more vividly, she could smell her own blood within Woosung's mouth.
Yung's spirit deflated, his claws retracting, and the once-ferocious gleam faded from his eyes. He understood the futility of his situation; that fighting back now would lead the alphas to exile him from the pack, not that it would make a difference if he did.
Iseul belonged to Woosung, now.
With a scathing snarl, Yung spat at the dirt, backing away slowly, "Fine. She's all yours. You enjoy," he turned on his heel and disappeared in the dark.
Both Woosung and Iseul sighed with relief. Woosung wiped his chin with his hand, guilt shuddering through him at the sight of her blood staining his hand. Guilt... but also a twinge of desire.
"He's gone now," he let her out of his arms. Iseul took two steps before she collapsed against a tree trunk, her legs as wobbly as jello and her skin felt as though it was caging an inferno. Woosung dashed to grab her before she could hit the ground, "Woah! You okay?"
She nodded, she let him set her down gently on the ground. Her breathing settled, as did the adrenaline coursing in her blood. Iseul was dirty, exhausted, but when she looked up at Woosung, sleep was the last thing she had on her mind.
"I'm fine," she huffed, averting her gaze to the clumps of grass and weeds before her, "That was -- oh my God!"
"I'm so sorry, Iseul. I didn't know what else to do," he crouched before her, laying a comforting hand on her knee. She was hot to the touch, every inch of her felt as though it was burning. Though she wasn't in pain.
Iseul cracked a smile and she placed her hand over his, "It's okay. Really, I'm okay," she assured him, "My dry-cleaning might have some questions about this, though," she pointed to the blood seeping into her t-shirt. Woosung simpered quietly, jokes were certainly a good sign.
"Does it still hurt?" he asked, his concern still sprawled across his expression.
She shrugged listlessly, "Not so much, anymore. I'd rather it was you than... you know," she sighed, "... Um... does this mean that...?"
"I think so," Woosung admitted, "We're mates, now,"
He expected Iseul to unleash a barrage of curses, to scold him for his reckless behaviour, but her hand on his remained steady. Her head fell back against the tree trunk, her eyes shimmering with flecks of gold, more radiant than Woosung had ever witnessed. She was utterly captivating, and the scent of her blood only intensified his smoldering desire.
What a dichotomy, he thought.
If Iseul wasn't so exhausted in that moment, she may have let her baser instincts win. She may have begged Woosung to take her hard and fast against this tree, to make her scream for him again and again. But Woosung wasn't just any werewolf, he was her friend first and foremost. And he already seemed so spooked from before.
"Well... do you wanna sit with your new mate until she regains the ability to walk again?" she asked, suppressing a chuckle.
Woosung's smile was genuine now, his tense shoulders relaxed as he gladly obliged her. He took his place beside her, careful of the bite as he looped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close. She smelled so tantalizing, his desire for her continuing to bubble in his gut and he prayed she didn't notice how he adjusted himself.
Iseul cuddled up into him, his familiar musk so comforting and the skin of his arms a cool contrast to hers. She didn't bother to suppress her smile when he laid a kiss on her temple, she felt as safe as she possibly could out here, under the blooming moon.
Indistinctive howls and moans continued to echo through the night, haunting Woosung and Iseul like harping banshees as they walked through the forest. While they couldn't see anybody, they knew better. There were couples thrusted into bushes, cloistered in the trees, copulating in the shadows and all around them.
The fire had definitely gone out by now, but the smell of burnt wood and kindling was as sharp as ever as it drew the pair back to their camp.
Any sting from Woosung's bite had subsided by now, but Iseul's state of desire remained the same. Nevertheless, she walked hand-in-hand with Woosung, silently processing what had just happened. Woosung really claimed her, after years and years of debating whether or not she should make the first move, praying that one day he'd come up to her and ask her himself, he'd really done it. Sure, it wasn't as romantic as she originally imagined, but the intent remained the same.
"So..." she sighed, "Are you gonna' rush and tell Dojoon and them what happened?" she asked, a mocking smile on her lips.
Woosung cocked a brow, glancing down at her curiously, "They might ask why I smell like your blood, so..." he chuckled, "But I'm not gonna -- I won't run and gossip with them, if that's what you mean,"
"That might be a tough one to play off," she simpered, "Did you follow me?"
"Hm?"
"Did you follow me -- back there? Or, did you just happen upon me like some sort of white knight?" she asked.
Woosung grinned sheepishly and his gaze averted to the ground, "I may or may not have been following your scent. It's easy to pick you out by now," he said.
Iseul smiled back, "Lucky you had," she replied, "Although it did kind of hinder your chance,"
"How do you mean?" Woosung asked, picking off the glimmer of mischief in her eyes.
She shrugged bashfully, "Well -- you didn't really get a chance to catch your mate properly. You know... after a ten minute chase, it's supposed to be filled with anticipation and sexual tension until you finally take her under a tree or something,"
Woosung cocked a brow, a sly smirk curling at his lips as he stopped in his tracks. Iseul stopped a couple steps after him, her gaze profoundly captivating.
"Is that what you want, Iseul?" he asked, taking a step closer. She wasn't intimidated as she had been with Yung, though she couldn't help the apprehensive pinching swirling in her gut as he looked at her that way. Something within him suddenly changed, shifting from the familiar, carefree Woosung to a more primal and instinctual version of himself.
She liked it a lot.
"... Maybe I do," she replied truthfully, "What would you say if I told you that... I only ever wanted you to be my mate?" she took a step closer as well.
Woosung though he was dreaming, he must've been. But the prickling breeze and the howls wailing over his head assured him over otherwise.
His excitement began to grow again, he cursed at himself for wearing fitted jeans because he knew that Iseul would be able to pick out the tent in his pants if she looked.
"I would say that I've longed to hear you say that for nearly my entire life," he admitted, bringing his chilled hand up to her cheek. Her skin wasn't as hot as before but she still felt so warm, the blood on her neck still tacky as his fingers fluttered down to her collarbone.
"How about I give you a five minute head start?" he offered.
Iseul gulped at his words, suddenly feeling her blood rushing to her cheeks. She was elated when the flecks of yellow and gold reappeared in his irises. She bit at her inner lip, a newly renowned adrenaline bubbling in her gut.
"A whole five minutes?" she queried, "Are we feeling confident?" she brought her hand to his chest, fingers flexing against the indent of his pectorals.
"Very," he leaned in, approaching her lips with his own. Iseul's eyes fluttered closed for a moment, waiting imminently to be lured into his trap before he whispered into her ear, "Your time starts now,"
Like a shot, Iseul pivoted on her heel and swiftly disappeared into the woods once again, a surge of renewed vitality propelling her as she ran. Woosung never truly appreciated the expression "I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave," more than he had in that moment, her slim physique but a flashing memory before his eyes though nevertheless her smell was still thick in his nose.
Iseul wasn't sure where she was going, much like previously she was itching to get as far away as fast as she could. Only difference here was she found herself laughing as she ran, coursing with giddy. She knew Woosung was a formidable hunter, he'd be on her in no time. Nevertheless, the chase this time was a little more more tantalizing than the last. She leapt over thrushes and ducked around trees, running until her legs burned and her chest began to tighten. She was excited, but it didn't mean that she was going to make this easy for him.
She finally stopped when she came to a clearing, dimly lit from the reddened tinge of the moon. The cacophony in the air had diminished, with many of her fellow betas either having found their own partners or chosen to remain hidden. Meanwhile, she was certain that numerous males had surrendered and retreated back. It was probably somewhere after midnight now, maybe closer to one in the morning? So much had already happened in such little time and yet Iseul still had so much energy to burn, anticipation prickling at her spine as she cased the area. There was no sound, not even a smell.
Iseul became nervous after ten minutes of waiting, wandering around the trees or stopping to stare up at the moon. She waited for the first whiff, the first crack of a twig or squelch of mud, giving her ample time to take off should she need to. If she even wanted to.
Her head whipped around when she heard a snapping in the distance, her apprehension elevated as she began to back out of the moonlight.
And then she smelled him. He was here.
She froze suddenly when her back made contact with something unexpected — not a tree trunk, but a chest. Almost immediately his scent overwhelmed her, the tip of his cold nose brushing softly across the unscathed side of her neck, her warm breath eliciting goosebumps over her skin. All thoughts of running vanished in a snap, her baser instinct taking over as his arms wrapped around her slim figure.
"Does it count now?" he tittered into her ear, his tone low and laced with a darker promise.
"Yes. Now it counts," she muttered, her voice just brushing above a whisper, "You took your time,"
"I wanted you to feel like you were winning," he teased, turning her so they came nose-to-nose. His face was infinitely closer now, maybe because her fingers were pressed against his nape, subtly pulling him lower. It didn’t take amazing eyesight to notice the tent growing in his pants. At this point her juices were trickling into her pants.
“I think I did win,” she looked at his lips. She loved the deep dimples in his cheeks; she had wanted to kiss them since she first noted them.
“We both did,”
She nodded, her fingers sliding under the edge of his t-shirt.
He shivered as he laid his lips against hers, simply pressing them there, pushing them gently against her own before disclosing them slightly with a barely-there lick. He moved back an inch to look at her, make sure she was alright.
Iseul's eyes were closed, her cheeks soft and warm under his palms, her lips inviting and thicker now that blood was rushing to them. Just as Woosung realized he wanted to stare at her some more, her eyelids lifted gently. Looking at his lips, she stretched forward, laying a peck on his dimpled smile before breathing out and sucking his lower lip into her mouth.
His growl was inhuman once he felt the warmth of her mouth on his tender skin. His hand went to the back of her head, pulling her closer while his other palm landed against the small of her back, her legs open so he could slot his hips between them, his pelvis meeting hers eagerly.
“Dammit. You’re beautiful,” he moaned, his mouth tracing her jaw. His mind raced at the thought all the sinful things he could do to his little eager mate.
She nodded and stretched her neck for him, offering him her throat. He bit instantly -- without breaking the skin this time, not even giving her time to think about it, causing her to moan and press her crotch against anything that could dull the edge of pleasure.
His hands went from her waist to the backs of her thighs, squeezing firmly, "Jump,"
"What?"
"Jump!" Iseul barely had her feet off the ground before his large hands held her fast against him, her legs wrapping around his torso. Then his knees were in the ground, using his core strength to lay her down under the tree canopy. He hissed when his muscles released.
“Did that hurt?” she asked, ready to fuss over him.
He shook his head curtly, “Listen, I don’t care about how far we go, okay? We can take this as slow as you want, we don't even --”
“Let’s play it by ear, mh?” she cooed, cupping his cheek as he kneeled over her.
He nuzzled his cheek against her palm, “Let’s do that," and he went in for another kiss.
She was teasing his lower lip with the tip of her tongue, making him frown as he tried to chase after her, “You've always been like a kid chasing for a treat, haven't you?”
“Just kiss me, you tease!” Woosung chuckled as he grabbed her face, pushing his open mouth against hers, his tongue making its way between her teeth, against her palate, caressing hers lewdly, slippery flesh against slippery flesh.
Iseul's hips grounded against his naturally, his palms lowering to grab her ass and lead you through the motion.
His own hips shyly pushing into hers caused her blood to boil, her skin flushed as her body temperature skyrocketed, “Keep moving on me,” he huffed out, his right hand leaving her hip to tease the hem of her shirt, “Can I?” he asked, waiting at the threshold of the naked skin below.
