Maiêutica

| Stelle | I kind of write a lot of things | asks are open | A little of everything | 20 |

[not-a-lady-irl]

Hi, it's okay if you don't respond, but I'd like to know what fandoms you write for, which characters, and if you're taking requests!

Hii anon! It´s totaly ok and thanks to ask ❤️

I write for a lot of fandoms but it majority depends on the hype i'm having with the series lol But if you're interested, here are some os the fandoms i'm currently writing for (and it's characters)

Ikemen Villains: Jude, Ellis, William, Victor, Harrison and maybe Darius (I don't know much about him so he's in standby...)

Ikemen Prince: Gilbert, Chevalier, Silvio, Rio, Nokto, Clavis and Kagari

Twisted Wonderland: all characters (I just love this game)

Well, now about how to ask, you can send me the character you want + the scenario (if you already have an idea in mind otherwise just ask me to choose one) and what gender the reader is pls! (or else I'll put it as f!reader).

I'm already warning that if I don't feel comfortable writing an ask, I will feel entitled to simply delete it!

Oh, and no, I don't write nsfw (maybe sfw)

In general, if you want to know what I like to write about.

I like writing rivalries (whether female or male)

Angst (mostly unrequited love)

Anything else I wake up in the day and feel inspired to write

And I'm fine! I just like writing dramatic things!

Thanks for asking anon! I hope I have cleared your doubts.

[not-a-lady-irl]

Valentine's Day - Jude Jazza

Pairing: Jude Jazza x f!reader Summary: Valentine's Day has arrived, and you still haven't found the perfect gift for your love. While you dedicated your entire day to finding something, you were surprised to discover what he truly wanted. Warnings: fluff, angst (a little i think), terrible writing - English isn't my first language so i'm sorry for any mistakes. Author's Note: My vacation is over, and consequently, so is the writing break. So, I decided to get back to writing with a character I love. I sincerely hope you like it. Words: ~2.7K

The wind that came out of your bedroom window caressed your face as a gentle invitation to wake up. When you opened your eyes, the light from outside invaded your vision, and you had to close your eyes for a moment until you got used to the brightness, putting your hand in front of you to help.

— What time is it...? —The weak voice is making an effort to come out.

While you were still waking up, you, unfortunately, noticed an empty place next to your bed, which instantly caused you some sadness when you realized that you overslept to the point that you hadn't even given your boyfriend a goodbye kiss.

You sigh. Finally getting up and walking towards the bathroom to wash away the remnants of sleepiness still in you. “I definitely overslept,” you say to yourself. I was hoping to go downstairs and still be able to catch the end of breakfast if they were kind enough to remember to leave some of the sweets that Victor cooks.

As you splash the cold water on your face, you wonder what day it was. For some reason you felt like you were special, but you couldn't remember which one in particular. Upon leaving the bathroom and entering the bedroom again, you look around, looking for the calendar that was always on the headboard next to some jewelry that you wore every day. As he takes the calendar in his hands and situates himself, his eyes widen.

— IT’S VALENTINE’S DAY!

You let out a scream as you stand up and quickly head to your shared closet, putting on the first dress you found and quickly heading downstairs, without having adjusted your bed hair.

Arriving in the dining room, you feel a little relieved when you realize that there were still some sweets and breads available for you; however, you don't have the luxury of having the time to sit down and enjoy your breakfast, just grabbing a loaf of bread. with one hand and a slice of pie in the other and walking quickly towards the door.

However, as you exit the main door of the castle, you bump into Ellis, who for some reason was standing next to the entrance door.

— Ellis?— You ask, clearly confused by the presence of the man in front of you—What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be working at Raven at this time?

Ellis also seems surprised for a moment to see you but quickly corrects his posture.

— Jude gave me the day off today. — He replied with a slight smile.

—Oh!— Surprise takes over you—It's not common for Jude to give days off to his employees, especially you...— The last sentence came out almost like a whisper.

Ellis just intensified his smile a little.

— Well... maybe today he's in a good mood...

You stare at Ellis as you take a bite of each of the foods in your hands, trying to figure out if there was any interest behind it on the part of the duo or if it was in fact something genuine. Anyway, you just respond with a "Have a nice day then" and walk off towards the city center.

As you browsed the stores, you wondered what your boyfriend would like as a gift. You know it's customary to give chocolates, but deep down something inside you said that chocolate alone wasn't enough; you needed something more. Something special. Perhaps memorable. You already had a conversation with Jude about these holidays, asking him what he thought and what he would like to receive, but all you got in response was "I hate these holidays."

Since then, you never commented on them again, but for some reason, you felt like you needed to make an effort to make him love these dates, especially the ones that you two should celebrate together! It was your obligation as a girlfriend!

Looking around, you start to put together your action plan to see the best gifts, what people were taking, and which stores were busiest. In the distance, you notice a large number of people carrying clothes, leaving a specific large and flashy store, with decorations and clothing models displayed outside to attract people's attention. It was perfect; you would try to look for a gift for him there.

When entering the store, you are faced with a huge number of different options, models, and clothing. From suits to more casual clothes, even pajamas could be found in this store. In fact, it offered everything a clothing store could offer.

— Hello, young lady! What can I help you with on this special day? — A robust man with tidy hair and a mustache and elegant clothes approached you when he realized you were alone. — Looking for a gift for your special someone? Do you want to surprise your love with the best clothes in London? Then you've come to the right place! Here we have everything and more to offer you! — He finishes with a smile, making you let out a light laugh at the lively advertisement.

— Yes, I'm looking for something to give to my boyfriend. — You respond by looking around, looking for valid gift options.

— I'm here to help you, miss! What does he like to wear?

The question made you think deeply about what Jude actually liked to wear. He always wore his cape and his blouse and pants set that you never particularly saw him change. "Maybe he just likes that outfit," you think, unconsciously giving rise to a slight insecurity because you don't know exactly what your boyfriend likes to wear.

- Miss? — The man catches your attention when he notices your sudden silence when faced with his question. — Would you like me to give you some options? It's normal for us not to know what to give on these dates! — He tries to encourage you.

— Well... do you have any sets of blouses and pants? — You ask shyly.

— Of course! This way, please!

The man guides you to a corner of the store where you are faced with an immensity of blouses of all sizes and colors and pants of all types.

— Feel free to observe as much as you want, and when you think you've found something, just call me! — And so, the man continues his way towards the new crowd of young people entering the store.

You go through row by row as you pick out a few outfits and try to figure out what would look good on Jude and what wouldn't. "Would he really wear it?" was one of the many thoughts that invaded his mind when looking at the clothes. Ultimately, none of the clothes actually pleased you enough for you to consider wearing them in the end, and you found yourself standing still, upset that you hadn't found something nice right away. In the end, you decide to leave the store and try something else, mingling with other people to avoid being called again by the man who helped you at the beginning, mentally thanking him for the care and attention offered.

Leaving the store, you look around again, looking for other options that might be great for Jude. As you watched, you noticed a shadow that had been following you for a while; it had even entered the store with you and was now leaning against the shadow on the side of the clothing store. Was it someone with bad intentions chasing you? Or was it just in your head? Not having the courage to confront the guy straight away, you decide to walk towards a candy store, which was also equally full as the previous one you entered, with the aim of confronting the suspicious man and looking for a gift.

Entering the store, you quickly blend into the crowd of people who were standing around chatting in front of a special collection of gifts featuring various types of chocolates.

Watching the door, you wait patiently for the suspicious man to enter and then confront him, especially because nothing would happen to you if there were a large number of people around.

Just as you expected, the man entered and stood at the door looking around, probably looking for you. As you got closer, your breathing became more intense, and your nervousness increased even more. Seeking to get it over with quickly, you suddenly appear in front of the stranger and take off the disguise of sunglasses and the scarf around your lips and neck.

And what you saw surprised you.

— Ellis?!?! — A small scream leaves your lips as you stare at the man with black hair and purple eyes looking at you as scared as you are. — What are you doing here?? — You whisper close enough for him to hear.

He gives you a sad smile.

— Jude asked me not to tell…

— But now that the disguise is over, you no longer need to hide—anxiety attacking once again—what did he ask you not to tell?

Ellis looks away from yours and reluctantly opens his mouth to speak.

— Jude asked me to follow you today… to prevent you from doing something wrong… — He forms an embarrassed smile—he feels guilty for having to work today and abandoning you almost all day—he looks at you at the end, waiting for his response to the unprecedented information he just said.

Was Jude worried about you? For leaving you alone today? It could only really be a dream. You clearly remember him saying he hated those days.

You let out a sigh.

— So in the end he didn't cut you any slack, right? — You give Ellis his glasses and scarf back.

He just responds with a nod, making you roll your eyes.

— Okay, I'll pretend none of this happened if you help me choose a gift for him.

Ellis looks at you confused.

—But you're with him all the time... I don't know if I could help with anything... I can try if you want. — He smiled and walked towards a shelf full of beautiful chocolate wrappers. — You can try something with these chocolates; I think he'll like it.

Approaching the chocolates, you take some in your hand and observe the flavors each of them has, wondering if Jude likes those flavors or not.

—I don't think he would like these... In fact, I don't know exactly if he likes chocolate; he is a very healthy person, which makes me question whether he would eat it or not. — Finally, you return the chocolates to their place and look at Ellis, who had a smile on his face. — I feel like he would like it a lot more if I were the one making the chocolates…

- Perhaps. — That's all Ellis answers your question.

— Okay, let's get out of here and go to one last store... my last hope.

Continuing your way, you and Ellis leave the chocolate store and head towards an antiques and rare jewelry store that, as soon as you enter the establishment, you already realize why it is practically empty: the absurdly high prices.

— I didn't know jewelry was so expensive. — You comment as you pick up a pair of bracelets with an incredible purple heart-shaped stone shining in the center.

— It depends on the type of jewelry; maybe you can find something good here. — He says as he walks away to the other side of the store.

The salesman looked bored; he was sitting reading the daily newspaper at the checkout counter. You question whether you should ask for his help or not, fighting the urge to look for a gift yourself; however, the day was almost turning into night, and you didn't want to return to the castle empty-handed. Taking a deep breath and taking courage, you decide to ask the store owner for help.

- Hello, good afternoon! I would like to know if you have any jewelry... well… specials? — You give an embarrassing smile.

The man looked up from the newspaper at her eyes; it seemed like he was examining her slowly and deeply.

— You don't need my help; you already know what to give him as a gift. — He responds disinterestedly, returning his gaze to the newspaper.

You blink your eyes a few times, trying to understand what he meant by that.

— Ah… like, what do you mean?

He looks at you again.

— 50 pounds, if I'm going to take both, I'll do it for 30 pounds just out of pity for you. No more or less. We don't accept bargains either.

And the man looks at the newspaper again.

You feel like a complete idiot without understanding exactly what that man was saying, trying to think of some way not to get angry.

— I'm sorry sir… but I really didn't understand-

— The bracelets on your hand, that's what I'm talking about. — He finally looks at you without returning to the newspaper.

You look at the bracelets on your hand, not realizing that you've been holding them this entire time, since the moment you entered the store.

—Ah yes, but… I don't know if-

—Listen, miss. This store has a myth that the first item you touch is the one you should take, whether for any event or type of person. — He looks at the bracelets—I saw you entering the store and almost immediately touching the bracelets; they caught your attention and probably match the person who is going to be gifted. He says finally, looking back at you. — So… Are you going to take it or not?

Analyzing the words spoken by the man, you realize that in fact, unconsciously, since your gaze met the bracelets, you picked them up and never let go again while looking around the store, and in fact, the color of the stones matched Jude. Maybe you've finally found the perfect gift for him.

With a smile on your face, you hand the bracelets to the seller.

— That's right, I'll take them! Thanks!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back at the castle, with the package delicately wrapped with the bracelets, Ellis enters, and you decide to wait for his return in the gardens. The wind caressed your face again; this time it seemed like it was comforting you, telling you that everything was going to be okay and that you did a great job. Letting out a sigh, you lie down on the green grass and stare at the starry sky above you, letting all the fond memories of you and Jude take over. In the end, perhaps what really mattered would be the fact that you loved him and so did he, and that was enough. As you wandered through your thoughts, you heard footsteps approaching where you were. Recognizing those steps perfectly, you quickly stand up and face the man in front of you.

Jude.

The man you love more than your own life.

— Jude! You-

— Ellis told me about your day. Can't say I ain't surprised, princess. — He approaches you and lifts your chin with his finger. — All this work to give me a gift, seriously, ya don't have much intelligence inside that head of yours.

His lips form an affectionate smile.

— Maybe, but despite everything… I brought you a gift… I hope you like it… — You hand the delicate package with the bracelets to Jude, who takes it with a surprised expression.

— Ellis didn't tell me that ya had actually bought a gift.

— This time he and I made an agreement where he wouldn't count the part where I actually buy a gift. — You smile.

Jude returns the smile.

— Huh? Looks like someone is goin' to spend the rest of the year workin' through the weekends.

Jude opens the gift and looks at the bracelets that shine even brighter at night. From his expression, you thought he didn't like it and automatically regretted giving him the gift.

— I'll understand if you didn't like it... it's actually something very simple and—

— Ya talk too much.

Without hesitation, Jude takes one of the bracelets and puts it on her arm. Then pull yours to put on the bracelet too.

— You really liked it…

He lets out a sigh.

— I thought ya already knew that anythin' ya do I like.

You let out a small laugh.

— The only thing I didn't know was that you had been sad to leave me alone during Valentine's Day; I thought you didn't like that day. — You hold his hand. — So that means that in the end you love Valentine's Day, right?

He just stares at you with a gentle smile.

— No, y/n, I only love you.

[not-a-lady-irl]

Can u please do something for Riddle? I saw that you write for twst as well, maybe somethin' with the reader recieving a lecture from him, idk. Thanks if you end up writing it ❤️

Pairing: Riddle Rosehearts x f!reader Summary: After getting into trouble with the first-year group, you, Ace and Deuce end up facing an angry Riddle. Lucky for you, you owned your tactics. Warnings: fluff (?), terrible writing Author's Note: Thanks anon! I always wanted to do something like this for Riddle! Words: 726

Okay, you never imagined that one day you would find yourself crouched in the middle of the Heartslabyul dormitory hall, your head tilted to face the floor as the room was filled with Riddle's shrill voice.

