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anjanettexcordonia · 4 years

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The Spare Chapter One: Maldives

Book: The Royal Romance A/U

Rating: Mature (18+); NSFW; some language

Characters/Pairings in this part: Liam x MC; mentions of Liam x OC; Leo x Madeleine; Drake; Maxwell

Word count: 3,286(+/-) Future chapters will hopefully not be this long.

A/N: Some characters belong to Pixelberry.

Tags: If you would like to be added or removed please let me know. Only tagging those that specifically asked for permatag.

@yourmajesty09 @gkittylove99

“Are you ready for this Brother? You know if you want to back out now, the jet is ready just in case.”

Leo smirked at his younger brother. “ My brother, the cynic. I love her Li and I know one day you’ll find someone. You have to let what Maria did to you go.” Liam rolled his eyes.

Two hours later they arrived at the cathedral. It was the royal wedding of the century. Leo and Madeleine were the epitome of royalty. The country couldn’t have been more proud for the reigning monarch and his new Queen. The reception followed the ceremony and the happy couple danced the night away without a care in the world.

King Leonardo and Queen Madeline were set for their month long honeymoon while Liam handled the country.

“Listen little brother, if you need anything ask Dad or Regina before you call us. We have a duty to produce an heir and I fully intend on making that happen.” Leo winked at Madeleine. “Liam, don’t hesitate to call.” She rolled her eyes at her husband. “The King here is getting a little ahead of himself, I think.” “Don’t worry about a thing while you're gone.” Liam kissed Madeleine on the cheek and shook Leo’s hand. “Enjoy marital bliss lovebirds, don’t worry about a thing stateside.”

It was smooth sailing running the country while the King and Queen were away. Liam worked with Constantine to secure Cordonia’a place in the UN. He also managed to get Leo an entrance in the International Trade Exchange. After the royal couples homecoming ball Liam and Leo sat in Leo’s study with a tumbler of scotch in each of their hands. “Thanks for everything you have done, Li.” “That’s what I am here for, Your Majesty” Liam said, with a sarcastic grin. “Sometimes I hate this shit but Madeleine loves it and I love her.” Leo shrugged. “Any news on an heir yet?” Liam asked, as he sipped his drink. “No, we decided to wait a while. Adjust to our positions. What about you? You ready to get back out there?” “Where is out there? I’m good where I’m at.” Liam said, smoothly but he knew he wasn’t fooling his older brother. “Oh here Li, Maddie booked you a villa in the Maldives for a week as a thank you. Take it, blow off some steam. Maybe you’ll meet someone.” “I wish you all would get off my damn back. I’m the spare. Who cares if I’m single? Between you, Connie, Regina and Max, I can’t get a minutes of fucking peace. I’m glad you married Maddie. She’s the only on that doesn’t give a fuck. Learn something from her.” Liam snapped, “I’ll take the vacation, but only the get the fuck away from here.” “Stop being so emotional Li, we just worry about you.”

A month later, Liam boarded the royal jet destined for South Asia. He decided to take the trip alone with no security detail. The time away from everyone he felt would give him some perspective over where his life was headed. He was the spare after all. Not much was expected of him except to show up when needed. He wasn’t needed to run a country. He couldn’t choose any job he wanted, he was still a figurehead of the Royal family. He didn’t even have a girlfriend.

“My son, I do hope you find a woman worthy of you soon. You may not be king, but its always beneficial to the stability of the monarchy to establish heirs.” Constantine’s words played on repeat in the back of Liam’s mind.

“Sir, sir, we’ve arrived.” Liam woke to the attendant shaking him awake. Liam departed the jet and headed to his private villa. Good taste Maddie. The Maldives was quiet this time of year. Not many tourists which Liam was excited about. He wanted time alone. His villa was the most secluded. No one would be bothering him, he hoped. The villa was a large one bedroom bungalow with a glass bottom floor. He could see straight to the bottom of the crystal clear water below. Liam got settled in and decided to stay in and relax with a glass of scotch and a book George Orwell’s 1984.

Tap Tap Tap

What the fuck was that? Liam sat up. He was dozing off, the sun outside was setting. He looked down.

Who the fuck is that?

A girl was tapping on the glass floor beneath him. She was in a light blue string bikini with scuba gear strapped to her.

Tap Tap Tap she tapped more frantically.

She pointed to the hatch directing him to open it. He ran over and opened it and she climbed out. She took the regulator out of her mouth and unzipped her vest. “Ugh sorry. I was following a fish and got stuck. I didn’t mean to intrude. I’m Camilla. Most call me Cami.” She stuck out her free hand for a handshake. Liam just stood in place frozen. He couldn’t move or speak.

This is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen! What did she say her name was? Camilla? Say something you idiot!!

“Ummm okay.. I’ll go. I’m only further down the beach. It’s okay if I use the front door?” Liam nodded his head, still unable to speak. Cami started towards the door. “Wait, I’m sorry, I’m Liam. I just didn’t expect to see someone, so beaut… coming through my floor” he ran to open the door for her. “Here I’ll carry that for you.” He reached for her oxygen tank. “No no I got it.” “It’s the least I can do for my rudeness. Are you within walking distance or we can drive?” “Walking is fine, as long as that’s not too heavy for you?” Cami winked and pointed to her vest in his hand. Liam laughed nervously unsure of what to say. “Lead the way, Camilla.” Cami felt a tingle down her spine at the way her name fell off his full lips. “So, Liam? Right?,” he nodded his head, “what brings you to the Maldives, business or pleasure?” “Neither really, relaxation, alone time, what about you? Are you a local?” “Local?,” she laughed, “I wish, no I am here for R&R like you. Alone time? You’re on vacation alone?” “Yep, just me. That weird huh?” They made it to her bungalow. Six bungalows. Liam thought to himself. “Well this is me” Cami said as they stood at the end of the bridge that led to her front door. “Cami, where have you been?” a girl that looked strikingly like the one standing in front Liam. “Sorry that’s my sister,” Cami whispered to Liam, “I’ll be there in a minute Ans.” Ansley didn’t listen. She came striding right next to Cami. “Who is this?” Ansley asked out loud. She looked Liam up and down. “He’s cute, look at this chiseled abs Cam, mhmm..” “You’re engaged stupid. Go inside.” Cami snapped at her sister. “I’m sorry Liam, you’ll have to excuse my overzealous twin sister.” “Oh it’s fine, she likes my abs. Maybe I should be shirtless more often,” Liam winked at Ansley. “Oh my God, Cam if you don’t kiss him I will.” “Go the fuck inside, Ansley.” Cam whispered, her face turning bright red. Ansley laughed and went back inside. “Well, thanks for not letting me drown earlier, I’ll see ya around Liam.” Cami went to grab her stuff and go inside, but without thinking Liam pulled her into a soft kiss. Cami pulled away. “Umm thanks bye.” She ran inside leaving Liam standing at the end of the bridge.

“Shut up Ansley. Do not say a fucking word.” Cami slammed the door to her room. She threw herself down on the bed. Her world felt like it was spinning. She couldn't help but think how soft and sensual the kiss was. She had never felt anything like it.

Liam walked home alone with his thoughts. His hands dug into his pockets as flip flops kicked up the sand behind him. He headed towards the beach to clear his thoughts. He didn’t know what took over his body when he kissed Cami but whatever it was he liked it. The way she tasted, mint mixed with salt of the ocean, and slight smell of coconuts in her hair. He sat on the beach and listened to the waves. It had been nearly 5 years since Maria had broken his heart. He closed himself off after that. He decided being alone was easier than getting hurt. There was an instant connection with Cami. He couldn’t deny the electricity between them. Liam called it a night and headed back to his bungalow. He checked his phone. No new messages. He laid on the bed with a thud, flicked the light off and drifted into a deep sleep.

Bang Bang Bang “Liammmm are youuuu in there?” Bang Bang Bang

Liam rolled over with a groan and checked his phone. 3:17am

Bang Bang “Open Uppp”

“Who is it? It’s three o’clock in the morning!” Liam yelled. He climbed out of bed and stumbled to the door still groggy from sleep. “Cami?” He said, completely alert at the sight of her. “Heyyyy Liiiiaamm.” Cami slurred, “Can I come in?” “Are you drunk Cami?” She pulled a bottle of champagne she was holding behind her back and handed it to him. “Want some?” She asked, leaning against the door frame. “Sure. Come in.” He ushered her inside and to the large sofa. He grabbed a water for Cami and poured himself a glass of the champagne she brought. “Maybe have some water first.” He handed her the bottle. “So what’s bring you over?” “That kiss.. I thought we could.. try it again..?” Liam looked up. She crashed her lips onto his. She forced his lips apart and into his mouth. The electricity radiated from their bodies. Liam fisted her blonde locks with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist and pulled her on his lap. Liam picked Cami up as she wrapped her toned, sun kissed legs around his waist. He carried her to the bed and laid her down on her back, their kiss never breaking. Cami ran her fingers down the elastic of his boxers. “Wait Cami, we shouldn’t. You’re drunk.” Cami knew he was right. Liam rolled on his side next to her. He kissed her on the forehead and wrapped his arm around her. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Mmm.. moist.. tight.. Liam woke from his dream. He still felt the sensations he was feeling while he was asleep. “Fuck Cami” he moaned. Her tongue swirled around the tip of his growing cock. She licked the beads of precum. Liam pulled the sheet off so he could watch her work his member. She looked him in the eyes as she took him all the way down her throat. Liam had never been so turned on. “Come here. It’s my turn.” Liam pulled her up and kissed her passionately as he rolled her to her back. He kissed and nipped at her already peaked nipples. He nipped her hip bones and sucked leaving his masks behind. He slid a finger through her moist folds. He brought his mouth to her bundle of nerves. Cami almost leaped off the bed at the feel of his tongue swirling her clit. He continued the lashing of her clit and pushed a finger inside. He pumped in and out curling his finger against her most sensitive spot. He could feel her let go at the pleasure of his fingers. He climbed back up hovering above her on his elbows and kissed her until her lips were swollen and bruised. He grabbed a condom out of the night stand drawer. “Let me,” Cami said seductively. She leaned forward and unrolled the condom to the base of his length. “Fuck you make not want to to wear this, I want you so much Camilla.” He lined himself up with her dripping center. He thrust deep and slow and allowed her to adjust. He groaned at how tight she felt around him. She wrapped her legs around and rolled her hips to meet his thrusts. He took a nipple in his mouth and sucked as he thrust inside her. He felt her walls start to flutter the harder he thrust inside her. “Cum for me Camilla” his words were all it took for her to come completely undone. She screamed his name as his thrusts became more frantic. He gripped her hips digging his fingers into her skin as he erupted inside her. He leaned down and kissed her deeply as pulled himself out of her. He laid next to her and pulled her into his arms. Neither one of them could find the words to say.

“I leave in a week.” Cami finally broke the silence. “Me too” Liam whispered, “Spend the week with me.” “Okay. My sister is leaving early. Wedding emergency.”

They spent the next week enjoying each other. They learned everything they could about each other. Liam told her about his family in Cordonia. His brother and his wife. His father's retirement. She told him about Graduate School and the pressures she was facing from her family over choosing a job. When they weren’t talking they were learning everything they could about each other’s bodies. Kisses, licks, bits, moans and screams.

Six days later after spending the night exploring each other, Liam and Camilla laid in on the glass floor completely naked looking down at the fish below. “Stay one more week with me, Cam” Liam whispered. “I already extended my trip, but it’s just one more week and I have to go,” Liam pulled her into his arms,“Every second with you is everything, you are everything, go on a date with me?” “Okay. But our dinner options may be limited due to the isolated island.” She spoke softly. “Leave it to me my love.” Liam felt her body tense at her words. He didn’t know why he said it. Oh my God it’s been a week you idiot! He screamed in his head.

