♞】never wear your broken crown

A place to write and share stories, excerpts, poetry, prompts, etc.
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76heart
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♞】never wear your broken crown

Post by 76heart » Tue May 08, 2018 9:51 pm

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welcome to my writing thread! here you will find
extra information on my characters, some prompt
challenges, and other writing pieces or excerpts
from role plays that come to mind. there will also
likely be random drabbles and some possible multi
part pieces, so if you're going to be reading what
i post here expect it to be a bit jumbled c:

most of what will be here is fandom based, and
mature themes may be present in some of them,
so there will be warnings in the header of any
post that may have them. if there in an excerpt
for a role play or history for a character, the link
to what it is from/for will be in the post as well.

unless stated otherwise, i own none of the gifs
used here, and of course if the gif is yours and
you would like me to remove it then i will.

the coding here will be experimental as well,
and will likely jump around a bit, so expect it
to be more random than it usually is. i'm also
only mentioning this to fill in the space so don't
mind my rambling!

if you have any questions or comments, please
feel free to PM me rather than posting here, i
don't bite! all the writing here belongs to me,
so please do not claim credit for it!

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76heart
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Posts: 345
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Location: winterfell

♞】archive

Post by 76heart » Tue May 08, 2018 9:53 pm

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━━━━━━━━━how  dare  you━━
━━━s    p    e    a    k      o    f━━━━
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━━━━━━━━━━━our choices━
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nothing yet, just a little place for me to keep track of what i put here so i can
find it again as the pages increase.

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76heart
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Location: winterfell

♞】prompts

Post by 76heart » Tue May 08, 2018 9:53 pm

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━━━━━━━━━how  dare  you━━
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100  One-Shot  Challenge
xx001 ━ injured
xx002 ━ sinking
xx003 ━ father
xxi may not be doing all one hundred of the
xxprompts, so there may be skips here and
xxthere as well as some random ones
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76heart
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Posts: 345
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Location: winterfell

♞】it hurts

Post by 76heart » Tue May 08, 2018 11:52 pm

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characters: heiley, miserere, cadhiron, nico | role play: black flags
warnings: possible triggers of panic | word count: 5,249
originally posted: monday november 28th, 2016 1:47 am
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  • xxxEverything hurt. Her head, her lungs, her limbs, just, everything. Her whole body felt like it was all too painfully aware of itself and everything around her, and it scared her. She tried opening her eyes, but as soon as she did everything she saw was a blinding array of colors, forcing her to close them and keep them tightly shut. Everything glowed so brightly; all the plants around her had lit up in her vision to form an overwhelming mass of light that Heiley wanted so badly to end. The light blinded her, and she could still see remnants of the glow from underneath her eyelids. She couldn't escape it, no matter how hard she tried to block it out.
    xxxHer hands desperately began searching for the pillow beside the one under her head, the strain on her arms being more bearable than the blindness she felt in her eyes. It was still too bright, even as her eyes were closed far tighter than normal. It stayed with her like blobs of sunlight did after looking at it just a second too long, except this didn't move across her vision with seemingly no pattern. It was everywhere; all she saw were bright glows of many colors, and tiny spaces in between where there was nothing. Her hand touched something soft, and her other followed, feeling around as she tried to focus on the fabric and not the glow. Quickly she determined the object was the pillow, and she gripped it so hard that her knuckles turned white, and her short nails dug into the silk. She pulled it close to her, hugging it tight before turning over so she lay face down, still clutching the pillow as her face buried into the other one. Slowly, she moved the other pillow over her head, pushing the sides down and around her head as if there was a sound she was trying to block out, but instead she was just trying to cocoon herself in darkness. The light wasn't as bright now that she was looking down, but it was still there, and in new patterns. Her eyes were hurting now, too, and her head ached with the confusion that swarmed inside. She didn't know what was happening, she had no idea what was going on or why she had woken up to such an overwhelming brightness. Heiley was very scared, and also very alone. She felt herself shaking, and then a wetness on cheeks and nose as she began to cry.

    xxx"Mumma!" Heiley called, her voice a yell in her mind, but a weak sob in actuality. She didn't want to be alone, she wanted someone else there, someone to tell her what was going on and how to stop it. Her lips parted to let out the cry once again, and this time she was a little louder. She waited for a few moments, sounds of her crying being the only ones to reach her ears for several heartbeats. She listened for the sounds of someone coming to her, but no one came, and she was still alone. She wanted to know what was happening to her, and why everything had turned into a blinding glow that made her eyes feel like they were burning in the salty tears that slipped from them. She wanted her mother, or her father, someone who could help her and tell her why this change had accrued with no warning at all. The night before had gone as it always had, with Wagstaff reading her to sleep and his strange creature sniffing around her room for something he'd finding interesting. The night had been normal, and she hadn't felt any different, and her sleep had not been particularly strange either. No one had ever told her she would wake up the next morning with painful glowing shapes clouding her vision, and there had been no signs to warm her about it. Heiley was scared and she didn't want to be alone; it was the last thing she wanted to be. She wanted Caewin, her mother, who could explain what was going on, but she hadn't come after her desperate calls, and she had no idea why. She couldn't do anything while she couldn't see, and when she opened her mouth to call again nothing came out. She felt more tears going down her cheeks, and she let out a choked cry that was muffled by the pillow.

    xxxEven with her eyes closing as tightly as they could for minutes, buried into a pillow, the light would not go away. She had called out again, and still no one came. Her voice felt sore and strained from the crying and calls, and now no more sound would come out. The silk below her face was wet with her own tears and she found that she couldn't cry anymore. Nothing would come, nothing left her or came and she felt so very empty, and spent. Her rasping breath was all that she heard, and all that she could see through closed eyelids was the painful illumination of white shapes, until another sound crept in. She heard the sound of someone opening her door, and then what sounded like claws glancing lightly off the surface of her polished floor made of wood and stone. She wanted to raise her head and see what was making the sound, but she couldn't; all she would see was more light. There was a dip in the bed, a new weight compressing the mattress, and then all went still. One of her hands shakily left the pillow, relieving some of the pressure pouring down onto her head as it moved away in the direction of the movement. At first she felt nothing, her hand moved about in nothing but the plain air, but then her fingertips glanced over something soft. Slowly, her hand shifted closer to the softness, and then she realized it was fur. Relief began to fill her as her mind started putting the pieces together, and before she knew it she had freed herself from the pillows and wrapped her arms around the direwolf that had come to her rescue. It was Miserere. She hugged the large canine and buried her face in her neck, unable to keep in the cry of relief that escaped her throat. She wasn't alone anymore, and although the wolf glowed too, now her glow drowned out all those terrible shapes that crowded her eyes and made them hurt. Her light felt different too, warmer, and concerned. Heiley only saw the brightness of her four legged friend, and she felt the wolf's tongue rasp comfortingly over her clothed shoulder.

    xxxWhen she had first been allowed to go to the marketplace all on her own a few months ago, she had come across a large wolf the color of dark ashes. Her mission for going to the marketplace to begin with had involved getting some of her favorite sweets; the gummy ginger candies that had a lasting flavor of spice after they were eaten, but she hadn't even made it to the shop. She had been stopped by a giant creature she saw slinking between two stores to the other side of the marketplace. As soon as she saw it's fluffy tail disappear she had quickly followed, darting through the two wooden structures and turning to the left where the wolf disappeared. The creature had paused mid-step when it heard her coming, and she had been going so fast around the corner that she nearly hit the fluffy tail that caught her eye. She froze, and watched as curious eyes turned to look at the young she-elf, the animal's head cocking to the side like a dog's when it didn't understand something entirely. She was about as tall as the direwolf, but if the large canine was able to stand on it's hind feet it would have towered over her by several feet. Like the elk, the magic from Los had caused a large increase in size in the wolves, but this was the first time she had ever seen it first hand. Heiley had ridden an elk before; the one that followed her grandfather around whenever he went to the stable. Apparently it had been born there to a wild elk, and it just never wanted to leave, and because the king was the first elf he really saw, he chose the man as a friend. The elk was about the same age as her, but a bit older by a few months. She remembered how when she had fed the gentle animal that his tongue had tickled her fingers as he tried to gather all the stray pieces of grass remaining on her small hand. His fur had been soft, and his antlers had some fuzz on them because they were fresh and still coming in. The patterns on his pelt his were soft dapples of white against his chestnut fur. The speckles were a rare thing, and it made him even more special to her grandfather, and her too. He had felt eager and willing to give her a ride, and he had been sure to keep her safe and sound as they went through the forest as well. He radiated a sense of safety, but this direwolf was different. Heiley hadn't felt anything from her at the time, and the more the wolf just stared the more frightened she became of the large beast she had followed.
    xxxBefore she could change her mind and back away, the direwolf turned itself around to face her, and lowered it's head to sniff her hand, which she had subconsciously raised without realizing. Both of them didn't move for a few moments after it pulled it's head back up, but then it turned and walked away from her. This time she didn't follow, though she stayed where she was until it was out of sight. Her original goal came back into her mind then, and she focused back on buying her sweets. Her uncle had given her a few spare coins to spend on the treat, and as she walked back toward the store she pulled them from the pocket in her tunic; another gift from Cadhiron. A little bell sounded as she pushed open the wooden door, and the old woman rearranging some items looked up from her work, offering a warm smile as she looked her way. The little shop was debatably her favorite out of them all, and it was built up against a tree. There was a space hollowed out within the large trunk, and inside was where the candies she really liked were kept. The woman had seen her there many times before, and Heiley heard her laugh as she hurried over to her favorite section. She grabbed as many as she could buy, and then hurried to the elderly elf to trade her the coin. The woman was one of the older elves still around, and her dark skin was beginning to wrinkle while her eyes remained kind. After the coin had been deposited in her hand, they thanked each other, and she was off again, putting all but one of the treats in the pocket in place of the currency. She wasn't watching as she made her way to a stairwell, her eyes cast downward as she struggled with the parchment wrapper that trapped the defenseless ginger inside it's tomb. She managed to free it once she reached the first step, but then she heard something, and she had to look around to see where it came from. She couldn't see anything, and then her eyes landed upon the dark direwolf again, it's-her, tail wagging from side to side just a tad. Her eyes were still curious, and she seemed to be eyeing the treat she held in her hand. Without waiting another moment to think, she pulled the candy out of the wrapper completely, and held out her hand with the chew resting on her palm. The direwolf came up to her then, looking slightly wary, but at the same time very interested in the thing on her hand. With one last sniff, she carefully picked the ginger chew from her hand using her sharp teeth, ones that reflected the light from nearby lanterns. To her surprise, the animal ate it without dropping it back on the ground, and then nudged at her side with her large snout for more. She let out a small laugh, and gently reached out to pet her head. She had met Miserere for the first time then, and after the direwolf would find her when she went to the market on her own or with someone else, and eventually she found her way into Heiley's room. She had woken up one morning with her at the foot of her bed, her tail hanging off the edge because she was so big. The wolf was definitely one of her good friends now, and it showed because she had been the only one to sense her woes and come to her rescue.

    xxxIt felt like hours that she had lain there with her face buried in her soft fur when she finally gained the courage to pull away, her arms shaking from being still for so long, and the panic she was still feeling. All she saw were strange lights and glows as outlines, and she didn't know why. She so desperately hoped that it wouldn't be like that forever. Miserere let out a woof when she felt her friend moving away, and she pressed her cold nose to her arm where the sleeve had rolled up. The touch sent a chill running through her, and without thinking, she opened her eyes. Immediately everything was made worse again, and she felt the panic picking back up inside her before she could close them. She could still see all the colored lights while her eyes were closed, but they were so much brighter when opened, and for a few moments she was too overwhelmed by it all too shut her eyes. When she managed to close them, she found that she was shaking, and that the direwolf had pressed her paw down onto her hand. Everything was so confusing and she wanted to know what was happening to her, and why her head hurt and her eyes now felt like they were on fire. She wanted her mother to tell her what was happening, but she hadn't come, and her father was away. She was all alone with Miserere who couldn't talk and explain, but she was better than nothing. She felt so alone, and beyond helpless, but she wasn't truly by herself, and that was a small comfort.

    xxxWith her form still feeling sore and too aware of the tired she felt, her hands fumbled around for the edge of her bed. When she found it she pulled the rest of her body toward it, and carefully climbed down over it's edge. She stumbled a bit when her feet hit the floor, but she reached behind her for the bed in a split second action and managed to save herself from tumbling forward by grabbing onto the sheets. She heard a thump after she let go, and then the sound of paws gently padding toward her on the ground. Heiley held her hands out in front of her, feeling around when the sound stopped for the direwolf that had gotten off the bed. It was harder than she thought, not being able to see. She couldn't find anything that she wanted, and she had no idea how she'd go looking for someone like this, nothing was in her vision and she couldn't even keep her balance. Thankfully, the wolf sensed her difficulty and pushed her soft snout into one of Heiley's- nearly flailing- hands. She relaxed at that, and moved her hand softly to the top of her head, and then down her furry neck to her back, where she stopped. Her fingers tightened around a patch of fur, and for a moment she stayed there just leaning against the wolf for support as she thought, doing her best to block out all those horrible lights. "I want my family Miserere." Heiley finally decided, her foot taking a hesitant step forward. "I want this to stop." Heiley loosened her grip on the direwolf's fur, and as she did she felt the animal walk forward. She was so glad that the animal understood what she couldn't say right at that moment, because her throat felt too tight to speak. Miserere was a smart animal, and sometimes she wondered if she could actually hear what she was thinking, but they were also close despite having known each other for a very short time. Animals were more sensitive to things sometimes, and she could feel that now as she began to lean against her and walk, using the wolf to guide her and help her keep from falling. Her friend would be her eyes while hers didn't work.

    xxxAfter several falters in matching their steps, and her fall after reaching the last stair, her bare feet finally stepped onto the cool, smooth wood of the main part of the palace. She hadn't changed out of her nightdress, and she wore no shoes, and now she was pretty sure her knees were bruised or scraped because the only protection she had from her fall was the thin material of her dress. She had caught herself with her hands, and the bottom of her palms were reddened from the slight scrapes on them, but she couldn't see, and the lick Miserere had given to both her hands seemed to numb the pain. She knew the halls of the tree well, or she did when she wasn't blinded. Now she felt lost, and more battered than before, but she wasn't on her own and for the moment that was all that mattered to her. Her room was on the floor above them, and only accessible through going up a twisting flight of stairs because there was a hollow in the tree behind her room that was too small to build in. She sometimes slipped through the two branches that hid and protected it, but that didn't matter now.

    xxxAs they continued to walk down the hall, Heiley leaning against the canine so she wouldn't fall, she began to hear people talking in the distance. She was too far away to distinguish them, or what they were saying, but she hoped more than anything else it was someone she knew or someone who would be kind enough to take her to someone who could help if they couldn't tell her what was wrong themselves. Their voices grew louder and she could begin to make out certain words as they continued to approach, but she could still not tell who they were. The wolf at her side stopped after what felt like a minute more of walking, and now she was close enough to make out what was being said. It didn't seem like either of them noticed that they had approached, and from what she could tell they were very wrapped up in an important sounding conversation, though argument was probably a better suited word. "But sir, one of the spiders nearly killed one of your men, shouldn't you-" Began a man she didn't know- his voice wasn't at all familiar- until he was cut off by another. "My men are perfectly capable of handling this on their own for a few more minutes, I will join them shortly. First I must get my sword." The voice was familiar, and one she had heard so often. It was Cadhiron, and he was angry at the other man for whatever reason. It was probably one of his soldiers, or a messenger sent by his father, her grandfather to tell him to solve it. She knew that the spiders were a problem, he had told her about them before, but she hadn't seen them yet, and didn't know if they were as terrible as everyone said. She wanted to see it for herself.