“I can take it off if you’d like,” she whispered, kissing the side of his neck.
“God, yes,”
The shirt was gone in a second, leaving her flushed chest clad only in her bra.
His focus went to her breasts immediately, “Oh.”
Iseul smirked and laid her hand on his, leading it to her left mound, making his fingers grab onto it, “You can squeeze it,”
He nodded and closed his eyes, relishing in the soft material. She was glad her bra was a thin cotton piece; she could feel him closer, harder, better.
Woosung watched her expression as he started massaging the flesh, gripping it energetically and pulling whimpers from her lips. He stopped immediately, “Too hard?”
She shook her head and giggled, “No, it's perfect. It’s perfect when it hurts just a little— Just like that, uh…” her eyes rolled back and her eyelids fluttered, “Just fine, Woosung. Damn perfect,”
He grinned, rutting his hips harder against her, “You like when it hurts?”
She hummed, too busy finding the perfect angle to meet his thrusts. “Kinda,”
Experimenting, he felt for her nipple pushing against the fabric before pinching it between thumb and forefinger, making her whimper even more. Her jaw fell slack before her back arched, her hand coming over her lips, a weak purr leaving her throat.
“Harder?” he asked, his free hand helping her grind against his thigh, gripping her asscheek, squeezing it, “Do you need it to hurt more? Better?”
She was far too gone to actually formulate sentences, no matter how small. The feel of his cock hardening, lengthening against her core was far too intense. She could feel it twitch and stretch, pressed against the zipper.
“Iseul,” he called for her attention.
She gave a small moan that meant both pleasure and acquiescence.
Deliberately, attentively, he pushed the cup of her bra down, studying the tender, thin skin of her breast while his lips pressed into her neck, leaving trails of kisses as he caressed her breasts, her hips, everywhere he could reach. He lolled his tongue out and managed to lick her nipple with the very tip of his tongue.
“Fuuuck, Woo, please, God… Just fuck me. I wanna cum. I— please. Make me feel good, Woo,”
He liked hearing her beg for him, he liked it way more than he ever thought he would. Somehow her pleas hit so much deeper within him. Maybe it was because she always looked so independent and self-sufficient, that feeling needed by her turned him on so wildly and inexplicably.
He nudged her left nipple with his lips, teasing it softly before sucking it into his mouth. The moan she emitted made his hips jut forward, a low grunt echoing in the air as he reckoned he needed to take his jeans off, still, having her warm torso against his was too much of a revelation for him to part from her hot skin.
Her hands buried into his hair as he swirled his tongue around her nipple before suckling on it lightly. Her body grew heavier at every movement trying to keep herself focused while his lips slid down her stomach to her aching core.
The wolf knew once he got this close to her beautiful heat there would be going back. Every day the taste of her would end up lingering on his tongue until he got to taste it again. This girl did things to him he could never explain to even her let alone anyone in the pack. Woosung was swift as he popped the buttons on her jeans, shoving her pants impatiently until he had her fully, vulnerable to him. His tongue moved up from her leaking hole to her throbbing clit. He couldn’t help but smile a little at how her whole body jerked at the new found pleasure.
Iseul felt how his tongue licked at one particular spot that jolted a surge up her pine, her body jerking. In seconds, she felt his lips wrap around the small nub, coaxing light moans to slip out of her while her fingers still tangled in his hair, “Woosung…”
His moan rattled vibrations against her core. With a slight pop, Woosung broke from his light snacking and bit into her thighs, a little treat just for him.
The smaller wolf giggled affectionately, caressing his head before he crawled over her. Propping herself up on her elbows, she watched Woosung strip himself of his clothes until they were both now bare. Her lust blown, golden eyes stared down at his twitching, hard member before licking her lips.
“Spread your legs,” he only had to tap her knee gently for her to move her legs apart more than enough for him to sneak in between. Wrapping his fingers around his cock, he rubbed the reddened tip against her clit making, elated as her head fell back, “You want it, baby?”
Iseul nodded frantically.
“I can’t hear you," his tip poked at her slit. The little game tortured him as much it did her, but he wanted to hear her beg again.
“Yes, I want it...” she jerked her hips against his movements, gasping when the tip of his cock entered her slightly, “I want it so bad,"
She always knew how to touch that extra nerve in his body every all the time. It was almost magical how Iseul had so much control over him by being so perfectly submissive. Woosung pushed his cock into her snug little hole with soaked ease, her cunt flowing, making it all the more harder not to just pound her into oblivion. His hips moved slow, letting the sounds of watery sloshing ring in his ears. Arms pressed down the sides of her body, caging over his mate as he relished in her warm walls.
Iseul held onto his forearm as she watched her pussy getting stretched by his cock. The amount of times she dreamed of this happening was a little embarrassing. Now that it was happening, she had him snug inside of her felt so invigorating, she could giggle in glee.
Their foreheads pressed together softly as Woosung whispered, “Is this good?”
She nodded, gasping and moaning. “Yeah…”
The one word was all that needed to be uttered for him to quicken his pace a little, skin slapping against skin ever so slightly. Woosung shifted down to his elbows now as he caressed her cheek, nosing at the base of her neck near her previous bite. His tongue drifted over the dried blood.
“Look at you,” he chuckled darkly, “I wanna' mark you again. Can I?”
“Please, Woo,” she begged, wrapping her arms around him,“Do it”
“Good girl,” He cooed.
When he opened his mouth and bit down — her voice echoed in a heavy cry, laced in pure lust and ecstasy. Woosung groaned, his knot sensitive as she clenched and pulsed around him. Her blood was sweet in his mouth as he broke the skin, pulling his canines out before licking over the wound to seal the punctures.
She now had matching marks, teeth punctures on either side of her neck.
And she fucking loved it.
“You're mine. You're all fucking mine,” he whispered breathlessly, still thrusting into her steadily.
“I'm yours,” she cupped his cheek, struggling to keep her gaze as the pleasure tickled her every nerve. “I always have been...”
Lips pressed against hers, tongue exploring everything he knew was willingly submitted to him tonight. Once the kiss broke the softness melted along with it as the beta pounded into her cunt. Arms back up, muscles popping out furiously before hooking one of her legs around his waist.
Her moaning became an uneven pattern melting into the sounds of their wet skin grinding and slapping against each other. As soon as Woosung leaned in closer, Iseul muffled a few of her whimpers into a heated kiss while her hand moved down to find that little nub, rubbing it to match with his thrusts. The tight ball in her lower belly exploded before she could even expect it, her legs trembling and a flurry of moans passing her lips.
Woosung felt her walls clench around him, already feeling the pressure around his cock push him closer to his orgasm. His thrusts grew a little more brutal, pawing at her hips and hammering into her while she gave him that beautiful, innocent smile to reassure him it was okay to keep going despite her sensitivity.
“Cum inside me…” she whimpered, her body literally shook with the force of his thrusts.
Her adorable whisper was all it took for the wolf to finally come undone, filling his mate up with his seed in sloppy and rough thrusts. Only until the last drop did he pull out slowly watching a little bit of his release dripping out of her.
“... That's it,” Iseul giggled, brushing his shaggy hair out from his eyes, "We're stuck together,"
Woosung's boyish grinned returned, his nose poking into the crook of her shoulder again as he collapsed on top of her. His scalding body was a surreal contrast to the cold, wet ground beneath her. All traces of the dominant wolf had vanished from his eyes, irises still flecked with gold as they adored her.
"You're mine," he cooed, laying a kiss over her pulse point, "You're so much more than just my mate, Iseul,"
"So are you," she awed, "I'm curious, though..."
"What about?" he asked.
She didn't want to ruin the mood they had, but she had to know, "... If we didn't mate tonight, would you have picked somebody else?"
Woosung gulped, not knowing how to tell her that he had eyes on her for the longest time, to the point that he rarely noticed the appearances of the other female betas. While he acknowledged their attractiveness, he also realized that many people were indeed "pretty." Nobody even came close to Iseul's beauty, “Probably not. None of them would taste as good as you,”
Iseul giggled, swatted at his bicep, “You didn't know what I tasted like until now.”
“No, but you smelled really fucking good,” he smiled, nudging her cheek with his nose, “I thought I lost you earlier… just for a second,”
Her head shook with dismay, "No one's gonna' mess with us, now. I’m yours now, remember?” she lay a small kiss on his chest.
Woosung caressed her cheek, not being able to help mimicking a little smile of his own, “You’re mine,"
#woosung#kim woosung#woosung x reader#woosung imagine#werewolf!woosung#dojoon#park dojoon#hajoon#lee hajoon#lee jaehyeong#jaehyeong#werewolf!dojoon#werewolf!hajoon#werewolf!jaehyeong#the rose#the rose band#the rose imagines#original story#original female character#werewolf x reader#band blog#band imagine blog#band imagines
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just once
pairing: Kim Taehyung x Female Reader
word count: 2204
warnings: angst, royalty au, smut, arranged marriage, infidelity, mirror sex, creampie, vaginal fingering, vaginal sex, loss of virginity
AO3
A/N: Hope you like it and that you have a wonderful day wherever you are💜
It had been hammered into your head ever since you were old enough to walk and talk, even if it came with tumbles and gibberish, that when you came to the age of twenty that you would be married off to the oldest prince of the neighboring country.
You never really gave much thought to it, royal marriages such as yours aren't made for couples in love, they're were made to strengthen the union between the two kingdoms - nothing but politics, love, and other such feelings weren't welcome.
You had always hoped that, at the very least, friendship could bloom between you and your future husband.
You met prince Seokjin three months before the wedding was supposed to take place, you assumed that it was due to both sides wanting the future couple to get to know each other, not that it matters much, both of you barely talk to one another due to always being under the watchful eye of both queens.
Looking back, you never really understood the point of said meetings, how could you get to know each other when the only time you were allowed to speak and see one another was when you were, quote-unquote, helping plan your future wedding?
You knew from the beginning that you would never find love with Seokjin, but you never expected to find the closest similar emotion to it with the youngest Kim brother.
You met Taehyung a couple of days after meeting your future husband, according to him the youngest Kim was supposed to arrive in your castle on the same day as his brother but unfortunately had some personal business that required his utmost attention.
The way your heart skipped a beat when he bowed before you and the way it started beating so loud that it was the only sound your ears could pick up when he took your hand and press a soft kiss on your knuckles was something that it couldn't be helped.
Looking back at your first interaction, as you stared at the mirror on the vanity as your maids fixed your hair and applied makeup, you realize that you had fallen for him the moment he flashed you his boxy smile.
You felt tears stinging in the corner of your eyes as you remembered every single interaction the both of you have had. Although they seemed sweet and innocent to the outside world the both of you knew it meant more than that - simple touches and gazes that lingered far more than what should be appropriate, secret late-night meetings where conversations of everything and nothing were held, both of you always making sure to never cross the line of no return, no matter how much you want it.
"You're finished your Grace," you're pulled into reality by the sound of your head maid's voice. Chaerin had been with you for as long as you remembered, serving both as a mother figure and a best friend, always looking out for you. "I think even prince Seokjin will be jealous of how gorgeous your Grace's is."
Normally you would give her a small smile, simply to humor her, but today wasn't one of those days, so you just hummed.
