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#hope these flora match what you had in mind
foxsoulcourt · 2 years
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Bookmarker’s Notes:
This series took me by surprise + it didn't take long for me to fall in love with it. I watched Part 1 update chapter by chapter, but wasn't quite drawn in. Not sure why I decided to take the dive after most of Part 2 was posted, but I'm sure glad I did. Part 2 just completed, so if you’re someone who likes to read finished works, now’s the time!
LOVE the imagery of people displaying their capacity for connection with others through flora + it's so well done in these works as a metaphor for growing feelings between Q + Bond. The title of the works, "Fidelity + Passion" and "Intimacy" match their content very well. What fun to watch those three experiences develop over time between a field agent + his Quartermaster (and said Quartermaster’s well-cared-for cats). An unexpected bonus of reading this work is it helped me understand the dynamics James + Vesper's relationship better.
If you're still sitting on the fence yourself, I hope this explanation helps, "Hanaemi" is like hanahaki lite; you grow flowers in your hair for love and they wilt if your heart is broken. No floral pneumonia or death.
Brava to @kitten-kin​ for inhabiting this new trope with such a great series! 
💜
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neteyamslovrr · 1 year
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HOW CAN I LOSE YOU?
summary: prmoised to a stranger Y/N takes flight and finds herself lost in the pandorian forest, only to be found by a omaticayan boy. who knew that strangers could fall in love so fast?
a/n: 5.7K WORDS bro that's more than my assignments. anyway i am incredibly proud of this fic and i hope you enjoy it as much as i do
──── ⑅*❀*⑅ ────
Heat rose through your body, fury filling your insides as the words your mother said repeated in your mind like an intoxicating mantra. You are promised.
Promised? Th only promise is your misery. To think it’s not even someone from your clan. A stranger, an outsider, unknown to you and you were meant to mate. The fury grew even thinking about it.
“Y/N? Respond please.” Your mother held her hands on your shoulder as you refused to look in her direction.
“What? I’m being promised to someone I don’t even know. Am I meant to be excited?” You spat venom at your mother avoiding her eye contact, swatting her hands off of your body.  
“Y/N! Do not speak to your mother like that!” Always chiming in when he wasn’t needed, that’s what your father did.
“Don’t treat your daughter like a peace treaty then!” You shouted back, a sharp finger pointed at your father’s chest. You started to walk backwards, hands shaking from the rage racking through your body. “I’m leaving.”
“No Y/N, you can’t leave now, we have things to discuss!” Your mother was desperate walking fast to match the fast pace you had created to reach your ikran.
“You have nothing to say to me.” Harsh words shot at your mother as you hoped onto your ikran. “Go, Lifo!” Shouting out your banshees name you took off, gusts of wind leaving your parents to stare at their fleeing daughter.
You couldn’t remember how long you had been flying, the ongoing replay of the fight with your parents and the doom of your near future plagued your mind. Leaving your ikran to fly into unknown territory, a dense forest filled with a loud glow that encompassed every lifeform.
Landing on a large tree you disconnected from Lifo, the glow was different to your clan, it was much more apparent, the plant life encompassing every step you would take.
Strolling through the forest, you wandered looking for any food or water, as the unexpected trip took a toll on your body, hunger brewing in your stomach creating soft grumbles that harmonized with the sounds of the forest. Inspecting all of the flora around you, you spotted a purple fruit. You only recognized it as the same fruit grew on smaller trees surrounding your village.  
Picking the fruit, avoiding the thorns on the fruits skin, you took a bite. The flesh of the fruit spilling into your mouth leaving you with an amazing taste and a wash of nostalgia. It was the exact same as home, bringing you back to times when you knew you could run freely and weren’t subjected to a life of misery, a life of lack of love.
A sudden crunch of leaves instantly got rid of the nostalgic feeling you had and replaced them with fear, subconsciously holding onto the knife in the loop of your loin cloth as your heart started to beat rapidly.
“Who are you?” A loud voice boomed in front of you. A tall man, braids reaching his shoulders and hand who also reached onto his knife stood tall across from you, his figure intimidating as he questioned you.
“I mean no harm! I am just lost!” You retracted your hand off your knife to surrender yourself to the man in front of you. “I am from the eastern seas, my ikran and I flew too far.” Pointing to your sleeping ikran in the treetops above the pair of you. The mans eyes softened immediately, you noticed a=how the bioluminescent glow of the forest made his features stand out like a flower in a desert.
“Are you alright?” The man asked coming closer, his hand now also abandoning his knife, knowing you were no longer a threat.
“Yes, just looking for food.”
“You cannot stay in the forest at night, you’ll die.” Panic rose throughout you as you realised you stood in such hostile foliage. Eyes immediately scanning around where you stood, conscious of the danger surrounding you. “Rest within my clan, you’ll leave in the morning.” He wasn’t asking you, more like a demand.
Nodding hesitantly, you clapped three times to wake Lifo up, watching her wide wings flap down to the ground to let you board her. “Please lead the way.”
He nodded, calling his ikran to fly high into the sky waiting for you to follow suit. “What is your name Ikran girl?” He shouted over the noise of the two of your ikran’s flying.
“It’s Y/N…what is yours forest boy?”
“Neteyam.” That’s a pretty name.
Upon arrival you watched as many people hustled to look at the newcomer. Two women rose to the front, the rest parting to make way for them. Assuming they were important, you greeted them with a bow. “oel ngati kameie”
The two repeated it before turning aggressively to the boy you knew as Neteyam.
“Who do you bring here?” An older woman asked, she looked wise. Maybe she was Tsa’hik?
“Her name is Y/N, flew over from the eastern seas and got lost in the forest, she is here to rest.” Neteyam’s voice was serious, his face stern, like a man of leadership. Who exactly had you run into in the middle of this forest?
“I see…” She replied, her eyes gliding over you. Frozen in the moment, her stare was intimidating but so was the hundreds of others that oogled at you. It made the hunger settling in your stomach turn into anxiety.
“Feed this poor girl!” A younger woman replied, coming up beside the Tsa’hik. She was thin, her braids similar to Neteyam’s, feathers adorning her hair, as a small child held tightly onto her hand.
“Yes mother.” Neteyam nodded, he looked at you and your frozen form. Laying a soft hand on your shoulder. “Come, your ikran will rest.” He started walking off even before you could process his words but seeing as he was the only person you knew in this place, it was first instinct to follow him around like a lost child.
He lead you into a tent, inside were fruit baskets and water stored in wooden jars. If you weren’t so shocked by the continuous new surrounding you would’ve rushed to the fruit.
“Hurry and eat, everyone can hear your stomach.” Neteyam said as he stood next to the fruit, picking one up to put into your hands. Picking the fruit out of his hands, your fingers brushed his palm slightly.
It shouldn’t have worked you up so much, but the static between the two of you evoked a small gasp out of you. Neteyam felt the touch too, he just decided to ignore it but seeing your overreaction brought a soft smirk to his face.
“Do not make fun of the guests Neteyam!” A girl pushed between the two of you, giving Neteyam a nudge. She was short, her hair messy and her voice deep.
“I was not sister!” Neteyam scoffed pushing his sister back. She let out an exaggerated gasp holding onto her arm dramatically.
Munching onto the fruit in your hands, you watched the pair of sibling’s bicker in front of you. You would’ve giggled at their antics if the anxiety of being in this new place wasn’t controlling every thought.
“Oh! I haven’t introduced myself!” The shorter girl turned to you curtly. “I am Kiri, Neteyam’s sister. What is your name?”
“It’s Y/N.” You said with you mouth full, face covered in a sticky sap excreting from the fruits skin.
“That’s quite pretty, your name.” You heated up, a compliment was rarely something you received.
“Thankyou very much.” You smiled at the girl, your gaze distracted by Neteyam who overlooked your conversation, a soft smile glistening over his face. It looked like was almost in awe watching the two women converse.
Neteyam shook his head, realising he left himself loose in his thoughts. Looking over at your messy face he was mesmerised, each of your features perfectly matched the other, you looked so soft yet sharp, so tough but so elegant.
He shouldn’t be thinking this, not as an Olo’eyktan, he had duties, responsibilities. He can’t develop a liking for another clan woman.
“Are the fruits…good?” He sounded so awkward, destroying the flow of the conversation between you and Kiri. Kiri snorted in response at her brother, she wasn’t dumb, she knew when a boy thought a girl was pretty, especially when its her brother making a fool of himself.  
You nodded enthusiastically. “They’re amazing, thankyou Neteyam.” You had finally finished the fruit, leaving your face and hands sticky. An uncomfortable feeling no doubt.
“I’m uh glad.” Neteyam responded, being slightly deterred as his sister left, poking him in the spine as she snuck out of the tent, leaving Neteyam alone, with this…girl.
“Why are you all the way in the forest by the way?” Neteyam asked suddenly, his eyes directly upon yours, looking into them, noticing the glint of sadness that washed over your pupils momentarily.
“I argued with my parents. Flew off in a rush and got distracted as to where I was flying. So now I am here.” You shrugged, taking a seat on the floor of the tent, your legs growing tired from your long journey. Neteyam followed your actions and sat down in front of you. Much closer to where he stood.
“Oh, I am sorry.”
“Do not be sorry, my parents should be the sorry ones, but you do not want to be burdened with the quarrels of my family.” A stifled chuckle escaped your throat as you looked up to see Neteyam listening to your ever word.
“I would not be burdened if you decided to talk about it.” His voice was calm, soft, a comforting feeling spreading through your chest as you heard his words.
“Thankyou.”
Neteyam nodded, as he patted just above your knee, a soft hand to comfort whatever grief was consuming your emotions. “Do you want to sleep, or would you like to continue to eat?”
“Uh, I don’t want to eat more than I am allowed to.”
“Well, are you still hungry?”
“…yes”
Neteyam shoved another piece of fruit in your hands. “Then you will eat.”
“Thankyou.” You smiled at him, biting into the fruit once again.
Neteyam was compelled by your presence, he had known you for merely an hour but the magnetic connection he felt as he was drawn to you was undeniable. Was he going crazy?
You noticed his heavy stare on you once more. It made you nervous, his eyes looking through you as you sat in front of him. His beauty was one you had never seen, he poise interested you. Were you attracted to this random man? You must be going crazy.
Chewing the food in a slightly rush you watched as Neteyam’s eyes awkwardly shuffled around the room to try and avoid making too much eye contact with you. With a small inhale you tried to gain the courage to break the awkward tension between you two.
“So Neteyam, you seem important around here, is there a reason why?” Your question surprised Neteyam. He had never met someone who knew nothing of his reputation within the clan.
“I am the future Olo’eyktan, my father is Toruk Makto.” You almost spat out the food in your mouth. You were speaking so casually with the son of Toruk Makto? Not even that, his firstborn son? He must have been staring because you were so informal!
“Oh! Son of Toruk Makto. I should have been more formal!” You rushed to stand up again to bow down to him. Scrambling to your feet with speed, you felt a soft grip on your wrist.
There Neteyam looked up at you, his eyes slightly…disappointed? Was he really that upset about your informalities?
“Sit back down Y/N, there is no need to be so formal.”
“Are you sure.” Your voice was quiet, eyes filled with confusion and hesitance as he nodded giving you the go ahead to sit once again.
“Yes I’m sure…just think of me as Neteyam.”
“Okay, I’ll do that…Neteyam.” He smiled at the sound of his name, the way you giggled as you said it, smile shining brightly in the soft moonlight that slipped through the tents curtains.
“What are you in your clan?” He asked, trying to keep the conversation flowing with you.
“I am the second daughter of the Olo’eyktan. Nothing special.” You shrugged, avoiding his hardening gaze. His hand returned once again to your thigh, an awkward attempt at comfort but still an attempt.
“You are a daughter of your clan’s leaders, that is important.” A stern statement filled with pride, his eyes softening while looking at you.
“Thankyou.” You said followed with a small yawn, eyes watering slightly. Your body was now feeling the fatigue of the long day that was now behind you.
“Oh, that reminds me, sleeping.” A soft chuckle left your lips in response to Neteyam, eyelids now starting to droop subtly. “This is my tent is where I usually sleep but if you would like you can sleep in here and I can sleep in my family’s tent?” He sounded so unsure, to suggest it as if there was another option as to where you could sleep safely.
“I do not want to kick you out of your bedroom.” You said shaking your head.
“But you are a guest you should sleep here safe.” A quick rebuttal
“Well, but this is your tent. This is where you sleep.”
“No, tonight it is where you sleep.” You sighed, pursing your lips together in response to Neteyams final remarks.
“But-”
“No” he stood up, now looking down at you. His figure looming over you intimidatingly. “You will sleep here tonight. If there is any trouble I am not far away.” He smiled at you, offering a hand to pull you up to his level.
“Are you completely sure?”
“Completely. Goodnight ikran girl.”
“Goodnight Neteyam.”
You both couldn’t deny the heat that rushed flowed to your cheeks. Neteyam stifled his smile as he exited the tent, as a smirking Kiri gave him a knowing look. This may have been the start of something terribly amazing.
It was now morning, a restless night filled with anxiety. The new sounds of the world around you, the mysterious moonlight shining into your eyes and to be alone in a brand new clan. It was terrifying.
Waking up for the last time as you decided it was an appropriate time to start off your day. Siting up you examined the tent around you, the small plants and flowers that littered the ground, and carved wooden pieces that were spread strategically around the tent. He must enjoy decorating you thought to yourself.
The curtain of your room slowly opened, a timid hand holding the edge, peeling it open to reveal Neteyam’s face. “Morning Y/N, did you sleep alright?” He asked closing the curtain again as he entered his tent. He looked down at your barely awake form, the sleep in your eyes and overall exhaustion on your face told him that you in fact did not sleep alright.
“It was fine, thankyou for letting me sleep here.”
“There was no way you weren’t going to, mum would have skinned me if I had not let a woman sleep in her own tent.” He chuckled at the thought, a hand being brought up behind his head.
“Either way, I appreciate it. I’ll have to go home soon though, my parents will send out a search party if I’m not back before todays eclipse.” Neteyam frowned, of course you had to leave. But why was there a tugging in his heart to ask you to stay just a couple hours longer, to talk to you longer, to be near you.
“Yes, but you should stay just a bit…longer.” Neteyam sounded so weary, cursing himself in his mind.
You stared up at him, you couldn’t deny that you wanted to be home, yet you had this growing urge to stay by this stranger. Why? Why did you crave his closeness?
“I guess I could…” His face brightened almost exclaiming in joy, but he choked down his urge to shout.
“Cool.” Cool? Oh, Neteyam you had to be kidding.
“Yeah…cool…” The awkward tension was once again returning as you looked away from the boy in front of you, fidgeting with his hands, rocking on his heels to pray something could meld the awkwardness in the room.
Getting off of your makeshift bed you stood close to Neteyam. Closer than any normal conversation would be. His breath was brushing past your ear as he looked down to see you mimicking his fidgeting.
“Would you like to explore the forest with me?” It was a fast, impulsive, brash decision to ask you that but seeing the way your eyes twinkled in response he felt no shame in being so forward.
“I’d love to.” Sharing smiles, you both enjoyed the now comfortable silence between you. A silence two would share in the pining plot point of a romance movie, one that asserts which two characters will be in love.
“Then let us go!”
That conversation led to you being alone in the forest with Neteyam. As he passionately explained all of the things around you, the plants, the animals. He knew you would have them in your clan, but he was enthralled in the spirit of teaching someone all about his life and culture. To have someone listen so intently to something he was passionate about.
“The forest is beautiful Neteyam.” You breathed out resting your back against a large tree trunk, one similar to the one you landed on the night before.
“I am extremely blessed for it to be my home.” His eyes were bright, smile across his face as his gratitude took over his emotions. He looked alluring to you, a sort of instinct drawing you closer to him, even though he was the one walking closer to you, a subconscious decision.
“Neteyam..” It was quiet but seeing him walk towards you unknowingly led him to stand very close to your front. His chest mere centimetres away from yours. “You are close…” Noticing your whisper he noticed how close he was, he was too busy focusing on the plants around him, he had walked right into you.
He froze when he saw your breath hitch, your eyes connecting as his broad chest momentarily brushed up against yours. “I am sorry, I shouldn’t be.” He looked down seeing your flushed cheeks and avoidant eyes. It intrigued him. Why were you so attractive? He shouldn’t think this.
“No, you shouldn’t.” Your eyes shot up to him, desire pooling in your amber orbs. The feeling was taking over your body, this longing for him. Why did you want this stranger so bad? You knew nothing of him other than the fact that your body was calling for him, begging for him.
Neteyam was now the frozen one, lost in your eyes. The desire you felt transferring to him as he felt his chest grow heavy from yearning. “Y/N…” Your name rolled off his tongue with ease, dripping in anxiousness.
Maybe it was to spite your parents, to find someone before you were mated. Maybe it was the overall intimacy of how Neteyam shyly loomed over you or maybe it was the fact that this man in front of you was the most attractive Na’vi you had ever came across and you were just a teenage girl…alone in the forest.
“Neteyam. Forgive me for this.” Crashing your lips against his your eyes shut tight as your hands travelled up his chest to rest behind his neck. He froze, eyes wide as he felt you upon him. Your touch burning as your hands travelled up and down his body.
Accepting your affections, he closed his eyes and continued to kiss you. Lips latching onto one another as he pulled your into his body, his hands wrapped around the small of your back, thumbs digging into the flesh of your hips.
Starting to lose your breath you broke away from Neteyam’s lips. Meeting his heavy breaths and intense stare. “Neteyam-” cut off as he smashed his lips into yours again. This time it was feverish, his body craving you, to taste you lips and feel every part of your body.