Cami woke the next morning to find Liam’s side of the bed empty and cold. She threw on Liam’s tshirt that was on the floor from the night before and headed to the kitchen. A note was leaned against the coffee pot full of freshly brewed coffee for her.

Hey Baby,

Enjoy your coffee & meet me at the beach.

-L

P.S.

Wear something you can get wet.

Camilla smiled and finished her coffee. She took a quick shower and brushed her teeth. She threw on an all white cheeky string bikini and a pair of Ray Bans and headed down to the beach. As she got closer to the beach she saw a large white tent set up with the the corners tied open. Liam was sitting on a thick blanket with pillows surrounding him and a glass of champagne in his hand.

“Liam?” Camilla whispered. Liam jumped up at the sound of her voice. Her voice was a siren song in his ears. “Hey Baby,” Liam leaned down and kissed Cami on the cheek, “join me?” They drank, ate, and laughed together. Cami felt herself falling. I love you, damn those three words, you leave in two days Cami. Get yourself together. “Liam, we need to talk.” She lowered her head avoiding eye contact. She knew if she looked in his eyes she would get lost, better yet she would drown in those deep pools of mysterious blue. “I leave in two days. I go back to reality on different ends of the Earth.” “I know Cam, we can try can’t we? I can visit New York, you can come to Cordonia.” “No Liam, it’ll never work. We both have obligations.” Liam lifted her head to meet her eyes. “Give me today tonight.” Liam kissed her so deeply it left her dizzy. They spent the rest of the night into the early morning making up for time they didn’t they had lost.

The day came for them to leave their tropical paradise and their love for the moment. Neither had spoken a word to each other. Neither finding the words. Cami sat on the bad after packing her suitcase. Her flight boarded in an hour. Liam’s flight didn’t leave until later that night. “Cami, can we stay in touch?” Liam sat next to Cami and laced his fingers through hers. “I don’t know if it’s a good idea. I just.. It’s time for me to go..” Cami stood up. Liam stood up and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m not saying good-bye Liam,” she whispered as tears welled up in her eyes. “Then don’t say anything at all,” Liam wiped the tears away as they fell down her cheeks, “I”ll drive you the airport.” Liam lifted her into his arms and carried her to his black Range Rover parked in the parking lot near the villa entrance. Cami stared out the passenger window without saying a word. Liam held her hand in his lap tightly as he drove. He dreaded having to watch her board the plane not knowing whether he would ever see her again.

They pulled up to the tarmac and Liam jumped out and ran around the car to open the passenger door for Cami. Cami leaned forward and buried her head in her hands as the sobs took over. “Why is this so hard after only two weeks, Liam?” Liam pulled her hands from her face. “I don’t know. We will see each other again. I can feel it, my love.” She got out of the car and he wrapped her in one last kiss. A kiss filled with love and sadness. A kiss that made their world stop turning and everything around them melted away. Liam pulled away and kissed her forehead, her cheeks, and her nose like he was memorizing every inch of her features. “My love,” Cami interrupted Liam, “Don’t say it. Will you text me?” “Every day.” Liam watched as Cami boarded the plane. She waved before the plane doors shut. He watched as her plane took off and disappeared above the clouds. A familiar feeling he hadn’t felt in two weeks, what was almost a distant memory flooded him. Loneliness. She already felt like a figment of his imagination. Liam drove back to his bungalow to pack. He passed by Cami’s bungalow. An emptiness he didn’t recognize creeped into his heart. He walked into his bungalow and pulled out his phone. He needed someone to talk to. Someone to tell him what to do.

“Drake.. Ya it’s Li. Ya sorry I took off for two weeks without telling you.. Everything’s fine. I’ll be home tomorrow. So I’m calling because I met a girl..”

Liam told Drake everything about Cami. How they met and her sister. How they had an instant unexplainable connection. How he thought he was in love. How he thought she was the one. The One.

“Listen Li, Go after her. Don’t be a fucking idiot. I’ll be on the next flight to New York, ugh apparently Max too. Do you know where she lives?” Drake asked.

“I don’t even know her last name. She has a twin sister named Ansley and she’s graduating from Columbia Law next week. And she’s from Manhattan, New York. That’s kinda all I got. I have her number but I am sure she doesn’t want me chasing her down...”

“I’ll get Bas on it. I’m sure he has plenty of time since Maddie locked Leo down,” Drake laughed, “we’ll find her.”

#choices pixelberry altenateunivers theroyalromace princeliam kingleo trr fluff liamrhys cordonia

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lovelylunarwriting · 4 years

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Yangyang Prince!AU

Yangyang’s known around the kingdom as less of a prince and more of “the king and queen’s child”

He’s just not the princely type??? He 10/10 looks like a prince and -33/10 acts like one

While some royalty just have that "aura” about them,,,, Yangyang does not

But that’s not a bad thing! He’s incredibly approachable as a person

Not a soul would dare to address him as anything but “Prince”, though, for fear of him overhearing and being like “excuse me what the fuck did you call me”

While the country itself adores the prince and his natural personality, the king and queen take issue with his “lack of royal precedent” and hold him to a ridiculously high standard.

He doesn’t seem to let this dampen his spirit, though. Whenever local newspapers ask him about it, he always says “I’m firstborn and in line to the throne. There’s not much they can do about it regardless if I keep filling the courtyard fountains with soap so that they bubble. Who doesn’t like bubbles?”

Deep down though it takes more of a toll on him. In his eyes, it’s like his parents are saying he isn’t good enough to be king one day.

The reality is that they’re just worried that being in charge of the nation will stress him out like it has them, and they want to prepare him the best they can.

To prepare him for his eventual role, they send Yangyang into the nearby villages to meet with traders from other nations who want to open up shop in the many marketplaces.

Yangyang’s nation is known for their vast and varying markets because they’ll let just about anyone open a business as long as a member of the royal family approves it.

They go about doing this in two ways:

One, they can request an audience with the king and queen and they’ll write up a contract. The king is pretty much there for show, the queen is really the one who’s built this trade empire.

Or, two, if the person is in a rush they can schedule to meet with Prince Yangyang in town and plead their case to him. If he thinks it’s an extenuating circumstance, they essentially get a “Prince Fast-Pass” and receive an immediate audience with the king and queen.

For example, he had one woman who was a refugee from a war-torn nation across the continent and she came to their country to open up a shop to provide for her and her four kids. Yangyang was like “that sucks, I’m sorry. Do you wanna talk to my mom about it?” and personally escorted her to the palace.

You have been in this market for a h o t minute though. You got your audience with the king and queen when you were like,,,, twelve?? And you’ve been selling your family’s farms produce ever since.

One of your parents would’ve gone to the audience but there was a Very Serious Ladybug Problem going on with the tomatoes so they sent you instead (the queen was surprised but you presented a fair argument for the business,,,, she had no reason to say no)

So you set up your market every week, Monday through Friday. The weekends are for helping around at home (and sleeping off the work week, of course)

This season’s harvest hasn’t been nearly as plentiful as the previous. It’s not that there’s a shortage necessarily, just that the last season’s harvest was abnormally abundant.

Which of course means you’ll have to sell pretty much all of it to get a similar profit to last year while keeping the same standard prices (raising the prices wouldn’t be fair to your loyal customers)

“Guess there goes my Saturdays, then…”, you mumble to yourself, deciding to open up the extra day in order to sell every single tomato, carrot, and head of lettuce even if it kills you.

The first Saturday of the season comes and goes with no trouble, and so does the next.

But the third week. That’s when you notice him.

The pickpocket in the bright yellow shoes.

He weaves his way through the crowd with elegance and ease, reaching out here and there, plucking items from stalls, pockets, and displays, slowly putting them in his pockets.

You find yourself entranced, staring at him slip through stall after stall.

That is until he steps up to yours.

He glances up, making eye contact with you, and flinches.

Apparently your glare was most apparent than you’d intended.

You don’t say anything though and neither does he. He just smirks at you and makes his way to the next stall.

Your eyes follow him and you see him swipe a pair of earrings off the man’s table to your left.

You might’ve said something but:

1.) That particular jeweler is a creep to the women in town so he deserves to be robbed in your opinion, and

2.) If you snitch on some thief, that only makes you a target to whoever the thief is associated with. You don’t know if he’s got some thuggish friends and you’re not looking for a fight.

That is unless he decides to try and steal from you. Then he better be as good as fighting as he is pickpocketing.

After this initial encounter, you honestly forget about him.

That is until a few months later, when you spot a flash of bright yellow in the massive crowd on another Saturday morning rush.

You fumble to make change for the person buying three dozen heads of lettuce, trying to find his distinctly soft face in the sea of people.

At first you think you’ve lost him, until the lady buying out all your lettuce moves one of her bags and you see him snatch an apple from the barrel in front of your table.

Blinding hot rage sparks its way down your neck and shoulders, and without even thinking you shove the change into the woman’s hands and slide over the table.

The crook looks behind him just in time for you to grab him by the collar and drag him into the nearest alley.

The shock in his eyes is clear and although he tries to fight back, he can’t break your hold.

You shove him up against the brick wall of the alley and ask him one very important question.

“Who the fuck do you think you are?”

He kind of just makes a weird gurgling sound though because your knuckles are pressing into his trachea.

You loosen your grip a little and look at him expectantly.

“I’m the Prince-”, he starts, but you cut him off because listen you might not be rich but you’re not stupid.

“Bullshit. And you can keep that apple, but you better hope I never catch you stealing from me again”, you say, throwing him by the front of his shirt even further into the alley and storming back to your booth.

Once you gather your bearings, you think about the encounter.

You can’t pinpoint what it is that pisses you off so much about this guy in particular. There’s always been thieves in the market, it’s practically part of the system at this point.

But there’s always been one thing about the thieves that made you understand in a way, why they steal.

They almost always steal food and it’s because they need it. For themselves and probably their families. And you can’t find it in yourself to fault them for that.

But this bright-shoed bandit? He looks like he’s never missed a meal in his life. He’s got full cheeks, tan skin, toned muscles, and is missing that look of sheer desperation that’s in the eyes of all the thieves you’ve encountered thus far.

The only thing in this boy’s eyes is arrogance. And something else you can’t quite identify yet.

Sunday passes and you try to relax, but remembering that encounter just irks you.

Mom: “Y/N,,,, what are you doing”

You: “I’M GONNA GO PLOW THE FIELDS”

Mom: “Why would you do that by hand?? We have an ox for that??”

You: “Because I’m pissED oFF okaY”

It’s not until Monday that you hear the townspeople gossip like crazy about something that happened at the Sunday Market.

Even the vendors are talking about it instead of the usual small talk with customers.

“Did you hear? The prince rode into the marketplace on horseback yesterday”

“Hear? I was there! He made such a big scene!”

“Apparently he was looking for someone but he didn’t even know their name”

“Typical Prince Yangyang- he’s always up to something crazy. He’s such a lovely sight though~”

This goes on for hours and towards the end of the day you swear if you hear one more thing about “PriNcE YaNgyaNg anD hiS goRgEous faCe” or “PrinCe YanGyaNg aNd hiS sTeaMy mUScleS”, you might actually just close up shop and leave early.

At first it was interesting, but everyone’s repeating the same thing for h o u r s

Except for the man you’re currently selling tomatoes to.

“Yeah it wasn’t hard tah miss him with those bright ass shoes ah his”

Your whole body jolts and you drop the change the man just set in your hand.

Apologizing, you scramble to pick it all up and drop the coins on the table.

“What do you mean ‘bright ass shoes’, sir?”, you ask, your demeanor becoming physically tense.

“You know the kid loves collecting those new kinds ah shoes, right? ‘Sneakers’ or whaddeva ya call em? They’re all the rage in the next kingdom ovah, he musta gotten em imported from there-”, the man drones on and on, whilst you continue to panic.

“Sir please, what color were they?”

“Oh they were yellow like you wouldn’t believe! Brighter than the sun itself, and- hey! Where are you going?”

