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AnasAbdin
Game of Thrones Daily
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Cosimo Galluzzi
i don't do bad sauce passes
occasionally subtle
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
Claire Keane
Kiana Khansmith
dirt enthusiast
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
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Alisa U Zemlji Chuda
Aqua Utopia｜海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
izzy's playlists!
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@jungle321jungle
Hopefully All The Written Stuff (3.0)
A Masterlist of Masterlists for Sanders Sides things I’ve written:
Yes I'm redoing this again
Things are also on Ao3
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Oneshots Masterlist
Ongoing Fics
Completed Fics
On Hold Fics (Or maybe never idk yet)
Snippets and Bullet Point Fics
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Helping you relax after a long, tedious day. Although I do so wish to know where you got the audacity to question me."
KtS(aWtG)!AU by @greenninjagal-blog :) (please click on the image for better quality)
With a static + no environment version. I'm normal ! :) (RAPIDLY BREATHING IN AND OUT OF A PAPER BAG)
In our pattern shop you’ll find some pattern bundles that collect 11 unique amigurumi crochet patterns with a big discount. 😊 Find them at www.littlebearcrochets.com. 🌻 https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp3SNTvI0wI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
Free pattern: Poké Ball
Is everyone happy celebrating Pokémon GO? It sure looks like it, haha~ Here’s a pattern to make your own poké ball to take along on your adventures. ^^
For this pattern I used a 2.75 mm hook and 8 ply/ DK weight yarn.
Tips: Be sure to stuff very firmly! The number between the brackets after the instructions of every round is the total amount of stitches that will be in that round.
Main ball
Start with red yarn.
1. 6 in a magic circle [ 6 ]
2. ( inc ) x 6 [12]
3. ( sc, inc) x 6 [18]
4. ( 2 sc, inc) x 6 [24]
5. ( 3 sc, inc) x 6 [30]
6. ( 4 sc, inc) x 6 [36]
7. ( 5 sc, inc) x 6 [42]
8. ( 6 sc, inc) x 6 [48]
9-12. sc around [48]
Switch to black yarn.
13-14. sc around [48]
Switch to white yarn.
15-18. sc around [48]
19. ( 6 sc, dec) x 6 [42]
20. ( 5 sc, dec) x 6 [36]
21. ( 4 sc, dec) x 6 [30]
22. ( 3 sc, dec) x 6 [24]
23. ( 2 sc, dec) x 6 [18]
Start stuffing very firmly to get a good, round shape.
24. ( sc, dec) x 6 [12]
25. ( dec ) x 6 [6]
Finish off and close.
Button background
Use black yarn
1. 6 in a magic circle [6]
2. ( inc ) x 6 [12]
Finish off with a slip stitch.
Button
Use white yarn
1. 6 in a magic circle [6]
Finish off with a slip stitch.
Sew the black button background onto the black stripe. You can sew it over your yarn colour switches to hide them! Afterwards take your white button and sew it in the middle of your black button background. Voila, you’re done already! :)
If you enjoyed this pattern and would like to support my work, please visit my pattern stores on etsy, ravelry or amigurumipatterns. Thank you! ^^
Have this piece, I'm stupid proud of it. Based on @greenninjagal-blog's AU <3
With the accompanying character reference for Janus because why not :)
Merry insanity everyone I'm gay
The New York-NewJersey-Massachusetts trifecta is just drivers arguing over who is the worst on the road when the answer is actually Connecticut
Official Post of Massachusetts
False Dawn: Three
For his entire life, Janus Ekans had done whatever he could to prove himself and rise in the ranks of his father’s court, but it was all worthless in the end. Now, the only path to survival is to rely on his father’s killer, Duke Logan Ackroyd, even if it means discarding his pride and blood ties. It might not be freedom, but at least it won't be his head rolling on the floor next.
~~~~
False Dawn:
Idiom: A situation that looks like it is beginning to improve when, in reality, it is not.
Read on Ao3 - All Chapters - Masterlists
Three
It was the sound of shouting and heavy footfalls that pulled Janus to consciousness. His body felt numb and cold, but he could feel a heavy- a crushing weight on his back, making it hard to breathe. And thanks to the darkness, he could barely see. The only spot of light came from between what looked like leaves around his right arm, which formed a small hole. And it was there he could look out at the greenery of the forest he had seen before. He was no longer on the road rather, he was now to the side of it- whatever had attacked him had moved him and buried him, for later, it seemed as if it was already occupied with the Duke’s soldiers standing on the dirt road, weapons drawn and shouting to one another. Janus couldn’t make out the words; they were far too muffled to be understood. He tried to shift his body slightly, only for it to refuse. He wanted to call out to them, to let them know about the danger, but no sound could leave his lips. He squeezed his eyes tight in frustration as he tried to clear the cloud hanging over his mind, but only with mild success. He still couldn’t move or speak, but he could hear.
“-affected by sound, but they can sense movement!” A voice shouted.
“They’re smart too!” Added another.
“Burn it down!” Shouted a third.
Through the small hole in the leaves Janus watched as the knights slowly drew backward- only for the green blurs Janus now knew were needles shot towards them. Few managed to dodge or block, while others fell back out of view as they were struck. Arrows flew across his small field of vision, but Janus couldn’t tell if they hit the plant creatures. At the same time, however, Janus was a tad grateful he hadn’t seen what had attacked him. But as the fogginess left his mind, such thoughts fell to the wayside when panic rose within him once more as he smelled the smoke of something burning. It made sense logically. Burn down the plants that killed people to survive- it was a strategy that Janus could agree with. Well, when he wasn’t still within the brush, he was stuck in a body that didn’t listen to him. His arm, which was exposed and could likely be seen by the battling knights, wouldn't even twitch. His tongue was lead in his mouth, and his vocal cords burned when he tried to use them to even grunt. Panic within his chest only made the weight of whatever was on top of him feel heavier and made his breathing grow harder.
Janus grit his teeth as he tried to muster his mana. Maybe if he could make his body even slightly bigger, he would naturally be able to free himself. But as he tried, the searing, burning pain returned and rippled across his body in horrific waves. The plant’s needle was still embedded within him, and it was still blocking his mana. It was taking advantage of the fact the rest of his body had already accepted his death. He was pitiful. Utterly pitiful. The knight in the tree had taken three of these to the legs and had managed to keep her sanity, but he had taken one to the arm and given up out of fear. He was pitiful to have given up before and now still clinging to life. Janus squeezed his eyes shut once more as he tried to calm himself to no avail the air around him began to grow hotter, and the smell of smoke grew stronger.
