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fake-married-my-dead-fiance · 8 months

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My favourite Kdramas (so far)

Currently watching: Lovely Runner, Atypical Family, and The Red Sleeve (I tag for spoilers of current shows)

My to watch list, Venn Diagram of my favourite kdrama things, favourite male and female actors

My Main is about Jane Austen

For tracking purposes. But feel free to suggest me new Kdramas

Alchemy of Souls: Visually beautiful, wonderful soundtrack, casting is amazing, story is very well thought-out, world-building is on point, loved all of it.

Trope subversions, Love Maps, Plot driven by fear

Moon in the Day: The most angsty enemies to lovers you will ever find in your life. It's completely enthralling. The past scenes with Do-ha are amazing. There are some plot holes and the secondary characters aren't very well developed, but I don't care. It was so good!

Text Posts, On the ending, the emotional journey

Doom at Your Service: The world-building is really well done, as is the symbolism. Doom is so weirdly lovable. Also has a great soundtrack.

Extraordinary You: the story gets a little drawn out in the middle episodes, but the concept is so gripping that I forgive it. The main character is really spunky and fun and the villain is probably the most interesting character in the show.

W: Two Worlds: So good! So unpredictable! So Male Lead who was smart and actually acted smart! This is the dark companion of Extraordinary You and I loved every minute.

Happiness: the whole point of zombie horror is that the humans are the real monsters and Happiness delivered on that 100000%. Turns out Park Hyung-sik can also be serious and very good at punching people! Han Hyo-joo was also amazing. The slow burn romance was so cute. Loved it so much. Also, more of a murder mystery than a zombie show.

Sh**ting Stars: the voluntarism in an unnamed African country wasn't great, but the rest of the show was so heartwarming and cute! There were lots of lovable characters, mature relationships, very cute friendships, and hilarious antics.

The Forbidden Marriage: The plot had lots of fun twists and the resolution was satisfying. I wish we got more So Rang hijinks in the later episodes, the hunting episode was my favourite with her running around everywhere like a maniac.

It's Okay to Not be Okay: My only critique is I wish they did more of the animations for fairy tales, but it's so good. The female lead had the most amazing outfits.

Hospital Playlist: The epitome of slice of life. I enjoyed all the characters, especially Lee Ik-jun, The Ghost, and Long Winter (Jang Gyeo-ul) and the cute kid! I love the mom and the hospital director hanging out together. The band! I cannot stop listening to their songs!

Doctor Slump: Very cute and relaxing watch. The FL's family was really cute, especially her mom! The focus on mental health was nice, though there was a bit too much of an idea that a relationship can fix your depression/PTSD. But still good!

Lovely Runner: Ongoing

Kdramas I have liked:

Queen of Tears: I loved the set-up but for me it lost it's way at the end. Too many dramatic moments and the Magic Cancer surgery and Magic Amnesia Month were just too much of a strain on my ability to suspend my disbelief. But the performances were very good, from the leads and the secondary characters, and the premise was good. I enjoyed like 80% of the show.

Kingdom: Loved it! But I refuse to put it in my top kdramas since S2 ends on a huge cliff hanger and apparently they aren't making any more. Boo to Netflix. This was more gory than Happiness, but I loved having zombies in a historical setting.

Daily Dose of Sunshine: this made me cry multiple times. It is very good. The visuals for how different disorders feel was fascinating. Good resolutions for the characters. I loved it all.

Extraordinary Attorney Woo: I'm blown away by their portrayal of autism. They don't shy away from making her ticks and mannerisms off-putting, awkward, and even somewhat annoying, but Young-woo has joy, she has imagination, she loves life. It's so much better than anything with an autistic character that I've seen in Western media. Not 10/10 because I did get a bit uninterested in the later cases when I wanted to know where the love story was going.

Choi Su-yeon

Oh My Ghost: I loved this one! Park Bo-young did an amazing job playing an oppressed shaman and possessed-by-a-ghost. It was very well written: there weren't any ridiculous sideplots and I was never bored. I did think the ending dragged a little bit, but overall I loved it.

The King's Affection: I loved it. I think it probably could have been cut down to 16 episodes instead of 20, but very good. The female crown price is so scared all the time and I want to hug her, but also badass! It's a very hard line to walk but they do it well. Also, the bodyguard who is also an assassin is so hot and the costumes are great.

My Lovely Liar: I really loved this show, it was very cute and occasionally very scary. The murder mystery was well done, though I'm not sure how I feel about the final reveal.

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim: I liked that for once the big trauma didn't come from the parents, what a twist! I actually loved how ridiculously narcissistic the ML was and I loved the competent and mature FL. They didn't have any ridiculous misunderstandings and they never broke up. And the ML's friend was very funny.

King the Land: The show got better as it went on. The female lead was so competent and sure of herself. The parts about the friends' struggles was heartbreaking a lot of the time. I also loved how positive the female relationships were.

Captivating the King: I'm struggling to rate this one. The ML was amazing, but the FL seemed to just always be wide-eyed scared/worried. The writing was great for the first half, but the ending was ambiguous in a way I didn't enjoy. The intimate scene in Ep 8/9 was awesome, but then we didn't really get more. I wish they had stuck the landing.

Other Kdramas I've watched:

Hwarang: really great acting despite a mediocre script, but man so many plot holes and unresolved plots. I never totally decided if the Queen Dowager was actually trying to help her son or just holding on to power and I feel like they should have made that clearer. Also, what was that love triangle???

Soundtrack #1: I hate endless, hopeless pining and that's all this was. It had it's cute moments, but I always felt like the male lead was in pain and I didn't enjoy that.

Hospital Playlist 2: Somehow it wasn't as good as the first season, I found myself actually getting bored. But it was nice to see all the couples get together.

Goblin or Guardian the Great and Lonely God: The roommate stuff is hilarious! It did move slowly at times, I wanted the Grim Reaper/Sunny stuff to move a bit faster. I got really annoyed at Kim Shin for not being honest with Eun-tak. Sometimes the product placement annoyed me. But it's very beautiful and I was very invested in everyone. Problem is, I don't think I ever want to watch it again.

Marry My Husband: very fun drama, I especially enjoyed Su-min and Min-hwan, who were some of the most deep villains I've seen portrayed. However, I hated the Yu-ra storyline and I felt like the ML kept the secret of his death for way too long. Also, no happy ending for the secondary couples! I wanted more screen time with them.

Tale of the Nine Tailed + 1938 - It's fun, but the lore/world-building don't make a whole lot of sense. The Serpent is pretty over powered in S1 and really ought to have won. 1938 was better but the female mountain goddess made zero sense as a character. Lee Rang is probably the best part of the whole series, and his little murder fox girl in S1 or mermaid girl in S2.

Castaway Diva: I love the songs and the found family parts, but the story was lacking. Especially the older singer's story made very little sense and didn't come to a satisfying conclusion. And why not show us a little of the main couple being together?

Hotel del Luna - I enjoyed the ghost parts but the dynamic between the main couple was a mess. He is so unconditionally nice and she is such a jerk to him!

Strong Girl Bong-Soon - I loved all the parts with Bong-Soon and Min-hyuk, like he was the cutest, sweetest boy ever, but everything else was kind of annoying. And the kidnapper parts were really creepy! I just wanted Bong-Soon to smash more things. I also hated Guk-doo and I wanted all the women to dump his ass.

Business Proposal - It was cute, but it bothered me that Ha-ri wouldn't just talk to Tae-moo about her concerns about dating him. Ha-ri may be the only female lead ever with a healthy family dynamic, yay for her! The secondary couple was fun.

Death's Game - I enjoyed the genre and actor switches at first, but then it seemed to veer into being about the serial killer CEO and then back to being about suicide and the resolution left me unsatisfied.

My Demon - It was fun, but the world-building wasn't great and the ending was fine. I felt like it tried to be Doom at Your Service but failed (there were many, many references/thefts).

Destined with You - I really liked some parts of it, especially the leads and I actually liked the office romance with Hong-jo's boss (until the last episode), but they left so many things unanswered that I wish were revealed! It's like the writers forgot it was a fantasy drama halfway through and just went in a totally different direction. It makes me angry.

The Uncanny Counter - The concept was good, the actors were good, the chemistry between the actors was amazing, but the story went way off the rails. So Mun just became way too over-powered and the plot needed more balance. I wanted more demon catching and less mayor stuff. I did like the bully being saved and reformed.

Perfect Marriage Revenge - This show did exactly what it set out to do, be completely over-the-top dramatic. I really enjoyed watching it, it was a romp, but I doubt I'll ever watch it again. The evil stepmother and sister were great.

The Story of Park's Marriage Contract: It was fluffy and fun, I loved Sa-wol the maid, we should have had more of her! I hated the ending though, so much. Just so bad.

100 Days My Prince - I hated the main couple, he was just too distant and she should have figured out who he was like 10 minutes in. It felt like they only got together because he was obsessed with her, I would have preferred the nice face-blind guy. I ended up liking the peasant friend couple and the murderous princess and her assassin boyfriend better.

Started but not finished:

Moving - I started it, it seems really slow. I think I'm four or five episodes in. The Crowned Clown - First episode was way too dark! Live Up To Your Name - Acupuncture is magic? Moonlight Drawn by Clouds - the first episode seemed bonkers Strong Girl Nam-Soon - could not even force myself to watch it. Total mess The Impossible Heir - Even Lee Jae-wook couldn't save this messy plot.

#tracking post #kdramas

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ghooostbaby · 9 months

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i saw season 2 of the adorable little donghua 'no doubt in us' was released and i enjoyed it so much :) the first season was about an emperor and empress who dislike each other but are forced by a spell to swap bodies and as they are forced to live as the other they fall for each other ... although that season did the great crime of ending not just after they had acknowledged they really were in love and kissed and changed back - but a scene later where they're being all awkward and then in MID CONVERSATION the episode just ends and its like "come back for season 2!" !!!!!!!! come on! laziest cliff hanger of my entire life.

but anyway season 2 they do act a bit shy at first but mostly the long misunderstanding season 1 is based on is over and its so NICE to spend some time with a romantic pair AFTER the misunderstanding has been resolved and watch them grow together rather than just have the curtains close. there is So Much interesting bits to focus on in a relationship when they're actually together WHY do so many stories seem unable to try anything but keeping them apart (as they repeatedly betray each others trust to "protect" each other) to give the narrative spice. Anyway, it was really cool to see how they gradually got to know each other and trust each other more deeply, and became more comfortable being affectionate. It felt so genuine! but ESPECIALLY because in the political plot, they are able to come out victorious because they choose to trust each other and work together, even in moments where it looks doubtful, it makes their relationship stronger, the plot more interesting, and the ending more satisfying than pointless self-sacrifice and secret keeping between lovers for no reason i can tell but to bait viewers. AHEM FAIRY AND DEVIL AHEM.

anyway there's also something about ... when the series began the emperor was this quiet, rigid, studious man, and the empress was energetic, likes being outside and doing martial arts, uncomfortable and avoids official duties and navigating social niceties bc she's kind of clumbsy. they both kind of don't get each other, thinks the other despises their way of being and so is defensive against them for that... after their body swap is over they have an appreciation for the other it's like they can become more themselves and more confident in who they are because they are loved. there's this part where the empress bursts onto the scene (pregnant) in armour and the emperor (who can barely hold a sword) is just having a major "😍!! that's my WIFE" moment. and he doesnt want to try to subdue her anymore. i mean the empress also appreciates his political cunning and intelligence blah blah, i think it's obvious who I'm here for haha.

there's some iiiiinteresting very softly gendery sexuality playfulness i think too. first of all the emperor becoming so sweet and silly after the body swap and empress becoming so fierce and grumpy ... i was like, oh. and then there's a whole part where the empress-as-emperor goes to meet with a tatar queen and they go horseback riding, heavy drinking, sparring (all the things the real emperor can't do) and they GREATLY enjoy each others company. then later when the tatar queen comes and realizes the emperor is different she finds out the secret of the body swap, and is just like cool, so the empress is actually my soulmate (implied) then she and the empress spend every day together and seem to be very close. and i just think that's neat! (can the empress have a harem? well actually she kind of ends up with one :P)

also the emperor's brother is typical frivolous, chatty, pleasure-house-going, expert fan wielder, who has a very flirty relationship with the extremely sexy and mysterious imperial astrologer purple man who has robes where the sleeves looks kind of like feathery wings in certain angles?? very good!

#no doubt in us

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aspoonofsugar · 9 months

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Worthy

I love the new RWBY soundtrack! So, before delving into longer metas on volume 9, I want to share a quick analysis of Bumbleby's new song.

BUMBLEBY VS CINDER

As many have highlighted, the song shares its title with episode 8X13.

This episode is interesting for 2 reasons:

It is a Cinder's centric episode

It is when Yang falls leaving Blake behind

Our Maiden of Choice is one of the strongest foils to our protagonists. In particular, she ties into all the MCs's allusions as an antagonistic force. This is particularly clear in Ruby and Weiss's stories, as she plays Ruby's Big Bad Wolf and Weiss's Evil Queen.

What about Bumbleby?

Cinder is a personification of Blake's Beast

The Beast is the Jungian Shadow, which represents everything hidden and repressed. Blake integrates her shadows and brings them to light. Cinder is instead consumed by her darkest parts, as her Shadow Hand shows.

Cinder embodies Yang's too hot

The too hot is a metaphor for asymmetry and anger, which are core traits of both Yang and Cinder. It is just Yang accepts her own asymmetry and faces the feelings of vulnerability she masks with rage. Cinder instead doesn't aknowledge her emotions and her hurt.

In other words, Cinder embodies Blake and Yang's flaws and represents an obstacle in Bumbleby's fairy tales. This is why in the finale of volume 8 she re-enacts the 2 girls' traumas.

She manipulates things, so that Yang has no choice, but to go too hot:

And Yang's fall has Blake go feral:

The whole scene is a repetition of Blake and Yang's two fights with Adam. Yang protects a loved one and loses her arm as a consequence (Jinxy steals it in the Ever After). Blake sees Yang get hurt and has her weapon damaged (only the ribbon this time).

This happens so that Blake and Yang can prove they are now stronger than before. They are worthy:

And now I know I'm worthy of you

In the end, both Cinder and Bumbleby have to show their worth. Still, this word gains different meanings for the bees and for our Cinderella. Let's see why by analyzing the Worthy song's lyrics.

BLAKE'S PART - FALLING

Why did Why did I come here? Was I always meant to take this shape? Never was given a love like this A parachute falling with no fear of hitting the ground Hitting the ground You fell And suddenly I did too While the world was dying Didn't know how to not lose you again

Blake's lines tie her and Yang's romantic dynamic to their fall in the Ever After.