You let out small whimpers as Neteyam’s hands travelled down to grab your ass, his hand resting on the flesh. If he was in his right mind he would’ve been repulsed by his lewd actions but in this moment he craved you, and the sounds you made just drove him closer to insanity.
As hands roamed and kisses grew more desperate you and Neteyam separated, hands laying softly on each other as chests rose in sync, breathing loud and eye contact strong.
“Neteyam, I am sorry. I should not have done that.” The feeling of desire soon turned into shame, not being able to look him in the eye, too embarrassed about what you initiated. Neteyam was still, his face showing none of the feelings he was experiencing.
He longed to taste you again, but he knew it was wrong. He had duties to uphold as leader, he couldn’t kiss whomever he pleased. But you were just so intoxicating.
“No.”
“What?”
“Do not be sorry. I kissed you back. I wanted you so badly. No. I want you so badly.”
“Neteyam, I met you yesterday and I’m leaving today. I shouldn’t have been so impulsive.” He forgot that you had only known each other one eclipse. It felt like eternity. He also forgot that you were meant to leave, you weren’t here forever. This was a mere coincidence, meeting you in the forest was a coincidence.
“Come back then.”
“Huh” You stared up at him, you knew what he said. You just wanted him to repeat himself.
“Leave and come back. We can visit I just…I want to get to know you more Y/N. I don’t want to kiss a girl to never see her again.” Neteyam’s hands had rested against your cheek. It didn’t feel like you had known him for hours, more like years. An old couple reuniting, lost souls reconnecting. That is what it felt like.
“Neteyam…how do I explain that to my parents?”
“Don’t.”
“You are being a bit delusional.”
“I know I just… this is stupid. You just want to go.” His ears flattened against his skull, a prominent frown etched onto his face. You sighed holding onto the hand that laid against your own cheek.
“Neteyam. I want to get to know you as well.”
There it was. That was the start. It was the beginning. You both felt something click in your heads that day. That this is what is right, despite it feeling so wrong.
You and Neteyam had now been visiting each other twice a week. You would fly out on long ‘training hunts’ to understand new waters you have explored but in reality you were in the Pandorian rainforest, sat against a man’s chest as he played with your hair. It had become routine now. It was now habit to see each other.
It felt like true bliss. It let you escape from the impending doom that was meeting your future mate. It felt disgusting to think of living with someone other than Neteyam by your side. Thinking about it made you queasy but most of it made you feel lonely. Knowing one day you would have to say goodbye to Neteyam as your family had trapped you into misery for the benefits of clan’s over their own daughter. However, you didn’t think you would say goodbye to Neteyam this way.
You sat on the tree where you met Neteyam. You decided to pick that one as its large waterfall next to it made it easy for you to know where you were as you barely knew your way around the forest.
Early morning is when you would leave your clan meeting Neteyam as the sun starts to move towards peak. This morning however felt different. Neteyam who usually was there before you was nowhere to be seen. It worried you wondering where he was. He didn’t forget or something did he? No. That is stupid Y/N, you cursed yourself.
Being in the forest alone was scary, not knowing all that resides it made you sensitive to the smallest noise. That’s why when Neteyam emerged out of the heavy foliage you had your knife out ready to attack.
“Y/N? Why is your knife out?”
“You scared the crap out of me Neteyam.” Putting your knife back into the loop of your loincloth you pulled your hands down your face in embarrassment. Your heartbeat now starting to calm down as Neteyam gave you a soft embrace hoping to calm your anxiousness.
“Sorry…I was late talking to my family.” You didn’t realise before because of the adrenaline but Neteyam’s voice was sorrowful. The usual playful tone changing into a melancholy tune. But what alerted you the most was his tear-stricken face. Puffy eyes and dark cheeks.
“Neteyam…have you been crying?” you rested your thumb against his cheek, wiping the residue of tears off his face.
“It is nothing”
“It is definitely something…” your concern grew larger as he looked way from your gaze, obvious he was hiding the new set of tears welling in his eyes.
“No. It is not.”
“Neteyam please-”
“NO Y/N! I- I can’t talk about it. I just want, I want to stay next to you.” His voice cracked, in turn cracking your heart. It ached to see him hurt.
“That is okay baby, come here.” He crashed into your arms, falling onto his knees to smoosh his face into your torso. You could feel the wetness of his tears near your belly button but ignored it to continue soothing him, patting his head softly.
As you sat down to meet him on the ground you noticed his more recent tears. It pained you. What was troubling your boy?
“Nete you can tell me if something is troubling you…”
“I don’t want to lose you Y/N.” The sentence was unexpected, making you widen your eyes as Neteyam continued to let his tears fall out with a stone cold face.
“But I am right here.” A lie, you knew you would be taken away at some point, but you would tried to push it down. Enjoy the time you had with Neteyam, but for some reason he was the one cutting it short.
“No Y/N…I have been promised. I-” he paused to calm himself down, his hand gripping onto your thigh roughly. “I am to mate with someone for my clan. It is my duty.”
“What.”
“Y/N please, I had no say in this.” Your lip quivered, eyes starting to water as you gazed up to the already crying Neteyam. The pain in your body felt crippling, like your heart had been plunged out of you. Small sobs coming out of your mouth in a soft whisper as Neteyam muttered constant apologies to you.
Your chest felt heavy, your body felt heavy. You felt like you were tied down, stuck on the ground you sat on, stuck on Neteyam who hung onto you as you continued to cry in his embrace.
“Neteyam. Does this mean we never see each other again?” His heart shattered at the thought. He had fallen in love with you. Everything you did he wanted to be there with you. He craved you and you craved him. But now you were grieving him and grieving whatever could have been.
“I do not want it to be.”
“But is it.”
“Yes.”
The quiet sobs turned into loud ones as you clawed onto Neteyam. He whispered sweet nothings into your ear as he rocked you back and forth. He tried to have a little composure but hearing your pained voice broke him. He had broken you.
“I don’t want to let you go yet Nete. I was planning on never letting you go! Why did this happen!” you had this secret fantasy in your mind. That one day you and Neteyam would mate, that you would come to your home, denounce your parents promise over you and live happily with Neteyam.
But no. You were now both tied to loveless lives. Constantly yearning for each other while being with one whom you never craved like you craved each other.
“I am so sorry my love. I wish I could do something, but I am stuck.” You nodded, you were in his exact position. You couldn’t blame him. But you wanted to scream, cause a ruckus and demand for Neteyam to stay as yours. It drove you insane. Who was going to be the girl that kept you away from your Neteyam. You’ll skin her, kill her, slit her throat if it meant that Neteyam could still be yours.
“I know…let’s just enjoy our time together” it felt like a knife to the heart, like a final goodbye those last eight words. But Neteyam understood. He knew that this was a goodbye. That all good things had to come to an end but that didn’t make the thought of never having you in his arms again not the most painful thing he had ever thought about.
The ride home was the most painful thing you had ever done. You didn’t stop crying until you reached home, your throat itchy and head pounding. You wanted nothing more than to lay in your hammock and cry. To stay there until it was your time to mate and be miserable forever.
Flying into your home you would’ve thought your parents got the message that you were not to be talked to. But who were they to care about your feelings? So they barged into your room, gasping at the state of their sorrowful daughter.
“My child what has happened?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” You grumbled facing the opposite direction to minimalize the embarrassment you felt of being caught crying.
“We should tell her.” Your fathers voice rung in your ears, making your body go cold. You couldn’t handle anymore bad news, not after this.
“Tell me what.”
“Your mate is to arrive here tomorrow.” Your body heated up, feeling as if your head was on fire with rage. You didn’t even get time to grieve your romance before you were shoved into the hands of a stranger?
“Are you fucking kidding me.”
“Do not speak to us that way.” Your father tried to discipline you, but your rage was nothing compared to him.
“ARE YOU KIDDING?! I DON’T WANT A MATE I WANT TO BE ALONE. FUCK!” You voice was raspy and loud, sure the entire clan could hear you screams.
“You do not get a choice in this. It is for the clan.” You looked into your parents eyes but all you could see is betrayal, how is this fair?
You didn’t have the energy to fight this any longer. Without Neteyam, your purpose was gone. How was anyone meant to fight for their love when their love had been stripped away from them.
“Fine.” Your mother looked at both her mate and daughter with concern. You had given up. “I don’t care anymore, because it is obvious you do not.”
“You brat-” Your mother coughed loudly to stop your father. Sharing glances, you all looked to each other.
“Thank you daughter for doing this.” Sneering you looked directly into your mothers eyes and then to your fathers.
“I am not your daughter.” Their faces had fallen, the same emotion Neteyam had when he first saw you earlier. They had no right to be upset. Not when they chose this.
As your parents left without a word, you curled into a ball, folding in on yourself trying to shy away from the burden of grief and love tugging on your heart. The pain was indescribable, like someone had taken your heart and diced it in front of you.
That morning your mother had put you in your best attire. A top adorned in red beads and yellow feathers that represented your ikran was placed on top of you. Your usually loincloth had been replaced with one of prettier colour and material, more delicate to look at. Lastly, your hair had been let out, reaching past your shoulder blades as a yellow flower was stuck behind your left ear.
“You look beautiful Y/N.” Your mother had her hands over her mouth adoringly. “Doesn’t she look wonderful?” she asked your father as he replied with a proud nod.
A horn was sounded. Here they come. Entitled pieces of shit, thinking that they could mate into your clan. This wasn’t fair, you just wanted to see Neteyam. You wanted to cry in his arms, yet here you were walking out into the crowd of people. Drums being beat as horns blew. You tried to look poised, to try and look like you weren’t writhing in anxiety of who this man would be.
There flew in three ikrans. Why did it look so familiar? Why was the flashing colours of these animals bringing you back to siting in the forest with your love. You must be going insane.
“Neteyam te Suli Tsyeyk’itan! Welcome! Toruk Makto! Welcome!”
What.
No.
This cannot be happening. But it was.
There he stood in front of you. Just as frozen as you. The quiver of your lips came back as you saw him stand in front of you in disbelief.
“Neteyam?” He walked towards you slowly, reaching his shaking hand out to you. You paced towards him, wrapping your hand around his and bringin it to your chest. “It’s! It’s you!” you felt as if you were to burst in relief
“My love, it is you?” Neteyam’s free hand came to caress your cheek, his heart was sparkling, he felt a weight being lift off his shoulders the minute you came into view.
“It is me.” Neteyam’s lip quivered as he sucked in a short breath, trying desperately to not look as if he was a madman. “Kiss me.”
“What?”
“Kiss me Neteyam.” He complied, lips melting together in a harmonious union. Love mixed with the salty tears on both your cheeks as he held you closely to him. You kissed him deeply, ignoring the stares and confusion around you. He was here right in front of you, you would never let him go again. Never.
──── ⑅*❀*⑅ ────
hope you enjoyed please comment and reblog and like I appreciate it so much !!
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rinwritesfics · 2 months
Text
Blind Date
Plot: Kenobi has set you and the Marshal Commander up on a blind date – but Cody doesn’t know it.
Warnings: None.
Word Count: 1101
Author’s Note: Happy Cody Day!
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What was Obi Wan setting you up for?
Your friend had promised he had found someone who would he a good match for you, but you weren’t one for blind dates.
Although, come to think of it, if anyone were to set you on a blind date, you were glad it was a Jedi.
Now, the guy he said he had found for you was strong, smart, and fiercely loyal. You would know him by the long-healed scar down the left side of his face. You had a sneaky suspicion about the kind of person he chose, but you didn’t mind. The man probably also had tan skin and short dark curls. You wondered if he knew this was a blind date, too.
Probably not, knowing Kenobi.
You sat in the warm and welcoming caf and tea shop for a minute before the man walked in, the scar exactly as Kenobi had described. He was in nearly his full kit, yellow-orange highlights on it, with his bucket off and tucked under his arm. You stood up and tried to subtly wipe your hands on your pants to get rid of the light sweat on them, your stomach flip-flopping as his brown eyes settled on you. His brow furrowed slightly at first, then he made his way over.
He said your name quietly and you smiled a little, nodding.
“I take it you’re Cody, then. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You as well. General Kenobi didn’t specify why I was to come here and meet up with you. Is something wrong?”
“I… I take it he didn’t give you any information at all, then.”
“The General told me what you look like and had his mischievous look – you know the one.”
“I do, yeah. I’ve known him long enough to know when he plans to meddle with something. I do worry you may not like the reason. He did tell me.”
“Couldn’t be worse than an undercover op going wrong.”
“Can I buy you a caf, first?”
He frowned, then nodded and told you what he wanted. You went to the counter as he sat at the table, then came back a couple minutes later with an order for yourself and his, handing it to him. You sat down across the small table from him, silently hoping he wasn’t going to be too upset. You knew you probably would be stressed if you didn’t know you were on a blind date.
“So, what did my General tell you? How bad is this that we have to meet up like this?”
“Well….” You chuckled softly, a little nervously. “It’s not that…. Our mutual friend sort of set us up on a blind date.”
Cody stopped, his eyes widening. “He what? You’re joking, right? You have to be joking.”
You stopped, no longer feeling like laughing and instead feeling like a melon baller had been taken to your heart. An embarrassed warmth filled your cheeks and you looked down. “I-I’m sorry. I understand, now. I’ll leave.”
Just as you started to get up, Cody’s hand touched your wrist. You looked at him in surprise.
“Wait, no, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to come off so rudely.” He looked at you, eyebrows upturned and lips slightly parted. “I-I guess I’m just nervous, is all. I’ve never been on a proper date before and had I known, I would have brought you flowers.”
He paused, then continued. “Um… what is your favorite flower?” he asked softly.
You paused, then sat back down and his hand slowly retreated from your wrist. “Hm. That’s kind of hard. There are so many out there, but… maybe the Teddy Bear Sunflower?”
He raised his eyebrow and looked at you oddly and you realized he may not be familiar with any of the flora from your home planet.
“It’s just this vibrant and fluffy-looking large flower. Like a dahlia? Or am I confusing you more?”
He chuckled. “Maybe confusing me more, but that’s okay. This is actually kind of fun.”
You grinned. “Yeah?”
He grinned back, a soft look in his eyes. “Yeah.”
“Well, if this works out, I’m happy with any flower that doesn’t have a large stamen.”
He frowned, slight amusement in his expression. “Really? Why?”
“Less pollen.”
Cody chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Do you have a favorite flower?” you asked softly.
His brow furrowed. “Huh. I’ve never really thought about it before.”
“Well, you don’t have to answer now. I’m okay if you take your time to think about it.” You smiled softly and were rewarded with a smile from him, too.
“Now, why do I get the feeling you’ll have me stumped with each question you ask me?” He laughed.
“Because I may be full of questions you’ve never heard before, like what is your favorite food?”
He grinned. “That one’s easy. Anything that isn’t army rations.”
You laughed. “Alright, alright. How about favorite movie?”
“No, no, it’s my turn to ask a question.”
For the next hour, you two were laughing and chatting and you started to fall for this gorgeous man. The softness inside the protective shell he had to form to be the soldier he is today made you want to do anything for him. You found out his closest brother was Rex, which came to no surprise to you, and he found out you tended to stay up later than you should reading. You both decided to leave the caf and tea shop and go walking down the street for a bit longer. The mid-day sun shone down on you and it really highlighted the smile on his face.
As the date started to come to a close, you knew you didn’t want to let him go. And you hoped he felt the same way, and it was confirmed when he asked for your comm frequency first. Your heart fluttered. As you went to add his contact to your comm, he spoke up.
“Just Cody. You… you don’t have to use my rank.” He glanced away a little and rubbed the back of his neck.
Your smile grew. “I’ve had a wonderful time with you, Cody. And I really hope for more in the future, if it’s okay for me to say.”
He turned back to you and grinned. “Of course it’s okay. It’s a relief actually.”
“I’m glad.”
That night, you sent him a short message thanking him for everything and he messaged you back almost instantly, thanking you for a great first date. With him on your mind and a smile on your lips, you fell asleep.
Taglist (open!): @trixie2023
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HOLLY HOLLY CONGRATS ON UR 1K !! i saw ur event (which looks super good btw :o) and i cannot NOT request smth !!
i am here to present you with my request: 3 + you guessed it, alhaitham !! pls feel free to make it whatever genre u want <3
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i finally finished this oml, it sat in my drafts for so long half-written smh, i hope you enjoy the result though!! ♡
⇢ ˗ˏˋ Snapshot ゚☾. ࿐
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trope: taking photos [space nr. 20]
pairing: al-haitham x gn!reader
genre: fluff, suggestive at the end hehehe~
warnings: none except for al-haitham (i believe he should come with his own warning)
genshin masterlist
second constellation event masterlist
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“Look at this flower, isn't it pretty?” you excitedly exclaimed, kamera in hand.
Somewhere in the depths of Avidya Forest, two scholars were documenting the flora and fauna there for their project. One highly motivated to get this over with, the other—
“Is it?” With his eyes barely glancing over to the flower, Al-Haitham merely shrugged. “It looks like a rather average specimen to me.”
“That’s probably because you wouldn't know true beauty even if it stared you right in the face,” you scoffed.
Sometimes you really wanted to kick him where the sun didn’t shine; once for being a pain in the ass to work with and twice for making you fall for him all the same.
And maybe once more for always leaving you guessing, just for good measure. One day, he’d barely give you the time of day to accept the papers you handed him, the next, he’d come and seek you out to have lunch with him.
Seriously, what was his problem? Make up your mind, you dumb—
“Oh yeah?” Al-Haitham’s tone was cocky, challenging even, as he crossed the space between you in long strides. Grabbing a hold of your chin between his thumb, index and middle finger, he effectively made you meet his eyes. “I know you though, don’t I?”