“Aim! Fire!”
Janus forced himself to take a deep breath and then another, and he once again tried to force his body to move. And when it resisted, he tried again and again and again until his hand outside, where he was trapped, dug into the dirt. He put all of his strength into it and into his arm as he tried to drag himself out. His right arm ached and protested, but he continued nonetheless as he inched forward towards the small hole. The leaves around him seemed to try to hold him back, but Janus kept his eyes closed as he tried to pull his head through them, ignoring how they felt sharp and how they dug into his face. He wouldn’t survive if he didn’t try. That’s how he had always lived, and that wouldn’t change now that he was in a different situation. He had to free himself because there was no one to do it for him.
He felt another clump of dirt under his hand as he dragged himself just a bit further, and he felt the vines of leaves break enough for him to expose his head to the outside world of his leafy prison. His eyes opened in surprise as he gulped in some of the smoky air just in time to see a face look down at him. The Duke himself stood there, looking utterly unperturbed by the chaos around him or by the dark blood that covered him.
“I don’t believe this is what I tasked you with,” the man said, kneeling.
If Janus had been able to do anything other than cough, he would’ve cursed out the man. Thankfully, Duke Ackroyd said nothing more as he drew a knife and, with one hand, began to cut away at the vines that had been covering Janus, and with the other, he covered Janus’ nose and mouth. Janus wanted to protest, but the slight clean air he was greeted with gave him pause. For a few moments, he drank in the clean air until the Duke had fully freed him. Upon sheathing the knife, the Duke removed the cape on his armor to drape around Janus’ naked form and picked up Janus both effortlessly and gently. Any energy Janus mustered seemed to fade once more as his body was moved, and he got a proper look at himself to find more needles piercing his left arm then he recalled two more piercing his right leg and another in his side.
“Rest,” the Duke told him. “With that much venom in your system, any movement will make it worse.”
His words were like a lullaby, and all at once, Janus found himself once again, losing consciousness.
~~~~
The moment he blearily blinked open his eyes, Janus wished he could go back to sleep. But the drumming within his skull seemed to disagree with that sentiment. His whole body felt heavy and ached, and when he so much as tried to roll over, searing pain ignited within him and kept him still. After a few deep breaths, he chose to instead just turn his head slightly to take in his condition and surroundings. He was clothed, or at least wearing pants (thankfully), but much of his body was covered in bandages, which seemed to be oozing a green paste. Or perhaps it just looked that way in the fire’s light. It was dark, and the knights were up and about talking to one another casually and eating a bit away. Janus was among two others who appeared injured and were laid out by a fire. There was a man attending to the wounded, and his gaze transfixed on his fellow knight as he attempted to redress a wound. But the knight who was being treated seemed to feel Janus’ gaze and looked over before he whispered something to the medic. The medic replied in a tone too low to be heard, but when he finished what he was doing, he moved to Janus’ side.
“So, how are you feeling?”
Janus couldn’t help but scoff at the question before he answered in a weaker voice than he would’ve liked, “I’d prefer it if I couldn’t feel at all.”
The man hummed, “Stay still, and the salve should numb most pain. If you move, however…” he shrugged as he stood. “Anyway, you’ve been out for a couple of days. If you were anyone else, I would have been worried. But I’m sure His Grace will want to speak with you at some point. Till then, don’t move.”
Brilliant advice, indeed.
No one paid him much mind for the remainder of the night. But come morning, the medic came over to force Janus to drink some broth before leaving him once more to prepare for the journey of the day. They hadn’t told Janus much of anything; however, they simply picked him up onto a stretcher, brought him to the prison wagon, and laid him inside. It seemed risking his life wasn’t enough to lie in a carriage that wouldn’t reopen his wounds as it jostled them. His siblings, however, seemed relieved at his return.
The youngest ones were quick to gather tears in their eyes and begin fretting about how they were so worried when the Duke led him off, and then they continued without his return. There wasn’t much he could say to alleviate any of their worries. Because he doubted telling them that he trusted Duke Ackroyd would go over well. He supposed that would sound strange to anyone. He trusted the man who beheaded his father, imprisoned him, and used him. And yet, The Duke had saved him. He could have very well left Janus to die there, and yet he had freed Janus and had his wounds treated. Yes, it was true that he only did so he could benefit later, but that didn’t matter. Not one bit, when Janus now knew for certain that the Duke would keep him alive.
The rest of the journey, for the most part, continued the same way it had before Janus was injured, the only difference being that the medic would stop by the wagon in the evenings to change bandages and leave once more. But it was possible that Janus didn’t notice much difference since he spent most of his time asleep. His siblings would wake him now and then to do things, but other than that, Janus seemed to blink, and hours would go by. His mind was nothing more than a fog most times, but truthfully he preferred sleeping to thinking. However, when the Duke came to him, he didn’t have much choice but to follow.
His body resisted all movement as he forced himself to climb out of the wagon. The Duke thankfully didn’t lead him far away, and Janus was quick to collapse to the ground and groan in pain.
“You're healing quite well,” the Duke commented.
Janus stared up at the man in disbelief, “Is that how it looks?”
Somehow the man looked serious, “Shara- the scout I sent ahead of you took three needles to the leg, and she still can’t put any pressure on it. Meanwhile, my medic says you’ve been healing quite fast.”
“I guess? I’ve just been sleeping and been in pain.”
“Do you always heal quickly?”
“I don’t know? Usually, the most dangerous thing I would face is giving orders to people who got hurt instead of me.”
One of the Duke’s eyebrows rose in surprise as he sat down a few feet away from Janus, “You were a commander?”
Janus swallowed as he closed his eyes, hoping that feigning more pain than he was would cause the conversation to drop. “It was more complicated than that.”
“I see. What I wished to speak to you about is what will happen when we reach the capital,” The Duke continued drawing Janus’ gaze. “I will speak with His Majesty about what I want to do with you all. Until his decision is made, you’re likely to be sent to the dungeons. And-”
“The executions,” Janus interrupted. “Will I go to watch? Or stay in dungeons?”
The man crossed his arms, and his mouth closed as he considered Janus before he spoke again. “What would you prefer?”