— What do you think you were doing?!?! — His face is red as an obvious tomato — Every day that passes you diminish the reputation of our dormitory!

You take a look around and notice a Deuce very disappointed by his actions but an Ace eager to get up and make an even bigger mess than you already did.

So, none of you imagined that mixing a bunch of potions during class would result in an explosion that would require at least a week to restore the place back to its former splendor.

“That was funny,” you think. There's no denying it, the laugh that the three of you let out when you saw what you had caused was the coolest and most interesting thing that happened to you this week. Sometimes you would stay away from them both because they had a reputation as troublemakers in college, but whenever you hung out with them, the most fun things in your life happened.

In fact, you were grateful for the adventures you witnessed in NRC thanks to them.

— Come on Riddle…. none of us expected an explosion like that to happen. — Deuce argues — And by the way, no one got hurt!

— Exactly! — Ace raises his voice — We could have suffered something much bigger than just a few scratches since we were closer to the explosion! — His voice becoming more and more aggressive.

You felt that Ace was tired of being treated with disdain and hatred by Riddle, as he was always keeping an eye on their actions and anything outside the rules was grounds for punishment.

— Ace… but the entire class was destroyed… if it weren't for the teacher's protective magic, probably half the class would be in the infirmary. — You respond, your voice low, almost imperceptible if the two weren't almost glued to your side.

Riddle approaches the three of you.

— It seems that only [name] is sincere. — The fact that he was frowning even though what he said was a compliment (at least you thought it was one), didn't ignore the fact that you still had doubts about whether he was in some way grateful or even more irritated by you having said that if it weren't for the teacher something worse could have happened.

— You're not helping, y'know. — Ace whispers to you.

You simply shrug your shoulders.

—Are you going to say I lied? — Answer back.

— You TWO aren't helping at all… — Deuce finally decides to interfere, which resulted in the two of them arguing while you observed the environment.

Maybe they didn't notice, but a Riddle, still red as a tomato, was standing there staring at the three of you, thoughtfully, probably thinking about the punishment he was going to give. The only thing left for you was to resort to bargaining.

— Riddle, please don't use your unique magic on me. — You get up and walk boldly towards him, showing your best face of pity. — I'll make as many apple pies as you want! — Riddle's eyes light up when you mentions the pies.

— Hey! This is unfair! — Ace also stands up, objecting.

— He's not going to change his mind over a few pies, Ace. — Deuce follows his friend, holding his arm, probably afraid that he would do something he might regret later.

The three of you look at the housewarden, waiting for whatever his decision was for the situation you found yourself in.

Until he finally responds.

— How many… pies…? — His face visibly flushed.

Surprised, you let out a laugh.

— How many do you ask me, Riddle!

— This is unfair! — Ace points at the two of you. — Are you going to stop punishing her for some pies? She was with us too!

You turn your head and stick your tongue out at Ace.

—Ah… here we go again. — Deuce sighs.

The afternoon ended with the three of you arguing about what was fair or not, only for in the end Riddle ended up using his unique magic on Ace and Deuce and free you from the same ending. All thanks to some pies.

[not-a-lady-irl]

WHY U ALWAYS PUT "TERRIBLE WRITING" IN UR SCENARIOS THEY ARE JUST PERFECT

SORRY LOL

i think that whether or not "terrible writing" has already become a hallmark of my blog, even though I have scenarios that I feel incredible for having written and others that every day I face I think about whether or not I should delete them

and if any scenario turns out really bad, you can't deny that whoever reads it wasn't warned lol

[not-a-lady-irl]

hi! could you write an Ellis x f!reader scenario where she tries to bake a pie but something happens and the pie goes wrong and Ellis appears and comforts her 😔❤️

Pairing: Ellis Twilight x f!reader Warnings: fluff, terrible writing Author's Note: I hope you liked it anon, I made it with great care! English is not my first language so im sorry with any mistakes. Words: 1.3K

The kitchen was a mess.

Bowls, cutlery, plates, crumbs and doughs were scattered everywhere, even on the walls of the place. The dishes were full and the floor showed signs of needing urgent cleaning. The figure that had caused all this mess was now standing staring at the oven while speaking loving and encouraging words like "Look what a beautiful dough you are!" or "You will grow up beautifully!".

Lucky for you you were alone.

You knew that Crown wasn't in the castle at that time, each boy was probably carrying out their daily missions or tasks, so you decided to take advantage of the fact that the castle was empty and venture into the kitchen with one of your amazing recipes.

— Come on… grow up soon…. — The words come out of your mouth in whispers to the stuffed pie dough that was baking inside the oven.

You had a recipe book, which had been purchased at a cooking utensils store, which had several recipes, from appetizers, lunch, dinner and so on, the options were many.

As you leafed through the book, you insisted to yourself that you wanted to make something sweet, but also not a very simple sweet treat like cookies or brownies. You wanted a challenge, something you had never done before, and what you chose was an apple pie.

Of course, apple pie is a classic, but for those who have made pie crust before and for those who never missed the filling. Which wasn't your case. To be honest, probably the only thing you knew how to make well were brownies and cookies…

But let's not be pessimistic.

Before you knew it, when you looked at the clock on the wall, you realized that twenty minutes had already passed. It was time to take out the pie.

When you open the oven and the smoke blocks your vision for a few seconds, you can finally see it. The pie. Your beautiful apple pie.

And how beautiful she had turned out. You were even surprised.

— Wow! Following the recipe worked! — You let out a laugh as you observe your work of art from afar.

It looked beautiful, the smell was wonderful, so consequently the taste would be good too, right?

Exactly! Because when you take a knife to cut your pie, still inside the mold, and with a fork you take a piece of it into your mouth, still too hot for you to be able to taste it perfectly, oh… it was delicious in fact.

Your eyes even watered with happiness when you realized that something as difficult and challenging for you as a pie had worked out, even the first time you tried!

— At least we have dessert now! — You comment happily, a silly smile taking over your face. There was no denying that you were very happy about this.

The only problem you didn't notice is that…. the pie needed to cool before being unmolded.

And… well, disaster struck.

As soon as you lift the pan, the wall of the dough breaks and the filling collapses, transforming what it was before, your beautiful and adorable pie, into a well of filling and pieces of apples with some crumbs of baked dough.

You spend a few minutes staring open-mouthed at what you had just done. Desperation taking over and sadness already making tears and tears fall from your eyes.

— No… no no no no!

You approach the pie and try to put everything back together, further increasing the mess that was already taking over the kitchen. Would Victor be mad?

When you realized that there was no other way, the pie had in fact fallen into pieces, you curled up in the corner of the kitchen and started to cry. The disappointment and anger invading your thoughts and making you cry louder and louder. You didn't hold back at all to release your sorrow, you believed that the boys were still out in the city.

— I'm very stupid… it was beautiful… — The sobs became more and more intense and your eyes were already red from excessive crying.

The kitchen was in chaos, everything was dirty, the sink was full, the utensils were out of place, the floor was full of all kinds of debris that ended up falling and now, the pie was in pieces.

You couldn't just go out and leave the kitchen like that, you wanted to run out and lock yourself in your room, but everyone would know that you were the one who had used it for the last time and that you had left it like that. No, you would dry your tears and clean everything and only then collapse on the pillow in your room.

However, you feel a hand caress your hair. When you lift your face, your eyes meet Ellis's. His face was clearly worried about what had happened in that place.

— Everything is fine…? — He measures each word before releasing it definitively.

Too embarrassed to face him, you turn your face away and answer, trying your best not to break down again.

— Shouldn't you be with Jude? — Your voice muffled from crying.

— I was released early… — He looks away to take a good look around — Did… something happen?

— I was stupid, that's all what happened. — You get up and look at the crumbled pie — I can't do anything right… it was so beautiful… until… until… - — You collapse again, your hands on your face as the tears fall.

You didn't know you needed this until you won, and you also didn't refuse or question it when Ellis simply hugged you and stroked your hair. His hug bringing comfort and security. You felt like the world could end and you wouldn't care, you would still be there, hugging him.

— It's okay [name], it's normal to make mistakes like that. — His calm voice tickling your ear — You don't need to charge so much for a pie. Now you know where you went wrong… sure that next time it will be perfect. — You turn your face to face him and he gives you a reassuring smile.

— Thank you Ellis… — You hug him a little tighter — You are always so affectionate…

— I'm just telling the truth. — He says as his eyes follow you.

You approach the counter, breaking away from his embrace with great grief — But now we need to free ourselves from this… — You point to the pie.

Ellis approaches too and looks at the sweet.

— Did you try it?

— Yes…

— And how was the taste?

— Delicious… but now, I don't know if the taste remains the same...

Surprised by Ellis' action, he takes a plate and a spoon and takes a good amount of the pie, puts it on his plate, takes a part and tries it. You gape. The pie was probably horrible and yet he had the courage to try it in its most disastrous state.

— Ellis… you didn't need to eat the pie like that…

— Yes… it's delicious. — He smiles and looks at you — Your pie is wonderful [name]. You have a gift for sweets. — He takes another piece of the pie and puts it in his mouth.

Tears begin to fall from your eyes again, however, what your lips form is a beautiful and happy smile.

— Ellis… thank you.

— No need to thank me… you'll definitely make the perfect pie next time… and I'd like to be the first to taste it. — He finishes the pie on his plate and looks at you — I believe the others will also have the same opinion.

— I'm sure Jude would say otherwise once he saw the state of it and the kitchen. — You let out a laugh as you imagine the scene, already forgetting the sadness that until a few minutes ago had overtaken you.

— I would make him change his mind.

You let out another laugh.

— Would you risk that much?

— For you, yes.

Let's believe you two didn't forget to clean the kitchen.

[not-a-lady-irl]

Hi, can I ask for an Idia x reader scenario? You can choose what you want to write and the genre!!

Pairing: Idia Shroud x f!reader Summary: After leaving the test, you receive information that another housewarden meeting was going to take place and as the girlfriend of the Ighnyhide housewarden, it was your duty to make him appear at it. Warnings: fluff, terrible write Author's Note: Thanks for the ask anon! I hope you like it! Words: 1.0K

The sound of the bell announcing the end of classes had just rung. For the other students it might just be the end of another day of tiring and content-filled classes, but for you, it meant freedom, as your exams were finally over.

You left the class tired, the test was brought up, with difficult questions and extensive answers, but not even Mr. Crewel's tests could take the smile off your face when you were finally able to say that the tests were over.

— Hey Y/N! — An authoritative voice catches your attention in the midst of the confusion that the hallway was experiencing with the intense flow of students organizing their things and heading to their respective dorms or complementary activities.

When you turn to find the owner of the voice, you come across Riddle Rosehearts looking at you with their arms crossed, their typical pose to convey a sense of power and discipline to the rest of the Heartslabyul students. He had that gift.

— Yes Riddle? — You ask, approaching him. —Did something happen?

— The housewardens' meeting is coming up, it's tomorrow after lunch. — He pauses and stares at you for a long time like he was waiting for your answer.

A silence appears between the two of you, not understanding what would happen next. You were so confused that you even wondered if you had misunderstood something or if he had actually given the information halfway. You knew very well what happened to the Heartslabyul students when they disobeyed one of the dorm's bizarre rules or when they irritated Riddle, and honestly, you couldn't say for sure whether his facial expression showed calm or irritation.

— ….and? — You risk, already regretting it when you realized that he had uncrossed his arms.

— Idia is Ignihyde's housewarden, he needs to be present at the meeting tomorrow, the principal said it was very important — Riddle responds while observing something happening behind you — I thought that because you're his girlfriend, it would be easier for you to give this information and this request for him than any of the others — You can see him frowning.

— Oh! Yes! I understood. — A smile forms on your lips — I'll make sure to pass this information on to him! Thanks Riddle for the heads up! — He just nods his head and quickly leaves where he was, towards where his gaze had been the entire conversation.

When you turn back to see what had happened to get Riddle's attention… well, if you could call his furious expression that, you finally understand why. You come across Ace, Deuce, the prefect and Grimm, all dirty with some kind of pie, all on the ground, and around them boxes and boxes of pies spread across the courtyard.

— The… pies… — Your eyes come across a Riddle as red as a tomato.

That was your cue to leave the place as quickly as possible.

As you enter Ignihyde's dormitory, a feeling of happiness and warmth washes over you. From the moment you entered this school you didn't expect that you would be chosen for this dormitory, but honestly, you couldn't have asked for anything better. The students were kind, intelligent, friendly, although some were a little more stuck when it came to socializing… in short, it was perfect for you. Oh yes, of course, most importantly, the housewarden was also your boyfriend.

It was right at the beginning of classes, all your friends were commenting on how scary and strange the housewarden in your dorm was, which actually caught your attention because you didn't even meet him on the day the mirror put you in Ignihyde . As if fate was playing a trick on you, you ended up becoming very good friends with your dorm's vice housewarden, Ortho, who you later discovered was your housewarden's younger brother. Well, at least in the end, you and Idia started to get closer to each other, talking until late at night, doing most things together, missing each other. Until he proposes. You swore he was going to pass out in front of you that day. He was perfect for you, you couldn't have asked for anything better in fact.

— Idia? — You knock on his bedroom door, anxiously waiting to finally see him and spend time with him.

You hear the sound of the lock moving and the door opening, inviting you to enter.

As soon as you enter his room, you can't hold back your emotions any longer and you jump up to hug him.

— I missed you so much! — Your hands squeeze the man who until a few seconds ago was at complete peace in the silence of his room.

— I missed you too… — His voice muffled by your body makes you let out a laugh.

After spending almost three minutes like this, hugging each other, you let go of his arms and finally look into those beautiful yellow eyes that bring you so much comfort and security.

— Riddle asked me to give you an important information. — You notice his expression change to questioning — A meeting of the housewardens is taking place tomorrow after lunch and he asked you to attend.

— Okay, I will.

— In person.

— No. — He turns around and starts working on the huge computer he had.

A heavy sigh escapes your mouth and you approach him again, taking his hands, making him turn around and face you.

— Please Idia… — You bring your face closer to his — He said that this meeting was very important, so he needed your physical presence. Orders from the principal himself.

Idia's eyes look away from yours for a moment and stare at the floor of his room, probably thinking about whether it was worth leaving the comfort and safety of his room to face this meeting. Thinking about how to help him, you place one of your hands on one of his cheeks, making him look at you again.