“I- What?” You spluttered, heat flooding between his fingers up your cheeks. Blinking up at him repeatedly, you were trying to gauge his reaction. “What are you trying to say here, Al-Haitham, it's not funny-”
“What am I trying to say? I’ve made it rather obvious, haven’t I?” Cocking an eyebrow at your reaction, you could see the infuriating ghost of a smirk dancing around the corner of his lips. “And I know you’re smart enough to pick up on it. So don’t disappoint me, (y/n), tell me which conclusion you came to based on all the evidence laid out in front of you."
In that particular moment, you had good mind to take a swing at his stupidly handsome face. He was really going to make you repeat that? This jerk, he was enjoying this more than he should have been. Normally, he should be the flustered one after proclaiming something like that!
“Well, do correct me if I’m wrong, Scribe, but it almost sounded as if you called me beautiful. It seems something about my research must have gone amiss, the results simply do not match the gathered information.” You did your best to maintain an even tone and mimic the snobbish speech mannerisms you and your peers mocked your superiors for. “If you’d be so kind as to enlighten me where I might have been led astray in my analysis, I believe your insight would be of utmost importance on this matter.”
“Perhaps you should review your gathered information again, I do believe it matches the presented results, wouldn’t you agree?” Studying your expression carefully, one large hand settled on your waist and you suddenly realised how small the gap between you two had become. „I‘ve been conducting a similar research as of late, all evidence pointing to an outcome not unlike yours; your thoughts on the matter?“
„I concur,“ you breathed out, lost in the depths of emerald and amber. „It seems there might be a correlation between our findings.“
„A most intriguing hypothesis indeed.“ Al-Haitham‘s voice was low, barely above a whisper, but from how he leant closer, you heard him perfectly fine. With your hands on the tight material spanning his solid pectorals, you put up no resistance whatsoever as you willingly let him guide your face closer to his, your noses barely brushing. „Tell me, (y/n), are you willing to put your theory to the test?“ 
„Only if I‘m working with a willing partner,“ you matched his tone as one of your hands slid up his shoulder and under the fabric of his cape. 
Meanwhile, his fingers left your chin in favour of cupping the back of your neck. Between half-lidded eyes, Al-Haitham still couldn’t tear his gaze away from your lips almost touching his. „Haven’t I made myself crystal clear? I wish to explore all possibilities of this experiment with you.“
A gentle tug was all it needed for him to connect your lips with his. At first, his movements were almost timid, cautious in a way you weren’t used to from him. When you pressed your chest closer to his, however, his actions grew bolder as well, stringing you along in a sensual dance. 
The heat radiating from both his front and the hand which had sneaked to the small of your back, holding you firmer against him, made your head spin. To combat the dizzying sensation, you dug your fingers into the grey strands in his nape, hoping to ground yourself as your heart soared.
Even as Al-Haitham pulled away until only his breath fanned your cheeks, your mouth stayed slightly parted, eyes fluttering open slowly. 
Then, you heard the shutter of a kamera go off as you blinked into the lens of Al-Haitham‘s device. You watched incredulously as he examined the image of your still dazed expression. When he saw you gaping at him, a smug smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. 
„A truly beautiful snapshot indeed,“ he mused. „Now, let’s finish up our task here.“
Wrapping his hand around your wrist and bringing it up to his lips, he pressed a fluttering kiss to the sensitive skin.
„After all, my roommate will be gone for quite some time and I have important research to conduct.“
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tag list: @mccnstruck @teyvattales @silentmoths @ainescribe @meimeimeirin @dustofthedailylife @nsojbbkkm
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applinsandoranges · 8 months
Note
Hello! I love your writing and I know you have tons of requests to do, but would you mind writing both Sebastian and the MC of the game having a crush on the same girl? It can be in any way you like. Thank you!!
Hello, Anon!
I'll admit, at first, my knee-jerk reaction was to say, "MC gets the girl 100% of the time, and Seb can cope.", but then I was struck by inspiration.
It... may or may not be exactly what you asked for.
But it sure was fun to write!
I hope you enjoy some very light-hearted Herbology shenanigans.
Thanks again for what has become one of my favorite prompt requests!!!
Have a fantastic day.
Sowing the Seeds
"I'd like you all to please extend a warm welcome to the newest rose in our garden."
Those words sealed her fate as MC stood, blushing dark and grinning dazed like a lovestruck mooncalf in front of the entire Herbology class. Looking like a flustered fool in front of her classmates mattered little, however, when the warm and delicate hand of the stunning Professor Garlick rested reassuringly on the small of her back.
Lofty voice, pink lips, and an infectious enthusiasm for feisty flora made Mirabel Garlick an instant object of tender affection for her students, and the new fifth year was certainly not immune to her unintended wiles.
With a guiding hand, Professor Garlick ushered her, still in a bit of a state, to take her place at a potting table while she gently explained what she expected of her. MC did her best to focus on the words leaving her instructor's pretty mouth, nodding along and trying to look as eager and attentive as possible to match the young woman's spunk.
Like a whirlwind, Professor Garlick left the awestruck girl to her planting, and she was only jostled from her lovely daydream about a certain red-haired woman by the sound of someone clearing their throat awkwardly from beside her.
Sebastian Sallow.
Also known as the boy whose ass she'd thoroughly kicked in Defense Against the Dark Arts only yesterday.
"You know..." He whispered quietly from next to her. "There's a saying to remember when planting in this class."
She tilted her head curiously to the side as she waited for him to finish.
"Sow the seed deep and reap the benefits. I've been vying for that particularly bewitching woman since first year - you're years too late to even stand a chance against all the work I've put in to charming her over the years." He explained confidently.
"Oh? Is that how it is? Do you think she'll fancy some lad who came into her class still practically latched to his mother's teat? I rather like my chances." She said coolly, turning back to her pot of dittany.
"I'm not opposed to knocking you down a peg or three after the humiliation I faced at your hand yesterday. A galleon says that the first to make her smile is the winner." Sebastian chuckled, gently enveloping his seedling in fresh dirt.
She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I'll wager something even riskier. The first of us to have her ask us, independently and without our prodding, to chat privately is the winner. The loser must give up any claim to attempt to woo her for the remainder of the year."
Eyeing her warily, Sebastian added his own terms. "The private chat can't be because of chiding or detention or injury. I won't have you fighting dirty by knocking over potting soil or letting the tentacula bite you."
"That was a dreadful pun, but I'll forgive it considering you'll be facing heartache soon enough. We have ourselves a deal."
With that, they shook gloved hands, and the challenge was on.
-
The remainder of the month breezed by with little success for either student in catching their teacher's eye.
MC had attempted all manner of tactics to garner attention from the alluring ginger. Pleading like a puppy for her guidance with pruning, feigning ignorance regarding proper repotting techniques, and exhaustively asking for help identifying plants and their functions were all tricks she'd tried to show her enthusiasm for the cheerful woman's class, and they'd worked well enough.
The final straw for Sebastian was when he saw her shamelessly ask the unsuspecting woman to show her precisely how much pressure to tamp down the soil with using her hands, and for a brief and horrific moment he had to watch as Professor Garlick placed her perpetually dirt-encrusted hands overtop of MC's to demonstrate the proper exertion of force.
The girl nearly swooned from the proximity, and Sebastian hoped she might hit her head on the concrete if that were the case.
Sebastian, for his part, found success in spending late nights curled up in the Library with a Herbology book, intent on impressing their knowledgeable Professor with his own wealth of information on her favorite subject.
This, too, had worked in his favor when he enjoyed being showered in praise and House points by a delighted Garlick each time he raised his hand.
Surely she might call him after class someday soon to theorize and gush over plants?
Both Sebastian and his competitor thought that might be the case, though the latter was unwilling to accept it.
Instead, she switched tactics and attempted to wow rather than drum up pathetic sympathy.
In class one day, she raised her hand.
"Professor..." She spoke sweetly when called on, and Sebastian bit back a disgusted groan. "I was thinking last night about the negative impact that the Chinese Chomping Cabbage importation has on our ecosystem. Do you have any insight?"
Sebastian's jaw nearly hit the floor at the audacity of this girl. She'd spent the better part of the month pretending to be helpless, and now she was stealing his thunder by reading up on ecological studies regarding foreign flora?
Absolutely not.
Two could play at that game.
Without even raising his own hand, Sebastian interjected. "Of course, she thinks it's horrendous. The Ministry has done nothing to resolve unrestricted cabbage trade!"
The two bickered loudly back and forth for a while, trying to prove who was the most perturbed by invasive, carnivorous produce, while Professor Garlick watched them with growing enthusiasm.
Eventually, when it was all but a shouting match between them with an increasingly alarmed class as an audience, Mirabel finally interjected with a laugh and delighted smile.
"How lovely it is to see my two favorite pupils so lively and passionate this early in the morning. Perhaps there would be a better time to discuss this, though? MC, I'd like to speak with you a bit more after class about it."
Sebastian gaped, horrified that he'd lost until -
"Mister Sallow, you as well, please. I'm pleased to see you're both as enthusiastic about the subject as I am, and perhaps the three of us can work on a little project together?"
They nodded wordlessly, unsure what this unexpected tie meant for their competition, but unable to turn down a request from their spellbinding instructor. If she wanted to discuss cabbage law during one of their rare free periods, neither one would do so much as breathe a complaint.
-
That afternoon was precisely what led the two students down a tireless rabbithole of a new and ungraded project - one for the greater good rather than academic success, Garlick had assured them.
At first, assisting her with propagating a new breed of sterile and hardy cabbages to be grown in the UK rather than imported was merely a means to win her heart. After several weeks of late nights in the greenhouse together manually pollinating and tending to the experimental plants, however, neither student could deny that they had genuinely grown a passion for it.
And they'd formed an unexpectedly unique friendship for survival if nothing else.
In front of the masses, Mirabel Garlick was a soft-hearted and empathetic gem. When faced with a challenging pet-project in the face of prickly Ministry members, however, she had transformed into a ruthless disciplinarian and drove her two favorite pupils to near-exhaustion with the demanding extra-curricular workload.
After months of grueling work, preparing seedlings and pouring over ancient Ministry legislation, their still-alluring Professor finally released them from her over-zealous talons when she took a day off to present their joint findings and proposal to the Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
Used to a routine by that point, Sebastian and MC sat alone together in the Greenhouses during a free period, mindlessly feeding the tentacula while they waited for her return and news of whether or not their hard word had paid off.
"You know, I still can't believe this whole ordeal started with that absurd competition." She mused, holding a spray bottle at the ready in case the tentacula decided to lunge for Sebastian instead of the chicken drumstick he held out apprehensively for it.
He laughed, nodding his head in agreement. "To think our admiration for that, admittedly terrifying, woman could have brought about real change to the wizarding world - quite an accomplishment if I do say so myself."
"There's no question about it. If Garlick is even a fraction of the monster she is with us when she presents to the Ministry today, she'll see her changes made." She assured him.
"Our changes, you mean. We've worked hard these past months. You, especially. I've never known a witch who could wrangle a dozen chomping cabbages while missing three of her fingers." He wriggled his own fingers at her to emphasize the point.
Waving her own now-intact hand dismissively, she responded with a laugh. "I knew Blainey could reattach them. It was either catching the vicious little bastards or face Garlick's wrath. That said, after all this mess, I'm willing to let you have her - I'm spent. A lifetime with that menace and all the blood loss sounds from her deadly plants like hell - her ethereal beauty be damned."
Sebastian snorted, shaking his head. "I'm with you there, actually. Bless the witch or wizard who can actually keep up with her. Though, I can't really say I regret our little game."
Then, he looked up at her like an unexpected idea had struck him and grinned in that way that had recently and inexplicably been making her heart flutter.
"Say, how about you and I grab a butterbeer this evening? A little celebration to cap off our rather rigorous start of term. I think we've earned it, and I'm not too proud to admit I've grown fond of your company."
"Fond? Of me? Are you pulling my leg, Sallow?" She laughed incredulously.
Wiping his hands on his trousers after the tentacula had finished its meal, Sebastian smirked and gestured behind himself to the snapping plant. "Well, for one, you don't try to tear me limb from limb... at least not anymore."
"Well, I suppose given present company, that's rare to find in our free time lately. Yeah, let's go out and enjoy an evening without being caked in dirt and blood for once." She replied, unable to conceal the slight smile and blush creeping over her cheeks at the thought of spending time with him without the pretense of schoolwork and Herbology.
Perhaps after the warm buzz of a few mild drinks, she might finally ask him to help her sneak into the Restricted Section for that book she needed.
She could do it alone, of course, but why pass up the opportunity to spend more time together?
After all, they made a good team, and he was almost as pleasant to look at as their lovely Professor.
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thornsnvultures · 2 years
Text
All Hail the King
💖 fae king!Bucky Barnes x fem!reader (no body descriptions but Bucky calls you his Queen)
🌸 a/n: title and inspo from @treatbuckywkisses beautiful moodboard! I loved it the moment I saw it earlier today and when I went to write this the words just kept coming out lol I hope you like it!! 🥺🥺🥺
✨️🌷🦋🌷✨️
Slowly blinking to adjust to the light streaming on your face, you opened your eyes. The world around you was much different than the one you had fallen asleep in just moments ago on your blanket at the park.
"What-Where am I?"
"There's my Queen," a deep, familiar voice rumbled to your left. "I was worried you had been left to the Mists."
You turned to the voice, to the man you had met just hours ago. Dressed in a lavish, princely get up and adorned with a crown stood a man who had not long ago introduced himself to you simply as "Bucky". He still looked well and good like a prince, but with the obvious addition of large, ornate, shimmering wings, he looked like a prince of the faeries.
"You have wings."
"That I do, sweetheart. Aren't they magnificent?"
They were. You wanted to reach out and touch but they looked like they were made of dew drops and pure sunlight; opalescent, like fresh rain on a red rose. You retreated your curious hand before you could sully his magnificence, ruin the dream and make it come untrue.
"Where am I? Who are you?"
He stepped closer to you and the bed of flora you were sat upon; a soft cushion of leaves and petals and grass of all kinds.
Bucky took your hand and lifted it to his lips. The crown perched atop his floof of hair shifted as his pink petal lips pressed ever so lightly on the back of your hand.
"I am Prince James Buchanan Barnes, Lord of the Fae. You, my sweet, are in my kingdom."
He kept your hand in his as your mind swam in confusion, trying to surface. It feels like that time when you were six, when you fell in the community pool and still didn't know how to get your feet under you.
"Your kingdom?"
It felt silly. A dream. Childish and strange.
But there was Bucky, grinning down at you like he was ready to show you everything, show you how he carried the world in the palm of his hand.
"Are you sure this isn't a dream?"
"I'm sure."
You took another look around you at the sprawling meadow. The green and the leaves, the colors and the scent of millions of flowers floating on the breeze, the lichen and its wet and cool softness.
You nod your head and match Bucky's grin, letting him pull you to your feet and into his waiting arms.
"Well then, my Queen. Let me show you your kingdom."
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imhereformr · 11 months
Text
Came across this post by melodiesandfairywings, and I thought #14 was fun so I wrote a oneshot based on it.
Musa wasn’t even sure how she’d ended up at the party – some friend of a friend of a friend had mentioned it maybe. She was sure that, if asked, she could never pinpoint the host. Whoever they were, though, they had a nice home. She’d only seen the entry hall with its golden walls, extravagant art pieces and chandelier, and the living room where she was currently wandering through a throng of people she’d never seen before. 
“You came!” a voice shouted, she was pretty sure, at her. 
It took her a minute of trying to look over heads, but she successfully identified the voice as Aisha’s, one of the dancers on her tour, and the person, Musa was willing to bet, who’d invited her to this party. They’d only met a few times since rehearsals had only started two weeks earlier, but Musa liked her. Aisha was witty, and gorgeous. Tall, with dark skin and mesmerizing blue eyes. Her hair was done up in braids and decorated with beads that matched her eyes. 
“Yeah, well. I didn’t have much else going on tonight.” 
“I’m going to pretend that what you actually said was Gosh, Aisha, thanks so much for inviting me.” 
“Gosh, Aisha. Thanks so much for inviting me” Musa parroted. Aisha chuckled at her mockery before insisting on introducing Musa to her friends. They walked through the crowds, Aisha introducing Musa to a bunch of people whose names she’d never remember. Some she may remember by face – like the guy with the elaborate twirly moustache that must be held in place by a pound of gel.  
When they reached the kitchen with its teal cabinetry and coral pink island chairs, Aisha b-lined for a group by the patio door. “And these are my friends-“ 
“Who were those other people then?” 
“People” Aisha shrugged. Musa laughed. Tecna, her best friend, would die at the idea of socialising with people she wasn’t friends with. If Tecna had her way, she’d never have to talk to anyone except the very few people she liked again. Musa could be social, but at her core, she tended to be a loner. She knew people, but nowhere near as many as Aisha apparently did.  
Aisha introduced her friends: Stella, the hostess of the party, a perky blonde that dressed like she had walked off a runway. Brandon, Stella’s supermodel boyfriend, who apparently was not a supermodel, but rather a soccer player. Flora, with a sugary sweet voice, and a smile that made Musa want to entrust the girl with her deepest secrets and worries. Helia, her artistic boyfriend who Stella proudly boasted had painted most of the pieces in her entryway. And Nabu, Aisha’s boyfriend, who had spent the last few minutes looking at Aisha like she was the sun.  
“This is Musa” Aisha finished, motioning to Musa.  
“Oh, you’re the singer!” Stella’s excited shout caused a few people to look their way. The blonde bashfully apologised before continuing. “Aisha made me listen to the album-“ 
“How did you…” Musa’s debut album was only slated to come out in a week, followed by a short national tour that would start four months later. No one except Musa’s close friends, members of the tour, and those that had worked on the record had heard it. None of them had it in their possession, though.  