You hand the man his bag of tomatoes, grab what little produce is left and close down shop. If the prince comes back again today he could have you thrown in jail for treason for the way you spoke to him.

Everything's in the horse-drawn cart and you’re pretty much ready to go until you remember you left the change on the table.

Cursing to yourself, you abandon the cart for a brief moment and rush back to grab the money, but right as you reach for it, someone grabs your wrist.

Without thinking, you twist their arm around and pin them face first into the table.

Some of the coins fall off from the sudden impact and as your eyes follow them down…. you notice the man’s yellow shoes.

You quickly release him,,,, this thief,,,, the prince

As he slowly turns around, you contemplate whether you should request execution by hanging or guillotine….

But when he sees that it’s you, he just starts laughing.

Not like a maniacal “aha I’ve got you noW peasaNT” kind of laugh like you’d expect though. A genuine laugh from this boy.

From this p r i n c e

All instincts are telling you to bolt and just move to a different marketplace but,,,, you wanna know what this guy’s deal is.

Curiosity getting the better of you, you talk to him.

“Your Royal Highness”, you say in a sarcastic tone.

“Ah, so you believe me now? What’s changed?”, he asks and his voice sounds like honey. For some reason you’d expected him to be harsher.

“Your prance around town yesterday has been all anyone’s talking about today, Prince of Thieves”, you explain with disinterest dripping from your mouth.

“Prince of Thieves? I am prince of this nation, I’ll have you know”, he says and there’s that look in his eyes again that you can’t quite pin down.

“Then act like it”, you say with a certain degree of malice, and storm off to your horse and cart, leaving the money behind. It’s not worth it to grab it.

His eyes widen and he just stands there for a moment before chasing after you.

“Just- wait a minute!”, he shouts, running up behind you and putting a hand on your shoulder.

You grab his wrist, pulling him forward onto your back, and then flip him over onto the ground.

Once he’s down, you pin him down with your hands on his wrists and a knee on either side of his hips.

“I don’t care that you’re the prince. Your title means nothing to me. I care that you’re a thief. You steal from people who actually need money to live, and why? For the thrill of it? Grow up. If you want people to call you Prince then you better start acting like one”, you lay into him, letting all your frustration with him out at once.

You expect him to get angry with you. Maybe even yell. But he just looks,,,, sad. A little defeated, if anything.

“That’s not why I came here”

“You’re right, let me get off you so you can go pickpocket my customers”, you say, standing up and brushing the dirt off your pant legs.

“No, I came here looking for you. That’s why I came here yesterday, too”, he says, getting up and stepping between you and your horse. “Please, I need your help”

You take a deep breath in and out.

“My help with what exactly?”

“You fight like no one I’ve ever seen before. I need you to teach me”, he explains.

“Isn’t that what you have the knights for?”, you ask.

“They go easy on me. They’re worried if they hurt me while practicing, they’ll be fired by my mom”

“I don’t see why they’re concerned about hitting you in the face. It’s practically all I can think about right now”, you say nonchalantly.

“Wow okay- I could’ve gone without knowing that. But what do you say? Will you teach me? You’ve already showed me like three moves, just,,,, not on purpose I guess”

And for some reason,,,,, maybe because you’re lowkey worried he’ll actually have you hanged,,,,, you say yes.

You tell him it’ll have to be on Sundays and that he’ll have to come down to the family farm because “there’s no way in hell I’ll fight you that close to the queen’s wrath”

When you meet with him that Sunday though, he’s actually,,, quite charming??? And very polite to your parents, who were extremely surprised to see the prince on their front step (you might’ve forgotten to tell them about it)

This begins a routine of Prince Yangyang dragging you out of bed at dawn to spar with him in the barn out back behind your house.

The first few times he’d leave in the afternoon saying he “didn’t want to take up too much of your time”

But every time he leaves,,,, you find yourself missing his company.

Listen, he was an ass at first and he’s still an ass but it’s growing on you.

So one day, you ask him if he’d want to stay for dinner. And to your own shock, he immediately agrees.

He banters back and forth with you, makes jokes with your dad, and flatters your mom.

He’s got all of you around his finger and he’s not even trying to. He’s just being himself.

Now every Sunday he still wakes you up at dawn, much to your dismay, but he stays the whole day instead.

You spend the day together sparring, trying to knock each other into the pond, having lighthearted conversations, and getting the produce ready to go to market the next day.

To you, he stopped feeling like a prince a while ago honestly he never felt like a prince to start with but still

He’s your friend Yangyang that you throw into hay bales while teaching him self defense

One of those nights, the two of you are laying on the roof of the barn looking at the stars, when he says that he’d better head back to the castle.

“Can I ask you a question first?”, you ask, sitting up to face him.

“You technically just did”

“Oh shut up, you know what I mean”

“Hit me with it”, he says, closing his eyes and tilting his head back towards the speckled sky.

“Why do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Why do you steal from the marketplace?”, you finally ask, after silently wondering for months at this point.

“I don’t anymore”, he answers somewhat defensively, opening his eyes to look at you.

“Okay, then why did you?”

“...”

“...you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want….”, you say somewhat resigned.

Over the past month or so, things between the two of you has felt,,,, different.

You’ve been closer than ever, and talk to each other like you’ve known each other for years.

You’d be lying if you said you weren’t falling for him.

But it feels like he’s got a barrier built up between him and the world.

Everything fiber of your being aches to shatter it. For him to feel like he can trust you, even if he can’t trust anyone else.To be special to him the way he’s special to you.

“I needed to do something to break out”, he says after some silence.

“Break out of what?”, you ask, trying to be gentle.

“Out of the box my parents are desperately trying to cram me into. I know they want what’s best for me and the country but,,,, it’s just so much pressure. I needed to do something else- anything else, even if it was stupid”

You scoot over to him and he sits up. Wrapping your arms around his neck, you pull yourself closer to him.

At first he just sits there, stunned, but then tightly returns the embrace and buries his face in the crook of your neck.

The two of you stay like that for who knows how long, with him getting everything off his chest and you quietly listening and running your fingers through his hair.

From that night onward, the two of you are practically inseparable.

Neither of you have said that you’re an item,,, and for a while you were like “am I making this shit up or does he like me”.

But one day, he’s sitting behind your booth in the marketplace (like he usually is. You’d think as a prince he’d have more to do,,,), eating all of your apples, when he taps you on the shoulder.

“I’m in the middle of a sale”, you snap, and turn back around to the customer.

When you finish, you turn around and he hands you an apple that is just,,, seeping with juice.

“Yangyang,,, w h y”

“Flip it over!”

So you do, and he’s carved “for my beautiful s/o~” into the side of the apple.

You can’t help but smile at his literally sweet gesture.

But you also can’t help but make direct eye contact with him and bite straight into the carved part of the apple.

The look of horror on his face made your day.

He’s got a habit of making your day everyday, though.

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amarabliss · 4 years

Text

Oaths and Hearts - 21 (Ignis Scientia/Reader)

You fell through a rift into the fade fighting the demons you swore to protect your world from. When you popped out you were no longer in the lands of Ferelden instead trapped in Insomnia. The gracious king allowed you to say recognizing power when he saw it. One thing led to another and now you were part of the procession of the prince to his wedding years later. Before the final battle, after years of fighting, losses, and love…your friend…your king…Noctis has asked you to change it all…

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20

“Now this bracelet…”

“It stays.” Ignis looked at the shock on the tailors face as he began to explain how it would simply clash, “I’m afraid everyone will have to adjust. I will not take it off under any circumstances.”

“Sir…as it will be your first…” He began again trying to explain.

“I understand what ramifications it holds, but seeing as this is my wife’s custom of marriage,” Ignis stepped off the podium undoing the clasp to the cape on his shoulder, “I will not be taking it off. This is a new world and new order, some things will change…I trust you understand that.”

The tailor agreed taking the cape from him and stepping away. Ignis let out a sigh as he took off the jacket setting gently against a couch as he heard a chuckle. His eyes looked over to Gladio leaning against the wall, “Never a dull moment with the royal tailor.”

“They used to be quite pleasant when I was just a Crownesguard.” Ignis huffed unbuttoning his shirt. He thanked Gladio as he handed him his own clothing, “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to escort you to your meeting with Noctis.” Gladio raised his hands up in defense, “You know the protocols now, and we’re in a grey area on where everyone is supposed to be.”

Ignis felt his face burn as he pulled on his own shirt buttoning it quickly, “I’m not royalty yet…”

“And yet you are.” Gladio sighed a little, “I know this hasn’t been easy for you…but it was kinda in the cards all along…”

“What do you mean?” He reached for his jacket sliding it on in one motion before tugging down on it and buttoning it.

Gladio followed him out into the hall, “Noctis was the Chosen King…he was meant to eradicate the world of darkness by becoming a sacrifice…afterwards…it was supposed to be up to us…I didn’t forget that…”

“Nor did I…” Ignis looked at him curiously, “Are you saying you would have put my name forward to ascend the throne?”

“It was my thought, yes.” Gladio told him, “I’m not the only one who thinks this either.”

“And why are you telling me this?” Ignis looked forward as something began to swell inside his chest.

“So that you understand,” Gladio put a hand on his shoulder getting him to look at him, “that you have support. The only one who’s doubting your legitimacy is you.”

He wasn’t doubting…no…he knew who he was now all thanks to Regis…

“Your bloody right I have questions…” Ignis glared at him before he looked around seeing a void of darkness, “for starters you can tell me where I am? I’m needed at home…”

“For your son, yes…” Regis smiled a little, “I understand, and I assure you, you are still there and only but a fraction of a fraction of time will have passed when we’re done here. As to where we are, this is a realm for the kings. The place we reside to grant our power to our descendants and those you deem fit to bestow our gift to.”

Ignis turned to him again looking him over. His entire perception of the man before him had changed. He admired him once, and now he was bitterly angry at him, “…why?”

Regis took a deep breath in before letting it out, “My wife and I desperately wanted a child. We wanted a family together, but every time nothing come of it. As a husband I felt like a failure…and as a husband I could remain so, but as a king it was my duty to produce an heir.”

“Is that all I am then…a product of duty?” Ignis could feel the venom in his words and see that they hurt the man before him.

“For me…yes.” Regis frowned looking down, “It was easier to part from you, if I kept our relationship that way. You were…our kingdom’s future. Then a miracle happened…and Noctis came to be…that never erased who you are though, Ignis.”

“You’ll forgive me…I’m having a hard time accepting all of this.” Ignis shook his head, “Knowing now…it-it changes everything…all our conversations, all the instances you showed interest in me…”

Regis frowned looking away, “All times…that I cherished, but your father made it abundantly clear to me the day we found out about Noctis, that I would not be able to form a relationship with you. Not in the normal sense…”

Ignis looked at him as he went on, “Roderick, was such a good man. A true noble if there ever was one…He took the assignment with grace…but when we no longer had a need…he became a father, a true protective man who never wanted harm to come to his son. He looked me dead in the eyes and spoke with true conviction, ‘He is my son and if any harm befalls him because your royal politics…I will be there to swing the axe at your neck.’”

Ignis blinked surprised that his father would be so bold, “He threatened you?”

“Yes…you have to understand, at that point I was a threat to his family. Any man would do the same.” Regis smiled sadly hanging his head a little, “When he passed…there was this moment I had a chance claim you…raise you as mine, but it didn’t seem right…by that time you were a Scientia. Just as today, you are a Scientia.”

Ignis felt a spark inside him light up at those words, “Your majesty…”

Regis chuckled a little, “Ignis…I don’t expect you to recognize me as your father…but we’re far past formalities at least…”

“…I suppose we are…” Ignis swallowed, “I don’t know where to begin…”

“We have the time…” Regis stepped toward him placing his hands on his arms, “For now…begin with the power that has been inside you this entire time. You have always been exceptional, and I have no doubt with some guidance from Noctis that you will master it…”

He was a Scientia and that is how he would rule this country. He could feel the weight of the ring in his pocket. He hadn’t told anyone about it yet, not even you. How could he? What would he even say, your son showed up from the future wearing the Ring of Luci, I took it from him after he died in my arms?