You fell:

And suddenly I did too:

While the world was dying, (I) didn't know how to not lose you again:

The metaphor is rather clear. Yang falls for Blake first, while our Cat Girl struggles with her feelings for Adam and her attraction to Sun. Still, Blake finally falls too and the two bees find themselves in (Happily) Ever After, where they get together:

The falling imagery is mentioned in the confession scene, as well:

Yang: (in thought) It's like a cliff. And if I do it, I'm just going to fall. Blake: (in thought) I think we're already falling. (turns to Yang) Just, say it, Yang.

Never was given a love like this A parachute falling with no fear of hitting the ground Hitting the ground

As the song states, Blake was "never given a love like this". The comparison is clearly with Adam's passion, which was violent and abusive. Blake feels the bond between her and Yang is different. This is why she is not scared of falling, as if she is wearing a parachude. She knows Yang is there to catch her.

YANG'S PART - CATCHING

Hands down Heart wide I've only ever known the fight But I'll catch you This time I'll never let you out of my sight Unguarded I Surrender to a softer side I loved you, I'll love you Till the end of time Kiss me Hold tight I'll never let you out of my sight

Yang symbolically catches Blake in the song, so that the falling metaphor is completed. The meaning is clear.

Falling is a risk, but risks are necessary to truly live:

Yang: You were being optimistic. Look, blind optimism isn’t great, but no optimism means we already lost. We need hope. We need to take risks.

So, Yang herself takes a risk and makes a leap of faith:

Yang: I think I love you.

And she is promptly caught by Blake:

Blake: I love you, too.

By this point the two hold thight and kiss each other:

Yang taking this step is important because she is scared of vulnerability and intimacy.

She only knows the fight:

And yet, she faces Blake with her hand(s) down and her heart wide:

She surrenders to a softer side:

She trusts Blake not to leave and is determined not to let her out of sight. It is great development when compared to this:

You're lost You're found You're hard to pin down I never know if you'll come through Then you appear Together we're here And that's all that matters somehow

The scene happening on a bridge over the void strengthens the implication. If Yang and Blake's feelings were not mutual, they would have crashed down. Still, they love each other, so they embrace in a beautiful garden.

TO EACH OTHER - BMBLB

Voice 1: And now I know I'm worthy of you Voice 2: (Oh can't you see, you could be with me) Voice 1: With every smile you told me, "I love you" Voice 2: (I am your dream, I love you)

Baby can't you see? You could be with me We could live inside a garden of ecstasy You could be my queen I could be your dream Our lives like a fantasy Maybe set me free? Let me be your bumblebee

Bumbleby's kiss fits the scenery described by the Bmblb song.

Blake and Yang are in a garden and their confession "chases away the darkness and gloom" by making "the clouds run from the sky":

They are metaphorically making honey:

Like a Purdie* beat You are oh so sweet Every day is sunny, tastes like honey Feel so alive take me back to the hive

Which is why the flowers surrounding them bloom magically. Fitting for bees, right?

TOGETHER - SEEING AND STAYING

See me for everything I am You don't run away No matter the mistakes I made It's here, you'll stay

This stanza is the climax of the song and it conveys its most important message.

Why are Blake and Yang finally able to be togehter? In which way have they grown?

Yang sees Blake for everything she is:

Yang: Well, Blake, I'm Yang, Ruby's older sister! I like your bow!

Yang: You have cat ears! (…) I think your cat ears are cute.

The juxtaposition between these two lines sums up our Yellow Beauty's development.

Yang has always been attracted to Blake, but she is initially unable to see her as a whole. This is what the bow line alludes too. As a matter of fact Blake's bow is symbolic of the girl's shadow, as she initially uses this cloth to hide who she is (her beats part). So, Yang's first interaction with Blake shows she is drawn even to Blake's darkest parts. However, she is not mature enough to understand them completely.

It is only through her personal arc that Yang becomes able to see Blake for the person she truly is. Beautiful and ugly parts alike:

Weiss: You're right though. I don't know loneliness like you do. I have my own version. And, I'll bet Blake has her own version too.

This is why she can now openly praise Blake's animal trait.

Blake too has grown, of course. She gets irritated by Yang's bow compliment because, at the time, it hits a little close to home. Right now, she displays her ears openly and is flustered and happy by Yang's words. She doesn't hide herself anymore.

Blake is ready to stay:

Never thought that you would stay forever / Never asked you to commit your life

Blake: I have people who actually care about me, and I promised I'd never leave them again. So I'm not dying now.

Blake leaves Yang when our Golden Beauty is at her most vulnerable. This hurts Yang deeply, but Blake works through her flaw, grows and comes back. Once she does, she is ready to do what Yang never asked her to. She commits her life:

Blake: I… I am not going to break my promise, I swear.

Blake's vow to Yang is in fact a wedding vow, symbolically. It means Blake is determined to stand beside Yang no matter what. And Yang knows Blake means it:

Yang: I know you won't.

In conclusion, Blake and Yang's growth has them see the other's flaws and accept them. This is where their worth comes from.

TO BE WORTHY

You can't just be strong, you have to be smart! You can't just be deserving, you have to be worthy!

Blake and Yang are worthy of each other not because they are perfect. Rather, they know they aren't, but accept their own shortcomings. They forgive themselves and the other, so that they can grow better together. They become more balanced inside and this results in a new found harmony between each other.

Cinder's self worth instead comes from superficial validation by people only interested in using her. She doesn't face her inner demons, but rather chooses to push them down, so that she can keep wearing the mask of a powerful woman.

This is why Blake and Yang find real self-worth, while Cinder has set up an unreachable standard for herself.

#rwby #rwby meta #rwby soundtrack #bumbleby #cinder fall #blake belladonna #yang xiaolong #greenlightvolume10 #my meta

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dujour13 · 3 months

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OC Kiss Week - day 4

For my friend @cassynite 💜 Ophenia's books line the shelves of my mind palace

Ophenia has to brace her notepad with her elbows because the wind up here keeps trying to snatch it away and scatter its treasures to the Sellen far below.

What a romantic image, she realizes: lost love notes washed out to sea, each a fragment of a great tale of passion someone far away will glimpse, shorn of its context. A gift like a pretty piece of sea glass, the shards of shattered lives littering the sands of—

But she’s losing the thread of the story.

“…and I found myself hanging by my fingertips from the cliff, Ishiar raging against the jagged rocks far below, and all I could think about was how I'd dragged my friends to the Abyss and failed everyone who’d put their trust in me, and this would be a most fitting end and no more than I deserved, and I squeezed my streaming eyes shut and felt my fingers slip - when suddenly a horned shadow loomed over the cliffside! Then my hand was seized and the next thing I knew I was in his arms..."

She glances up from her notepad and her lips quirk. “Really.”

“Pretty much, yeah.” He uses his lilac shirt to wipe down the mouth of the wine bottle and passes it to her. Of course he suggested meeting on the dramatic cliffs outside Kenabres, and of course he didn’t think to bring wine glasses. Which is fine as far as Ophenia is concerned. She accepts the bottle and takes a swig.

“Hanging by the fingertips,” she repeats drily as she notes this down.

“Well, he did save my life.”

“No no, I like it. Don’t mistake me. Please carry on.”

As he does, they watch the sun slowly set over the Rejuvenated Lands.

“The entire Fleshmarket?”

“That part’s true.”

“Mm-hm.”

“It’s getting dark. You want a lift back to town?”

“A lift? Whatever do you mean?”

He gives her a hand up, singing as he does, and a brilliant flash like the sun coming out suddenly illuminates their cliffside picnic spot, and Ophenia finds before her a huge purple dragon with merry eyes and fairy wings.

But like everything, Ophenia takes this in stride. “So this is the baby havoc dragon in question?”

“Am I in question? Is it a good question? I hope it’s a silly question.” Aivu hunkers down and Siavash gives Ophenia a boost onto her back, then settles in behind her and urges Aivu into a thrilling leap off the cliff before they swoop toward the city.

When she’s finally back on solid ground and Aivu has disappeared through a gate to Elysium, Ophenia tries unsuccessfully to tame her windblown hair and refrain from a burst of girlish laughter.

“It’s been a long time since I…”

“Had fun for real?”

She bites her lip, unable to stop smiling.

“You make so many people happy with your stories,” he says, giving her a little kiss on the cheek. “Same time tomorrow? You’ll never believe what happened when we got back to Drezen…”

#ockiss24 #friends' ocs #ophenia thwait #siavash #pwotr pals #my writing

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emilykaldwen · 2 months

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The Maiden and the Drowning Boy | Aegon x OC | Chapter Two

Rating: Explicit Ships: Aegon II Targaryen x Abrogail Strong (Lyonel Strong's Daughter), Jacaerys Velaryon x Helaena Targaryen Summary: As the kingdom teeters on the edge of chaos, Alicent Hightower swaps the pieces on the board: Aegon will marry Abrogail Strong, Larys’ younger sister and heir to Harrenhal. Caught in the web of intrigue and political machinations, the pair must figure out where their loyalties lie, and what they mean to one another.

Tropes: Childhood Sweethearts/Friends to Lovers, Generational Trauma and Cycles of Abuse, It's All About the Character Development, Unreliable Narrators, Multi-POV, Canon Divergent, Bisexual Aegon II Targaryen, Book/Show Mash Up, Fix-It Of Sorts, Stopping the Cycle of Abuse before it gets us all killed, Team Neutral, fairy tale vibes meets victorian medievalism meets grrm

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Tumblr Masterpost

Chapter One

CHAPTER TWO - REWRITE THIS PAIN WE OWN

Aegon grapples with the news of the betrothal. Alicent has a talk with Viserys, and Larys decides to finally step in as a brother. Allegedly.

The cloisters were some of the oldest parts of the Red Keep. They spanned the distance between the high towers of the Hand and Maester, then down along the edge of the main courtyard. Most ignored the courtyard in favor of the Godswood, or the great gardens further down near the cliff edge. This was an overgrown place, where Helaena delighted, once upon a time, in digging up fat pill bugs from the dirt, or where Aemond cried after being stung by a bee from the hive towards the eastern wall; a hidden place, ignored and forgotten by the wisteria and roses that crept along the arches, unkempt and wild and hidden even in the middle of what made the Keep - and the kingdom - turn.

Aegon’s heartbeat was thundering in his ears, and their footsteps echoed off the stone walls of the staircase as he focused on putting as much distance between him and everything in that room as possible. A headache pulsed in time with his frantic heart behind his eyes, and he could taste the acrid, burning bile in the back of his throat.

Betrothed.

The cold, dainty fingers in his damp, feverish hand gripped harder as they burst through the dripping, fragrant purple wisteria draped over the many arches, and out the bright morning sun that streamed into the garden.

“Aegon?” Abby’s voice was normally a sweetly soft or excitedly curious tone. Now, it cut through the pounding rush of blood in his ears with the way it shook with uncertainty and concern.

He abruptly let go of her hand and crashed through the flower beds instead of following the stone path that the moss had all but consumed. Buzzing filled his ears, and he fell to his knees beside a red berry bush and promptly heaved out the contents of his stomach. His world narrowed down to the raw tearing inside his throat, the painful clench of his insides, his whole body jerking with the motion as the mess spattered and soaked into the soft soil.

The ravens that called the great, weeping cherry tree home burst into the air with a litany of shrieks, clearly disgusted by the display before them.

Aren’t we all? he thought, fingers plunging into the sun warmed soil while his body decided it needed a break. Aegon gasped, dizzy and unable to catch his breath as panic fought to settle in his chest. The clamminess had not started yet. A good sign. He did not think he could withstand the onslaught of nerves that burst beneath his hangover.

“Aegon? Are you alright?” she asked, still in that gentle, worried tone. His mother sounded that way once upon a time, and with his eyes closed, Aegon could almost imagine it was his mother’s voice full of concern. It was not the voice of Alicent Hightower, however, but Abby and the worry that she hid behind her constant, ever present smile.

Except for years back, when her ocean blue eyes had gone dark and her little mouth went flat. Back then when her world burst into flames, he tried to save her. The girl he’d wrenched from the depths of grief had come back too bright, too smiling, too worried for everyone else but herself. Too prepared to burn herself out for everyone else while she froze.

He could only give her a resounding groan in response, because, well, it was exactly how he felt. He tensed, waiting to hear her footsteps through the garden to him, for it was something she would do: make sure he was alright, run a cool hand over his burning skin as she’d done for as long as he could remember. Shame burned his cheeks. He did not want her to see him like this. He hated it, and yet, here they were.

She’d have to get used to it, won’t she? Miserable, disgusting lech that you are.

Aegon chanced a glance over through damp tendrils of hair in his eyes, and saw her slippered feet and the swish of her blue skirt move away towards the willow and fountain that anchored the west end of the garden. He exhaled slowly, relief easing the knot in his chest while he watched the blue fabric finally vanish behind a bush with fat, pink and blue flowers. Perhaps she’d go drown herself in the fountain like a girl from a song to avoid this.

This, the thing he’d wanted since he was a boy and now could not run from faster.

Betrothal.

Marriage.

Aegon carefully lay down beside the bush, arm flung out and hair sticking to the dampness of his forehead. He was never awake this early, when the sun had barely crested over the walls. His throat burned and his stomach ached, chest too tight, and if he stood, he’d have to face her and it was the last thing he wanted to do.

He wanted to face her with a straight spine, sword at his side, a hand extended. My lady, he’d say, and her cherubic cheeks with her freckles would blush as red as her beautiful curls. Will you take me as your husband? He’d ask and show her how much he wanted her, instead of being ordered to. Her heart shaped mouth would part in surprise, her doll-like features bright with joy. Her fingers would slip into his, cold to his hot and he’d wrap her up and keep her warm. Warm and smiling and happy until they were old and gray and crumbling into dust.

Gods, he’d be so good to her.

Instead, she was alone over there and he was alone over here, dizzy and smelling of wine and vomit with a bite mark from one of the women he’d fucked either last night or mayhaps it had been in the early hours of this morning, right on his thigh from a less than stellar servicing.

The names of the others his mother and grandfather had listed off floated through his mind. Every single suitor was surely more worthy to be whatever it was they wanted him to be; every single one another reminder that they were forcing this. They weren’t even giving her to him, not to love like he wanted. No, they were taking his Maiden and turning her into a pawn just like him, placing her on the board beside him to move them both as his mother and grandfather pleased.

It felt like something sacrificial; dark and maybe sacred in whatever deals had been made, whatever machinations brewed behind the curtains that he could not see.