    xxxThere was a moment of silence, probably involving the two men challenging each other in a stare, and then she heard footsteps and a grumble that was clearly the captain. He wasn't headed her direction either, he was walking away, and she was going to lose her chance. Panic started to rise inside her again, and her mouth felt dry, so very dry when she opened it to try and speak. Her throat felt sore, and things seemed to slow down as she struggled to find her voice and call out for Cadhiron, he could tell her what was wrong and she needed him so desperately so she would finally know why she saw nothing by glowing shapes. She reached one of her hands out, reaching in the air for him in a spot that he wasn't, and then finally she felt some sound leave her lips. "Uncle!" Heiley cried out, as loudly as she could; which was still very quiet. At her side Miserere let out a resounding bark to accompany her, and if he hadn't heard his niece call to him, he certainly stopped at that. There was some quiet again, and the atmosphere around her felt tense with a silence that almost hurt, like he was composing himself for something unpleasant, or to turn her away.

    xxx"Heils, I'm busy right now, I can't-" He stopped, cutting himself off as he turned to face her, the annoyance in his tone vanishing as caught sight of his only niece, looking scared and alone. Heiley looked pale, like the blood had been drained from her, except for the redness in her face and eyes. Her cheeks were red and stained by smudged tears, and her hazel eyes looked unseeing, and the whites a pinkish color. She had been crying earlier, that he could tell. She couldn't see it, but now he was looking at her with pure concern, and he was quickly coming toward her, brushing past the page effortlessly. He knelt down once he reached her, and pressed his hands down onto her shoulders gently, searching her face before wrapping her into a hug. "What's happened? Come now, it's alright, I'm here." Cadhiron soothed, one of his hands coming up to her hair, running his fingers through some strands because he knew it calmed her.
    xxxThat was when she felt the tears come again, like the dam had broken and they were flowing out through it. She still felt empty, and now her eyes felt like they were touching flames when the tears began to well up in her eyes again. "I can't see! It hurts, everything hurts, all I can see is glowing shapes and it hurts! What's going on? Why is this happening now?" Heiley cried, choking on a few of her words as she hid her face on his shoulder.
    xxx"Shh, it's alright, this is normal." His other hand rubbed her back, causing her to hold onto him tighter. "I'm scared." Heiley confessed, whispering it into the fabric of his shirt. "I know, but you'll be okay. This will end soon, just calm down, I'm right here." Cadhiron assured, lifting his head to press a soft kiss on the eleven year old's forehead. It wasn't a common show of affection, but when it was used between family members it showed clear platonic love. She was probably closer to her uncle than her parents, since he usually didn't mind giving her the time of day.
    xxx"I can't explain it fully now, but I promise I will when I get back. You're seeing auras, it's a thing elves can do. It won't always be so bright, your mind just needs to get used to the magic first."
    xxx"But when will it stop?" Heiley asked, her voice so quiet he almost didn't hear it at first. He tightened his grip around her, understanding how confused she must feel. It hadn't been to the point where he couldn't see when it came to him, and he had known about it, but it had still been a scary experience, and he couldn't imagine how it would be for someone who didn't know. "Soon my sweet Heils, just focus as best you can on what you can see, that'll make it faster." He murmured, speaking into her hair.
    xxx"Okay."

    xxxThey stayed like that for a few moments in silence, just holding onto each other as he felt her shaking form slowly begin to still. She didn't really understand what auras were and why she could see them, and why they took up her whole vision, but he would tell her as soon as he could. It was a relief to know that it wasn't going to be like that forever, and that it would end soon. She didn't know if she could have lived like that for the rest of her life, seeing was so important to an elf and any creature in the forest. There were so many things that could easily kill an elf if they weren't looking or listening; they needed their eyes and their ears.
    xxx"Uncle? When you get back will you help me?" Heiley finally questioned, raising her head and leaning away so she could stare at where she believed his face to be. He saw a piece of hope in her eyes that hadn't been there before, and he found her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Of course Heils, I promised didn't I?" Cadhiron offered a smile, wiping some of the tears from her face with his finger. She felt him rise to his feet after that, and she knew he needed to go now, and that she had taken up enough of his time. He had a job to do and she didn't want to keep him from it any longer. She wanted to get rid of the lights as soon as she could, but he had told her how, and she would try and follow that. His glow had blocked everything else like Miserere's had, but now that she wasn't hiding her face in either, there were little spaces scattered across her vision where there was nothing. Heiley was about to reach for the direwolf again, but she heard a bark, and felt a shift at her feet that she couldn't quite remember,
    and then all went black.

    xxxHazel eyes fluttered open to a dimly lit room, and it took her a moment to realize she had been dreaming, and a longer one to realize where she was. She sat up in the bed, breathing heavily while resting a hand on her forehead. Heiley glanced around, looking about the room to reassure herself that she was safe, and that she could see. Memories of her dreams were resurfacing as she processed what happened, and she closed her eyes tightly to calm her racing heart. She remembered that miserable morning so well, and she could visibly picture the colorful lights that took hold of all she could see. Even without having a dream of that time, she remembered, though she wished she didn't. Her uncle had been so kind to her then, and dear Miserere had tolerated guiding her around for hours while she waited for Cadhiron to return. Back then she hadn't understood a thing about what it meant to be able to see auras, and now that she did that memory was all the much harder to relive. She did not know what could have triggered that to become her dream-or vision-or whatever it was called, but now that something had her head felt like it was pounding, like it normally did when she focused on an aura. She hadn't been that overwhelmed by it since the first night she had met her lover and his crew, but it felt if she looked at one now it would happen again, and she would end up with tears coming from her eyes. That would wake the man up though, and she didn't want to disturb his rest. He did sleep in quite often, but that was no reason to wake him up because she did something she could prevent. Heiley had no plans to look at auras though, so they were all safe.

    xxxAt the foot of the bed it appeared that Princess- the ship's resident Saint Bernard- had jumped onto the end of their bed. That must have been the shift she felt in the dream, and the bark must have belonged to her too. Miserere's were almost never that quiet, or filled with effort and sounds similar to the one's her father made whenever he sat down. She leaned forward to pet the sleeping dog, running her hand gently along her side, and then pulled it back to herself. She glanced around the room one last time, and let her gaze settle on the window, where she could see a sliver of the moon. All the candles had burned out, so that meant the room was bathed in dim moonlight, turning everything a cooler hue. A few stars shone beside the lunar object, and she turned on her side to watch them for a bit, letting her thoughts run as they pleased while her eyes tried to find a constellation she recognized. The stars were arranged differently out at sea, but the silver moon was the same one she saw from the top of Los's tree, shining down through the leaves and glass that covered part of the very top of tree like a dome. It was comforting to know that even out in the middle of nowhere, there was still a trace of her home. She did miss her family, except for her cousin, but even so she wouldn't mind seeing her one final time. Heiley loved Nico though, and she had no plans to leave him soon, not unless he wanted to come along with her.

    xxxSlowly, she drew her eyes away from the window, and down to the slumbering figure at her side. Her eyes softened as she gazed at him fondly, brushing some of his soft hair from his handsome face. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips, turning them upward as the edges of her eyes crinkled just slightly with her faint grin. Her eyelids felt as tired as they had in her dream, although instead of emotions they were now heavy with real fatigue, and she found herself carefully laying back down on the bed, her back pressed against his chest so they were as they had been before she woke up. Heiley's hand easily found his, and she slid her fingers in between his with care not to wake him before moving their hands to rest over her side. She could peacefully close her eyes now that she was safely curled against her lover, and with a small shift to adjust, she felt herself drifting back into sleep, it's tendrils covering her like a blanket. She felt safe around Nico, and it was hard to feel scared around him when she knew he would protect her. Heiley could easily say that he was her heart, and her love, and with that final thought for the night on her mind, it was easy to fall back asleep.

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❅】a very vesmor christmas

Post by 76heart » Wed May 09, 2018 12:02 am

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characters: vella, desmor, narwind | role play: long night
warnings: swearing | word count: 2,842
ooc: this is a little christmas present for my dear friend
katie(azura) who deserves something nice because she
is an amazing person and ahhh vesmor also needs love
originally posted: sunday december 25th, 2016 2:40 pm
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  • xxxOutside the frost covered window of a small townhouse on the edge of the city, snowflakes fell, blanketing the already white ground in a fresh covering of snow. A light yellow glow tinged with orange came from the window, blocked in places by the powdery flakes that had begun to collect on the window sill. Inside, there was music playing, holiday tunes at that, and it was just loud enough that if someone walked right by the home, they would be able to hear pieces of the soft melody. Not that it was easy to do so, given the white picket fence now half hidden beneath piles of snow to allow the resident canine of the home to play outside but not escape. Paw prints littered the ground in no pattern, and with the new snowfall they were beginning to get covered by a new soft layer that would eventually erase their existence like they were never there to begin with. A fresher set of tracks weren't yet all that covered though, and they were of a man's boots walking down the path way to the gate with the paws of a dog at their side, and the occasional line with them from where the leash touched the ground. Some of the little shrubs had lost some of their snow as the man and dog who owned the prints walked past, but most remained undisturbed, and the little pine trees that still had a while to grow sat in large pots on either side of a the door, void of all snow and freshly wrapped in a sting of Christmas lights that lit up the color of light yellow when plugged in. A wreath hung on the red door, and below it was a worn welcome mat on the porch that had seen many years of use, and many feet that stomped on it before entrance to knock off the snow from their shoes before entry. It was all a simple scene, but with it came a feeling of warm simplicity, and it fit the house in a way, enhanced it almost.

    xxxInside the little home, a fire blazed inside the hearth, it's flames lapping at the wood that fed it and licking the brick walls around it in an attempt be free from it's cage. Shades of orange, red, and yellow danced across the small place with bursts of green and blue and even purple appearing for the briefest of moments. It was warm, and something Vella could stare at for hours if she ever had the time. The flames mesmerized her, but that was not where her attention was drawn. Her brown gaze was cast toward the tree, decorated the night before with her boyfriend, Desmor. He of course and gotten the top half of the tree, since he was noticeably taller, and she had gotten the lower half to decorate. She remembered the tree farm saying it was an Orange Fir, and that if the needles were broken it would smell like oranges. She had yet to try that though, since she was busy with finishing her surprise to Des before he got back from the walk she sent him on with their wolf Narwynd. Most of everything was ready, it had been since last night really, but there were still a few things she had to do before she could say it was done. Lights had been out up the night before around all the windows, and the windows had some of those gel decorations to stick to the glass. They were shaped like blue snowflakes, and she had been quite picky with their arrangements, to which Des was probably sighing at behind her back as she worked on them. It wouldn't surprise her at least.
    xxxOnce they had done the windows, they had moved on to putting up little things like wreaths and ribbons in places where it looked like some touch of holiday was needed. While he worked on putting up the stockings, she had tied a ribbon around Narwynd's neck in place of the collar he already never wore. Everyone in their neighborhood knew who he was and who to call of he got out, and even if they didn't he always came back anyway, or ran off into the woods behind their home if they went into the backyard with him and let him outside that gate. He didn't seem to mind it thankfully, and she was relieved that they probably wouldn't have to keep a close watch on him so he didn't try and remove it himself in a way that would hurt him. As long as he wasn't in a sled harness though, he didn't appear to care what he had on. When it got hot in the summer she had tried getting him some doggy booties to protect his feet from hot pavement, but Narwynd definitely hated those and pulled them off before he even got out the door, so that she had to place on the same list as the harness now that it crossed her mind. Unfortunately, the wolf was where their decoration moments had ended, since it was getting late and the both of them were tired, and they didn't need another night of staying up too late for something or other. Originally they had planned to make paper snowflakes and hang them from the ceiling, but they had gone to bed before they could even start on that project, so that was what she was trying to do now. She wanted to make the snowflakes, and some steaming hot chocolate to help him warm up from the cold.

    xxxPart of her wished the snowflakes she was going to make were the kind little kids would make in kindergarten with a folded paper they would cut shapes into for a design, but these were a little more advanced. It required several pieces paper that were eight by eight inches per snowflake, a stapler, and a string to hang from, as well as some kind of hook. She had bought some for picture frames a while ago, and considering the backs were made to stick firmly to things, Vella felt that they would work just fine. She had a waste bucket for any paper scraps she'd come up with while she worked, but she hoped she wouldn't mess up enough to really need it. Her phone was set to a timer to let her know when the water for the hot cocoa was done boiling, and she had set the oven timer for the same time as well, so she was going to be waiting for that sound as she worked with scissors. She could only pray that she didn't cut herself, and be thankful that her siblings weren't there even if she did. They would tease her for it and never let her live it down, like they always did with things of that sort. It was annoying, but they were her blood, so there wasn't exactly much she could do about it other than waste her breath complaining. As she thought about them, she felt a pang of homesickness, a feeling that made her miss her family. Right now they were probably preparing to celebrate her dad's holiday, Chanukah, since his family was Jewish and he didn't want to give that up when he married someone who was not. Her mother was probably complaining about not having the Christmas tree until the eight days were over like she always did, unless Christmas fell on one of the eight days of Chanukah, then it was bought before. Her little sibling was likely trying to search for their presents ahead of time, and the twins were most definitely sucking up to their parents for some sign of a hint at want they were getting. It was all annoying since she was the only one who didn't care about the presents- being the middle child she never got anything to spectacular anyway-, but it was her first holiday season away from them, and she couldn't help but miss them. It was her first holiday with her Des though, and that was a thought that made her smile.

    xxxWhile her phone and the oven timer ticked away at the times she had set, Vella began to fold the squares of paper diagonally into triangles. Next she cut four slits into them, but she didn't cut all the way; cutting it in half wasn't the way to do it. She repeated the process a few more times, closing out of the timer app on her phone once for a second to check the instructions to see if she was doing it right before putting the time back on with a double press of the home button and then a tap on it's screen. She wasn't completely sure if she was doing it right, but it felt like she was, and that was the best assurance she had for the time being. That continued for a few more minutes, until a loud beeping began to fill the living room, and she jolted upright and turned to the kitchen. That was the timer, the water was ready. She weaved her way out from between the couch and the coffee table as quickly as she could and ran barefoot into the kitchen through the open archway as soon as she was free. Had she been wearing socks she would have skidded to a stop, and then fallen, so she was glad the only really cosy thing she wore was a sweater of Des' she had found in a box. It was a little big, but she liked baggy things, and it reminded her of him and made her feel like he was still with her even when he wasn't.

    xxxBefore the incessant beeping could continue, she forced herself to snap out of her thoughts and turned the timer off, and then removed the tea kettle filled with piping hot water from the stove and onto the counter. Her phone fell silent after another moment, and she breathed a sigh of relief. The mugs for each of them were already set out, something she had done before heating the water and getting everything for the snowflakes. Vella touched the kettle's handle lightly to make sure it was cool enough to the touch, which it was, and then wrapped her other hand around the handle to pour it into the mugs. She poured until the water reached just below the top, watching as the hot cocoa powder and little marshmallows floated to the top before setting it back down on the stove so she wouldn't bump it or leave a burn mark on the counter. Vella opened one of the drawers to pull out the spoons to stir, and picked out two identical ones with little swirling patterns going up their stems. She carefully lowered each of them into the mugs so she wouldn't splash the hot water onto her skin, and took a step back to fix her glasses. She pulled them from her head with her hand, and covered her other one with the sleeve of her sweater so she could wipe off the lenses and clean them a little so her vision wouldn't get fogged up again from the steam. Putting in her contacts would probably be less of a hassle, but they weren't fun to deal with and she was too lazy to mess with them anyhow. Her glasses were simple and black, but she liked them. Once they no longer looked fogged, she slipped them back on and turned her attention to their drinks, bringing her hand to touch one of the spoons' handles' and pulling it right back with a cry. It was an exaggeration in the long run, but at that moment it hurt like hell. She hadn't checked to see how hot it was from the water, and she had stupidly gripped it without thinking and managed to splash her fingers a little as she dropped the thing back into the mixture. She shook her hand about in the air, hoping to relieve the burning sting before bringing the side of her finger to her mouth to deal with the heat. Her pain tolerance was not the best. "Fuuuuuucking ow!" Vella hissed, shaking her hand once more. She was frowning now, and let out a groan when she saw how much had sloshed out in her accident. Well, that cup was hers now.