Janus would lie if he said he wasn’t taken aback by the question, but even more than that, he was surprised by the honesty of his own answer, “I don’t care.”
“You don’t? Does the concept of possibly watching your siblings- of your own mother being killed not bother you at all?”
Perhaps if he had been asked years ago, his answer would’ve been different. But back then, Thomas was still alive. So now Janus simply gave a shrug and then promptly winced at the pain of doing so. “Not if she deserves it.”
Duke Ackroyd hummed as he put on an expression Janus couldn’t read. Before, the man had at least looked confused and interested, but now he was hiding his expression, and Janus wasn’t sure what it meant. Either way, the man spoke, “Do you believe she deserves it?”
Janus almost gave a laugh, “Don’t we all? With all due respect, Your Grace, didn’t you bring us here because you knew more of us were guilty than innocent? I don’t care about watching them get what was coming. That’s just the kind of family we are.”
“I… I’m afraid I cannot relate to such a mindset. But, why ask me if you are to attend if it does not bother you?”
“Because you wanted me to work mostly undercover, I assume, given I’m not going to show my magic blatantly. So, I’d certainly stick out if I went from the chopping block to working for you. That is assuming the executions are public.”
The Duke looked as if the thought hadn’t even occurred to him. “They will be, and it will depend on His Majesty’s decision. You’ll find out one way or another.”
When Janus didn’t reply, the two sat silently for a few minutes before the Duke stood to his feet. “Break is wrapping up. The next time we speak will be in the capital.”
Janus nodded as he pulled himself up, causing his head to swim and his body to stumble, but the Duke gripped his arm firmly, holding him steady.
“Try not to die on the way there?”
“Is that an order?” Janus asked him.
The Duke released his arm, a shadow of a smile on his face. “You don’t seem particularly good at following those, so I don’t think it matters.”
~~~~
The capital was an… interesting place like the rest of the Empire. It was large, and Janus could see how its buildings would’ve once been considered grand, but now they seem to be far from a priority. The streets were full of people, many of which looked more well-fed than those they had seen on the journey here, and unlike the villagers in other towns they passed through, these people loudly cheered. They emerged from run-down homes and seemed to stack upon one another just to cheer in the name of Ackroyd and shout at the fall of Ekans. The members of the convoy seemed to be enjoying it as soon enough, and their pace slowed so everyone could see the parade of tyrants off to their deaths. As they went, Janus kept his head hung low and listened to their shouts, listened to their triumph. About every name in the book flew from their lips, but those words were ones Janus had already been called ten times over. His gaze briefly drifted to his younger siblings, who cowered with their hands over their heads, worried stones might fly, and Janus couldn’t blame them. So, all he did was hang his head and wait for the next stage to come.
The prison carts brought them all the way to the palace and directly to the dungeons. They were thrown into different cells based upon which prison wagon they had arrived in, and as he made his aching body as comfortable as he could on the cold stone, Janus couldn’t help but think that the palace dungeons appeared better well kept than the outside of the palace itself. Not that he was stupid enough to bring that up. One of his older brothers, however, was.
“I guess the maids are only around to clean up the blood around here.”
But to Janus' and everyone’s surprise, the guards did nothing. They simply looked at him and began to mumble to one another, and Janus had the sneaking suspicion that the comment would be paid for later. Regardless, they all left, leaving the family time alone to say their goodbyes, perhaps.
“Janus!” The former First Princess shouted, pressing her face to the bars of the cell across from him. “What’s going on? You talk to that Duke sometimes, right? Did he say anything?”
Janus blinked in surprise, to think she was capable of noticing something other than herself. “He spoke of executions,” he told her simply. “Public ones, to be precise.”
The way she paled was almost amusing. Did she think they had been treated like trash and dragged all the way here just to be released? “What!? I thought you were negotiating for us or something!?”
Janus rolled his eyes as he stretched out his body against the way it protested by sending pain up his nerves. “I negotiated for myself.”
“What about the rest of us?!” She screeched as panic rose within her, and she backed away from the bars. “Shit! Shit! Shit! What on earth are you good for!?”
“What am I good for...?” He repeated slowly before he gave her a simple smile. “Self-preservation.”
“You’re disgusting!”
“Did you expect anything different?” The Second Queen voiced almost boredly from her cell to the right, seemingly resigned to her fate. “Only those of the legitimate lineage could survive in the tyrant’s castle without cutting down others to get there. Tell me, Janus, did you even vouch for your mother?”
At the comment, Janus’ eyes locked with his mother’s, but the Third Queen wore her unaffected mask. “Doing so would make myself obsolete,” he answered finally. “He wants me for my lineage magic, after all.”
As the First Princess scoffed and continued to shout and complain, Janus’ eyes didn't leave his mother’s as she gave him a slight nod of respect and understanding.
Two days passed before they were taken from the dungeons at the break of dawn and brought back to the prison wagons- it seemed that the executions wouldn’t take place on the palace grounds. They didn’t ride far, just down into what was likely the center of the city, where the peeking sun shined ever so brightly on the podium where the executions would take place. It shined brightly and without mercy to ensure whoever saw it got a good view of the guillotine’s shiny blade.
They were ushered into a neighboring building and down to its cells underground, where they were shoved in holding cells, but strangely rather than keeping them in their usual groups, the Children of the Harem were unevenly split into two. Previously all fourteen of them had been shuffled around together, but now Janus found himself with the three youngest and one of his other brothers, who collapsed with a sigh of relief as realizing who he was with- the children that would be spared. If anyone noticed what was going on, they didn’t speak about it; rather, they all sat silently, some with heads in their hands, as they understood what was to come.
The passage of time was slow, but it was impossible to miss as the sound above and around them grew louder and louder with shouts of excitement and anticipation. They must’ve been just underneath the chopping block, and he supposed it made sense this way. Logically you wanted the prisoners close at hand, but out of reach of the crowd that would surely tear them apart. It seemed Janus wouldn’t have to watch the executions, but he would have to listen.
So with nothing to do but listen, it was easy to hear when silence overtook the crowd and a voice rang out. “Welcome all! I know you are all here for something a long time coming- the end of the Curse of Jarell!” There was a pause for cheering before he continued. “The Tyrant of Econia is already dead, his blood serving to bring rains to The North! And today, we will free our lands from drought, poison, monsters, and our people from starvation and plague. Today the Ekans’ bloodline ends, and our suffering with it!” The crowd cheered at that, but as they did, Janus noticed his family stiffen silently as the pressure over their heads grew heavier. “I will finish what my parents didn’t get to,” The voice continued. “I swear that to all of you here and now, as your Emperor! So, bring out the first of the prisoners, and we’ve all been waiting far too long.”