With a sigh Chaerin dispersed the other maids, most likely knowing you needed a moment to yourself.
Looking at your reflection you felt sick. Everything about it made you want to jump out of your window - the hair, the makeup, the necklace whose jewels glisten brighter than the sunlight, the pure white dress seemed to mock you with its constant reminders of the life that was waiting for you.
"Try to keep calm your Grace," the older woman said, trying to reassure you as her hand squeezed your shoulder. "You could've done worse than the prince. At least, he'll treat you with the kindness and care you deserve."
She was right but that didn't stop the pain you felt inside. As tears began to slip down your cheeks you bit your lower lip, not wanting all the work the maids had put into to go to waste.
"I'll go make some tea to calm your nerves," she said with a hoarse voice, trying to hold back her tears, before giving you a peck on the side of the head and walking out of the room.
With the sound of the now-closed door, you finally felt free enough to break down. You felt so broken, you didn't want to do anything other than to crawl back into your bed and hoping to wake up from this nightmare you found yourself in. You wanted to run away, far far away from this place, somewhere where no one would know anything about you, you had even brought that idea with Taehyung many times but, much to your dismay, he always turned it down - not wanting you to live your life on the run.
"Beautiful girls shouldn't cry on their wedding day," you were pulled out of your downward spiral by the sound of the deep voice that haunted your every moment.
You looked at Taehyung through the mirror, not wanting to look at him since you felt yourself breaking down once again.
"I came across Chaerin on the hall and she told me about it," he answered the question that was on your mind. It didn't come as a shock that your maid knew about your feelings towards the youngest Kim brother, however, you were surprised that she would allow the two of you to meet hours before your wedding to his older brother.
"Y-You shouldn't be h-here," you tried to sound domineering through your tears, failing miserably. "I-If anyone finds you-"
"Nobody will come here," he interrupted stepping closer to you and wrapping his arms around you in an embrace, burying his face on the crook of your neck. "Chaerin is making sure that no one interrupts your time alone."
You relaxed against his touch, closing your eyes and imagining a world where the both of you could be together without any repercussions. "I love you," you whispered softly, even if you were the only two people in the room a part wanted him to be the only one who'd hear these words.
"I love you too, so much" his embrace got tighter, almost afraid that were he to let go you'd fall into his brother's arms much quicker.
A silence befell the two of you, the only sounds being heard were the preparations outside your window and the whimpers and choked sobs both of you released. The clock was ticking down and with it, your time together was becoming minuscule, and with a deep breath, you decided that, for once, you'd do what you wanted instead of what was expected.
"Can we be together the way only lovers can?" you said softly, turning to look at him and placing a peck on his cheek. "Please? Just this once?"
"I don't think that's a good idea princess," Taehyung stepped away from you. "It will hurt more afterward."
"I know it's not the most conventional idea," you sighed, still not willing to give up. "But I just want to give the one I love my everything before I'm bound to someone else for eternity," you took his hand and started to spread kisses throughout his knuckles. "Will you please allow me that pleasure?"
He takes your face in his hands, caressing your cheeks with his thumbs. "As you wish," pressing his lips against yours, your first kiss being a soft and tender one.
Leaning your head back Taehyung presses his mouth against yours more firmly, your arms wrapping around his neck and his hands on your waist, pulling you closer to him.
Separating for breath he spreads kisses along your neck, you tilt your head back and crane your neck to give him better access, wishing he was allowed to mark you.
"Turn around princess, bend over the vanity," doing what you're told, you close your eyes when you feel his hands roaming through your body, letting out a moan when his hands cup your breasts through your dress.
When Taehyung pushed your dress higher, and started to rub you through your underwear, a part of your heart couldn't help but be disappointed over the fact that you were in such a rush that you couldn't remove your clothes and feel his skin on yours.
Pushing your panties to the side Taehyung rubbed the wetness around your slit before inserting a finger inside. Letting out a gasp at the foreign feeling you looked at the mirror, locking eyes with Taehyung who was looking at you with a mix of adoration and lust.
"I wish I had more time with you," inserting a second finger in you, the youngest Kim thrusts started to increase in speed.
"T-Tae," you moaned as he curled his fingers, loving the sensation of his fingers rubbing against your walls. "You're clenching around my fingers so tightly princess," you moan aloud when you felt him rubbing your clit.
When you felt close to your finish Taehyung pulled his fingers out of your sopping center, making you let out a whine at the absence, and pulled his length out of his pants, using your essence as lubricant.
"It's going to hurt a bit in the beginning," he said lining himself at your entrance. "I'm going to do my best not to hurt you."
He starts to push inside of you, the pain you felt as his cock slowly filled you until he bottom out, made you scratch the surface of the vanity, both of you letting out groans at the sensation. Taehyung's thrusts were slow but they made you feel so full, spreading kisses throughout your neck before gripping your jaw, making you face him so he could press his lips on yours.
"How do you feel?"
"I-I'm g-good," you kept letting out whimpers at the burning sensation. You were on the verge of tears due to the pain but you keep it to yourself, the pain would remind you of the short moment you spent together.
As his hips kept moving and your body was getting used to the stretch of his cock against your walls the pain started to turn into pleasure. You tossed your head back, screwing your eyes shut as you let out a mantra of his name. "T-Tae,"
"Do you want to keep going princess?"
"Y-Yes," you gasped when you felt him rubbing circles on your clit. "P-Please faster."
His thrusts started gaining momentum, the sound of skin against skin making you grow wetter. "Oh God," Taehyung's groans and your moans bouncing off the walls as both of you could feel your finish.
You were the first one to break apart, releasing all over him and his name escaping your lips one last time, grateful for the fact that he was still holding you close to him, or else your legs would've given out.
Taehyung's thrusts became rougher and faster, him jackhammering into your cunt as he chased his high. With a whiny cry of his name he spilled deep inside of you, ropes painting your walls as the both of you made eye contact through the mirror reflection and worked on regulating your breaths.
As the high felt your body the realization of your actions started to settle, and with it, came back the pain that this was the first and last time you two would be together.
Your cries were the only thing that filled the silence of the room as Taehyung pulled out of you and worked his best to fix your dress. Once sure that you looked presentable he took your face in his hands once again and pressed his lips against yours, wanting it to be memorable.
"I love you," he said pressing his head against yours, closing his eyes to try to compose himself and not let his tears fall.
"I love you too," you let out a dry chuckle. "You were right. It hurts so much more now."
With one more kiss shared Taehyung walked towards the door, pushing the door ajar, checking to see if anybody was in the hall before leaving as quietly as he had entered.
He didn't spare you a look but the sob that escaped him before the door was closed told you everything you need to know.
It wasn't long before Chaerin arrived with the other maids to add the finishing touches of the wedding dress, having to arrange your hair and makeup once more.
You kept your eyes on your reflection the entirety of the procedure, feeling so numb to everything that the scalding tea had little to no effect on you.
As the gown was settled in your head you couldn't help but think of how useless and empty life had been up until you met Taehyung, years and years of being trained to be the perfect bride and wife only for it to crumble before it even got a chance of being applied.
With a sigh, you tried to shrug off any feelings you had in order to get through the ceremony. You had long accepted the cards that had been dealt to you, now would be no different.
#bts#bts fanfic#bts taehyung#kim taehyung#taehyung x reader#taehyung fanfic#taehyung smut#taehyung angst
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Saucy Wedding - Emily Sonnett/Reader
This is Part 2 to Lover. Also not really chaotic, but I think it is pretty cute.
prompt: I absolutely loved Lover! Is there any chance for a follow up with USWNT chaos & a wedding?
warnings: none
words: 2531
(Y/N) POV
I sighed as I messed with my bow tie once again. My hands were quickly swatted away from the bow tie. I sighed as I turned to look at Christen who sent me a small glare.
“You can’t even fix it yourself,” Christen scolded. I rubbed the back of my neck at that. I knew that she was right. “Why are you so nervous?”
“Well, for one, I decided to let Lindsey of all people officiate,” I pointed out. Christen only raised an eyebrow at that. I knew that I had ultimately decided to let Lindsey officiate after Emily had begged me. “Two, I am marrying the literal love of my life.”
“Yeah, but it’s Sonny,” Tobin pointed out from where she was standing next to Christen.
“Which somehow makes it a little worse too,” I said. Tobin and Christen shook their heads at me. “It would just be right up Emily’s sleeve to plan chaos for today.”
Both of them went silent at that. They knew that I was right. It didn’t help that the entire national team was here, along with some of the retired vets as well. And some of Emily’s old Portland teammates. We both even had college teammates and friends in attendance as well.
There was absolutely no telling what Emily would have planned with them.
“We’re ready. We’re ready,” Kelley said as she darted toward us. I looked down at the defender. “Frat Daddy Jr. is ready. Just start the music and we’ll be good to go.”
I nodded at that before giving Christen and Tobin one last smile. The three of them moved to take their seats as I moved to talk to Lindsey one last time.
“Don’t worry, (Y/N),” Lindsey said as she put a hand on my shoulder. “Emily loves you. Trust me on that.”
I nodded at that. I moved to stand at the front as everyone began to find their seats. Once everyone had sat down Lindsey gave a nod to the pianist and the cellist who began to play Cannon in D.
I raised my head to look to the doors that opened to where I saw Emily standing. Everyone stood up as they turned to look at Emily.
I, however, was immediately reaching for the tissue in my jacket pocket. I used it to wipe at my tears.
Emily began walking forward before Lindsey gave me a small nudge. It snapped me out of just staring at Emily before I walked down the aisle to meet her in the middle. Emily grinned at me once I held my hand out to her. The blonde placed her hand in mine allowing me to lead her the rest of the way to the alter.
Once we reached the front, we both faced Lindsey.
“Don’t worry, I’m not like Sydney and won’t make you all stand the entire time,” Lindsey joked. A lot of our national teammates chuckled at that as they remembered how Ash and Ali’s wedding had been. “You can be seated.”
Everyone in the audience sat down. Emily and I slightly turned to each other.
“Welcome everyone!” Lindsey greeted after a moment. “On this beautiful day, (Y/N) and Emily have brought us together to celebrate their love and union in matrimony. Thank you all for joining us and being a part of their love story.
“After years of nurturing a beautiful, strong relationship, it’s great to see these two tying the knot and taking the next step towards building a family. If you’ve had the fortune that I have, you have witnessed (Y/N) and Emily meet, from a rom-com worthy friendship that started with Emily smacking (Y/N) in the face with a soccer ball to falling deeply in love with each other.
“I remember the day Emily told me about their first date. There was a light in her eyes that I’d never seen before. She was excited and nervous. She worried that (Y/N) didn’t feel the same connection she felt. Little did she know that (Y/N) was already calling her ‘the one.’“
“How could I not fall in love with you so fast?”
Lindsey shoved my shoulder which drew more laughs from everyone else.
“Did Saucy Sonny put you up to this?” I asked. Even more laughs came from the audience and even from Emily. “So that you two could make it a Saucy Wedding?”
“Shut up and let me conduct the ceremony,” Lindsey hissed.
“Don’t worry, I fell in love with you fast too,” Emily said softly.
We both ignored Lindsey’s glare as we stared at each other.