    xxxIt took her about an hour to fix the burning sensation on her finger tips and finish the snowflakes without getting a paper cut. She had stirred the hot chocolates with a cloth wrapped around the spoon so she wouldn't get shocked by unexpected heat again, although really by the time she returned from putting some aloe on her fingers it was probably cool enough to touch without a consequence. Being safe would do no harm though, and she hoped that she'd be able to drink it before it went cold. Both mugs were currently tucked inside the oven so they would stay warm, and out of immediate sight so she wouldn't be tempted while she worked on the snowflakes, which now were almost done. She finished stapling the final one together, a smaller one than the rest, and began to add strings to them of different lengths so she could scatter them around the ceiling in a way that wouldn't have them completely even at every angle and look manufactured-ly perfect. She didn't like things that looked too set up, and she hoped Des preferred the same so she wouldn't feel bad about the set up she had chosen. It was something Vella should have asked him, though she couldn't have because it would have given away part of the surprise and she wanted it to be exactly that, a surprise, not a half spoiled early present. He was her lover, and deserved something helpful after he had been working so hard in helping her with decorations and everything else, especially things high up that she couldn't reach without standing precariously on a stool, like she was now.
    xxxNeither of her hands were free, and because of that she was finding her balance hard to keep. Her left hand held the strings of the snowflakes, which all together poofed out in a large clump now that they were next to each other. In her right hand she held one of the hangers, its sticky back ready to be placed on the wall and the container with the rest of them gripped between her teeth, so she wouldn't accidentally fall bending down to pick more up. She loved Des very much, with all her heart, but right now as she balanced on the damn stool feeling like she was going to fall backward onto the wall, she hated him for being as tall as a giant. She wished she could have his height just while she was hanging things up high, just for five minutes, and then she'd be fine going back to herself. She liked being smaller, even though it had more than a few disadvantages, it was what she was used to, and when it came to hiding and fitting in small spaces she knew how to do it and do it well. That was her domain, unlike the sky that was probably Desmor's. Shaking her head just slightly, she stopped her envious thoughts, and turned her attention to the spot her hand was heading toward to place the object. Vella managed to press it onto the ceiling firmly enough for it to stick, but even with the stool it was still difficult to reach. She started to lift one of the snowflake strings from her wrist and hand now that one hand was free, but she paused when she heard a sound coming from outside. It sounded like footsteps, and claws scraping on the porch. Dammit. Vella shut her eyes tightly for a moment, wanting to hide under a rock so the man wouldn't see her standing awkwardly on a stool to surprise him when she was probably going to get hurt on the way down. She hadn't quite thought about how she'd cover the whole ceiling from just this one spot. They're back. She wanted to at least hang one thing up, so while she heard the sound of Des fumbling with the door after knocking his snowy shoes on the welcome mat, she focused all the attention she could on lifting the white ribbon to the hook. Her whole world became hanging up one single snowflake for a few single moments, until Narwynd barked from outside, and she jumped. Her eyes widened, and suddenly she felt like she was falling backward, where the couch was. Her hands dropped the snowflakes, and she felt her mouth open, and let go of the plastic hooks as she parted her lips to shout out a curse before Des entered and saw her falling; "Shit!"

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♞】to friends

Post by 76heart » Wed May 09, 2018 12:05 am

sunday january first, 2017 7:15 pm
authors note; phew, i've been working on this all day and i've finally finished it. to explain why this isn't on the warm fuzzies thread as well, it's because i wanted to do something that is truly from the bottom of my heart and the best way for me to do that is to get it out through a story or a tale when it comes to these things, so i wanted to combine writing with this, and this is the result. by no means is it my best work, and it gets really personal and heartfelt and even sappy at some points let me have one day of the year where i can be a cheesy dork okay pls but it has the feelings i had when i wrote it, and it's as genuine as i can make something through text, so here it is. i'm also really nervous about doing something like this since i don't want to weird anybody out, but here it is anyway because it's also something i want to share. there's loads of other things i could have added and wanted to, but i didn't want to interrupt my writing flow or ruin anything by adding something unnecessary.
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xxImage
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xxnoun
x.xnoun: friend; plural noun: friends
  • 1. friends. a friend is such a magical thing to have, and a rarity when they are true. it's a truly special thing to have another so close to tell anything to, be it secret or well known. having someone there to share in joy and experience wonders that would be far less precious experienced on their own. a friend is there, listening, caring, showing their presence when someone is needed and there is no one else to go to. if a friend needs something, you're their for them as well, doing what they have done in return, giving care and listening and advice if it is asked for. friends are their to help each other grow and become better people, and comfort in the sadness. they are a miracle, true friends are, good ones that stay by your side through the worst like you'd do for them. they are a rare thing to have, but precious, and something to hold close to your heart, and to enjoy and cherish the friendship that comes.
[ katie (azura); okay, honestly i don't know what to say. since we started talking you have been a great friend, and i always look forward to our conversations over on kik and of course our one x ones. they are always so fun to write for and i honestly adore nico and des so much, they are just perfect and you write them so so well. you are always there whenever i need someone to talk to, even if it's just being there, and i appreciate that immensely. you have stuck with me through loads of instances where i am definitely not my best or at all easy to deal with, and to that i say thank you, thank you so much. also, thank you for putting up with me talking about our lovely characters so much, and sending things related to them as much as i do since i know sometimes it probably gets annoying or at least tiresome when i do it a lot because i'm a talker and i love rambling on about on our things.
i'm also going to make this next bit invisible since it's a little more personal for us both and i'm not sure how much of this you want people knowing, sooo here goes. this is probably going to be the overly sappy/sentimental bit too so I sorrryyyy.okay, so i'm going to be a little more serious here and i hope that's alright, but regarding everything that's going on with your dad and family right now, i am here to help in any way i can if you ever want me to. it's not the same case or anywhere as extreme, but i definitely understand how it is to have a parent or anyone close to you dealing with things like your dad is and the strain it puts on everything. with my own situation, my mom has moments quite often where she just isn't happy (a lot of our disputes come from that), and it's because of a mess i've caused and i can't do anything about it because right now the things that would make her less down in the dumps are out of my reach and it's the worst feeling to just watch helplessly. that part may not have much relation to what you're going through but i just want you to know you aren't alone with it. my dad also smokes, and he does it a lot and it's definitely affected his health to. my uncle does as well and he needs an oxygen tank, and even though i rarely see him and haven't got the chance to get to know him well, i am worried. my cousin and his wife used to, but i'm pretty sure they stopped when they had a kid. they live in another state as does my uncle, and i'm sort of distant from my dad right now, and none of them are in a situation as serious as it sounds like your dad is, but i do still understand what it's like, maybe not exactly, but in some minor way i do. as for your dad being gone during such important dates, i honestly don't know how you're still able to carry on like you do, because i know if i was in your shoes i'd be devastated. i can't even leave my cats for two days without feeling really upset. me saying a lot of this is probably not necessary too, but it's something i've wanted to say and it's better i say it than not at all, so here it is. anyways, i sincerely hope that this new year, 2017 will be a good one for you, and that everything will improve for you and that this year will just be filled with amazing things coming your way. hopefully we can play some more transformice together this year, and i'll try to rework my totem so it doesn't murder you each time. thank you too for giving me a chance to use and love heiley too, since black flags provided the perfect opportunity to use her and now she and nico are just amazing. i also promise, that for as long as you allow me, i'll be along for the ride, good or bad. you've always been a great friend and writing partner, so i hope i can be one to you. you are just such a strong and wonderful person and i hope we stay friends for a long time <3 ]

  • 2. sometimes, when a friend is made, the bond forms in ways most wouldn't expect. it can be either over something unexpected, or a meeting in an unexpected way. maybe even something that was unpleasant or worrisome, but something someone did made it so much better, and repaired something that had been broken, or changed a thought that was once sad to something certain with trust, even if it's only realized by one side at first. trust with close friends can bring fourth rebuilding or replacing what was damaged before them if there was something, and that can be just as unexpected. it may come to light with an odd little thing, but it also makes the friendship stronger when it does, because knowing something has been changed or helped for the better can truly be nice, especially when done together. friends can do that sort of thing better than some can because they know who they're working with once friendship has formed and come some way. that's part of it's rare magic, and why having a friend is so special.
[ deep; to start, in response to the warm fuzzy you did with me in it, that really brought a smile to my face and i thank you. our PMs are something i enjoy in the mornings as well, and although we don't talk a lot i really like the times we do. you always have this sort of energy about you, and you're always so chill and just relaxed about things and you help me become calm again when i'm troubled. you help in those times too by offering advice or ways to deal with something and you sometimes share your own experiences that are similar to my own and i really think that's helped us to bond if that makes any sense at all. i also probably talk your ear off half the time (or write your eyes off, but that sounds weird and kinda dark so imma just use the common phrase) so i am sorry for that, but i thank you for listening anyway. as for our game of thrones role play, i'm not sure if that will rise again or not, but even so, while it lasted it felt like i finally had found some place perfect for yana, and some place to develop vahae and i can't express how amazing that felt. hopefully our pokemon roleplay ends up being wonderful too. for 2017, i wish you the best, and that your job goes well and everything else sorts out. if you ever need someone to come to or rant, i am of course here for you too.
frog; can i just say, talking about pokemon with you is just great. it really is enjoyable, and you understand my excitement over it all and the little things in the game i mention. when i first messaged you i was just coming down from something stressful, and starting us being friends really cheered me up. while it lasted our dothraki rp was a new thing to try for me and it was pretty fun, and the shortness of the posts is definitely a nice little refresh from what i normally do. the new thing we have planning should be really great as well, and i expect soon I'll have to put all my PMs into their folders to make way for our conversations too because i need to clean them out more. thank god it's not CS over here with 200 message limit. but anyway, this year i wish you and your pokemon darlings the best on your journey. i wish the best for your doggos too because they are so cute sweet. ]

  • 3. even if there is time spent apart that's longer than normal in the eyes of the friends, you still know that they'll return, and that if something changes and they don't, the memories you have made with them cannot go away, and no matter what you'll still have the thoughts of happy times together, and the ride it became. new friends will come into their place if you part, but the memories of what was shared will stay, and remain as long as they aren't pushed away to be forgotten. if they do return though, or you return to them, that makes things all the stronger between you, and it builds a trust thats hard to wash away. friends that stay, and ones that go but return show their loyalty in the friendship, and that too is something not to forget.
equis; although we don't talk all that much anymore, and i'm not sure if you'll see this, i still wanted to put you here because out my active partners, i have known you the longest, and you moving to here is what really sparked me to move to here as well, although i had made an account ages before and just never used it. but still, thank you so much for sticking with me and our role plays even though there's been a couple breaks between them for so long. you also really write bucky well and i look forward things to really taking off with our rp since we're really close to the action now. hopefully i've been writing steve well enough too. anyways, may this year be filled with happiness, and i wish you loads of luck with college and exams.
janson; boy, have we had our ups and downs. you continue to surprise me though as we're slowly warming up to each other again. i honestly can't thank you enough for the drawing you did of yana and the one you started of erinn, the fact you'd draw characters so close to my heart is so touching, truly. you are the person who really helped my writing grow and improve, and our past role plays really helped yana grow and become a character i adore so much. i know you doubt your skill in writing and drawing, but you really are good at both. don't beat yourself up about the past too, you have been a good friend and you have been making the effort to be better one. you always come back too, that is the one thing i know for sure when it comes to you. this year, i hope things start getting better for you, and that you find something you can really enjoy and pour your heart into and feel good about it.
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♞】a lost dragon

Post by 76heart » Wed May 09, 2018 12:06 am

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characters: vallenari, aela, heiley, nico, danny, the dragons
role play: black flags | warnings: none | word count: 4,136
ooc: an excerpt i've had in mind for a while that was strongly
fueled by this song, which i recommend listening to while
reading. this is also a birthday present for my wonderful
friend katie/azura c:
edit feb fourth; nico's collage is finally done, and i want
to say how glad i am that we are friends and that you're
there whenever i have something i'm excited about or
in need of a friend, and honestly, just thank you for
putting up with me so long and just being amazing <33
originally posted: wednesday january 11th, 2017 2:15 pm
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  • xxxDragons, fearsome fire breathing beasts that struck fear into the hearts of all who laid eyes upon them, except for her. Even her own kind laughed at her, and all because her fate had cursed her to be bound to an elf until the end of her days. She had been doomed to suffer the curse from the day she hatched, because she hatched when a she-elf touched the shell of her egg and she felt a surge of magic through the walls. Back then it had felt a good sort of magical, but now she knew that what she once saw as a blessing was really a curse, and one she could never escape. She was stuck, stuck showing traits foreign to dragons like empathy, and passion, and she had an aura, which was impossible until then. Dragons were heartless, they had no soul but she did, because she shared it with another living being, just like her memories and thoughts and feelings. She had nothing in this curse to call her own, because it was all shared with the elf, the one that had cursed her without knowing it. She wanted to loathe her, hate her for taking up what made a dragon away from her, but she couldn't, since that was part of her forsaken fate too. No matter how hard she tried, she could not bring herself to hate the elf, no matter how much the woman had to herself while she was left with nothing of her own, she just couldn't. Part of this twisted sort of hex was that she was bonded to the elf, irrevocably so. It could only be broken through death, but then the other would suffer because of it, because they had lost their other half to the void. She didn't want to imagine what it would feel like to have the elven being ripped from her, or what it would feel like if she was the one taken from the elf. She did not want to think about how having her partner in thought, mind, and feeling taken from her would affect her world. It would be split in two, and shattered, and she did not want to bring that upon the elf either, so she was stuck, only able to fly until their minds were too far apart to brush against each other. It hurt her every time she flew away, far enough to be out of range, and she felt too nervous to do much on her own. She feared that someone would bring her harm while she wasn't there to protect, and that something would go wrong that she couldn't fix and it would be her fault. All of it was part of the curse, and she hated it, hated the stupid consequences she had to live with, and how out of the two dragons suffering from it she was the only one to see it that way. The one other who was bonded to another was her nest sister, but she didn't feel the same way, and that made her feel even more lost.

    xxxCursed. Doomed. Forsaken. Lost. That was all she was, she wasn't a dragon and she wasn't an elf or anything in between. When she went back to her home, they had shunned her, and wouldn't let her pass into the settlements, because she was 'soft', and 'too close to an elf to be dragon'. Only the eldest dragon looked at her with something other than disdain or unprovoked hate, and as soon as she saw that she wanted to ask him why this had happened to her, but he had turned, hanging his head and dragging his tail behind him back inside his den. That was the last she had seen of him, and the mountains, before she felt a bite on her tail and a hard shove, sending her away. All she was able to do was retreat, like a coward, and fly to the lake where she was now to stare at her reflection. Her tail still stung, but her solemn stare was too focused at the stars reflected into the clear water for her to care. She could see herself in the depth of the pool, but she hated to look. In her eyes, she looked too soft, and the once carefully pruned feathers atop her skull were mussed, and some were missing. Frustrated, Vallenari let out a roar, the loudest one she could muster. She roared, and she roared until she could feel all breath draining from her lungs, until the sound faded into nothing. Prey and predator alike would have been alerted to her presence, but she didn't care, nothing could make her feel worse than she did right now. She was alone, and away from any house or collection of dragons, she had made sure of that. Nari took a step back, but her hind foot brushed against a stone. The stone was rather small to her, but probably quite large to humans. Feeling another wave of frustration prickle in her scales, she spun, a quieter roar escaping her as her tail spun, knocking the rock into the lake and creating a glittering splash that landed mostly on her. In the distance, she saw sparrows flying out from trees due to surprise, and she snorted. Birds were cowards, and far too easy to startle. Other flying animals were inferior to dragons, and rather bland in taste. Fish were much better, though she disliked picking their scales from her claws and maw. When she was still small enough to fit on the boat and fly through the forest without magical wards pushing her away, she used to fish with her tail. The fish seemed to like the tiny feathers on top of her scales that raised when placed in water, and they bit onto them, and when she felt it, she'd pull her tail out. Brock hadn't been too pleased when she gifted them to him though, so she kept them for herself. All just a part of her curse, she supposed.