Janus hated the way his heart betrayed him by beating faster and faster within his chest as the silence within the dungeon felt oppressive, and the cheers outside were deafening. He hadn’t realized he was even holding his breath until a door he hadn’t noticed before slammed open, and a mocking sun shone from behind two knights. Their footfalls were heavy with weight and anticipation as they made their way to the cell holding The Harem. The Second and Third Queens stood and held their heads high, but the other three began to cry and only pulled themselves to their feet until they were shouted at or when a knight marched in and dragged the Sixth Queen to her feet. And as they were forced out of the cell and up the stairs to their deaths, Janus couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity for the Sixth. It had only been five months since she had come of age and been forced to marry the King, and yet for that crime alone, here she was. Janus deserved death far more than the Queen younger than him, but this was the hand they were dealt.
“The Tyrant’s Harem!” The Emperor’s voice came from above, barely managing to be louder than the jeers of the crowd. The sound was so loud that just by closing his eyes, Janus felt he could picture the scene. Thousands of people in all directions as they all hoped to get a look at the once proud women brought to ruin. Shouting and waiting for the moment, the haughty looks on their faces turned to fear as their time came. Shouting as they laughed at those who were crying and who felt despair for once in their lives. Janus could picture the young Emperor in a large chair on the stage to ensure he got a good view, Duke Ackroyd was likely at his right hand. He’d likely be stoic, but his eyes would give away the fact that he also was anticipating this day.
He could hear everything. Because of that, Janus could hear the moment the heavy blade fell. And he could hear the two thuds which closely followed. He could hear the cheers as the Empire’s citizens gained the vengeance they craved, and he could hear the crying from the Queens and from his siblings down here with him as reality truly set in. He could hear everything, so that was why when the crowd died down, it caught his attention.
“These two,” The Duke’s voice started. “My investigation has proven their innocence, so their lives will be spared.”
The whispers were loud and accusing and angry, but the Emperor didn’t seem to care. “But they will not lead easy lives. They will have their arms branded for their crimes, and then they will be exiled. So don’t despair; those who live lives entirely of luxury won’t survive long in such a manner.”
As the cheers continued and the feeling of hope down here grew, Janus couldn’t help the way his quick beating heart betrayed him. Who was spared? Judging from the crying in relief, it was certainly the Sixth, but who was the other? And could it be his mot-
The door slamming open jerked Janus from his thoughts as the knights marched down and opened the cell where the rest of the Harem Children were. Tears flowed down faces as they dragged themselves after, their eyes looking at Janus with envy. But someone still managed to look hopeful that they may be one to be saved like two of the Queens. But since he could hear everything, Janus quickly learned that the only Children of the Harem that survived were the other four with him. And that no amount of shouts nor pleading had saved the other nine. So it was because of that Janus knew the legitimate children’s deaths would not be avoided. The True Queen went first. And then her children in reverse order. And the cheers were loudest when the last one- The Crown Prince, died shouting for mercy while still managing to admonish those around him. They all had managed to be prideful to the end, but Janus supposed that made for a better show.
~~~~
All Chapters
Vanta and Twisty as Twisted Tyrants
A Royal Pain: Two
A public competition between brothers for the throne was quite literally the last thing Janus and Logan wanted to do in their lives. After years and years of doing everything in their power to reach this point, there should've been a reward—something other than crushed hopes. But what to do now? Resign to that fact? No, if they were being forced to play this game, then they’d rig it in their favor—or in their illegitimate younger brother's.
Read on Ao3 - Masterlist - All Chapters
Two: A Meeting of the Minds
“Find Virgil?” Logan repeated in disbelief. “Do you realize how difficult and dangerous that could be?”
Janus didn’t reply. Instead, he touched his face as he thought (an action which often made Logan wonder if Janus had even heard him at all). “If he left his will with the High Priestess rather than with our mothers, there’s a chance she might know where he ended up. Then, we can scoop him up, toss around the excuse that we want to fulfill Father’s final wishes, and then mold him into a fitting ruler.”
“Are you even considering the risks?” Logan pressed. “My Mother-”
“Would kill him and you. I know. But if we do this right, there’s a chance we can pull this off. We’ve got a few months until the festival starts. That’s plenty of time to find him and prepare for contingencies.”
Logan paused, taking in what he could see of Janus’ expression in the darkness. It was almost as if the glint in his eyes was illuminating the rest of him—it was clear he’d already made his decision. So it seemed all Logan could do was damage control. “Not a word to anyone,” Logan sighed in defeat. “Not even the twins.”
“Got it. And we’ll need to find an excuse to meet with the High Priestess.”
“You know there’s a chance she won’t know anything, right?”
“Of course I do.”
“I’m just making sure. For now, let’s lay low,” Logan suggested, standing and giving a stretch. “Keep our heads down and play nice. See what information falls into our laps if we pay attention. Then and only then, we talk to the High Priestess.”
“You want to gain leverage against her first?”
“Unless you already have something in your back pocket?”
“Not on her, unfortunately. But it seems we have a starting point?”
“A starting point,” Logan agreed. “We should get back. Work begins early.”
“Yes, yes. Night Lo.”
“Good night, Janus.”
~~~~
It hadn’t felt like he had slept long before he had been roused awake, but today, of all days, he couldn’t opt to stay in bed longer. He was quick to bathe and dress, which proved to be a good decision as Mother entered his room as she pleased. She said nothing at first, scanning the room as if she hadn’t seen it before, and then she took in him seated with his breakfast. “You should be reading documents in preparation,” she said finally.
“I had intended to eat quickly and be the first to arrive at the meeting so I could catch up there.”
A hum came in reply as she sat across from him, a sign that she was pleased.
“Tea?”
“I’ll pass. I’ve already eaten.”
They lapsed into silence for a moment or two while Logan simply ate, but it seemed she wanted a conversation after all as she gave a dismissive wave to the servants, who then made themselves scarce. “Yesterday, you only listened. Tell me, what do you truly think about the conditions of your Father’s will?”