— I will stay by your side, I promise. All the time. — Your thumb lightly caressing his cheek. — At least all the way, in the current meeting you know I couldn't get in even if I wanted to. — You give an encouraging smile.

Idia closes his eyes and places his hand on top of yours, enjoying the affection that had become rare during the exam period.

— Okay, I'll go, for you. — He looks at you and gives you a smile.

— I love you — You finally say, after days away from him.

— I love you too.

[not-a-lady-irl]

I should have walked away 2

Pairing: Ellis Twilight x f!reader Summary: You didn't expect it to be true when they told you that hanging out with that pair would give you so many problems, whether emotional or physical. Lucky for you he was always there to save you. Warnings: little angst, mentions of violence, mentions of abuse (doesn't actually happen), terrible writing Author's Note: I apologize for any spelling mistakes, English is not my first language. Part 2 of this fic. Words: 1.9K

— Hey you, you hang out with those two guys, don't you?

The sudden loud voice woke you up from your daydreams and made you turn worriedly back to the source of the voice.

— I'm sorry but… who are you…?

A muscular, tall man, with hair as black as darkness and eyes that have the same shade was what your eyes came across. A chill ran through your entire body. "What did 'those two' mean?", your mind trying hard to understand what the man was asking, he didn't seem friendly at all.

— I asked a question first, young lady, come on, answer me, I don't have all the time in the world. — His expression becoming even more resentful.

You swallowed hard and for the first time, you felt fear, panic. Every time something like this happened you knew Jude or Ellis would be there to help you but… now? It was quite late at night and they were probably at the Crown castle now. "Damn…", you shouldn't have run without company, alone, into the lonely and dark streets of London. Even more so when you are a woman.

—Who are these two you ask about? — Your tone of voice increases, trying not to show the man fear.

— You know very well who they are. One who always smokes and his personal bodyguard who never leaves his side. The one with the weird smile.

You tried really hard not to burst out laughing. You never imagined that the description that was given of Jude and Ellis was 'the guy who is always smoking and the other with the weird smile', even though you couldn't deny that, in fact, they were very faithful descriptions of those involved.

You bring your hand to your chin as if thinking, trying to search your memory for who these two were.

— I really have no idea who those two you talk about so much could be. — Your eyes look back at him — I think I would know these two people with such specific descriptions if I hung out with them, but unfortunately, I don't know who you're talking about. Have a good night. — Your speech ends and you quickly turn to make your way back.

However, it seemed like the man wasn't satisfied, as you felt a grip on your arm that turned you back towards him. His hands and his face very close to yours.

— Why do I feel like you lie little girl? — He grabs your waist, making it impossible for you to run — Even if somehow you're telling the truth, I can still have fun with you — He whispers in your ear.

At that moment, your body enters a state of despair, fear, panic. You are alone, you don't know if even if you scream, some stranger will come to help you, if you will be able to escape or lose him. You needed to be strong, it was just you and your willpower against the terrible man who was dragging you down whatever alley he thought was best.

— No! Stop! — Your arms fight against the man's strength, you struggle, turn, push, but it seems that his strength only increases and yours is useless against his.

— If you stay quiet this will be better for you — His rough voice scolds you and he puts his hand over your mouth, preventing you from screaming or asking for help.

Tears start to come out of your eyes, you couldn't give up like that, or why would they have let you accompany Jude and Ellis on their missions if they didn't think you weren't competent? Your efforts may have no effect, but you would fight, fight the man who was dragging you through the darkness, fight for your life.

You shake your head enough to be able to free your mouth from the man's hand and, without thinking twice, you bite his hand with all your strength, bite so hard that you can even taste his blood dripping.

— Ouch! — He screams in pain and unconsciously loosens the strength with which he held you until then, you manage to push him with your body weight and free yourself from his arms.

You knew he wouldn't stay stunned for long, so without waiting too long, you run, you run initially without knowing where, you just run, feeling the freedom for a few seconds, the only thing you know is that you need to hide or mislead him in some way.

— Come back here you insolent! — He shouts, running after you, the expression of fury changing his entire face.

Continuing to run, without looking back, you finally decide to enter one of the alleys that you had already entered in some of the missions together with the iconic Crown duo. You knew that place well, you knew where to hide and where to escape.

Surely you just didn't expect that in the middle of the rush, while your heart was racing and your legs were already wobbling with tiredness and pain, you would realize too late that the alley you entered was not the one you usually frequented, but rather, other one. You had taken the wrong path. It was a dead end.

Before you could stop and look around, your body collides with another, which holds you, preventing you from hiding. The only difference is that this one didn't squeeze you tightly and didn't drag you anywhere. You were shaking, your eyes still wet with the tears that had previously shed them from the event just a few minutes ago. How strange, was the person who grabbed you an ally of the man who was chasing you? Was it just someone random that you were unlucky enough to bump into? Could it be-

— Shhh, it's okay. — A comforting voice is whispered in your ear.

You couldn't believe it, you recognized that voice. You were sure you would recognize it even with your eyes closed in your last breath. This time the tears that came out of your eyes were not of fear, terror, panic, despair, but of happiness, comfort, peace.

Ellis.

— There you are, you bastard! — The voice full of fury echoes through the alley, but it doesn't affect you, because you were safe now, in the arms of the man you had spent the night thinking about.

— Tsk, you guys are really a pain in the ass. — You hear Jude's authoritative voice for the first time.

— Ugh, Jude Jazza… — You still haven't left Ellis's comforting embrace, but you know the man trembled when he saw Jude in person. — So she was indeed involved with both of you.

— Yeah and? — Jude throws the cigarette that had been in his mouth until then on the floor and crushes it with his foot. — The fact that ya lost everything for breaking our contract doesn't mean ya can go out and upset anyone, especially someone who works for me. — Jude's footsteps slowly moving away from where you were until then.

Before you could hear anything else, Ellis's voice appeared in your ear again.

— Come on, come with me. — He says and holds your hand firmly, directing you towards the exit of the alley.

— Hey! — The man shouts at the two of you as you simply leave the place — I'm not done with her yet!

The only thing you can see when you turn your face to the alley before walking away with Ellis, is Jude's menacing smile at the man who chased you.

— You won't be able to do anything, idiot.

Well, you knew Jude would be fine.

And so, you and Ellis walked through the dimly lit streets of London, side by side, not commenting on anything, just enjoying and enjoying each other's presence.

The cold weather, the dark night and the moon and stars in the sky calmed you down a little. You were safe now, nothing was going to happen to you. They came for you, they saved you. Ellis was there for you and you couldn't be more grateful for that.

Despite feeling a little guilty about the mess she made the day before earlier. You wanted to comment to Ellis about your feelings, let him know everything about you, in the same way that you want to know everything about him, but maybe, just the fact that he came to save you today was enough for you.

— Hey, thanks… — You decide to break the silence by thanking him for the help, still shy, staring at the ground as you walked side by side.

—For what?

— For saving me? I don't know and I don't even want to imagine what would have happened to me if you and Jude hadn't been there.

You look at Ellis and notice that he is looking at you with a melancholy, even guilty, face. It looked like he wanted to say something.

— It was nothing… — He looks ahead again, as the two of you continue making your way to the castle. Would Victor be very worried?

— Ah… for me it was very important, I don’t even know how to thank you two properly! — The sound of river waters accompanies your return. — I hope one day I can find a way to repay all the help you've already given me.

— I'm sure Jude will find it.

The fact that Ellis mentioned Jude made you feel a little sad. You wanted Ellis to accept your willingness to return the favor, for him to do at least the minimum for you. The way he held you when you ran to him down the alley, the way he whispered lovingly in your ear that everything was okay, that he was there… You knew it was his way of acting like that, putting others first than himself, worrying more about the wishes of others than his own, you just wanted him to demonstrate something, for him to be sincere with you. his feelings at least once, that he act selfishly and think about him, because the day he acted like that would certainly be the happiest day of your life.

Your hands were all the way brushing against each other, you had to intensely fight the urge to intertwine your hand with his. You didn't want him to think you were pushy, but if he couldn't show it, you could. You were going to try your way, see if he felt the same way, just a little at a time.

You brushed your hand against his a little harder, clearly signaling what you wanted. However, nothing happened. You played with his fingers, trying to intertwine at least your little finger with his but…

Nothing either.

You let out a sigh of frustration, you felt terrible because you thought you were somehow being annoying by trying to force something that he clearly didn't feel the same way about. “I don’t know why I still try,” thoughts returning to you again, making you unconsciously move away from him a little.

However, as soon as you were walking away, the sudden warmth of a hand intertwined with yours. Quickly, you turned to face Ellis who was next to you, still not believing what had happened. Your cheeks flushed, your heart beat faster and faster and you were overcome by a feeling of immense joy. The fact that Ellis turned his face away so you couldn't see the way he reacted to this simple display of affection warmed your heart.

It was already a show of affection on his part.

[not-a-lady-irl]

Midnight Studies

Pairing: Lilia Vanrouge x reader Summary: You were up until night studying for Mr. Crewell's test, the most feared of all. You swore no one would notice you were awake, seeing as the storm made it muffle all noise. However, you were wrong. Warnings: terrible writing (indeed) Author's Note: I confess the writing wasn't one of the best but in my defense I was exhausted from sleep while writing lol Words: 1.0K

Heavy rain pounded on Diasomnia's dormitory window. The noise of thunder was an addition to all that storm. It was already a habit for you, much less a problem, you loved these nights when these sudden storms joined you in your studies. They gave you a feeling that you weren't alone.

Studying late at night was not an easy task, but with some exams arriving this effort was necessary. Mr. Crewell's test was the next day and you were having difficulty with a specific subject that you were almost certain would be on the test so because of that subject, you were here, now, at 2 in the morning, sitting at the table in the entrance hall, with all your books, notes, notebooks and pens on it, studying.

Oh, and how you were studying.

You needed to get a good grade on this test to pass, you couldn't disappoint your dorm who were known for excelling in almost every subject and activity at school. You also didn't want to be disappointed, believing that you are a burden.

— I think just a few more questions and I can rest.

If it were any other normal night, without rain and thunder, you would be trying your best not to make noise and indicate that you were awake at those hours, but, thanks to the storm, you believed that you wouldn't need that effort.

You gave your notes another quick read and decided it was time to answer the questions, because what better way to practice a subject than by doing exercises on it?

You read the first question. Pause. Think. Read it again. Pause. Think again. Go back to the beginning and get stressed.

— It's not possible… — A tone of despair escapes your lips.

You place your head in the palm of your hand and rest your arm on the table. The material was right there in front of you, you spent the entire afternoon studying it and now the night trying to understand that subject.

Despair takes over you and as a result you end up deciding to stay up all night.

It would be very bad for you, since you would be awake for more than 24 hours, your sleep would be disrupted, your concentration would be low, your energy would be almost exhausted…

You honestly didn't imagine that this would be a problem for both the prefect and the vice prefect of Diasomnia, as you were studying precisely to help the dormitory's reputation! It felt like you were doing it more for them than for you.

— Well, then I think... from the beginning….

Before you could pick up the book again to read, a voice came from behind you.

— How long do you intend to stay up to study?

The voice takes you by surprise. You didn't believe that someone would be awake at that moment to realize that you hadn't gone to bed yet. When you turn back, you found Lilia looking at you with an expression of concern and reprimand.

— It's bad to stay up this late at night, I can't believe you didn't know that. — His voice comes out strict.

He was the last person you imagined would catch you awake.

Nervous, you try to explain yourself and lie saying that you were already leaving.

— I was just reviewing content Lilia, I swear I was going to bed right away! — You give a smile trying to affirm your excuse.

Lilia just stares at you. Obviously he wouldn't go down that easily.

— Since that's the case, I'll remain here until your quick review is over and you go to your room to sleep. — He comes over and sits in the chair next to you — You have five minutes — His lips form an amused smile.

You didn’t know if he was having fun with you or the fake situation you created. Maybe both, who knows.

But now you had no option but to "revise" in five minutes.

You put down the book and pick up your class notes again and read them, still not understanding most of the things that were there.

Time passed and when you least expected it, the brief five minutes had already ended.

— That's it! Time to sleep. — He gets up and pulls you by the hand, taking you to your room.

The weight of not doing well on Mr. Crewell's test made you explain your situation to Lilia, hoping that he would understand and just let you stay awake that night.

— Lilia… please, I can't sleep now. — He stops pulling you and looks at you — Mr. Crewell's test is tomorrow and I haven't managed to understand a specific subject yet… I don't want to do badly and ruin the reputation that my dorm has because of me — The outburst comes out and you anxiously await Lilia's reaction

But all you get is a laugh.

— Do you really think we would lose our reputation because of a test? — He lets go of your hand and approaches you.

— Y/N, the happiness and health of our students is much more important to us. You don't need to try so hard because of this, although I can't deny that it makes me happy to see such a dedicated student at Diasomnia! — He lets out another chuckle.

— But…. Lilia…. — You try to defend yourself again but are interrupted by him pulling you back to your room.

— No more excuses! Time to sleep.

You are led until you stop in front of your room, Lilia patiently waiting to see you enter to confirm to himself that you have indeed gone to sleep.

You let out a sigh and finally enter.

— Good night Lilia. — You say goodbye to him and close the door.

— Sweet dreams, Y/N — Lilia walks calmly towards his room. — I think I should be more careful in case she spends more nights awake....

You couldn't deny it, Lilia's words and the fact that he forced you to go to sleep helped you have a good night's sleep without any worries.

And honestly, it's a good thing he told you to go to sleep, because the test had been canceled thanks to the heavy rain the night before.

[not-a-lady-irl]

Dangerous Love 2

Pairing: The Assassin x reader Summary: After the unexpected encounter with one of the Fates and the disappearance of your mother, you now have many problems and few solutions, and definitely the main one of these problems was the luckless coin, because no matter how much you tried your best, you decided to ask him for help through the coin. Warnings: I don't know if there is any warning?, terrible writing Author's Note: I finally wrote part 2 of this fic, so I hope you like it. English is not my first language so I apologize for any mistakes. Words: 1.8K

— She can't have gone very far — Your sister, Donatella says, her voice clearly showing frustration and fear — She's not fully recovered yet and the Fates have just woken up!