Yes…that would go over like a lead balloon.

He thought about telling Noctis but decided against it. Noct still desired to rule but knew there could be no division. He was putting the safety of the nation above his wants and desires. For that Ignis respected him more than he had before.

“I appreciate that…I do.” Ignis let out a sigh, “I hope I can amount to everyone’s expectations.”

“You have already far succeeded them.” Gladio smiled at him giving him a pat on the back, “Master the power of kings and you’ll be perfect.”

“Ah yes…that one thing that seems to be in the way of it all.” Ignis turned down the hall leading to the training rooms, “…perhaps you should stay this time…”

“You saying our king is not a good teacher?” Gladio smirked crossing his arms.

“It’s not so much that as…he doesn’t know how to adapt his teaching style to my learning methods…” Ignis’ brow came together in frustration.

“Iggy…” Gladio sighed a little, “You’re not going to learn this from a book.”

“Then mastering it is…” He took in a deep heavy breath, “going to be harder than everyone wants it to be…”

And it was, simple things that should feel natural felt so far from it.

He growled slamming his hand in to the mat, “Ah!”

“Ignis…it’s okay.” Noctis frowned stepping over to him, “It took me a long time to master all of this.”

“I don’t have the luxury of time like you did.” Ignis moved to a sitting position.

Noct sat down next to him letting his arms hang off his knees, “It seems like you’re not…here.”

“What?” Ignis looked at him confused.

Noct chewed the inside of his cheek for a second before he looked at him, “When I first started my training…I didn’t want to do it. I had better things I wanted to do, like play outside or video games. So...I couldn’t get through my lessons here because I couldn’t complete the objective…and it seems like you’re going through the same thing.”

Ignis smiled a little before looking away, “You have become very wise this past year…”

“I’m right aren��t I?” Noct smiled a little at him, “What’s up?”

Ignis shook his head, “I…I’m not sure if I can talk about it…”

“Come on…” Ignis looked at him when he nudged him with his elbow, “I’m your baby brother…you can tell me anything.”

Ignis smiled at him. He’d always thought of Noctis like a brother. He was always there taking care of him, covering for him, taking him places, and Ignis appreciated that not much has changed since they both found out the truth. Taking a deep breath in he slowly reached into his pocket pulling out the ring.

Noctis blinked a few times before holding up his hand looking at the ring on his finger, “Uh…I’m not making the connection…”

“Then let me explain…” Ignis frowned a little and informed him of everything that had transpired a few weeks ago, “After all that…and talking with Regis…I made the decision that I had to take my position as king…”

“Wow…” Noctis frowned looking away for a moment, “damn…”

“I have to figure this out, Noct. I have to save my family…my son.” Ignis looked at him, “So whatever advice you have …I’m listening.”

Noctis sat there for a long time before standing up, “You need to focus on a moment…that means everything to you. Let that push you…let it anchor you to the crystal and then let the power flow through you…”

Ignis stood up brushing his pants off, “What’s your anchor?”

Noctis stared at him before he blushed a little scratching the back of his head, “Uh…well…I don’t remember what it used to be but now…now it’s…it’s you guys.”

“Us?” Ignis felt his eyes widened surprised.

“Yeah, when I think of you guys…I just…I don’t know.” Noctis smiled, “I just think of everything we’ve been through and how much I want to see all of you through it all.”

Ignis was touched. Noctis had truly become the king they needed. It started to get him thinking…

“Ignis?” He looked at Noct, “You got that look in your eye like you found a new recipe…what’s going on?”

He smiled placing a hand on his shoulder, “Nothing that’s important now…I need to think on it, but you’ve given me an idea…”

You looked over from the couch as the door opened late that night. You smiled seeing Ignis walking inside, “There you are.”

“I’m sorry…” He sighed setting his bag down and taking off his shoes, “I know I said I would be home early today…”

You stood up walking over to him helping him with his jacket, “It’s alright, I know you have a lot going on…”

He turned to you as you hung up his coat on the rack, “You’re far too understanding.”

“Well…I mean I’m not happy about it but…” You shrugged a little turning to back to him, “not much I can do either. So I will remain the supportive wife at home.”

He sighed taking your face into his hands before he kissed you, “I miss being home with you already…”

“Yeah…me too.” You leaned into the hand that began caressing your cheek, “I do know what it’s like though…which is why I’m trying very hard to be understanding…but it would be nice to see you at some point…”

“I’m here now.” He leaned his forehead against yours shutting his eyes.

“But you’re exhausted.” You smiled placing your hands over his, “And you need to be rested to preform your duties…you’re only going to get busier…”

“All the more reason…” He let his one arm slither down around your waist, “to used my time with you more wisely…”

“Your majesty…are you trying to seduce me?” You giggled watching his eyes snap open, “I’m sorry…I couldn’t resist…”

“Uh huh…” He smirked a little before drawing your face in for a kiss. Fire rushed through his veins as he scooped you up. The delightful noise of surprise only stroked the fire making it burn hotter.

He merely thought of bedroom and when he opened his eyes they were there. Falling deeper into the moment he gave it little thought sinking down onto the bed as your fingers raked through his hair. His hands moved your shirt up allowing his fingers the privilege to touch your delicate skin.

You helped him drawing it up and over your head, and while you were in the vulnerable position, he planted his face against your breast. First just taking a deep breath of your scent allowing it to wash over him sending him further down the hole of euphoria. Secondly, he wanted to feel your heartbeat.

He found peace shutting his eyes listening to the thrumming of your heart and the feeling of your fingers running through his hair. Soon he pulled away looking up to your darkening eyes. He knew that look and he smiled ready to give you everything you wanted.

It was the same look you gave him the first time. The same time you told him everything you needed was right in front you in him. For all the problems they were dealing with then…it seemed simpler then everything they were dealing with presently.

Later his hand clutched yours as he kissed tasty the salty sweetness of your back while his other hand dug tightly into your hip. You collapsed beneath him and he soon followed slowly lowering himself beside you. He swallowed taking in several deep breaths shutting his eyes, “I love you…”

You let out a laugh before he felt you roll over snuggling into his side. He opened his eyes looking down to your flushed face. Your eyes were bright and wild as you spoke, “I love you too.”

“You laughed…” He smirked a little as you shut your eyes exhaustion finally catching up to you.

“I just always find it humorous that you proclaim that every time we finish.” You wrapped around him.

“Would you rather I said nothing?” His arm came to rest around you as he pulled the blankets up around the both of you.

“Heavens no…” You shook your head, “It’s just my bad sense of humor catching up to me…I love that you say it. I especially love it when you rasp it out in the middle of things.”

He felt himself blush, “Well…you make me feel…worthy and I want you to now it…”

“Hm…” You gave him a squeeze shutting your eyes, “You make me feel the same…”

He smiled kissing the top of your head before he shifted a little to stand. You made a noise of protest, “I would like to kiss my son goodnight…I’ll be right back.”

Your eyes cracked open slightly as you smiled, “Give him a kiss for me.”

He leaned back kissing you long enough that he almost started things again. When he pulled away he was sure he head another pout, but he didn’t stop to investigate this time. Quietly he crept across the hall into Ulric’s room.

He looked down at him sleeping soundly in his bed. Reaching down he picked up kissing him before rocking him in a bouncing motion to keep him asleep, “There there…I just wanted to hold you a moment…”

He didn’t fuss much as he sat down in the rocker with him drifting back to sleep. Ignis smiled rocking gently, “I think I figured it out…and it’s all thanks to you.”

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cruciferousjex · 5 years

Text

A short drabble in which Hordak recieves a Tarot reading from a new cadet. Yes it's the Rider-Waite deck. No I don't know where she got it. It was yeeted through a portal like Adora, shhh. Shhhhhh.

Unlike my usual stuff this is completely sfw, so feel free to read it to your boss. Enjoy!

💔

THE LOVERS

Toadie was, well, a toad.

Or at the very least looked like one. She was a new recruit to the Horde - having joined willingly for a chance at a life better than that of a swamp dweller. Not that she minded mud. In fact she rolled in it whenever possible. But Toadie wanted to see Etheria, and the Horde seemed her best passage to such a life.

Having come from a long line of fortune tellers, Toadie of course brought her deck of prognostication cards from home. Magical items were not allowed in the Horde, but her cards were not inherently magic. It was all in the interpretation after all. No magic required.

To be safe she'd told them they were just a game.

Soon word got around and Toadie found her services much in demand, most especially by Force Captain Scorpia, her immediate superior, who had laid a grey ration bar before her as payment.

The sixth payment this week.

"This...I mean this..." Toadie gestured to the spread. A man stealing seven swords, three swords piercing a heart, a woman sobbing in bed before nine swords hung on a wall. "This... still doesn't look good for a love reading. I'm sorry. "

Scorpia bit her lip. "Ummm... maybe...try flipping one more card?" she asked hopefully.

Toadie nodded, impatiently slapping one more card down on the table. A queen on a throne holding a single sword. Reversed.

"Oh sweetie," Toadie said softly.

"Just - maybe just- "

Toadie slapped two more cards down. A woman with a blindfold and arms bound, standing before eight swords, a man dead on the ground with ten in his back.

"Not looking good, Scorpia, sir."

"Oh you don't have to call me sir, I -" Scorpia began, but stopped when her lower lip began to quiver. Tears filled her eyes. "Okay, um -" she said. Laughed uneasily. Gathered herself. "Try again tomorrow?"

Toadie shrugged. "Keep bringing grey bars, I'll keep reading your cards. But I mean...."

Scorpia's eyes were wide. Wet.

Toadie sighed. She didn't have the heart. "See you tomorrow, Scorpia."

"Right. Okay. Tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day!" Scorpia walked out of the armory storeroom with shoulders slumped, but immediately straightened when she saw someone just outside the door. "Lord Hordak! Sir! I-"

Scorpia glanced back at Toadie, her eyes wide with panic for her. Toadie tried gathering her cards as fast as possible but only made a mess of them. It was too late, Hordak had brushed past Scorpia and into the room to see Toadie, her hands spread over the cards in a futile attempt to cover them.

"What is the meaning of this?" Hordak asked softly.

Toadie's heart skipped a beat. She swallowed hard. "It's - it's - just a game, Lord Hordak, sir."

"Then why was Force Captain Scorpia crying?"

"Uhhh...she...lost?"

Hordak raised an eyebrow at her. God, he was so intimidatingly tall. Toadie had never been this close to him.

"Do not lie to me, cadet."

"I'm...I...apologize, sir. They are... they're fortune telling cards, sir. They belonged to my mother, I brought them from home." She bowed her head. "I'm sorry for my obfuscation. Punish me as you see fit, sir."

Hordak stared at her so hard she thought she might melt. But he did not speak. His gaze fell to the cards, studying them. He looked thoughtful. And...tired, somehow. She knew well the look of someone who'd exhausted every other option, but his glowing red eyes frightened her.

"I'll remove them at once, sir."

"Remain as you are."

Hordak took a deep breath. Took hold of the chair Scorpia had been sitting in. Toadie winced, certain he was going to throw it at her - she'd heard tales of his punishments - but he merely stepped before it, and sat down.

"Proceed," he said, folding his hands on the table.

[[MORE]]

Toadie could barely speak. She had - well, a frog in her throat.

"Wow. You, uh..." she began. She winced. "There must be payment. Sir."

"Payment?" he asked, taken aback.

"Yes. Sir. You must cross my palm with ... well ... something."

He raised an eyebrow. Considered this. After a moment he reached somewhere and produced a small green crystal, which he set on the table before her.

"Wow," she said softly, picking it up. "Usually it's ration bars, but this will do nicely. Thank you."