He could have given many answers, but he chose the one that would cause the fewest ripples. “After the shock of it wore off, I realized it’s a perfect reflection of Father’s character.”
“That’s true,” she sighed. ‘He always wanted the option that would make the most people happy. When we were children, I’d always tell him that he’d be a failure of a ruler if he operated that way. But I suppose he did well enough... when given adequate help, of course.”
It was when she made statements like this that his parents' relationship confused Logan the most. Their marriage had only been to appease others, and the same could be said for Logan’s very existence. But the two had known each other since early childhood, so one would think they’d be at least friends- but ‘a tolerable husband’ was the fondest Mother ever got when she came to the man she married. Did she even care that he was gone? Logan couldn’t be sure. But he also knew better than to ask. “Do you have any ideas as to what these coming challenges will be?”
“Unfortunately, I don’t have a single guess. They could be regarding your Father’s morals, general leadership, or something entirely different. And given the sealed letters the High Priestess showed us, we can’t press her for information either.”
“Perhaps there are clues in Father’s office?”
“I don’t think so. I was combing through it yesterday.” She worked fast, as always. “But there’s one section of the office I am yet to check. I’ll do that today.”
The conversation continued in pointless circles until they reached the meeting room. But before they could go in, Mother reached up to briefly fuss with his hair. “You're truly grown up now, aren’t you?” she commented. “You used to be so small, hiding behind my dress.”
Logan paused for only half a moment before taking in the presence of a couple of nobles who had already arrived. And then pushed her hand away lightly. “You make it sound as if I was shy.”
“You were for a short while. Perhaps you were too young to remember.”
Logan resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he entered the conference room. The room itself was nothing special. A long table was to be filled with the nobles who made up the cabinet and the three opposing factions. But there was one thing different than usual, and Mother quickly zeroed in on it. “Why is there another table by your father’s seat?”
“I had his chair replaced with a table for two for Janus and me,” Logan explained. “You saw how everyone looked at the meeting before the funeral and how they urged us to sit there and start trouble before the meeting even began.”
“I can’t say I approve,” Mother started, moving away from Logan towards her usual seat. “But I understand wanting to skip the pettiness so we can get to business.”
Logan quickly caught up with her and pulled out the seat for her, expecting more words to follow. Thankfully, if she had any other complaints, she didn’t voice them, which allowed Logan the space to greet the few who had already arrived.
When the meeting was about to start, Logan was unsurprised to find two key people were missing. But with all eyes on him and unasked questions about the different seating arrangements filling the air, he chose to start. “Welcome everyone. I’m sure my elder brother will be here soon enough, but we can start without him. Ultimately, this meeting will determine how work will flow moving forward, as my Father’s duties must be taken care of… Yesterday, The High Priestess revealed that the church holds the will. And upon reading it to us, it was determined,” Logan sighed slightly, already picturing the chaos that would ensue. Maybe he should’ve waited for Janus. His brother was better at dealing with this sort of stuff. “It was determined that no heir to the throne would be named at this time.”
For a moment, the room was silent. Dead silent. Then, it erupted all at once.
“What!?”
“This can't be true!”
“That doesn’t make sense!”
“Then it should go to the firstborn!”
“He’s not even here right now!”
“How is one to be chosen then?”
“Maybe if you’d shut up, he’d tell us.”
The chaos continued for a few more moments; truthfully, Logan was too tired to try and stop it. Instead, he just scanned their faces and reactions, mentally noting who was a part of which faction and how that faction broadly responded. Janus’ faction seemed quite happy; his own were touting his achievements, and the neutral party seemed more annoyed than anything. Overall, it was nothing unexpected. He was more than willing to let it go on until the conversations naturally died out. However, Mother wasn’t as she opened and then snapped her fan shut in a way that made it echo far louder than it should be able to (after years of this, Logan still wasn’t quite sure she got the sound that loud, but she always did it without fail. Was it magic? She would certainly waste mana to be more dramatic).
When the silence quickly fell following the Second Empress’s action, Logan continued. “The wording was as follows: ‘My children shall compete in different challenges to determine who is best fit to become the next leader of our empire.’ As such, starting at the beginning of this coming founding festival, The High Priestess will open a sealed letter the late emperor left behind detailing some sort of challenge to be completed.”
“Were any details on the challenges given?” One count asked.
“Nothing. Just that it will last a year.”
“A year with an open throne?” Duke Ackroyd started. “And what are we to do in that time? That’s painting a target on our backs.”
“We share that concern, Father,” Mother agreed. “The only thing we can do at this point is let both princes fill in the role, and hopefully, that prospect is enough to dissuade our enemies.”
“ Hope? That’s not concrete! We need a ruler to show we are not falling apart at the seams! If not the princes, a reagent then!”
“They’re too old for reagents,” Duchess Regis disagreed.
“An empty throne for over a year? Such a thing is unprecedented! A reagent will help smooth over the transition.”
“And I assume you’ll install yourself in that position?” She asked in an innocent tone before it quickly turned harsher. “Putting someone else on the throne directly conflicts with the Emperor’s wishes.”
A pause coated the room as the heads of the Second Prince’s and the Neutral factions squared off. Logan’s gaze darted to his aide off the side of the room, but unsurprisingly, Remus didn’t seem to be paying any attention and thus wouldn’t hold his aunt back. And, unfortunately, Roman was likely wherever Janus and his mother were. He’d have to do this himself.
“The Church intends to publicize the will,” Logan said quickly before tensions could rise further. “Anything we do opposing it will be known far and wide. And that will only make us look worse in the eyes of the foreign courts.”
“At the very least, this will tell us who we can and cannot trust,” Mother said (thankfully stopping Grandfather from going further).
“For now, we must continue to run this nation as if nothing has changed,” Duchess Regis said, scanning the room. “But to do that, we’ll need both princes, won’t we? Where is your brother?”
Logan could only shake his head in reply, “I am not his keeper.”
“It shouldn’t be a surprise,” a countess commented. “The First Empress is always late. She likely dragged him into whatever it is.”
Others gave murmurs in agreement, and Logan stood, not wanting to deal with any of it. “Though it’s been a short amount of time, a lot was said. Let us take a short break to let that sink in while I personally go find-” Logan’s attempt at escape was cut off by the doors slamming open to reveal Janus (and a tired and disheveled-looking Roman). Janus gave a nod to everyone with a seemingly unaffected expression, but Logan knew his brother well enough to know he was pissed.