Everything worth having was meant to be claimed as he had Sunfyre, not shoved into his arms behind deceptively passive smiles.

A butterfly with green and blue wings edged in black floated across his vision and he wondered if Helaena had come out here recently. A fat bumblebee came afterwards, and he remained still and unblinking as it came near his nose, So close he could feel the brief brush of air from its buzzing wings, before it wandered away towards something that was far prettier and smelled better.

As Aegon’s ears adjusted to the sounds of the garden, he could finally make out the trickle of water from the fountain, and amidst it, the quiet murmur of Abby’s voice as she must be talking or humming to herself. He focused on the sound, as loathsome as he felt, and it helped ease the knots that had wound their way between his ribs. It always had. Long ago, when they were small, he’d crawl under tables to hide and press his heated skin against the cold floor. Her fingers would stroke his hair, and he’d plead for extras out of the treats she’d pilfer from the kitchens.

He hummed softly, soothing himself as he tried and gathered up the courage to rise shakily to his feet. His head spun, and he wobbled a bit before turning to focus on where she had gone. The humming caught in his throat as he finally focused on the sight before him, air leaving his lungs.

The fountain deep within the overgrowth still ran. Cool, crystal clear water poured from the cupped palms of the kneeling dragon queen. Queen Rhaenys tilted her lovely face up, a joyful expression forever etched in stone as the head and neck of her dragon, Meraxes, curled around her protectively.

They said that the Conqueror had never recovered the body of his love, for Rhaenys had died in Dorne and they’d only brought back the dragon’s head. Meraxes was ensconced below in Balerion’s Hall, for his sire was allegedly a romantic, although it was the Black Dread that was worshiped. He privately thought - since none cared for his voiced opinions - that his namesake would rather it be Meraxes they worshiped, or the two together. Aegon wondered if they interred part of the lost Queen within the garden, for the Conqueror’s tower loomed above the cloisters, and the King would look down upon the garden, where he sought solace after her passing.

Joy, his maester once said, had left the world when Rhaenys died, and that loss of joy gave rise to Maegor. As a child, he thought he’d marry his Maiden out of desire just as his namesake did Queen Rhaenys. As a child in their games, he was the Conqueror, and she his joyful queen, who he’d rescue from a terrible fate in Dorne, or from dastardly lords who’d want to claim her. Jaceaerys’ had played Harren the Black once, with Abby taking part of the hostage Queen (even though it never really happened, it didn’t matter). How fierce and bright his joy had been to hear her call out for him while he climbed the rocky outcropping of ‘Harren’s Tower’. How hard he fought to rescue her from Jacaerys’ clutches, where she’d cling to him and he’d protect her as they made their escape. For he could do what the Conqueror could not - save the one who held his heart.

How much he enjoyed being the hero to the rest of them. How he lived for her reliance on him as her protector in their mock battles.

The weeping cherry tree towered over this part of the garden. Its branches spread out and dappled the morning light that streamed in. Moss ran over the stone path of the garden and along the edges of the fountain where Rhaenys’ statue reached out to him. His red-rimmed eyes moved from the stone face to where Abby sat. She focused on something in the water, one hand reaching up to brace on the snout of the stone dragon as she leaned over. The long ends of her curls dragged through the water with the motion as she pushed something, murmuring words he couldn’t hear. A laugh escaped her as her mouth broke into an amused smile, so unlike the frightened one she gave him in the tower. The smile she wore to comfort others when she was afraid.

I loved a maid as red as autumn, with sunset in her hair.

The wind shook petals from the tree, sending the pink cascading down to blanket the surrounding area, and caught in her delicate curls. She did not notice him, and he approached quietly as the moss muffled his footsteps.

“Oh dear, not there, you little sailor. This way with the current,” she said, her laughing tone was bright, but he could hear the tremulous edge beneath it. Her hand reached out to a floating leaf, a tiny frog perched happily upon it.

Aegon moved slowly so as not to startle her. Perhaps he was buying himself time, knowing that everything careful in the moment was on the precipice of shattering. He stepped towards her, so close he could nearly feel the gentle warmth of her form. The scent of bergamot and rose clung softly to her hair, and as he leaned down to sit beside her, he instinctively raised his arm to catch around her waist lest she tumble into the cold water.

He froze. Her eyes met his in the reflection.

The back of his throat burned.

“Careful.” His voice was hoarse and raw, and even in the ripples of the water he could see how pale and sallow he looked. How pitiful compared to the delicate look of hers. “You don’t want to fall and hit your head.”

He pulled his arm back. He could not initiate. She was welcome to do so, but Aegon? Aegon was a greedy thing. It gnawed like a dragon in his chest. He did not trust himself to ever touch first, to not pull her into his ribs and cage her inside of him, to not make her his to hold and hoard.

He felt dizzy and the burning in the back of his throat grew. His vision spun and Aegon dropped to his knees on the ledge and plunged his head beneath the water before he could vomit all over her. The world was pleasantly muffled beneath the water, and he shut his eyes, exhaling bubbles in the water. Time slowed, the heat of his skin cooled, and Aegon felt like he was floating. Even his headache had eased.

Hands gripped and tugged at his shoulders, pulling him from the floating world he had hidden himself in. Abby left him gasping and sputtering, her little fists shaking him, and he finally focused on her tirade. “Careful not to hit my head? Aegon! What are you doing?” she cried.

Water streamed down his face, plastering his hair to his head and obscuring his eyes. Sputtering and coughing for air, Aegon felt the bubbling of giggles falling from him like a madman. His shoulders shook, delighting in her reaction and the way her usually calm demeanor gave way to worry and annoyance.

It should not have brought him great joy to see her reaction, and yet…

Aegon’s giggles continued, although he had the great decency to try to soften them at the angry flash in her lovely blue eyes. The fabric of her blue dress had darkened in spots from the water he’d sent everywhere; it soaked her sleeves up to the elbows and his eyes caught a few beads of water tracing down her throat into the square neckline of her dress, along the soft sprinkle of freckles and… he should not be looking, but she was his betrothed now. That meant it was okay, right?

He tore his gaze from the blush that spread along her throat. He should not look. He could not look. He could not be trusted.

“At least we like one another,” she offered with her usual hopefulness and tried to get him to meet her eyes. “That counts for something, doesn’t it, Aegon?”

Stop saying my name, he thought. Then, never stop saying it, Seven, never stop.

Aegon snorted, his laughter bursting forth before he could even stop and think of it. The water that still trickled over his face spewed out from his nose and he could feel his face heat from his dance at the edge of hysterics. Amusement and abject panic, always. “Like one another?” he gasped out amid his fit. He fell back onto the grass. “What a grand marriage liking one another will make.” His own parents had liked one another once, and he dealt with the fallout of that every moment he drew breath.

Tears welled up in his eyes from his exertions and as the laughter settled, he realized he was alone in it. Confusion overtook the panic, and he finally focused on her.

Abby still sat on the edge of the fountain, her head turned away. Her curls hung down and spilled once more into the water, but he could see how red her face was. One arm had wrapped itself around her waist with fingers hooked into her belt; the other gripped the edge of the worn stone with white knuckles. There were no twitching, bloody fingers, but the cut of her shoulders tensed all too familiarly, too familially.

Her chin was trembling and her teeth had bitten into the plump pink of her lower lip. A bead of blood welled and rolled down her chin. Red streaked across her flushed skin when she hurriedly wiped it away.

Aegon’s laughter eased, his mouth dry, mirth still clear from the tear streaks on his cheeks, and something painful and heated ignited in the pit of his stomach.

Good, he thought. It was good that he’d upset her. It was good for her to expect less.

“You know, I didn’t ask for this either, Aegon.” Her tone was even, but instead of gentle, it was sharp. A sudden swipe of claws because his ankle had gotten too close to the cat who had been napping there. “I never asked for you.”

I never wanted you, he heard lurking beneath, and that ugly, heated thing burned inside of him. She couldn’t even look at him and Aegon’s heated cheeks darkened and he could feel it spreading down his neck, past his soaking collar, until it felt like his very heart might burst out of his chest at the humiliation that was settling in.

“I never asked for you either.” He was pushing up to his feet just as she was, and she still would not look at him. “Aren’t you getting the better deal out of this, anyway? I’m making you a fucking princess. Abrogail-” He reached out to jerk at her arm that still wrapped around her waist, fingers harsh and angry and Aegon could not help himself.

A chirp escaped her, The same sort she made when she touched a bowl that was too hot, or stabbed herself with her embroidery needles.

She finally looked up at him, and the humiliation he felt deepened as the shame threatened to manifest and noose around his neck. Her mouth pinched white around the edges except for the blood that welled along where she’d bitten her lip, her large blue eyes glossy and shining in that way he hated and had promised once upon a time, childishly, to protect her from.

The urge to drag his tongue along the streak of crimson across her mouth was growing, anything but childish and he forced his focus to anything else. His eyes darted to the hand that held her upper arm and the way his fingers pressed in hard enough to push in the fabric of her pretty, now wet, dress. So distracted by his hand on her arm, Aegon did not notice her other hand rise until she clawed at the exposed skin of his wrist and he howled in pain, immediately releasing her and looking at the four streaks of red across the back of his wrist and the blood that welled up.

Good, he thought again, as instead of that helpless look she had, it morphed into something flushed and angry at him. Better this than that biddable sweetness she used to placate herself and others. Better her rage than delusion.

I’m sorry, his lips moved to try form the words but her delicate hands came up and shoved him with a grunt. There wasn’t a lot of strength behind it, but with how unsteady he was already, it took little to send him sprawling back on his ass on the ground.

“I’ve never asked for anything from you, Aegon,” she croaked out. Her skirts gathered in her hands, she all but ran from him and the garden, disappearing behind the dripping wisteria and into the Keep.

Good.

Aegon scowled at his reflection in the fountain, and scattered it in his frustration.

“You were missed at council today, Viserys,” Alicent said as the doors to the King’s chambers were shut behind her, her voice as clipped as her footsteps along the stone floor.

A slight cough shook the King’s shoulders. He had been unwell the past few weeks, but was getting around again now, finally out of bed and reclined in his chair with furs piled around him. Maester Mellos had expressed concern about him losing the rest of the arm, but they’d saved it. Viserys hummed, turning the pages of the book before him, and Alicent was truly taken aback by how similar Aemond and Viserys were. The boy had spent little time around his disinterested father, so she could not attribute the similarity - the tone of the hum, the focus on the book of histories rather than to whatever she might be saying - to anything other than inheritance.

At least the disinterest was not among the traits passed down. Aemond paid attention to her. Aemond listened to her. Aemond, her baby boy, her brightest star, cared for her, and heard her.

A fondness built in her chest - rare the past handful of years. She had not always felt resentment towards her husband. Once, she even enjoyed his company, sitting and listening to him speak of matters that were close to him, being a valuable voice of reason. It was Viserys who had opened the seat on the Small Council to her, as his queen, gifting her something not even Aemma Arryn had.

Perhaps that was why it all hurt so much.

“We have summoned the Lords Blackwood and Bracken, along with Lord Tully - I’m assuming the grandson - to answer for the continued violence that has not ceased.” Alicent’s report fell from her like a page bringing a missive to their master and the familiarity of the charade grated on her nerves but she kept her tone neutral. A simple recounting of events to keep the king apprised of the council that she ran now.

That received a response. Viserys tilted his head with a curious furrow of his brow. “Why ever for? It is a Riverlands matter, Not something to concern ourselves with.”

“It is not simply a Riverlands matter when they are burning each other’s lands and whomever gets caught in the crossfire. Lord Tully will not bring them to heel,” Alicent normally did not snip so quickly in their conversations, but her concerns and worry overshadowed her careful control. Of course, Aegon frayed her nerves more than they already were. She was on edge, as time with her eldest always pushes her to. “The council thought it best that we summon the three houses together for mediation, so they may see that their actions have far-reaching implications.” She paused, reaching to pick up the dragon figurine atop one of the dusty buildings. The stone mason had done a remarkable job fixing it all those years ago. The cracks were barely visible, but still there. “Should the Riverlands show weakness, the Ironborn may decide that may prove better ground for raiding once more.”

“Mmm, sounds like Tyland would rather have the Riverlands bicker and peck at one another then. I believe Lord Farman wrote of a raid a few moons ago? Best to give them somewhere else to look. I fear the Ironborn will always be trouble no matter what.” Viserys chuckled at his own black humor and Alicent nodded, a tight smile creasing her features. Tyland knew ships, knew the sea, but he was no Corlys Velaryon, who had no plans to return to shore soon, judging by the last updates he’d sent from the Stepstones. “A slow meeting, then?”

The pumice stone scraped softly as she put the dragon back. “We announced the engagement of Aegon to Abrogail Strong.” Viserys looked confused once more before recollection dawned on him and he made a quiet ‘ah’. “The Grand Maester and Lord Tyland thought that, with Aegon’s name day approaching, we might combine the celebration and throw a tournament, and maybe a hunt.”

The fire crackled in the quiet and Alicent finally allowed herself to relax and pour herself a cup of wine from the side table before taking a seat on the chair normally reserved for the stonemason. She did not mind a bit of dust. “Aegon will be eight and ten. A man grown, A man who will now marry and start a family of his own. That is worthy of celebration, is it not?” A sad smile crossed her face as she met her husband’s eyes and found a mirror of her own expression there.

“Aye, it is. I remember how much he laughed when we took him on that hunt. Do you remember?” Wistful, Viserys tilted his head and picked up a half carved dragon. “Waving his wooden dragon around, his joyful laughter.” A lump formed in Alicent’s throat, and she occupied herself with her wine glass. “He was always laughing, I remember that, before the others came along. Didn’t enjoy sharing the spotlight, did he?” Another chuckle. “But I think we’ve raised a fine boy, haven’t we?”

It was Alicent’s turn to be struck dumb. The recollection of Grandmaester Mellos struggling to find anything to say about her son came back to mind and the stab of pain between her ribs had her turning her head with a nod and a hum. Unbidden, she thought of Rhaenyra, crying softly beside her in the sept for the loss of her mother, and the confusion at feeling as if her own father did not understand her. Alicent took a gulp of wine. Quiet for a moment before she allowed herself to speak. “Yes, my love, we have raised a fine boy.”

“My father would find it strange, you know, that Aegon does not marry Helaena. Your father thought we should wed Rhaenyra to Aegon, but Laenor, rest his soul, was such a good man.” The comment had Alicent’s eyes widening, and she nearly choked as she took another sip of wine.