He nodded.

She picked up the deck and began to shuffle. "What is your question?"

Something crossed his face. She found his expressions hard to read, but if she was right, it was ... unease.

"You don't have to say it out loud," she said quickly, handing him the deck. "Just think of it while you shuffle the cards."

"...shuffle?"

"As I was doing a moment ago."

He hesitated. He split the cards in two and faced them towards each other, then paused, seemingly unsure how to do this.

"Or just cut them. Like...rearrange them. It's more important that you think of your question as you do it."

Hordak took a silent moment and arranged the cards in three piles and stacked them in the opposite order he'd split them.

"Is that adequate?"

"That will do, yes. Now um..." Toadie began, unsure how to put this. "They - I can't - promise they'll give you the answer you are hoping for. In fact you may not like what they have to say at all. But I just - I beg you, sir - don't, um... don't shoot the messenger. Sir."

Toadie surreptitiously glanced at the guns on the wall of the armor.

"You have my word."

"Okay. Okay good. If you're ready...?"

He nodded.

"Okay. Here we go."

Toadie flipped the first card. Her eyes widened.

The Lovers.

She glanced up at Hordak. He also looked surprised, but quickly went back to impassive. Hordak had a LOVER? Who? Who in the world?

"So there was ... someone. Um. Important to you. In the recent past?"

She glanced up at him for confirmation which he did not give.

She flipped another card. A queen holding a cup, then another, a man and a woman holding a cup between them. A third, a king with a sword.

"Wow," she said softly. "Sir can I um...may I speak ... freely?"

He nodded, leaning forward slightly.

"This was, um ... a meeting of equals. A very good and ... and true ... love, sir. Um. Enduring. Or .. or should have been?"

Hordak did not reply.

She flipped another card. The three of swords - three swords piercing a heart.

"It ended abruptly? Very painfully ... yes. It's been troubling you greatly," she said, flipping the woman crying before the swords on the wall. "Do you ... do you want me to inquire why? Sir?" she whispered.

He glanced at her.

"Proceed," he said, but his voice sounded different. Slightly...broken.

Toadie gathered up the cards and put them back in the deck. Shuffled. She could shuffle very fast. Hordak watched her hands, tilting his head with slight interest.

"Why did they leave?" she asked, and flipped the cards out on the table.

Eight wands flying through the air. The man and woman holding the cup between them. The queen holding a sword, placed upside down. An exploding tower with a man and woman falling from it. Then a woman and child departing in a boat, in which also stood six swords.

Toadie furrowed her brow.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Sir I...from this... it seems to say they-"

"She," he corrected softly.

"She didn't want to leave. It was ... I mean I'd almost say it was forced on her. There's a malicious third party. See here, this-" she pointed at the reversed Queen of Swords. "This is a vengeful woman. Royalty, possibly, or thinks she is. She brought destruction of some sort to her, to your ... your friend. The falling tower, and then...departure. In the boat."

Hordak paused, considering this.

"Who?" he finally asked, tapping his finger on the reversed Queen of Swords. His throat sounded dry.

"I can't tell you who specifically sir, just her nature. Nasty. Incisive. Intelligent, possibly. Royalty, or assumes that station."

Hordak frowned.

"We can see how she, um...I can ask how your friend...feels currently? Towards you?"

Her hands hovered on the deck. He did not reply but she knew when a querent wanted an answer to something they would not admit wanting an answer to.

She flipped a card. The Lovers.

"She...wherever she is, sir, she still..." she flipped another card. The Queen of Cups. "She still loves you."

Hordak took a quick breath. But just as quickly he looked away.

"Then why... why does she not..." his voice lowered. "Return to me?"

A woman bound before eight swords.

"She can't," Toadie said. "She's trapped in some fashion. From this I believe she would if she could." She flipped another card. The woman crying in bed with the swords. "She definitely would. But she just... can't. "

For a moment Hordak 's face was completely unguarded as he looked over the cards. Hurt. Longing. Exhaustion. But just as quickly he closed up again. Turned away.

"This is nonsense," he growled, and stood.

"Sir?"

"Thank you for your services," he said brusquely, and made for the door. "You will not speak of this to anyone, cadet," he said warningly over his shoulder, and left just as quickly as he came.

Toadie, breathless, looked over the cards. Hordak, in love? Left behind, bereft, defeated by some ... malicious woman? But who?

Her gaze fell on the reversed Queen of Swords. When had she seen it before? That card came up a lot, specifically in Scorpia's readings. It always represented...

...Force Captain Catra.

"No no," Toadie whispered to herself, gathering up the cards. "This is beyond my pay grade."

There was a knock at the door. She looked up to see a hopeful Force Captain Scorpia, with a grey ration bar.

"I have just one more eensy weensy question?"

Toadie sighed. She really did like those ration bars.

"Bring it here," she said, and gestured to the chair.

#entrapdak #hordak #Entrapta #entrapdak fic #Scorpia #tarot

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songsorter28 · 4 years

Text

Blackpink: The Album Review

Okay, this is the first time i’ve done this and the truth is i don’t know how, so i’ll just try my best.

First of all: I am a Jennie biased blink. That means I have no trustworthy sense of criticism when it comes to them and if you do, this is probably not the place for you. I will try to talk about this album with a sense of criticism, but sometimes, i’m just gonna like a song because it’s blackpink and y’all just gotta deal with it.

BUT, I am not afraid of saying i don’t like things that the pinks have said it to like, which is actually how i’m starting this review. So, if you guys are all about loving the girls and emotion and “think about how they must feel” this is a decision made by the girls, this place is also not for you either. I am a blink and i share a lot of love for those four women, but i am also a consumer of their work as artists. I will complain if I didn’t get something I thought was necessary as a viewer and listener for my money and attention to be spent. I will not, of course, hate on them in any way.

Ok, before anything:

1) English isn’t my first language, so I apologize for any mistakes. 2) Here, we’re gonna talk about the cover, pre-release single choices, writing credits, tracklist and my honest opinion about the album as a whole.

a) The Cover:

There’s not a lot to talk about but the fact that it’s gorgeous, but simple. I didn’t understand why a crown if the name was The Album (something unoriginal to be honest, but i’m not 100% against it) and there’s no reference to royalty throughtout the album besides maybe Jennie’s rap “didn’t want to be a princess”. I did find the cover visually pleasing tho, could be much more embarrasing.

b) Writing credits and Track List:

This one is quick. I’m extremely glad Jennie and Jisoo were credited as songwriters (Jennie as well as a composer) but Teddy gotta give Danny Chung to god. He hates rapper Jennie and he’s the reason Lisa doesn’t write. He’s always in charge of the raps so teddy gets confortable and Lisa doesn’t get a chance to write her own verses, which is something the sure thing cover showed us she can do. Also, he hates rapper Jennie to the point where she had to write her rap on the title track (wich is good, but, you know what i mean) and wasnt even given a chance to write more than 8 seconds. Melanie I hope this is the last time you were here. Loren you can stay. Tommy and Ryan yall were cute we had fun but it’s over let’s move one (seriously, these producers really made me appreciate Teddy more lmao pls sir never leave us). Okay that’s it. Now, to the track list.

I will be talking about the fact this shouldn’t even be called a full album on the My Honest Opinion About The Album As A Whole topic.

1. How You Like That

I say my opinion more detailed on the next topic but at at essence. Cute. A good opener to the album and what is to come, but too much of a bside to even be a pre release single.

6.5/10

2. Ice Cream

Again, my opinion it’s on the next topic. Cute song. Loved Chaennie’s high notes and wish i didn’t know english so the rap didnt sound that silly. Not as bad as blinks and non blinks make it out to be.

6.12/10

3. Pretty Savage

I kinda also talked about that in the next topic lmao. It has everything a blackpink song should have. There’s been some controversy about Lisa “born skinny bitch” but Lisa was talking about herself since she has been body shamed through her whole career. She was right and she should say it. You’re entitled to feel uncomfortable but that’s just the thing she wasn’t talking about me or you. She was taking her pain and wearing like an armor. This was a diss track for the haters. Taking that away from her because of our own issues it’s kinda mistreating hers.

8.82/10

4. Bet You Wanna

Yes you guessed it right I talk more about it next topic. It’s a bop. Loved Jennie here. She has such a versatile voice I was very proud to hear her. And Cardi was also good. Just hope Lisa will get her rap part live cause she didn’t have much lines here. But I loved Jenlisa’s brigde. Rosé’s adlibs peak perfection and Jisoo’s chorus and english that’s what i’m talking about. The chorus can be a little repetitive and it kinda ends a bit suddenly but it doesnt bother me much.

8.37/10

5. Lovesick Girls

WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THIS MASTERPIECE OTHER THAN BEST BLACKPINK TITLE TRACK? Love that for me. It was so different than anything they’ve done so far, the lyrics were AMAZING, the message behind it also, the visuals in the MV, storylinne, RAPPER JENNIE OMG, she got the most memorable line “didn’t want to be a princess, i’m priceless” i love her tf the shade to the yg princess title and her scene in the car and in the mental hospital(will not touch on the controversies cause that was annoying) also Lisa’s rap/singing with a flow in the begining her voice OMG I WAS SHOOKEDT. Jisoo’s high note in the brigde? Rosé?? perfect.

10/10

6. Crazy Over You

Rapper Jennie for the last time with a 8 second rap again but LET’S BE POSITIVE. A bop. I loved the i. went. crazy. over. you. I love the lyrics. It bother a bit this much english but it’s bp’s idendity so i’m fine with it.

8.5/10

7. Love To Hate Me

This was a predictable song in the best possible way. Easily one of their best songs. There’s honestly nothing left to say. Also. Lisa’s rap. Maybe Danny Chung deserves some points. It even felt like she was a feat in the song like her flow yall just perfection.

9.4/10

8. You Never Know.

Great song I left with depression.

I like how this album talks with haters and blinks, it really shows a different side from the pinks. Only a few know the emotion Jennie starting off “but you never know unless you walk in my shoes [...] cause everybody sees what they wanna see, it’s easier to jugde it than to believe”. It was written by Loren, a close friend from the girls and the boy who’s Jenlichaeng boyfriend in the LSG’s MV and Bekuh Boom, a producer who’s been with them for really long, but if anyone got a conspirancy theory that they were involved in the songwriting process of the song, sign me up. You don’t need proves. I believe you. ALSO JISOO GOT MOST LINE ON THIS ONE and we got singer Lisa. After a while, it become my favorite song from the album. Now, it’s my favorite song from their discography. Debate your mother.

9.62/10

c) Pre-Release single Choices:

I can’t stress about this enough. Whoever was in charge for the single choices needs to go to jail. Not that HYLT is bad (at all) but comparing to the rest of the songs, it look MUCH more like a powerful bside than Love To Hate Me and Pretty Savage ever will. I will lecture later how Pretty Savage was the perfect choice to first release single, just wait. Now, to the controversial Ice Cream. To be honest, i found the song super cute and i think the MV was one of their best. It was different and refreshing, love that for me. But the whole sequence of events that turned out to that disasterous twitter timeline, with constant attacks to the girls especially Lisa over things they cannot control such as line distribuition and a sabotage from antis on yt comment section, was something I kinda already saw it coming. Ice Cream is Blackpink’s most successful single to date, but it was a bad choice from the start (I will talk about that in a second). For starters, YG decided not to promote the song well. While announcing the single, they gave us a poster with pictures from a summer package released months before. And each week they kept doing that, only using actual teaser photos in the release week. The hype was pretty much out. I can’t say my timeline is 100% blink because i have way too many fandoms that i’ve been following for longer than i’ve known kpop, but compared to the HYLT hype, they were pretty down and that’s on YGE. Also, ever since coachella, it’s been antecipated by fans and artists the possibility of a Blackpink x Ariana Grande (one of the most popular singes these last couple of years). The idea of an Aripink collab got blinks (who were already with an eye wide open after Blackpink was seen with Tommy Brown, Ari’s basically oficial producer, who has been producing for her ever since her second album and was reponsible for many hits of her latest project, Thank U, Next, such as 7 rings and Thank U, Next) even more hyped when YG announced (one of those old photoshoot posters. I’m sorry I will never let that go that company is so trash) that Blackpink’s second release was going to be a collaboration with a western artist, and Ariana herself like Jennie’s instagram post about the next single. I cannot put in words the reaction of my twitter timeline when YG confirmed that the collab was actually with Selena Gomez.