Upon hearing the comment about the return of the Fates, goosebumps ran throughout your body. You remembered him again, his face still well etched in your memory, his green eyes staring deeply at you and the weight of the luckless coin in your pocket.

— Hey! Are you well? Tella asks, looking at your worried expression.

— Ah… yes, of course, I think we should start looking for her. She really couldn't have gone very far — Your eyes staring at the empty bed in your room

Your sisters took a while to come back that fateful day, you were finished, confused and devastated, a strange mix of feelings. Your mother disappeared and you were deeply saddened by this event, but at the same time, curious about Fate's sudden interest in you. Your feelings were stronger than you, you couldn't deny it, but the fact that your "flirting" worked took away a good night's sleep from you.

And now you and your sisters were here, in your room, where your mother was until yesterday afternoon, discussing a plan to bring her back.

—Then it's done. — Scarlett finally lets go — Let's split up, Julian and I go to The Satine District, Tella and Dante can go to the Temple District and you, Y/N, can stay downtown looking for her — Then Scarlett pauses, as if she was thinking about what she just said — But… you're going to be alone… no, how are we going to divide ourselves?

You see the desperation on your sister's face and are aware that she was so worried about rescuing your mother that she didn't even think through the plan.

A sigh comes out of your mouth

— It's okay Scarlett, really — You approach your older sister and touch her shoulders, as a way of reassuring your statement — I won't be in danger, I know how to handle myself, I guarantee that we will return today with our mother. return home

Scarlett's lips form a smile, despite her expression being concerned.

— Are you sure?

— Absolutely.

— Good, then it's settled! — Donatella puts on her shoe and walks towards the door — We better go quickly, every time we stand here the longer she stays away!

And like that, she disappears among the crowds of Valenda.

—She's like that, you know. She's also worried about our mother as much as we both are. — Scarlett gives you a smile — Come on Y/N, when the night comes, we'll be a complete family again.

And just like Tella, Scarlett also disappears among the crowds.

You leave the house and take a look at the city, the movement has actually dropped. As much as the Empress ordered not to make the Fates' return public, the whispers and comments were stronger and more present than any public revelation. The sky was lovely, there were few clouds in it and you assumed you only had a few hours before it got dark and you needed to go home. "I hope they've already met up with Dante and Julian," you thought, wondering what you were going to do now.

Although some stores were closed, people were still walking around the city, small groups of children were playing in the streets and women took the opportunity to gossip during this time. Well, nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, at least that's what your vision told you. So, you decide to approach one of these women and ask for some information about your mother's whereabouts.

— Hello! Sorry to ask suddenly, but I would like to know if you have ever seen or heard of any women with thick dark hair and… well, running like her life depended on it? — You form a shy smile.

Women look at each other before answering your question

— No girl, we haven't seen anything like that so far. — One of them responds — These streets are full of strange people, we wake up not knowing what we are going to witness that day!

Your hope of getting some information is erased and you find yourself increasingly trapped in an abyss.

— Ah… I see, I'm sorry for the inconvenience. — You thank them and leave.

— I hope you find this woman soon!

— Thanks! — You hoped so.

And so, you say goodbye to the two women and head towards another crowd of people. This time you decide to ask a merchant, since they are here every day. The merchant in question sold various devices and books related to the Fates, this explained the fact that he was one of the few who were still open selling their products.

— Hello beautiful young lady, what do you want from my store? — The gray-haired man asks, showing some interest.

—Actually, I'd like to know if you've seen a woman with thick dark hair and… tall and… well, desperate? Running around? — You ask hopefully.

The man puts his hand to his chin, demonstrating that he is searching his memory, which was probably already faulty.

— I've seen several women like that running through these streets, but with the description you gave me… well, she's quite unique. — He responds, looking around — I'm sorry I can't help you, young lady, but I hope you find this woman, she seems important to you.

You give a brief smile and wave before walking away, again, into the crowd.

Time was passing and you hadn't even gotten any information from your mother. You felt like running around looking for her wouldn't help anything either.

Tired and unmotivated to continue, you sit on one of the benches in a square, rest your head in one of your hands and stare at the ground, thinking about what you could do now that it seemed like your chances were running out. "What the hell, it's going to be impossible to find her like that", your frustrations take over you, the feeling of impotence, of having no more options and of not being able to find anything. Just as you were about to give up and leave, a weight in the pocket of your dress reminded you that you had yet another option. The luckless coin, there, next to you, YOUR luckless coin, given by none other than The Assassin.

You take the coin out of your pocket and stare at it deeply, wondering if it was worth the risk. The coin stares back at you too, a deep strength and magic emanating from it. "It's ridiculous to think about that", your mind constantly warning you that this risk wasn't worth it. However, your heart said otherwise, you knew it, you wanted to see him again.

— It better work out… — Because it was your only option.

After taking a long sigh, you remember the Fate that made your heart race the day before. “Please, please,” you begging him to show up with all your might.

But nothing happens.

You feel ridiculous, disappointed to say the least. You had placed your trust in this coin, blindly believed that it would come to help you, and here you were, sitting on a random bench, staring at the coin with the greatest shame possible.

— That's why they call it Luckless Coin — You say and then throw the coin on the floor.

How ridiculous, to imagine that a Fate could help you, it's quite comical. What if he hadn't put in a Luckless coin? And yes maybe just a random coin to trick you? You became even more frustrated. You close your eyes, fighting to hold back the tears, both from sadness at not having made any progress and from anger at having been stupid through your own fault. You could hear the laughter of children, the footsteps of the exquisite shoes of the aristocracy, the cries of merchants, the singing of birds, the wind blowing through your hair and…

A cold hand touching your shoulders?

— I don't like it when my luckless coins are thrown on the floor.

You freeze. "It's not possible," a chill ran through your body. "It can't be him." It takes a lot of courage on your part to decide to open your eyes and see who the being in front of you was, who turned out to be the one you feared the most but also the one you cried out the most for.

— I knew you humans didn't like our coins — The deep voice brings you back to reality — But this is the first time I've seen someone have the audacity to do this with them. — He shows the luckless coin in the palm of his hand, an invitation to pick it up again.

As much as that whole being was real, for you it was anything but that. You can't believe it, The Assassin, right here, in front of you, just as you imagined and wished. A feeling of anger arises from you.

— So that's how we call you guys? Throwing, stepping and breaking the coin? — A tone of mockery takes over your voice, even though your eyes were emanating a deep hatred for the Fate for not showing up when you asked.

— We don't usually follow orders.

It was true.

You didn't know how long exactly, but the two of you stood there for a few minutes staring at each other. The more you looked at his features, the more your heart raced, and you didn't know if you liked or hated that feeling. From the little you knew about Fate in specific, you knew that he wasn't one to talk much and that he would probably stay there as long as you wanted, because he has that time, but you don't.

Your sisters depended on your help, they wanted Paloma back safely as much as you wanted and you had promised to help them, one way or another. Maybe your help is right here in front of you and maybe you will regret it later.

— Please… help me find my mother. — You finally give in, your gaze staring at the stone floor of the square where you two were — They… I promised I would help them.

He looks at you with curiosity, even amusement.

— My help has a price, are you willing to pay?

With that sentence you already completely regretted asking him for help, but now it was too late to go back. You were going to face all of this head on, until the end.

— Anything.

You had no idea what a problem you had just gotten yourself into.

[not-a-lady-irl]

Glad you liked it

Pairing: Malleus Draconia x f!reader Summary: You were taking a cooking class with Trey to pass the time. At the end of class, you returned to your Diasomnia dorm with a beautiful strawberry pie, but you just didn't expect that the pie would spark the interest of a certain dragon. Warnings: fluff, terrible writing Author's Note: English is not my first language so I apologize for any mistakes. Words: 2.1K

You were taking a cooking class with Trey, he was teaching you how to make one of his famous strawberry pies.

It was just a normal day, after your classes ended you left the Diasomnia dorm looking for something to do and as you walked around campus you smelled the wonderful smell of Trey's pies.

And that's how you ended up in the kitchen of Heartslabyul's dorm.

— Hey Hey! Even your pie turned out better than we expected — Trey confessed, as he took your pie that had just come out of the oven and examined it.

Even you were surprised

— Wow! I still can't believe it worked.

— Your pie is excellent — Trey takes the pie out of the pan and puts it on the table — At least now I know who to call if I get a large order of pies and need help. — He jokes

A smile forms on your face when you hear the compliments

— Thanks Trey, at least now I have something to take to my friends at Diasomnia, I'm sure they'll love eating one of your pies!

— I sincerely hope so — He replies while picking up some already cut strawberries and some whipped cream that was inside a pot — Now this beautiful pie just needs a decoration!

You observe the way Trey decorates his pie, the dexterity and care he has when forming small circles of whipped cream that add a sensation of delicacy to the pie and then the chopped strawberries.

— And… that’s it! — The last strawberry is placed on top of the whipped cream. Trey picks up his pie and looks at it with some pride — It's this decoration that makes customers ask for more and more, I don't know, it seems like they simply only like it if it looks like that, it's strange, isn't it? — He comments with a laugh.

You look at his pie and think about how long Trey must have worked with sweets, especially strawberry pie, to reach this level of perfection.

You wondered if your decor would be as good as his.

— Okay! Your time! — He says, handing you your pie and the utensils for decoration — It's very easy, you'll see — An encouraging smile appears on his lips

— Don’t expect too much from me… — Your confidence exuding

Not wanting to take too long, you take the pot, the spatula and pour some Whipped Cream onto your pie. Luckily, the whipped cream circle comes out perfect.

— I did it! — A smile escapes your face — I didn't ruin the pie!

— If you keep talking like that, it might happen — Trey catches your attention and you respond by pouting — Come on, finish with the whipped cream first and then add the strawberries, which is the easiest part

Obeying his orders, you repeat the same way as before when pouring another drop of whipped cream on the pie.

However, you weren't very lucky this time.

Instead of the drop forming a beautiful, delicate circle, the whipped cream ended up escaping the spatula and a large amount of it spread across the cake, forming anything but a small circle.

— Ah… — Your voice condemning your disappointment at seeing what had happened

But all you could hear was Trey's laugh in the background

— I told you that if you kept saying those things this could happen — A laugh escapes Trey's throat

Your face becomes enraged at the mockery of the green-haired man in front of you. You decide to give up on forming small delicate circles and opt to simply spread the whipped cream all over the top of the pie, "it looks much better like that!", you think, trying to admit that your decoration had been superior to Trey's

— Okay, I'm done! Excuse me. — You respond with disdain — Without even waiting for any response from him

— Oh, that was fun, for sure — You hear him say as you walk away to your dorm

From now on you would think twice, maybe three, four or five before agreeing to do anything with this man again, especially if it was strawberry pies.

With night already taking over the entire sky with the moon and stars, while returning to Diasomnia you found yourself thinking about what the students in your dorm would think about your pie. Would they like it? You weren't so sure about the taste, but since it was Trey's recipe you assumed it wouldn't be bad!

"Well, at least it would be better than Lilia's food for sure", you thought, and a smile escaped.

But even though the opinions of other students didn't bother you much, you, after all, only cared about one person out of all of them.

Malleus.

The horned fae who exudes power and strikes fear into all who look upon him. It wasn't like your crush on him was something few people knew about. You blamed yourself for it, but sometimes you couldn't control yourself around him and your feelings were always showing. Your eyes condemning you.

When you arrived at the dormitory, you could already see the vision of some students studying, others gossiping in one of the corners of the main hall, others practicing magic on themselves or their classmates… well, it was something you were already used to seeing in your dormitory.

You didn't notice, but the still hot pie gave off its scent to everyone, attracting a lot of curious looks at you and the box you had in your hands.

— Yes, it's one of Trey's pies if that's what you're thinking — You respond, already knowing that you couldn't hide this fact for long

— Can we have a piece?? — One of the boys asked

You thought a little before answering, because you wanted Malleus to taste your pie, Lilia wouldn't be a bad idea either, you loved receiving praise from Diasomnia's vice-prefect.

Well, but the fear of the pie being terrible haunted you again. The decor was horrible, there was no denying that, but you were going to take a chance on the taste.

— Okay, you can have a piece. Just ONE ok? — You open the packaging where the pie was and face that decoration disaster again — In fact…. It was… I who… did… — You already regret it

The student who placed the order approached and looked at the pie.

— Well, it's definitely more appetizing than Lilia's food, that's for sure. — He said and took a piece of your pie.

You couldn't hold back your laughter upon hearing the comment. In fact, the vice-prefect's meals were terrible… to say the least, so of course the students would think your pie was phenomenal.

— Wow, it's incredible! — He replied — Congratulations Y/N! You are an excellent cook!

You were surprised by your colleague's comment

— Serious? Thanks! — Your face showing disruption.

Your happiness was so much that you didn't even watch a large crowd of students eating your pie either.

— Hey… wait. Leave at least a piece, please! — Your voice tried to reach the students' ears, but the effort was in vain, none of them heard you.

As you tried to fend off some of them to try and save your piece of the pie, your voice began to take on a different tone, one of fear, concern.

— Guys, please! Don't eat all the pie! — Your voice breaking and the fear of taking over — I told you to leave at least a piece!

When they finished eating, they started to walk away and only then did you get a glimpse of your pie… or at least what was left of it.

Nothing.

There wasn't a single piece left. No trace that it even existed. They left nothing for you to offer Malleus.

As you looked at the empty box in front of you, your eyes filled with tears. You had worked so hard to make that pie. You came back so thoughtful about the feeling of having Malleus experience something made by you… you liked seeing and knowing what he thought about you and the things you did.

You wanted to spend this time with him, to hear from him what he thought of your strawberry pie.

But that was all over, there was no more to give to Malleus.

Angry, you huddled in Diasomnia's kitchen cabinet and cried. You cried everything your heart asked for. All your sadness and regret poured out. You weren't exactly angry with your colleagues, you didn't blame them for not listening to you (at least not entirely), but you blamed yourself even more for not having set aside a piece for Malleus yourself.

— Whatever… — Your voice was muffled

As you gave in to your loneliness and sadness, you heard a familiar voice coming from the front door of the main hall.

— Well… do any of you know where she is? I had promised her that I would deliver a piece of my pie but… she left before I could deliver it.

Wait.

You knew that voice.

Trey??

You wipe the tears from your eyes and run towards the door, where three boys could be seen staring at the green-haired man.