“I got it from Dufour. I hope you don’t mind.” 
“So much for an NDA” Musa laughed.  
“It’s not completely breaking the NDA. Stella’s your costume designer.” 
“And I have so many ideas!” Stella didn’t wait to be prompted before going off about her many, admittedly, great ideas for Musa’s costumes, as well as the dancers, the band, she even thought of costumes for the stagehands. Musa interrupted to tell her that wouldn’t be necessary. Stella shrugged off her comment about the stagehands and continued to explain her ideas based on concepts in Musa’s album. Everyone in the group didn’t bat an eye at Stella’s verbal diarrhea, so Musa assumed it must be normal for her.  
The conversation moved on, Brandon brought her a beer, a redhead that was introduced as Bloom joined the group, Stella wandered away to play the gracious hostess, Flora told them about her and Helia’s wedding plans, and Nabu made her laugh so much her side started to hurt. Musa liked them. They were friendly. Nabu suggested they move away from the doorway and onto the patio when people started heading outside for a late-night dip in Stella’s pool, so they ended up by the wall just beside the door on the patio. 
And that was where she saw him.  
He was sitting on one of the pool chairs with a drink in his hand looking rather uninterested in the whole scene. He ran his hand through slicked back maroon hair and took a sip of his drink, flexing his muscle in Musa’s direction. He was gorgeous.  
“Who’s that?” Musa leaned into Aisha to whisper, nodding at the man.  
Aisha turned her head very much not subtly to look at him. “No clue. He’s hot, though. Maybe Stella knows.” The dancer started to look inside, trying to find the hostess. Musa kept looking at the man, wondering why he wasn’t having fun. Everyone she’d met was so nice. Maybe he just needed to talk to someone.  
He looked at her.  
Dead on.  
Full on caught her staring at him. 
Musa felt the heat rush up her cheeks. He was looking right at her, and she couldn’t seem to tear her eyes away from him. Like he’d transfixed her in place with smoldering eyes and sharp cheekbones. Oh, and he was tall – she loved them tall (though, really, to her 5’2”, everyone was tall). God, he was really nicely toned too; his muscles almost seem to ripple when he moved. She bet he h- 
“Girl, he’s coming this way.” 
“What?” Musa yelped. Sure enough, when she looked back at him, he was a few feet from them. And everyone other than Aisha had left, she realised seconds later. When had that happened? How long had she been watching him?  
“Hi.” He shoved his hands in his front pockets. Musa felt a tight smile reach her lips as his eyes roamed over her, stopping when they finally met hers. She tried to think of something to say – maybe something funny or smart, or maybe just hi – but her brain seemed to have spontaneously combusted. Every word that she knew had either combusted with every other thought she had, or they’d escaped by jumping out of her brain.   
“Hi! I’m Aisha” the dancer said, elbowing Musa in the ribs and successfully snapping her out of her trance. “This is Musa.” 
An amused smirk appeared on his face as his gaze strayed over to Aisha and back to her. “Riven.” 
Aisha excused herself, coming up with the most half-assed excuse. I have to be... not here. She really could’ve at least said she had to pee.  
Musa took a deep breath, trying to calm her brain and nerves and vagina. 
 “So, what brings you to this party?” she asked, mentally berating herself for such a stupid question. He really looked so fucking good that any semi-interesting thought had slipped her mind. She was a sucker for tight black tees and jeans, especially when the wearer was six feet tall and built like a god.  
“Masochism.” 
“You’re obviously the life of every party you attend.” 
He smirked. “That obvious?” 
“Blatantly, yes” she deadpanned. 
“I’m amazed we haven’t been stopped by someone coming to say hi to you.” 
Riven laughed. He had a nice laugh. He leaned into her, resting his palm against the brick wall behind her. “It’s cause they can tell I’m much more interested in talking to you.” 
“Just talking?” Musa asked sweetly, looking up at him through her lashes. He swallowed heavily, a blush that was only slightly visible thanks to the dim outdoor lights rising to his cheeks. Riven looked over at the partygoers, so she took her chances. His stubble brushed lightly against her hand as she cupped his cheek and pulled his face down towards her. “Just talking?” she asked again, this time in a more suggestive tone.  
“Maybe I had a bit more in mind, but I’m a gentleman -” 
“Are you?” she scoffed. 
“I’m a feminist?” He tried again. 
“Oh?” 
“I was gonna wait for you to make the first move!” 
“You approached me.” 
“To talk.”  
“Right.” 
Riven backed up a bit. “Am I right in getting the feeling you don’t want to?” 
“I don’t want to...? Fuck you?”  
“Y-yeah.” 
Musa smirked, enjoying the switch that had just occurred. She much preferred being the predator; he had just caught her off guard. She pushed herself off the wall and leaned into him. At her instruction, he bent down to hear her whisper: “You’re very wrong. I very much want to.” 
In what must have been the world’s worst timing, Stella’s voice cut into their bubble. It took Musa a moment to realise that the other members of the group – save for Aisha who was looking at them menacingly from across the patio – were coming back. All through the re-expansion of the group, Musa couldn’t take her eyes off him. He was so goddamn beautiful. She drowned in his gaze, died in his gaze and went to heaven where she found herself floating above dark violet clouds, looking at him. It should be criminal for someone to be that attractive. 
“Do you two want access to one of the guestrooms so you can fuck and get this staring contest over with?”  
Musa went red at Stella’s offer, but well… she wouldn’t say no.  
The corners of Riven’s lips lifted. He tilted his head and raised his brows at her, asking if she wanted to. Musa bit her lower lip – she'd never had sex at a party before, much less a party at someone else’s house. What a specimen he was for that first-time experience. She didn’t have qualms about people hearing her – and she’d been told that she was, well, loud – but a situation this crowded would make her a bit more self-conscious normally. Everyone would understand immediately with a single look at Riven, though. 
It dawned on her that the entire group was waiting, looking at her, waiting for an answer. She, in the meantime, had been zoning out, letting her desire control her thoughts. A distressing and embarrassing heat rushed up her neck and cheeks. That asshole had taken the moment to regain control. Predator, not prey, she reminded herself. “I wouldn’t say no to that,” she replied coolly, returning Riven’s lusty gave.  
“If you don’t mind,” she added, remembering that she was a guest in Stella’s home.  
“Mind? Absolutely not, dahling. The housekeeper changes those sheets after every party for a reason.”  
Stella was up in seconds, leading the way through the packed house. Musa and Riven exchanged a quick glance that was interrupted by Aisha urging them to follow. They stood up and followed Stella as she wound through bodies to the palatial house’s entryway. He stood a few inches behind her the whole way, once putting his hand against the small of her back to swerve her out of the way of spilling beer.  
They followed Stella up the ‘off limits’ staircase on the right-hand side of the front door to the start of a soft pink hallway lined with more artwork – mainly fashion sketches – and plants. She stopped at the second door on the left, unlocked it and walked away with nothing more than a wink. 
She followed Riven in, closing the door behind her. She turned to him and leaned against the door. The guest room was painted light blue with an accent navy wall against which a bed with a navy duvet. There were other things in the room – two bedside tables with matching lamps, a single chair in the corner, some dark wood dressers, various knick-knacks – but they were lost to her. 
Riven sat on the edge of the bed, his shoes and shirt had already been discarded. She purred appreciatively at the sight before her; chiseled abs, arms that could squeeze tightly or pick her up and fuck her against the wall, a jawline that could cut glass, and lustful violet eyes that sent shivers up her spine.  
He looked up at her, inviting her to join him. Not wasting a moment, Musa leapt towards him, pulling off her own shirt as she went. She climbed over him, straddling him as she pulled him into the steamy kiss she’d been dreaming of. 
“You said an hour” he grumbled between kisses.  
She laughed as she trailed kisses down his jaw. “I said about an hour.” 
“Three hours can’t even be close to considered about an hour, babe” he countered.  
Musa sat upright and ran a finger along his chest, giving him her best innocent pout. “Still love me?” 
Riven rolled his eyes, an amused grin lighting up his features. She loved when he smiled – genuinely smiled, not that stupid cocky smirk. He was always most beautiful when he smiled, even better when he smiled for her. The first time she’d seen him genuinely smile, almost five years ago now, was the moment she’d fallen in love with him; the moment her crush had become this all-encompassing need to be his, to do everything she could to make him happy.  
“You know I do” he whispered before pulling her back into a kiss that melted her whole being.  
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victorluvsalice · 3 months
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Merry Christmas SatiricalDemon!
@thesatiricaldemon *waves* So you requested a fic about Daniel, Dommik, and N on an inter-dimensional vacation to one of my other fic verses...and the very first thing that came to mind was a follow up on a thread about a certain crystalline butterfly birthday present Dan sent to the Victors that my Secundus boy found very inspiring. XD So yeah, that's what you're getting. Hope you enjoy!
This Feels Like A Recipe For Disaster
“. . .and that allowed me to dampen the threat response! They still react if one of the flock gets injured, but it’s more of a ‘chase away the potential threat’ thing – they won’t try a full swarm unless you full-on shatter one of them.”
“Oh, excellent, excellent! And I see in your notes here you were looking to see if you could get different colors – I would imagine that if you added that lovely compound to the caterpillar mid-metamorphosis, you could get a truly acidic shade of green!”
“Maybe, but that also has a good chance of completely destabilizing the metamorphosis entirely. . .though I guess it’s all about how much I add. . .”
Alice looked over at the two, hunched over the main experimentation table in Victor’s greenhouse lab, and shook her head fondly. “I’m sorry, it sounds like they may be at this for a while,” she commented, turning back to their other two guests. “Victor was – very inspired by that little gift your Dr. Daniel sent along for his birthday.”
“So I can see,” Dommik said, grinning in that rather off-kilter way he had. Then again, Alice supposed that since he was really some sort of odd vampire-worm thing running around in a human suit (and how she wished she didn’t know that), it was only to be expected. “Daniel was hoping that he’d enjoy the statue, but I don’t think he expected him to try and recreate it.”
Normally it’s a bad idea for anyone to attempt to copy anomalous flora and fauna, N added, their cold gaze fixed on Daniel and Victor as they kept exchanging ideas on tweaks to the crystalline butterflies Victor was working on. But your husband seems to have a rare talent in that regard.
“Only because it’s a butterfly, I’m sure,” Alice replied, folding her arms. “Lepidoptery is Victor’s specialty. He can work with other insects too – we’ve got a hive of modified bees from a honey-making venture he attempted a little while back – and he’s got some talent with engineering, but butterflies and moths are where he shines.” She grinned. “Possibly because his very first project as a Touched was figuring out how to make them glow.”
“Oooh! I’d love to see that!” Dommik said, excitement shining through his eye sockets. “I’m sure they’re beautiful!”
“They are – and much less deadly than the creatures you lot apparently deal with on a daily basis,” Alice said, glancing between them and Daniel. “I thought Secundus could be a rowdy place to live sometimes, but after the stories you’ve told us of your world, it seems almost – peaceful.”
It is a difficult place to exist sometimes, N agreed. But we have found happiness there, regardless of the circumstances. They tilted their head at her. I do still find it interesting you do not exhibit the same Hume potential as the Alice we know at home.
“Oh, I’d love to be able to bend reality to my will,” Alice grumbled. “It’d make life so much easier. . .then again, your Alice seems to have had a very different life to mine, even if some of the broader events match up?”
“Mmm? Oh, yes – I’ve noticed your meta-narrative placement is much different from hers,” Daniel commented, looking up from the notepad he’d been sharing with Victor. “As is this Victor’s from the one I know. No waking up Emily means no potential for necromancy at all!”
“I’ll take raising butterflies over raising the dead,” Victor mumbled, scribbling something with a frown. “Hmmm – I’m not entirely sure that’s adding up right. . .”
“I’m just wondering where Smiler is,” Dommik said, looking around.
Alice blinked, then glanced over at Victor, who looked equally confused. “Ah – who?”
“You know – Smiler! Your themfriend?”
“Wrong universe, dearest,” Daniel said, with a slightly softer version of his trademark manic grin. “This romantic situation was resolved before their creation – though they may be here somewhere in potentia! Perhaps I could look into the matter!”
“Who are they?” Victor asked. “Other than a ‘themfriend.’” He smiled, tone light. “What, are we supposed to be a threesome too?”
Daniel laughed. “You could if you wanted to be! In fact, in studying the meta-verse for this trip, I actually located a reality where you and Alice are part of a nine-person polycule!”
Alice and Victor shared another, much more astonished glance. “. . .all right, now you have to tell us about that one,” Alice said after a moment, shaking her head. “Because I have got to know.”
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Tickle in the Throat
@sicktember 2022 Prompt #26
Fandom/OCs: NEW Priest ‘Verse OCs. 
Title: Would It Be A Sin
Words: 1591
Inspiration: this ask requesting a sick priest 
Author’s comments: Set in a small town in the American Bible Belt. To say I’m smitten with Flora and Father Luc is a vast understatement. I adored every second of writing this and found it easier to get into their heads than most. I think Flora may end up being my first snz kinkster, but we shall see. Also, I effing love the ending to this one, I won’t lie, and I can assure you a follow-up story is on the docket. I hope you enjoy this pair as much as I do. 
Flora carefully fixed her hair and adjusted her dress before stepping into the cool, quiet church for confession. Though Father Luc couldn't see her today, God could, and really it was the principle of the thing. Best to look your best before confessing what a depraved sinner you are. 
When her turn came, she stepped lightly into the confessional, taking the proper, subservient position before she spoke. 
"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned," she murmured as she had been taught. "My last confession was three months ago." From there she began to recite the litany of her sins from the past summer. However, she had hardly begun when she heard Father Luc softly clear his throat, evidently trying not to be overheard. Her ears were sharper than most, however. She continued on without comment. He did it again only a few moments later, shifting slightly so that the bench creaked beneath him. When it happened a third time, she sensed the desperation behind the action and paused.
"If you need to cough, Father, it's all right. I won't be offended, and I'm sure the Lord understands." She tried and failed to keep the smile out of her voice.
After a moment of silence, the priest did indeed erupt into a hoarse, barking coughing fit. 
"Excuse me," he rasped as soon as he could speak. "It seems I have a tickle in my throat today. Go on, my child."
Flora did as she was instructed, though she did have to pause and give him permission to cough once more, and that fit was even harsher than the previous. 
When she had finished her confession, Father Luc began to instruct her in his peaceful way. He noted that since many of her sins seemed to center on unkind thoughts and actions to others, for penance she was asked to read select stories from the Gospel of Luke focusing on compassion, and to pray blessings over a particular coworker with whom she struggled to co-exist peacefully, in addition to the usual Our Fathers. 
She listened well, and vowed to complete her penance faithfully. However, her attention was split, for Father Luc's hoarse, weak voice, more than hinting at a painfully sore throat, was a distraction. Her heart went out to him, having to hear confession in his current condition, and she made up her mind at once to do something for him.  By the end of her time in the booth, she knew just the thing, and she would have just enough time to see to it before confession hours were over. 
~~~
By the time confession hours ended, Flora had left and returned, and now sat waiting in her car in the church parking lot, her Jetta parked beside Father Luc's Sierra. She watched the leaves scudding around in the stiff, autumn breeze and wondered how long she should wait for the priest. Would he be likely to come out right away, or would he go work in his office afterward? If the latter, then this was a wasted trip, unless she went inside to find him. To her delight though, he stepped out of the church's back door less than fifteen minutes after confession ended. She hopped out of her car and stood waiting for him between their vehicles.
Father Luc was objectively, strikingly handsome, and less than four years older than herself. He was fresh out of the seminary, and she was fresh out of nursing school. Flora knew he and she would be a perfect match, with the priestly vow of celibacy as the only obstacle. Elderly Father Gregory, the previous priest, may have saved her soul, but Father Luc had won her heart, ever since the first time she saw him smile. Sin or not, she wanted him as her own, and she was determined to have him.
Today, however, it was obvious he wasn't well, and was not in the mood for smiles. He was pale and shaky, and was shivering just from the short walk to his car, though this early autumn weather was more windy than bitter. He coughed into his fist as he walked, pressing the other broad palm to his chest and shaking his head with a wince. She made a sympathetic face in response, though he wasn't looking.
In fact, he didn't see her until he was almost upon her, and he jumped when he noticed her at last, but she waved a hand in merry greeting to show she meant no harm. His face relaxed into an approximation of a smile, though the usual light in his eyes was absent. 
"Hello, Flora. What can I do for you this evening?"
"I actually came to ask you the same thing, Father. I heard you were under the weather today." Heard him coughing and sniffling with her own ears not an hour ago, more accurately. She was sure he knew she'd been in the confession booth today, but neither would ever mention that of course. 
He made a face. "Unfortunately true. It seems I've caught myself a lovely fall cold."
"Perhaps more than a cold. You're looking feverish to me."
"Am I? Well you would know best, of course. I feel rotten enough for it, if I'm being honest."
"May I?" She held out her hand to his face, close but not touching.
He hesitated, then nodded, his face inscrutable.
Flora pressed her palm to his sweaty forehead, probably too eagerly, and he leaned into the touch ever so slightly, giving her a thrill. They carefully avoided one another’s gaze. She pulled the hand away after an appropriate amount of time, though with no small amount of regret. 
"You're running a fever, Father. You should be home in bed."
"I'm headed there right now," he said with a miserable shudder. 
‘If only I was joining you so I could keep you warm,’ she thought to herself. She forced her mouth to say something different, however: "Is there anything I can do for you before you go? You have the medicine you need? I hate the thought of you going home to a cold, empty house."
"I have medicine, and I'll be sure to take plenty of it before I sleep. I'll be alright. Thank you, though, for your kindness. It isn't taken lightly." He expertly danced around any further mentions of his empty house and bed, and she followed his lead for the time being. 