“It warms my heart to see the way (Y/N) looks at Emily. (Y/N) looks at Emily as if she’s the last and only woman on Earth, and to (Y/N), I know she is. I’ve seen these two be there for each other through life’s unexpected twists and turns, only growing closer and stronger from each setback. I’ve seen them share laughs, collect a library of inside jokes and most shocking of all, I’ve seen (Y/N) share her desserts with Emily, which is when I knew this was serious.
“Marriage isn’t easy but I trust these two. I have trust in their love, their friendship, and their commitment to one another. I know they’ll be there for each other, I know they’ll be loyal, and I know they’ll spend the rest of their lives growing and learning from one another. With that, I think it’s time to let them speak on their love.”
“(Y/N) and Emily, have you come here today of your own free will to declare your commitment to one another?”
“We have,” Emily and I both said at the same time.
“Do you promise to be there for each other in the good and the bad? To grow with, understand and respect one another during your life together?”
“We do.”
“Then please face each other and share your vows.”
“You know, I started writing this months ago, but goodness how they have changed in the past twelve days,” I admitted. Emily smiled at me and I could only return it. “What a week we have had. The first of many hard decisions we will have to make together, the first of many challenges we will face.
“With you, I know I will never have to do anything on my own. This past week has been a true testament to the woman you are and the wife you will be. A drop everything because I need you, work past midnight to catch up kind of wife. An ‘it’s never too late to do the right thing’ kind of wife. A ‘what can I do to help you’ kind of wife.
“I knew you were ‘the one’ when I realized that you truly are a better person than me. I admire you and look up to your for all the good you bring to this great big world. You are so blessed with the rare heart of a servant and your thoughtfulness touches everyone’s life you are a part of. Your core is one of a kind and I am the richest person to get to marry you, Emily Sonnett.”
I didn’t miss the tears that escaped Emily’s eyes.
“I think I’m going to need that tissue you have.”
I chuckled at that but I pulled it out to offer it to Emily who took it before wiping at her own eyes. Emily took a deep breath before she looked back up at me.
“(Y/N), of all the people you’ve met and places you’ve visited you ended up here - with me. It is a very powerful and humbling fact,” Emily stated. I grinned at that. “Through the years we have faced obstacles, some harder than others, that have helped us build the strong foundation of our relationship. It has shown me your unwavering love, constant support, and silent strength.
“Thank you for loving my fun, crazy, loud self. I promise to encourage you to follow your dreams. I promise to continue to challenge you to be the best version of yourself. I promise to make you laugh, when you’re taking life too seriously. I promise to love you unconditionally. I promise to put you first and never lose our spark. I promise to never stop singing my own made-up songs, although I know you wish I would. Our journey as a family has only just begun and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.
“(Y/N), you are the person I choose to spend forever with, as my true soulmate. As my lover. I chose you in 2018, I choose you today, and I will continue choosing you forever. I love you.”
After a moment of silence, Lindsey softly cleared her throat as she pulled out the rings.
“Let these rings represent your eternal love and the promises you have made here today. Let them be a symbol of your unbreakable bond and this new beginning of your life together with no end in sight.”
“(Y/N), take Emily’s ring and place it on her finger and repeat after me,” Lindsey said. She gave me a moment to pick up Emily’s ring. “With this ring, I promise to love and cherish you to the end of my days.”
“With this ring,” I started as I began to slide the ring onto Emily’s finger, “I promise to love and cherish you to the end of my days.”
“Emily, take (Y/N)’s ring and place it on her finger and repeat after me,” Lindsey said. She gave Emily a moment to pick up my ring. “With this ring, I promise to love and cherish you to the end of my days.”
“With this ring,” Emily started as she slipped the ring onto my finger, “I promise to love and cherish you to the end of my days.”
“Your love has now been strengthened by the promises you have made here today and the rings you have exchanged.”
I grinned at that before bringing Emily’s hand up to her ring.
“(Y/N) and Emily, we have heard the sincerity in your promise to share your lives in marriage. We recognize your love and support your decision to build a home together. By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you wife and wife.
“You may kiss the bride!”
I immediately pulled Emily closer me before I pressed the kiss to her lips.
“Everyone, give it up for Mrs. and Mrs. (Y/L/N)-Sonnett!”
I grinned as Emily and I took down the aisle. I knew that everyone else would be headed to the reception while Emily and I took pictures. The two of us had fun getting the pictures with just each other before we had pictures taken with our families and even some of our friends. I had made sure that Christen and Tobin were included in our family pictures though.
Soon enough we were back at the reception eating before our first dance. Eventually, Kelley was the one to announce that we were going to have our first dance finally. Everyone crowded around the dance floor as I wrapped my hands around Emily’s waist and her’s wrapped around my neck. Lover filled the silence as we both danced to it.
Once Kelley announced it was time for the father-daughter dance, I let go of Emily after I pressed a kiss to her lips. I watched her for a moment as she moved over to her father before I turned. I easily found Tobin and Christen who were standing together. I walked over to them before I grabbed Tobin’s wrist.
“Come on,” I grinned at her. Tobin and Christen threw a look at each other. “Look, you and Christen and practically my parents. And between the two of you, you’re the dad in the relationship.”
“(Y/N),” Tobin hissed as her face flushed.
I didn’t listen as I dragged her out onto the dance floor. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) by James Taylor started to play and I didn’t give Tobin the option as I forced her to dance with me.
“Come on, admit it,” I said softly. Tobin only tilted her head at me. “You appreciate that I dragged you out to do this.”
“Okay, I am a little,” Tobin nodded her head. “But Christen will be even happier if you drag her out for the mother-daughter dance I assume you guys are doing as well.”
“Wait until you find all of the pictures we’ll have,” I grinned.
While we had a professional photographer for most of the day, we had also gone ahead and given our guests disposable cameras to turn in at the end of the night so we could get the pictures that our friends and families wanted to take. I was sure that Emily and I would sit down and go through all of them one day since we had nearly a month off for our honeymoon.
“No bad ones will be given out, right?”
“I can’t make any promises about that.”
Before long, the song ended and I moved to where Christen was standing before holding my hand out as Kelley announced that we would be having a mother-daughter dance before we invited everyone onto the dance floor. Christen sent me a smile as she took my hand.
Lean On Me by Bill Withers started to play as I swayed to the music with Christen. I had caught a glance at Emily dancing with her own mom and they looked like they were having fun.
“I never have thanked you,” I said softly. Christen opened her mouth but I shook my head. “You and Tobin both took me under your wing in 2015. I can never thank you two enough for that. You gave me the family I had been looking for.”
“You never have to thank us for that,” Christen said as she reached up to wipe a tear from my cheek. “Tobin and I love you and we would do anything for you, (Y/N). Maybe one day we’ll even make you a big sister.”
“Yeah?” I asked. Christen nodded in confirmation. “I’d like that. Big sister has a nice ring to it.”
“You’d have to come over and help though.”
“Emily and I could be like the older sisters/cool aunts just because of the age difference.”
“Maybe Emily doesn’t always come over.”
“Don’t like my choice of a wife?”
“You know I love your choice of a wife. It’s just Emily can get a little chaotic.”
“What do you think I love so much about her?”
Christen shook her head at me. Once the song had ended, the DJ immediately began to play even more music allowing the rest of our guests to flood the floor as I found Emily before the crowd completely descended on us.
This was what I had been waiting for. This moment where my life was complete. I had the family I had spent most of my life searching for. And I had the love of life who was now my wife.
#emily sonnett x reader#emily sonnett imagines#emily sonnett imagine#emily sonnett#uswnt imagine#uswnt imagines#uswnt x reader#USWNT#woso imagine#woso imagines#woso x reader#woso
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Wishful Thinking: Weak Hero Characters Edition (My Imagination of Their Careers)
Edited for typo (Nobel)
I hope that Sieun (Gray) and Baekjin (Donald) will be the future mathematicians of Korea, solve new math problems and publish them academically. Maybe they will get a joint Nobel prize one day...and I hope Sieun will still ride a motorcycle!
I hope that Teo (Teddy) will run an animal shelter or pet shop. Not sure but maybe if he studies hard enough he could be a vet! Aja aja, Teo!!
I hope that Juntae (Eugene) will work in an NGO and help solve local social infrastructure problems. Maybe if he studies hard enough he could get a degree in engineering.
I hope that Juyang (Rowan) will use his Australian and Eunjang experiences to run a successful Youtube channel and become a great influencer.
I hope that Humin (Ben) will maybe try for the U-21 soccer team, and if that's too late for him I hope he could do whatever he's happy about (maybe open a popular pizza shop?). Or maybe he could join Juyang's channel.
I hope that Gayool (Gerard) will try singing again professionally, whether as a solo artist or in a band. And that he will be happy about it.
I hope that Hyuntak (Gogo) will try for a career in boxing. I hope he'll never, ever give up on his dreams.
I hope that Pilyoung (Philip) will become a successful businessman, but an ethical one. He's rather good as a political lobbyist too.
Whatever it is that Seongje (Wolf) wants to do I hope it's not criminal. I hope he has a hobby that he could expand into a business.
I hope that Hwangmo will find his own independent way and not just follow Seongje around anymore. I hope he'll stay friends with Jeongyeon (Jack) and Naksung. He's rather good in making friends...another person with a prospect as a lobbyist!
I hope that Hakho (Jake) will be a professional manga critic or maybe cosplayer. And occasionally play basketball or soccer with his friends and maybe Jihoon (Jimmy).
I hope that Jihoon will try to draw again and not afraid to show it to people. Maybe sketch more. Go and take a drawing course, dude. Manhwa artist as a career might be just for you...ehehe.
I hope that Sehan (Forrest) and Seungjin (Myles) will do something else other than gangster stuff.
On that note, I hope that Gongsam (Grape) can eat as many grapes as he wants. Maybe try making grape juice and sell them, or maybe a winery? Hmm.
I hope that Hyukjin (Dean) can eat as many bread as he wants and maybe try a career in modelling. His looks and drip are too good to waste. Or a gamer hehe.
I hope that Taegi (Timothy) will try a career in game development or business analyst. Gotta make use of that statistical analysis skill.
I hope that Seokhyeon (Kingsley) will find whatever he wants to do other than running the Union behind the scenes. I suspect that he might be interested in politics.
I hope that Hyoman (Colton) will find his strengths other than fighting. And this time with a better approach to life and friendships.
I hope that Seongjin will watch Gayool performing on stage again as a fan. And that he will enjoy Gayool's new music as much as he enjoyed his old one.
I hope that Dongha and Seongmok will find a great way to stay friends without hurting each other or other people. Maybe Dongha should model for a shampoo.
I hope that Jeongyeon (Kang) will be able to go to karaoke with Jihoon again, but this time with other people who also love singing! Maybe Gayool, Naksung, Seongjin, people who used to be his enemies. And I hope he will find something peaceful to do ( traveling?).