“He suggested what?” Whatever expression she had earned laughter from the king as she dabbed at her wine soaked chin.

“That was my reaction,” he chuckled. “Ridiculous. Things have a way of working themselves out, though, do they not? Why, I jested with Lyonel that very night if he was going to offer his son to marry Rhaenyra after Jason Lannister thought he could offer my daughter compensation.”

Funny that, Alicent thought, keeping her features still as the stone that lay between them. Guilt twisted in her belly at the memory of Lyonel Strong. How grateful in her grief and solitude she had been for the warm companionship of her cousin, Celeste, his wife. How grateful for the kindness she and Lyonel had shown her - the closest she had to family that were not her own children. How guilty she still felt to know that Lyonel’s death was through her own desperation.

“Lord Lyonel would approve the match. I recall we had discussed it once, not long before…” She swallowed, her mouth gone dry, and Alicent flexed her fingers against her goblet, stretching them out like a cat flexing its claws. The tension that ran through them ached.

Viserys hummed again, losing his longtime friend visible on his features and he drummed his fingers upon the book before him. “Did he? He never mentioned it to me, but…” A shift of his countenance as he visibly recoiled against the sadness and grief. “Aegon will find a fine wife in the Strong girl, if she’s anything like her father. Lyonel did well to temper some of my admittedly more foolish ideas. I may have been more inclined to listen without issue had they come from a comely maiden.”

Another pang, this time as she recognized the smirk on Viserys’ face as the same she’d seen across Aegon’s as he teased his siblings with some ribald comment.

That had come from observation, she was certain. As had the drinking.

Alicent took another sip of her wine.

“Lord Larys has suggested that after they’re married, Aegon and Abrogail would go to Harrenhal. She is his heir. Aegon could do well to have some responsibility. We will have to decide what to do with Sunfyre.”

“You cannot separate a boy from his dragon. Rhaena housed Dreamfyre at Harrenhal when she resided there. We’ll ensure they’re up to snuff before they go.” A glimmer crossed his features, curiosity and excitement. “My grandfather gave Harrenhal to the Strongs. It seems fitting that we have come full circle. You know, it was a Strong who was the longest serving Hand of the Conqueror. They are the most loyal of friends. Advisors. Defenders.”

It was her turn to hum, biting back the urge to invoke how Ser Lucamore Strong had sired nigh a dozen bastard children before being sent to the Wall. At least in Ser Harwin’s case, he had not been a Kingsguard - not that vows had stopped Rhaenyra before. Alicent took a breath, willing the vindictiveness to bleed out of her. Those were unkind things to think, for Harwin was not the one at fault. The princess’ whims drove Harwin, as poor, loyal Criston before him, into her clutches.

Rhaenyra had never been offered up on a platter - not in the way she’d been, not in the way she was doing to Abrogail. Mother above, please forgive me, Celeste.

Alicent did not seek to fill the silence. She watched her husband look at his book, but knew he was not truly reading it. No, he was planning something, tapping down his temper, or both. Viserys always had a temper, even if it rarely burned as hotly as Rhaenyra’s did. She had gotten better at withstanding the heat, as she’d gotten better at withstanding many things over the years.

“Why aren’t we marrying Aegon and Helaena?” he finally asked. It was only a question, no lure and trap beneath his words. “You were so against the match with Rhaenyra’s boy, so why not them? Had I a living sister, I would have married her. It’s the Targaryen way.”

The Targaryen Way is not always the right way, she thought. Aegon’s claim would need to challenge Rhaenyra’s without question, but her solution would not be to yoke her sweet daughter to her own brother simply because they were half dragons.

She remembered Aemond, maimed and covered in bandages to protect the wound from infection, standing in the doorway of the solar at breakfast. It had left her speechless in the moment, but now the memory left a slight smile gracing her face.

“Because Aemond bonded with Vhagar, and declared that should Helaena marry anyone but him, he would burn the realm down and us with it.”

The sentence hung in the air until Viserys roared with laughter and Alicent joined him. It had been so long since she had laughed that tears pricked the corners of her eyes. It felt good to laugh with the man she called husband, than to feel so terribly lonely.

“Spirited! Boy knows what he wants.” He slapped his hand on the open book before him with another laugh. “Well, how about a two-fold celebration? We could-”

“I thought, perhaps, a Baratheon marriage might suit Aemond. He is of an age with Lord Borros’ eldest. With Abrogail leaving, she may also make a fine companion for Helaena, and maybe another sister for the Harrenhal court. I was going to write to him, invite her to the Keep so they may get to know one another.” Helaena would need time to adapt to a new companion, and she was not looking forward to the fallout of the changes should her daughter not go along with it. Viserys’ laughter ebbed and Alicent swirled the wine in her goblet. The garnet liquid caught the firelight. Fire and blood. She tapped her fingers along the sides of it, knowing that she had to be careful. “The gods blessed us with three sons and a single daughter. We should take advantage of that to help spread some stability in the realm.”

Sons you so desperately wanted and then summarily denied.

“Is the realm truly so unstable, wife?” Sharp, pink-lilac eyes turned to her. Another expression, this one similar to the gaze that Helaena took when she was trying to convey something of import. The color was different: Aegon’s eyes were his father’s, Helaena’s closer to lavender, Aemond’s a periwinkle, and Daeron’s a cornflower blue so commonplace they’d pass for Andal were their shine not so luminous.

“No, but we have four children, husband, who will need to have their futures ensured and cared for,” she pointed out reasonably and nothing she said was wrong. Their futures needed to be assured. Viserys gave little response, but she could see he knew she was right. Quiet reigned once more. She noticed cobwebs had formed along the primary thoroughfare of the stone city.

“The blood of the dragon must remain pure, Alicent,” Viserys said with a strength absent from before. Alicent looked over at her husband, who did not look at her. Instead, he’d risen and stepped closer into the inlet of his miniature Valyria. “We are above mortal men. We are dragonriders, and dreamers of great things. Aegon the Conqueror dreamed of great things, of this realm that has, in fact, become great.”

Where was Viserys going with this? “I remember you telling me. Aegon’s second name day, in front of the bonfire.” He’d been mad with grief and drink, had scared her with his dream of Aegon wearing the crown in front of an adoring crowd - how Aemma had paid the price for chasing it, with his doubt and confusion as their son slept soundly in his little bed. She opened her mouth to press the matter, but the king continued.

“You are not a Targaryen, my dear wife, but that does not mean that no matter how you dress them in green, your children will be anything but.” Alicent drew back in her chair and the grip on her cup tightened. Her children, not his. Not his no matter what happened. “Pursue this Baratheon marriage if you’d like, and should Aemond want it, then it’s fine with me. If his mind is not changed, then they have my blessing.”

Abrogail felt like she was fraying at the edges, unmoored from her usual sense of self: calm, collected, able to focus regardless of what was on her mind. None of that mattered in the wake of what happened in the tower or what followed between her and Aegon. She’d barely allowed herself any time to collect herself before joining Helaena and Aemond in the gardens, letting Aemond fill the silence as Helaena’s focus ebbed and flowed.

So distracted she’d been, thoughts lingering on the morning’s events, that she hadn’t heard Helaena’s persistent calling until she’d snapped a frustrated “What?” to be met with Helaena’s surprised gasp and wide eyes… which in turn had Aemond turning an angry eye to her viciously. He hadn’t said anything particularly harsh, but with her own guilt at snapping and Aegon’s behavior, and then Aemond’s anger, she’d left the gardens in tears, ignoring Helaena’s calls for her to come back. The princess hadn’t ordered her return. Perhaps for the best.

Perhaps she’d be pulled from her service sooner than anticipated, and replaced with Penrose. Punished for her insolence. Marrying Aegon, did that mean she was on the same level as Helaena? That once married, Helaena couldn’t order her about, or that Abby was meant to serve her?

More often than not, Abrogail was Helaena’s bedmate, the two girls sharing pillows since she’d become the princess’ proper companion. It meant that her rooms outside the holdfast had all but been abandoned. She was a visitor more often than a tenant, so much so that it had taken Allana Tyrell and Josana Lannister a moment to recognize her when they passed in the halls - the elder girls arrived at court after a season away - and exchanged pleasantries. Abrogail all but ran the last few yards to her destination, and nearly slammed the heavy door shut behind her.

The apartments that belonged to Larys were modest, housing only a sitting room and two bedrooms: Larys’ to the left and hers to the right. So unlike the warm, multiple levels of the Hand’s tower that she’d spent years exploring and playing in. The room was empty when she burst in and she was grateful that her quiet, piercing elder brother could not witness her state as she sought solace in the cold and empty chamber. There was no warm fire crackling merrily in the hearth to welcome her, and she had to go back to the sitting room to fetch the pitcher of water there to clean her face from the tears and calm the burning of her cheeks. Not even Theraxis was there to comfort her as he often did, rolled onto his back, fluffy belly offered to bury her face in and have her hair licked by his sandpaper tongue.

A sob tore at her chest and she gulped the rest down and went to the bed and collapsed upon the cold sheets. Fingers curling in the comforter, she tried her best to hold back her tears. Even alone, she could not let the despair overcome her.

It had not been long after her mama died that Corynna, her elder half sister and Larys’ sister, had sent word that she would take her sweet little sister as she needed a strong, motherly presence in her life. Abrogail had been distraught and trying to hide it as they had fallen into a game of hide and seek that bright day.

I’ll marry you, Aegon had whispered into her hair, the pair of them hiding beneath the heavy boughs of a flowering bush as Jacaerys played seeker in their game of hide-and-seek. I’ll marry you and they won’t send you away because you’ll be mine. They’d been little more than babes in leading strings then, where Aegon’s smile had not faded into bitterness and her life had still been warm and safe. Crumbled sweets shared as the pair did their best to hide from the persistent Jace, and it had been Harwin who found them hours later. Asleep surrounded by the scent of rhododendrons and petals caught in red and silver heads both.

She did not know how long she lay atop her bed, only that the shaft of sunlight through the narrow window inched across the bed and across her skirts until the familiar drag-thump drew her notice towards the door. Larys was generally quiet and she’d only heard it for it was a sound she knew her whole life.

Her brother was taller than he generally appeared, and in the half light of the early evening, for a moment Abrogail thought he looked very much like their father. The same widow’s peak, the similar set of the jaw even though Lyonel had been a larger man than his second son. She sat up, swiping her sleeve across her face as Larys watched her with his inscrutable look.

“I needed to be alone,” she said softly. “I apologize for bothering you.” She wasn’t sure if she truly needed to apologize for being in her own room, but it was often difficult to discern her brother’s reaction to her. They weren’t close, and their relationship was not a warm one. Abrogail felt that when it came to her, Larys Strong was not quite sure what to make of her or even what to do with her.

“It is your room,” he finally said with a tilt of his head and an ambivalent shrug. She watched him as he perused the area, lingering on the empty grate and then to her. Years of practice kept her from instinctively shifting beneath his gaze but it was still an uncomfortable feeling being sized up. “Although it is not very comforting for what troubles you. I’m sure today has been more than a shock to you, sister.” Abrogail opened her mouth, then closed it with a click and merely nodded. He let out a hum and tapped his cane on the floor before opening the door further. “Well, it all works out in the end. I meant to speak with you this evening anyway. Come - Father would insist you have a belly full of warm food to dry your tears.”

As if on cue, her stomach growled and the scent of fresh bread and meat finally registered. She was starving, having only eaten that morning and so she followed her brother into the sitting room. It was warmer, the fire blazing, and the table was set with plates of food and fresh Malvales flowers in a vase. Abrogail frowned slightly at the sight of them. The only other place she’d seen them other than the Godswood was in the Queen’s chambers. She knew her brother counseled Queen Alicent and they shared meals from time to time, but the flowers still seemed strange. The servant who’d brought the food ladled fresh, steaming boar stew onto plates and Abrogail reached for a warm roll when her eyes caught on the basket of cakes to the side. They glistened with syrup, and the fresh scent of oranges assaulted her when she drew close until her brother’s sharp tsk stopped her. “For after you’ve finished your plate.” A slight twitch of a smile when he sat himself down, dismissing the servant and for a moment she simply stared at him.

“You sounded so much like Papa,” she said as she sat across from him.

“Mmm, I do hear that sometimes. I suppose one tends to pick up manners from their elders. How often I’ve heard those very words come from him, hm?” She scrunched her face up with a half smile playing on her own features and quietly dug in.

Neither Strong attempted to fill the silence as they tucked into their meal. Only the scrape of cutlery and the quiet sounds of eating filled the space. It didn’t feel like a standoff between them, even more so than when it was Larys who finally broke the silence.

“Cory will be mollified by the fact that you’re marrying a prince instead of one of the Lannister bannermen,” he said nonchalantly as he spoke of his sister. “She’s been hounding me to send you to her, but I know how much this place is home to you. Harrenhal is a far closer ride on your husband’s dragon than in a wheelhouse or on a ship from Lannisport.”

“Has she?” Abrogail wasn’t sure what else to say as the thoughts that swirled through her continued to distract her. Her and her sister were not at all close. Clever and sharply delicate, Corynna Strong could have gone to the Citadel had she been born a man. Instead, she had begrudgingly married the third Lannister son as the eldest was unavailable and Abrogail privately thought that their father had sent Cory away to be kept under the hawkish, watchful eye of Johanna Lannister instead of getting underfoot there in King’s Landing.

Abrogail did not complain. The few times she’d been with her, Cory was a sharp, judgemental woman who always had a criticism for how to improve herself, and more often than not had taken to pinching her arms and waist and assessing with that inscrutable countenance she shared with Larys. “Uncle Otto mentioned several,” she paused to tear at a piece of bread to keep from fidgeting. “Several, um, suitors? You never mentioned them.”

“Well the Queen didn’t either and although I am your brother, and head of our house, you are her ward, and because she is Queen, she too has a say in who, ah, takes you.” Larys looked apologetic and uncertain of how to word it and she nodded in understanding to put him at ease. “Her Grace is quite fond of you, you know. She only wants what is best for you, as if you were her own daughter. It is sweet. Your mother would be pleased.”

Abrogail bit her lip and looked down at her plate. Tines of the fork scraped along the edge pushing meat through sauce. Targaryens have queer customs, marrying their siblings or their uncles, she thought. Would her and Aegon’s children have to wed one another, as was tradition? Her head pounded with all the questions and she struggled to find a place to begin.

“Yes, I think she would,” she said finally and met her brother’s concerned gaze. It was the softest she’d ever seen him, which was saying a lot given his nature. For the first time, Abrogail felt like her brother might actually feel like her brother. “I don’t know where to start with all my questions, Larys,” she found herself admitting, reaching to him across this distance. “From being your heir, to how this all came to happen. I’m so overwhelmed and…” she trailed off with a slump of her shoulders and another lump in her throat.