"Well at least take this before you go." She opened the door to her backseat and pulled out a warm canvas bag, handing it over to him. "Chicken soup, corn bread, fried okra and a jar of blackberry jam. This weather already had me in the mood for comfort food, so I'd gotten all this going for supper first thing this morning. I believe you're the perfect person to share it with, as you're certainly in need of some good comfort food tonight yourself."
His eyes lit up as he took the bag, and she was sure she heard his stomach growl hungrily. He grinned at her now, the usual warmth in his gaze. 
"I hope you know you're my hero tonight, Flora. This is exactly what I needed. How can I ever repay you?"
‘I could think of a few ways,’ she thought wickedly. Instead she said: "As long as it helps you feel better, that's all I care about. It was no trouble at all. My fee is this though: you must promise to call me if there's anything else you need. You mustn't be a martyr and suffer all alone in silence. After all, you do so much for the congregation. This is the least I could do, to make sure you're looked after as well."
She thought he reddened slightly, and he pulled his eyes from hers to look at the food, though he continued to smile. "Thanks isn't enough for such a wonderful gift, but I offer it many times over anyway. And I agree to the rest of your fee as well. I will let you know if there's anything else I need, I promise."
"Good, then I'm satisfied." She almost threw all caution to the wind and reached out to touch his face again. They're would be no convenient excuse for it this time, though. No reason to explain away such forward behavior. Yet the desire was so strong that her hand twitched at her side. She forced herself to keep speaking instead. "I'd better let you go home, though, while the food is still hot. I don't want to keep you standing out in the cold."
He gave her a grateful look. "I'll eat it as soon as I'm there. Thank you again, so much. I'm sure we'll speak again soon, and hopefully I'll be better company."
"All the best to you, Father. Take care."
"Same to you, Flora. Be well." 
They both got in their vehicles and started them. Father Luc drove off immediately, while Flora pretended to dig in her purse. She watched him go wistfully, hungrily. She wanted him badly. There had not been a man yet that had evaded her once she set her sights on him, and this beautiful priest would be no different. It would simply take time. The next step in her plan was obvious, though. With a fever like that, he was going to get worse before he got better, and he would almost certainly be home alone and sick tomorrow. She would make sure she found a way to keep him company.
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dragonfly0808 · 2 years
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I found some prompts for your winx requests that I think you'd do really good at writing:
1) "I told myself I wasn't going to cry about this anymore but every little thing reminds me of it" (This seemed like a Musa, Flora, or Bloom prompt)
2) "Do you trust them/her/him?" "No...but I trust their anger" (aNgSt!!)
3) Person A: Who the fuck-
Person B: Language
Person A: Whom the fuck
Person B: ...
4) "can I count your freckles?"
5) OTP/BroTP Sparring at the gym
6) Best Friends go and purchase matching jewerlry
7) The Cinammon roll snaps
8) The grumpy one shows vulnerability
1- (This takes place after s1 but before the summer). 
Bloom had just been cleaning up her dorm when she’d knocked into her desk and a pile of books came crashing down.
She rolled her eyes, kneeling and going to pick them up. Then she looked out at the balcony, where there were a few small birds on the railing.
Her mind flashed back to the memory hologram the girls had created back in Domino, in which Daphne had been wearing a necklace with a similar bird.
She was surprised to find her cheeks wet all of a sudden.
Kiko approached her, gently pushing his head against her hand, clearly trying to distract her.
She sat down and pulled Kiko into her lap as tears continued to fall down her cheeks. 
“I’m sorry Kiko… I told myself I wasn’t going to cry about this anymore but every little thing reminds me of her.”
Now that she knew of her sister and that she’d gotten a chance to talk with professor Tabitha from Cloud Tower, who’d once been Daphne’s best friend, she found that almost everything had a way of reminding her of the sister she’d never gotten to properly meet.
Birds and sweetheart necklines and the color blue that she’d apparently been a fan of. Acustic songs and gold rings and long books.
Everything seemed to remind her of Daphne some way or another. And it hurt.
2- (This takes place in season one, after the rescue mission in Cloud Tower when Riven makes it to Alfea.)
Stella slowly rolled her shoulder.
Stormy had caught her with a lightning bolt. One minute, she’d been in the middle of a fight in Cloud Tower, knocked unconscious by Stormy, and then, she was in the Alfea infirmary, Brandon at her bedside.
He told her that Sky and Bloom had tried to make their way to Lake Roccaluce. He wasn’t sure if they’d made it.
“What about Riven?”
“I think he’s with the others right now.”
“How is he?”
“He seems to be… alright… apologetic.”
She didn’t miss the tension in his shoulders.
She pressed her lips together for a moment, “I hate to ask you this but… do you really trust him?”
Brandon sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair, “Honestly? No. I don’t fully trust him, at least not yet… but I trust his anger.”
Stella could only hope that that would be enough.
3- Stella walked into the living room wearing her glasses, a scowl on her face.
The girls were having breakfast, they all looked up at her, except Tecna, who was absorbed typing something into her tablet.
“My eyelash curler is missing.” Stella said with a tired tone, “Now I wanna know, who the fuck-“
“Language.” Tecna said distractedly.
Stella blinked once, “Whom the fuck-“
Tecna pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed heavily.
The girls burst into laughter.
4- (takes place in season 2, after they make up from their fighting)
 Stella was out on a date with Brandon, so she and Sky were in her bedroom, she was drawing while he was cleaning his equipment, they were enjoying each other’s silence.
Bloom had been working on a sketch of Cloud Tower, she was so enthralled that she was surprised to find Sky staring at her with a small smile, who knew how long he’d been watching her.
“What?” She asked nervously.
Sky’s smile turned warm in a way that made her melt, he kneeled in front of her, “You’ve got a bit of uh… charcoal dust. Here.” He used the pad of his thumb to swipe at her cheekbone.
She felt herself blush. Why was she blushing? This was her boyfriend, she had no reason to be blushing.
“That’s one of the perils of using charcoals to paint.” She said.
He didn’t move away though, still watching her with almost… admiration in his eyes.
“What?” She asked again.
He shrugged, “Nothing. I just… I really love your freckles.”
She couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her, “What? Since when?”
“Since always. But today for some reason they are especially adorable.” He trailed off for a moment, hesitating before speaking again, “Can I… count them?”
She actually cackled at that, “How are you gonna count them?”
He smirked, going to kiss her cheek, starting to peeper her with kisses over her cheeks and the bridge of her nose.
She was laughing, making half-hearted attempts to get away, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into his lap.
“This is way too cheesy!” She barely managed to get the words out through her laughter.
He just continued counting her freckles with kisses.
5- (this takes place in season 2 after Timmy catches Rivusa kissing)
“So… are we gonna talk about it?” Timmy asked with a smirk.
Riven cracked his knuckles, “Nope.” He threw a right hook, Timmy barely being able to dodge it.
“Are you mad at me for being a cockblock?” Timmy asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet before trying to get Riven with the staff on his hands, “For the record, it was an accident.”
“You should be focusing.” Riven grunted, throwing a jab that got Timmy on the side and almost made him fall.
He chuckled, swinging his staff quickly enough to get Riven in the ankle, but when he went to get him in the arm, Riven got a hold of the staff, snatching it away from him.
“You need to be careful to not give me an opening to take the staff from you.” Riven told him, handing him back the staff and going to throw a punch.
“Are you gonna ask her out?”
Riven was so surprised that he let down his guard for a split second, Timmy using that moment to hit him on the side and swipe the staff at his calfs, knocking him down with a huge smile.
“That was dirty fighting.” Riven said, still on his back.
Timmy snorted, “All is fair in love and war. So,” he offered his hand, “are you gonna ask her out?”
“If you keep asking that, I will knock you on your ass.”
Timmy grinned.
6- (this takes place at some point in the beginning of season 2)
Sky rolled his eyes as Stella dragged him to yet another stall in the Solarian market square.
Vendors everywhere tried to catch the princess’ eye with shiny fabrics and metallic bracelets and all kinds of crystal statues. But what made Stella finally stop was a small stand that Sky probably wouldn’t have noticed if Stella hadn’t made him stop.
“I’m sure you’re overreacting.” Stella said as she looked down at the curled bracelets and crystals and quartz necklaces on display.
“Feels like I’m being avoided.” He said as he passed a gentle thumb over a silver ring.
“Bloom just gets passionate you know that. She’s a total nerd when it comes to History.”
“I’ve offered to help her and she just says no I don’t get it.”
“I don’t know blondie. Maybe this is something she wants to do by herself.”
Sky sighed heavily, only looking up when Stella squealed in delight.
“Look!” She held up two gold rings, one with a sky blue quartz and one with a pale yellow quartz, “We can match!”
He grinned, “This reminds me of when we were ten and you shoved me into a bush because my bowtie didn’t match your dress.” He said as he slid the ring with the blue quartz into his index finger.
“You absolutely deserved it for wearing that ugly beige suit.”
“My mom chose it for me!”
“You still wore it!”
“You’re impossible.”
“Love ya too.”
7- (This takes place the day after the second attack on Red Fountain in s2) 
Timmy and his team were walking down the hall, they’d just finished dragon practice and were gushing about it.
“But it’s not fair dude.” Brandon said with an arm wrapped around Helia’s shoulders, “You’ve been riding dragons since you were like three.”
Helia shrugged, “You just gotta catch up man.”
They laughed as they continued their way down the hall. Then they passed another group of Specialists, who glared at Riven as they passed.
“How much do you want to bet he told the Trix where the Codex was?” One of them whispered.
The other spoke loudly as they walked past them, making sure they would hear, “I bet he’s still her fucking boy toy. Maybe he fucks all three of them.”
Sky and Brandon were about to turn around to confront the group, but Riven held them back, mumbling something about how it wasn’t worth it.
Timmy was already walking before he’d even processed his intentions, the Riven seemed too focused on Brandon and Sky to notice Timmy stalking down the hall.
“Hey, Aaron!” He called.
Aaron had barely started to turn around when Timmy punched him across the face, making him stumble into the wall.
The rest of his team were slow to turn around to look at Timmy, astonished. They’d probably expected Brandon to be the one to come up to them.
They flexed their knuckles and Timmy tensed up.
This was going to hurt.
But it’d been totally worth it.
8- (this takes place in s2 after the Trix escape Lightrock Monastery)
Darcy was tense as she slowly sat down on the bed.
They were underground, but the rooms weren’t that bad. The rocks had been carved to resemble furniture and the matress were comfy.
But that didn’t help her relax.
There was a knock at the door then and Stormy walked in without waiting for a response, going to sit at her side.
After a minute of silence, Stormy finally spoke, “Do you want to do this?”
Darcy was surprised, “What?”
“Come on Darcy… we’ve always known that you are the most… normal one of us, the only one that might actually have a shot at having a normal life… I’d understand if you wanted to leave, find a little farm someplace where you can live in peace. You don’t have to stay.”
Darcy blinked many times, surprised at the tears gathering in her eyes, “No. You’re my sisters. We stick together.”
Stormy sighed, throwing an arm around Darcy and squeezing her against her side, “Okay kid. Let’s do this.”
35 notes · View notes
izukuisbaby · 2 years
Note
Heyy, congratulations, I'm always glad to see your blog always on my dash <3
For the matchup event , can i get a (i don't mind either gender :) ) jjk one, I'm 20, for personality I'm an Isfp my hobbies include art and cooking hehe, I'm quiet unless i feel comfortable around people, My friends describe me as kind, hardworking and loyal, i also am kinda always anxious and prefer to plan everything out before doing anything.
For appearance I'm 5'4, chubby and long black wavy hair with brown eyes.
What I want in a partner is someone who doesn't judge and understanding.you know kind of relationship that feels like you're dating your best friend!! Thank u, enjoy ur date or night!!! :)
💌 FLORA'S MATCH-UP EVENT #3
・❥ to summer : have the loveliest day baby thank u for your sweet ask🥰 tumblr glitched and I had to start this over:( i hope u like this<3
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🏹 you've been matched with...
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... yuuji itadori 💘 (aged up)
・❥ your relationship's song : moonlight by ariana grande, the love you both have for each other is so pure and healthy, you're each other's first and last love and i feel like this song is perfect for you two !
・❥ what is your relationship like
ღ yuuji always sneaks in the kitchen when you cook to taste the preparation in the bowl, he LOVES your cooking and I'd just so supportive of your new dishes and desserts, he likes them all🥰
ღ yuuji is kind of a messy person so he leaves organization up to you but is always happy to suggest date ideas, he's very creative when it comes to spending time with you ! his favorites are pic nics in the park near his house, cooked by both you and him
ღ yuuji is very cuddly and loves to play with your hair when you're in his lap, he won't ever tell you that he watched many hair tutorials to make you pretty hairstyles :), he doesn't want nobara to tease him for being a simp
ღ it took forever for him to confess, megumi had to push him to you and he was as red as a tomato, he thought you were wayyy out of his league and you'd never date him, God was he wrong 😫
・❥ some texts with your soulmate 👼🏻
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© izukuisbaby. do not copy, modify, translate, repost or take my ideas/concept without giving credits but comments, feedback, reblogs and asks are very much welcome ! 🏹💌
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moonstream-05 · 1 year
Text
Why am I only worth what the mirror shows?
Stella had always known that people only liked what she had to offer in the looks department, it wasn't as though she had much else to offer. And while her friends had told her otherwise, there was always a seedling of doubt planted in the forefront of her mind.
So when she'd looked in the mirror, and saw a green blob with her hair and what used to be a pretty dress, she couldn't help but wail.
Why did it happen to her? She knew she wasn't always the nicest, but she thought she'd always tried, sometimes her mouth opened before her brain could stop it, she always apologised if she thought it necessary. Why had the world let this happen to her, why couldn't they have let her keep her one good quality?
She dared to take another look.
The only thing of Stella that had remained was her hair. It was still long and blonde, still very soft, but it did nothing to hide what she looked like. Maybe she could claim refuge in her dorm, where no one would have to look at her again. She could keep her friends and boyfriend, a door between them forever, so they wouldn't scream or shudder at a look at what she'd only had brief glimpses of. It only took her a brief moment to realise the flaw in her plans: none of them would want to hold a conversation with her, especially through a door.
"Stella," Bloom asked, knocking on the door, "Are you alright? I'm going to come in, bring you something to eat, I know you haven't eaten since the morning, and it's pretty late now."
She walked over to her bed, turning away from the mirror and doorway and hiding herself with her duvet.
"Okay, sure, Bloom, thank you."
"Here you go, is there anything you want? I can bring you some different clothes if you want, your phone? I know Brandon's really worried about you, but remember there's no pressure," Bloom replied.
"I think I'll have to deny him that, sorry, Bloom," Stella said, remorseful.
"What do you mean? Brandon won't care, none of us do, and none of the specialists will, you know that, don't you? We love you, no matter what," Bloom tried to comfort.
She felt Bloom reach over to touch her, so she couldn't help but recoil from it.
"Why don't you tell that to Flora's scream?" She said, bitterly.
"Stella... She didn't mean to, it was a reaction, nothing was meant by it, surely you know that," Bloom justified.
"Well I don't care," Her voice grew louder, "When you look like this then you can lecture me, but the point still stands. I refuse to have Brandon look at me like this. Understand?"
"Now, hold up a minute, Princess Stella," Bloom began, "I am not lecturing you, I'm trying to help you, we all are, and if you are too stubborn to see that, then quite frankly I won't be bothered from now on."
She stormed off afterwards, sometimes Stella forgot how quick to anger Bloom could be, she'd apologise soon, if Bloom came back. Stella hoped she would, maybe now she looked like a monster, people wouldn't come back when she acted like one.
Rather than moping anymore, she decided to try to find some clothes that would suit her size better. She was devastated about the ruining of her gorgeous new dress, maybe it would be repaired when (if) she changed back. But alas, she now had to look for practicality over beauty (something she'd never thought she'd hear herself say).
None of her regular clothes would fit, so she'd have to wear some baggy clothes, and the only 'baggy' clothes she had were Brandon's. So she walked over to her wardrobe, and bent down to her drawers underneath, and scrambled through them to find matching joggers and a jumper or zipped jacket.
She did eventually find a pair, but they were grey, much to the chagrin of Stella. Though at least they fit her (with a hint of bagginess, still!), she'd never thought she'd be more grateful to have such a tall and broad boyfriend. However, now thinking about him, brought about feelings of sadness, she wanted to be held in his arms, buried underneath him, hidden by him, she wanted him to comfort her, but mostly she just wanted him to be there.
"Bloom? I don't know whether you're anywhere near, but I just wanted to say I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I think, I just- I'm really scared, I don't want to be alone, but I don't want anyone to look at me and just, leave me," Stella said to the door.
She knew no one was there, but it felt good to put it out there.
Stella thought she'd have a bite to eat, before she then would try to have a good night's sleep, despite the day's events.
-
"Stella, wakey, wakey! Today we're going to find a way to break the curse," Flora said, trying to wake her up, "Bloom! She's not waking up."
"Here, let me try!" Musa said, as she came in, "Steeelllllaaaaa, you're going to miss the new opening of the shop."
"WHAT?! What shop? What do they sell? Tell me Musa!" Stella asked, shaking her friend. "Oh, I still look like this, wonderful."
"It's really not that bad, Stel, you're just a bit greener, and a bit bigger this way," Musa said.
"Wow. Thanks."
"Well, I still think you look even cuddlier, Stella," Flora mused, grabbing onto her.
"Time for breakfast, everyone," Tecna announced.
"Can you guys bring me something back? I don't want to go down there, please," Stella asked.
"Are you sure? One of us can stay if you want?" Tecna interrupted.