Now, on a more personal note.

You see, I actually like Selena. I like her songs, besides the critics. Perfect is pop perfection. Waverly Place is the best disney show ever since That’s So Raven. But, to a collab made to the US market, and besides the success of Rare, Selena isn’t a sales force like Adele or Taylor Swift, nor a streaming force like Ariana Grande. Nothing takes my theory that this was supposed to be an aripink collab but, for some reason, she dipped and then interscope (blackpink us label and selena’s label) picked her. Selena showed us a good time and promoted the girls more than YGE did but, it wasn’t a surprise when the song didn’t get a top 10 (a top 13 is really good tho, don’t get me wrong).

Now back to the story telling

Selena was more than a feat, she sang the whole damn song, getting more vocal lines the the entire vocal line. She’s only a few seconds behind Lisa, who got the most lines in general. I understand that it is a collab, but this is the girls’ single. Why would they want to listen to them for only 16 seconds, the amount of time Rosé got? That set a bunch of solo stans (something that exists more in this fandom than everywhere else) to boycoitt the release, a huge fansite even taking out their funds for the full album (that was low, even for a solo account. JisooBar, you aint seeing heaven). Did i think it was a little of overeacting? As someone who’s an army that had to handle Not Today’s line distribuition, and especially since we’re talking about the main vocalist, someone who will for sure have more lines in the future (as she did), kinda. But, like i said, it was a bomb getting ready to explode at any minute. If it wasn’t that it’d be something else. That being said, NOTHING will ever justify the nastyness y’all did with Lisa and even Jennie’s comment section. Nothing. That was ridiculous even for solo stans. BUT for people who got worried about Lisa’s lack of posts after the release, don’t worry. She didn’t post a lot because Thailand is going through some stuff and I don’t think she has YGe’s permission to talk about it (when I catch the ones in power on that company istg).

Wow, that was long. At essence, it was a bad choice for several reasons, but i enjoyed the song a lot. Can’t wait for the live performances with chaesoo’s lines.

Now, back to HYLT. It was greatly promoted, it stopped Zico’s (huge in korea) releases and a bunch of other big artists in South Korea. Got 7 Perfect All-Kills and would’ve gotten more than 12 if the charts weren’t reforming at the time. It also broke a lot of records, and repeated Sour Candy’s position on the bb100 on #33. It’s another very Blackpink song that I enjoyed but kinda aged. Many non blinks didn’t like it but it’s not like they were ever going to admit they liked a bp song. They’re annoying. The song’s biggest problem is probably the 2015 edm in the chorus. Like. Teddy. You gotta let that go. It’s time. He kinda heard us in the album. But, these kinds of songs are very liked by the general public, especially the korean one. An interview was made asking the general public if blackpink should change concepts and they said a bit fat no. So that tells what you need to know. And that it why i think Pretty Savage should have been the first pre release single.

Okay, let me tell you another series of event. Back on november 2019, when we were starving because YGe does not like money, BlackpinkBar, a big fansite, payed trucks to be sent to YG building during a whole day demanding for better treatment to Blackpink. You can find all the demands online, but at essence, when it came to music related, blinks always mention: Jisoo’s lines, screen time and blackpink in your area, Main Rapper Jennie, Lisa dance break, Rosé’s high note. On HYLT, we got nothing. And everyone had to shrug it off saying it was just a pre release single, BUT it would be better hyped by blink and the hype to the second pre release would’ve lasted longe if PRETTY SAVAGE, who has basically all of that, was the pre release single. It would’ve assured us of so much. Jisoo said bp in your area twice, she RAPPED, she was singing, she could’ve had more screetime and center time especially bc she’s on all chorus. Jennie Main Rapper would go back and we wouldn’t have to be blue balled (which caused the ice cream meltdown)every single release and only having to wait till the title track and only to have a 8 SECOND RAP. I won’t talk about that now. Moving on. Rosé wouldn’t get a high note, but she would’ve gotten the brigde all to herself and the next pre release single, bet you wanna (wait for it), she would get those incredible adlibs. And Lisa’s dance break. Not only this is bp’s most danceable song and has a bunch of lisa’s raps, it also has jennie’s outro, where for a least 20 seconds lisa could’ve thrived. Yall we were robbed.

Now, real quick, back to Ice Cream. In a perfect world (or just a world where YG’s current ceo) had brains, if they wanted a collaboration to show the pink side of blackpink, with a poppy song and sassy lyrics, the artist not to be in the whole song, and to have an artist who would driven attention from the locals and is a big streaming force, THEY WOULD’VE CHOSEN BET YOU WANNA. My biggest problem with bet you wanna is Lisa’s lack of lines, which could cause stuff and well we just miss her they could have added a rap even for 8 seconds, BUT, seeing her all around pretty savage and knowing she’s gonna have Cardi’s rap during live performances would cool things down. Since we were in the middle of a pandemic, instead of a mv like ice cream where they had to do it separately, they could’ve done something like IU’s eight. A huge part in animation and a few with people. Literally YG why are you so dumb. Bye.

d) My Honest Opinion About The Album As A Whole:

I did some math (lol) and my rank for The Album is 8.4. It’s easily one of the best releases from this year and I loved it so much, but something were left to be desired and i think i could pass everything and just turn a blind eye at things, except one: the fact we waited for 4 years, watched all ggs and yg groups getting comebacks last semester and only got 8 songs. Loona is releasing a mini album with that amount of songs. Stray Kids and BTS’s mini albums are longer than that. It was bad enough KTL had 4 songs and a remix (a joke) with 2 songs lacking raps and no rapper jennie only for them to carry YG’s dirty name after what their protected boys did. I legit hate it here they didn’t even had 30 minutes, their longest song wasn’t even 4 minutes. Also, before anyone says anything about the girl’s interview about quality over quantity. I’d like to say that i understand them having that when it comes to have one comeback a year and i’m honestly okay with that. But their first full album? 8 songs? Are you kidding me? Like I said, I’m a consumer. I refuse to receive this half assed excuse about quality over quantity when they had more than enough time to produce and write more than 8 quality songs? what, is impossible to write more than one song per moth? these songs have formulas, they can be made more than 8 times. A blackpink album its more than a thousand reals here. That 90% of a sallary. And please don’t come with the “if you don’t want it just don’t buy it” “you can just unstan them” bc that’s not the case. I love their songs. I love the girls. But I’m a consumer of their art and if they want to be takend seriously as artists, they gotta do more than 8 songs on a full album. It’s unfair to anyone that isn’t a diehard fan willing to sell out an overpriced photobook in hours. That’s not the only kind of fan blackpink needs. they need the store locals, the people who are not on twitter or tumblr or instagram. Cause those locals are gonna stay like they stayed with adele and taylor swift. stan twitter is much more likely to leave them with time.

Side note: I’m tired of commenting on rapper Jennie so I’ll just say Jennie deserves better than 8 second raps as the main rapper of the group. That doesnt mean I want Lisa to not rap or to Jisoo not to sing, as many will say bc apparently that’s what people hear when we say main rapper who trained for 6 years to be a main rapper should rap on at least most title tracks even if not on all songs.

But yeah, that’s it. Besides the unfortunate final note, I loved The Album and now Blackpink it’s my second most listened artist of all time. They were top 13 before the album.

#Blackpink Jisoo Jennie Rosé Lisa TheAlbum The Album AlbumReview Album Review Kpop

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ashes-and-ashes · 5 years

Text

The Wedding

So, this is the thing that me and @confunded-gryffindor wrote for the Valentines Day competition. This was so much fun to write (for me at least) and we hope it is angsty and gives you feels!! I wrote Remus’ part, and Kim wrote Sirius’ part. Happy Valentines, and enjoy!

Sirius was glaring at Walburga, she had summoned him to his father’s office but now she wasn’t talking. Her expression is blank, but Sirius could tell that whatever she wanted to say isn’t good. Orion is swirling a glass of firewhiskey, grunting every once in a while as he reads through a stack of papers. The office is dark and grimy, only lit by two tall candles that stood perched upon Orion’s desk. The air is thick, it almost feels damp and Sirius can’t really breathe properly.

“Okay, I’ve been sitting here for five minutes,” Sirius says and cracks his knuckles. He can see Walburga cringing from the corner of his eye. “Did you want to talk or are we just going to have a staring competition?”

“Don’t crack your knuckles like that, Sirius,” Walburga hisses. “I’ve been thinking about how to approach this.”

Sirius runs his hands through his hair, “Approach what? You usually just beat the shit out of me.”

Walburga shoots him a vicious glare that probably could’ve killed and starts twirling her wand between her fingers. Sirius immediately sits up straighter and keeps his eyes firmly on the wand, ready to leap out of the room before curses were thrown.

“Don’t speak to your mother like that,” Orion grunts without looking up from his stack of papers.

“What did you want to speak about then?” Sirius says with his eyes still on the wand.

“Regulus told us about something that happened last term at school,” Walburga says and rises to her feet. She starts pacing around the room, still twirling her wand. “About you kissing some boy,” She spits out the words as if they tastes sour. Sirius’ heart stops beating for a split second. Shit, they know. This was the end, they were going to kill him or ship him off to Durmstrang. Or both.

“You understand, of course, that this isn’t acceptable by any means for an heir,” Walburga continues.

“I thought I mucked that up when I was sorted into Gryffindor,” Sirius crosses his arms over his chest.

“Quiet, Sirius,” Orion snaps, still not looking up. Walburga stops pacing right in front of Sirius.

“As I was saying,” she makes a show of twirling her wand again and Sirius bites his lip. “Seeing as you cannot produce an heir by… Your habits, your father and I have decided that you will get married by the end of the summer,”

Sirius gapes up at her. “What? I’m not even of age yet!”

“We have talked to the Minister and the Rosiers, and it is already arranged.”

“You can’t do that! I-...” Sirius feels himself go pale, or well, paler than he usually is. This was not happening.

“Of course we can. Ophelia is more than happy to be your wife,” Sirius swallows hard, trying to ignore the lump in his throat. Ophelia Rosier, of course it’s some wannabe Death Eater who is two years older than Sirius and looks like what bulldogs and a toad love child would look like.

“No. I refuse,” he says and stands upright. He stares down at Walburga. He only has a couple inches on her and he’s probably more terrified of her than he is of anything else, but he stares down nonetheless.

“If you don’t do this, Sirius,” Walburga begins with her hissing, cold voice. “We will reveal your habits with… Lupin, was it? I believe Regulus told us he was a half-breed,”

Sirius swallows again. He doesn’t want this, he can’t risk losing Remus. Not again. But if he doesn’t do it, on the other hand, Remus’ entire life would be ruined. Sirius stares down at the floor and then gives a quick nod.

“Fine,” he grumbles . “Send an owl to whoever I’m marrying,” And with that he leaves his father’s office.

Sirius sits down by his desk with a quill in hand and a piece of parchment in front of him. He takes a deep breath and begins to write, tears stinging his eyes and hands shaking slightly.

‘Moony

I’m sorry about this, and there’s no good way of saying it so I’m just going to write it and you can be angry with me later.

I’m getting married. On the 14th. I know I’m only sixteen and there are laws and shit but I have to do this. I have to.

I’m so, so sorry. I can’t explain what’s going on in a letter, but I need you to know that I love you and I don’t really want this, but I have to.