She reached for her goblet of red wine, trying to push the feeling away. A wince crossed her features as the sharpness of it hit her tongue. She tended to favor the sweetness of ciders and meads.

The scent of the arbor red reminded her of Aegon.

Abrogail put the goblet down and cleared her throat. “Excuse me, brother.”

“No need, dear sister. Being overwhelmed is only natural in this case, but your willingness to be open with your questions reassures me that you and I can start forging our own road. You are my heir, and although we are not close, I do care for you, Abrogail.”

“Do you?” she asked. She raised her eyebrows. “Larys, you’ve made it abundantly clear that you don’t even like me.”

He matched her expression with his own. “I do. Besides, you are a woman grown now and far easier to talk to than a rambunctious child of eight.” Abrogail felt her cheeks heat and she couldn’t find fault in his argument there. A soft chuckle escaped him and she watched him resume tearing apart a roll. He did it so oddly and always had. Fingers carefully working along the circumference of the warm bread and slowly spreading it apart, so the soft interior gently pulled as if he savored the very act.

To be fair, it was good bread.

“There are none that attract my gaze, and I doubt there ever shall be. Given that I have little penchant for things like mistresses or whoring, there will be no progeny. Corynna’s rights are forfeit, as she’s married a Lannister.” He paused, gazing at her for a long moment until she realized he expected an answer from her.

Abrogail frowned as she thought. Corynna had married a third son, but the children of that union may very well wed Lord Jason’s son, Or marry into banner houses should they not have more children. Or even become heirs of the Rock. “As long as Rhaenyra is heir, Aegon is fourth in line. If he marries me, he gains a title and lands,” she said slowly. Jacaerys would take the throne one day, and Lucerys would have Driftmark. Little Joffrey may very well marry into another great house, but there were no more titles and lands to pass off, and that was before Queen Alicent’s children were considered, and the Queen wanted Aegon to be King.

To say it out loud would be treason, and when Abrogail’s eyes found Larys’, he gave an encouraging nod. “Harrenhal would provide income independent of what is owed the crown?” Uncertainty laced her voice. She did not know much about her family’s seat. She’d only been there a handful of times, half of them having been full of grief and misery, but she did know that outside of hushed whispers of curses and ghosts, that Harrenhal’s lands were the richest in Westeros when they were handled properly. “Harrenhal is why those other families wanted me, isn’t it?”

“Some,” Larys said matter of factly. “Tully and Vance in particular given their proximity and would benefit the most. Others claimed to be enchanted by the young beauty they’d heard of growing in the Queen’s garden.” The words sounded too poetic for the man her brother seemed and the incredulous look on her face must have been all he needed, for Larys actually laughed. A strange, unused sound and a shake of his head. “Those were the words of the Vance heir, I believe. Should they have been romantic enough, you could still say no to this current arrangement.”

No, Abrogail thought. No, she couldn’t.

She wanted to ask Larys why he would be alright with her saying no. If it had been her father, she would have. Her papa had never turned her curiosity and questions away. No matter how silly or simple they may have been, he was always happy to teach her. This was probably the longest conversation they’d had since the funeral, but Abrogail did not feel comfortable asking. Not yet. Maybe… maybe someday.

“Thank you,” she said instead with a small smile and Larys seemed pleased with that. “I would like to learn more about Harrenhal. Before the wedding and everything. I want to make you proud. I want to make Papa proud.” She swallowed past the lump in her throat and was grateful that Larys did not look up at her and instead focused on buttering another bread roll.

“As my heir, I will begin to discuss these things with you, and you should begin speaking with our uncle. He will be here for the engagement tournament.” The butter knife scraped against the wooden dish as he went for more. She watched his dark hair fall into his eyes, the way Harwin’s curls would and the tightening sensation in her chest came back. Another mouthful of wine, which only reminded her of Aegon again.

Aegon’s fingers in her hair, thumb brushing her tears in the quiet of the Sept. “I’m so sorry you lost them. I’m so sorry they’re gone.”

“Abrogail?”

She blinked and found him watching her with a gentle expression. He smiled that small smile of his. “I said, perhaps we can start having our own dinners. Get to know one another better.”

“You mean like how you have dinners with the Queen?” Once a week, the pair of them met privately in her solar. She’d seen them once through the window, the pair discussing things or the queen’s voice raised about whatever terrible thing had happened that week. A friendship. A council.

Larys’ smile broadened. “Yes, dear sister. Exactly like that.”

[Chapter Three]

#house of the dragon #house of the dragon fanfic #hotd fanfic #aegon ii targaryen #aegon ii targaryen x oc #aegon ii targaryen fanfic #aegon targaryen fic #aegon ii targaryen fic #aegon x abby #fic: the maiden and the drowning boy #my fics

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kendsleyauthor · 1 year

Note

Cliff and Oliver sharing a bed!!

(And Zia if you want 😉💓)

((MORE LIKE Oliver and Zia sharing a bed and the bed is Cliff and they all care deeply and tenderly about each other 😜 Anyway, OT3--))

The Hunter, The Healer, and The Harlot

“I swear, Oliver, if you don’t hold still, I will put you to sleep for a long, long time.” Zia snatched his wrist and spoke through gritted teeth. Pursing her lips, she waved her other fingers over his forearm, gradually knitting the wound shut.

The cut had been unfortunate collateral damage during a dead-end mission. There were no more fairies to be rescued at the warehouse a couple of towns over, but there had been lingering armed guards and a close call. Oliver had slashed himself escaping through a shattered window.

He had haphazardly healed it himself, and Cliff wasted no time in getting him back to the Safehouse—and Zia. She pitched a fit when she saw the poor healing job. Cliff had ushered them to his room since it was closer to the entrance than the healing ward.

“Good to know I’m not your worst patient, Zee.” Cliff rested his head on the pillow, watching the pair of fairies on the nightstand. A soft smile quirked on his lips as they squabbled.

“You’re a close second,” she groused, throwing a narrowed-eyed look at Cliff. “And much harder to hold down.”

“I’m not trying to be difficult, just look what I mean—” Oliver yanked his arm away, eliciting another agonized groan from Zia. “How come when I do it like this, there’s always a scar?” He murmured the healing incantation and waved a hand over the half-healed cut.

“Because you’re doing it wrong!” Zia wailed in distress and buried her face in her hands. She peeked between her fingers. “Cliff. Help. Please help before I strangle him.”

Oliver paused mid-spell to scoff. “Strangle? Sure You’re too sweet to—” The rest was cut off as Cliff sat up halfway and snatched him from the nightstand.

Any resulting protests died when Cliff pinned Oliver gently to his body, just below his chest. The squirms subsided almost immediately. He doubted Oliver would move even if he weren’t pinned on his back.

“There,” Cliff said, flashing a smirk at Zia. “Shuts him up every time.”

“You do this to shut me up?” Oliver said, halfheartedly offended. He hummed. “Never mind. I won’t complain.”

“Seems effective.” Zia cracked a smile at the sight, flitting over. “Turn his arm over.” She nodded as Cliff flicked a finger and presented the back of Oliver’s forearm. “Perfect.”

She practically straddled Cliff’s index and middle fingers to reach the wound—inadvertently leaning over Oliver and sandwiching him between herself and Cliff. Oliver, for his part, contentedly turned his head to rub his cheek against Cliff’s shirt. Then he peeked up at Zia, and Cliff spotted the corner of a dizzy smile on his lips.

“I have something incredibly inappropriate to say,” Oliver announced. He sighed. “But I think I’ll just savor the moment.”

“And we thank you for that.” Zia seemed in much better spirits now that she didn’t have to strangle him.

As she spoke the incantation, Cliff gingerly brushed her side with his thumb to keep her steady in her awkward position. She unabashedly leaned into his touch, and he swore he could feel her breathing slow to match the pace of his steady breaths beneath her.

When she was finished, she flopped over beside Cliff’s hand and gave a heavy sigh.

Cliff chuckled and ran a fingertip across her forehead to swipe her hair out of her eyes. “I think being around Oliver makes you more dramatic,” he said.

Oliver, freed from Cliff’s hand, sat up and touched the healed wound. There was no trace of it other than a faint redness. “You’re incredible, Zee,” he sighed. “You should come with us next time.”

“So that you can comfortably throw yourself at every shard of glass in sight?” Zia laughed wryly. “No thanks.”

He waved her off. “Sharp objects can’t resist me, that’s not my fault. But really, really. The three of us would make such a great team. Think of it! The hunter, the healer, and…” Oliver put a hand on his chest and smiled prettily. “The harlot.”

Zia gave a beautiful whoop of laughter. “They’ll sing songs about us for generations to come.”

“See? It’s a good idea.” Oliver inspected the back of his forearm again and looked slightly less enthused. “You know… this actually would have been a great spot for a scar.”

Cliff delicately grabbed Oliver’s wrist and squinted. “You’re not wrong.”

“Stars.” Zia’s grin dropped into exasperated annoyance, but the aggravation didn’t quite reach the light in her eyes. “I’ve had enough. I’m heading back to the ward.” She stood on Cliff and stretched her arms and wings. “I prescribe you both with bed rest. Goodbye.”

“Oh, please. You know you’re in no mood to fly off.” Oliver stood and was by her side in an instant. “Why don’t you stay?”

Her face flushed. “I couldn’t.”

Cliff felt like a very dramatic play was being enacted on his torso. He cupped a hand beside the pair of them. “You could,” he said. “Plenty of room.” But he wasn’t holding his breath—Zia behaved as though the healing ward was her only source of oxygen.

She bit her lip and looked between them. “I don’t know…”

“Zia, dear.” Oliver took her hand. “You were in the ward before we left, you were in the ward when we arrived, and I’m sure you will be in the ward when Cliff and I meet some embarrassingly stupid death. You’re the best healer in the world, and all we’re asking for is a few moments for you to rest with us. Please.”

The melodramatic dumbass even kissed the back of her hand and clutched it to his chest, hitting her with the most pathetically puppy-eyed look in existence.

She gaped at him a second, and then gave a bemused laugh. “Fine.”

“Are you kidding me?” Cliff sat up a little, making the two fairies lose their footing and slide down a few inches—he dropped a hand to stop them. He pouted at Zia in particular. “I invite you to take a break all the damn time, and he gets a freakin’ yes just like that?”

She shrugged. “He’s very convincing.”

“You were pissed at him just a second ago!”

Oliver threw his arms around Zia’s shoulders, hugging her tightly. “She got over it. Besides, look at me. Who can stay pissed at this face?”

Cliff rolled his eyes.

Zia grinned teasingly. “I can leave if you’re that offended.”

“No,” Cliff said immediately.

He cupped both hands around the fairies and laid back down. After a brief pause to contemplate where to set them, he brought his hands higher and tucked the fairies near his neck.

As he eased the pressure, he smiled faintly at the sensation of them adjusting around each other and settling against him. His eyes fluttered shut at the sound of their hushed laughter and bickering about whose limbs should go where.

When they finally stopped moving, Cliff brushed a thumb down to feel them. He recognized Zia’s pixie cut and the scars on Oliver’s wings.

Cliff let out a slow, contented sigh. He couldn’t keep them safe every second of the day—but here and now, he could shield them from the world behind his hands.

((A/N: Your Honor, I love them.))

#gt #g/t #gt writing #g/t writing #giant tiny #gt community #g/t community #gt fandom #g/t fandom #my writing #shot in the dark #shot in the dark story #dark future au #dark future au story #oc: cliff #oc: zia #oc: oliver

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zerger33 · 1 month

Text

Title TBD WIP

(Thanks to @yourlocalautist for writing a good amount of these, and helping me pick some things.)

Leo slowly faded back in as his head throbbed, groaning as he looked around at the group around him. He was in a horse-drawn cart, his legs tied together as he looked around to notice 3 others in the cart. He shook his head slightly, getting the one across from him to react. “Hey, you. You’re finally awake. You were trying to cross the dimensional hole, right? Walked right into Dusknoir’s ambush same as us, and that Vulpix over there.” The fairy said to him, gesturing to the other two occupants in the cart. Leo looked over at the annoyed Vulpx, who growled at the fairy.

“Damn you rebels. This place was fine until you came along. Dialga was nice and lazy. If they hadn’t been looking for you, I could’ve stolen that horse and been halfway to Capim town.” She turned to the Shinx. “You there, you and me, we shouldn’t be here. It’s these rebels Dialga wants.”

The Celebi gave a sigh and looked at her. “We’re all brothers and sisters and cuffs now, friend.”

Hold on, wait no this one ain’t it.

Okay…

In the beginning, when Arceus created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from Arceus swept over the face of the waters. Then Arceus said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And Arceus saw that the light was good; and Arceus separated the light from the darkness. Arceus called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

And Arceus said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” so Arceus made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. Arceus called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

And Arceus said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. Arceus called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And Arceus saw that it was good. Then Arceus said, "Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it." And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And Arceus saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

And Arceus said, "Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for-” Wait, that’s DEFINITELY not it, Never mind, hold on.

Got it.

Once upon a time, a legend was whispered among gods.

It was a legend of hope. It was a legend of dreams.

It was a legend of Time. It was a legend of space.

This is the legend of the heroes of time.

For millennia, Time and Space have lived in balance,

Bringing peace to the World.

But if this harmony were to shatter...

a terrible calamity would occur.

The sky will run black with terror

And the land will crack with fear.

Then, Her heart pounding,

The Earth will draw her final breath.

Only then, shining with hope...

Three heroes will appear at World's edge.

A Human, A Thief, And a Monster chosen by fate.

Only they can repair the flow of time,

And banish the Eternal night.

Only then will balance be restored,

And the World saved from destruction.

Today, the great time gears-

The relics that give time form-

Remain safely within the shrines that hold them.

But recently, something has begun to break on the horizon.

And with it, the balance of Time and Space begins to shift…

No, that’s not how this one goes, I’m pretty sure.

Motherfucker, ok.

Violet groggily wakes up near an unfamiliar cliff. It takes her a second to realize she has been bound by her paws.

“You got what you were after, so pay up.” a rough voice yells. One she does not recognize.

“You’re crying in the rain, pally.” That one she does recognize. She looks up to see 3 figures in front of her.

“Guess who’s waking up over here…” another voice says in a malicious tone.

The man in the center drops his smoke and stomps it out. Violet knows him.

“Time to cash out.” Skuntank says, stepping forward.

“Can you get it over with?” Zubat speaks up to his right.