“Now he comes!” Someone complained, and others were quick to toss in their jeers.
Janus gave the room a bright smile as he joined Logan as the head of the table, but he said nothing until they both took their seats. “Apologies, it seems someone wasn’t so happy about the little competition for the throne. As such, I was a bit preoccupied with the presence of assassins in my study this morning. So do forgive me for being late. I felt it would be a better choice to wash off the blood first.”
Any confidence that the nobles had a moment ago was instantly gone.
“Her Majesty is interrogating the ones left alive?” Logan guessed, scanning his brother for any injury.
Thankfully, Janus seemed fine. Actually, he seemed more annoyed than anything. “Yes, she promised to be thorough in doing so.”
“S-surely, this couldn’t be about the competition for the throne,” A Marquis of Logan’s faction started. “This was just learned before you arrived.”
“My mother was quite... vocal in her complaints yesterday. And I’m not naive enough to think that the loyalty of absolutely everyone in this palace lies with my family.” He ended the statement with a false chuckle as he leaned back in his seat, commanding all their attention with little effort. And then he kept going, with little subtlety in his words. But as he spoke, Logan just silently marveled as he watched Janus do what he was best at. And what he consistently failed to do. It was sort of ridiculous; Logan could do the work required of him, and he had been doing so for many years. When they were young, he had even started attending these meetings before Janus because he could understand the complex topics and their even more complex answers. Logan’s mind could manage the work. But he couldn’t manage the minds who worked for him. So, how on earth could he even attempt to make a grab for the throne? It should be Janus’, but he didn’t want it. And if he didn't, surely there was someone who was a better fit than the both of them. Logan could only hope Virgil was just that.
Janus stretched his arms, the motion drawing Logan past the doubts and back to the forefront of his mind in time for the meeting to truly begin- because Janus had commanded it to be so. With just a simple: “Well then?”
~~~~
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can't stop listening to this
he would not say that.
I was there when he said it actually
"oh yeah even if your opponent has an unexpected advantage that completely turns the tides of battle (you thought they were unarmed when they aren't) you shook totally just keep going with your current plan, otherwise you're a coward"
he would not say that.
you're just afraid of a big thick girlcock
Talia Al Ghul by Dermot Power:
Link
That piece is still lovely and so are almost everything else in that catalogue do check it out
hiya! i forgor if you still do requests but uh if it’s not too much trouble could do you like the batfam watching bruce just sit in a chair in front of the jason memorial for like hours in end
tbh this prompt has been sitting rent free in my head ever since i saw it
Fierce little protector. 💚
False Dawn: Two
For his entire life, Janus Ekans had done whatever he could to prove himself and rise in the ranks of his father’s court, but it was all worthless in the end. Now, the only path to survival is to rely on his father’s killer, Duke Logan Ackroyd, even if it means discarding his pride and blood ties. It might not be freedom, but at least it won't be his head rolling on the floor next.
~~~~
False Dawn:
Idiom: A situation that looks like it is beginning to improve when, in reality, it is not.
Read on Ao3 - All Chapters - Masterlists
The days of travel to the capital were long, to say the least. And things weren’t exactly improved by the fact that he hadn’t seen the Duke since he had demonstrated his magic. It made sense of course; the Duke had said he needed to speak with his emperor before anything else, but the passage of time had caused the seeds of doubt within Janus to grow like weeds. But it was too late to escape.
It was more than clear to see where the border between the two nations lay. Even if the large wall and gate weren’t here, it was quite easy to determine. Because moments ago they had been paraded through a border town past all the commoners who looked on in shock, awe, and worry. Moments ago Janus had heard their chitters and felt their gazes as he kept his head hanging low. Moments ago there was so much going on, and now there was nothing. On this side of the gates, the grasses appeared dull in color, or they had withered entirely. The trees were trying and failing to sprout their leaves, and silence rang loud. As they went on into the dying forest, he couldn’t even hear a sound other than the convoy itself. No birds singing, no wind blowing, no animals scurrying. The air itself felt heavier than air ever should, and the smell of death pierced his nostrils.
This was the curse his father had placed.
He had only ever known a few things about the curse. First, he knew that his father had gone to war against his mother’s homeland in order to get what he needed to cast it after they had refused involvement. Second, he knew that the blood of the former kingdom of Osteria had served as a catalyst for the curse. And third, that it had crippled The Angoro Empire. He had asked questions in the past, how it managed to take down an entire nation, he had asked how people had let his father do this, and he had asked why The Empire was believed to be a threat… and yet now, seeing its effects with his own eyes, he realized he had been asking the wrong questions all along. Now he knew that it crippled them by seemingly sucking the life from any and everything. People had let his father do such a thing because they were too cowardly to stand up to a tyrant- but that was a feeling he knew well. And his father’s greed had been the reason to do this, not because they were a threat but because it was what the tyrant king had chosen to do. He knew all of these answers, but he still never asked until now what he could do to help? Before, it had just been a fact of life that The Empire was cursed. But now that meant something different, and he knew the lump of guilt in his throat meant nothing to anyone here.
The feelings of guilt only increased the next day as they rode through the first village on this side of the border.
They rode through slowly, but Janus couldn’t tell if it was due to the Duke choosing to parade them through or if it was due to the village’s condition. The village seemed as if it had been bathed in gray. The homes were small, and many were in different forms of disrepair. Some spots were crumbling, other homes were caved in, and some looked like they had been repaired over and over and yet still it hadn’t worked. The villagers themselves looked starved, but given the dead and empty fields they had passed, Janus supposed it made sense, but it didn’t make it any easier to see. He never knew skin could sit that close to bone, or that a person could be so skinny, or how hollow a person’s face could look.
His siblings seemed to be thinking the same, as Janus’ youngest brother asked, “What happened to them?”
The boy was quickly hushed, but his question went unanswered as none of them wanted to speak the truth in front of the victims. But given the silence around them- the silence in which a normal village would have shouts of joy, anger, chatter, laughter, or the sounds of various animals as opposed to this horrific silence- given the silence around them Janus could hear the words spoken in the wagon ahead of them.
“It’s horrible,” someone had said quietly. He wasn’t sure who, but he heard the Crown Prince respond.