You, Prongs and Wormy are welcome to the wedding, of course. I don’t give a shit about what my parents say about that.

Once again, I’m sorry.

Love, Padfoot.’

Remus sits on the roof. It was the same spot they always used, him and Sirius. That same spot, tucked out of sight from the ground, a small corner next to a tower. They used to spend hours there, talking and laughing and kissing, time slipping through their fingers like rain. He should have savored it more, those precious, hidden moments. The letter is crumpled in his hand, the ink splattered from where Sirius had hurriedly scrawled those damning words on the parchment. Remus is far too high up to be drinking, but he does it anyways, swallowing the contents of the bottle in his hand. He’s not even sure where he got it, Marlene shoving it into his hand after seeing his shell-shocked expression. The alcohol burns his throat, clearing away some of the pain, rendering it all down into blissful numbness. He supposed they had it coming. Sirius was noble, practically royalty in the wizarding world, heir to more riches than Remus could ever dream of. It was foolish of him, foolish to think that he’d ever had a chance with him. It was all he wanted, after all. A chance, to live out their lives together, where they wouldn’t have to hide, where they could control their own futures and not give a damn about what anybody else thought. He takes another swig, the burning sensation filling his stomach. Sirius had said he loved him, in the letter, said that he didn’t want to do this. Maybe - He leashes the thoughts. Sirius was Sirius. If he didn’t want to do something, he would have found a way to avoid it. Remus had thought he had prepared for this, the knowledge that their relationship would some day come to an end. It was an unspoken truth between them - Sirius would be expected to find some girl to marry, and Remus would be expected to record himself in the Werewolf Register and die in some hole somewhere. He just hadn’t expected it would come so soon. It was always a secret, with them. They each had so much to lose, their own lives fucked up enough that they couldn’t risk it. He remembers talking to Sirius, whispered words under the bright stars. “We can’t tell anyone about this,” he had said, winding strands of Sirius’ hair around his finger. “We can’t... I can’t - “ Sirius frowned. “Why?” Remus just laughed, shaking his head. “It’s... it’s hard. You won’t understand.” He sighed. “I’m a werewolf, Pads. A goddamn werewolf, I’m already screwed enough as it is. If anyone found out I was...that I loved....” Sirius nodded. “It’s fine, Moons. I understand.” He paused. “I’m sure my family wouldn’t approve either. Seeing as they want me to produce a son to carry on the Black Name.” Remus had smiled at him, the moon like a halo around Sirius’ head. “Thank you.” He lets the memory fade, like a wisp of smoke, letting it filter out from between his fingers. It was over, between them. It was temporary, a passing fancy. It was time for them to grow up. He sighs. He didn’t expect it to hurt so much.

The 14th came way too fast and the day of Sirius’ wedding is a rainy one, ironically enough. Perhaps the Gods knew that this is the shittiest day in history.

First of all, Sirius is getting married to Ophelia fucking Rosier, and no makeup or charms can fix her bulldog-toad face and frizzy hair. Second of all, James, Remus and Peter are all sitting in the hall where the wedding is taking place and Sirius will have to look down on them as he is exchanging vows with someone who’s not a bloke — more importantly, not a bloke named Remus Lupin. And third of all, Kreacher is clinging to Sirius’ shoulder as he tries to tie a bow tie around Sirius’ neck.

“Will Master Sirius Black stop pacing?” Kreacher croaks angrily. “Kreacher is trying to tie Master’s bow tie, sir.”

Sirius reluctantly stops pacing and starts wringing his hands instead. He’s breathing heavily, almost panting, and the panic is gripping around his lungs with cold, hard hands. He can’t do this, he doesn’t want this, but he’s got to. For Remus.

His head snaps up when he hears the door opening, and Regulus walks into the room. Sirius steps forward and wraps his arms around Regulus without a word. Regulus hugs back rather stiffly.

“You look nice,” Regulus says when they pull apart. “Like a proper pure-blood,” He adds with a smirk. Sirius swats his hand.

“Fuck off, I look like Father would do if he wore man buns,” Sirius mutters and rubs his eyes. Regulus huffs out an awkward laugh.

“You need to get out there,” Regulus says. “It’s about to start and I don’t think your friends can handle sitting with our family any longer.”

Sirius nods, a small smile playing on his lips. “That’s very considerate of you, Reggie. I’ll be out in a minute, yeah?”

Regulus nods and gives Sirius’ shoulder a squeeze before walking out of the small room with Kreacher trailing after him, leaving Sirius panicking again. He takes a few deep breaths and looks at his reflection in the mirror. He looks stupid, with stuffy, dark green dress robes and way too shiny shoes, he was even forced to wear his old Black family ring that he hasn’t worn since he was ten. He really looks like his father.

He takes another deep breath and exits the room. He can hear the low hum of chatter from the all that grows louder as he walks closer. With his heart in his throat, Sirius pushes the door open and walks up to the altar.

Sirius almost wants to vomit at the sight, the entire hall is decorated in green and silver, and his entire family is sitting there looking as severe as ever. He sees his friends looking extremely out of place and he stares down at his feet instead and starts biting his lip. He can’t stand seeing Remus, sitting there and watching him with those beautiful eyes.

He can’t breathe.

Maybe it’s how Sirius looks, with his emerald robes and pale skin and eyes like a storm on the horizon. Maybe it’s his hair, pinned up in a messy bun, the edges tumbling around his neck. Maybe it’s just Sirius, and the knowledge that he was promised to another, that their time together had come to an end.

He remembers running his hands through the dark strands of Sirius’ hair, slipping through his fingers, spilling out over his shoulders. It was a message, Sirius had told him. A sort of fuck-you to my bullshit parents.

Remus wonders if the mused curls are a final rebellion. A final message, to his parents that already have taken so much from him, a message that they have not broken him.

It’s so classically Sirius, that hint of arrogance, and he feels his lips curve into a smile.

Beside him, James fidgets, running a hand down the collar of his stark white shirt. Remus knows he hates it in here, being under the same roof as the people who tortured Sirius, abused him for days on end. They stick to the other side, the aisle in the middle, haughty expressions and cold glances, dripping with jewels and other fabrics.

He wonders how Sirius could bear it, the weight of the glances and the cool dispassion they displayed. Sirius was always fighting, always burning, full of life and emotion, hurt and pain and comfort and love. These people were corpses, dead, cold things, like a layer of wet leaves over the fire that Sirius was.

James swears, low and vicious, his voice barely carrying over the noise of all the people. “Jesus Christ, what the fuck is happening?”

“I don’t know.” Remus closes his eyes, just for a moment, before opening them again. Peter shifts in his seat, eyes dancing around the room. “I don’t know, Moony. I don’t think we are very welcome here.”

“Well, fuck them. We’re not here for them.” James mutters, running his hand through his hair. It sticks up in sharp, pointy spikes, and Peter flattens them down.

Remus barely pays attention, his eyes returning to Sirius, standing by the altar. His face is pale, drained of blood, his lip bleeding from where he had bitten it. His hair floats around his face, a halo of darkness, and he looks terribly, beautifully young.

He remembers passing him, in that darkened hallway, before the ceremony. He had grabbed Sirius, wrist, the small bones grinding together in his arm, hard enough that Sirius had winced. “Is this what you want?”

Sirius had flinched, a crack in that cool marble mask pasted onto his face. “Does it matter?”

Remus snorted. “For God’s sake, Sirius. You’re about to get married. To some girl that you said you didn’t even know. Of course it fucking matters.”

He knew Sirius. You couldn’t love someone so fiercely, bare your soul to them, trust them to touch your heart without being able to hold theirs in return. Sirius was a master at hiding his feelings, was able to pull up that cold mask over his face in an instant, but Remus knew. He could see it in Sirius’ eyes.

Sirius bit his lip, hard enough to draw blood. “You know I could never. Love her like that.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “But I have to. I have to, Remus. And I can’t tell you why, and it kills me, but please. You need to trust me. You need to let me go.”

Remus’ voice was low. “I swear, if this is some self-sacrificing bullshit - “

Sirius just gave him a small half-smile, barely a twitch of his lips. “You know me too well.”

“Sirius, I - “

He shook his head. “It’s done, Remus. It’s done.” There’s that bitter twist to his lips, the mocking, sardonic smile as he wrenches his arm from Remus’ grip, backs down the hall. “I’ll see you when this is over.”

The sound of a bell jolts Remus from his thoughts, and he swears. In front of him, Sirius gives a small jump, his face draining of colour and Remus bites his lip, hard. The organ starts to play, Sirius gripping the altar, and Remus releases a shaking breath as the wedding begins.

The organ starts playing and Sirius is vaguely aware of the heavy wooden doors opening with an echo on the opposite of the room. That cold hand is still gripping Sirius’ lungs.

He catches Remus’ eye, just for a second, and suddenly he can’t breathe at all. Forget the hand, someone just dropped multiple bowling balls on his chest. Remus looks as broken as Sirius feels, and he wishes he could just run away from everything.

Ophelia walks through the doors, led by her father. She’s wearing an emerald green dress, just like Sirius’ dress robes, and her hair is up in some fancy hairdo that would’ve looked much better if Ophelia’s hair wasn’t so frizzy. She’s smiling, a bitter, cold smile that reminds Sirius way too much of Walburga. The urge to vomit is suddenly even worse. He swallows hard again and closes his eyes n an attempt to soothe the burning in his eyes.

When Sirius opens his eyes again, Ophelia is standing there. Her father and Orion are standing next to them, a few feet behind. Orion starts droning on about marriage, he mentions something about love and Sirius has to fight a snort of laughter, then he motions for Ophelia to start her vows.

“Sirius,” she says and Sirius prepares himself for the false declarations of love. “I can’t begin to explain how happy I am-,” Sirius tunes her out, and in the corner of his eye he sees Remus stand up. James follows and they both walk towards the exit.

“I can’t do this,” Sirius chokes out, louder than he anticipated. “I’m sorry but I can’t do this,” Both Remus and James stop walking.

“It’s okay,” Ophelia says softly with a small smile that doesn’t look as cold anymore. Sirius nods and smiles back, then he steps off the altar.

He can’t take it anymore.

Watching Sirius stare at Ophelia, knowing that he would be promised to her in a matter of minutes.

He hates himself. He knows it’s selfish, running away from Sirius and the altar. It’s his best friend’s wedding, it should be one of the happiest days of his life, and Remus was fleeing like a coward.

But all he can think about is Sirius, waking up in the middle of the evening, with those paralyzing nightmares. All he can think about are the scars on Sirius’ back, the way they sometimes hurt when exposed to too much dark magic. The way he curled up whenever he got a letter from his parents, the way he froze sometimes when he caught sight of himself in the mirror, the way he bit his lip when trying to hold back a scream. It was those small things, the tiny things that Remus noticed, because when you loved someone, you noticed everything.

Ophelia wouldn’t know, how to comfort Sirius when he woke up screaming for Regulus to run. Ophelia wouldn’t know, when Sirius broke down crying because his scars burned like fire, how to comfort him. She couldn’t, because she didn’t know. Not like how Remus knew Sirius.

And it hurt. Badly, knowing that Sirius was promised to someone else.

The room started to spin, wildly, waves forming under his feet and he thinks he feels sick. Beside him, James grabs his arm, looking concerned. “Re. You good?”

He shakes him off. “I just need air.”

James nods, a look of pain passing over his face, then stands. “I’ll come with you.”

He knows they are making a commotion, knows that people are staring at him, but he really can’t bring himself to care as he stalks out of the reception room. The carpet is lush against his ankles, and he want to gag thanks to the stench of all the perfume, crawling down his throat.

James is pale too, shooting dirty looks at everyone, and he swears he’s going to scream when he hears it.

“I can’t do this.”

Sirius’ voice is quiet, but steady, and there is something like hope in Remus’ chest as he turns around. Sirius is standing there, something like pain in his eyes, and Remus takes a deep breath.

“Sirius….”