    xxxAnother few rocks followed the last, crashing into the large lake and sinking to the bottom. Tiny pebbles came flying in with them, kicked up and forced from their homes in the dirt by moving boulders and her tail. She swung herself around one final time, and whacked the last rock she could find into the water with the rest. Nari let out a shuddering puff of smoke, beginning to feel utterly spent. With her rage finally beginning to fade, the toll of flying for constant hours, and roaring until she had no breath left to utter a sound, came to her, like a wave flowing onto the shore in a storm. Her tail felt numb and limp, and when she looked back at it she saw it was probably bruised. Hitting rocks would do that. The rest of her limbs felt like they tingled with fatigue, and they ached for rest, calling to her now that her mind was free to listen. She was hungry too, judging by the different ache in her stomach that felt positively empty with a need to be filled up again. Vallenari needed to get some food, and soon, to recover her energy and cease her cries for a meal, but with her antics she had to have scared everything off within two miles. She had been a fool to be so loud, though she couldn't blame herself for it too much, because she knew she had needed it to see clearly again. Without any enemies to fight her energy became pent up, begging for a release she couldn't give unless she was alone. Dragons were almost always doing something back at the nests; as an egg she had always felt a surge of energy running around her that told her something was always going on. She wasn't completely a dragon, but she still needed to replenish that energy like every other living thing. The only way she saw of doing that now was to fish, though she had probably scared most of them away too. If she was lucky, and patient enough, then maybe she'd managed to catch one or two to fill her belly.
    xxxForcing herself to use what little strength she had left in her tired bones, she dragged herself toward the edge of the lake, with her back turned to it's surface. She nudged her tail into the water with her snout- since it hurt to lift it on it's own- and felt the cool water surround it as it sank like the stones. She lay down after that, resting on her right side with her wings carefully folded close to her sides so they wouldn't break. She stretched her long neck out and settled for laying her head down on top of some sweet smelling ferns. It was a soft place to close her eyes for the time being, and for the first several minutes she half expected the small body of the tiny human to come and nestle in her tangle of legs. The boy's name was Danny, and he was probably the only good thing about her curse, since his joy was contagious. He was the child of the she-elf's lover and another woman that used to love him, but no longer did, by her understanding at least. The small human still seemed a little wary around certain adults, and stayed mainly close to his new "mother", but he would still curl up next to her flank and fall asleep. At first she had been tempted to push him off, but after a while, his persistence grew on her, and now she was missing him. She liked to hear his toddler giggles when she ruffled his dark blond hair with her breath. When he tried to climb on her snout she always let out a slight rumbling, the dragon version of a laugh. His little hands would grab her blue horns, and then touch the delicate feathers and brush over the scales on her skull. That had been an odd experience to begin with too, but like him sleeping by her side, it grew on her to the point where she felt like something was missing when it didn't happen. She was feeling that now she realized, and she sighed out a cloud of smoke. Vallenari had to go back, for him, and for Aela, who once snuggled next to her too. She could not leave them, or her rider, and she had been so terribly foolish to try. By running she would only hurt them, and now she only hoped that it wasn't too late to go back and apologize. She was still determined to think this was a curse, but within it there were others she cared for and she didn't want to bring them the sorrow she felt at not belonging and being alone and lost. She couldn't return to them now though, not when she barely had the strength to move. She had disappeared like this before, in fact this was the third time now, the third time she had tried to run from her fate only to realize she couldn't leave the tiny human and his-no, her family. At least that meant that they would not worry too much though, so she had some time to recover.

    xxxDuring her thoughts, she almost missed the delicate pull at the tip of her tail from a fish that thought it would make a great meal. Quickly, like a second nature, she swung her tail back onto the shore, taking the fish- a trout- with it, all the while ignoring the burn from the aching muscles in her sapphire tail. She stood on all fours with a heaving groan, and turned to watch it flop around before stepping on it to make sure it was dead and put out of it's misery. Bending her neck down, she paused with her snout close by it's lifeless body. Since she didn't like to eat her food raw, she let out a small jet of flame, cooking it somewhat. She flipped it over with a claw and repeated the process again, and again, until she was satisfied with how it looked. It wasn't the most delectable looking thing with flecks of dirt speckling it's body, but she gripped it between her jaws anyway, bit down once, and then swallowed it whole. She could feel it slide down her neck as she repositioned her tail in the water, standing this time rather than sitting like before. She felt a little revived already, but that was probably because she was doing something now, and when she was busying herself she usually felt a little bit energized.

    xxxA few more times of pulling her tail from the water when she felt a nibble or a pull, had gotten her a whopping three more fish; two bass and one she didn't remember the name of. She was better versed in the salt water fish of the Vaas sea, since the ship was where she did most her fishing, even now that she was older and larger and only needed to dive in her self with her mouth wide open to catch a morsel. She'd have done that here, but for one she didn't have enough energy, and two, it was probably too shallow, as most ponds were. She couldn't swim in something that was barely up to her back in most places, it was just common sense. Her mouth opened and once more flames poured out, onto the poor sea dwellers that had fallen victim to her trick. Almost cringing, she stuck three of her claws into her fish, and put the roasted sides back down, watching in minor disgust as some of their annoying scales clung to her claws as she removed them. They were dull silvers and didn't reflect nearly as much as hers did. Really, they weren't fit for her consumption, with their less than desirable toned down colors and hidden undertone of algae with not nearly enough salty hint, but they were the best choice Vallenari had. Soon, she felt like she had eaten her fill, and like her belly could take no more fish that was more poorly cooked than the last, so she allowed herself to curl up next to a trunk of a tree, and finally rest her blue eyes.

    xxxWhen morning came, she was flying, her wings pumping up and down and spreading to a soar whenever she caught the right gust of ever common wind. Her eyes had opened just as the sun was beginning to peak over the horizon, and once the groggy haze of wake up faded, she was off, filled with energy that would bring her home. She was going home, and determined to arrive before darkness claimed the world in night, because they'd all be sleeping, and wouldn't notice her until the morning. She didn't have the patience to wait, and she didn't want to be separated from them any longer either. She didn't think, she didn't ponder what the world had to offer, nor her curse, she just repeated to herself that she had to get home, and flap her wings in it's direction so she wouldn't stop. It would take her hours, but she did not find it in herself to care, she was going to get there no matter what. She was a fool to leave, and an even bigger fool to take so long to realize what she was. How silly she had been to spend months of her life ignoring whatever her rider told her, and just doing as she pleased to feed on the frustration that came from the elf. Vallenari used to fly the opposite way she was told to during their earliest rides, and she chose her own lead during any sort of fight, which had once resorted in the she-elf getting a painful scrape on her side when she fell off the saddle, which she felt too. That was the last time they had flown together, and now she only felt regret and guilt for causing such pain because she wanted to be stubborn and pigheaded rather than cooperate and listen so no one got hurt. She had a pride, and Nari was unwilling to have it damaged. She knew though that it would eventually have to, since by returning she would agree to listen and let another take the lead. Home. I have to get home. I mustn't delay. Faster, faster, I must fly. Harder, I have to return. During her first two months of living things were confusing, odd blurs here and there, memories of things she didn't actually remember, feelings that weren't hers, ones of love and lust that were extremely foreign. She had been too confused to rebel, and her other half still seemed to be getting used to their thoughts being shared, unless she closed off her mind, which Nari found the woman often did. She asked why once, and was only met with a conflicting ball of emotion, and another wall put in place. She didn't know if it was her fault either, or what the dragons did to her people that made her sometimes fear what she'd do if angered, though even so she still knew her half cared, but didn't know how to show it just yet. Her heart belonged to the man, the rider bonded to her nest sister, and she was able to tell the elf found it hard to cope with two others sharing in their feelings, and sometimes thoughts during the most private moments. She always did her best not to intrude, but certain things slipped through, and the strong feelings of close love always made her feel jealous because she couldn't have that herself. That was part of her reasoning for leaving, to find someone to love, but she had been chased away by the dragon guards before she even had the chance, forced to hang her head and retreat to shame.
    xxxFor hours and hours she flew without stopping, soaring through the air and ignoring all but the repeated thoughts that drew her forward. Home. I must return home. I have to get back, to her, to Alea, to Danny. Her wings begged her to stop as she soared through the cloudless sky, set on reaching the dome that marked her world, but she didn't listen. Everything in her pleaded for a break, but she pushed on, pushing herself harder and harder. Her stomach heaved with each breath, and her lungs felt soar and empty, and a dull ache started in her chest. If she stopped, she knew she wouldn't get to where she wanted, because she'd have the time to talk herself out of going back. Maybe she'd be able to find a new start elsewhere, or a spell to make her forget, and make them forget she existed, though that was impossible. She would never do such a thing. Perhaps though, if she could only close her eyes....

    xxxSuddenly her wings stopped, just froze, and she felt herself falling, but she could not open her eyes, she had no energy, there was nothing, and then all at once, everything. Her eyelids flew open, and her wings began to work again, with a renewed effort that left her climbing higher in the air. She felt a familiar mind touch hers, the curse. She was back in range. She was close! Her home was close! She was going to make it! Vallenari felt the very overwhelming feeling from Heiley, one she used to resent with jealousy, but one that now gave her the strength to keep flying. It was adoration, and love, overpowering in her mind as she could almost see through her riders eyes while she pressed her lips to Nico's in a kiss heated with passion. She felt the joy Heiley did as his arms wrapped around her, and the warmth and safety his arms always brought. Usually she would push it away, but now she clung to it, and used it to guide her back home like a beacon. When she wasn't miles away, she could sometimes feel the same feeling radiating off of him as well, since both of them oozed their affection into their auras so very strongly and didn't even realize it. She could hear the words they were whispering to each other now; sweet nothings that had been said thousands of times before but meant no less because of it. Her consciousness reached out, searching for Aela's mind, and she felt it, but the other dragon was sleeping. She could not alert them she was returning home, and with the sun beginning to set they couldn't see, but when she was there she would be sure to make herself known. If her rider was still having moments of intimacy, then she would wait, since she did not want her scales to turn a hideous shade of pink if she ventured deep enough in Heiley's mind to thought-speak she was home again. She had made that mistake once when she was still a hatchling and the result had not been pleasant.

    xxxStill, her whole body burned but she would not relent. She would not stop, not halt until her clawed paws contacted the magic enforced glass dome on the Los Tree. She would continue to flap her wings and soar, because she knew nothing so strongly as she knew that she needed to get home. She was filled with the energy she needed to get there, and now there was a pull that drew her toward it. She couldn't exactly explain if she was asked the burning need she now felt to return, although before it had been her own sheer determination to get back if only to see them one last time. Now it ran through every fiber of her being, like magic. It wasn't anything from her rider, or Nico and Aela, or any living being, it was some force hauling her back to her home. She could spot it now atop the trees, along with her sleeping kin on the half finished nest they had worked together to build on the branches. It wasn't at all sheltered, but they could be with their riders there, so until they moved to the grotto it would be their home. However, seeing that just made the invisible pull attached to her worse, and her thoughts soon reverted back to the repeating thoughts, and the emotions and images that slipped through on occasion that continued to push her onward. She kept like that, and she would keep like that until she reached the tree. She had to, she just had to. It was hard to breath, and her wings were faltering in flight, missing a beat and flapping on an off one. She was tired, so tired. She wanted to stop, though she knew she couldn't until she reached the dome atop the tree. When she reached that, she'd be home, with the ones she loved and free to rest. Her eyes began to close, and she fought them to stay open, but everything in her being swarmed with fatigue, and she felt the energy from her other half fading away into slumber, since now the sun was gone. Nari wobbled in the air, but managed to force her eyes open with a strain of energy. The tree was only a few wing beats away, she could make it, she had come so close. Her wings stretched out as she caught a draft that would help her land, and her tail positioned for landing. She nearly fell onto the glass with a large thud, but she caught herself, and then collapsed on it's smooth surface. She had made it, Vallenari had come home. Her wings folded up slowly, and painfully from being opened to their fullest for so long without break. She was ready to close her eyes and sleep, but then her gaze landed on a figure. Her nest sister. With the remaining strength that she could muster, she dragged her shaking form to the dragon, and stopped in front of her. Lowering her head, she pressed her forehead against hers. She was sleeping, but she couldn't wait any longer, and there was something she needed to say for her own piece of mind. She channeled a mixed emotion to the other dragon through her mind, one of bittersweet sorrow and exhaustion, and so much more that didn't have a name. Closing her eyes, she let out a breath, and spoke into the mind of her sleeping friend, I'm sorry Aela, for leaving. Forgive me for being such a fool.

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76heart
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Re: ♞】never wear your broken crown

Post by 76heart » Wed May 09, 2018 12:10 am

monday, december 25th, 2017 6:33 pm
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Love isn't just for a partner; it's for a friend

It isn't just for a mother, or a father; it's for a story and a world that can feel like a
second home, a place you can go in your mind

It's not just for a member of the family with four legs, wings, scales, feathers, fur,
or a tail; it's for a thing that you do that makes you feel more complete and gives
you a reason to live

Love isn't just for home, or a place you've once been; it's for the things around
you, the moss on the ground or the vines climbing up an old tree in a forested
and long forgotten park

It's not just for someone you should love that you hate; it's for someone you love
that you should hate

It is not just for a teacher, a mentor, or a student that taught you so much more
and helped to make you who you are; it's for a trivial thing like a favorite sweater
or thing to do on a freezing cold day

It's not just for a melody, a tune, or a song; it's for a word, a phrase, a regular
greeting or situation that you hold dear that brightens your day and makes you
smile

Love isn't for when you think something is so incredibly perfect; it's for when you
know it has its flaws, but continue to love it anyway and accept them as imperfect
perfections

It isn't just for bringing cheer and smiles filled with joy; it can hurt more than
anything else around, and claw at your heart with nettles that sting harder than
you could ever imagine until you feel it happen to you, and it can crush you hard
when it takes away things you tried so hard to hold close and dear

It can bring tears, and so much hurt and pain

It can destroy everything, and yet give so much

It can end it all and yet create a new beginning

It can be so many different things, in so many different ways, and mean so many
things, a different thing to each and every one

It's not a thing anyone can truly know the meaning of, but that's just a part of it,
and it can feel like drowning in waves, being an island that wants to be with the
ocean, and like your burning in embers of a burning fire, and dancing with the
rising flames and feeling the passion it can bring