“Idiot! It’s their own fault!” he spat, drawing Janus’ gaze. The Crown Prince’s clothes (much like the rest of them) were soiled and ripped, his hair was matted to his forehead and sticking up at odd angles, and despite his dirty appearance and his hands bound, he still seemed as proud as the crown askew on his head. He sat up straighter, seemingly knowing he had the attention of everyone within a mile, and looked out at the villagers with a sneer. “They were going to use their magic to destroy us. Don’t waste your pity on those who get what they deserve.”
The silence was suffocating. Janus waited a moment, and then another, and another. Waiting for someone- likely one of the knights to remove his brother’s head, but the swing of a sword never came.
The former Queen gave a slight yet still visible sigh of relief before she spoke, “You can’t say-”
A sword swing never came- but the rock did.
Janus only noticed it the moment before it knocked the crown off the smug man’s head. It fell to the wagon floor with a clatter, and as the blood began to fall down the crownless Crown Prince’s face, so did more rocks. All at once, they seemed to come through both sides of the bars, and yet all Janus could do was use his arms to cover his face. The silence was gone now. Now was the sound of rocks hitting skin and shouts of pain that were drowned out by the screams of anguish the villagers let out as they let the stones fly. He kept his head down and covered as he scanned his siblings in the wagon with him. The three younger ones had made their way into the middle, and the others were trying to block the stones with their bodies. Janus squeezed his eyes shut momentarily as a well-sized stone struck the center of his back, but ultimately, he scooted forward to circle them as well. And as the pelting continued and blood began to trickle from his head, his arm, and his back- he ultimately chose to undo the progress he had made as he began to undo the bonds from the three youngest children. He wouldn’t fully free them. He couldn’t go that far… but at least he could give them a chance to protect themselves. Janus’ gaze drifted behind him to the shouting and jeers, and he couldn’t help but notice a child who appeared to be on his last leg- and yet, with the little strength he had, he threw pebbles at the wagons.
Janus closed his eyes as he looked forward once more as guilt and other emotions he had repressed seemed to bubble to the surface. He could almost laugh at himself- what had happened to his perfect mask? What had happened to his unaffected gaze? What had happened to his false confidence? He had been full of it back in the ballroom when the Duke was a hair's width away from taking his life- but here and now… Janus squeezed his eyes tightly as another stone slammed painfully into his hand, and yet he refused to let a tear shed. He had no right to do so, not here… not in this Empire. Not after all his family had done. And not after what he- what he personally had done.
~~~~
His family kept their mouths shut throughout the next stops on their journey. The locals they passed either watched in silence or cursed in loud whispers, but no more rocks were thrown- but he didn’t doubt that some had considered it. Throughout all of it, the soldiers had paid them nor their wounds no mind, the closest thing to concern being allowing them the choice to dunk their bloodied and dirtied bodies into a river they crossed, which was a color far from blue. Upon looking at the gray and thick water, Janus instead had negotiated to use a bit of the drinking water he was allotted to wipe some of the blood from his face, to which a soldier had simply told him not to complain about it later. But thankfully, none had beat him or even shouted at him for freeing his younger siblings from their bonds, likely assuming that they were no threat. But then again Janus refused to get complacent in his assumption that this wouldn't come back to haunt him later.
A thought that was perpetuated by the convoy’s sudden halt one afternoon and the Duke’s approach to the prison wagon. His eyes had scanned them all with disinterest before his eyes locked with Janus’ and he stepped back as his knights moved to unlock the bars. Janus was slow to climb out as his muscles ached, but the moment his feet were touching the ground the man was leading him away. Janus followed as closely as he could as the Duke led the way up the hill they had been riding beside until they were far from sight of everyone else.
“I’ve found another use for you,” the Duke stated simply as he came to a halt. “The scout I sent ahead didn’t return. Nor did the one I sent after her. I need someone who can follow their trail and get out quickly to tell me what’s ahead. Turn into a bird that should suffice… preferably one that’s small and fast.”
Janus would never admit how much he hated the fact that he wasn’t given an option, so rather than agreeing, he asked a question. “Why do you need scouts in your own empire?”
The look the Duke gave in response screamed he was wondering if Janus’ intelligence had plummeted to a depth below zero, but he answered nonetheless. “Monsters were part of our well-deserved curse.”
Janus couldn’t hide his grimace at the man’s sarcasm, “I can’t stay in non-human forms for too long.”
“Then be quick about it.”
“But I-”
“I wasn’t asking for your opinion, Prince Janus.”
“I understand that,” Janus tried slowly. “But Duke-” Janus tried to hide his anger and surprise at himself as it suddenly struck him that he didn’t know who he was speaking to. He knew well that there were three dukes of the empire and one archduke underneath the crown, but of the three, he had no clue which this man was. The man wore nothing to identify his house other than the navy and black color armor he shared with his soldiers, and while Janus had spent time learning the crests of the Empire, color had never been that important. Ultimately, Janus took a deep breath, attempting to make himself appear as if he was simply considering his phrasing as opposed to being the idiot he was. “What you’re asking of me is more than I think I can do. I won’t lie and say that I’m not concerned for my own life, but also, I think there needs to be more to this plan than simply, ‘turn into a bird and go check it out.’”
The Duke paused, considering before he seemed to give a nod, “I never said there wasn’t. I was going to explain further once you transformed. The road forward is a clearly marked one, but that doesn’t mean it’s without danger. I have some chalk in a pouch. I’ll tie it to your leg and periodically, you can stop and mark a tree for us to know it’s safe up to that point. Simply come back if your mana runs out, but if there are issues and you need to run, drop the pouch near the dangerous area, and we can use that as a marker as to where the battle will take place. Does this plan suffice?”
“Y-yes, it does.”
“Then transform and get moving. We’ll follow after some time.”
Janus nodded once and began to focus on the image he held of his mind of a crow and how it looked compared to his own body, and what he had read about the animals in the past. It was a form he didn’t particularly like, but clearly, it was one which was necessary. The Duke reached down with an unaffected gaze and bent down, and Janus watched as a small sack was tied to his leg. He gave a few experimental flaps as he lifted off the ground, happy to find it didn’t weigh too much.
If the Duke was pleased, he didn’t show it; rather, he simply gathered Janus’ grimy clothes and tucked them under his arm. “Then you should get going, Prince Janus.”
Janus gave a curt nod as he began to fly upwards out of the trees, but he nearly fell back to earth in surprise and embarrassment when the Duke spoke again.