Sirius swallows. Hard. Beside him, Walburga stands. “Get out of this wedding immediately - “

Remus shakes his head, still staring at Sirius. “With all due respect, Walburga, this is between your son and me.”

“If you do not leave - “

Remus holds up a hand. “I’ll leave if he asks me to.”

The silence stretches out between them, as he stares into Sirius’ eyes. Remus gives him a small smile. “Will you ask me to?”

Sirius comes closer, so much closer, almost shoving Walburga aside in his hurry. He hasn’t been this close to Sirius in ages, ever since he had gotten that letter ages ago. He looks paler, thinner, drawn and tired, but those grey eyes still shone like they always did.

Remus catches his breath, feeling Sirius, hands on his neck. “Will you?”

Sirius doesn’t know what to reply with, so he just shakes his head, grips the collar of Remus’ shirt and pulls his face down to his level. And kisses him. Hard. Remus cups the back of Sirius’ neck and twists his fingers in the stray locks that had fallen out of Sirius’ bun, just like he always does.

He can hear gasps of disgust and surprise. He can hear Walburga screeching insults. But he doesn’t care. He doesn’t care because he has Remus there.

Remus who knows how to comfort him after nightmares, when he’s supposed to touch Sirius or not. Remus who knows exactly what do say at any time. Remus who knows how to make everyone laugh. Remus who’s exactly as self-sacrificing as Sirius but a thousand times better in any other way. Remus who’s grumpy until noon, who drinks disgustingly milky tea, who crinkles his nose when he reads and who manages to find oversized sweaters even though he’s a giant.

Their kiss is sloppy with slightly too much teeth but it doesn’t matter. Because this is what Sirius wants. All he wants.

When they pull apart, Sirius is pretty sure that he’s crying, but grinning widely at the same time. Remus looks breathless and he’s smiling, his hand still resting on the back of Sirius’ neck. Both James and Peter let out whoops of joy and Sirius snorts.

“Sirius,” Walburga hisses. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m kissing my boyfriend, Mother. What does it look like I’m doing?” Sirius finally takes a step back, but instead of facing Walburga, he extends an arm to Remus. “Shall we leave, my dearest?”

Remus grins and links their arms together. “That we shall,”

He’s never kissed Sirius like this.

They’ve always been controlled in the past, ready to step away at a moment’s notice. Lips brushing, barely a whisper between them, hidden in some corridor or on the astronomy tower. It was always a secret between them, had always been.

And now he’s kissing Sirius, in front of his homophobic, pure-blooded family, in front of James and Peter, in front of people who could ruin his life in an instant and he doesn’t give a damn.

Sirius tastes like he always does, bitter and sweet, soft lips and gentle hands, and they’re 15 all over again, their first kiss under the tree by the river, shaking hands and trembling bodies. He thinks Sirius is crying, can feel tears rolling down his face, and all he can do is press Sirius tighter, press them tighter, molding them together until they become one.

Dimly, he’s aware of the noise, Peter and James cheering and Walburga yelling, the uneasy murmurs of the crowd behind him, sounds of scraping chairs and people leaving the room, and he doesn’t care.

It’s messy but perfect, and he’s smiling as he steps away. Walburga’s mouth hangs open like a fish, opening and closing, and Sirius just raises an eyebrow. “I’m kissing my boyfriend, Mother. What does it look like I’m doing?” he says, and Remus realizes he missed part of the conversation. He’s in some sort of daze, lost in a fog of happiness, and he’s aware of Sirius extending an arm to him. “Shall we leave, dearest?”

Remus nods. “That we shall.”

Outside, it’s cold, the wind whipping at the bushes, rain splattering down their cheeks as Remus pulls Sirius into another kiss. “Well, that was perfect timing.”

Sirius just shrugs. “Couldn’t go through with it.” He pauses. “Are you okay?”

Remus nods. “I’m okay. Actually, fuck that. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.” He hesitates. “Are you sure you’ll be fine though? Back at home?’

Sirius scoffs, stubbing his foot into the ground. “What more can they do to me? I’ll be fine.”

Remus just smiles, resting his head on Sirius’ shoulder. “Happy Valentines, Pads.”

Sirius laughs. “Happy Valentines, Re. Hopefully, next years will be a little less exciting.”

612 notes · View notes

aij-writes · 5 years

Text

“Painting’s here, too,” Noctis commented.

Ignis looked over at his charge, frown deepening. “The prince came all this way to look at a painting available to him any time?”

“Any time,” Noctis huffed. He kept his head dunked and face turned away from the painting. “It’s...different here.”

The Hall of History that awaited him at the Citadal haunted Noctis. It waited, allowing its harassed guests into the throne room. Neither of those places favored him. He often only saw his dad bowed before him; instructions deemed too important to be anything less than an informal address given to him impersonally. The Hall was worse, though. Every time his father took him through it when he was younger, the smiles Regis used to have for him were replaced with a tense seriousness and somberness that left him rigid and with a harsh grip on his shoulder.

“In these unknown time, the Prophecy of the True King keeps hope alive in their hearts, Noct. ‘When darkness veils the world, the King of Light shall come’,” Ignis spoke with a hint of amusement that seemed misplaced. He tilted his head to Noctis. “Do you come seeking solace?”

“No,” Noctis said gruffly, brushing his hair off his cheek and turning away. “There’s no soothing the truth.”

“Your father is bringing peace,” Ignis spoke of practical things. He was a Dragoon. They, as a culture, did not put the same stock in the Astrals as the rest of Eos did. A refugee of the war, Ignis came from a far away land as a child. Brilliant, sharp, and attentive, he, like so many other orphans from the war, was given a chance from his Majesty himself. He offered a guiding hand and a perspective the others born and raised Lucian might not have. At age six, he’d taken responsibility to the role he was raised for, but they’d grown closer. Ignis saw after his future king more as a mother might have until their age gap might have seemed less noticeable and they were now brothers, friends, and confidants. Though Noctis often teased and still called him Mom, especially when it was to remind him to do something he didn’t want to do.

“Noct, it’s more of a...guiding principal. But it is your duty as a Lucis Caelum to fight to banish the darkness.”

Noctis began to walk away, tilting his head back towards him. “And it is your duty to be ever by my side, is it not? Let’s see what they’re serving for desert.”

“I would hope you enjoy what I requested from the kitchens,” Ignis agreed, catching up with his long stride on Noctis’s slight limping one.

“Requested?” Noctis asked, shooting him a heavy-lidded accusative look. “You didn’t go in there, all business, shaking a riding crop? Iggy, am I the only one you do that to?”

Ignis snorted a laugh, elbowing him in a motion he’d have not done in front of the rest of the guests. “White chocolate is the prince’s current favorite, is it not?”

“You know how I enjoy me some sweetened butter,” Noctis said, smiling. He leaned into Ignis’s face, looking up at him with his hands on his hips. “Okay, but seriously. White chocolate, right? I’m tired of everyone telling me dark chocolate is healthy. I mean, sweets are sweets. Let’s not pretend and let me have my treats.”

Ignis looked away from Noctis, smile in his eyes but his face kept in a careful look of proper difference. “Of course, your Highness. White as the Empire’s uniforms.”

Noctis made a face, but rubbed his hands together. “And these cakes...think you can spare a moment of your hobnobbing and schmoozing to join me in one?”

“And if I refuse?” Ignis asked, eyebrows raised. He pushed his glasses up his nose. “Will you have me beheaded?”

“Maybe only a little.” Noctis brushed his hand over Ignis’s. “Come on. You have to. I might wander off again.”

“Do try not to,” Ignis said indignantly. “Gladio is already sweating under those things and I imagine running after you might cause the party to break up from a reported marlboro smell.”

Noctis looked ready to laugh, but he sighed as Gladio really did grab his elbow the moment they rejoined the party. “Yeah, hi big guy. Specs was with me.”

“Impossible,” Gladio complained. “I was with him not more than ten minutes ago.” He rubbed his arm, falling into step on Noctis’s other side. “I don’t know what you said, Ignis, but I think you set the Marshal off. He stormed out of here when I tried to smooth things over.”

Ignis chanced a glance around as he lifted a plate up to pass to Noctis. “Fork, sir,” he insisted when Noctis went to pick up the crumbling chocolate crust. He held it up.

“What good is letting you kick my ass since I was a kid if I can’t handle myself taking a quick bathroom break?”

Ignis didn’t react to Noctis’s lying, merely pushing a plate into Gladio’s hands. He often used his duty to ignore engaging, unlike Ignis, whose duty was to always engage no matter how sullen the prince was. Gladio, not the prince of this nation, picked his piece up and finished in two large bites. Ignis sighed, watching him lick his fingers, eyes going around the party.

“Indecent,” Ignis complained.

Gladio, swallowing it down, laughed. “It’s actually pretty good,” he said, briefly throwing his arm around his shoulders, acting like he would take Ignis glasses with his sticky fingers. He took the napkin Ignis thrust at him. “Alright, alright, I can see someone is cranky. Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?”

“Who’s had time to sleep?” Ignis sniffed, taking a delicate forkful to his mouth. He gave it a thorough and thoughtful taste, before nodding it met his standards.

“Some of us need our beauty sleep to stay top of our game, Iggy,” Gladio teased. He nudged Noctis. “Sleeping Beauty took a full, what, twelve hours and a nap earlier to get ready for the ball.”

“Maybe if I sleep enough I’ll end up as beautiful as you, Gladio,” Noctis huffed. “Besides, stop impugning my chamberlain. His ten percent is your ninety.”

“Nonesense,” Ignis said dryly, “I’ve never been known to give less than all.” He winked at Noctis.

“Well, when they start dragging in suitors for me to peruse, make sure you take a look at them yourself,” Noctis ordered. “A happy adviser is an agreeable adviser.”

Ignis snorted a laugh, but was quick to cover it up. “Don’t worry about me, Noctis. My duty is to you and whomever the future queen is. Serving you two will keep me plenty warm at night.” He raised his eyebrows at Gladiolus. “Unlike some of us, our houses aren’t duty-bound to produce an heir. Be sure to wingman your Shield instead. Think about it, Gladio. Noctis’s rejects.”

Gladio rolled his eyes. Noctis was royalty, Ignis a commoner from a foreign land given a banner to honor his homeland swallowed up by the Empire, and then there was the nobles; the Amicitias. Gladio had been born into a privileged life, but also his own life of servitude. He had his own family manor and servants and, in fact, Ignis’s uncle Custos was an attendant that worked under Gladio’s father Clarus at the Citadal. But, like his father, and his father before him, Gladiolus would step into the role chosen for him since before birth. Head of the Crownsguard, Shield to the King, Gladio was to always be by Noctis’s side to protect him and serve him. But he loved Noctis like a brother and knew their fathers were close, trusting each other and respecting each other.

Admittedly, sometimes Gladio wandered how much Noctis would be able to lead. Clarus served King Regis proudly. Gladio was proud to, too. But for his own lack of decorum, Gladio sometimes caught the prince, well, acting like a little kid.

“We still have time,” Gladio said gruffly, more to his thoughts than Ignis’s ribbing. He shot him a charming look. “You’ve been worried about me, I can tell. Don’t worry. Haven’t had a dry spell in a long while. I’m waiting for one of my flames to simmer down and I’ll pop the question. Beat Nocty here to the aisle.”

“May your union of frivolousness and lust be ever blessed by your Six,” Ignis declared. Seeing Noctis distracted by the passing waiter, he gave Gladiolus a soft look, but shook his head. “Remember duty above all.”

“Yeah, yeah, more fodder for the future kings. I got it,” Gladio assured him. Still, he gave him a teasing smile back.

#ffxv: night's remiss #wordcount: 1453 #notes: feels like my first actual writing instead of transcribing so that's nice #notes: turned out easier and more enjoyable than I thought because I've been dreading actually trying #notes: no idea what happens next. I'll need to figure out a course.

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