“Maybe some criminals kill people without lookin’ em in the face. But I ain’t a fink, dig?” He quickly silences him.

Violet can’t do anything but stare. Of course she’d end up like this.

Skuntank sighs.

“You’ve made your last delivery, kid.”

He pulls out the chip Violet was supposed to deliver herself.

“Sorry you got twisted up in this scene.”

He puts it away. And pulls a gun out instead.

“From where you’re kneeling, it must seem like an 18-carat run of bad luck.”

He points it at her.

“Truth is, the game was rigged from the start.”

That’s the last thing she could remember.

No, wait they didn’t have guns, shit.

Okay, how about this.

In the beginning, the world did not know heroes….

That was, until the humans arrived.

Each had their own method. Their own way of saving the world…

Ethan used his charm to talk his way out of trouble.

Violet used her power to bash through opponents.

Anna used her leadership to find a solution through teamwork.

Riley used his intellect to solve the puzzles ahead of him.

With the heroics done, the humans had solidified their powers…

Until one day, a challenger arrived to replace one of the humans…

Nope…. Not at all…

Sonofabitch. Okay.

A massive, pillar-like starship drifts through dark space, shuttled along by a pulsating nuclear engine firing out of the back end of the vessel. Long, rotating antennae spin idly as the craft moves along. A curved, hammer-like head resides at the front, much larger than the rest of the ship. The vessel is on its way towards a looming planet.

Chatter comes over the radio.

“We’re here, Captain. The distress beacon came from this exact coordinate.” A man’s voice comes through.

“This planet… it isn’t on any star maps we know. This area isn’t even on route…” Leo says, clearly nervous as to the impromptu rescue mission.

“Any visuals on the Contact Light?” Violet replies through her radio.

“No, ma’am,… just debris.”

“Any signs of survivors?”

“...No, ma’am, bioscanner is dark.”

Violetis silent.

“Ma’am… the distress beacon. It mentioned… it mentioned a lot. Monsters, and fighting, and…”

An eerie silence comes over the radio. Hesitation is clear in the man’s voice.

“...Ma’am… do you think we’re ready?”

No reply.

“Ma’am?”

Wait, shit. This series isn’t even in space… goddamnit, ok.

How about…

Humanity is dead.

Blood is fuel.

The Distortion World is full.

…No. Just no.

Alright.

This is the story of a Vulpix named Violet. Violet worked for a big guild where she was explorer number 427. Explorer number 427’s job was simple. She went to dungeons and completed jobs. Orders came through on a job board, telling her what dungeons to go to, how far to go in, and what objectives to complete. This is what Explorer 427 did every day, of every month, of every year. And while others might have considered it soul-rending, Violet relished every moment that the jobs came in, as though she had been made exactly for this job, and Violet was happy.

And then, one day, something very peculiar happened. Something that would forever change Violet. Something she would never quite forget. She had been at the job board for nearly an hour when she realized that not one single job had arrived on the monitor for her to follow. No one had shown up to give her instructions, call a meeting, or even say hi. Never in all her years at the guild had this happened: this complete isolation. Something was very clearly wrong. Shocked, frozen solid, Violet found herself unable to move for the longest time, but as she came to her wits and regained her senses, she got up from the board, and stepped out of the guild.

No, this one just never ends…

Fuck, alright. This has gotta be it.

Good evening, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen. Turn the lights down low and shut your faces as I wrap you in the cozy blanket of a story. A story as heartwarming and soft as a mother's kiss. Or is it? Once upon a time, there was a boat, now, this wasn't just any old boat, children. It was a ship! A ship full of friends, hundreds of friends, best friends, one and all! A veritable friend ship it was… get it? But it wouldn't be very ladylike of me to forget to mention the most noteworthy friend on board, Dusknoir. Say hi to Dusknoir!

Dusknoir was like… king friend of friendship kingdom, best friend to one and all, and the walking definition of a handsome gentleman!

Now, one fine morning, Dusknoir and pals set out on a new, exciting adventure. What fantastic wonders would they discover this time? Perhaps they'd come across a scary ghost ship. Perhaps they'd find an island made entirely of candy! Perhaps they'd meet a band of scary, swash-buckling pirates! And join forces to find an island made entirely of candy! Who knew?

But it didn’t matter… so long as they were together, there were smiles to be had and adventures to be shared. Now, today t'was a day like any other adventure-y day. Spirits were uncrushably high. Everyone was singing and dancing and having a jolly time! When suddenly, the ocean was all like, "Surprise!" and a huge, massive storm brewed out of nowhere!

*Various whooshing noises* Boy, that was quick! *More whooshing*

And there was thunder, BOOM! And the lightning, BOOM! And the wind, *Even more whooshing* And like that, it was over. “Is everyone okay?” Said Dusknoir. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost even one of you!" Dusknoir continued. But the eye of the storm can be very misleading, children. NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON IT! Because the ocean was like "SIKE!" and the storm can back even bigger this time, twice as big! *too much whooshing* As if Poseidon himself extended his hand in friendship, and they spat in his mouth! *way too much whooshing* Boy, he was pis- he was mad! *whooshing even more,* And the rain came down like a shower of bullets, ahhh ahhh! and the floorboards were buckling and creaking, and pieces of their ship came raining down like shards of broken dreams, and then Chatot comes upstairs and he's all like, "I say, gentlemen, I do believe we are in quite a spot of bother!" and everyone was like, "Really?! What tipped you off genius?" and then Dusknoir was all like, "Hey, be nice!" *WHOOOSHSOJDBDB*

I don’t remember there being this much whooshing… No, that’s definitely not it.

Ok, here.

A nervous wreck of a shinx sits at a desk in a quiet, dusty office. A blaring fan obscures most other sounds under its unnaturally loud noise. But without it, the office turns into a goddamn oven, so what can you do?

Leo sighs and tries to relax himself. It doesn’t work.

It probably doesn’t help when the phone on the desk suddenly erupts into noise when it starts ringing. Leo jumps and falls entirely out of his chair with a loud shriek and a heavy thump.

He hastily scrambles back into his chair and misses the answer button on the phone a couple of times before settling his nerves enough to actually hit a single button. The phone clicks as the call comes through.

“Uh, hello?” The squawking voice of Chatot comes through the line. Leo sits back, comforted by the presence of someone familiar.

“Hello, hello? Uh, I wanted to record a message for you to help you get settled in on your first night.”

Well, never mind then. He’s on his own.

“Um, I actually worked in that office before you. I’m finishing up my last week now, as a matter of fact. So, I know it can be a bit overwhelming, but I'm here to tell you there's nothing to worry about. Uh, you'll do fine. So, let's just focus on getting you through your first week. Okay?”

Leo nervously looks around at the two gaping hallways on either side of him. The darkness seems to press in. He fidgets with the tablet that was laying on the desk, accidentally switching it on in the process.

“Uh, let's see; first there's an introductory greeting from the company that I'm supposed to read. Uh, it's kind of a legal thing, you know. Um, "Welcome to Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. A magical place for kids and grown-ups alike, where fantasy and fun come to life. Fazbear Entertainment is not responsible for damage to property or person. Upon discovering…”

Chatot keeps yapping through the microphone for a little while. Leo doesn’t really listen. He’s too busy flicking through an overview of the building. His eyes land on one of the cameras in particular. Several robots are displayed on the camera. Two in all on the stage.

“Uh, the animatronic characters here do get a bit quirky at night, but do I blame them? No.”

Wait, wasn’t there supposed to be three of them?

A clank can be heard directly to his right.

No, no, that’s just Freddy fazbear. Fuck. Ok, ok.

C’mon, this gotta be it.

“Rise and shine, Violet, rise and… shine.

Not that I wish to imply you have been sleeping on- the job; no one is more deserving of a rest, and all the effort in the world would have gone to waste, until… well… let’s just say your hour has… come again.

The right hero in the wrong place- can make all the difference… in the world.

So, wake up, Violet. Wake up and… smell the ashes.”

No, the G-man definitely wasn’t in this series, at least not directly… ok.

Ok. Here.

Violet wakes up in an unfamiliar, bright room.

“Hello, and again, welcome to the Aperture Science Computer-Aided Enrichment Center. We hope your brief detention in the relaxation vault has been a pleasant one. Your specimen has been processed, and we are now ready to begin the test proper.”

She looks around, straining her eyes against the white walls.

“Before we start, however, keep in mind that although fun and learning are the primary goals of all Enrichment Center activities, serious injuries may occur. For your own safety and the safety of others, please refrain from *KZZZZT* Por favor bordón de fallar Muchos gracias de fallar gracias. Stand back, the portal will open in 3, 2, 1.”

Unnerved, she notices as a colorful, bright orange-rimmed tear opens in one of the walls.

No, GladOS wasn’t either. Damnit.

Perhaps this one?

Long ago, two races ruled over earth.

Humans and pokemon

One day, war broke out between the two races

After a long battle, the Pokemon were victorious

They sealed the humans away in an air-tight bunker.

Many years later…

DARK FUTURE XXXX

Legends say that those who leave the bunker never return…

Wait, hold on, this isn’t even my own story!

Ok, alright, ok, alright.

Alarms blare as people scramble across metal floors to the escape pod bays.

“ATTENTION, HULL FAILURE IMMINENT. ALL PERSONNEL, ABANDON SHIP.” A robotic voice speaks through the intercom in an unsettlingly calm way.

Violet slides down the ladder to one of the escape pods and clambers into one of the chairs, locking it around herself. There’s no time.

The porthole to the pod locks and the pod is subsequently ejected from the ship above. Violet watches through the clear porthole as the Aurora explodes into a bright ball of fire.

Leo’s… probably fine.

She doesn’t have much time to dwell on that as a metal panel on the life pod wall comes loose inside the cabin, clattering onto the floor, scarily close to her as the pod enters the atmosphere of the planet below.

Don’t… she silently begs.

As if replying, the panel is lifted into the air once again by the velocity of the pod and clatters right back down directly into her face, knocking her unconscious.

Again, nothing to do with space… Fuck.

This?

War.

War never changes.

In the year 1945, my great, great, grandfather, serving in the army, wondered when he’d get to go home to his wife, and the son he’d never see.

He got his wish when the US ended World War 2-

Wait, WORLD WAR 2? THIS IS POKEMON! FUCK!

Oh, SHIT! I REMEMBER!

Okay, it was a cold day in Treasure Town, and

[maximum post word count reached.]

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ariel-seagull-wings · 5 months

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THE HEART’S DOOR

@themousefromfantasyland @tamisdava2 @adarkrainbow @amalthea9 @princesssarisa @softlytowardthesun @grimoireoffolkloreandfairytales @the-blue-fairie @sabugabr @angelixgutz @shelleythesapphic @professorlehnsherr-almashy

(A Finnish Fairy Tale, also known as Severi and Vappu, a retelling by Gypsy Thornton and illustrations by Nilesh Mistry for DK The Illustrated Book of Fairy Tales by Neil Philip)

Once there was a boy named Severi who announced one spring morning that it was high time he had adventures and seek his fortune.

“What are you seeking?” people asked.

”I do not know yet,” Severi replied, “But when I find it, I’ll know then,’ he said, and waved goodbye.

He walked over bright meadows and through dark woods, sailed over great seas and survived ocean storms. He climbed up a great black cliff and down a long stone stairway, until eventually, at what he thought must be the very heart of the earth itself, he found a golden door.

He lifted his hand to knock and it swung open for him, so he stepped through. Inside was a magical world of green hills with fragrant flowers and shiny plumed songbirds sang among lush trees, all laden with golden fruit. In the distance, turrets of a copper castle rose into the air, shining like red gold in the sunlight. Immediately Severi set out straight toward it. There he met a strange old man with glittering white hair and very young cheeks, who asked him who he was and where he was going.

“My name is Severi,” he replied, and told him of his journey so far. “And now I am here. I do not know yet where I am going to, but when I get there, I’ll know then.”

“Ka!” said the white-haired man, “Since you’ve come such a long way, why don’t you stay here with me awhile? I live in the copper castle, just beyond.”

So Severi went with the old man to live in the copper castle. When he’d been given all the good food he could eat, the old man held up a heavy ring full of keys. “Here are the keys to the castle: twenty four keys for twenty four rooms. Feel free to go into any, except for the last

. If you open that twenty-fourth door, you do so at your own risk. I am not to blame for whatever may happen.”

“I understand,” said Severi, accepting the keys, but already he was quite curious.

Before long the old man set out on a journey that would take him far away and the instant Severi was alone, he began to explore.

Each door held a room of wonders, the next even better than the last: one seemed on fire, it dazzled with so much copper, while the next glittered with so much gold it hurt his eyes. Another was all ebony, another, blue sapphires, yet with each door he grew sadder and sadder until he stopped in the middle of the twenty-third room, too sad, even, to touch anything.

“Now I have seen it all. My adventures are over and done. I might as well just go back to my tupa.” He sighed, lay down right where he was, and fell asleep.

When he awoke he found the key to the twenty-fourth door clasped in his hand.

“The old man said I could enter at my own risk, “ he thought, turning it over curiously. “I will open it and find out what happens,” and he bravely turned the key in the twenty-fourth lock, then pushed open the heavy door.

Inside, sitting on a very high throne, was the loveliest girl in all the world.

“Who are you?” asked Severi.

“My name is Vappu ,” said the girl. “I’ve been waiting for you a very long time.” Severi held out his hand and she put hers in his then climbed down to him.

The golden days that followed were like a dream as the two lived together in the copper castle. For a whole month, they sat by the silver stream and feasted on golden fruit with not a care in the world. One day Vappu led Severi into a deep orchard. Cool winds caressed the trees and their faces and at the center blossomed the Tree of Life. They sat beneath it, ate its fruit and drank from the sparkling brook nearby. Completely content, Severi fell into a deep sleep under the Tree. When he awoke, Vappu was gone.

“Vappu!” he called. “Vappu! Vappu!” and his calling turned to cries and his cries turned to tears, for she was nowhere within and nowhere without.

When the old man returned home he found Severi in deep misery.

“Please help me find her”, Severi begged. “I cannot live without her.”

The old man chuckled. “That’s the way it always happens when you do what you should have left undone. I warned you about that twenty-fourth door,” he said.

“I am a grown man,” Severi replied. “I make my own choices

. And you did not tell me I must not enter, only that to do so, would be my own risk. ”

“That is fair,” the old man said, gently. “But have your choices made you wiser?”

“My sorrow has made me older – but yes, wiser too. Please help me find my Vappu - that is all I ask.”

The old man muttered some words of magic

and there stood Vappu, radiant as a sunbeam.