“Ackroyd. I am Logan, the Duke of Ackroyd,” Janus glanced back to see the man’s arms were crossed and a slight smile played on his lips. “But you knew that, of course.”
Rather than reply, Janus let out a caw as he took to the skies.
The feeling of wind in his feathers was something he always enjoyed when he took such a form. Transforming into a bird and feeling the sensation of flight was something that never failed to entice and excite, but now was not the time for the luxury of having fun. From here above the trees, there wasn’t much he could see beyond the tops of barely living trees themselves and the dirt road they were meant to follow. So, without having much choice but to do as he was asked, he glided down towards the road and began to fly above the trees beside it. He flew a slight distance and around a bend where he knew the convoy would not be able to see, and he picked a tree visible from the road. But as he approached the tree, he silently wondered who exactly he was supposed to get the chalk on it. Yes it was tied around his ankle, but who was he supposed to leave a defined mark on it without reaching a finger into the bag? His wings didn’t have the kind of dexterity to do as he pleases while keeping aloft.
He paused for a moment before, ultimately he decided to try something. He picked a low-hanging branch that was clearly visible from the road, and after backing up a bit, he flew just barely over it so the bag of chalk would bump into it. The bag did so- thankfully without snagging- and upon flying backward a bit, there was a mark of chalk left on the branch. It wasn’t much, however, so he could only hope the knights had good eyes.
He moved quickly to get the job done, but also because his nerves were rising with each passing moment. He knew he didn’t have long in this form- but he wasn’t sure how long that was. His magic had been something he had honed to take the form of others to aid in lying for whatever he had needed (which, more often than not, was simply to sneak out of the castle from time to time). This was something he simply wasn’t used to, and yet he had no choice but to continue. Janus flew on, trying to focus on the sound of anything other than his quick beating heart and the sound of his wings. He marked tree after tree with ease, but his anxieties only grew- if the scouts had truly been attacked by monsters, he should’ve seen or heard something by now, right? Or was he simply being impatient? He landed on a branch briefly and forced himself to take a deep breath, and then another, and another. Panic would only make this worse. He needed to keep calm. To remain unaffected. That is what he had learned to do in the past, and it’s how he would remain in the future. He had already learned the hard way what had happened when he let his mask slip too far.
He took off.
Flying and marking trees, as time progressed, his mana began to trickle away. He wasn’t sure how long he had been at this when weariness began to creep into his mind. He flew along silently, noting how the bag felt lighter than when he had started and wondering how much further he could make it before he needed to turn back. Upon marking another tree, he sat atop the branch he had marked and gazed at the road ahead. It looked the same as when he started, with dying trees on either side, but it seemed that a small amount of other plants had increased. It was nothing in comparison to a normal forest, but here, with the occasional bush, flowers, or trees that dared to have one or two green leaves, it only looked “healthier,” where the road curved around a bend to go around a hill. The bend didn’t appear too far, but it was hard to gauge in a form so different from his own, but ultimately he chose the bend as his final marking. After that, he’d fly back, or if he couldn’t make it all the way, he’d perch on a tree until the Duke caught up. Janus gave his wings a stretch before he lifted himself in the air. He soared ahead, honestly just ready for this entire day to be done with. He was ready to just go back to the prison wagon and sleep for two days straight to recover his mana when he rounded the bend.
The first thing he noticed was the intense greenery. Yes, he had seen it improving, but now it felt as if he was in a real forest. The grass was tall and lush, the trees thicker and flourishing, and the wind that blew through even felt clear and kind. It was as if he had gone somewhere else entirely. It was curiosity that pulled him further in than he initially intended to go, but it was the second thing he noticed which stopped him from progressing much further. A lack of animals. It stood to reason that an oasis such as this should’ve had many animals within it as they tried to survive- but it would make sense that only the strong would. Only the predators- perhaps something like monsters. As panic rose within him once again Janus turned and began to fly back the way he came. He’d fly around the bend and then perch and peck off the string around his leg. He’d then go back and explain his worries. He hadn’t made it ten feet before he saw the third thing he hadn’t expected- a woman. She was short and sitting high up in a tree, but she wore the same colors as the Duke’s knights. One of her eyes frantically looked about as she searched for something Janus couldn’t see. Her other eye, meanwhile, was closed tightly as a stream of blood from her head kept it shut. One of her hands held a dagger close to her chest, which rose and fell quickly in panic. Her other hand held the tree so she could steady herself as she shifted slightly, but Janus watched as her face contorted in pain. Adrenaline had never felt so cold in his veins as Janus quickly perched himself on a tree beside hers and began to make work of a string holding the chalk. He pecked at it again and again, wanting it to fall so he could mark the place the soldier was for the Duke, but the woman herself kept drawing his eye in worry. She shifted again, and from this angle he could see as she tried to move one of her legs up onto the branch instead of simply dangling. But the three bright green protrusions that pierced her protested. Janus held in a gag at the sight of her bloody leg with the green things bored through- but he managed to get the chalk bag to fall. The moment he was freed, he leapt from the branch into the air to go find someone who could actually help- when he noticed the fourth thing.
He had seen something move out of the corner of one of his eyes, and he barely had time to register the giant green blur- before it pierced his wing. A scream of pain escaped his lips as he fell- his body transforming as he did until he hit the ground, forcing out what little air he had within him. He couldn’t even muster up a groan as his arm screamed in pain from what he could now see was a giant green needle or thorn piercing his left forearm. The pain was searing- greater than anything he had ever felt, but he drove his teeth into his tongue, too afraid to move or even make a sound. But his eyes, wet with tears, did drift to the soldier in the tree and the pitying look she gave him. Sure, she wasn’t in a great place, but at least- unlike him- she was hidden, and she was clothed.
Janus took a deep yet shaking breath as he tried to muster what little mana he had yet to turn into something that would allow him to flee just around the bend he had come from- but he couldn’t muster a single ounce of the power. He couldn’t feel his mana at al, as if it had been sealed off… he could almost laugh at the stupidity of it- of himself. And as the sun above him felt cooler as shadows looked over him and the sound of something approaching grew louder as the soldier stiffened in place, Janus couldn’t stop the tears in his eyes from falling. Nor could he stop the panic from making it harder and harder to breathe. He couldn’t stop the pain he felt. He couldn’t stop the creature from approaching him. He couldn’t do anything- but with the last of everything he had- he let out a scream.
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