As soon as he looks at you, he shows you the piece of pie that was in his hand

— Hey Y/N! You left before I could give you this. You made me promise that I would give you at least one piece of my pie to try and compare with yours, remember?

It´s truth! You had forgotten, you bothered Trey so much to give you a piece of his pie that after he made fun of your decoration you simply left and forgot about the promise.

You walk over and pick up the piece.

— Thanks Trey… but now there's no way I can compare — You say, your voice already breaking again

Trey looks at you closely and decides to ask.

— Isn't there any left for him?

You just nod your head

Trey knew why you wanted to take a whole pie back to your dorm. He knew you wanted to impress Malleus. That's why he helped you.

Before you could say anything else you both hear heavy footsteps coming from behind you.

— What's going on here? — A deep voice asks, causing chills throughout all the students.

Except for you, because you recognized that voice as well as you recognized Trey's voice.

Malleus.

—Oh? Y/N? What happened? Why are you standing here by the door? —Malleus asks you, his gaze full of curiosity.

— She would like you to try the pie she made — Trey responds in your place.

You look at him with a glare. Everyone in the dorm already knew about your love for Malleus, but Trey didn't need to make it obvious to Malleus himself either.

— Is it true Y/N? — He asks

You didn't know exactly how to feel, you weren't the one who actually made that piece. The decor was beautiful, completely different from yours. However, the recipe was the same, it was Trey's recipe, and the students who ate it said it was just as good. So there probably wasn't much of a difference.

— Only if you want… — You replied quietly, very shy.

You were someone else when Malleus was in the same room as you.

Malleus looks at the piece of strawberry pie held out to him.

— I would love to — And like that, he takes the piece from your hands and puts it in his mouth

The world stops at that moment, the pie wasn't even yours, but the fact that you said it was caused the same anxiety as if it were yours. Malleus bites a piece, chews, swallows, bites another, chews, swallows.

You swore your heart would stop there, at that moment. You even got scared when you saw Trey as worried as you were.

— It's wonderful — He smiles satisfied — I'm happy to know that you have a gift for confectionery Y/N — He praises and bites another piece

You can't even believe it. Your face turns all red. You feel warm. Your heart is pounding. It worked, you received a compliment from Malleus! You couldn't even believe it.

— Looks like someone won the night now — Trey comments with a smile and you can't even be nervous with him, he literally saved you

—Oh? I didn't know that Y/N wanted me to try her pie so much — Malleus lets out a laugh — If you want me to try something so much, next time take it directly to me and I'll tell you exactly what I think. — He smiles at you, his pointy teeth showing.

You don't remember exactly how, but you remember your eyes closing and your head hitting the floor of the Diasomnia.

[not-a-lady-irl]

I should have walked away

Pairing: Ellis Twilight x f!reader Summary: Your thoughts and feelings torment you more and more, whenever Ellis' vision appears. You wonder if he will ever love you. Warnings: angst, terrible writing Author's Note: 👍 Words: 1.4k

For days you felt like this, finished, hopeless, frustrated. You worked as the Fairytale Keeper at Crown, which, in fact, was not something you expected to experience when you thought about your future before the fateful night, but until you learned to live well with this change. Whether you admit it or not, you met new people, saw another side of society and became aware of things you had no idea even existed, cursed people.

— Thank you so much for your help today Ellis!

— It was fun spending the afternoon with you… thank you Y/N…

Throughout your stay at Crown, you ended up spending time with all the boys that made up that organization, but Ellis was the one who caught your attention the most. You wondered why he always seemed so calm despite all the hard work he put in day and night. All this, with a smile on your face. Besides the fact that he was a man of mystery to you, why did he join Crown? Why did he insist on working for Jude? These were some of the many questions you wished you had the courage to ask him one day, but you felt like it was none of your business.

You watched as Ellis waved you goodbye and headed to his room, without even looking back.

— Ugh… — A sigh leaves your lips as soon as the vision of the black-haired man disappears.

'He's always so kind and polite… I wonder if he knows about this… if he acts like this with everyone', your thoughts begin to appear, making your feelings towards the man you had said bye more and more apparent.

It's not like you promised not to fall in love or that you weren't interested in romance at the moment, quite the opposite, it was something you craved all the time, the feeling of being loved, of knowing that someone values ​​and cares about you, to smile at the thought that there might be someone waiting for you at home, to be able to taste what it's like to hear "I love you" from someone else's lips… especially if that person was Ellis.

Walking towards the exit of the castle, you try to clear away the fog of increasingly romantic thoughts that insist on taking over your mind. You knew that all those men were destined to have a tragic, sad ending, that they lived their lives now wondering if tomorrow they would find their last breath. Maybe that's why Ellis never showed any loving feelings towards you. Maybe the idea that he's just worried about your safety and happiness makes you more comfortable than believing that he just doesn't feel anything at all. It was easier to live like this. You had a bad habit of confusing kindness with some interest behind it, and the only thing you were sure of was that this way of thinking was your own ruin.

—Tsk, you're in the way, ya know? The´re busy people who need to pass, princess.

Oh, Jude.

— I'm leaving now, sorry.

—Thinkin' about him again? — A mischievous smile escapes his lips.

— I don't know who you're talking about. Not busy? — You respond, trying to ignore the obvious provocation that man was making. You were already used to it.

You expected any humiliation, insults from that man, but the only thing that welcomed you was a deafening silence. Something you didn't expect, and that scared you more than hearing something bad coming out of his mouth. You didn't know if you should turn your head to see if he had just left or if you should just move on, but curiosity killed the cat.

— What there was? Won't-

— Take care. — He replied.

— Oh! Um…? Be careful… with what exactly? — The answer took you by surprise.

— Ya know. — And so, Jude turned and walked away towards the Crown castle, leaving you alone with these statements.

— Wow…

You had planned to get some fresh air in the city, precisely to try to appease your feelings and thoughts of the man who had been tormenting you all this time. Be careful? With what exactly? For what reason? Wasn't all your caution all this time with the Crown members enough? Was it an attempt to get rid of these feelings as quickly as possible? Because they have a relatively short lifespan due to curses? It was killing you, it was already taking over your body, it was a slow, painful suffering.

Every day you tried hard to give a fake smile that everything was fine when clearly that doubt tormented your life day after day. 'Is it just me that he acts like that?', 'Does he know that I feel something other than friendship when it comes to him?'.

Damn… your eyes were already soaking wet from how much you were crying. Running out of the castle definitely didn't help much, as the other members watching her wondered what had happened to their beloved Robin.

— I'm really an idiot…

Your legs running as fast as they could, the burning already appearing, your feet begging for a rest, but the only thing you wanted was to run, away from that castle, those people, him.

You felt guilty for acting that way, it wasn't his fault that you weren't honest with your feelings… or that you weren't brave enough for not confessing them to him. But what tormented you was the simple question of, if you confessed, would he accept it? Would he say he felt the same way too? Would he hug you and tell you in your eyes that he loves you too?

Well, now you wouldn't find out, as the castle moved further and further away from you. And so does he.

When you arrived in the city, seeing the movement of people somehow calmed you down. The gentle night breeze on the bridge you were on invited you to stop for a moment and enjoy the view, at least for a second. The movement of the waves, the noise of the water colliding with the stone walls, the birds singing nearby enchanted you in a way that made you mesmerized by the view you had access to in this place.

But even though you felt calm and attracted at that moment, your heart still hadn't forgotten why it beat faster and faster, a constant reminder of what it did to you. This bothered you, the feeling of realizing that you didn't have control over your feelings and the way your body reacted to them. Ellis smiled, her heart racing. Ellis greeted you, his lips forming a smile. Ellis praised you, his cheeks flushed. Ellis touched you, your whole body responded to the touch.

It would be a dream to believe that he would feel the same, that he would have fallen in love with an ordinary girl like you. How many times were the two of you alone and spent a long time looking at his lips, giving him a signal to notice… but nothing happened. Sometimes he was really making a fool of you, who knows?

— I'm really pathetic. — You said that louder than you really thought.

Maybe you should take Jude's advice seriously and be careful with Ellis. You wouldn't suffer for him anymore, not after everything you've been through without making any progress. No, you were going to give up, this love wasn't for you. You were going to kill this love. You were going to kill this love. Stepping in a way that reminds it to never return.

It would be difficult to sleep without dreaming about him, in fact it was almost impossible. From the first day you met him, that you saw that smile… you should have run, gone, walked away, and not clung any more and desired even more. You made a mistake and now you are paying the consequences for your actions.

It was late, the moon and stars were a constant reminder that a woman should not be alone on these streets at this time of night. Not even you.

When you finally decided to leave where you were standing, thinking, a man holds your arm tightly, his face exuding hatred.

— Hey you, you hang out with those two guys, don't you?

[not-a-lady-irl]

Finally alone

Pairing: Susumu Yamazaki x f!reader

Summary: You were starving and decided to go check out the kitchen to see if the food was almost ready. When you get there however, you only find Yamazaki who was alone cooking for everyone. Until, taking advantage of the few moments you spend together, you decide to flirt with him…

Words: 1.9K

Warnings: none

A/N: I AIM AT YAMAZAKI AND HIT CHIKAGE LOL I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE IT LIKE THIS

It was a rainy day in Kyoto. Drops of water falling rapidly outside the Shinsengumi headquarters. The climate had cooled considerably. The cloudy sky and the sound of rain brought a feeling of comfort, it was something you needed a lot lately. Your mind was full of useless thoughts that only gave you a headache. 'What are the boys doing?', you ask yourself. As much as you loved the feeling that days like today brought you, the lack of company or something to do really made you impatient and stressed. You were in your room, as usual, reading a random book you found in the Shinsengumi's quarters. It was one of the ways you found to pass the time on rainy days, and unfortunately they cut your list of ways to kill boredom in half. Normally you would simply walk around the headquarters seeing if anyone needed help or go talk to Okita about anything. You even insisted on letting you participate in that night's patrol but Hijikata's orders were short and blunt. They didn't want you to get the flu or maybe something even worse.

"They're kind of right, you know…" - you think out loud

You still didn't have clothes to protect you from the cold of a rainy night, so it was better if you just stayed in your room. You let out a heavy sigh and start leafing through your book again. It is a book that tells some interesting facts about the West. Their way of acting really was very different from what you were used to. Well, this is definitely not something you want to be reading right now. You would rather be reading a good novel or even some fantasy, but as not everything is as we want, a book about Western cultures and customs was your only form of entertainment. As you continue leafing through the pages you come across some Western foods and how they are prepared. Oooh Yes, you made a mistake going into the chapter about food, because my god how HUNGRY were you at that moment. Instantly you felt your belly begging for food, any food whatsoever. You even thought about ignoring it and continuing your reading, however it seemed that the more you fought against your hunger, the more it appeared and took over you.

"Okay... I think i need to go to the kitchen"

Slowly opening the door to your room, you look around to see if there was anyone outside who could possibly stop you from going to the kitchen. Hijikata would definitely catch your attention if he found you outside your quarters wandering around, but you couldn't just sit around and wait for dinner time. With slow steps you walked towards the kitchen, where with every step you took towards the kitchen, a strong smell invaded your sense of smell. That only made your situation worse. The growl of your belly getting louder and louder and your steps unconsciously also becoming faster, until finally, you arrive at your destination.

As soon as you open the door, swearing that you wouldn't find anyone and that you would have the kitchen to yourself, you come across Yamazaki chopping some vegetables.

"You should be in your room" - he responds after stopping cutting the vegetables and looking at you - "Hijikata won't like knowing that you're out here in this cold"

"He won't know if you don't tell him!" - you respond, sliding the door behind you and entering the comforting environment of the kitchen - "The smell here is incredible, Yamazaki! What are you doing?"

Yamazaki watches you for a few seconds and then shifts his gaze towards the cutting board and continues his work where he left off.

"It's nothing that amazing if that's what you think, it's just an ordinary Ramen"

"But what about all those vegetables you're cutting??" - you intuitively approach Yamazaki, standing side by side with him - "An ordinary Ramen doesn't have all these ingredients!"

Startled by the sudden approach, Yamazaki just hides his face and continues preparing the ingredients for dinner. You and Yamazaki have always had a romantic interest in each other, however, whether because of the risky position he finds himself in, always getting involved in battles or simply because of his fear of falling in love, he never revealed his feelings for you and you never had the courage to open up to this point with him. It reached a level where everyone in the Shinsengumi knew the true feelings you both felt for each other and even made fun of you for it. However, nothing was ever changed and the two of you have remained friends ever since.

Over the years, some events happened and Yamazaki started to be called on almost every mission, which drastically reduced the time the two of you shared together. Moments like this now, where just the two of you were present was something rare, too rare to be more specific. You even wondered if he still felt the same way about you after so long. Your feelings and desires remained unchanged, and you, deep down, hoped that Yamazaki's would remain the same.

"It's supposed to be more nutritious, they've been needing a lot of nutrients due to the increasingly difficult missions lately" - Yamazaki replies while throwing the already chopped vegetables into the broth that was boiling, avoiding looking at you as much as possible.

You weren't going to just stand by and watch Yamazaki work without doing anything. You wanted to and would enjoy this moment of the two of you alone. You would drop some flirting there and some compliments here to see how Yamazaki would react. You really hope everything is still as alive as before.

Slowly then, you approach Yamazaki again - "But what about you Yamazaki? I want to know about you! What have you been doing lately? It's been a while since we talked just the two of us!"

"I have continued my work as usual. Only leaving the headquarters when necessary. In my free time I remain in my quarters enjoying the silence. - he answers without even looking at you.

"Ah yes, I see."

A long minute passes. You seriously question yourself if you should have insisted on trying to find out that Yamazaki still felt the same way.

"And you?" - He finally asks - "What have you been doing?"

Surprised by the sudden question aimed at you, you respond visibly cheerfully

"Ah, I've been helping wherever I've been asked. Be it on missions or just with some tasks here at the Shinsengumi!"

"Ah, that's good." - Yamazaki responds, looking briefly at you with a smile on his face right after returning to his final dinner preparations

Silence again. It was already killing you. You had even lost hunger. What else did you need to do to show that you missed him? Scream and beg for attention? You decide to take a chance one last time. This time the two of you side by side at the stove, looking at the ramen bubbling as it cooks the vegetables. The smell slowly bringing back your previously dormant hunger.