Love's not something you think; it's something you know, something you feel
without a say, and that's just a very small piece of what it is

i don't really know what this poem is honestly since it was just a bunch of things i was feeling around the time of my birthday
buuuuut, this is for you katie, i hope you enjoy your christmas present, and i truly hope you're doing okay <3
you deserve the absolute world and i wish i could give it to you

i tried to add little nods to things both of us would recognize, and a couple things i wrote specifically for you, since i know you like listening to music, and then the gif is because i know how much you like owls. it's not a whole lot and i wish i could fill this bit with some cheer, but i'm crying and i miss you so much and i don't know what else to say. your birthday present will hopefully be happier since it will have quig and the neiley luvs, and a collage of clay since clay and celesse are what we've been writing as of late and you deserve nothing but happiness and smiles instead of tears.
i'm also posting this on both our site and as because i don't trust our site right now, and since the coding is messed up in both here's how it's meant to look
if you aren't katie, i ask that you please don't read what's below, it is personal, and i don't really have another way to send it to her.
you went to charge your phone on the twenty-eight of november and never replied, and i have no idea of what's going on, or why you haven't shown any signs of being around. have i done something? has something happened? i'm almost one hundred percent positive that i've messed everything all up, and the thought of losing you beyond terrifies me; there aren't any words to describe how scared i am of that. nothing seemed to go right in november, it all felt off and i was so distracted and being a horrible friend and i can never be sorry enough for that. i will never ever forgive myself if i ruined our friendship, or if i hurt you. I should have been more focused on what was going on with you, I should have been there more and done more to show you that I was there and that you could tell me anything and been less distracted and distant from you because I was focusing on stupid other things because I was so scared of losing you that entire stupid month. I know something was hurting you, I could tell you had so much on your mind and shoulders and I knew there was something going on, but you didn't tell me what all of it was, and I didn't want to press more after you said you couldn't say, but I shouldn't have just let it go and hoped things would be normal again. I am so sorry katie, I am so so sorry. I should have been more attentive to that and more focused on you and if you want to talk to me again I promise you will always come first when it comes to my problems and the things going on with me. you mean so much more than anything going on with me, and you mean so much more to me than anything I could ever go through. you mean the world to me, words can't describe how much I care for you and how much I just want to help you smile and feel better whenever you're down. I will stop everything I'm doing in a heartbeat if you need me, or want me. I am so sorry. I shouldn't have been pushing for us to get a new host for our site either, I was getting worked up because I was worried we'd lose our writing and stories and even our friendship if we didn't have that, and if you don't want the new host we chose since I feel like I may have forced you into it and I hate myself for that and I'm so sorry, we can do a different one, which ever one you'd like, and I will happily pay for it all and do all the work I can so you don't ever have to be stressed about it again. I am so so sorry for mentioning all the petty problems I had going on at the time when you were going through so much more. I was such a horrible horrible friend to you and if you'll let me I will spend my entire life trying to make that up to you. I can't say I'm sorry enough, and I can't say how horrible I feel for going to you on Instagram too. I feel like I invaded your space and I hate that and myself so much, I feel like I messed everything up so freaking much by doing that, I just didn't and still don't know what to do and I'm so sorry. I just want to know if you're okay, I just want to know if you're doing alright and if you need a friend to lean on or someone to vent all you worries too, big or small because all of them are extremely meaningful and real and important and I want to be here for you if you'll let me. I am so so sorry katie, I am so sorry. I don't know what else to do, I'm terrified and lost and I don't want to do something or start anything new with anyone else since I'm still hoping that you'll be back because I don't want to ever hurt you and I feel like that might. I am so sorry.
a little while before you told me you needed to be away from technology for a little while just at the start of june, just before then, I remember thinking, I can't quite remember what, other than the thought "I love you" came to mind regarding you, and it didn't go away. you are the closest friend I have ever had, and you are the best friend anyone could ever ask for. you're smart, caring, king, extremely intelligent, and an amazing writer and I'm sure you're as beautiful on the outside as you are in. you have always been there for me, you have been through me so much and you were there when I needed someone most. you stuck with me through all my anxiety and my stupid worries and anxieties about silly things, and there will never ever be a word to describe how much that means to me, and how much I appreciate it. you've helped me to realize how important writing is to me, how important our writing is, because I've never enjoyed or loved writing as much as I did with you. you being there and writing such amazing things helped me to become better at it, to write more and get somewhere with it where I'm happy, and whenever you told me you enjoyed a post i was always so happy. your opinion on it means so much to me. you mean so much to me. I've never loved characters so much until we made ours, and talking about them or with you in general made my day. I loved coming up with ideas with you so much, and it meant so much to me that we could even do that. I trust you with my life too. you are the most amazing and wonderful person I know, and I hope I can try and be as good of a friend to you if you still let me, and even if you don't want to talk to me anymore I promise you I'll still be here if you ever need someone. no matter what it is, I am here, always and forever and I promise I will drop everything that I'm doing to be there for you. I will always do everything I can to help you feel better if you'll let me, I promise. this is probably missing so many important things that I need to say too, and I know I've already said most of this on Instagram and kik and probably said it better there, but I can't help but say it here too. you mean so much to me, and I'm so sorry.
I feel like I may be desperate or insane or deranged by writing all this, and I'm scared to say anything honestly, but all I know is that I care about you so much, and I just want you to be okay. that's all I want, all I want is for you to be happy. I hope this Christmas is better than last year's too, and you know I'm here if somethings happened.
I miss you, I love you, and I hope you're happy, and that you'll come back soon.

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76heart
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❥】a love not lost

Post by 76heart » Wed May 09, 2018 12:12 am

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characters: quig, charlyse, heiley, nico, fairfax | role play: star wars neiley
warnings: loss | inspiration: willow - jasmine thompson | word count: 6,781
ooc: this is a gift for you katie, happy birthday my wonderful amazing
friend <3 this bit of ooc is something i wrote way back in june, but as
it's something that still stands, here it is. i know things haven't been
going to well for you since we talked last, and i wish there was more
i could do to help. i really wanted to do something for you that I hope
will make you smile, and I also really love neiley forgive meeeee
this is something i'm saying in the present as i write this now, and i so
hope that you have the most amazing birthday, you deserve nothing
less than the most magnificent thing there is, and I hope your special
day is filled with nothing but smiles. you mean the world to me, and
no matter what, i will always be right here for you, i promise, and i
love you and i miss you so much. anyway, i hope this is okay, and i so
hope that you enjoy <33333 this is one long ass intro whoops
clay collage coming soonnnnnn
originally posted: thursday january 11th, 2018 10:13 am
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  • xxxA single tear rolled slowly down his cheek, leaving a shiny trail of sorry in it's wake as proof of it's journey and path as it slowly fell into his scraggly beard. His soft blue eyes were open rather than closed, crinkled at their corners with age, and staring at the patches of ground where it met the roots of a willow tree, while another droplet threatened to fall. It had been a long time since he had cried, or really had anything more than tears of proud happiness pooling in his eyes. These weren't joyful tears, they were mournful, and forlorn, and they struggled to fall free from the water gathered above his lower lid. Another tear shakily followed the first, trailing slowly down the same cheek until it too dropped into his beard. Oh how he missed her. He longed for her to come back to him, to just come back on this one day a year he allowed himself to mourn her. At least he no longer looked stricken with grief as he had the first time he had ever come back to their willow alone, and with a body to bury. She would hopefully be proud of him for that.
    xxxHis calloused fingertips grazed the greens tendrils of grass as his hand moved slowly forward to touch the rough bark of the willow tree, brushing over soft most before finally resting on the dark wood. The tree's bark wasn't curling away, or thick or paper thin like the armor on some trees, it had it's own unique patterns covering it, rigid and rough, protecting the veins inside, and the hanging branches and wispy leaves cast brilliant shadows where the bark faintly jutted out. This was the tree they had planted on the day they had married, right where they had said there vows, and now where he had lain her for her eternal rest. He could still feel her hands on his own as they together put the sapling of the willow just beginning to grow into the ground. They had found the seed together, and on the day of their wedding they had noticed it had begun to sprout, soft fragile roots and tendrils poking out through a once hard shell, and they had decided it was a sign to plant it when their vows were through, as a marker for their love, a mark of them and their everlasting devotion to one another for the world to see. They had felt, that if a small seed could begin to grow into the great willow it was meant to be within the darkness of a drawer and deprived of moisture, they could overcome whatever came at them as long as they stood at each other's side, like the meaning of a willow, and how the strength of it's trunk would let it stand firm and withstand the greatest of challenges. Her hands had been so soft and gentle, and nurturing as they carefully placed the seed. And his had been hard and rough atop hers, the opposite, and he remembered her white wedding dress being stained various greens and browns at the knees, and her not caring at all and laughing it away with a smile. That was one of the many things he loved about her, the way she was able to screech at him any other time when something of hers was damaged, but not mind at all when it was a situation with significance, and he also loved the way she never cared about the dirt or sawdust underneath his fingernails, or the fact his hands were rough and calloused from sanding boats and hammering nails into wood along side his carpenter father. Before her, other girls had been bothered by it, but when he had asked her if she minded, she had only laughed it off with a smile and told him that that didn't matter at all to her as long as he was her Galleren. He wished she was able to grin and politely laugh at his jokes when they were in public, and broadly smile and guffaw at them when they were alone again, to be so happy, and to be back so they could plant another tree in the forest, and so she could see the one they had planted together now. He so wished she could see it, see how it had changed and gown and become a magnificent thing far more than either of them could have ever imagined, how it was more significant to them, to him than they ever could have thought. A willow tree symbolized growth, and nature, and balance an harmony as well as learning, and he had not truly had any of those things until he met her. She had always been so stable and structured like a willow, and he wished she could see the way he had spent days to carefully sing their names into the base of the tree, and the words he had written as an epitaph above where she now lay. Oddly enough, the grass almost seemed to be greener, and more alive atop her grave, and another tear slid through his lower lashes and down his face at the thought. He still loved her so much, and he wanted nothing more than for her, his wife, his Charlyse to come back, back to him, back to them.
    xxxHe could hear the sound of the river on the other side of the bottom of the hill melodically babbling as the water rushed quietly over the stones resting in the riverbed, a place where he used to sit with his wife to just have a peaceful evening and talk, telling one another how much they meant to them and how it was so wonderful to be somewhere so calm, away from everyone else in their special place. They used to sit there for hours at time before they left the Glade Elf Settlement for the Grotto, sometimes talking quietly about thoughts they used to be scared to share, things they only felt safe saying there, and other times they would sit in silence, just listening to the rushing water and the rustling leaves and the whistle of the wind as it pushed through the reeds, and sometimes they would fall asleep on the other's shoulder, the other soon to follow, and they would wake up to the shining bright stars. She used to say her mother told her that when someone died they ended up in the stars, that they became one of the billions across the mighty sky, and she had told him that at that very riverbank, a slight laugh in her voice. Neither had believed it to be true at the time, but sometimes he wondered if she was a star, one high up in the sky and shining brightly for him, to light his way when all else went dark. He almost wished that it was something he'd be able to believe, just so he would have that to cling to when missing her became too much. Quig was uncertain in that though, and he felt like if she had become a star, his pendant would light up like one too, and it had remained dark since the day she had died. The fingers on his other hand slowly wrapped themselves around it, and he clutched the pendant tightly within his has hand, tight enough for his skin to grow white as snow and for the wood to leave an indented mark if he held it that way for too long. The precious gem encased in the wood with part of her energy, part of her life and soul contained within had long since lost it's light after she took her last breath, and he would give anything just to see it light back up again if only for a moment, though he knew she wouldn't want that, and he wanted to respect her wish. He refused to take it off however, to let her go and forget his other half, his heart, his one, and even though it was silly, part of him also never removed it from around his neck in case it ever lit up with life once again, and he could have his Lyse back in his arms once again.

    xxxIt would have been two hundred years, almost two hundred years with the love of his life if old age hadn't claimed her one hundred years ago. At least being around him and others of elven blood helped to extend her life several years past a century, and that had given him more time with her, even if now it still felt like yesterday when they were young and stupidly in love and the memories felt like they would last him a lifetime, while also finish in the time it took to blink at the same time. He hated how the thoughts of her could drift away so fast when he needed to recall them most, and how they lasted ages when he was just trying to sleep. He would still have her, and no need for struggling to hold onto each and every fleeting thought and memory that included her in even the faintest of ways, if only she had agreed to have a life-bond. She had refused to allow him to go with her, and long before then she had refused the life-bond most elven couples shared in hopes that his half-elven lifespan would continue for years to come where her human years could not follow, hoping that he would find happiness with another once she was gone, and she hadn't wanted him to be tethered to her had they taken it and she found herself an early grave. She would have lived as long as he had they taken it, and she'd the same way, but she hadn't wanted to outlive the rest of the people she cared for, and he could understand that, and her reasoning for not binding their lives together in the first place. If he had been the one to leave their world first, he would have hated himself for dragging her with him, for taking away her chances at finding new happiness and a new love because most humans didn't seem to follow the elven ways of only having one partner, and that marriage or togetherness lasting for life even when the other was long gone, and nothing more than bones in the ground, and he wished he hadn't been so cocky so he could have understood it then as he did now. He had just been so upset with her when she left him, when she still refused it even when she was on her deathbed because he had been terrified of losing her, of not waking up to her at his side each and every morning, of her not being the last thing he saw before he went to sleep. He had just been so scared to let her go, to see the person he cared about more than he had ever and could ever care about himself, pass on into the void, never to return from death. He had been so ready to steal the elven relic that could revive the dead and break into the vault to get it, but she had told him not to be an idiot, not to do something rash, and he had listened, and through his mourning, whenever those kinds of thoughts crept into her head, he could hear her telling him not to do that, and he felt the same horrible feeling of being alone he had felt before he first truly met her. He felt whole even when she was gone, and even though he was missing his other half, he didn't feel as if she had left him completely; sometimes it felt as if she was near him, or watching over him and smiling down at him from above, kissing his forehead before she faded back into the night, but before they had first met and talked, he had never felt any of that, just a longing to be with her. As he began to remember that fateful day though, he felt a sad smile tug at his lips, and a feeling that was quite bittersweet.
    xxxHe could still remember when they first met with a vividness that still surprised him, and sometimes he wished he could go back to that day. He had been all cocksure and quite proud of himself, and while he had seen Charlyse around the glade elf settlement they lived in multiple times throughout his nineteen years at the time, he had never gone up to speak to her until then, he had never been brave enough. Before her, there had been other girls he had affections for and courted, but they never lasted long, and that was mainly because his affections had truly always lied with the woman who said yes to becoming his wife. The others had just been his attempts to see what his feelings were, and to see what he was confident enough to do, and even though his interest in them had been genuine at the time he was with them, after he was done with that and back to the first girl he liked, he realized his feelings had never been there for any of them, and only after he lost some of his arrogance and pride did he begin to feel remorse and feel sorry for them and his actions. Now wasn't the time to dwell on them however, not with images of the first real meeting he had ever had with his wife swirling throughout his mind.

    xxxShe had been sitting on a wagon in the market with lots of barrels talking to her friends, and he had been standing near the fruit stalls across the path trying to get her attention as they whispered and giggled with one another. He had lost his younger brother Flavius to the Jedi a few years before then in his early teenage years, and after that had become a little less, well, himself. He wasn't as patient as he used to be, and a lot less humble. He had become cocky and a little too flirtatious after they were the reason Lorerant was discovered, and as he thought about it he realized parts of him changing wasn't new for him when he lost something he cared dearly for. He had started drinking after Charlyse passed, and while he was careful about it and made sure not to go overboard, he hadn't even dreamed about it before he lost her, and along with the drinking, he had started to try and laugh more, to make more jokes, something she had asked him to do after she was no longer there to do that for him before her time came.
    xxxThere she was, right across the way, chatting with her many friends and laughing with them all, completely oblivious to his existence. He was supposed to be helping his father build ships and other things out of wood in their large yard, but he couldn't help but come here and lean against one of the fruit stands that was the least busy, watching the girl he liked from a distance as he thought about how he could go over and say hello. He knew for certain that he couldn't just walk over there and introduce himself to her, there were too many other girls around her and he, despite never wanting to admit it, worried they would all tell Charlyse that was bad news and to tell him to get lost and never return. He had to be more discrete than that, and maybe even a little sly and coy. What if she hated that though, what if those were the type of men she would instantly turn away? No, he couldn't think about that, he couldn't worry about those little things and he had to ignore the feeling of butterflies in his stomach. Maybe he could send her something with magic? He glanced around for something he could float her way, and when he tried to glance further behind himself, he spotted the perfect thing. Ah, perfect, a flower. How had he not noticed the stand he was leaning against had tendrils of vines growing up it, with flowers tucked in every nook and cranny they could be? He turned and carefully plucked one of the flowers from the stand, a pretty red one with orange hues mixed in, and carefully reached into his pocket for a coin and dropped it into the palm of the elderly man who owned the stand. He took a few steps away from the stand then, and walked a few steps forward to one that was closer to the girl, one where she'd hopeful to notice him if she traced where the flower was from. He gave the plucked flora a quick sniff before sending it off though, just to make sure it wasn't one of the more exotic ones from the forest that smelled like a carcass or some other awful scent there weren't words to describe, and he wrinkled his nose. It didn't smell terrible at all, but it was quite fragrant, and he hoped that she wouldn't mind that. He carefully readied his hand, murmured the words to a few spells, and began to float the flower through the air towards Lyse and her group of friends. They seemed to notice the floating flora fairly quick, and soon some of them ended up glancing his way, while she continued to watch the flower slowly begin to drift down into her hand. Before she could react though, he noticed the frowns on some of the faces of her friends, and he could tell by their expressions they thought he was just being flirty with a girl he saw as pretty, and not one he genuinely cared for and wanted to get to know. Lyse looked like she was agreeing with them when he searched her face, but there was something there, something carefully hidden that gave him a little hope that she didn't hate the gesture, or think he was just physically interested or something like that. She didn't look quite convinced of what her friends were saying, and he gave a lopsided smile when she hesitantly raised the flower to her nose to smell it. He could see the protesting faces of some of her friends, though they seemed to relax when she lowered the flower again and wasn't suddenly turned purple. He still caught a couple of warning glances from the two girls standing closest to her, and the one sitting by her side on the wagon, but Lyse still had a tiny part of her expression looking somewhat pleased, and he took it as a sign that there was still hope, that there was still an chance for them because if she had no interest in him at all, not even a sign, he didn't want to pursue her or pressure her by doing so; that wouldn't be right, and he cared too much about her to harm her.