#weak hero webtoon#weak hero manhwa#weak hero#weak hero thoughts#weak hero rant#yeon sieun#gray yeon#na baekjin#ben park#park humin#go hyuntak#alex go#jin gayool#gerard jin#wolf keum#geum seongje#eugene gale#seo juntae#joo hwangmo#jimmy bae#bae jihoon#jake ji#ji hakho
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Aegon Targaryen x Reader: part 8
Aegon stayed with Y/n the next few days, their father now bedridden and drowsy from milk of the poppy, his outburst the other night causing him to become more frail. Alicent tried to stay with her daughter, reminding her she was enough and would one day make a good wife. They had not informed her of her impending engagement, Alicent not wishing to cause her more distress or discomfort at the thought of marrying and most likely leaving the keep. Aemond withdrew from his sister, regretting his previous actions and ignoring how Otto and her Septa had treated her, fueling his anger instead to punish the Septa on his father's orders. The old lady's head now stood at the doors of the keep, a reminder to all to respect the King and his children, Aemond had taken great pleasure in taking her head after she had insulted Y/n in front of him and Aegon. Aegon smirking when Aemond took her head, he had wanted to do it but did not wish to waste time cleaning the blood out his robes before he returned to Y/n. The two brother's spoken, a mutual agreement to protect Y/n had been struck and they agreed quickly she could not marry Jacaerys and they would do anything they could to stop the union.
"You do not need to fear anymore Sister, no harm will come to you again. I will protect you until my last breathe." Aegon spoke as he held Y/n's hands, he had seen the change in the her past few days, her eyes meeting his on occasion and finding her voice once more. Y/n nodded, a small smile on her face as she looked at his eyes, his hand coming to caress her face brushing his thumb over her lip as he forced himself away before he kissed her.
"Thank you Aegon, for everything." Her voice came out soft as she stared at his pink lips, wondering how they would feel against hers and wishing to feel his hands on her once more. Aegon moved forward slightly, her chest almost brushing against his as he leaned down, Y/n leaning forward to meet him, his hand pulling her mouth closer as he brushed against them. A sigh coming from him, both closing their eyes as their lips tingled.
"It is time." Y/n jumped away from Aegon, her fingers coming to touch her lips as she blushed pink and looked at Sir Criston where he stood by the open door, Aegon having not moved but his eyes followed Y/n's as she scurried away. Groaning lightly as his hands ran down then up his face and pushed his hair back as he stared upwards, praying to all that would hear that he could maintain composure. Turning his head to see Criston smirking at him, scowling at him as he followed after his sister, catching up to her to take her arm, enjoying her red face and how she nibbled lightly at her lips. Arriving at the hall Aegon looked at all of Rhaenyra's children, he had been present in the earlier day when their father had defended their nephews but Y/n had been kept away from it as she was still fearful around others. Jacaerys stood smiling at her as she approached, her seat next to his and Aegon the other side of her with the twins next to Jacaerys and lucerys at the end of the table, Aemond sat across from him between Halaena and their mother and father next to them and Rhaenyra and Daemon the other side with Baela sat next to her father. Y/n bowed her head as Jacaerys as he pulled out her chair, pushing it in for her as she sat gracefully, her hair pushed over her shoulder as she smiled at her mother and father. Alicent smiled back as she watched Jacaerys smile at Y/n, Rhaenyra and her having slightly bonded before the meal rekindling their friendship as the King expressed his happiness at the family once again being whole.
"And to my Daughter Y/n and Jacaerys your union will bring our two great families back together." Viserys raised his glass, everyone but Y/n raising one as a large grin spread on her face, standing up and rushing to hug her father tears in her eyes as she placed her head in his shoulder gently making sure not to hurt him.
"Thank you father." Y/n kissed his cheek, turning to her mother and doing the same her reaction to the marriage making Aegon scowl and look towards Aemond who was too busy glaring at Lucerys. Y/n sheepishly made her way back to her chair, a shy smile on her face as Jacaerys stood offering his hand he placed a kiss on it making her blush darker than Aegon had ever seen. Biting her lip she took her seat once more, Viserys taking both Alicent's and Rhaenyra's hands as he smiled at his wife and daughter watching how happy Y/n seemed at the union. Aegon moved his hand to her lap, taking her hand as he took her attention back, her smile growing as she looked at him, his thumb brushing over her hand as Aemond saw Jacaerys looked towards them before casting his gaze back to Rhaenyra. Viserys soon left for bed, his body aching and needing to rest after a long and tiring day, Alicent and Rhaenyra turning and talking as they once used to as Jacaerys stood offering his hand to Y/n who happily took it. The pair dancing close, her chest brushing against his and hands entwined as Aegon glared at the man touching his Y/n.
"I am glad you are happy with this marriage Y/n, i was not aware you did not know of the engagement until today, i hope you will remain as happy as you are now once we are wed." Y/n smiled up at him, her eyes wide and filled with joy as she giggled and placed her head on his shoulder making his breath hitch as he knew she was the perfect lady and did not expect such a welcoming response from one of Alicent's children.
"I promise you i shall be the greatest wife i can, i cannot wait to bare your children and make you happy." Jacaery's heart soared as they danced, he could feel the burning gaze of her brother's but he enjoyed how excited Y/n was despite their families hatred of each other. Y/n lifted her head, smiling at him as she blushed at her own words.
"I apologise if that was bold i am just so happy." Jacaerys smiled, taking her hand once more and kissing it whilst staring in her eyes, his lips lingering on her skin before the moment was interrupted by Aemond standing. Y/n pulling away from Jacaerys as Aemond rose his glass, Aegon sitting up straight and raising his as he stared at Y/n, her hand still in Jacaerys hold as she listened.
"Let us raise our cups to the health of my nephews, Jace, Luke and Joffrey. Each of them handsome, wise..."Alicent stared at him begging him not to say what he wanted to, Aegon glancing at Y/n as he encouraged Aemond to speak, Lucerys staring at Aemond as he spoke.
"Strong." Jace let go of Y/n's hand, standing straight as he moved towards Aemond speaking.
"I dare you to say that again." Y/n moved to try to stop any confrontation, her eyes meeting Aemond's as he turned and stepped towards Jace.
"Why it was only a compliment, do you not think yourself strong?" Jace lunged forward punching Aemond as he pushed him to the ground, laughing and draining his cup as he turned away. Luke moving to help his brother only for Aegon to slam him onto the table, whispering in his ear.
"You bastards don't belong here." Daemon standing as Aegon let the youngest boy go, Y/n moving to stop Aegon from going after them, her hands on his chest as she pushed him back slightly. Aemond staring his Uncle down before humming and storming from the room, Rhaenyra looking hurt as Alicent held Halaena's hand the two women wanting to turn back the clocks and be children once more happily sat under the tree reading. Aegon wrapped his arms around Y/n, glaring at Jace as he kissed her head and pushed it into his shoulder, his arms tight around her waist and enjoying how she fit in his arms. Jace looked towards them, scowling at Aegon as he hushed Y/n and took her away, the hand on her back dangerously low, a show of possession Jace had seen when they were children often. Daemon hurried his family away back to their chambers, he had plans to speak to his brother and ensure his wife was on the throne but first he needed to secure the marriage between Jace and Y/n. Rhaenyra stood with Alicent, both far enough away they could not move as they stared sadly at the other.
Y/n paced around her chambers, her hands to her chest as she spun to face Aegon as he sat drinking on her bed, extremely annoyed as he listened to her gush over their nephew.
"Oh Aegon, he is so sweet and he thinks i will be a great wife, he wants me to be happy! Isn't it perfect? Our families united once more and our father thinks i am ready to be wed." Aegon rolled his eyes, mocking Jace as he drained his cup, Y/n too busy with her excitement to see how her brother reacted to her words.
"I doubt he even knows how to make his wife happy, let alone where to put his cock to give you a child." Aegon muttered as he bitterly stared at his empty cup, refusing to raise his eyes as Y/n stopped her pacing to look at him.
"Do you not think i will be a good wife?" Aegon standing quickly to take her hands, kissing her palms as he shook his head.
"You will be a good wife darling sister, i just wish it was not him you were marrying but me." Y/n did not know how to react, she knew what her and Aegon shared was not the same as how what he shared with Halaena but he had never been so brazen about his wishes.
"You are married to Halaena." She whispered, Aegon pressing her palm to his face as he savoured how soft and gentle she was against him, how perfect she felt whenever she touched him and how much he wanted to feel her truly against him.
"I do not recognise that marriage, the only one i will ever recognise and give my children to would be a marriage to you." Y/n blushed, rubbing her thumb over his cheek as he keened into her turning his face to kiss her open palm, his eyes red and swollen almost tearful as he stared down at her. Moving her hand to kiss down her wrist, watching her closely to see how she reacted, his ego inflating as she let him kiss up her arm pulling her closer until her arm hung off his shoulder as his lips met her collarbone. Nipping at the soft skin of her neck, watching how she moved her head to give him more access and allowing him to do as he pleased as her fingers curled into his hair and a small whimper came from her. His lips moving along her neck as he breathed on her ear, biting her lobe as her knees almost gave out his arm coming to hold her tightly against him as she panted slightly as he grazed his lips over her cheek pulling back to look in her eyes. Searching her eyes he loved how her eyes lit up, half lidded and silently begging him to kiss her he surged forward and claimed her lips in a heated kiss, biting her lip until she let him in. Tasting her as he claimed her mouth, both hands clutching her face as she moaned and whined into his kiss, eyes closed and face on fire. Pulling back he placed another kiss on her lips enjoying how she moved to kiss him again, wanting his lips on hers as he wet his bringing his thumb to graze her bottom lip as he closed his eyes and groaned. Her body pressed tightly against his as he tried to stop himself from grinding on her simply from kissing her plump lips, he felt drunk on her as she opened her eyes, innocence staring back at him.
"You are mine." Aegon whispered claiming her lips once more as Y/n melted into him.
Taglist:
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@eonnyx @whitejuliana1204 @missusnora @applepyesworld @mingiholic @crownofdecit @destroyingdestiny @alexisabirdie @dudfahsn @littlebatsimagines @bloode-money @mooonlight-and-stars @xcharlottemikaelsonx @onemillionpeopleinone @random-human02 @hi-im-fan-trash @meilikki @sonnensplitter @jugheadisaweirdo @lomllino @celibacy-or-death @crazylokonugget @natashaxhellenic @here4thefanfic @bubblebuttwade @disturbing-love666 @sha-aesthic @solace-inu @rntrsna @jeyramarie @apollonshootafar @holb32 @pancakefancake @claudiajacobs@maeverae006 @stargaryenx @mirandastuckinthe80s @mingiholic @sarah-l-whiteman@miraclealignertlsp369 @hc-geralt-23 @rosaryos @pearlstiare @kpoploverxx-12 @m00n5t0n3@multifndom @pofties @thirsty4nonlivingmen @yor72 @savagejane1 @mxacegrey @its-halleys-comet@literishdegree99 @zillahvathek @remuslupinwifee @vainillasmil157 @sophiexoxsblog @nupppuff @
#aegon targaryen x reader#aegon x reader#aegon targaryen#aegon ii targaryen#house of the dragon#hotd aegon#aegon targaryen x targaryen reader#aegon targaryen x reader series
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Queer, Found Family Space Opera!
I share a release day with CL Polk's "Even Though I Knew the End," which you can get *here* - https://www.amazon.com/Even-Though-I-Knew-End-
and you definitely should, because they're a phenomenal writer.
And if you want five books for the price of one, and a queer, found family space opera catches your interest, please check out my release! It's in hardcover as well as paperback and of course, ebook.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BHXRZ8NP/
Summary:
Two best friends looking for love.
An oppressive interstellar government.