“Did you miss me Severi?” she asked.

“All my happiness disappeared with you!” Severi said to her. “Please, never leave me again.”

“I will promise,” said Vappu, “But on one condition: you must hide from me where I cannot find you. Then, and then only, will I always be with you. You have three chances.”

Severi did not understand what she meant, but the old man whispered a magic charm in his ear and promised he would help.

Severi did not want to hide but knew he must try if he wanted to win her, so the first day he snuck away over the hills and whispered his charm to a rabbit running by. It stopped, let him hide inside its thumping heart then ran on, even faster than before. But Vappu quickly tracked him down.

“You are not very good at hide-and-seek

Severi,” she said. “Try again.”

The next day Severi stole away into the dark heart of the forest and whispered his charm to a bear ferociously guarding its den. It stopped, let him hide inside its warm heart then growled, more ferociously than ever before. But Vappu still, somehow, tracked him down.

“I have found you Severi! You cannot hide from me. You have one last try.”

Sadly, Severi walked back to the castle. He could not think how to hide from clever Vappu.

The next day, at a hint and a wink from the old man, Severi finally decided to hide in Vappu’s own heart. He drew close to her and softly whispered his charm:

“Three times I knock at your door, dear heart,

Let me in, heart’s jewel, let me in!”

And he vanished right before Vappu’s eyes.

Try as she might, Vappu could not find him anywhere. When she had looked and looked and looked some more, Severi called to her:

“Can you not find me, Golden One?”

“I cannot - where are you?” asked Vappu.

“Here in your heart,” answered Severi.

“Who led you here?”

“You, Vappu. You led me here.”

“Then my heart is yours,” said Vappu.

Severi came out of his hiding place and she held him as close as he held her.

“And now,” said Severi, “I’ve found you.”

And they lived in peace, ever after, in their copper castle, beside the silver stream, beneath the golden trees.

#finnish #finland #folklore #folktales #fairy tales #fantasy #literature

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witch-ix · 2 months

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History and Geography of Magix

Many millennia ago, the Great Dragon created a Galaxy which contained multiple planetary systems. One of which was the Magic Dimension – a solar system with two suns and one inhabitable planet – Magix.

The Dragon went to rest on that planet, split up its magic into ten parts and scattered them across the globe. They stabilized into Magical Cores which had great impact on their surroundings.

The first people evolved close to the Core of the Essence of Magic. But as more time passed people began to leave the city and move to build cities around other Magical Cores. Those would grow to be kingdoms, with their capital closest to each core.

When the Great Dragon felt the end of its life was nearing, it decided to give up the Dragon Flame to a powerful Mage, which tuned her into the first Fairy and Keeper of the Flame. And when the Dragon did its last breath the magic which was left within it flowed down to the Lands Between, where it still keeps moving and not taking shape. Thus, turning the area into wildlands in which magic is either controlled by strong magic users, or rather impalpable to unexperienced ones.

The First Fairy created a Golden Kingdom, purely made of Magic, above the biggest lake of the lands. It was also where she was killed by her three sisters, the first witches. They trapped her spirit inside the kingdom and put a curse on it, to keep it untouched by time.

As they were gaining more and more power, they reached immortality. However, their spirits could be removed from their bodies. Those got destroyed and their spirits imprisoned in the deepest trench of Omega – Oblivion.

The country with the Golden Kingdom was named in honor of the first Fairy – Arcadia. The grounds were decided to be neutral and it turned into a place where everyone of every kingdom could come to and be save.

Years later a group of powerful magic users came together to create another Magical Core on an island, which was still unpopulated. They created a new society, which worked very different when compared to the nine kingdoms.

Thousands of years later the three witches were still able to cause mayhem on Magix. They destroyed Domino through the hands of a young Wizard, turning the kingdom into an icy land. Most Dominians fell under that curse, only a few could escape.

At the same time they send a Witch to destroy Jotunn. The landmass melted down into the ocean and most citizens fled to continue their lives in other kingdoms.

Arcadia is the magical as well as political hotspot of the planet. It's a picturesque landscape with lush green plains and evergreen forests. In the middle of it is the biggest lake of the lands and above that lake floats the Golden Kingdom of the first Fairy. Its capital is Magix City. Andros is a small tropical landmass with a chain of more than 75.000 islands, which look as if an undersea reef were stripped of its water - a vast landscape like that of the ocean floor. Many species of coral grow across steep cliffs with dangerous depths. The shores if those islands have golden sand and the sea shimmers silverly. The main island and capital of the kingdom is Tides. This kingdom shares its Magical Core with the underwater queendom Nereia. Callisto is the land with the highest mountains, steepest cliffs and more than 20.000 floating islands. Its capital Asteria is on the largest sky island. Domino was a warm kingdom. The main landmass is of cooled down lava from volcanoes. Only two of which remain to be active. The capitol is between those two – Sparks. Eraklyon has wide lands with a stony terrain and a lot of sharp, crystalline stalagmites, where next to nothing can grow. Its capital is Diamond. The kingdom shares its Magical Core with an underground kingdom – Downland, which is a large system of caves. Jotunn was a landmass of pure ice. Nowadays there is only a small iceberg left. Glacia, the former capital, was built around it. Linphea has the densest and darkest Forests, as well as the prettiest and most exotic flora. Its capital is Marigold. Melody is a place of Harmony and Music – even the wind whispers a melody. It is a mostly wet and hilly landmass, where every plant has red leaves. The capital is called Harmonia. Pyros is a mostly swampy area which turns into a jungle as one gets closer to Linphea. It is also known as Lands Between or Wildlands. Serenia is a place of storms and wild weather. So, it always looks kind of destroyed. It's the smallest kingdom of Magix and has Aurai as its capital. Solaria is a desert with many oases. It's the biggest kingdom even though it is split up into multiple smaller cities. The largest one is the capital, Luminae. Zenith was always cold but by now it is even colder. A big part of the landmass got destroyed when Jotunn was wiped out. There is not one patch of grass within this land, as it's all been built over. The temperature was cooled down to keep the technology running as efficiently as possible. It is the land which is societally and technologically the most advanced. Its capital is Titania.

Omega doesn't have a Magical Core and is the place on Magix where magic is the weakest. It is a small island group in the middle of the deepest part of the ocean. But there is also an even deeper frozen dry trench - Oblivion, in which an Ice Serpent lives. It's the place where the most dangerous criminals get imprisoned.

The Skies of Magix

The Undergrounds of Magix

#au-ix #winx club rewrite #winx club magix #winx club au #winx club

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blueberrypancakesworld · 5 months

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My treasure - Lucemond

warning : obsession, implied kidnapping, some angst, kiss, minor blood

Summary : Lucerys only knew the sea, his family and the endless immensity of the ocean. Aemond knew only one thing: not to be the heir to the throne. Until the two of them were the two sides of the same coin. One was the human prince, the other the mermaid prince. Until the blue saphyr meets the pearl of the sea, the two unleash a storm that would tear the land and sea apart through dangerous obsession.

Info : Check out THIS amazing Lucemond masterwork and the blog from @littlemarse . Thank you dear for letting me write this. I'm so happy that you gave me the go to write :) Check out her blog for more amazing art!

masterlist

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The sea and the land. Two opposites like water and fire, one could not exist. Or being human and the blood that was true in one. There were always two sides, whether among people or in the seas and their secrets. The secrets that are hidden in the sea.

The secrets that contained an entire kingdom. The creatures that people called mermaids and nixies were nothing but mythology. But the reality was different, these "creatures" existed under the spray of the waves that repeatedly crashed against the piers, cliffs and stones of the houses.

Down there in the depths, when the sun was no longer shining, the fish and the plants illuminated the surroundings, making them shine brightly for the house, the cohesion, the clan of the Targaryen, the sea people who had lived in the sea around the old castle Drachenstein for hundreds of years.

Of the outside world that was above them, the shared history they had forgotten nothing more than fairy tales. What was once true, the rapprochement of the two peoples and the peace long forgotten, they had grown too far apart.

The family that now lived in the castle had only the title of House Hightower the celebrated queen regent her son the future king Aegon the name from the times when the sea still had a meaning.

The queen reigned over her daughter Helena, the name of a queen of the sea, the current queen of Aegon. The blood of the house was to be preserved, but the people had other concerns in the surrounding town of Fleabottom.

The Queen's third son and last child Daeron had long since been forgotten by the public and seemed to be lost in the mists of time, but he was there, loved by his mother but forgotten.

The only one who came from her womb and was not a good-for-nothing like his older brother Aegon was her second son Aemond. The blond prince who was so much better than his brother could ever have been. The people of the sea hardly heard anything about it and then only when merchants and representatives came from far away.

They had only occasionally heard what was happening on the surface, such as the birth of the queen's three children, the twins Princess Jaeheara and Prince Jaehaerys, and the little brother of the two Maelors.

They were the future of the family on the throne that once held so much power. Power in the form of trading fish, which today is the only thing that still brings them wealth.

The fish trade spread all over Westeros through the many trading partners made by the father of the queen regent and grandfather of the children and great-grandfather Otto Hightower.

Because even if Aegon became king, they all knew that Otto and Alicent both ruled since they realized that Aegon was not something the future needed. ,,That's the hereditary order, Aemond...even if I sometimes wish it were different," his mother had said to him one day when she saw the disparaging look he gave his siblings and his nephews and niece. It was something that bothered him.

Aemond knew that he would never rule, a thought that triggered anger in him - anger that he took out on the sea. He had been assigned the largest of the entire fleet and also the oldest Vhagar.

His older brother the most beautiful ship Sunfyre, his sister the only passenger ship Dreamfyre and his younger brother the more than seaworthy blue ship Tesarion. But it was he with Vhagar who explored the sea for days and weeks and reaped the greatest successes. But all these deeds were done by one group in particular.

A group, a family, who did not like to see their surroundings become emptier and emptier. ,,The humans Lucerys they were once friends once I had seen the queen but that was a long time ago" his mother the queen and leader of the group had told him when she had told him about the past. He knew that he and his two brothers were different and that their hair color, the dark brown, did not match the Targaryen.

He didn't have the purple eyes, the light silver hair like his mother, his stepfather, his two half-brothers or his cousins Balea and Rhaena, his stepfather's daughters. His fishtail, the most beautiful thing about his kind, was also not exactly what it should be. He had the bright blue of his "father" Laenor the Velaryon and his grandfather Corlys.

He had the light blue scales that his two brothers had, something that protected them from the superficial gaze. Because they all knew that he and his brothers knew that the true father of the reason for his appearance was the deceased Harwin Strongh.

Died at the hands of the humans. ,,Your children are bastards!" he could still remember the words of his great-uncle when he had pointed at him, at his older brother Jacaerys and his little brother Joffrey. The disparagement in his voice had hurt, but the red, the blood rippling through the water seemed all the more fascinating.

His stepfather had drawn his sword the dark fishtail black and in the light you could see the dark red he had swum to Vaemond and spalled his head with his sword Darksister.

His stepfather Daemon, his mother Rhaenyra as well as Aegon and Viserys his half-brothers, grandmother Rhaenys and cousins Rhaena and Baela all had the dark scales with the red shimmer.

The mark of the Targaryens. Even though Balea and Rhaena had the thick, tousled hair of their late mother. Together with Corly's wife Rhaenys, they formed the house, the swarm of the Targaryens and Velaryons. They were the rightful rulers of the territory. But in all that time, they let the humans have their way until Lucerys wanted to venture to the surface.

His half-sister died from the poisoning of the sea, as did his grandfather Viserys. Laena, Daemon's second wife, tried to save her child and died brutally at the hands of these human ships. So many sea dwellers had already died, it couldn't happen again. He loved his family, he loved them dearly, he didn't want another death, it just couldn't happen.

Which is why he hugged his mother for an extra long time that evening, feeling her heartbeat before he broke away and swam to his room. But as soon as the full moon rose, his eyes found their way in the dark and he slipped out of the palace and away from his home.

He mounted his sea dragon Arrax and saw the other sea dragons Vermax, Tyrax, Syrax, Caraxes, Meleys, Seasmoke, Moondancer and Morning. The dragon was faster than his rider in the water, gliding through the water with ease, knowing exactly how nervous and yet aware Lucerys was of the situation.

The brown-haired man tried to calm himself and his dragon, using the ancient language of his ancestors that he had learned with his mother. Feeling the lightness as he came out of the darkness further to the surface the full moon became visible under the surface not knowing what would happen.

Not knowing that only minutes later the great old ship would emerge from the darkness. The almost transparent threads of the net would close around his body as Arrax tried to save them, to save him, but the screech of the ship's propeller wrapped itself around the dragon like the bite of a beast.

The beast was mauled and now the dragon belonged to the sea who had tried everything to protect his rider. But it was in vain, Vhagar's teeth were too strong for him to stand a chance. Fear had gripped Lucerys fear, anger and hatred.

He had looked back into the water and seen the broken body sink into the darkness. His fingers tried to cut through the net but couldn't, the material too unknown, too strong, his claw-like fingernails couldn't cut through it either.

The more he struggled, the more he became entangled like the fish, but the worst thing was the fear that made his heart beat faster and faster as he was pulled out of the water. He screamed for his family, wanted to warn them and help them at the same time, but it seemed to be over.

He felt the water he had been living in for more than a decade recede around him. Cold hit his body automatically like a gasp, a shaky breath. He breathed not using his gills not the small slits on his neck. He breathed could breathe, lived and did not die like the fish.

But that was not the reason why he had stopped struggling, why his golden eyes fixed on something and showed attention. It was the face he was looking into that made him pause. It was the human, the man standing over him.

Despite the cruelty he had done, despite the blood he had spilled, he was surprised at such beauty. How could someone so beautiful do something so cruel? The blond hair made into a braid single strands of hair blowing in the wind the victorious just-too-best expression in one violet eye.

The other blue a gemstone something that added to the beauty. Lucerys realized that his mother was right that the more beautiful the adventure was, the more cruel were the creatures one encountered on it. ,,A merman... such a beautiful one. Can you understand me?" the stranger asked him and continued towards the greenish old ship.

The metallic ground cold and dead Lucerys tried to ignore the dead animals around him and not to think about the suffering of the animals. What should I do? he asked himself, still looking at the other.

Should he stay calm and diplomatic like his mother would have done or strike brutally and unbendingly like his fathers Harwin and Daemon? Suddenly, the older one knelt down in front of him and held out his gloved hand towards him. Fear. Fear like that of an animal being pursued ran through the younger man's body. But what was the other one up to?