    xxxCharlyse had spurned his attempts and affections, or even normal conversation for several days now after a few weeks of trying to catch her attention, but he wasn't about to give up. He had worked for weeks on a special boat to take her out on a boat ride in the lake, and he finally saw her alone, walking down a path on her way to the marketplace past his family's house. He quickly put down the sanding tool he was using on said vessel, and hurried to catch up to her before it was too late, doing his best to act suave so his nervousness wouldn't show. This was the first time he had ever felt this nervous too, and the first time words found it hard to leave his lips. He found himself feeling stuck, and at more of a loss of what to say.
    xxx"Ah, Charlyse, I wanted to ask-" Quig called out, coming to a halt beside her and cutting himself off when she paused and turned to face him, her expression polite and formally cordial.
    xxx"Galleren." She dipped her head politely, and he felt his heart sink a little at the way she said his name. There was no warmth in her tone, and she sounded like she simply wanted to be done with this exchange and move on with her day. There was still that same tiny reluctance to believe what her friends had pointed out before however, except this time she seemed more than a little reluctant to believe that he was genuine, and he caught the tiniest hint of consideration within her gaze, and he hoped that that wasn't just his imagination, and that it was something to give him hope, something that told him not to give up just yet.
    xxx"I wanted to ask if you would go on a boat ride with me in the lake?"
    xxx"In one if your fathers, aren't those a little big, and is that not stealing?" Lyse looked a little surprised at that, and he couldn't help but sigh at her last words. Did she think he took pleasure in stealing things, that he wanted to take something that didn't belong to him? What horrible impression of him did she have?
    xxx"No, not in my father's, in one I made, for you, for.. us." He tried to sound as genuine as he could, but he still worried that it would sound fake, or forced, or give her more reason to believe he didn't want this, that he didn't want her if she wanted him too. He searched her face when she didn't answer for a moment, and found a little tiny new piece of hope light inside of him when he realized she seemed to be thinking, debating on how to answer. That hope seemed to make him look a little too confident for her liking though, for he noticed a flash of doubt cross her eyes when she looked back to him, and her expression abruptly changed.
    xxx"I really have to go Galleren, and besides, if that over there is the boat, it doesn't even look like it's been tested yet. How can I be sure you aren't meaning for it to sink with me inside it?" She raised a brow in question as she spoke, and carefully folded her arms, finding a way to work around the basket he had just now noticed she was holding on her arm. Ah, right, she was probably on her way over to help the seamstress, and the basket likely contained lots of needle and thread. Perhaps if he gave her a spool or carved some knitting needles for her she would see that he truly cared, and that he didn't just want her for a fling. Her words stung a little though, but he tried not to show it. "I wanted to test it out with you, to make it special, and if it did sink with you inside, then I could play the gentleman, and give my fine lady my jacket, or my shirt." A hand of his lowered to the hem of his shirt as if to prove a point with his subtle tease, and he noticed her mask falter before she gave a sigh that seemed annoyed and started to walk away. He thought he had seen a tiny flicker of something good, but he had definitely messed up this time, and he frowned mentally at himself. Why did he have to ruin things when they felt as if there was a possibility of a chance?

    xxxIt continued like that for awhile, with him coming up to her with some gift or sow thing flattering to say with some sort of tease worked in, and her leaving him seemingly annoyed by his advances while not pushing him away all the same, and then slowly it seemed to become a regular routine, and she stopped leaving him in annoyance at his attempts to flirt. They slowly began to tease each other, getting bolder with their teases by the day, and sometimes she would even let him take her on a few walks where they teased each other the whole way, and she left at the end of the path just a tad frustrated with him. She didn't act like he was being a pain anymore at all after a year of their teases and walks had passed, and as he continued to bring her gifts, their teases began to in life playful jabs that were harmless, neither aiming to hurt. He had begun to look froward to their daily encounters, and after another year or so, he found himself hopefully in love with her, and he started to try and show Lyse how he felt, except that only seemed to bring them back to square one, and she began to avoid him again. By then he knew the places she went when she was upset, and the little things about her people only knew when they were close to one another for a long time, her little quirks, how whenever she was nervous and had some thread within reach, she would subconsciously fiddle with it, and end up creating and knotted mess she begrudging accepted his help in fixing, so he didn't need to take a wild guess to figure out where she would go if she wanted to be away from him. He found her at the hill, down by the babbling brook, and she seemed torn by so many things, only when he asked why she was avoiding him, a fight began, and then after she had screamed at him that he was infuriating, insufferable, irritating and too attractive, they had somehow both gravitated toward one another, and kissed. Her lips were so soft, and it felt so right to have her against him when he gently pulled her close. When they finally pulled away, her cheeks were a bright red, and she confessed that she had admired him from a far even before he had sent her the flower. His heart swelled at that, and he gave her a warm smile when she continued to explain that she had always liked him, but she hadn't been sure if he was being true, or if he just wanted to flirt to take her to bed and then leave her, or if he interacted with all women like that, and how, by the end of the two years she still didn't know, she still didn't know if he was true, and then when he began to show more affection, she found herself panicking and didn't know what else to do. He told her how he had been falling for her just as long, and that anyone he had been with before was because he feared he couldn't have her, and that was where their relationship began.


    xxxQuig could still picture every detail of her face when she was youthful and withered with time, and feel her hand coming to softly cup his cheek in a gentleness that only she seemed able to possess, and he longed to feel that, and see her for real once again. His eyes closed, and he found himself leaning into her imaginary touch, nearly falling over before his eyelids popped open as he realized and caught himself in time. That certainly wouldn't have helped his back, it was already sore enough from bending over for so long. He would endure that pain just to be with her though, on her birthday, on the anniversary of the day they married, and of her death. What would she think if him now if she saw how he was, who he had become? She'd probably say, "Oh Galleren, you old fool, why do you let the tears fall for me? You have Fairfax, and Heiley and her love Nico all by your side, and they all care for you. They are your family.", and he would tell her that she was right, like she always was, but that he couldn't help but mourn because he missed her so. She'd likely shush him then, and tell him to get up and have a drink while Fairfax tried to convince him to stop, but he wouldn't listen. He wouldn't leave their hill, not today.
    xxxTruthfully though, she wasn't at all wrong in what he knew she would say; his saving saving grace in loosing her, the reason why he hadn't broken his promise to not end himself to join Charlyse, had first been his friendship with Madrion, his companion whenever he guarded the docks, and when the elven prince he called his friend had a child, she became that too, and then as she introduced him to those important to her as she grew, they became that as well.
    xxxGalleren smiled down at the young girl hiding behind her father's leg, trying his best not to seem scary. He knew that he was tall, and that it could be a little nerve wracking for the princess. He was a little nervous himself too, for he was just moving into his own quarters within the Los tree as his old friend had asked him to return to the forest to get to know his daughter, and to stay permanently because he wanted his friend to be the one to teach her about magic, and other things that were not the academics Wagstaff taught. He was worried that Heiley wouldn't like him too, and that he'd turn out to be terrible with children. He had been called to meet the young princess when she was born, and he had given her as many gifts as he had been able to carry, but he doubted that she remembered him since she was now four, or even knew that the gifts were from him. He and Charlyse had always wanted a child, an older son and a younger daughter to be exact, but no matter how many times they had tried, they were never able to have one, and his Lyse had never gotten to name a daughter of theirs Verana as she had wanted to for a while. Thinking about that wouldn't help him make a good impression on the princess though, so he silently focused back on her and her father, Madrion. He watched as the prince bent down stiffly to face his daughter, his hands lightly touching her shoulders after one tucked a strand of brownish-blonde hair behind her pointed each.
    xxx"Heiley, I want you to meet my dear friend Qui-Galleren, he's going to be your mentor when you get older. Now, I have to help your mother with some things, so I'll leave you to get to know him." Madrion told her softly, giving her a hesitant kiss on her forehead before he stood back up to go and find his wife, Caewin. He knew that his friend didn't exactly enjoy showing fatherly affection, and that he found it awkward interacting with elflings, so he had a feeling that this must be wuite important to Madrion for him to show that care toward his daughter now.
    xxxHeiley's gaze followed her father out the door of her room until the door shut behind him, and then she looked up at him with big, round eyes as he bent down to be level with the young elfling. "Qui-g?" Heiley asked, tilting her head and scrunching up her face as she tried to pronounce the name her father had given for this man before her. Galleren smiled at that, and dropped to a crouch in front of her. "Actually, it's Qui-Gal- you know what little Heils, Quig is fine. Quig is just fine." Quig told her, changing his mind mid-way through correcting her. He liked the sound of 'Quig', and when he saw the way she smiled broadly and her face lit up, he was so very glad he had changed his mind, and that he continued on so he could meet her. It probably sounded silly, but in that moment, as he saw her pure and happy smile, things began to feel right again for the first time in a long while, and he felt like things would all be okay. He felt something special in their newfound friendship, like he had found the daughter he had never gotten to have, and things felt even more right when he noticed her step away and return with a picture book that she carefully placed in his hands.

    xxxNo words could ever describe how happy he felt that he was allowed and privileged enough to watch her grow, to watch her learn and change and become the woman she was today, and he was even more grateful that he could be a part of it. He wouldn't rather train with anyone else, even if the two of them mercilessly went at each other with wooden poles during their training sesssions and weren't afraid to hit hard or knock each other to the ground. Even if his back was sore and broken from her whacking it, he'd still want to train with her, and he knew she'd never purposely hit him that hard. Quig would never forget the nights where she came to him for comfort when she had no one else to go to either, and she curled up beside him in bed with her back against his and made him eggs for breakfast in the morning as a thank you. Those were special nights to him, nights where he really felt like a father, and like he had someone to care for again that wasn't just himself, someone who depended on him, and it was nice to feel important and needed again, things he hadn't felt since he lost Charlyse until he met the princess and started to feel a little less empty. He had felt that rightness again, too, when Heiley had met Nico on Coruscant when she was six, and he had felt it again when they met again nine years later and Heiley ran off with Nico, leaving him to find Fairfax and a rather perturbed robotic creature named R2-D2 atop the tree, where he felt the rightness once more. He felt more whole, and even though he had first met Fairfax when he was hunched over, out if breath and ready to collapse from running up thousands of steps after Heiley, the Jedi had still wanted to be his friend after they did some talking, and the man quickly became his closest friend, while Nico and Heiley finally told each other how they felt, and how they had always loved each other in a way not dissimilar to how he loved Charlyse.

    xxxIn a way, he had always known that the two of them would become something very special that was far greater in both measure and meaning than just simple friends, even when they were just small children. He had not missed the way she had looked at him even then, like he was the most magnificent puzzle she could ever try to solve, like he was the most glorious jewel left behind in a forgotten treasure and the most special person she had ever seen. Heiley had watched Nico with eyes wide and filled wonder and awe, and a feeling akin to affection. She had been willing to take the blame when he was in trouble when they first met, and the way she had talked about him with nothing but such fondness, and even admiration, and love for weeks and months after they had first parted, and continued to do so over the nine years before they saw each other again only showed how much he meant to her. He could remember young Heiley relentlessly trying to convince her father to somehow send their finest messenger owl to Nico, refusing to take no for an answer no matter how many times she had been told that owls could not fly through space, even with the most powerful magic cast upon them. Truthfully, he was surprised that more people hadn't realized it as well. Heiley stood a fraction closer to Nico than she did anyone else, and the way they both looked at each other with such loving care when the other was looking and when they were not, and the way they tried so hard to never leave each other's side and stood up for each other whenever it was needed should have been dead giveaways for their affections, but so far no one but himself and Fairfax seemed to know, and he supposed that was for the best. He knew that the Jedi wouldn't be happy with them pursing such a forbidden and forwent upon relationship, especially since they were married now, and had been for a few months, and he didn't want to see either of them forced to live without the other. The two of them needed each other like a fish needs to be in water, and how plants and trees need air, and he didn't want to see either of them hurt ever again because of something regarding the Jedi. If something did, he would personally go in there himself and tell them that what they were doing to them was not okay. It had broken his heart to see her so lifeless, so listless and worried for her Nico when he had been so consumed by going after Bane, but it had healed his heart when the young man had soon returned to his senses- after Fairfax killed the damned thing- and come back to her with all his devoted love that she effortlessly returned, and then nursed her back to health, where, as soon as she was strong enough, they went off to their secret cabin, and were married again at their do-over wedding. He couldn't remember ever seeing either of them smile so brightly as they had then and every day after. They had promised to tell each other everything then too, every fear, every ache and worry, every joy and desire, and he knew how happy and relieved that had made Heiley.
    xxxUpon Heiley's request, years before their wedding when they had first reunited when they were only young teenagers, he made them their pendants too, and they were not unlike the two belonging to himself and Charlyse. A cloudy, colorless gem that glowed a bright turquoise from their respective life forces swirling within was at the center, surrounded by smooth, twisting wood with a mirror that allowed them to scry and speak to one another no matter the distance encased in the back. He had added the mirrors in the back for their wedding, as his gift to them. He had given them the spare keys- Fairfax had been given one as well- to his home in the Coastal Grotto as well, but he had a feeling those were overshadowed and forgotten in comparison to the mirrors that allowed them to be sure the other was safe, especially after what they had just endured. He didn't mind though, and as long as they were happy, he was content. He just wanted them and Fairfax to feel joyful and free, that's all he wanted. He saw Heiley as the daughter he was never able to have, and because her heart beat, and her soul lived for Nico, and he made her happy and she made him smile, that meant he was Quig's son too in his eyes, a part of his family, the family he had somehow managed to call his own, the family that his wife had wanted them to have, with a dear friend that was easily part of it too. He just wanted to help make them smile, and to make sure they didn't lose each other like he had lost his Lyse, even though part of her would forever be with him, no matter how many decades past. Carefully he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to the tree, atop the root that covered the top corner of Lyse's grave, and he let out a soft sigh. After he spending the night on the ground where he was now, as he did every year under the willow, he would be ready to return back to them, to his make-shift family, the other people he loved, while never forgetting the woman who forever held his heart.