"No! No, it's fine, I think I'm going to try and call Brandon, you guys enjoy breakfast, alright?"
"If you're sure, sweetie? We'll be back as soon as possible," Flora asked, giving her one last hug.
"I'm sure, I'll see you soon," Stella said, waving them off.
"Your phone is on the living room table, see you in a bit," Tecna stated, before joining the other four.
Stella waited a few minutes to go downstairs and retrieve her phone. Once she knew they had all gone, she went to go fetch it, she briefly said hello to Kiko and grabbed an apple to eat upstairs while she waited for her friends to get back.
"Okay, you can do this, just look at your phone, that's the first step."
Stella did just that, with much motivation. It was just a black screen, because while she could look at it, she didn't want to see how many calls or messages she may have gotten.
"Now, open it, then call Brandon, hell even message him, that'll be a start," Stella said, breathing heavily.
Entering her passcode, she saw all the missed calls, she had. She noticed most were from Brandon, she at least owed him a call. She tapped his contact, the dial number and waited.
She waited a total of one second before she heard a sigh of relief, "Oh, Stella, sweetie! Are you alright? What happened? You haven't been on your phone and I've been so worried."
"I'm alright, just tired, very tired, sad too, very sad actually," She said, noting her voice lacked her regular tone, instead sounding drained.
"Oh, darling, I'm coming over."
"YOU CAN'T!" She screamed, "I mean, you can't, me and the girls are working out some things? You know figuring out how to undo the spell you know?"
"The spell on your father, surely you want some cuddles though, you sure don't sound fully yourself, you know?" Brandon asked, lowering his voice into a much different tone, a tone even more relaxed than usual.
"I'm sure, in fact, you'll be the first one to know, I'll call you immediately," Stella stated, realising that she truly had been lucky, in the fact he had no idea about what she now looked like.
"Okay," He said, sounding resigned to what she'd said, but still accepting, "I hope to hear from you soon, sweetheart."
"I promise."
The phone call abruptly ended.
She hoped it was a simple spell that could undo the curse, she wanted to see Brandon as soon as possible, but somehow she had her doubts she would be so lucky, unless she'd had enough bad luck that caused some good luck to come her way. She couldn't help but hope for that, no matter how confusing that train of thought was.
"One breakfast, for one princess," Bloom interrupted her thoughts.
"Thanks, Bloom. Listen I wanted to apologise for what happened yesterday, I just, it's hard and well I guess that doesn't excuse how I acted but-"
"No, I'm sorry, I wanted to help, but I didn't take into account what you wanted, what you needed and what you were thinking," Bloom explained.
"What if, we both just forget it," Stella laughed.
Bloom laughed too, reaching in to give her a hug, she flinched from it, but still accepted it.
"Now come on, we have an evil curse to break!"
-
Stella had her cloak on again, it hid her pretty well, and it made her feel beautiful again (as superficial as it sounded), it was probably because of the colour, the same dress she wore for her Princess Ball, the same dress she noticed made Brandon's jaw drop, before the whole curse thing happened. She decided to wait on those memories not wanting to feel the things she did when she was transformed into the beast she now looked like.
"I don't think I can hide how I look from Brandon much longer," Stella said, trailing behind her girls in the libary.
"We could put a spell on him, it would make him only see you for your beauty on the inside," Flora suggested, excited for the chance to use a spell she'd been researching.
"Besides, I'm sure Concorta will find a way to break it soon, I mean look at her go!" Bloom pointed towards the pixie.
"In all honesty, I don't think my inner beauty is much better than how I look right now," Stella mumbled, but the thought went ignored or unnoticed by her friends.
Then a book was dropped onto their table, "The Mirror of Truth," Bloom read out, describing where it was and the history behind it.
"Here's the solution, it breaks all dark magic spells, but it will be a difficult journey and you must find out how to use it yourself," Concorta explained.
"Are you sure it'll work?" Stella couldn't help but ask.
"Of course, dearie, have a little bit of faith!"
They walked back to their room joining Musa and Tecna.
"Oh! Before I forget, do we know how Layla is?" Stella asked. All she got in reply were open mouths staring at her, "What? I'm not so selfish I only focus on myself, honestly!"
"We didn't think you were, it's just we know how preoccupied you've been, but no we haven't heard anything," Musa explained.
"Now do you not have a call to make Stella? To a certain 'schnookums'? I overheard you earlier, now no chickening out," Tecna said, snapping her fingers.
"While you do that I'll work on the spell, don't you worry," Flora said, already walking off.
"And while you call Brandon, I'll call Sky, so they can know where we need to be, because I doubt you two will get much else done other than flirt," Bloom said, snarkily.
If Stella were in a better mood, she'd defend herself and Brandon, from the over exaggerations, but she simply blew her tongue out and walked up to her room, pulling her phone out.
She called him a second time that day, and he responded in less than a second this time, "Wow, your reaction time has improved by a millisecond from earlier," She laughed.
"I just need to know you're okay, am I not allowed to now?" Brandon laughed back.
"I never said that, my hero, in fact I look forward to it," She replied softly.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Well I suppose we'll see each other soon enough, my princess, I hear we're going to some ice caves. I'm sure you'll need me to keep you nice and warm."
"Yeah, I might just forget my coat," She replied, remembering how they'd often walk, and he'd took her under his cape.
"I also heard about The White Giants, you think you'll need a hero to defend you from them," He whispered.
"Yes, I think I will," Her voice matching his, before she started talking again, this time with a teasing tone, "You know, with his big broad shoulders, his very strong arms and his well incredibly tall height."
"Oh yeah," He laughed, "What's the minimum?"
"Hmmmmmm, six foot five I'd say."
"Oh few, I just fit the criteria," He snarked.
"Well, I guess you'll have to do," She said, with mock distaste.
"Sorry, I've got to go, Sky's rushing me, says we've got to go and we can flirt in person, goodbye my princess," he said, with a touch of remorse.
"Goodbye, honey," she replied.
Stella had forgotten what she'd looked like throughout that exchange, she felt light on her feet, felt so free and happy. And she couldn't wait to see him in person.
"Wait! In person? Oh no, no, no!"
She rushed downstairs, running to Flora and Bloom's room, "Have you found the spell?"
"Yes don't worry, I'm ready to cast it, don't worry!"
"Oh, thank you," She replied in a much calmer way. Before she began walking to say glumly out of ear shot, "I only hope I'm pretty on the inside."
-
"You ready, sweetie?" Flora asked.
"As ready I can be right now, have you cast the spell?"
"Of course, don't you worry, and even if it doesn't work, he won't care and if he does, he isn't worth it, he isn't good enough for you, because you are a lovely person," Flora said, clearly passionate.
"I guess you're right, but I really do love him," Stella said, looking away blushing from what Flora had said.
"Yes and he really loves you," Flora replied, kindly.
Stella saw the ship, and saw Brandon. She was still covered in the cloak, but she was still wearing the tracksuit she'd put on the night before, she probably stunk.
"Flora, could you I don't know make me smell nicer, I probably stink," Stella asked.
She rolled her eyes, in response, before waving her hand around to show her compliance, "There you go, now don't panic. It'll be alright, I assure you."
She whispered, "No turning back."
Before shedding her coat in the middle of school grounds and walking towards the ship. She hoped she was beautiful inside, she hoped that whatever qualified someone to be a pretty person on the inside she had. If it were any of the winx, she would have no doubts that they were, but not her. She was selfish and mean sometimes, too reliant on others and also short and expectant. She shook herself, she may not be a good person all the time, she sure as hell tried and surely that would be all that mattered, right?
"Hey gorgeous," Brandon said as he saw her, ruffling her hair, "Hey, I wondered where they went, did you steal them?"
"Noooo, you left them, therefore they're mine now," She teased, before walking away, "Guess I am pretty inside."
"Huh? What was that Stella?"
"Oh nothing for you to worry about," she laughed.
After everyone had bordered the ship, Brandon sat next to her, offering his arm for her to get under, which she gladly did.
"I missed you," he said.
"I missed you too, but don't you need to be doing something here?" She asked, curious.
"Well we all agreed that while, I am the most talented specialist, my talents are going to be best used in comforting the most beautiful princess of all," He said, laughing at the calls of outrage from his friends.
"When have we ever said that?"
"Which conversation were you in?"
His laughter filled the ship, and she couldn't help but smile up at him. "I don't know what you're on about, Stella is clearly the most beautiful princess here, no offence to you Bloom."
Stella couldn't help but feel a bit sick. "Excuse me for a moment."
She walked towards the bathroom, and looked at herself in the mirror, while he saw her as a beautiful princess, nobody else did. She'd be lying if she said it didn't hurt her. A knock on the door broke her from her trance of looking at herself.
"Stel? You alright?"
"Yeah, sorry, just needed a moment," She responded.
"No need to apologise, alright?"
She nodded. They walked back to their seat and relaxed, intertwining with each other.
-
Stella had never felt so lost. She wasn't pretty anymore, she wasn't a fairy anymore and she was pretty sure she could say farewell to her title, 'Crown Princess of Solaria.' Those were the three things that were integral to her identity, if she wasn't even one of the three, how could she know herself and how would other people know her?
If the mirror of truth didn't work what would happen? Would this be the final straw Griselda seemed to be waiting for? Would she take joy in kicking Stella out of Alfea, like she had always wanted to? Or would she and Faragonda send her out of the school with remorse or guilt? If she were to be kicked out, would her friends still consider her as a 'Winx'? She hoped they would, or at the very least remain friends with her.
She looked up at Brandon. He looked calm. She wanted to be calm, but how could she? The rest of her life could very well rely on this mission. The rest of her relationships could. Maybe her relationship with Brandon would remain constant. She hoped so. She really did love him, she hoped he loved her the same. But even if he did, could she be so sure that he would love her like she was now, that he would stay with her? She wasn't entirely sure, because while she and Brandon made sense aesthetically beforehand, she couldn't say they would now. Maybe Flora could keep putting the spell on him, if all else fails, she thought, rather morbidly.
She began to turn away from him, deciding to put some distance between the two of them.
He noticed, and moved his hand that was rested on her shoulder to her waist, pulling her closer. She couldn't help but relax into his touch, so she melted into him and closed her eyes.
-
"Ugh, are we there yet?" She asked, her worries and impatience returning from earlier.
"Data indicates that we are coming up the sector where the caves are located," Tecna replied.
There was a jolt in the ship's movement.
"Hey, I didn't do that," Sky said in reaction.
"Do you think it's the White Giants Concorta told us about, look the snow's thickening?" Bloom pointed out.
"What's happening now?" Tecna groaned, heading to look at Timmy's screens.
"According to the instruments, atmospheric conditions are moderate, but ice is building up on the hull of the ship," Timmy read.
"Reminds me of something Icy would do," Musa scoffed.
"Let me handle it!" Flora volunteered, "With my solar sprouts!"
Timmy shook his head, "That won't work, temperatures are too low, sorry, Flora."
"Magical ice, Flora," Tecna added bluntly, "Your sprouts would never be able to take root."
Brandon stood up, leaving Stella to sit up right, walking over to Sky's chair, "Whatever it is, we need to find a solution, magical or not, and fast!"
"Wow, that'll help us come up with a plan," Musa stated, sarcastically, "Bloom? What about your dragon flame, could you use it to melt the ice?"
"Good idea! Bloom! Magic Winx!"
"Wait, Bloom don't!" Sky interrupted in a panic, "Going out now, it's too dangerous. We have to find another way."
"I have an idea, but you're gonna have to trust me."
"I trust you Bloom."
"Okay," Bloom started, "We do a power dive, the friction will create enough heat, the ice will have to melt off."
"That may work, okay everyone hang on!" Sky announced.
"Don't pull up, until I say so," Bloom said, sternly.
"I'm not going to like this am I?" Stella said to herself, clinging onto her seat.
The ship began its dive.
"Nope, not liking this, getting dizzy, getting nauseous!" Stella shouted, curling in on herself.
Brandon noticed this and exclaimed, "Sky! Pull up! Sky pull up!"
"Not until, Bloom says."
"Pull up Bloom?!" Flora and Musa asked in sync.
"Not yet."
Brandon was next, now clinging onto the back of Sky's chair, "Pull up Bloom."
"Not yet," A moment passed, before Bloom snapped, "Now!"
"Holy shit! We made it?!"
"Is it over yet?"
"Yes, Stella, it's over and Bloom you were amazing."
Brandon let out a sigh of relief, walking back over to Stella.
"The cave is in sight!" Tecna directed to Stella.
"Wait, what are those things?" Musa asked.
"I hope they aren't what I think they are," Bloom grumbled.
"Whatever they are they're attacking us," Sky said, as the ship took a hit.
"Wonderful more guardians of the mirror!" Bloom exclaimed.
The big beast was clinging onto the ship.
"Can we try to pull up again?" Flora asked.
"The engine's not responding!" Sky shouted back to everyone.
"Can we slow the dive?" Tecna suggested.
"The gravitational fields may as well be gone, our ship's structure can't take much more before it will collapse," Timmy said, looking at the projected diagrams in front of him.
Stella was worried, she didn't particularly like how she looked, but she didn't want to have been the one to cause her friends' deaths just because she wanted to look normal. Brandon had joined her once again on their seat, looking at her lovingly and putting his arms around her body. He put his hand on her cheek and she leaned into it, making eye contact with him. She couldn't be entirely sure, but she could have sworn she saw her green face in his eyes, and not her normal one. Though maybe the spell didn't work externally on his eyes, just in his mind. She wasn't sure, she'd have to ask later.
"Hold on tight! I'll try to switch us to auto level! Timmy, put us on manual override!" Sky exclaimed, warning beeps in the background.
"Sky, this griffin isn't letting up!" Brandon shouted, as Stella clung to him as another jostle from the bird occurred.
Sky ignored him, "Timmy, open the hyper valves, we need more power!"
"It's not working!"
"I can't believe the bird is overpowering our engine," Sky thought aloud.
"Girls our turn, lets go get those griffins!" Bloom announced.
"I'm afraid I won't be of much help now," Stella said, remorsefully, putting her green, webbed hands to her face.
"Don't worry, Stel," Brandon said, putting his hands over hers, rubbing his fingers over the backs of her hands, "It'll all be okay."
"Magic Winx!"
The Winx flew out, soon after.
Stella wasn't entirely sure what had happened out there, but the griffin had let go, but other than that wasn't affected, as far as she could tell through the cracked front windows. The three griffins then seemed to fly past the ship, presumably to her friends, where Sky and Timmy then took the opportunity, to fly at a much higher speed.
"The girls did it!" Timmy exclaimed, "They're retreating."
Brandon's hand left hers, so he could facepalm, "You spoke to soon!"
Before she could ask what he was on about, Sky shouted, "Frontal attack!"
One griffin had the ship in its talons again, and slammed it against one of the ravine walls, before the ship was released again.
"See, told you we made it," Brandon smiled.
A slam on the top of the ship interrupted their joy, "What's going on now?"
"We've lost control!"
"We're being attacked by something bigger!" Sky exclaimed.
"If we don't slow down, the ship is going to blow!" Timmy panicked.
"I'm trying to release the coolage, but it's deactivated," Sky said.
Stella stood up, "My friends need me and I can't even transform."
Brandon joined her, "Everything's going to be okay, we'll get out of this, you'll see."
He then bent down to hold her by the waist, she leaned up to wrap her arms around his neck. They stayed like this until the griffin holding the ship roared.
Brandon walked away going to Timmy, "Uh oh, what was that?"
"An ultra sonic energy surge, I think."
"The work of Musa no doubt then," Stella laughed, gleefully.
"Let's hope it works then," Brandon said, the ship was shaking, "What are they doing?"
"Should I try an evasive manoeuvre?"
"Hold out another minute," Sky suggested.
With one last blast of visible magic, the griffins disappeared, and the girls returned.
"Be sure to stay low, between the cliffs, Timmy."
Brandon stood next to Timmy's seat, "Like those griffins would be brave enough," he laughed.
"But it could be dangerous, it's not even mapped territory!" Timmy explained.
"I thought you were the best pilots at Red Fountain," Tecna giggled.
"Well alright, let's do it," He said rubbing the back of his neck.
"Hold on, it's gonna rock," Sky advised.
But before Stella could take a firm grip on anything, the first rock happened, slamming her over to the door. She tried to get up, but as she did she pushed the open button, one more rock caused her to fall out the door screaming.
As she was falling she heard the faint shout, "Stella no! STELLA!"
She continued falling down, before managing to land on a rock edge. She clung dearly on, hoping they'd find her. She couldn't hold anymore, not for long she was getting cold and she felt weaker than ever in her body.
She felt herself slipping, her legs dangling.
"Hang on, Stella, I'm coming," She heard Brandon call.
She looked for him, seeing the ship fly down next to her.
"Give me your hand," He said, reaching for her.
"I can't, Brandon," She wailed.
"You can, just jump. I will not let anything happen to you, I'll catch you," He said.
"But you can't," She wailed.
"I promise, I will catch you." And he said it with such sincerity she couldn't help but believe him.
"Promise?"
"I do. Come on, Stella, we're running out of time. Now jump."
So she did.
She felt herself falling, when a big hand caught hers.
"Got ya," he said, pulling her up and back onto the ship.
She let out a sigh of relief, and she heard Brandon do the same, as he clung onto her. Feeling her all around, as to make sure she was safe, she gave him a quick squeeze and a smile, before her friends surrounded her giving her a hug altogether. She saw Brandon collapse on the floor and couldn't help but laugh at the sight.
"Wow Brandon, that was amazing," She heard Timmy say.
To which Brandon replied, with a thumbs up.
"Now, unless there are any objections, I say we get the hell away from here and never come back," Sky said, before speeding the ship.
-
"You do have to admit, we make a great team," She overheard Sky say to Bloom.