"That looks delicious Yamazaki! I confess that I missed eating something prepared by you again…" - you say, turning to face Yamazaki who already had his eyes on you, causing a slight blush to appear on your cheeks - "I want say… it's been a while since anyone from the Shinsengumi has eaten something you made, right?? I can't be the only one…"

"It's okay, I confess that I missed you too, all of you" - again a response that you can't understand if it was an attempt at flirting or just a compliment with no ulterior motives.

"Ah yes, I'm sure the boys missed you a lot too."

Either way, your morale drops instantly and you desperately make an attempt to get closer, bringing your face closer to Yamazaki while dividing your attention to his lips and his eyes. Noticing your approach, Yamazaki pulls away and shifts his gaze to the kitchen counter, leaving you lost in your thoughts looking at the now empty space in front of you.

"Okay, I'm going to go" - you respond, no longer able to stand being there and holding back your tears as much as possible

However, the moment you slide the door to go out towards your room, with your eyes full of tears, Yamazaki grabs your arm bringing you back into the kitchen, closing the door behind you again. He pins you against the wall and brings his face closer to yours.

"I spent the whole time thinking about you. Wondering if it was worth continuing the game of not taking any responsibility. Wondering if the next time we were together again the feeling would be mutual" - he comments, his breath caressing your ear - "When I heard your footsteps and saw you coming in I held myself back from grabbing you and kissing you, I held myself back from having my feelings crushed by a false impression of there still being something between the two of us, but now I realize that we've been through a lot time pretending and holding back our desires" - one of his hands goes down to your chin, lifting it, making you look into his eyes, tears already taking over your face - "So what do you think? Dating me from now on? Make a commitment where I will be yours and you will be mine. Where everyone will know we have something." - he brings your face closer, your lips almost touching - "I hope your answer is yes y/n, because I can't take it any longer to simply act around you and others as if nothing is happening between us. So say y /n, tell me you love me and that you accept being mine forever." - He looks into your eyes, waiting for your answer.

"Yes. I accept to be your Yamazaki. Forever." - you respond, longing for the contact between your lips and the man in front of you, his breath giving you goosebumps and invading your mind with thoughts, you couldn't bear to be away from this man any longer.

“Great, I think we can start acting like lovers then.” - and like that, Yamazaki finally connects his lips with yours. His kiss was slow but at the same time desperate, as if he wanted to enjoy every second of these rare moments, but he also wanted to kill all the longing he had during the entire time the two of you were away from each other. Yamazaki lets go of your arms and cups your face, kissing you more and more, thirsty for your touch and attention. With your arms already around his neck, you break the kiss due to lack of air. Yamazaki's gaze chills you again, making you realize how much he missed you and how willing he was to make up for lost time.

"I think we'd better go to a more private room" - you suggest, letting out a mischievous smile from Yamazaki

"I'm glad we think the same thing"

He pulls you by the arm and the two of you walk towards your private quarters.

I hope you remembered to take dinner off the heat.

[not-a-lady-irl]

Dangerous Love

Pairing: The Assassin x reader Summary: You knew you couldn't trust the Fates, after all, they were immortal beings and couldn't feel love, only obsession. However, a certain Fate caught your attention, so you decide to admire it, only from afar, afraid that he would notice your presence and decide to do something to you. You just didn't expect the Fate to have his eye on you too. Warnings: mention of violence, terrible writing Author's Note: I really enjoyed writing about one of the Fates. I don't know if I'll keep writing about the Assassin specifically, but I'll definitely write something about Jacks! Words: 3.8K

Everything had happened so quickly. In one day, all of Valenda was safe; nothing was in danger since all the fates still remained trapped in their respective cards within the Deck of Destiny. But as all good things are short-lived, the next day you received news that Legend had freed all the fates from the deck. Your emotions were a whirlwind. Your head was so confused and worried about everyone's safety that a slight twinge of pain began to appear along with your thoughts. What were you and your sisters going to do now? How were you going to deal with all of this? Before you could start freaking out over your own thoughts, an external voice snapped you out of your reverie.

"Hey, is everything okay?" Scarlett asked

You finally stop staring at the marble floor of the room where you were, and your eyes meet your older sister's brown ones. Scarlett always managed to bring peace, no matter where you were. Maybe it was her "power" as an older sister that gave her this gift, but you couldn't deny that you loved that about her. Whenever you needed a hug or just someone to vent to, you knew you could always count on Scarlett.

"So far, so good. How long ago were the fates released?"

"I think it was a few hours ago; Tella told me that as soon as she arrived here at the palace, apparently Caraval was over and she won."

You were taken by surprise. He knew Caraval was happening, but you didn't know that your sister Tella had won.

"After all, what did she need to do to win this year's Caraval?" You decide to ask, making no effort to hide your look of astonishment at Scarlett's comment.

"She needed to find the deck of destiny. That's what Legend wanted from the beginning."

"Ah yes, it makes sense that he wanted the deck from the beginning, but I confess that it was a little unusual."

You realized that Scarlett was going to open her mouth to respond to your comment; however, you both heard heavy footsteps coming from the hallway towards the room where you were. From the look of those footsteps, it was definitely Julian coming to visit your sister.

"I think Julian is coming!" You comment, getting up quickly and heading towards a cover in the floor that led to the castle's underground corridors. "I wish the best for you both!" A mocking tone left your lips. You knew that the situation between Scarlett and Julian wasn't among the best, so you couldn't waste this chance to mock your sister. "And have pity on poor Julian; sometimes I think he thinks that you bite!"

Scarlett looks at you furiously and says, "If he's not careful, I might end up biting him."

"Ooooh, scary Scarlett," and then you disappear from sight as soon as you enter the corridors.

- Time break: 2 months -

Months had already passed since the last Caraval. You and your sisters had already moved out of the empress's castle and started living in a rented house. It wasn't as comfortable as the castle, but it was still home. Any place where your sisters were would be considered home to you. But even far from the palace, your sisters continued to be busy with various matters, from small problems involving the place you lived to larger problems involving Valenda. And speaking of bigger problems, one that definitely took over your thoughts 24/7 was Paloma. Or Paradise, the Lost, if you could call her that. You discovered that the main reason Donatella went after your mother's Deck of Destiny was precisely to free her. You knew how conflicting Paloma's comment was, but at this exact moment, you were at home waiting for her to wake up. While seeing your mother wake up would bring you feelings like happiness and excitement, it also meant that the other Fates would probably be waking up too.

"Bam!"— a sound coming from the bedroom called you back to reality.

You were scared; you could have even thought that it was the wind, someone, or even a bird that ended up bumping into something, but that only tormented you even more when you remembered that you were alone at home and that the room only had a single window, and you remember locking it.

Should you say something? Should it attract attention? Should you just run out and look for one of your sisters?

Or you could go up and see what actually happened.

And that's what you did. You were worrying too much about something that could easily be insignificant. You started to climb the stairs slowly, avoiding making noise as much as possible. As much as your conscience told you it was nothing serious, a voice inside you told you that it had a chance of being a bigger problem than you expected.

You slowly pulled out the pocket knife you had inside your boot and pointed it at the door that was now in front of you. Your breathing was labored, and you were shaking, as much as you hated to admit it. You hated feeling weak and afraid, but that was exactly what was taking over you. You took about 5 deep breaths before finally holding the door handle firmly and only then opening the door sharply.

"Who's there?" you screamed.

But the only thing that greeted you as soon as you entered the room was a wind that came from a window with broken glass, along with an empty bed. The bed is where Paloma should be lying and resting. Your eyes were amazed at the view that the room had left, and you quickly went to the window, hoping that you would get a glimpse of your mother walking through the streets of Valenda.

"This is bad. This is terrible!" You commented on yourself.

How would you tell your sisters that all of a sudden your mother just woke up and then ran away, breaking the bedroom window? And this also only got worse when you realized that the fact that Paloma woke up could only highlight one other thing. The Fates also woke up.

Just the idea of thinking that the Fates could be loose in Valenda, causing chaos throughout the city, made your body shudder. You weren't prepared for that. Nobody was prepared for that. Only you, your sisters, and some people in the palace knew that the fates were released and that they could wake up at any moment. You wanted to believe that all of this was just fiction, that fate's waking up was just another one of Legend's stories for the theme of the next Caraval. But you realized too quickly that everything was real—too real.

You started to hear some screams of terror from some specific places, like dark alleys. So it was real; they really woke up. You seriously considered staying huddled in your room, shaking in fear as you waited for your sisters to return, but you also couldn't just let the defenseless civilians be targets of the fates. Fighting against your own will, you go down the stairs of the corridor that connected the living room to the bedrooms and decide to go out into the street, trying to do everything in your power to protect those people. The Fates fed on fear, so you needed to stop fear from taking over people as quickly as possible, at least until the emperor and the royal guard took control of the situation.

Leaving the house, you ran towards the first alley you saw in front of you. You calmed down when you realized that, apart from a few specific places, the rest of the city seemed to be quiet, as if it were just another normal day. This was good; it meant that the population still didn't have full knowledge that the Fates had woken up or had any contact with some of them yet. As soon as you entered the alley, you were greeted by a bearded man with stripped clothes and an expression of pure fear, running quickly towards the exit of that place.

"Get out of here, girl; this place isn't safe for young people like you! Even more so after what I saw!"

Before he could run away again, you grabbed his arm and quickly asked, "What exactly did you see?"

The man, apparently too scared, said quickly, running over his words, the vision of hell they had witnessed just now: "A hooded man, miss, that's exactly what I saw! He walked with a dagger in his hand, and it looked like he was there to cause a mess! Run for your life, miss, before he takes it from you!" He commented, trembling with fear.

"Where exactly was this hooded man?" you decide to risk asking

"Still planning to see it with your own eyes? There really are still many foolish people in the world." He finally freed himself from your grip. "First street on the left; get to the end of it, and you will see the vision of the horror I had. Good luck, miss, if I must wish you that. I hope you're alive to see tomorrow after deciding to go after the reason for my fear." and, in the end, finally left.

"Okay, no jokes; the situation might be worse than I imagined," you thought.

Still with the knife in hand, you slowly head in the direction in which the man had guided you to follow.

After turning the first street to the left, the air instantly became heavier. The cold wind took over the place and welcomed you to what was the sight of hell for man. The dark alley, which only had one or two bars, was strangely empty—too empty. Your eyes could barely see what was in front of you. Instinctively, you held the knife tighter in your hand. You promised yourself that, regardless of who approached, that person would receive a blow from your knife if you weren't careful. Straining your vision a little, you noticed a man who perfectly matched the descriptions he had given you. A man wearing a heavy hood stood at the bend of the alley. His back was turned, so you couldn't see him properly. Without fear of dying at that exact moment, you decide to get a little closer, very slowly, just enough so that you could get a detailed view of the person that was causing a commotion. If it really was fate, it would be important to know which one it was in order to alert the palace and ensure that they had definitely woken up. They needed to know which of them was already disturbing Valenda's peace. As you got close enough to the strange figure, a voice filled your ears. A laugh. But it didn't seem to match the information given by the man, who fled in despair. Because you don't remember the man mentioning a female voice.

"You need to improve those jokes of yours!"

A light, effeminate voice takes over your ears. It was a voice that was quite satisfying to hear. It didn't sound like the voice of someone who was disturbing the peace in Valenda or someone who would like to go around killing and torturing people. Holding your breath, you take a few more steps forward, hoping to finally get a glimpse of what exactly was in front of you.

Stopping a few meters away from where the peculiar figure was, you try to hear a little more of the mysterious voice and strain your eyes a little to be able to see better in that darkness.

"It's only a matter of time before the royal guard discovers that we've woken up. We're finally free after years of imprisonment! But I'm tired of living with this cage over my head. I wish there was someone who had the courage to go against him."

Him? Him who? There were many questions and few answers for his poor head. You couldn't give up now and return with the little information you had gathered so far; you needed more; you were going to do the full job. However, you already had an idea of who it was. The only Fate you remembered having a cage on her head was The Maiden Death. A shiver spread throughout your body. Until now, everything you knew about the Fates was just a story that your elders told, which gave you the freedom to wonder if they really existed. However, for the first time, you managed to witness the existence of a fate, for real! It was there in front of you, in the flesh! A feeling of exaltation came over you. You couldn't believe it was real. Few people had the courage to get so close to these mystical beings and walk away unharmed after contact, so you could definitely consider yourself very lucky! You even imagined the possibility of Mistress Luck being present here, somewhere.

"Maybe we'll be lucky this time"—finally, a male voice appeared in the conversation.

Wow, just wow. The atmosphere was blessed by a harsh and discordant voice. You hated the fact that you were attracted to a fate, especially unique and exclusively for his voice. But again, wow. You knew you had a lot of weaknesses when it came to men, but until that moment, you didn't know your voice was one of them. But this was already getting too dangerous. Going after a fate was enough of a problem; now falling in love with one? You didn't know how long that conversation would last, but you knew that your time there was already up. You had already gathered enough information not to return empty-handed. You needed to get out of there now!

The moment you turned to leave that alley, the voice once again took over the place.

"It's rude to spy and then leave!" The voice of Maiden Death warned you.

You didn't surrender the curiosity to look back and finally look at the fate that you had been observing all this time. Your body simply got up and took off. You didn't know if that escape would work; after all, you were running away from Fates; they were much superior to a mere mortal like you. So you ran, ran like your life depended on it (and it really did). When you were finally about to turn around the alley to escape, a hand grabbed one of your arms and violently pulled you back, immediately pressing you against the wall.

Your eyes remained closed; you didn't know if looking into those Fate's eyes would somehow enchant you, but you couldn't deny it; you were shaking, shaking so much that you swore the wall behind you started to shake too. Scared again. The feeling you hated so much was because you felt weak and useless every time you felt it. The whole situation got worse the moment you felt a dagger touch your neck.

"Calm down, Assassin; she's something beautiful. She doesn't look like she would do us any harm." The female voice brings peace to the surroundings and to you too. "Come on, dear, open your eyes and talk to us; this is the first time we've had contact with a human in years!"

As if the fate had taken over your actions, your eyes slowly open, and you are faced with the Assassin holding the dagger that was stuck around your neck and the Maiden Death at his side with an amused expression on her face.

"Let me go!" you say, even though you know they wouldn't just release you.

"Not until you tell us why you've been watching us all this time," she replies. "Don't worry, darling, we won't do you any harm."