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76heart
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ϟ】fond memories for a dear friend

Post by 76heart » Fri Dec 28, 2018 4:34 am

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characters: leona, nancy, perceus, atticus, dewitt,
tiddlywinks, percy, katherine, liza, emilise, everett, theo,
the mooncalves, draco, artephius
rp: to build a home | warnings: n/a | word count: 7,191
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authors note: this is a christmas present to iris, an
incredibly, amazing, phenomenal, wonderful friend <3 talking with you always gives me the biggest smile and
i wish i could put into words how happy i get whenever discord gives me a notification and it's something from
you. i adore chatting with you about absolutely everything, i truly enjoy it so much, and planning things
for our magnificent darlings is no different, i adore that too. you're so amazingly fun to craft stories with, and i
thank you so much for being in my life <33 you came into my life at a time where i most needed a friend, and
you instantly became that friend. there are no words to describe how much you mean to me, and how much i
enjoy writing with you, and how thankful i am for your friendship and how absolutely amazing you always are. i
know i've told you about mo anam cara already, and that it means soulmate, but it also means soul friend, and if
it's not creepy or anything like that to say i feel like you're my soul friend. i also promise that no matter what
happens between us, or to me, or to you, that i will always be here if you need a friend or a shoulder to cry or
lean on or anything else, no matter what it is. if you ever need to talk about anything at all, i promise I'm here for
that, and for anything else you may want or need. your messages are never, ever a bother, and I love all you send.
i get a huge smile when i wake up to loads of messages from you too. everything about you and talking and writing
with you is just an absolute joy.
i love and value you and your friendship so much, thank you, and i hope we can stay friends for a really long time <3
i really hope you enjoy this little gift and that it gives you a smile <3
i'm also so sorry i finished this three days after Christmas ahHh i'm terrible
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xxxIt was early in the morning, just as the season of spring was starting. No one else but herself, and her grandmother, were up and awake. They were sitting together in the old whicker rocking chair in the corner of her grandmother's room, with her nestled atop the older woman's lap, head on her shoulder, as she gently rocked them both. Leona was going to turn seven in a few months, when autumn began, but she didn't care for it much. She never liked the number seven, it felt weird, and uncomfortable in her mouth, and just odd. Her grandmother told her she'd be getting something very special then, something her grandfather, Grandpa Jack, would have wanted her to have. She didn't really remember him, he had died when she was three and still too young to really keep anything inside her brain, but even so, she missed him. She missed the memories with him that she once had. He sounded so fun in all the stories her grandmother told, so energetic and playful, even when he was turning old, and his hair was growing gray. He had been an animagus too, a person who could become an animal and gone through the painstaking process of becoming one, and the animal he became, was a little Jack Russell Terrier, like the sweet Crup that passed away not longer after he had. That was why people called him Jack; his real name was really Perceus, but even before he went through the process to become the little terror, he had been called either Matthew, his middle name, or Jack. There was a picture of him with the Crup on her grandmother's dresser, beside another one with the two of them, and her, as a little baby in a frilly pink dress, hugging her grandfather as he smiled and made a silly face, with the kind dog leaning in to lick her face. Both moved, like most wizard pictures did, and she couldn't help but allow her eyes to be drawn toward them. There was a picture of his human face next to them too, smiling a smile her grandmother always described as radiant. She could see it, why the woman described it at that; it was bright, full of life, light, and happiness, and it extended to his eyes, which appeared to sparkle as the image moved. There really wasn't much else to call it except radiant, and it only made her wish that she had really, truly known him more. If he was alive, he'd have even more stories to tell her, and he could join in with her on listening as her grandmother read magnificent books, and maybe he could have even given her piggyback rides too, or swing her onto his back and pretend to be a swooping airplane that flew threw the clouds, like her father would sometimes do. Him being here would make her grandmother happier too; she saw how she missed him so, how her eyes would grow sad and fill with a melancholy longing whenever she saw his photographs, or someone spoke his name. The two had loved each other endlessly, more than she had ever seen anyone love anyone before- except for her parents, the same went for them-, and her grandmother still loved him, and missed him more and more each day. The necklace her grandmother wore around her neck was proof of that; it was a blood pact, to never stop loving each other, even in what persisted after death, and whatever may find them in that terrible dark. That was what Leona wanted most, for her grandmother to be have everyone she loved by her side again, so her smile could be even bigger, and she'd never not be happy.
xxxCarefully, Leona reached up a hand to lightly touch the necklace, the tip of her finger trailing along one spiral of the triskelion shape. Her grandmother loved that symbol, and she loved it too. It meant beautiful things. Her grandmother smiled down softly at her, and raised a hand to stroke lightly through her hair. Leona closed her eyes for the briefest of moments again, before they opened, and she shifted to sit more upright, more attentively. Her grandmother turned to her, an eyebrow raised questioningly, curiosity creeping into her gaze.
xxx"Grandmama, how did you meet Grandpa?" Leona asked quietly, looking up at her grandmother expectantly. The older woman smiled, and straightened in her chair, positioning herself to get ready to tell a tale. Her eyes filled with the memories of a time Leona didn't recognize or know, and then she began to speak, a wider smile pulling up her cheeks.
xxx"Well, it was the first day of my first year at Ilvermorny, and I had just turned eleven." Her grandmother began, holding her close with one hand, and extending the other, brushing it in a smooth rising stroke against the air, painting a picture with her hand and the tips of her fingers as she spoke. Leona watched the movements intently, her finger still absentmindedly tracing the curls of the necklace. "I was just entering the school with everyone else, and then this frazzled boy just ran straight into me. He was chasing after a friend's frog that had gotten away from them, and as he looked up to apologize, he caught my eyes, and the proceeded to fumble all over his words. I think even then I knew he was the one."
xxxThe sun was shining brightly high up in its place in the endless sky, it's warm rays falling to the earth and warming the castle's ancient stones, making them sparkle in the light where the shadow's of passing students didn't dare creep, in fear of disturbing the light of a thing that could banish every shadow to ever exist. Children chattered excitedly all around her, and students who had been attending for awhile paused to talk with their friends, ready to catch up on the summer they had been apart. She covered feet pattered on the stone leading to the school, and the sound of the faintest breeze rippled through the trees, sending the changing leaves a flutter, joining them in the air. It was going to be her first year at Ilvermorny, and so far, she felt alone, but very excited, and eager to start her first day, and see the totems that would play apart in deciding what house she would be in. If only one reacted to her when she stepped into their resting place, then the choice would be made for her, but if more than one displayed their interest in her and expressed a desire for her to be in their house, then she'd get to make a choice. She so hoped that that would be the case. She liked the sound of Thunderbird, a house of adventure and soul, the house her family was known to be in, and she adored it's mascot, but something within her called to that of Pukwudgie, a house of heart, and healing. She would much rather heal others, and bring them smiles, than have fun. She didn't have much interest in travel or games either; she wanted to stay near the ones she loved most, her family, not explore or be brave. Being brave was important, but to her, caring for others was more important than showing courage.
xxxAfter a moment of consideration, she paused, and turned to look back at the way she had come, with a sigh. How far away was she from home? A thousand miles? A million? New York was over a state away, and her family's little shop in a small space near Manhattan, was likely even farther. She bit her lip, a tinge of homesickness dropping into her excitement. Turning around had probably been a mistake. Now she'd be thinking of home, and her family. That had probably been a mistake for another reason too, as she discovered a moment later, or perhaps it had been exactly what she had been meant to do, because if she hadn't she would have never met
him.
xxx"Augustus, get back here! Thomas is going to really miss you if you don't!"
Suddenly, a figure ran into her from behind, and she nearly toppled over. She would have fallen right onto her face if she hadn't caught her balance just in time, and then turned around to face the culprit. He had fallen on the floor, right on his butt, and his face was, very, very red. He looked a bit out of breath too, so either the blush on his cheeks was from running, or embarrassment. There was something special about him, but she didn't know what it was yet.
xxxHe began to speak, rushed and hurried, and then stopped. "I'm so so sorry-" He had looked up at her, and met her eyes, and froze. She tilted her head. Slowly he began to stand, his eyes wide, and never leaving her own. He nearly fell over, but caught himself as he finally broke his gaze before she could reach a hand out to help him up. "S-sorry, I-I was c-chasing after my f-friend's frog, he, he got away you see and-"

xxx"Will I know when I meet my forever?" Leona interrupted, piping up with a question, and breaking the picture of the story for the briefest of seconds. She would have felt terrible for interrupting; her mother always told her it was rude and that she would wait her turn, but her grandmother grinned, and she knew she didn't mind.
xxx"I'm sure you will my little Ona." She replied, looking down at her fondly. She paused to give her a loving hug and a gentle squeeze, before continuing on, returning to where she had left off. Leona went back to listening intently, leaning into her embrace, and watching as her hand painted perfect, invisible strokes in the air, recreating the story she told. "Now, where was I? Ah yes, he had run into me and started spluttering like a fool."
xxx"H-hi. I'm Perceus, but I go by M-Matthew." Nancy had to suppress a laugh as he stopped himself mid explanation to say hello. It was cute, in a weird way. He was definitely different, and kind of odd, but in a way, that made him feel even more special than he had before. He had an accent too, from someplace far away. She liked it. Had his family recently moved from Scotland? She thought that was where the accent was from, but she wasn't entirely sure. Europe seemed to have a gigantic plethora of accents, and she had only ever heard a very select few.
xxxShe stuck out her hand for him to shake. At first, he seemed surprised at it, but after a moment, he shyly accepted, shaking her hand very gently, as if she were made of glass, or a porcelain china doll. She smiled. "Hi. I'm Nancy Aubelle, but if you want, you can call me Elizabeth. It's my middle name." No one had ever called her Elizabeth before, well, except for her mother when she was cross with her and used her full name, but she didn't mind at all if he did. It would make the name more special, and meaningful, especially with him presumably going by his middle name too. He beamed brightly at her.
xxx"Are you okay?" She asked, her eyes searching his features with concern. He still hadn't let go of her hand. She was glad he hadn't, she liked the warmth of his hand on her own.
xxx"Y-yeah, I'm fine." He flushed, and gave a nod, before he took a pause, and then quickly followed up with her, making sure that she was alright. "Are you?" His voice came out hurried, and worried.
She nodded. "I am. Want to walk in together?" She questioned, biting her lip once she was done, and hoping that he'd accept the answer. A huge grin spread across his face, which she mirrored with a grin of her own.
xxx"Yeah, I'd like that, very much." Her heart gave a little flutter at his acceptance, a feeling she had never felt before. Had his done the same when she asked?
xxxIt seemed that both of them had already forgotten the frog he had been frantically scrabbling after. The two of them turned and started to walk to the school together, their hands still entwined. That was the start of a brilliant friendship, and a love that was everlasting.



xxx"Leona, how did you get that cut on your cheek?"
xxxInstinctively, her hand flew up to hide the scratch, covering up the entirety of her left cheek.
xxxHe watched her patiently, with concern in his eyes, and no judgment contained within. His voice echoed that when he spoke again. "Did you get it in a fight with someone?"
xxx"No!" Leona's voice was raised, and worried, and quick to dismiss the question, bit it was sincere, and truthful. She caught his eyes before she looked away; warm, and kind, and concerned, but not the kind of concern that she was some problem child, that the other teachers gave. His was honest, without judgement, and sincere. She bit her lip, and looked down at the ground, her cheeks turning pink, though one side was hidden by her hand. "I just went looking for a Horned Serpent in the forest by the school, like in the story, and I didn't notice a branch had thorns." Leona told him sheepishly, preparing to be told she was wrong, and that it was dangerous, and she should not have done that last night, when she most definitely wasn't allowed to.
xxx"Oh Leona." Atticus placed his hand on her shoulder, and came to sit by her side on the trunk she was sitting on in his classroom. Where was the reprimand? The comment that that was against the rules? Her hand slipped from her face, down to run along the soft fur along Winks' tail as he rubbed against her feet with a purr, and she tensed, bracing herself for the scolding she was sure would come, and for the disappointment she was certain would be laced with his voice.
xxxShe was only eleven, and spending time with her future Care of Magical Creatures professor, because she helped him with his creatures whenever she had a free moment, and they had grown close, as friends. Leona didn't have his class yet; she wasn't old enough, but Professor Atticus had become her friend, and a very close, good friend at that. No one else at the school liked creatures as much as they did, and he was beyond happy to have someone help him out with all of his wondrous animals. His creatures liked her too, which he was more than a little pleased with, and Tiddlywinks liked them and the professor as well, which was really good. He had scratched the Headmistress twice already, when Leona had to meet with her a couple times after getting in trouble, which definitely hadn't helped, even if she found it quite satisfying. She didn't really like the older woman; and the feeling seemed to be mutual. It was like that with a lot of her teachers too, even the ones she did like, like her potions teacher, but it wasn't like that with him. He had told her multiple times that she was his favorite student when they were alone, after adding that he probably shouldn't have said it, and that it was a secret for just them to keep. He was good teacher, and his eyes usually seemed to sparkle with fun. Now though, they watched her intently, searching her features, but then the sparkle appeared, and a smile spread across his lips. What?
xxx"Did you find anything?" What?
xxx"You're not mad? You're not going to send me to the Headmistress?" Leona was so confused, beyond it even, baffled.
xxx"I should, but I know you had good intent. You wanted to learn and make a friend, how can I punish my favorite student for that?" He grinned at her, and she felt herself smile a little too, her form relaxing. He really was a good teacher, and her favorite one too. "And besides, I'm sure you were safe. You had Winks to protect you, did you not? And if you were in danger, I know my creatures would have come to your aid. I'm starting to think they like you more than they like me."
xxx"Really?" Leona looked very interested at that, her eyes lighting up, any unpleasant feelings she had promptly melting away. She felt a lot better hearing that.
xxx"Oh yes. The Mooncalves won't even pay me any mind anymore when I'm not teaching a class, and they definitely don't great me the way they greet you. Even ol' Artephius has taken a shine to you, and he doesn't like just anyone." She beamed at that, the smile reaching her eyes. She loved all of his creatures with all of her heart, and she was overjoyed to hear that they liked her too.
xxx"I like Artephius and the Mooncalves too, and all your other creatures." Leona told them, turning to look at them. The bright Fwooper gave a happy flutter of his wings, and she let out a little laugh.


xxxLaughter filled the living room as she and her friend's burst into giggles over Liza's very amusing imitation of a not so pleasant Headmistress, and the time someone interrupted one of her speeches, or well, lectures more accurately, with a very unflattering magical gadget that startled her and caused the woman to fall backward into a fountain. The dark haired girl fell dramatically backward onto the couch she was sitting on, a hand to her forehead, mimicking the spluttering mess the Headmistress had been. Leona covered her mouth to suppress a snort. That had been one of the best moments of her entire school career, and it still never once failed to make her laugh whenever it crossed her mind, it had just been too incredible. She had been worried about her two friends not getting along too, her no-maj neighbor that had been her best friend since they were small, and her newer friend from school, a kind girl that also happened to be in Horned Serpent like herself, but clearly, that worry had been completely unreasonable; the two girls had been laughing together for the entire night, and were quickly becoming fast friends as the sleepover went on. It was really wonderful to see, and it made her smile.
xxxIt was near the end of the summer, and she had wanted to do something special with her friends before she had to go away to Ilvermorny again, so she had asked her mother if they could have a slumber party, and she had said yes. Katherine often spent the night during the summer months, and by now, she knew everything that Leona knew about magic and the wizarding world, and she had kept all of it a secret, like the amazing friend she was. The chatty blonde still had the Puffskein her grandmother had given her when she was six, and she had successfully kept it a secret from them for years now, when they were fifteen. The little creature was thriving with her friend, and currently contentedly taking a nap near the fireplace on Winks' kitty bed, much to the orange cat's increasing distaste. Winks gave the pink thing a disgusted sniff, and then returned to Leona's side as she struggled to hold back her laughter, curling up by her thigh with a scowl, his eyes never leaving the creature, and his ears twitching at each one of it's minuscule snores. His tail thrashed the air, and hit her sides, but she didn't notice, she was still too distracted by the jokes of her great friends.
xxx"Oh my god, I can't believe that happened! That's absolutely incredible." Kat struggled to regain her breath after her fit of laughing, and Liza smiled.
xxx"It was better than that, it was so amazing. I think it was the best day of my life."
xxx"I'm so jealous, you two are so lucky. You get to see that, and then go to a school filled with magic and come home to it for the rest of your life. I'm sure the Ilvermorny boys are super cute too, much better than the non magic ones, and the things they could do with magic, oh I was I was you." She leaned back with a dreamy sigh, and Leona watched with her mouth open, astounded.
xxx"Kat!"
xxx"What? I'm right aren't I? Tell me I'm right, Liza." Kat sat back up, and turned to the other girl, who was nodding, with a mischievous grin.
xxx"Oh you definitely are. Some of them are so very attractive, especially Ned, oh god, Ned is such a dreamboat. Isn't he Leona? And don't you dare say he's not or that you're too focused on your studies and animals to notice or care, I know you have eyes, I've seen you looking."
xxxLeona watched the two girls stare at her in disbelief. This was a mistake, this was so clearly a mistake. They got along too well, and now they were turning on her. They were insufferable.
xxx"Well, is he Ona? How's he look? Is he as dreamy as she says? Have you talked with him at all? Anything juicy to share?" Kat teased, leaning forward and wiggling her eyebrows. Oh no, she was not going there.
xxx"No, of course not! He's tolerable, mildly tolerable, that's all." Looked away, unable to meet their penetrating gazes, and not wanting them to see in to her very soul.
xxxHer friends stared at her with their eyebrows raised, not believing her for an instant. She let out a sigh.
xxx"Okay, fine, I admit he's kind of cute. Happy now?" Leona relented, crossing her arms and sending them a scowl. Kat let out a squeal and hugged her pillow, leaning back on the couch.
xxx"Eee Leona you finally have a crush!" Kat squeezed the pillow tighter, grinning excitedly from ear to ear.
xxx"I do not!"
xxx"You do! I know you too well, and you do! Tell us about him!" Leona stuck out her tongue as the girl leaned forward, elbows on her knees and her hands supporting her chin, silently demanding she spill the details. Liza mirrored the motion, clearly amused by all of this, and Leona was about to open her mouth and give a retort, but the sound of a cup clattering to the wooden floor by the kitchen along with a sound of disgust drew her attention, and she spotted her little brother standing in the door way, staring with a grossed out look on his face. "Ewwww," Apparently he had gotten away from their mother and Dewitt, who the five year old was supposed to be with while she spent time with her friends, to get a glass of water. Ugh.
xxxHe started to make a move for the stairs on the other side of the living room, racing to head back to their mother to share what he had heard. "Mom, Leona has a boyfriend!" Percy yelled, shouting it up the stairs. Leona leapt to her feet as her friends let out a giggle, running after her brother as he made for the stairs to relay his eavesdropping and get her in trouble.
xxx"Oh my god, Percy! I do not! Get back here you little snitch!" Leona called, growling after him as he made it to the first few steps. "Ah! Mom!" Percy let out a shout. She made it their quickly after him, catching him once he reached the top, and picking him up under his arms, holding him close as he tried to wriggle free from her grip. Her fingers tickled his sides.
xxx"Ahhh! Leona, put me down! You're not invited to my birthday party!" Percy squirmed. She let out a sigh. What sort of threat was that?
xxx"Percy! I'm your sister, I have to go, mom says we can't just uninvite each other." Leona reminded, tightening her grip.
xxx"I don't care! You aren't invited!" Percy let out a loud protest as he began to laugh, the tickling finally getting to him as she took a step toward his room, preparing to deposit him back inside.
xxx"I let you bring Brandon to mine, you have to let me come to yours!" She didn't care about it really, she just wanted to return the favor of being an annoying little pest.
xxx"Fine, then your friends can't come!" Percy let out another little squeal as she pushed open his door, and walked inside.
xxx"You know mom won't allow you to enforce that either, Percy." Her voice was calm, and that only made him wriggle more.
xxx"Okay fine! You can both come! Now put me down, please, it tickles!" Percy cried through his laugher, and she happily complied, dropping him on his bed.