Freeing him was something Lucerys was sure he wouldn't do. He wouldn't get free without fighting, so he unhooked his claw and swatted his hand away as far as the net would allow. He heard the surprised noise that almost sounded like a smirk. It scared him, no one would laugh if he got hurt, would they?

The white-haired man pulled a little on the net, causing Lucerys to come closer and only now did he see that his claws had caused a bloody tear. ,,You're my catch, you know? My treasure, my pretty pearl," the white-haired one murmured and tore off his other glove before reaching out for Lucerys again.

His tail fin seemed too heavy without the water for him to use it, it was suffocating without the water. He only gave him a warning look, but this only seemed to amuse the older man even more. ,,Lu-Lucerys Velaryon," the brown-haired man said, seeing how the other paused in surprise and seemed to think for a moment.

He had read the "stories", the stories of his ancestors' past that once had to do with the sea people. But if he had Lucerys Targaryen, if he had this beauty, he didn't need the throne. He had money, he had a castle.

He would want to take Lucerys. Leaning towards him, seeing how his gemstone eye mesmerized the younger man, he placed his hand on the creature's chest. The blood that flowed from the cut on his hand dripped onto the younger man's torso.

The bright blue scales, barely visible on its skin, absorbed the blood almost greedily. They wanted to go back into the water and Lucerys seemed almost dizzy from the intense smell. The metal of the blood, of the ship, the blood of Arrax, the leather sea smell of the unknown.

He was engrossed in his fear. ,,Don't be afraid my pretty pearl...I am the Prince of Dragonstone Aemond Targaryen," he told him, not taking his hand off the younger man's torso. He saw the confusion in the Velaryon's golden eyes.

A Targaryen human? Lucerys asked himself, he only had his mother and uncle and half-brother and grandmother. Had the humans stolen the title from them?

He didn't know, but he flinched when Aemond suddenly put his warm hand on his cheek. ,,I...I'm not your pearl," Lucerys countered, trying to swallow his fear and not let it show. But he seemed helpless when he suddenly felt the warm lips on his. He simply kissed him, taking away the innocence of the first kiss.

Before he pulled back a sly grin, a victorious smirk on his lips as he saw the brown-haired man grab him again only to sink further into the net and not come out, watching in horror as the boat began to move. How Aemond looked at him one last time and how he still felt the kiss on his lips.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#hotd #aemond targaryen #lucemond #marcerys au #aemond x lucerys #house of the dragon

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diamondcrownacademy · 7 months

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DCA Info Part 23: Sagamore Dorm 🐻🏹🪶

Sagamore (サガモア寮, Sagamoa Ryō) was founded on the Diplomacy (外交) of the Princess of Nature's Voice and is inspired by the world of Pocahontas. Students of this dorm excel in Ancient Rune Reading and Archery.

Dorm Founder: Pocahontas

Known in-universe as the Princess of Nature's Voice (自然の声の姫).

Dorm Crest

The dorm crest features an emblem that resembles a wooden shield, with the interior being beige with light brown leaf and vine patterns and the exterior being amber orange in color. In the center of the interior, there is a compass rose with a cream interior with a brown circle outline in the center with a red and blue compass star in front of it. The compass rose additionally has a red and blue outline. Near the top of the emblem is a red banner with the dorm's name on it. Encompassing the center of the exterior emblem is a necklace that resembles Pocahontas' trademark necklace, on both sides of the exterior emblem are various red and orange colored leaves blowing in the wind and at the top of the exterior emblem are minimalist pictures of Meeko the raccoon and Flit the hummingbird.

Dorm Leader: Elu Sorrel

Sagamore's current dorm leader is Elu Sorrel, a princess who's skilled at archery and has trust issues with people trying to occupy the land her village is located at.

Dorm Fairy: Skili

Skili (スキリ, Sukiri) is Sagamore's dorm fairy and vice dorm leader. She is mellow and isn't much of a chatterbox but she is very patient with those who are energetic and hyper. She would take strolls in the forest area and converse with the animals, sometimes she'd bump into students in the forest. She is a fairy with few words to say but has a strong presence in the dorm.

Her current appearance symbolizes Elu's desire to become a great leader like her father. Someone who is approachable for her people but able to give off the presence of authority.

Dorm Living Quarters

• The Sagamore dorm living quarters building is built on a large oak tree that has a hollow inside but due to the several trees that intertwined with the outside of the trunk it can withstand strong winds and storms.

• The interior of the tree has become the world's biggest treehouse, with gears and pulleys that serve as make-shift elevator to the several floors that was built in. The middle has a staircase that leads to the same floors, this is also in case the pulley needs to be repaired or is unusable for the time being. The students use the tree as a viewing spot and help maintain the wooden contraptions inside. There's also a mini library, cafeteria and workshop built inside. The inventions are built with little use of metal and are built from organic material that is eco-friendly.

• Inside the tree, there are several nests for the birds in the branches while the base has several burrows for the woodland creatures. The students who are experts in animal care check on the animals for any injuries or sicknesses. Surrounding the dorm is a forest where there have been wood carvings and markers to make sure no one gets lost. There are several markers that specify whether it's a foraging spot, a spot for wild animals as well as a warning for dangerous animals or possible cliffs and dangerous plants.

• The students are good at geography and are able to navigate the forest surrounding their dorm with little difficulty.

• The student's personal quarters are located outside the tree base. They are intricately built log houses that it may look rather small on the outside but inside it isn't cramped at all. It is because of a certain magic that makes the room look so much bigger than the outside.The log houses are built at the front area of the tree so it looks like a small village when you see it from a bird's eye view.

• The students are also responsible for making their own furniture and the designs. There are plenty of art projects and inventions that are displayed around the area. There is a demand for their craftsmanship in the marketplace, you could find some of the students get opportunities from guilds who admire their work.

• There is also a large bonfire in the front of the tree, the bonfire has a fire fae that likes to make images out of the smoke and entertain the students.

Etymology

The dorm's name is derived from the word "sagamore" which is a word that some native American tribes use refer to their chief. This references the fact that Pocahontas (both the Disney version and the historical figure she's based on) was a Native American woman and the daughter of Chief Powhatan, the leader of the Powhatan people.

#dorm information #sagamore #DCA info #diamond crown academy

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skullsandwineglasses · 2 years

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FL Character Development in Xianxia

There’s a great reddit post that explains the “heroine’s journey” in xianxias where there is a departure, descent, and return.

Tbh, I never really had a problem with the naive and childish FL. In fact, I like defending FLs who aren’t traditionally strong or badass. But my issue with xianxias is how poorly written the FL’s maturation arc is.

When you think about it, the naive and childish FL at the beginning of xianxias has the most agency. Her agency comes from her naivete. She has a goal that she is determine to work towards, despite all obstacles and potential punishments. Usually this goal is irrevocably linked with the ML in some way: to either train under his tutelage, to obtain something from him, or to try to get past him in order to attain what she wants.

I’ll use Immortal Samsara as an example since that’s the xianxia I most recently finished (so some of this may not apply to Love Between Fairy and Devil, which I haven’t watched yet but appears to be earning high praise from everyone lately).

The FL in Immortal Samsara wants to find whoever is flipping the turtle and to bring justice against this turtle abuser. The turtle abuser just so happens to be the ML, a high-ranking god who was the one who named her when she cultivated into her human form. The ML takes an interest in her because of her aptitude in chess and sees a potential in her to help him solve a chess/war strategy puzzle that’s been eluding him for years. He takes her under his wing and indirectly teaches her different spells and skills by having her copy scriptures. Like all stoic and stone-cold gods of war, he doesn’t admit or openly reveal his growing fondness of her but is hella protective of her when she’s bullied or mistreated by others, even though he bullies her himself.

In the Journey of Flower, the FL wants to be the ML’s disciple, and the same goes for Love and Destiny. In Love and Redemption, the FL simply wants to be the ML’s friend. But the idea is that the FL has a non-romantic goal of finding happiness and fulfillment, whether it be improving her powers or through simply making friends, and this non-romantic goal is connected to the ML.

The xianxia FL isn’t afraid to strive for what she wants. She’s headstrong. She has gumption. Her innocence and passion and freedom to live life how she wants is something that the ML never had but wishes he did. She embodies everything he wants but can’t have. She is whom he could be if he was raised in a different environment without the responsibility of the Three Realms. And so, he wants to protect her. This symbol of what he dreams to be and have.

But eventually, the ML rubs off on her, and she begins to mature. She starts to develop complex feelings, and her goals shift. She now wants the ML, to be with him. She begins to take on a protector role. She wants to protect her friends and family, and the ML. She is no longer his manic pixie dream girl, but she is starting to have goals that conflict with his. And he has to come to terms with it. He tries to contain her, but fails.

But the FL’s agency can only climb so high before it hits the restrictions of reality. After a lifetime of being sheltered and getting what she wants, the FL’s world is shattered when she believes that she’s been betrayed by the ML.

Hua Qian Gu, the FL in Journey of Flower, describes the irony the best: The people who loved me, died while trying to protect me. While the one I love wants me dead.

The FL who uses her whole heart to love and care for people genuinely doesn’t get her feelings reciprocated. In Immortal Samsara, she believed that she was doing what was best for her sister, only to learn that her sister felt belittled by her decisions.

The FL learns that reality can be cruel. And she conducts a final act of agency: to choose how to die on her own terms. This is the infamous “turning point” of the xianxia plot where the FL jumps off from a terrace or a cliff or a bridge in hopes of ending her misery and to find relief and freedom.

The FL is often rewarded with relief and freedom after doing this. For instance, in Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms, Bai Qian immediately regains her immortality after jumping from the terrace and has an even higher rank because she successfully passed her love trial, despite the pain and trauma it caused her. Goodbye My Princess is a historical romance that has a xianxia structure, and Xiaofeng gains relief from her pain and trauma by having her painful memories with the ML erased.

But In Immortal Samsara, the FL continues to suffer for 900 years before she is able to reincarnate as a carefree demon spirit in the mortal realm.

The FL goes through a “descent” and “rebirth”. She has a new life and new identity. Often times, this involves a reincarnation into the mortal world where she has a different personality. It then raises the nature vs. nurture discussion: which version of the FL is her “true” self? In the heavenly realm, the FL had the agency to be whomever she wanted, while she often is raised in oppressive conditions in the mortal realm, leading to a more repressed and subdued personality.

In Immortal Samsara, the FL’s personality in the mortal world is almost unchanged from her immortal personality because she lands in the mortal as a full-fledged flower demon. She’s a blank slate with no mortal upbringing, and so the core essence of her personality is preserved.

The mortal realm is a place for second chances. The ML gets a chance to love the FL properly. The FL learns more about the world and meets more people. She widens her horizons. And when faced with a better understanding of the world, she has to ask herself whether the ML is still worth loving when there’s a huge world out there to explore.

During this descent and rebirth phase, the FL is faced with a choice: to choose a new and different life or to choose the ML again. It’s another test of agency. Another trial. She has to learn to love the ML while still preserving herself.

But this is when the maturation arc tends to falter. The FL’s growth is interrupted by a rude awakening from her past where her memories come flooding back.

The mixing of past and present changes her permanently, and she’s thrust into a new state of being. She’s neither the naive and innocent girl from the beginning nor the weary, ignorant mortal from the second arc. Instead, she’s a completely different character now. Calm, collected, jaded, and lacking some of the fiery passion at the beginning.

I always had a problem with this sudden, overnight transformation. It always feels like the FL’s essence is lost. I think Goodbye My Princess did a great job of showing the FL’s tormented reaction at regaining her memories. She’s conflicted because she hates the ML but also loves him, and so she ends up hating herself because she doesn’t know how to face reality.

But in xianxias, the FL’s growth tend to stagnate after this revelation. It’s as if the authors think that this is the final state for the FL. She’s done developing once she regains her memories. Time to shift focus to the ML as a noble, tragic, suffering hero who tries to repent for what he does (not in Goodbye my Princess though, but that’s not a xianxia).

Part 1 of Immortal Samsara had been about the FL’s love for the ML and her subsequent suffering and redemption. But Part 2 shifts focus away from her, and it becomes the ML’s story. He’s now the one whom we’re supposed to pity, and it almost makes you forget that the FL walked the Forgetting River for 900 years for him. While I don’t blame the ML, I do think that the misunderstanding could have been handled better and avoided. He just blinded trusted a report saying that she had passed over to the mortal realm, without actually going down there to verify himself. And then he fell into a coma because he lost the will to keep going without her.

Likewise, I didn’t like how the FL in Love and Destiny suddenly had a holier than thou attitude when she returned to the heavenly realm. In Love and Redemption, the FL had poor judgment that made her doubt the ML despite all that they’ve been through together, which was such a contradiction to how she unconditionally trusted and protected him before her maturation.

Xianxias really make you grapple with 2 questions: what does good character growth mean, and how can a character still be consistent after having gone through growth?

It makes me think about the Louis Cha’s legendary wuxia stories, The Legend of the Condor Heroes and the Return of the Condor Heroes where we follow characters through decades of growth, but they still feel like the same characters. American TV shows can sometimes span a decade, and the writer have to make sure to keep their characters consistent.

Overall, I love xianxia, I love the angst, and I enjoy the switch to the ML’s story (especially when it involves Cheng Yi). But I always have an issue with how it’s integrated with the FL’s story and how the last phase of her heroine’s journey is often developed sloppily and lazily.

I started writing this post while watching Part 2 of Immortal Samsara, and now that I’ve finished it, it just further supports my critique that the FL is sidelined in favour of the ML at the end. The FL in Immortal Samsara is reduced to being nothing but a love interest for the ML, and she has no goals of her own except to help the ML save the world.

In xianxias, the FL’s third phase of her heroine’s journey often ends with a separation from the ML before an eventual reunion. This separation is meaningless to her growth, because the story tends to jump ahead hundreds to thousands of years into the future straight to the reunion. So we don’t see her mature as an independent person during this time, but we only see her waiting.

In Ashes of Love, the ML is the one who waits, and so this is even worse because we don’t see the FL at all until she reappears at the end.

Character growth and maturation is important, but you should still be able to draw a line between the character in the first episode and the last episode. Is there a connection? Think Anakin Skywalker and Vader. Or MingLan across 80 episodes.

Say what you will about xianxias and how illogical they are, but it’s such a niche genre that it’s fun to compare and contrast the different storylines and character from the growing (but still small) list of dramas in it.

I think my next post should be about comparing the different villains in xianxias.

#immortal samsara #xianxia #cdrama #love and redemption #ten miles of peach blossoms #eternal love #ashes of love #love and destiny #journey of flower #goodbye my princess

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