Adulthood has never been so stressful...
For the first time, all five books in The Meaning Wars are united as a complete collection. In this queer space opera featuring a diverse cast, a found family navigates the politics of revolution and freedom.
Join Crystal, a wormhole engineer, and Sarah, an English Literature graduate with a chip on her shoulder, as they try to find romance and friendship - while an oppressive interstellar government watches their every move.
As Crystal deals with her faltering marriage, Sarah makes risky career decisions - by doing what's morally right. Running from the surveillance state of the Human Conglomerate, will the Interfederation's multi-species alliance prove their salvation? A crew of old friends and a union of renegade space pirates may be their way out. But first, they have to save rebel icon Patience Ngouabi from arrest and certain torture - and make sure they all get out alive.
Fans of Ruthanna Emrys' A Half-Built Garden and Becky Chambers' Wayfarers series will love the cosy yet intense adventures of this crew of misfits fighting for political and social justice.
So if you want a distraction from the midterms, here it is! Read it, revitalize, and recharge. <3
#cl polk#etikte#even though i knew the end#scifimagpie#tmw#the meaning wars#meaning wars#sapphic#queer#fiction#queer fiction#gay#lesbian#polyamory#canadian writers#authors#indie#sci fi#space opera#found family#queer found family#politics#midterms#us midterms 2022#leftist#communist#anarchist#pirate#acab#smuggler
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Tolerate it - Anthony Bridgerton x Oc
Anthony bridgerton x Emma Norwood
Warnings - Angst, Childhood friends to lovers, Anthony being a bitch.
A/N - This is my first lore from the series Taylor x bridgerton. I was begging for some Anthony angst here we are. Mothers song from her most underrated and favourite album is here.
Do not Steal my work.
Anthony Bridgerton and Emma Norwood, now Emma Bridgerton, had been married for years, their love blossoming since childhood.
Their friendship, nurtured by Viscount Bridgerton and Earl Norwood, their fathers laid the foundation for a deep and enduring connection. Even before understanding the complexities of love, they were inseparable.
While their marriage was far from perfect, Emma devoted herself to being a dedicated viscountess, committed to her family and to Anthony.
Emma expected reciprocation from Anthony. She longed for his complete presence in their marriage and for him to cherish their bond as deeply as she did. Yet, despite her fervent efforts, she found herself wanting. The last two pieces of the puzzle were missing—the heartfelt acknowledgment of her contributions and the unreserved affection that she craved.
“I sit and watch you reading
With your head low
I wake and watch you
breathing with yourEyes closed
I sit and watch you
And notice everything
you do or don't do”
“Eloise has suddenly developed a keen interest in witnessing the race. I thought I might accompany her there. Besides She's also mentioned running out of books to read. I'll check if there's an exhibition where I can get her some," Emma uttered, delicately pouring a cup of steaming tea for herself.
She sat across from Anthony, who remained immersed in his newspapers, brooding in silence, responding merely with a faint hum. It felt akin to conversing with an unresponsive wall.
As the days drifted by, with each morning finding Anthony deep in slumber, his countenance peaceful, Emma would gaze at him, his breath flowing steadily.
In the presence of her husband, she would awaken, yet a chill clung to the bed—a frigidity that mirrored his heart, their union. A silent witness, she would sit, observing the unraveling of everything they held dear, crumbling into disarray.
“You're so much older and wiser and I
I wait by the door like I'm just a kid
Use my best colors for your portrait
Lay the table with the fancy shit
And watch you tolerate it”
"Sister, focus your attention here," Gregory exclaimed, his notebook spread out before him, jolting Emma from her reverie.
Her gaze, fixated on the door where her husband engaged in conversation with Daphne, was interrupted. She had known Anthony since their earliest days, certain that even as a two-year-old, he had attempted to cradle her tender newborn self in his tiny arms. Observing him now, her heart swelled.
He appeared older, wiser, and handsomer than she had ever known him to be throughout the passing years.
"My apologies, Greg. Now, where were we?" she apologized, returning to her task of aiding him with his studies.
Emma sensed Anthony's presence behind them. "How is your Latin progressing, Gregory?" Anthony inquired of his younger brother, who replied with respectful deference.
“Emma, may I have a word with you?" Anthony stated, nodding curtly. The couple excused themselves from the young boy's side.
"How are the preparations for the forthcoming ball progressing? It marks our first grand event since Colin's engagement," Anthony questioned.
Emma reassured him, "Worry not, Anthony. I have personally overseen every aspect. Rest assured, everything shall be executed flawlessly, precisely as you prefer." Emma's countenance brightened.
As she relayed the ball's particulars, Anthony merely responded with nods. No matter what Emma did, it never seemed to be enough. Would she ever experience the same love from him, bestowed upon her as it once had been?
“I greet you with a battle hero’s welcome
I take your indiscretions all in good fun
I sit and listеn, I polish plates until they gleam and glistеn”
“Please, please, PLEASE, Em, what must I do to persuade you? Aren't you my best friend?" Benedict exclaimed dramatically, pacing around Emma with a palette and a few brushes in hand.
“No, Ben, I cannot. I have an abundance of tasks to complete, and besides, I lack the patience to sit idle for hours," she replied, ticking off items on her to-do list as she moved about the drawing room.
“Be my muse, my inspiration!" Benedict shouted, now on one knee with his arms outstretched. Ever the dramatic soul.
“Ah, so my viscountess serves as your muse, I presume, brother?" Anthony interjected rudely, peering up from his newspaper.
Emma rolled her eyes and placed a plate of cakes and a cup of tea in front of her husband. "Your wife happens to be my closest friend, brother," Benedict retorted, his words dripping with resentment.
Anthony's voice dripped with underlying insinuation as he grumbled, "I care not for whatever attachments my wife may hold with you, Benedict, so long as she remains mine."
His words carried an unnerving implication, fueling Benedict's frustration and leaving Emma heartbroken, struggling to hold back her tears.
Benedict was livid. How could Anthony speak of Emma in such a manner, reducing her significance? Being only a month older than Emma and of the same age, Benedict and Emma had been inseparable since childhood. How could Anthony entertain such unsettling thoughts?
The first thing Benedict sketched was Emma adorned in a pristine white wedding gown, with Anthony as the groom and himself as the best man—a depiction of a joyous, harmonious family. It pained Benedict to witness his cherished friend enduring such anguish because of his own brother's actions.
“While you were out building other worlds, where was I?
Where’s that man who’d throw blankets over my barbed wire?
I made you my temple, my mural, my sky
Now I’m begging for footnotes in the story of your life”
Sitting before the crackling fire, Emma completed the final strokes of her latest letter, sealed with utmost care. It had been a week since Anthony's departure to France, lending his aid to Colin with an investment.
Throughout this time, she had heard little from him about his whereabouts. His sparse correspondence consisted of a mere few lines, informing her of his well-being and the status of his return. As the flames danced, memories flooded her mind.
"EMMA!" Young Anthony's voice reverberated through the verdant hills of Kent as he dismounted his horse and hastened toward his beloved.
Emma immediately abandoned her embroidery, leaving behind a beautiful napkin and her friend Daphne, running into the embrace of her dear boy. "At last, you have arrived," she murmured, her words muffled by the tightness of their hug.
"Being away from you feels like a cruel punishment. I detest Oxford," he grumbled, their gazes locked as they pulled away from each other.
Emma's smile illuminated her countenance. "You cannot fathom how weary I have grown of reading words. Hearing your voice is truly enchanting," she confessed, his forehead meeting hers as he leaned forward to gently kiss her brow.
"I am sorry for leaving you behind. If I had the power, I would abandon my studies or…or find a way to smuggle you in with me," he gasped, his breath still uneven from his exertions.
Emma laughed, a melodic sound that echoed through the air. "It is merely a matter of one more year, Anthony. Soon, you shall be here, And find me waiting for you, and we will be together," she reassured him.
"Together forever," he whispered, their foreheads touching in a tender embrace. "Together forever," she nodded, the young couple venturing forth into the sunset, their hearts entwined.
Overwhelmed by the memory, Emma found herself breaking down, tears streaming down her face as she gazed at the sealed letter and clutched the same old delicate napkin with the exquisitely embroidered "A." It was the sole remnant of so many cherished years.
“You assume I’m fine, but what
would you do if I
Break free and leave us in ruins
Took this dagger in me and removed it
Gain the weight of you, then lose it
Believe me, I could do it”
"I am fearful” Emma whispered softly as the couple prepared themselves. Her mind was awash with countless thoughts, and she felt like she was drowning.
Emma feared that if this torment continued any longer, she would shatter her wretched excuse for a marriage and flee. The burden had become unbearable.
The person she loved more than anything didn't even acknowledge her existence, breaking her spirit day after day.
"Fear not, my love, for it shall be a splendid occasion," Anthony assured her, adjusting his cufflinks before the mirror glass.
The fact that he didn't even inquire about his wife's distress infuriated Emma. In that moment, she entertained the idea of packing her belongings and escaping under the cloak of night, returning to her parents' residence in Kent.
Her father would undoubtedly welcome her with open arms, allowing her to indulge in her passion for reading and sketching.
Would Anthony come to fetch her? Would he realize his grave mistake and rediscover his love for her, prompting a fresh start? If she dared to voice her grievances, her father would surely confront Anthony and defend her honor, for that was precisely what Edmund would have done.
"I shall meet you outside when you are prepared," Emma stormed out of the bedroom, leaving her bewildered husband gazing at his own reflection in utter confusion.
“If it’s all in my head, tell me now
Tell me I’ve got it wrong somehow
I know my love should be celebrated
But you tolerate it
I sit and watch you”
Emma pleaded for him to take action, to salvage their marriage, their love, and her very being.
Anthony remained oblivious, trapped in the mechanical motions of life. Emma yearned for it to be a mere figment of her imagination, longing for Anthony to stand beside her, embracing her, easing her worries, and drying her tears.
She wished to scale walls, shatter barriers, and bridge the divide between them, perhaps desiring him to reach out and yearn for the depths of her love. Yet, all Emma could do was watch him tolerate it.
_______________________________________________
Do not steal my work.
#anthony bridgerton#bridgerton#benedict bridgerton#daphne bridgerton#queen charlotte#bridgerton siblings#colin bridgerton#eloise bridgerton#lady danbury#bridgerton series#shondaland#violet bridgerton#simon basset#taylor swift#evermore#tolerate it#bridgerton netflix#anthony bridgerton x Oc#Anthony bridgerton angst#Spotify
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Interestingly, we actually were girls together... When I met Jo I was 18 years and 11 months old, and had just emerged from my house for the first time in 3 months— straight to school in New York. We were shockingly vulnerable in a really simple 101 Writing class. We spent much of our time in cafes and academic buildings dissecting and chipping away at our Didion imitations until we pretended to 'find' some sort of voice at the end of the semester (how timely!). She towered above me, and coaxed a part of me I thought was shut away for good in a house in Oklahoma City. I felt really comfortable. She celebrated my birthday with me after knowing me for a week. We'd speed through SoHo, two of my strides to one of hers, and I always thought she looked cool with a cigarette in hand though it wasn't anything I was smoking at the time. Her suitcase remained empty with 20 minutes till departure, and we barely missed a bus down to DC. She got us new tickets and against her stature leaned all the way down onto my shoulder for the 5-hour ride, and we split at Union Station. She went off to visit a friend at some DC school and I was seeing family. We reconnected at the end of the week, where those cheap buses meet up, and went back home to New York.