"If that really were our will, you would already be dead"—finally, the Assassin responds shortly afterwards.

An uncomfortable silence took over the place instead of the pleasant peace that Maiden Death brought.

"Is this serious?" You find the courage to ask

"Kind of, it was a joke."

Another awkward silence took over.

"Ugh, I already told you that your jokes aren't funny."

When you look again at the man in front of you, you notice brown eyes directing their gaze to Maiden Death and then to you. You hadn't noticed his face until that moment, but you couldn't deny the chills that those eyes could bring to you.

Straining your eyes a little more, you were able to slightly notice his tanned skin. Okay, he was definitely handsome; you just couldn't understand why he hid under that hood. You found yourself trapped in your admiration for Fate, who, at that exact moment, had a dagger pointed at your throat. What your sisters call a lack of sense, you call a lucky shot. As much as you admired several men out there, none of them ever paid you the attention you needed, so you kind of gave up on trying anything serious. Most of the time, you flirt for fun, but deep down, you hope something will work out. It never happened, but what stopped you from flirting with a Fate?

"I can't understand why something cute like you hides under that hood that's also pretty, but not more so than you."

An astonished Maiden Death and a petrified Assassin take over the ambience. The air suddenly became a little lighter—even relaxed, you would say. However, an immense silence was taking over the place, and you couldn't deny that that silence was becoming a little uncomfortable.

"Ok, it was a bit clueless, I know. I'm sorry"—you found yourself imagining how your sisters would react if they were here at that moment with you. Scarlett would probably give you the deadliest of looks, but Donatella would probably be somewhere between laughing and killing you with her gaze too. "You know, it's a joke." It wasn't a joke.

"Look, the Assassin seems to have caught someone's attention"—she let out a little laugh—"I think I'd better leave; I don't want to break the mood!" The Maiden Death then turns and walks away from the two of you. "Guess I'll see you later, Assassin! How funny, mortals really are something!" The last sentence was said almost like a whisper; it would be almost inaudible if the place wasn't completely silent.

And then, a Fate and a mortal who had just flirted were left alone, staring at each other.

As much as you hated how easily you fell in love, you couldn't deny the attraction that fate had awakened in you. The more you looked at him, the more you seemed to fall in love with him. Was this what Tella felt when she looked at Jacks? Well, the Fates really were possessors of unparalleled beauty. Before you could say anything again, you noticed him slowly removing the dagger from your neck, never taking his eyes off you.

"It was a joke?"

You swallow hard when you hear the Fate's question. No. It wasn't a joke. But you also knew that these beings were not something that could be trusted.

"Maybe? I mean, you're pretty, yes, but I wasn't somehow flirting with you or anything." - lie. You were flirting with fate; you just didn't have the courage to admit it.

The Assassin stared at you for a long time; he was probably thinking about whether he would end your life at that exact moment or whether he would let you get out alive. You realized that he was a man of few words—a shame, given the incredible voice he had, rendered useless by silence. You looked away from his gaze; the floor became something very interesting at that moment. The sun was already setting; your sisters should have already returned and seen the damage that the room Paloma was in was left in. You had even forgotten about your mother; you were so absorbed in the idea of the Fates waking up that you forgot to go after the woman you and your sisters spent months waiting to wake up. Your sisters were definitely worried about you; it was likely that right now they were walking the streets of Valenda looking for and calling for you. And while they were worried about you, here you were, pressed against the wall after having just flirted with a Fate who wears a hood, has a harsh voice, and has a brash, flat sense of humor.

As if you had wasted too much time trapped in your own thoughts again, you found yourself released from the wall you were pressed against. A feeling of disappointment and sadness came over you. Was receiving flirtation from you really that bad? Did he not like what he heard? Was he angry at having been desired by a mortal? Again, before you could say anything, the Assassin took something from his pocket and held it out to you.

A luckless coin

You swallowed hard. Normally, the Fates only handed out these coins to mortals they had found interesting or who were the new object of their obsession. A shiver ran across your skin at the thought that perhaps you had aroused the interest of that attractive Fate without meaning to.

Because your flirtations had never worked.

"Take this and leave it with you" he said as he put the coin in one of the pockets of your dress.

You didn't know if you should be grateful for that. You knew the terrible power of that coin, but the fact that you had probably become a Fate's new obsession left you immobile, still processing what was happening. However, your lack of attitude seemed to bother The Assassin, because the tone of voice he used with you definitely scared you.

"Now go away quickly, before I change my mind."

You didn't even think twice. You turned and quickly ran out of that dark alley towards the light of the streetlights on the busy street. What had just happened? You were face-to-face with two fates, and of those two, one of them gave you a luckless coin. Either way, you knew you should give information to your sisters about what you've been doing all this time, but you definitely wouldn't go into details about The Assassin. At least not until you find out his real intentions.

When you arrived in front of your house, you let out a heavy sigh. You didn't notice that you were tense the whole moment. The relief of being alive and being able to see your sisters one more day came over you. No matter how many other problems took over your life later, you had not lost your life to one of the fates.

You had become the obsession of one of them.

[not-a-lady-irl]

One minute

Pairings: Armando x reader Summary: Armando and some actors from Lenda were going to present a play for Empress Elantine during dinner, so you, like a good girlfriend, helped him get ready Warnings: Insecurity, Terrible writing Author's Note: After reading this scene in Legendary I couldn't control myself, so I had to write something related. HELP THIS TURNED OUT BIGGER THAN I EXPECTED. Words: 3.1K

You were accompanying Tella through the long corridors of the empress's castle, listening to her laments as you thought of some way to help her (or not). As a Caraval actress, you knew Legend's identity and his desires, but you couldn't just go around telling her what you knew and what she wanted to hear. Legend wanted her to win and you would help her, but she would need to play the game. That means that she will have to uncover your tips for the next clues by hook or by crook.

Last Caraval you had a lot of fun with Scarlett while playing with the confusing tips you gave her. It was stronger than you, after all, it was your role to get closer to the players and discover their weaknesses and strengths, so that you could give some slightly wrong information. And in turn, your boyfriend Armando used the information and played the role of villain whenever he could.

Ah… Armando, always getting into trouble. You've lost count of how many times you've had to break up arguments your boyfriend was involved in. It was a terrible gift he possessed. You wondered where he was right now. You hadn't seen him since the beginning of Caraval. No matter how much you looked for him, you never found him. You came to think that maybe, for some reason, he was avoiding you…

"…and now I don't know what to do to help Julian win my sister back." - stuck in your thoughts, you end up listening to only part of Donatella's outbursts - "I think Julian deserved it after lying to Scarlett twice, but still… I see that he regrets it and cares a lot with her. In the end, I just wanted the two of them to understand each other again."

"I see, love is something really complicated, but I think it's better for you to let the two of them to resolve it" - You commented while observing her distressed look - "You getting involved might just make things more difficult. I think you should focus on the game at the moment, after all, the time is passing and you haven't even found the next clue yet!" - you laugh

"Scarlett already told me about your type, so I don't want any help from you!" - Donatella comments, directing a disdainful look at you

"Really? Your sister mentioned me? What a great honor! To have my name mentioned by none other than Scarlett Dragna!" - your typical mockery - "You know that every Caraval the roles change, right?"

"I don't know if I want to find out from you now, but if you're my last option, I'll look for you." - she looks at one of the several cuckoo clocks in the castle and her expression changes to astonishment - "It's almost dinner time! I promised I would have dinner with them today!" - she says in a hurried tone, increasing the pace of her steps

"Wait! They who??"

"Jacks and the empress! I promised I would meet with them NOW!" - unable to keep up with Donatella's speed, you couldn't get any more information from her and also decided not to bother her anymore - "We'll talk later!" - and then she disappears when turning into the long corridor on the right

"Talk to me? I thought she didn't want my information!" - you laugh at her last comment

In fact, in this Caraval Legend asked you to confuse her less, since for some reason he really wanted her to win. So orders are orders! If Donatella appears on your path again, you will help her. As you made your way back to the castle exit, trying to have fun with the other players, a voice ended up catching your attention.

"Psst! Here!"

When you turned around, you came face to face with an Aiko inside a hole in the ground, with only her head and part of her chest showing. She was wearing a wonderful white parchment dress. Why did Legend only give Aiko the prettiest clothes?

"Why do you only wear the best clothes?!?"

"Is it serious that of the whole scene that was what caught your attention the most?" - Aiko scoffs at your question

"Yes? I mean… I think seeing you having just emerged from an apparently plugged hole in the middle of one of the castle's many corridors was the least strange thing I've ever witnessed at Caraval" - your memories of the hundreds of times you've acted in Caraval start to appear - "As an actress, I don't expect much from this game"

"You actually have a point" - Aiko lets out a laugh at your comment - "But I came here at someone's request"

"Really? Who? Legend? Did I do something wrong?" - the fear of having done something wrong in Legend’s view tormented you

"No, silly, your boyfriend. Armando asked me to look for you" - she said, making a gesture with her hand that asked you to enter that hole and follow her - "But you need to be quick, we don't have much time"

"Armando? Did something serious happen??" - obeying Aiko, you enter the hole and start following her while thinking about all the worst situations that could have happened - "I haven't seen him since the beginning of the Caraval!"

"I think knowing too much about people is making you paranoid" - she comments with a worried look in your direction - "You should ask Legend to put you in another role"

"Not to show off, but I know I'm the best at what I do" - you let a smile appear on your face - "And my information is also great for all of you to fulfill your roles"

Aiko just rolls her eyes

"I think Armando really is a perfect match for you. I can't see anyone better than you" - Aiko then stops at a certain part of the route and tries to loosen the hole cover

"Do you really think so Aiko?" - your voice instantly became softer, her comment left your face red with embarrassment, as you had no idea that others saw your relationship that way

"I think so, and the change in the tone of your voice the moment I mentioned your relationship only makes it more evident" - she struggles to turn the cover which only resulted in a failed attempt to release it - "Damn" - she grumbles almost inaudible - "I won't be able to get there in time like this. Come here and help me remove this thing!"

You still didn't know why Aiko was in such a hurry, but being stuck in this corridor with her getting more and more stressed with each failed attempt scared you. Then you both tried hard to open the cover, but it seemed that the more and more you tried, the more it seemed like it wouldn't budge.

"Don't you think we better scream for help? I doubt this cover will open Aiko-"

And as if by magic, the cover simply comes off.

"Do the ladies need a little help?"

Your gaze finds Armando's smiling face. You wanted to jump out and hug him tightly, afraid he would disappear from you again. But it was okay, after all, he was there, looking and smiling at you. Your boyfriend.

"Why didn't you come sooner?!?!" - an irritated Aiko asks after being helped by Armando to get out of the hole - "I still need to get ready for the presentation which is in a few minutes Armando!"

"Calm down Aiko! I arrived in the room not even five minutes ago! It was when I entered that I started to hear some murmurs from inside the room and I started looking for where they were coming from, that's when I found you two!" - he replied showing his beautiful smile

Aiko rolled her eyes again

"Um… can someone help me…?" - you ask shyly

"You don't even need to ask, my love" - ​​Armando approaches you and pulls you by the arm, finally taking you out of that corridor - "I hope Aiko didn't bother you too much" - he responds, showing a mocking smile as he directs your gaze for Aiko

Sometimes you suspected that your boyfriend liked to play with death. But oddly enough, Aiko just returns her disdainful look and heads towards the door.

"Next time you ask me for something I will charge you 3 days of your life"

After Aiko left, the air in the room became considerably lighter. The walls painted with several stripes of different colors brought a lively and fun atmosphere to the room. Clothes and accessories scattered around the room along with various makeup tools welcomed you. A half-open closet with many of fallen clothes and several racks with different types of hats, scarves and actors' coats gave the final verdict that the place where you were was definitely a place where only the Legend actors had access.

The wooden floor and the ceiling painted in a light blue brought a certain peace to the place. But putting all these characteristics together, it was complete chaos. You wouldn't expect anything less from something related to the Caraval actors, each one with their own peculiarity. Your curiosity really wanted to know where you were and what it was all about.

A mirror leaning against one of the walls showed you and Armando in its reflection, he was still holding you, not with the same strength as before, but his touch was softer. You found yourself trapped in your boyfriend's reflection in the mirror, admiring everything your eyes could see, like his slightly messy black hair, his naturally vain expressions bringing out his elegance, his red lips forming a smile that awakened in you your most carnal desires and finally, his emerald green eyes that made you blush whenever they looked at you, but at this moment you were so lost in your daydreams that you didn't really notice that he was also looking at you through the reflection.

"You know, I don't mind being admired by you for long hours, but I think both you and I want more than just to settle for each other's reflections." - his voice finally brings you back to reality, leaving you embarrassed at how you were caught shamelessly admiring your boyfriend.

"I wasn't admiring you!" - you try to defend yourself

"Really? Then why did your face turn red out of nowhere?"

"He didn't turn red!"

"Well, okay, I can't waste time with this discussion, but know that you lost it" - he comments, letting go of your arm and walking towards a makeup bag that was on the floor - "I know you really want to kiss me and do other things, but unfortunately I don't have much time left" - he squats down and picks up an eyeshadow palette - "I thought maybe we could enjoy our last few minutes together with you helping me finish my makeup"

"Ah yes… of course" - you take the eyeshadow palette he held out to you and start using it on him - "I'm glad you thought of me"

"There isn't a minute that goes by without thinking about you my love" - ​​he replies while staring at you intensely - "I know you want to ask some questions, so you better take advantage while you can"

You wonder if you should spend these minutes clarifying the curiosity of your questions, but it didn't seem like Armando bothered answering them. So after a long minute, you decide to finally question him.

"Why have you disappeared since the beginning of Caraval?" - you stop putting on makeup and look at him - "I looked for you from the beginning and I didn't find you"

"I know, I'm sorry about that" - you would even be surprised that Armando had apologized, but you knew it was reserved just for you - "But Legend has placed a big burden on me this Caraval, I need to be everywhere at all times, that's why the underground tunnels, that's where we're moving and getting to places fairly quickly" - he responds, giving you a serene smile - "I wanted to see you and spend some time with you, but unfortunately I hadn't found any until now"

You didn't know how to react, you felt guilty for thinking that he didn't want to see you or that he was avoiding you. In the end, he spent all this time looking for some way to find you, even if it was just for a few seconds.