xxx"Your cousin Theo will be staying with us a few days." Emily announced, looking out at her family.
xxxIt was a few days after the slumber party, an admittedly very sleepless night as the three chatted away until the glittering stars faded and gave way to morning and they had to leave, had ended, and she was eating dinner at the dinning table with her family, Winks under the table and laying on her feet, his loud purr reverberating around the room. Dewitt was curiously picking at his fresh fruit salad at his seat on the end of the table, between herself and her annoying sibling, and across from their father. He picked up each piece individually, examining it and giving it a cautious sniff. When she went shopping with her mother earlier, she had found some exotic fruits she hadn't tried before, from other places in the world, and she had gotten them, hoping that Dewitt would enjoy a new taste of star fruit and other things. So far he seemed to like them; he hadn't eaten anything he hadn't known yet, but he was still in the stage of being curious at his unfamiliar meal, and hadn't yet refused, so so far, she'd say it was going well.
xxxLeona looked up from her plate at her mother's announcement, her brows knitting together as her hand halted in twirling the fork in her spaghetti.
xxx"Where's he going to stay? He can't stay in my room, he's a boy." Leona asked, raising the fork to her mouth and taking a bite after she was done. They didn't have any spare bedrooms; her grandmother's room was off limits to guests, and she knew Theodore would not agree to sleeping on a couch, he was far above that. Percy's room was too small for a spare bed with all his things inside, which her brother would not allow anyone to remove, and Theo definitely wouldn't stay in her parents' room, so that just left her own, and she was not going to let that happen. Both Dewitt and Winks were he's, but they were different. While she thought of them as no different to humans, they just weren't. They weren't boys, or her adult cousin that had a habit of flirting with every girl his age. He had taken her for icecream once, and he had spent the entire time trying to chat up the girl who served it to them. He had been successful, as he always seemed to be, unfortunately.
xxx"Ned is a boy!" Percy piped up, fixing her with a devilish grin. She just barely avoided choking on the pasta she had just swallowed. The little-
xxx"Ned? Who's Ned?" Their mother asked, her gaze flicking between her children as the face of her daughter noticeably paled before turning a bright red.
xxx"He's just someone from school mom." Leona answered quickly, returning to her food unnaturally quick, hoping to seem normal and nonchalant, so her mother wouldn't think anything of her annoying pest's comment and attempt at payback.
xxx"No, he's a boy you like. I heard you saying you liked him at your sleep over. L I K E D, liked." Percy sat up straighter in his chair, looking proud as her cheeks grew even redder.
xxx"Percy!" Her hand tightened around the silver fork.
xxx"You like him!" Percy taunted gleefully.
xxx"No I do not!" Leona's blue gray eyes darkened with a glare as she protested his accusations. She did not like Ned and his dumb perfect hair.
xxx"I said he was tolerable, that's all." Leona shifted, and turned her attention back to her dinner, hoping if she didn't encourage him anymore that he'd stop. It didn't work.
xxx"Ha! That means you like him! I'm sure he'd be more than welcome to stay in your room." Percy teased, grinning wildly as she slowly looked back up, her features contorted into a frown, and her eyes dangerously glaring.
xxx"Percy I'm warning you-"
xxx"Ooo do you love him?" The fork fell onto her plate with a quiet clink.
xxx"Oh that's it! Come here you little pest!" The only sound was a chair scraping against he floor as she bolted from her seat, and lunged at her brother, who nearly fell out of his chair in an attempt to scramble away as she started the chase.
xxx"Dad, help!" Percy ran around the table after freeing himself from his chair, hugging it's edge, too quick for her to keep up unless she wanted to crash into it with her longer legs, and paused behind their father's chair.
xxx"Sorry Perce, you're on your own. I'm a pacifist." Their father only turned the page of the book in his hand as he put a forkful of salad into his mouth, pretending to ignore the chaos around him, though Leona didn't miss the tiny smile of amusement on his lips. Percy let out a squeak at his reply when the man made no move to stop his sister as she lunged at him again, and he nearly ran into their mother as he struggled to get away. The woman let out a sigh, shaking her head playfully before raising a hand.
xxx"Percy, Leona, please! You can chase each other around as much as you like, just finish your dinner first." Her voice was playful and she wore a smile, so she wasn't mad, clearly, but Leona still felt a twinge of guilt for starting a chase during their meal, and she reluctantly sat back down in her seat after a slow walk around the table to get back to it."Sorry mama."
xxxPercy reluctantly returned to his seat a moment after her, plopping down heavily onto his chair with folded arms and a huff. "Sorry mom."


xxxSeventeen. She was seventeen, and it was nearly the start of her final year, and then she'd be eighteen, and an adult, and ready to go her own way, out on her own, as soon as the school was done. She wasn't sure if she was ready, and her mind filled with nerves every time it crossed her mind.
xxx"So Leona, it's going to be your final year of school in a few days, have you been preparing for anything other than creatures?"
xxx"Oh, yeah, mhm, of course mom." Leona replied absentmindedly, only barely hearing the question to begin with as she leaned her head on her hand, her elbow upon the white lacy tablecloth, and pushed around her breakfast with the fork in her other hand.
xxx"Oh yeah, she definitely has. she's been reading romance books again!" Percy told them, punctuating it with a sip of his milk. Her eyes flickered to her brother at full attention, a glare taking hold of her expression.
xxx"Again?" Their father queried, raising brow questioningly her way as he lowered the Sunday paper.
xxxThe boy nodded enthusiastically. He was seven, and no less annoying and irritating than he had been at four and five when he began to really talk, and it was breakfast, weren't kids supposed to be sleepy and tired this early in the morning?
xxx"Percy you're such a little pest!" Leona glared, gently giving his foot a kick from under the table. He stuck his tongue out at her in response, grinning triumphantly.
xxx"Leona! Apologize to your brother!" Her mother scolded, sending her a warning look as her eyebrows turned into a frown.
xxx"No, I won't! He went into my room, and went through my stuff!" Leona shook her head and set her fork down on the table, pushing her seat back.
xxxNot the full name, please not the full name- "Leona Nanc-"
xxx"Okay, fine! Percy I'm sorry." She folded her arms and looked his way, the words hurrying out of her lips before her mother could finish her name.
xxx"No you're not!" Percy frowned.
xxxShe opened her mouth to retort and protest, but her father saw, and interjected, stopping her before she could make things worse and turn it into a situation he couldn't so easily diffuse.
xxx"Come on you two, let's not fight. Leona we'll talk more later." He turned to her pointedly, and her mouth remained open, hurt crossing her features.
xxx"But they're innocent!" Leona assured, staring at her father in disbelief. What? Did he not trust her? This was so unfair, and all her brother's fault! If he kept his nose where it belonged, out of her room, or just kept his mouth shut, she wouldn't be in trouble for reading things she'd never even read. She wasn't that kind of vile person, she would never read that.
xxx"I'm sure they are, but we just want to see." So, he didn't trust her then. He didn't trust her. He trusted a seven year old little brother over his older daughter, who had always been far more responsible than the mischievous rascal Percy was. That hurt.
xxx"Ugh. For fu-" She made a move to get up from the table, and leave, before her brother interrupted her, and she had to send him a glare.
xxx"Swear jar!" Percy always had to call that out. Always.
xxx"Percy!"


xxxShe was in the book bag that opened up into her creatures' world, with her old teacher, Atticus. She was feeding the Mooncalves, a heavy metal pail in her hands filled to the brim with special brown food pellets, that seemed to hang suspended in the air when she dipped her hand in and tossed them out to the adorable creatures, all eager for their breakfast. Her teacher was was helping her out with them, and cleaning up their area, or at least, he was trying to, as a few of the mooncalves, the ones that had been gifts from him, found him more interesting than their first meal of the day, and they were happily bounding around him and getting under his feet, happy to see an old friend once again, and the man who had raised them. It was such a wonderful sight to see, and it brought a smile to her lips as she watched them encircle her former teacher, and him try not to topple to the ground right into the mess he was meant to be cleaning. There were few things she loved more than seeing her animal friends so positively happy, and overjoyed. If only that feeling could last forever, and it didn't have to end, when reality tore it's way back in only a moment later when he finally spoke, breaking the pleasant silence they had been wrapped in.
xxx"So Leona, how are things between you and Draco? Are the two of you together yet, or are you both going to need a little more pushing?" His voice was light, teasing, but it only sunk a hole into her heart, and made it fall from her chest, along with the smile upon her face. It was suddenly difficult to keep the pail from slipping from her fingers. All of a sudden it felt all too heavy.
xxx"We've kissed, and shared... moments, but he's engaged. We couldn't, I can't- we can't, we-" She cut herself off, a few tears beginning to spring to her eyes, and a lump rose from her heart and began choking her throat.
xxx"From where I'm standing, with the way you two look at each other, it looks to me that he'd rather be with you than with the girl he's engaged to." He tilted his head, watching her with concern, and stepping closer, making his way through the herd of Mooncalves that had halted when they saw she was upset. He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and she looked up at him, into his familiar, comforting eyes. She bit the inside of her lip, and her face fell as her shoulders seemed to droop, but her old professor didn't miss the flicker of hope that flashed through her eyes at his words. He came a step closer, seeking to comfort, to help, to give advice. "Leona, sometimes people will sneak up on you in life, and suddenly, you don't know, you can't imagine, how you ever lived without them. I had that with someone once, but I chose this life over her. You can choose both Leona, you don't have to forfeit one." She was reminded of all the times before that he had been there, sharing his life, and giving her wisdom when she needed it, and just being there when she needed that. She thought of all the times in school that she had come to him with tears spilling from her eyes, or threatening to fall, which he always seemed to be able to stop, before the dams burst and they turned into raging rivers. Atticus had always been there for her, like this. He had always been a good friend, too good. That only brought more tears to her eyes. At least these tears weren't sad, they were heartfelt, and happier.
xxxArtephius landed on his shoulder, and fluttered his wings as if to say he agreed with the man. "See? Even Artephius agrees, don't you boy?" He leaned into the man's touch as Atticus' hand moved up to stroke his florescent pink feathers. She failed at supressing a small laugh at the sight, her hand not able to cover her lips quick enough. He caught that, and smiled, taking the little victory. He stepped in front of her then, his hand still on her shoulder, and tilted her chin up with a finger, so she'd be able to see the sincerity in his eyes.
xxx"You're like a firefly when it comes to him, you light up whenever he enters the room, and go dark when he leaves. That's not something you're likely to ever find again Leona. That's love. It's beautiful, and rare. Go to him, go tell him how you feel."
xxxIt was slowly becoming love, wasn't it? She really was falling in love with Draco, wasn't she? She was falling in love with the man, she really was, but not in a way she ever had before before. This was different, and new, but she knew that her professor was right. It was love.
xxxShe knew what love felt like; she loved her grandmother, her brother her, parents, but that was a familiar love, and this felt different. She loved her creatures, with every fiber of who she was she loved them, but that was motherly, parental, again platonic, and this was so very different. Her heart raced at the mere sight of him, and she didn't like being far from him, or unable to share things with him. She wanted to be close, and now that he was a part of her life, one so very important, she never wanted him to stop being a consistent piece. Her heart ached even more than it used to when she saw he was hurting or pained, and she so wished she could heal it all for him and give him a smile. There was no other kind of love that it could be, than the true desire of her heart, of her soul. It had to be, when even the sight of him looking happy sent the biggest flutter to her heart, the tiniest quirks of the corners of his lips pulling into the smallest of smiles made her unbelievably happy and caused her heart to race, when just being near him, or thinking of him, and seeing all the little things about him that only she had ever noticed, filled her with unfamiliar feelings that she couldn't place. It was love. It was really love. She was falling in love with Draco. She was falling hard, and she was falling fast.
xxxThe final task was almost here, the final day of the school year was almost upon her, upon them both, and then, they would have to say goodbye. She didn't want to say goodbye to him now that she knew him, now that he held every piece of her heart. He had held her when she needed someone to do that most, he had kept her safe, and showed her sides of himself no one else would ever get to see. How could she say goodbye to him now? How could she ever let him go? She was falling fast in love with Draco Malfoy, and if she didn't say something soon, then he'd be gone, and married, and she'd never see him again. She had to go to him, she had to tell him that he, and only he, held the key to every part of her heart, and that it would always be his, before she risked losing him forever. She would go to him, she would. He had so quickly become the most important being in her life, she couldn't lose him now. Once she was done here, with her professor, whom she had to thank for this, she would find him, and tell him, and from there, all she could do was hope that he shared her feelings, and with ever fiber of her being, she hoped that he did.
xxxShe looked back up to her professor after a moment of glancing away, her eyes clouded with thought and contemplation until they lit up with realization. He held an even larger smile on his lips, clearly already aware of the thoughts that had finally crossed her mind, and the realization that had at last broken through. Good. She wouldn't have to tell him what they were, that she was falling so hard in love for the most special man.
xxx"Thank you, Professor, for everything. Truly." Leona set the pail down- which the Mooncalves eagerly went to the second it hit the green grass-, and flung her arms around the man. He pulled her close, reminding her of her father, and held her tight, her chin resting on his shoulder as her eyes closed.
xxxShe was falling in love with Draco. She was falling in love with Draco Malfoy. She had found her one. She had found her heart, and her heart was Draco Malfoy.


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