When we were sent home, we sent letters across the Midwest in riveting exchanges between Oklahoma and Illinois. We scrawled bits of forgotten writing projects onto paper and wrote to each other often. Radio silence for a while, and we were back nine months later. She was living with her best friend at the time. It wasn't me. Their sublease was really gorgeous. The energy was funny. They stopped being friends after the lease ran out. I last saw her on my 21st birthday in Tompkins with a slice of cheesecake. Late as usual.
Two years of radio silence. I texted her for some reason in April 2023 and we chatted briefly. Nothing again. She's always been in New York, though. I knew her face really well. I superimposed it onto strangers in the crowd. I knew she was here, somewhere.
That summer I felt another friendship dying. I went home exhausted and sweaty and annoyed. No seats on the subway but a space near a familiar face. I was glad she recognized me. I was afraid she wouldn't. She was to transfer at one stop. I told her I'd be on the train for another hour getting to the outer reaches of Queens. "Safe travels," and I let the subway car population dwindle before weeping. Nothing again. Maybe I was afraid to reach out myself because I didn't have anything to say (<- symptom of being frozen by anxiety for 2 years).
And then something this past week. I waited 12 minutes to reply. I missed the person I used to be so severely and was deadly curious about her. I was embarrassed about our run-in on the train. I sweat so badly I had pit stains on a plain, over-sized shirt (symbolism) and she was in business casual workwear. It felt awfully on-the-nose about my perception of my own life and disappointment in myself. I didn't text her because I didn't want to think about it. But she texted me. Our old writing professor from that very class where we met mentioned me, thus prompting the text. She told me on the phone that she thinks often about a thing I used to say (an Andrea original?!) about Jaywalking with the new mothers because no car would run over a baby in a stroller (😭). A saying which attaches a smile to every crosswalk. And remember she's been in New York this entire time. Couldn't help but cry about it. She regaled me on everything. Seems we've been lonely the same past 6 months. I wish we had each other then. I wish she could've seen the joyful moments. I actually don't know if you'd like her, and I think Winnie has a thing about Jo 'cause she unfollowed her on IG a while back (we were all in that same writing class and we are all deeply unwell lmfao⚠️) but I do consider her a great influence on the Andrea you ended up meeting two years ago, if that's worth something at all. At the very least it'd be funny? I'll make it happen. She's in Bushwick now actually.
Anyway everything's a missed bus to DC and every good thing in life is being that uncomfortable shoulder to lean down and cry on. Likewise, the security I felt knowing she could always casually pick things back up and move forward is something that could pull me out of the tar pit. We have suffered apart and alone long enough.
#long!!#my inner child is fine but my inner late teen is.. umm..#kind of a well-written one🤓..?#like yayy#this writing cohort was like d*nganronpa lmfao
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do u have a book rec that will ruin me emotionally? i want to be upset. but in a nice way. sort of like how la vita è bella makes me upset or a thousand splendid suns makes me upset. i need a bittersweet ending i will think about forever. or something. sorry for the random question shshsjsjs <3 all g if you can’t think of anything i just thought i’d ask you first
of course i do!! ❤️
so here are some book that are upsetting and heartbreaking and made me upset and made me cry:
the great believers by rebecca makkai
i cried and cried and didn't recover for days. a dazzling new novel of friendship and redemption in the face of tragedy and loss set in 1980s chicago and contemporary paris.
the fortune men by nadifa mohamed
how frustrating and sad this was, made me cry and made me mad! the story of a murder, a miscarriage of justice, and a man too innocent for his times.
tin man by sarah winman
why is love so miserable? ellis and michael are twelve when they first become friends, and then one day this closest of friendships grows into something more. but then we fast forward a decade or so, to find that ellis is married to annie, and michael is nowhere in sight, what happened in the years between?
the summer that melted everything by tiffany mcdaniel
this writer is outstanding! when a local prosecutor publishes an invitation to the devil to come to the country town of breathed, ohio, nobody quite expected that he would turn up. they especially didn't expect him to turn up a tattered and bruised thirteen-year-old boy.
betty by tiffany mcdaniel
i cried through entire chapters of this. a stunning, lyrical novel set in the rolling foothills of the appalachians in which a young girl discovers stark truths that will haunt her for the rest of her life. "a girl comes of age against the knife."
swimming in the dark by tomasz jedrowski
so sad and infuriating!!! set in early 1980s poland against the violent decline of communism, a tender and passionate story of first love between two young men who eventually find themselves on opposite sides of the political divide
crying in h mart by michelle zauner
just hundreds of pages about a death so sad and inevitable. a memoir about growing up korean american, losing her mother, and forging her own identity.
the prophets by robert jones jr.
everything about this is upsetting and maddening. a novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a deep south plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence.
yolk by mary h.k. choi
to me all stories about siblings are intrinsically tragic. a funny and emotional story about two estranged sisters switching places and committing insurance fraud to save one of their lives.
mayflies by andrew o'hagan
so sad but also a glorious celebration of life. a memorial to youth's euphorias and to everyday tragedy. a tender goodbye to an old union, it discovers the joy and the costs of love.
salvage the bones by jesmyn ward
an absolute masterpiece!!! hurricane katrina is threatening the coastal town of bois sauvage. esch and her three brothers are stocking food. she's fourteen and pregnant. as the twelve days that comprise the novel's framework yield to the final day, the unforgettable family pulls itself up to struggle for another day.
tell the wolves i'm home by carol rifka brunt
sad and sweet and also nothing is more heartbreaking than how people with aids were treated in the 80s. a moving story of love, grief, and renewal as two lonely people become the unlikeliest of friends and find that sometimes you don't know you've lost someone until you've found them. in 1987 after her uncle dies of hiv a fourteen year old girl gets to know his uncle's partner.
an american marriage by tayari jones
this woman is an incredible writer! this book is so absolutely frustrating. newlyweds celestial and roy are the embodiment of both the american dream and the new south. but as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart. roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime celestial knows he didn’t commit.
flowers for algernon by daniel keyes
heart-wrenching!!!! it's the story of a mentally disabled man whose experimental quest for intelligence mirrors that of algernon, an extraordinary lab mouse.
and among the classics:
if this is a man by primo levi
the account of the author's experience from when he was captured to his transfer as part of 650 italian jews from to auschwitz in poland and his experiences until the end.
all quiet on the western front by erich maria remarque
with the fire and patriotism of youth a group of german schoolboys sign up to go to war. what follows is the moving story of a young ‘unknown soldier’ experiencing the horror and disillusionment of life in the trenches.
giovanni's room by james baldwin
an american expatriate living in the south of france, reminisces about his life, while his ex-lover, an Italian immigrant named giovanni, is set to be executed in the morning.
if beale street could talk by james baldwin
a moving story of love in the face of injustice. tishis a nineteen-year-old girl, in love with fonny, a young sculptor who is the father of her child. they have pledged to get married, but tonny is falsely accused of a terrible crime and imprisoned. their families set out to clear his name.
#i hope at leat one of these will work!!!!!#thank you for asking!!! ❤️#book recs#books#ask#reasoncourt
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Highschool Sweetheart
A/N: HEYYY OKay so here is my first fiction about Wilbur Soot. Its a wilbur x reader one shot. This is the story of how you guys met and what you two have become. This story has a good and happy ending.
ANYWAY I take requests and suggestions for fanfictions from now on! If i made any spelling errors, feel free to let me know! I learn from my mistakes!
This is MY AU, not rlly a specific one. But this is played in the real world!
ENJOYY!!!!
--------------------------------------------------
Once upon a time, in the quaint town of Willowbrook, two high school students, Wilbur and Y/n, were destined to find love in the most unexpected way. They had been classmates for years but never paid much attention to each other until one fateful day during their senior year.
It was a sunny afternoon, and the school's annual charity fair was in full swing. Wilbur, a lanky and awkward guy with a passion for writing and music, was helping out at the book stall. Y/n, on the other hand, was a kind-hearted and artistic soul, volunteering to run the face painting booth.
Wilbur had always admired Y/n's talent and creativity from afar, but today, he mustered the courage to talk to her. With his heart pounding, he approached her booth and asked if she could draw a butterfly on his cheek.
Y/n flashed a warm smile and happily obliged. As she painted the delicate butterfly, they engaged in casual conversation about their interests, dreams, and favorite books. Wilbur felt an instant connection with her, and Y/n enjoyed his witty sense of humor and genuine personality.
From that moment on, Wilbur and Y/n found themselves seeking each other's company whenever they could. They started sitting together during lunch breaks, sharing stories, and discovering their mutual love for storytelling and adventure.
One afternoon, they stumbled upon an old, abandoned treehouse at the edge of the woods near their school. Intrigued by the hidden gem, they decided to restore it together, turning it into their secret sanctuary. Over time, they filled the walls with their poetry, doodles, and cherished memories.
As graduation day approached, their bond grew stronger, and their friendship bloomed into something deeper. On the night of the senior prom, Wilbur gathered all his courage and asked Y/n to be his date. With a gleam in her eyes, she accepted his invitation, feeling elated and grateful that she would share such a special night with him.
At the prom, they danced the night away under twinkling lights, feeling as if they were the only two people in the room. Their hearts soared as they shared their first dance as a couple, surrounded by the promise of a bright future.
After high school, they attended separate colleges but managed to maintain their relationship through letters, calls, and occasional visits. Despite the distance, their love only grew stronger, and they knew they had found something extraordinary.
As college came to an end, Wilbur and Y/n made the life-changing decision to move to Brighton together. They found jobs in their respective fields, and soon enough, they moved into a cozy apartment near the same woods where they first discovered the treehouse.
On a beautiful summer evening, under the canopy of the old tree, Wilbur got down on one knee and asked Y/n to marry him. With tears of joy streaming down her cheeks, Y/n said yes, and they sealed their love with a passionate kiss.
Their love story had come full circle, from high school classmates to life partners. As they prepared for their wedding day, the town of Willowbrook (they decided to have their weding in the town the had first met) buzzed with excitement and joy, celebrating the union of two souls destined to be together.
And so, on a sunny afternoon, just like the day they first met, Wilbur and Y/n exchanged vows in front of family and friends. Their love had stood the test of time, from high school to adulthood, and they were ready to embark on a new chapter of their lives hand in hand.
With love, laughter, and the shared memories of their treehouse adventures, Wilbur and Y/n proved that sometimes, the most beautiful love stories are born from the simplest of moments. And as they looked into each other's eyes, they knew that their love would continue to grow, making every day better than the last, forevermore.
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Divinity part ten
TW: religion, cult recruitment, referenced murder, referenced deforestation and pollution, human whumpees, deity whumper
Mary brought Wren to her knitting club, so he could proselytize to the other old women, and maybe whatever grandchildren they occasionally brought along.
She introduced Wren, and gave him everyone else's names. They seemed happy enough to see him, despite the fact that he didn't know how to knit. He never had the dexterity for such things.
"I met a god," Mary said nonchalantly, working on a purple blanket for her soon to be born great-grandchild. "In Wren's basement."
"What kind of a god?" Gloria asked, as though there was nothing out of the ordinary about Mary's statement.