"I'm sorry honey, I thought you were avoiding me for some reason" - you put makeup on him again as a way to avoid his gaze - "But I'm glad we could finally have this little moment together" - you had already finished his makeup it´s been a while, but you couldn't think of doing anything other than that at that moment.

"Dear, look at me"

"One moment honey, I'm finishing your makeup-"

"Look at me" - abruptly, Armando removes the eyeshadow palette from your hand and with the other he holds your chin firmly, leaning you against the wall, forcing you to look at him

His breathing was now much closer than before, his emerald eyes moving from your gaze to your mouth. Your hands resting on his chest desperately yearned to touch him, to explore Armando's body again. Unconsciously your body wanted him to do the same to you, for him to touch you in different places, but you both knew that unfortunately you didn't have time, the minutes were numbered.

"Hey! Armando! It's almost time! We're going to introduce ourselves in 2 minutes! The only thing left is you! Get out of there before I send Aiko in and drag you out here!" - a voice coming from outside the door of the place where you were ends up waking you both up again to the commitment that Armando had to fulfill

"I'll be ready in 2 minutes!" - he shouts in response

You couldn't hide the disappointment in your eyes due to the interrupted atmosphere and the short time you had, you wanted Armando all to yourself, deep down you knew it was selfish of you, it was difficult for the two of you to make so much time for each other during Caraval, but perhaps the stress is greater because there have been two Caravals in less than a year, one after the other without rest.

"After all, what do you need to do in 2 minutes?" - you finally decide to ask

"We are going to present a little theater for the royal family's dinner" - he replies, also clearly disappointed by the intrusion

"I see, what theater exactly?"

"We will tell a little history about the Fates, after all, this is the theme of this year's Caraval"

"Of course, I forgot for a moment" - you let out a light laugh as you look at your hands on Armando's chest - "I think you should go, it must have been 2 minutes already and I honestly don't want to see an angry Aiko fighting with you and with me consequently"

Armando looks at one of the several cuckoo clocks that the castle had before looking back at you.

"It's only been a minute, and I said I'd be ready in two" - he responds, approaching you again - "I'm already ready for the theater, so we can take advantage of this one minute for ourselves"

A faint glimmer of hope appeared in your eyes after hearing your boyfriend's words.

"So let's take this one minute"

Without wasting another second, Armando takes your lips in a desperate kiss. Your arms wrap around his neck while your hands take the opportunity to caress his hair. Armando passes his hands around your waist and then enters your shirt, caressing your skin with his warm hands, causing you to shiver. The two of you just broke the kiss to get air, as each time you returned the kiss became more intense. Your tongues exploring each other's mouths more and more. Always yearning for more. You had lost control of your thoughts, you were no longer responsible for your actions, desire simply took over both of you. You definitely would have done more if it weren't for a cuckoo clock beeping and letting you know it was 7pm.

The remaining one minute had already passed

"Shit" - you heard your boyfriend swear - "It went by too fast" - he let go of you and went towards the mirror to quickly adjust himself

When you looked in the mirror, you saw your mouth covered in red lipstick, definitely the lipstick from Armando's costume. As you looked at the image of your boyfriend, you noticed his mouth was all blurry thanks to what the two of you had just done.

"Damn, I can't find the lipstick anywhere" - he says while desperately searching for the lipstick in the mess of the room

Before you can help him, an angry Aiko opens the door and walks towards Armando.

"I thought I asked Jovan to tell you that there were only two minutes left, Armando." - Aiko says furiously while handing him the red lipstick - "Next time, find time and a room" - this time she said looking in your direction - "You are lucky that the empress is a patient and kind woman" - after finally finishing fixing his lipstick, Aiko pulls Armando by the arm and takes him towards the exit - "I'm going to take him away from you now dear, enjoy your freedom in the rest of Caraval while you can!" - she finally responds and leaves, taking your boyfriend with her

Abandoned in the chaos of the actors' costume room, you finally let out a sigh and stared at the cover of the hole that leads to the corridors.

"I think it's time to look for Donatella Dragna"

[not-a-lady-irl]

Seeing the future

Pairings: Armando x reader Summary: During the second caraval, you decide to participate in the game again alongside Donatella, but a certain man continues to disturb your thoughts throughout the game. Warnings: Terrible writing Author's Note: No judgment for an extra having a set all to himself Words: 2.4K

You had followed in Tela's footsteps thus far during Caraval, believing that remaining in your sister's shadow would protect you from certain inconvenient encounters.

Seeking to get some help by finding the second clue, you and your sister headed towards the Church of Legend in Valenda. You found it a little comical how much Legend was revered anywhere in the world, even though without his powers he would just be an ordinary man. There was a crowd in front of tasseled curtains that seemed to be waiting for some magic show or for something incredible to appear in front of them.

"What do you think will happen here?" - Tella asked

"I have no idea. Coming from Caraval, anything is possible." - you commented, letting out a laugh when you noticed your sister's excited look - "I wouldn't be surprised if all the Fates appeared behind those curtains"

"No kidding!" - Tella scolded you with an irritated tone of voice - "If that really happened, no one here would come out alive!"

"I'm sure more than half of the people here are Legend actors, if that really happened, at the end of the game they would come back to life"

"Well, either way, let's hope it's something that takes us to the next clue" - Tella seemed to have noticed something interesting in the crowd as she was staring at some people.

This was your second Caraval in the same year. In the first one, you had participated with Scarlett while you were looking for Donatella, but what you did more was to disturb than help, even though Scarlett said several times that she wouldn't have done it without you. And now you felt the same way about this Caraval with Tella. It seemed like you always depended on your sisters for everything, even to know which side to take. It disturbed you day and night. But today, you decided that would change. Today you, for the first time, would be able to help your sister in some way, whether it cost you your life or not.

"What do you think about us taking separate ways?"

"What?" - Tella replied with a shocked expression on her face.

"Little by little the crowd is increasing and our time is decreasing, I feel that somehow we are wasting our time here" - you said looking around - "If we separate, there is a great chance that we will get some clue soon!"

Tella looked at you with a mix of strangeness and admiration. You knew that deep down your sister wanted to protect you, but she couldn't always do that. In a way, you suspected that she had been keeping some secret for a while now and, that whatever this secret was, it was costing her a lot of time, precious time for Tella, that she couldn't lose. That was why you knew she wouldn't refuse your suggestion.

"Maybe then, but you have to promise me that you'll stay out of trouble. Scarlett would kill us both if she found out, me especially"

"It's a promise" - you respond, taking one last look at your sister before losing sight of her to the crowd. You could have sworn you saw a man with identical appearance to Dante heading towards her the moment the two of you separated.

"Now it's time to look everywhere" - you said as you walked around the place taking a good look at everything around you - "The clue could be anything-"

"It's not safe for young women to walk around here alone, you know?" - a strangely familiar voice took you out of your reverie, making you look quickly towards the person.

And your eyes met Armando's stunning green. A look that seemed to have shot an arrow right into you heart. His emerald eyes were like slaps to your heart. Those eyes that made you go crazy just imagining them in your head. Your mind screamed at you to get out of there and look for your sister, but your heart insisted that you should give it a chance.

You took a deep breath.

Armando was the actor who tricked you and your sisters by pretending to be Scarlett's fiancé, which made them feel an aversion to him for playing the role of the villain in the last game. Less you. He was so ridiculously attractive that it irritated you, how could a man be that handsome? You decided to ignore Armando and turn around, heading back towards the place where you and Tella had initially separated, silently praying that he would lose sight of you. What was in vain. Because right then you felt a hand pull your arm towards a warm and strong body. Your sisters would kill Armando if they saw how close he was to you, but reluctantly, you were thankful that your sisters were out of sight and that you could enjoy this little time with the man who kept taking over your thoughts every day.

"Where do you think you're going?" - his hot breath tickled your ear and your face flushed at the possibility of Armando being able to hear your heartbeat.

You manage to free yourself from Armando's tight hug and face him again.

"I know very well what I'm doing here"

"Really? Because it looked like you were lost looking for something" - he said letting out a mocking laugh - "It even looked like you were looking for the next clue"

There he was, the real Armando you knew. The man who liked to irritate and provoke you in every way possible. The ability he had to read your feelings as if they were an open book was incredible.

"I don't have to give you any explanations"

"It's not like it's very difficult to identify them. Because it seems like your body is craving it" - he replied, walking towards a table, picking up the Deck of Destiny that was on top of it and shuffling it - "If you really want to find the second clue, you should pay more attention and don't travel while you're walking around" - Armando finished shuffling the Deck of Destiny and placed it over the table, motioning for you to sit down and join him.

"I don't know if I want to know about my future"

"It's not like you really have any other option. Either you play with me or you waste the chance to surprise your sister with the next clue. It's up to you!"

The ticking of the clock showed that you couldn't waste any more time playing his game, you needed this clue, Tella needed it more than you did, and you swore you were willing to do anything for her. Even if that meant seeing your future in Armando's hands. You decide to sit in front of him at the table where the deck was, choosing four cards, one at a time.

And then, the first card appeared.

The Lady Prisioner

You lost your breath for a few seconds as you searched for some explanation for the card you had just turned over. Armando looked with some curiosity.

"At least you won't die single" - he directed his gaze to you, which in your unconscious seemed to be a mix of curiosity and jealousy - "I wonder who will be the unlucky one"

Still very lost with the first card to give some kind of answer, you decide to turn the second, with high expectations for what was to come.

The Unwed Bride

Armando let out a mocking laugh.

"As you are unlucky, the first card promises you love and in the second, this love is destined not to last" - he adjusts his clothes - "It seems that the Fates are not on your side"

"I would be very happy if you could stop making fun of me"

"And miss the fun of seeing your frustrated face? No thanks!"

Pretending not to pay him any more attention, you turn over the third card.

Mad Jester

The moment you turn the card over and find a jester staring at you, you silently begin to curse the Fates for choosing such a bad fate for you. What had you done to deserve such an unfortunate fate?

"Mad Jester huh? Happiness destined not to last" - At that moment you thought he would let out another laugh and mock you again for your bad luck, but surprisingly you just saw Armando with a worried look and a frown looking at the fourth and final letter - "I am beginning to feel a slight pity and sadness for you. If it console you, I will pray for your good to the Fates"

"This was supposed to make me feel good?" - You commented, too distressed to notice Armando's sudden change in mood.

"Maybe? I don't like seeing people get along so badly" - His eyes fixed on the last card that hadn't yet been turned over on the table - "Finish this reading quickly, this is starting to be horrible for both me and you"

The Mistress Luck

A whistle came out of Armando's mouth when he saw the last card. You also couldn't deny the relief your body felt when you saw Mistress Luck staring at you from the table, unconsciously letting out a heavy sigh that showed how distressed you were this whole time. You were never a fan of the Fates, but at that moment, she had definitely just become your favorite Fate.

"I'm glad your future awaits luck" - he said as he took the cards and put them back into the deck - "I think Mistress Luck has a special eye on you" - he commented as he shuffled the deck and then put it away again - "You're not that unlucky after all"

Already tired of Armando's provocations, you finally look at him irritated.

"I did what I promised you, I played this ridiculous Deck of Destiny with you in search of the next clue, it's time for you to give me what you owe me!"

Armando's gaze fixed on you

"Yes, I'll tell you the next clue, since you didn't pay much attention to your surroundings while you were engrossed in this "ridiculous" Deck of Destiny" - and then he approaches you - "But in Caraval, everything has a price, even if it´s a simple card game"

You could feel your face turning red as you felt Armando's hot breath approaching your mouth and you cursed your thoughts for imagining and longing for the taste of his kiss.

"B-but I thought the game was payment for the next clue!"

A big mischievous smile formed on Armando's lips.

"The deck was just a distraction to get your attention, but now that I have it" - his gaze went to your lips - "Now I can tell you what I really want in payment"

Your mind was begging you to get out of there as quickly as possible, but for some reason your body just couldn't move. You were trapped under Armando's spell. You were mesmerized by his pretty face and your carnal desire. If Tella showed up now, you would never forgive your sister.

"And what do you want as payment?"

"How about a kiss?"

He could only be going crazy, it seems like he read your thoughts

"A-A kiss?!?"

Your frustrated face only made Armando enjoy the whole situation even more.

"Yes. Either a kiss or not knowing what the next clue is"

Damn, he knew very well how to have you in the palm of his hand. However as much as you wanted to give in to the desire to kiss him, the fear of being caught by your sister still tormented you. You took a quick look around the place where you were, realizing that the flow of people had decreased considerably, meaning you would have some kind of intimacy alone.

"So, what do you say?"

You let out a light sigh

"Okay, a kiss in exchange for the next clue" - you replied noticing Armando's sudden approach - "B-but it's just a kiss! Nothing more! One kiss and that's it"

"You're making too many excuses for someone who has been looking forward to this moment all along."

"And you seem very excited for someone who takes pleasure in mocking me."

"You think? Maybe you don't know me well enough yet."

"You know my sister could arrive at any time right?"

"Yes, that's why you need to be quick!" - and the mischievous smile takes over his face again

So it was now or never.

You closed your eyes and gave in to desire. The kiss was slow, as if he wanted to keep that moment in his memory, enjoying the kiss in every detail. Slowly he placed his hand behind your head, bringing you even closer to him. Your hands found themselves fixed on his chest, ready to either bring him closer and closer to you or to move him away at the slightest sign of interruption, despite the fact that you were already slowly bringing him closer to you every second.You couldn't deny it, you'd been longing for this moment since the first time you saw him at Caraval. You fell in love with the villain of this game, with the man who, when this all was over, would forget everything you had experienced. As much as you were afraid of getting hurt, you would regret it even more if you hadn't even tried, and that's why you're here, right now, kissing Armando, exchanging caresses and tasting each other. The kiss intensified. Armando tasted like mint and citrus fruits, his lips took more and more advantage of the kiss while his tongue yearned to explore your mouth even more.

His caresses sent shivers throughout your body, making you go crazy and crave for more. He really knew how to make you mad longing for him. For a moment, you realized how mischievous these caresses were becoming, not that it was wrong, but you seemed to have forgotten that you were in a public setting, which meant that you could be caught at any moment in the middle of your caresses... So that means you definitely didn't pay attention to a blonde-haired woman approaching the two of you along with a tall, muscular man by her side.

"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?!?!?"