"Yeah, too bad they don't have high speed rescue ops at the Magix games," Bloom laughed.
"Our search is over, look!" Musa proclaimed.
"The entrance!" Stella gasped, it was beautiful, she hoped the Mirror of Truth would see her as honourable enough to gain her old looks back, she couldn't live like this forever. She now had Brandon's cape on, alongside his tracksuit set she'd already had on, he'd claimed he was worried she'd get too cold.
They entered as a group.
"Remind me what we're looking for again?" Brandon asked.
"The Mirror of Truth, Concorda said we'll know it when we see it," Flora replied.
"I really hope it will work," Stella said, looking down at her reflection.
"Remember what Concorda said?" Bloom asked.
Musa replied, "The Ice Spirits are the keepers of it, we should trust their judgement."
"In a few steps, the tunnels will widen out, we'll be there soon, Stella," Tecna said, looking at her built in map that came with her fairy form.
They arrived, it was beautiful. The ice sparkled and shone, though there was no light source visible. There were pillars all around, circling the widened tunnel, which then led to open plain land of ice. The pillars were smooth, and all seemed to have a beard, they glowed particularly brighter, perhaps they were the source of light that caused the caves to glisten so much.
"It's amazing alright, but where are we?" Stella couldn't help but ask.
"You are in front of us, you were looking for us, why?" The pillars spoke, one voice, like a gravelly old man.
"Sorry to bother you, but are you the ice spirits?" Bloom asked, giggling nervously.
Flora took a step back, gawking at the spirits in front of them.
The spirits replied, "We are the ones that wait for eternity, speak."
"We need your help, please!" Bloom exclaimed.
"You overcame great challenges, the frozen winds of the barrier and the talons of the great griffins. Your motivation must be strong."
Stella walked forwards.
"Dark magic, an evil spell."
"Can you help me break it? Please?" Stella asked, voice coming out in a broken whisper.
"You need the Mirror of Truth, you will find it as soon as you find yourself, touch its heart and it will help."
"What does that mean? The mirror has a heart? Please? Tell me more? Please?" Stella couldn't help but beg.
"Stella! Wait! Where are you going?" She heard him call after her, as she walked off.
Bloom stopped him, "Brando, you should wait here, with the other guys."
"Yes, don't worry we'll take good care of her!" Flora added.
They all came to her offering another a hug, which she gladly took.
"Let's go find that mirror!" Tecna exclaimed.
They walked as a group, until Stella found a separate turn which she took. She saw it was a dead end, with reflective ice showing her, she recoiled at what she saw, hiding her face with Brandon's cape. Before she repeated the Ice Spirits words, "You will find it when you find yourself." She flicked the cape revealing her face, before tenderly touching her reflection. She flinched when it opened, but she went through.
She walked further in, hearing her friends echoes, "Stella! Where are you?"
She was sure she heard Brandon say, "I'll go this way, you can go that way," but she discounted that thought, thinking it was probably her imagination.
"I want to be myself again this isn't me!" She said.
"Stella! Maybe you sh-" Brandon started.
"The Mirror? I bet that's what the spirits were talking about?" She exclaimed, it looked like a frozen over pond, but it glowed like the spirits had, but with a yellow shine instead.
"Stella, just wait," He tried to get out.
"No you don't understand, I need this," She almost sobbed.
He stayed silent and followed her as she crouched down.
"Please, Mirror of Truth, break this spell," She tried, "Please! Oh, please!" She tried again, wiping her tears. "What did I do wrong?"
"Stella," He said, joining her on his knees.
"No don't look at me please," She begged, knowing he wouldn't understand.
"Why not?"
She breathed out heavily, "You think I'm pretty because of her spell."
"Maybe now isn't the best time to say, but I can see what you look like."
"Bu-Bu-But how?" She asked, refusing to look at him.
"I don't know, the spell never worked," He explained.
She finally turned to look at him, "You didn't run away from me?"
"Why would I run away from a beautiful person with a great big heart and a wonderful soul," He said, smiling and caressing her cheek, before turning to look at her friends that recently arrived, "Now girls, why don't you tell her what you see?"
Tecna started, "An awesome person, never afraid to speak her mind."
Flora continued, "Who is cheerful, light-hearted and fun."
Musa continued, "A crazy fairy, who never fails to make me laugh."
Bloom finished, "A loyal, warm and loving friend."
She turned away and looked at herself, "I only thought people saw me as pretty," A tear fell from her eye, making contact with the mirror. It cracked, but she ignored it, instead turning to Brandon.
"I loved you then and I love you now, maybe even more Stella," Brandon said, pulling out a box from a pocket, "Here, your birthday present, it's been in my family generations and I want you to have it, I tried to give it before but well you were distracted and then everything happened."
She opened it, before jumping to give him a hug on his lap, "Oh, Brandon! It's perfect! It's the most beautiful present I've ever been given."
She saw the mirror glowing again, before it once again frozen and she saw herself. She was glowing, she stood up and noticed everyone cover their eyes.
"I'm me again! And I have my dress on!" Stella exclaimed, beaming to everone.
The spirits spoke their congratulations.
She took one final look at herself. Yes she was pretty, beautiful even, but that wasn't the best part about herself, she was a good person and had beautiful friends.
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anzhin-the-starman · 1 year
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Daily Writing Challenge: Day 4 - Children
[This lore is a part of Anzhin's story during the three-year peacetime after leaving the Shadowlands, about one year in.]
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The beautiful scents of a familiar garden flood Anzhin's senses and a smile crosses his lips. It had been a few months since his dear friend told him the exciting news, that the 'Loa of Apples' is soon to be expanding her family with a new arrival! He hopes his unannounced visit won't be too strenuous nor irritating to the expecting mother.
"Kholwa~!" He calls out, gently, seeing his friend amongst the herbs she so carefully tends. In his arms is a large bushel of apples and when she looks up, his smile is a bit impish.
Kholwa seems to have her attention split between tending the flora in the planter box and.. a little creature in a sling at her front. A baby! It has a little tuft of pink hair to match the sling, and its bright, glowing eyes seem to observe everything with curiosity. Anzhin just about melts at the sight of such a sweet, curious face. He's so happy for his friend that everything seems to have gone well, however, he may be a bit disappointed in himself for being rather late to the party.
The half-elf is startled from his thoughts however, when a mana wyrm cautiously zooms up to him, body sparking defensively with arcane energies. Apparently, it had been tending to the Aetheril in the corner of the garden when Anzhin just waltzed in. Kholwa looks over then, "Easy, Haliy'ai, Anzhin is friend," She calls out, and turns slowly, "One very welcome here!"
"I apologize for intruding on your territory, ferocious guardian wyrm." Anzhin muses, shifting the bushel in his arms to conjure up a bun for the little creature to enjoy. Surprisingly gentle, Haliy'ai takes the bun with an approving stare and a flit of fins, returning to Kholwa's side for a quick brush against her.
"Ah, good, little goddess approves," The Zandalari smiles, leaning against the scaled touch before her head tilts to take in her friend's presence. "It has been some time, ah? Kholwa sorry did not get to send mail to sooner." Her gaze drops to the baby in the sling, its little eyes on Anzhin, "This was first time for Kholwa, not know what would be like."
A warm smile pulls at the corners of Anzhin's lips. "It is alright, my friend. Truly, I understand. I only wish I could have come sooner." He sets the bushel beside him and -- in a minor conjuration of sparkles -- a decently-sized box appears in his hands, to which Kholwa's brow raises curiously. "Though, I am not sure if this would have been ready if I had." Soft laughter escapes him as he steps forward, offering the gift to Kholwa and her little one. "I think Radio would have had my hide if I tried rushing them."
"With or without, Anzhin is always bright star in Kholwa day."
Anzhin's eyes widened, cheeks becoming tinted with color as warmth spread in his chest from her gentle, genuine words. "You are far too kind, my friend." He manages in a soft whisper.
Kholwa's head bows in thanks, stepping forward to take the gift. The baby's little hands reach out as if to emulate her mother, and Kholwa chuckles before lowering the box just enough for those little hands to bap! against them. "Radio?" She asks, looking back to Anzhin, but never quite keeping her eyes away from the child, "Not sure remember speak about before."
A soft huff of a shy laugh escapes as he watches the maternal interaction. At the mention of his business acquaintance, he chuckles and scratches the back of his head. "Radio is... an exceptional craftsperson. They handled a lot of my merchandise and tailored my performance clothes." He hides the melancholy in his gaze when his mind so helpfully and -- luckily -- silently supplies, 'Back when I still performed...' With a soft shake of his head, he continues. "They're interesting to work with, to say the least."
He then quiets down to watch the unwrapping, observing their reactions with great curiosity. Kholwa gently pulls the paper away where the baby can see, cooing all the while. "What did Anzhin bring for, ah?" It does a good job of hyping the baby up to making baby noises.
It is revealed that within the box is a small, decently tailored blue dinosaur onesie, perhaps only a bit too big for the little one at the moment. Cradling said garment was also an incredibly soft and well-tailored purple baby blanket, carefully embroidered and patterned with Zandalari dinosaurs and bright, shining stars.
Kholwa gasps softly, "Oh, this is wonderful.." She holds the blanket close, and after a moment, a green ravasaur on the pattern seems to hold the child's attention.
An almost relieved sort of sound escapes the half-elf, the tension of anticipation relaxing into an all-encompassing warmth. His eyes glisten with unshed tears of joy, but he's quick to blink them away. "I'm so glad you like them." 'All the needle-pricked fingers and lectures from Radio,' he thought, '...were worth it to see this moment.' He was pulled from his thoughts by the sight of a familiar face.
Takaros had landed from his dragon a bit away from the house, not bothering to make an attempt to hide himself from Kholwa, but he did walk quietly to surprise their baby. As he gets behind Kholwa, he wraps his arms around her and rests his chin on her shoulder, causing his mate to smile back and rumble softly to give him an affectionate nuzzle. He grins down at their baby before messing with their hair. "Surprise, little one." He coos softly.
Surprised by her father, the baby's hand suddenly balls up on the blanket and shakes it rigorously, with enough strength that Kholwa's suddenly holding the blanket a little tighter in caution. Uh oh... Dire troll strength.
"Careful, little girl!" Kholwa half-heartedly chides while laughing, but of course a baby doesn't care. The little one's just excited to see her father.
Takaros clicks his tongue gently as he watches how his daughter reacts to his presence, gently reaching down and wrapping his hand around hers, stroking his thumb over the back of her hand. "Easy, easy, we gotta be careful of our strength when we're strong!" He murmurs softly. He knows full well she's far too young to understand or care, not that he's upset, he's just as happy to see her. "I was gone such a short time! Paperwork and done. Ya siblings are gonna be back later to come see ya! Grandma'da gonna be finally givin’ dem back."
"Anzhin bring these as gifts, Taka," Kholwa gestures to the onesie and blanket, that her child won't, under any circumstances, let go of now. "So cute, ah? Will be perfect in den and when air is get colder here."
Taka leaned down and kissed the top of her head before actually looking over the blanket finally. "Oh dese are lovely gifts! Thank ya, Anzhin, dey'll be used for a long time if her reaction is ta judge by anything."
A warm chuckle rumbles from the half-elf. "The blanket is also enchanted." He explains. "To help keep in warmth, stay clean, and resist the usual wear-and-tear, so it can be used and cherished for as long as needed or desired." He smiled. 'It will probably exist far longer than me, just like everything else...' The cruel voice in his mind whispered, only causing a slight twitch in his brow.
Kholwa lifts the child up and out of the sling slowly as her attention redirects to her mate, using that moment to wrap the blanket around her and transfer the swaddled and gabbing baby off to him, who takes her all too happily. He beams bright at her as she shows so much animated excitement for one so young, bringing her up and kissing her face several times. "Oh hello, my little princess!  Ya act like I been gone for a lifetime!" He's careful to make sure she only grabs the middle of his tusks, preventing her from accidentally slapping the sharp tips.
"Both?" The Zandalari woman asks about the enchantments, looking at how the baby's hands reach up for Taka's tusks.
The half-elf shakes his head. "Only the blanket, unfortunately."
Kholwa smiles and nods in understanding, her attention then turning to the bushel left at the entry of the garden. "Anzhin bring apples just in time, if so. Kholwa can make pies," She takes the moment to neatly place the onesie back in the box and set aside for later.
"Oh, yes! They're freshly gathered from the Aubergine Farm, ready for many lovely pies and anything else you desire." Anzhin mused warmly. "I thought you might enjoy a bit of baking~"
"Of course will give Anzhin pie, too. How has been, by way? Have more shows is sing at?" The Zandalari woman asks,
Anzhin's smile fades only slightly at the mention of shows. "Unfortunately, my friend, I haven't been singing much. Life has... many things that have needed to be done." He's quick to change the subject, putting on a lighter air. "And what of you two? I hope everything has been going well and with little resistance!"
Kholwa's eyes every now and then flit to the child as she listens, her own features sobering slightly, "Kholwa can understand that, has been lot to do for Kholwa too. Even when was with child." She notes, and takes a moment to smooth the pink tuft of hair on her little girl's head, "It was blessing was able to have child so soon, Kholwa body was not ah-" The Raptari pauses and clears her throat, trying to think of a way to explain -that-, ".. In balance. But being around nature, working for Kholwa Loa, Gonk, make things right." She smiles softly. The baby is meanwhile displaying her lack of motorskills by giggling and tugging on Taka's tusks from the middle, not quite able to wrap her little hands around and so losing her grip a few times.
Preoccupied as he was, Takaros was able to answer even if he couldn't quite look away from the grabby baby. "In my case, unlike with most threats, when de Jailer was felled, his army just faded away. So I actually get ta be home much more instead of cleaning up pockets for a year like before." He hums happily, snickering every time their daughter almost manages to make it work, reassuring her. "Ya be able ta do it soon enough." His daughter didn't seem bothered in the least, she was enjoying the game of grabbing fa'da's tusks. He thinks for a moment before using a little of his magic to put a blunt cap of stone over the sharp tusk, gently guiding her hand closer to the slimmer part of his tusks so she can grab that instead.
Anzhin nods. "It is quite a change from the usual way of things. It was nice to just be able to go home and not think about the grand scheme for a while, to enjoy the life we are given instead of succumbing to fear and strife over and over again." He mused, his gaze shifting to Kholwa once again. "A blessing it is, truly, to be able to enjoy the joys in life, large and small. I feel honored to witness this."
Kholwa nods along to the both of them, "Peace is some thing Kholwa only have in small moments before this, so is happy for how ever long is last. And there is always things to do, maybe Anzhin can see Kholwa pack lands some time? If does not mind bit of travel and ravasaurs sniff at," And devilsaurs, but they were surprisingly less troublesome than her grown hatchlings. "Would not be for while, Kholwa think, little one here will have naming ceremony soon," Her gesture to her daughter happens as the child's hand closes around the blunted tip of the tusk, suddenly tugging with that exhibited strength from earlier.
Takaros feels his head get suddenly yanked down some by an especially strong tug from their daughter. His eyes widen in surprise for a moment before snorting and leaning close for her, kissing her nose while her hands move to his cheeks, seemingly wanting to keep him there. "I can tell dat we're gonna have to do special things with ya walkin’ around. I thought de others were bad, ya gonna end up ripping off a handle somewhere." He tells the baby with a soft, playful growl before nuzzling her chest with his nose. He then glances back up to Kholwa and Anzhin, continuing the previous thought. "De hope is dat dis peace lasts for a long while dis time. I'm not so optimistic ta assume it will be forever but perhaps de next adventure will be less world ending and more of an adventure."
Anzhin smiles, his head tipping in a slight nod. "I hope this peace lasts for a good while as well, and only be broken by something exciting and not terrifying~" A laugh punctuates the thought before give a soft, warm hum, his summer green gaze meeting Kholwa's. "I would love to visit your pack’s lands sometime. It would be a welcomed change of scenery."
The half-elf then steps back, picking up the bushel with a grin. "Can we talk more over baking? I apologize, my stomach is demanding delightful sweets~" He tries to talk over the tell-tale growl of hunger from within.
Takaros laughed, his attentions still on the little one. "What about you eh, you hungry like Anzhin 'ere? Need dat belly filled?" He followed his question by targeting her belly and tickling gently.
Kholwa laughs between the three, especially when her daughter giggles at the tickling of her belly. "Has been while since feed, should be ready for meal now," She nods to Anzhin, and gives a whistle over her shoulder for Haliy'ai to follow.
"Come then, will treat Anzhin to pie tonight!"
~ @daily-writing-challenge​
Written in an RP with Kholwa and Takaros 💕
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Mentions: Aubergine Farm (Aubrey Twilight-Skye) @aubgerinejams​
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magitekelite · 2 years
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✦ anonymous :     How a certain boy of the skies managed to get Gau of all people to deliver a letter to Terra personally is beyond him, but enclosed in the messy contents of rolled up parchment tells of tales miscellany, emotions he wished he could elaborate on from "being homesick away from his love," and scribbled apologies and promises of return with an attached sack of goodies from various worlds he's traveled to. He made sure to mention the candies were for the children. And last but certainly not least, a small bouquet of galbana lilies, a symbol of the hope that he would one day find himself in her arms once more. "...I miss you everyday! Love... your favorite sky pirate." was the letters conclusion, with possible dampness at the corner of the page.