"Made all the animals," Mary said. "You know, like Noah."
"Noah didn't make animals," Bella argued, setting down her half-finished scarf out of frustration from a dropped row of stitches. "He put 'em all on a big old boat."
"Vo'ki is the god of animals," Wren interjected, trying to avoid a pointless debate. "Nothing to do with Judaism, I assure you. I'm his high priest."
"He made all the animals?" Gloria asked. "That's impressive. I bet he has pretty big stables."
"The animals roam the earth, except when humans put them in stables. Vo'ki takes care of them. But he can't always control human hunting and deforestation."
Wren was so happy to be believed right off the bat. He may have missed a trick at the library, but now he had three possible devotees paying heed to his every word. If it weren't for his devout faith, he would have thanked God Himself.
"Oh!" Barbara exclaimed. "You're trying to save the forests. I'm glad your generation is finally doing something about the environment. I used to protest nuclear energy, but nobody told me oil was the worse deal. Pushing back against the oil companies will really save the animals."
"I intend to," Wren decided. "During my prayers over the natural world, I received the knowledge of how deeply human destruction of the natural world distressed Vo'ki. He cares far more for animals than he does for people. Honestly, I don't blame him."
"I never liked people either," Bella said. "That's why I have cats. No husband, you hear me? Just cats."
"Husbands are fine," Gloria said. "Not as great as people say. But still fine."
"You say that like you didn't murder yours," Mary said dryly. "Yeah, well, he was sleeping with the lady next door. What else was I supposed to do?"
Wren tried to process the casual admission to murder. Hanging out with older women was always like this, but he still wasn't sure how to react. At least they trusted him not to call the cops.
"I never wanted to get married either," Wren said, trying to get off the topic of murder. "Obviously I'm transgender, so it was hard enough to find anyone who respected that. And I value my privacy a bit too much."
"Oh, my little sister is a transgender," Barbara said, clearly excited to know what Wren was talking about. "But she's got a very pretty wife."
Wren smiled. "How lovely. But now I'm in a union with my patron god."
"Are you and Vo'ki an item then?" Gloria asked.
"Erm, sort of." Wren fidgeted with one of his rings. "The typical union between priests and gods was usually a-romantic. It was more than romance. It was more than friendship. Vo'ki has chosen to pursue me in a way I consider to be romantic, at least by modern standards. But it's far, far more than that."
"I'm happy for you," Gloria said. "I always wish God would talk to me, and here you are with god as your boyfriend."
"I would love to introduce you all to Vo'ki," Wren said cautiously. "And I know he would love to meet all of you."
"Does he really live in your basement?" Bella asked. "Seems a weird spot for a god."
"He lives in the… spirit world. Or something like that. I just set up an altar for him in my basement. So he appears there to accept my offerings."
"Can we meet him tomorrow?" Gloria asked. "I'm going to my grandson's Little League game this afternoon."
"I have a birthday party to go to in the morning," Barbara said. "Let's do it afterward."
"How does three o'clock sound?" Wren asked. "I live in Mary's neighborhood. She has my address."
A murmur of agreement met his ears, and he smiled with satisfaction. At long last, he was serving Vo'ki exactly as he has always deserved. It was only a matter of time until this movement blossomed into a proper religion.
Taglist: @hugh-lauries-bald-spot @whumpsday @whumpshaped @kira-the-whump-enthusiast @hearse-song @heavenlyeden @nyoom @suck-my-clit-loser @enbygesserit @be-gay-do-crime-ahaha @whumpytine
#Abraham original: Hot off the press#Divinity#Whump#Whumpblr#religious whump#cult recruitment#human whumpees#deity whumper#Multiple whumpees#Whump writing#Whump series
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while i do think bill only keeps people around if he is genuinely fond of them in some way and considers them a “friend,” the way bill conceptualizes “friendship” is… nebulous to say the least, and with very, very, very few exceptions, he doesn’t like… trust anyone, including the henchmaniacs. at least, he doesn't trust the maniacs enough to really fully let his guard down. these guys are all, to him, moochers— fun moochers, likable moochers, moochers who are useful, moochers he chose to keep around, moochers who “get him,” moochers he even genuinely cares about, (to varying degrees per maniac,) but yeah, they’re moochers
so he makes sure they know they’re moochers, too. basic stuff like joking about how lucky they are he can get them into nearly any club in the multiverse, how sweet a deal they have to live rent free at the quadrangle, but also like… you know i'm keeping you alive, you know that if i go down you all go down with me, because bill likes his friends! sure he does. they're all pals here, but they're also all horrible, horrible people, and with the sole exception of kryptos, they all joined up with him after he had power, and he's not dumb enough to think some of them might not find that power incredibly appealing and have some delusions of grandeur someday
he's not even fussed about it, to be honest! no, really, he's not. he thinks any of them would be stupid as hell if they actually tried to take him down in any way, and he tries to keep them happy and make sure their friendships with each other generally surface level and remarkably petty so they can't unionize and make any sort of power grabs, but he gets that they might have the impulse. he just wants to remind, them, you know, that they've lived so many times the average lifespan of their species-- how long do you guys live again, teeth? 250 years? yeesh, you passed that ages ago, how're you feeling, old man?-- and man, if anything ever happened to him, they'd just turn to dust at this point, wouldn't they?
i mean, everyone is always so mean to him all the time, even people he's been soooo nice to, so what's the harm in having an insurance policy?
#i know people who think about the henchmaniacs have different headcanons about whether their lifespans are extended and like#HOW they're extended#but i love giving bill every excuse to be fucking awful so. sure! you get immortality! just so long as /i'm/ around.#i mean you don't have any problem with that do you?#and yes that that also means that anyone who leaves the maniacs just immediately gets turned mortal again
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'Last Argument of Kings' --A Review
I didn't understand why this trilogy got tagged with the 'grimdark' label until I got to the end of the final book in the trilogy, Last Argument of Kings. I took them more to be a hyper-violent, highly realistic, pulpy, blood-spattered fantasy until we got to the end of this book, and hot damn is it kind of bleak.
I also- freely admit- that I looked ahead at the summaries for the next trilogy in the series (The Age of Madness) and thus spoiled some of it for myself-- but figuring out how it all came together, in the end, was interesting to watch (or to listen to, rather.)
At the end of the last book, our heroes had reached their destination only to find that The Seed they were looking for is no longer there, so faced with no other choice they return home and go their separate ways. Logen returns to the north, Ferro sticks with Bayaz to see if his promise of revenge comes through and Jezal goes back to Ardee West.
In short order, things change rapidly: Jezal is on the verge of resigning his commission to marry Ardee when he's given new orders to go out and put down a peasant uprising. He does this- just in time for the old King of the Union to finally die. With both Crown Princes gone, a succession struggle immediately begins and Glokta is thrown into the middle of it by Archlector Sult, who charges him with making sure the candidate they prefer wins. Bayaz, however, has other ideas and reveals Jezal to be a bastard son of the old King, places him on the Throne, and marries him off to Terez, the daughter of Duke Orso of Styria.
Logen returns to the north and reunited with his crew, offers the Union an alliance to finish off Bethod once and for all. The Northmen bait a trap for him and his armies come and while they're fighting off and waiting for the Union, Marshall Burr, West's mentor and friend finally dies and neither Marshall Polder nor Kroy are going to a damn thing until they find out who is in charge, which leaves the Northmen hanging. Agonizingly, it takes awhile for news to reach Adua and then return but Jezal, now King, gets irritated at his advisors and puts West in charge. West gets the army moving and comes to the aid of Logen and company just in time. Bethod is left besieged in the city of Karlium.
The long hinted-at Gurkish invasion of Middleland begins and before the Union army is pulled from the North, West gives Logen a day to sort the problem of Bethod once and for all-- he defeats the Feared in single combat and kills Bethod and is proclaimed King. He gathers the Northmen willing to go and heads back to fight the Gurkish.
Glokta in the meantime, has been put to work figuring out the true motives behind Bayaz's behavior and plans and doesn't seem to be coming up with anything much at all. He is, however, developing a certain amount of companionship/friendship with Ardee West as both are cynics and completely open with their own foibles and failings and willing to if not forgive each other for them, then certainly understand them. Ardee won't leave, even as the Gurkish begin the siege, and gets caught up with Glokta as things come to a culmination.
I'm going to stop there and give a strong SPOILER ADVISORY from this point on because I have to talk about the end and I don't want to spoil the end of these books for anyone who hasn't read them yet. So, consider this your SPOILER WARNING and SCROLL AWAY.
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Okay, the end: this is where I truly brought in to the grimdark of it all. Do the Gurkish win? No, of course not-- but everyone pays a price for it in one way or another in the end. Ardee, pregnant with Jezal's baby, gets married to Glokta and they honestly seem if not the happiest, then certainly the most content at the end. Her brother, West, however, is affected by the wasting sickness unleashed by Ferro and Bayaz's use of the seed against the One Hundred Eaters of the Gurkish- it doesn't seem as widespread as it was when they revealed it was used on the ruined city of Alcus in the far west, but it's still out there.
Jezal's wife, Terez is blackmailed into sleeping with her husband. Jezal, not knowing this, cannot understand her sadness and realizes that he, like the Union is under the thrall of the man behind the curtain himself, Bayaz.
I loved this, because, in fantasy, the powerful wizard tends to be virtuous, if occasionally bad-tempered (see: Gandalf) or powerful with a fondness for drink and not dressing the part (see: Belgarath) but I haven't actually come across a wizard in fantasy that so thoroughly embraces the role of all-powerful manipulative prick as Bayaz does. He's behind everything as it turns out. He is the Bank of Valent and Bolk that lent Glokta a million marks he can't repay. He arranged for Jezal's ascension. He makes it clear to both that they govern and do things the way he wants them done otherwise he's going to come back and he won't be happy about it.
Ferro, forever altered and driven slightly insane by the use of The Seed realizes that she has powers that make her more or less immune to the Eaters and very hard to kill. She sets off south to get her vengeance. (She too, might be the happiest of all the characters.)
Logen, who basically tells Bayaz to take a hike, despite Bayaz's warnings of what will happen if he does, returns home to find that a few people have other ideas about who should be King and winds up bringing the trilogy full circle by crashing through a window and dropping down below into a raging river.
Overall: The Bayaz Heel Turn I did not see coming and honestly, it almost undid the entire trilogy for me. Everything else is fine-- Logen has bad luck and wouldn't make that good of a King anyway. Jezal seems to be heading toward being a competent King- but not all marriages have to be happy, so that felt in keeping with the overall tone of the books. Glokta getting all the power only to find that he can't really use any of it is the perfect ending for that character- and honestly, remains amongst my favorite characters of this trilogy if not in the genre as a while- and his marrying Ardee works too. Even Ferro going off to get her revenge is fine.
But the Bayaz Heel Turn... almost cheapens the entire trilogy. Because what does it all mean if Bayaz has been manipulating everything the whole time? Why should we care? We get hints of Mamoon and Kalool and we don't actually see the big fight we should have seen. Don't get me wrong: it's an interesting subversion of what you usually see in fantasy, so I appreciate it for that- but it doesn't stick the landing. Therefore, I will have to say: My Grade: *** out of ****. (Those are stars, not censored curse words.)
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