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she thinks of him —-
it is neither an all-consuming fixation that ensnares her waking hours nor an afterthought with no modicum of devotion or care ; it is little things that inspire the memory , the wish , in the small spaces between dreams and the day-to-day .  clear and cloudless , 𝙱𝙻𝚄𝙴 𝚂𝙺𝙸𝙴𝚂 may bring to mind the endless 𝚂𝙴𝙰 𝙾𝙵 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚂 that are his to explore .  laughter that fills the air may remind the former spellcaster of his boyish 𝚂𝙼𝙸𝙻𝙴 and clever 𝙷𝚄𝙼𝙾���𝚁 , softening any sharpened edge .  𝚁𝙴𝙳 𝙵𝙻𝙾𝚆𝙴𝚁𝚂 invite fond memory of how he described the favoured blossoms of his world , of how she wished to plant some , if only so that he may have a piece of home when he is here .  even the occasional visit of the falcon to deliver rations and supplies can occasionally cause the esper to second-guess herself , thinking it is 𝙰𝙽𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁 𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙿 and not a wandering gambler but a 𝚂𝙺𝚈 𝙿𝙸𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙴 .  and in the darkness of night and the depths of slumber , she remembers a hand that held hers ... ...
yes , she thinks of him 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐄𝐓𝐋𝐘 , 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐘 , 𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐘 .
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when a letter arrives from one of her comrades , the boy of the veldt , it is the flowers that draw terra’s attention almost immediately , lavender irises bearing their widening gaze to the unfamiliar flora to her world of restored balance yet matching the exact description that she had heard of quite some time ago .  ❝ galbana lilies ...  that's what he called them , right ? ❞ she murmurs softly to herself .  the candies are distributed evenly amongst the children , who eagerly accept the gift and run off to play with gau , as the girl born of magic reads the contents of the written word , walking along the outskirts of mobliz until she reaches a precipice that opens to the endless , enduring sky .  tales of 𝙶𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙰𝙳𝚅𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙴𝚂 and 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙴𝚂𝙲𝙰𝙿𝙰𝙳𝙴𝚂 , of 𝙽𝚄𝙼𝙴𝚁𝙾𝚄𝚂 𝚆𝙾𝚁𝙻𝙳𝚂 and 𝚂𝙴𝙲𝚁𝙴𝚃 𝚃𝚁𝙴𝙰𝚂𝚄𝚁𝙴 , of his 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴 ... his love 𝙵𝙾𝚁 𝙷𝙴𝚁 ...  digits brush against the dried remains of sorrow before one new droplet stains the parchment , then another , tears running down her face .  ❝ vaan , i miss you , too ... but i know you belong to the sky .  i understand ... because i used to belong there , too . ❞  𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 , 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 , the faint vestiges of ancient magic vanishing into thin air .  a wistful laugh escapes her as she closes her eyes , folds the letter and presses it 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 .  ❝ but it’s okay .  we’ll be okay .  because wherever you go ... ... my love will be with you . ❞
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casspurrjoybell-17 · 11 months
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HEART'S FATE - CHAPTER 39
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*Warning: Adult Content*   
The mysterious bookstore is tucked in the corner of an old strip mall between a Thai restaurant and a nail salon. 
With a hand painted sign, a single, dark window and a plain, peeling door, it's easy to overlook.
In fact, Noah Hunter has explained, only those with some need of the knowledge it contains can see or find the place at all.
"Good thing we can all see it, then," Skylar West says.
Noah shrugs as he unlocks the door with an antique brass key. 
"Maybe. It might not work quite the same since I've purposefully brought you here but we can hope."
He holds the door as Skylar, Ambrose, Martin and his children, file inside.
Martin Hunter hadn't wanted to bring them but one mention of 'magic bookstore' and there was no chance of leaving the kids behind.
The interior is dark but Noah flips a switch on the wall and crisscrossing strings of little fairy lights flicker to life, bathing the place in a warm, ambient glow. 
What they reveal looks like either a fire-marshal's nightmare or a hoarder's dream.
Bookshelves of all sizes are arranged with no apparent order in mind, creating a maze of strange angles and narrow aisles. 
The shelves are packed, mostly with books but with various odds and ends as well, also with no obvious organization. 
Most appear old, with cloth-bound covers and faded spines, the spice of aging pages scenting the air but a few newer titles stand out like dashes of bright color on a sepia-tone field. 
I frown as the kids immediately take off into the bookish chaos, delighted by the enchantment of hidden corners and secrets waiting to be found.
"There's not a kids' section, is there?" Martin asks, worried that Nico and Rio might come across an illustrated Kama Sutra or something.
"Not that I'm aware," Noah says easily, shutting the door and pocketing the key.
"Wouldn't you know?" Skylar asks, his eyes already flicking over the titles on the nearest shelves.
Noah smiles and something in his expression strikes his brother. 
He's grown into himself since finding his dragon-borne mate, Dr Ambrose Thorne discovered a serene confidence Martin never knew he had. 
The triplets were inseparable as kids, Martin, Travis, and Noah, like three parts of a single entity but adulthood saw them drift apart. 
Travis moved to Oregon to join his mate's pack and Noah was absorbed with his studies. 
In their separation, their individual interests eclipsed the childhood passions they once shared and their individual personalities became more pronounced. 
Noah's shy nature, Travis' workaholic tendencies and...
‘My inability to grow a spine.’
Now Noah seems to have found a new balance with his mate, each complementing and completing the other, Ambrose bringing out Noah's strength and Noah helping to soften Ambrose's harder edges and temper his fire, literal and otherwise.
Martin wonders if the same might be true of Skylar and himself, if that's what differentiates true mates from the more ordinary kind and if so, what he could possibly have to offer Skylar in return. 
‘He's already perfect, while I...’
Turning aside so no one sees his expression, Martin pretends to be absorbed in a shelf of matching volumes while Noah explains the workings of the shop to Skylar. 
‘My brother's demure demeanor might hide the heart of a strong wolf but my mask hid only an empty shell.’
That's what Martin had believed until he met Skylar, anyway and his Wolf began to heal. 
Martin still hadn't Shifted, though and it slumbered on, a fact that brings his thoughts back to Miguel. 
Martin hasn't had a proper chance to talk to him one-on-one since his ex-wife, Elena's unexpected appearance,and he figured he might as well take the opportunity now.
Like Flora and the younger twins, Miguel had immediately set off to explore the nooks and crannies of the shop and disappeared from view among the maze of shelves. 
Eventually, Martin finds him in a little corner at the end of an aisle, sitting cross-legged and hunched over a book.
Miguel glances up as his father approaches.
"Find something good?" Martin asks.
He shrugs and bends over the pages again. 
It looks like an illustration in black and white, though Martin can't make out what it depicts.
"Are you going to leave us?" Miguel asks, shoulders hunched.
"Leave you? Why would I leave you?"
"That's what you said. You said if you couldn't find a solution, that you would go with Sky."
Crouching at his son’s side, Martin rubs his fingers across his own lips. 
"You heard that, huh?"
Miguel nods.
"You know, for a boy who apparently isn't a Wolf, you've got some mean stealth skills."
Miguel glances up at his father, a troubled expression in his eyes, then goes back to studying the book.
Martin rest a hand on his shoulder. 
"Miguel, talk to me. Tell me what happened."
He sniffs. 
"I didn't lie. I just wanted my sketch book. It's hardly farther from Uncle Noah's house to ours than it is from our house to school and we walk that every day."
Martin presses his lips together and take a breath, swallowing his annoyance. 
He's not wrong on that point but the route to school also follows pedestrian zones and doesn't cut through the middle of town across busy streets. 
More importantly, Martin knows where Miguel is when he walks to school and back.
"You know you had us worried, right? You gave your uncles quite a scare, to say nothing of me."
"I said I was sorry," he mumbles.
"I know. And I know it's not entirely your fault. So what happened? Obviously, you made it home in time to eavesdrop. Then what did you do? You didn't get your sketch book, did you?"
Miguel sniffs again and turns the pages of the book, revealing another black-and-white image.
 It looks like an intricately detailed wood engraving in the style of Gustave Doré, with more shadow than light.
"No. I was... mad."
"At me?"
"At... him."
"Sky?"
Miguel nods. 
"He's taking you away from us. I heard what you said. Even if you don't go with him, if he leaves, you'll die."
"That was just hypothetical, Miguel. I'm not going anywhere."
"You can't promise that," he sniffs and wipes his nose on his sleeve.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and exhale heavily. 
"You're right. I can't promise that I'll always be here. Nobody can promise that. But I can promise you I'm not choosing anyone over you or Flora or Nico or Rio. You guys will always come first for me."
"But you said..."
"If you were really listening, then you know I said as a last resort, I would rather leave and come back than leave you for good. That means that I will do everything in my power to stay with you and that if I do have to leave, I'll come back as soon as I can."
"If you can."
I nod. 
"That's why we're here... to find a solution. And we will find one."
"What if Mom has it?" he asks.
"What?"
"I said, what if Mom has the solution? Why won't you listen to her?"
Martin blinks, taken aback. 
Why wouldn't he listen to the woman who tortured and fully intended to murder him? 
‘Gee, I wonder.’
After a moment, the little storm-cloud of thoughts stirred by his son’s words settles back to peace in Martin’s mind and he sighs.
"If you're as good at listening as you seem to be, then I'm guessing you know why."
"I hate her too, you know," Miguel says, scrubbing at red-rimmed eyes. "I thought she was gonna kidnap me or make me do something bad but she didn't. All she did was drive me home."
“What?”
Miguel nods. 
"I was so angry, I tried to run away. I thought if I could just Shift and run away, you'd have to come after me, you'd have to stay. But I... I couldn't. I've been trying ever since Flora... but I..."
He turns away from his father, hiding his face. 
Martin rests a hand on his son’s back between his shoulder blades, glad when a little of the tension in his muscles eases beneath the warmth of his touch.
"What happened?"
"I'd gone up to the lake. And I was on my way back, when a car pulled over and she got out. She told me to come with her. I was scared, so... I did. But all we did was drive around and talk.”
"Was she alone?"
"No. There was a man. He was driving. She sat with me in the back."
"What did you talk about?"
"Stuff." 
The boy just shrugs and Martin sighs. 
"Miguel..."
"I don't know, okay? I didn't say anything at first and I was too scared to listen to what she was saying but she talked a lot. Something about her new pack and regret and missing us. She said she had a problem and she didn't know who else to ask. She said she'd been watching us, keeping an eye on us from afar and she thought maybe you and she had the same problem."
"What problem?"
Miguel hunches his shoulders. 
"I don't know. Maybe she was just trying to get me to talk. But she said she could help, so I... I told her everything. Then she brought me home."
Martin rose his my eyes to the ceiling and bit back another sigh. 
It could have been a lot worse, considering. 
Still, he didn't like this new turn of events.
Elena had obviously followed them to the coast as well, where she threatened Dr. Howard. 
How long had she been spying on them?
And why had she revealed herself now?
Putting those thoughts aside for the moment, he reaches for Miguel.
"Hey, come here." 
Grabbing him by the shoulders, Martin forces his son to face him and pulls him into a hug. 
"You can be mad at me all you want. Just don't run away again, okay? Your uncle Monty was a late bloomer too, you know. Didn't Shift till he was 15. Just 'cause your Wolf's not awake yet doesn't mean it's not there."
"You're not mad at me?" Miguel asked, tears tightening his voice.
"Maybe a little," Martin says, letting a hint of humor into his tone. "But mostly I'm just glad you're safe. I love you."
Miguel mumbles something into his father’s shoulder that sounds enough like... 'I love you, too'  to make Martin happy.
"So," I say, letting him go at last. "What have you got here? Something that jumped out at you?"
Wiping hastily at his eyes, Miguel shakes his head. 
"Dunno. I just pulled it off the shelf and... I like the pictures."
Taking the book, I open it and flip through a few pages.
The artwork is... interesting. 
I can almost make out shapes amid the swirls of darkness and light but they're like images seen in dreams, half there, half imagined. 
I turn my attention to the text and discover it's written in another language, which to my untrained eye looks like German.
"Huh?" 
Martin hands it back to his son. 
"Well, we can ask Uncle Noah. He speaks like, twelve languages or something."
"Four."
Martin look up to see his brother standing at his back.
"I speak four languages. I can read seven."
"Close enough." Martin grins and takes the book back from Miguel, handing it to Noah. "How about this one?"
"German," Noah says, scanning the page. "Haven't practiced since grad school but I remember enough."
"What's it about?" Miguel asks.
Noah's slim shoulders lift in a shrug, accentuated by his fitted waistcoat.
He's relaxed quite a bit in the past six months or so but he still dresses like he's about to lecture at Oxford.
"No idea. It would take me a bit of time to decipher it. But the title is..." he studies it intently. "Die Schattenwelt. 'The Shadow World.'"
Noah’s browse lift and he hands the book back to Miguel.
"You might want to ask your uncle Dane or Julian about that one. You like it?"
Miguel nods.
"What's it worth to you?" Noah asks.
Miguel glances at the book in his hands. 
"More than I've got," he says glumly.
"It's a gift then," Noah says. "From the shop."
Miguel and Martin both look up at that, their expressions likely a mirror of surprise.
Noah smiles. 
"That's how it works. The shop, I mean. The book chooses the reader, not the other way around. That one has chosen you. I can tell."
Noah winks at Miguel and walks back up the aisle, to where Skylar still stands in conversation with Ambrose.
'The Shadow World.' 
Martin shakes his head and scoffs.
This is clearly a waste of time in terms of finding answers to our current predicament but at least two things have become clear to Martin... 
His brother , Noah Hunter is a Wolf of unusual talents...
 And Spring Lakes is one weird-ass town.
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deadaccountsposts · 2 years
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Hidden Fate.
A Soulmate AU where in everyone experiences a different soulmate prompt once in their lifetime. Your soulmate prompt is that your soulmate is invisible to you until you figure out a certain trigger, and that applies for your soulmate aswell.
Characters: Diluc x gn!reader
Warnings/Disclaimers: none(?)
Credits: @r-evolve-art for the prompt! I mashed the soulmate prompts up! I hope you don't mind (⊃。•́‿•̀。)⊃
༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄
You live in a world where two people destined to be together are to experience a certain challenge/restriction called prompts in order to be with each other. Some of the popular prompts were communicating with your soulmate through telepathy, being born with a matching tattoo with your soulmate and more. Growing up, you never had anything unusual with you, so your parents assumed you were maybe a part of the minority who don't have destined soulmates. Some may have already found their soulmate, you on the other hand, is oblivious. Everyone seems to have different prompts, but you've heard of how hard it actually is to find your soulmate. You don't even know what your prompt is to begin with! How are you gonna find out who your soulmate is? When you were 10 years old, you decided to get yourself together and studied some of the most popular soulmate prompts to ever exist. You started with writing on your skin to see if your soulmate replied back, then befriending different people to see if there are any effects, but to your dismay it was all useless. Eventually, you gave up and just assumed that Celestia decided that you wouldn't have a soulmate. It's been 12 years since you gave up trying to find your soulmate, you're currently 22 years old, working in the Knights of Favonius, and seated at Good Hunter. "(Name)!" You hear a familiar voice call out. Instinctively, you turn around only to see your good friend and the Acting Grand Master, Jean. Oh and speaking of soulmates, Jean has already found her soulmate, who turns out to be Lisa. "Ah, Acting Grand Master Jean! Do you need anything?" You reply, standing up to go and greet her properly. "The Knights of Favonius are planning to make a small celebration party for defeating Storm Terror." You hum, letting her know that you're listening. "And so, we're planning to celebrate at the tavern. Will you kindly tell the others aswell?" You smile, clearly pleased by the news. "Sure! The tavern is none other than Cat's Tail right?" Jean shakes her head. "I apologize for not being specific about the location. The celebration will take place at Angel's Share." You blink. 'Angel's Share..? Since when did Mondstadt ever have a tavern named Angel's Share?' You thought to yourself. "Ah.. ok!" Hearing your response, Jean smiles. "Great! Thank you, (Name)! I'll have to get going now. I must tend to my files." Saying goodbye, she left without another word.
Walking over to Flora's shop, you decide to check on how the shop has been doing. "Hello Flora and her lovely flowers, how have you guys been doing?" Flora looks at you with excitement. "(Name)! I've been trying to look for you! Here! Take these, my form of gratitude for you and the knights' hard work." She hands you a bouquet of different kinds of flowers. "Thank you, Flora! We appreciate it. We, the Knights' of Favonius are only doing our rightful duty to prote-" You suddenly remember what Jean told you. The Tavern. Flora looks at you, waiting for you to finish your sentence. "Actually.. Flora, can you do me a favor?" She nods in response. "Do you maybe know a tavern named 'Angel's Share' around here? Acting Grand Master Jean told me that the members of the Knights of Favonius will celebrate there, although.. I've never heard of it before." Flora looks at you with confusion, Donna who just came back heard the whole conversation. "You.. don't know where Angel's Share is?" Donna asks, skeptically. You nod. "Isn't Angel's Share popular? You should know by now that it's the most well known tavern in Mondstadt!" Flora says with a tint of disbelief in her voice. "Oh.. is that so? Why is it that i've only heard of it now?" Donna shrugs. "You do know Calavary Captain, Kaeya right?" You nod slowly. "Well he has a well known brother named Dil-" Right before Flora could finish her sentence, a familiar voice called out for you. "(Name)! Over here!" You look to see Amber waving at you, you look at Donna and Flora, both nodding as they realize that you have to go. Walking towards Amber, you both greet each other and talk about each other's day. "Oh look at the time! We have to get going, let's go to Angel's Share before we arrive late" You ponder for a second. "(Name)? Are you okay?" You snap out of your thoughts and quickly reply. "Yes! I'm fine. Just, some thoughts" you let out a nervous chuckle. While the both of you make your way to Angel's Share, you thought of what Flora said before Amber called you. "Captain Kaeya has a Brother?..'
To be continued~ It's short I know- but there will be a part 2 I promise you all! I'm tired~ I'll make part 2 a bit longer than this, until then!
Part 2
𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎, 𝙸𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚎 <3
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