#rotsge

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66931327/chapters/196430531

note: This fic has numerous descriptions and instances of violence, death, pain, blood and some sexual stuff (even if it's not explicit smut) so if you don't like these things now is the time to stop.

Enjoy!

The King looked out from a window in his study that faced the sea, the moon a waning crescent tonight. There was barely any shine on the waves of the ocean, which looked black and deadly. 

Caspian had left him yesterday, without a single goodbye. Rhian shouldn’t have cared much, as this was the way it has been for the past few months, and yet, it irked him. Did he not notice how the King was grasping at his attention? Mortal after mortal after mortal, and still, it elicited no reaction, no desire to act. No change of heart.

“Pointless, isn’t it?” Rhian muttered to himself. He looked up at the dull-looking moon. It was funny how he could almost feel his moods wax and wane with that beautiful light in the sky. The fuller it was, the happier and safer he seemed to feel, and the lesser it was, the more anxious and uneasy he felt.

Perhaps he never got over his fears– of the darkness, of pain, of loneliness. The moon was a reflection of the sun’s light, after all, without its fire.

Many of his subjects and his lovers saw him as their sun and Rafal as their moon, but their respective vampirism and isolation was clear. 

Rhian had always felt as if he was Rafal’s moon, only being the gentle, weak reflection of the real thing. Everyone, who either hated or loved his brother, couldn’t stop, couldn’t look away, couldn’t get him out of their minds. He provoked so many feelings into them just by one glance of his boring green eyes.

The only reason Rhian received any attention, serious attention, was probably for the fact that he wore the crown. He fingered a sharp fang that hung from his neck. They may try to underestimate him, but it wouldn’t work well in the end. Oh no.

He turned away from the window, sighing heavily, and walked up to his desk. There was a glass bottle with a purple liquid inside. Rhian smiled. He didn’t need to use it to see him struggle and see the life be sucked out of him, little by little. A swift snap of the neck would have done the trick. But it was nice to finally feel the thick, hot, sticky blood between his fingers, the jagged cut across the throat, to see him cough it out over and over again the days leading to the final victory. Weakened by his own weapons. 

It was nice to be powerful. To not care how to attain that power.

Rhian’s thoughts were interrupted when he saw the boy from Gavaldon enter the study, looking bored. Rhian narrowed his eyes at him, then forced a smile. This was another problem. He started to get the impression that this handsome mortal was beginning to slip out of his fingers. Did he know about… he couldn’t know. It was a coincidence. Rhian had to be wrong. He had to be. 

It wasn’t certain that Midas was related to the past. It could just be his anxieties getting the best of him. People shared the same eye color without being related to one another all the time. Realistically, Midas knew nothing and it was just shreds of guilt coming to the surface, even if she had to be gone a few months ago. Yet, if Rhian could go from human to the creature he was now within a blink of an eye, it wasn't unlikely that fate was trying to punish him, somehow.

“Rafal said I was needed here, Your Majesty,” Midas said, finally looking the King in the eye. Rhian was a bit miffed with the formalities, as he didn’t spare any when engaging with his brother. He pushed it away. It was nothing.

“Ah yes. My brother,” Rhian said, a bit distracted. “Did he pack some of your things?”

Midas’ eyes widened. In joy, perhaps? Shock?

“I wanted to bring you to the city for a few days. I was thinking you’d like to explore it instead of being cooped up with Rufius or my twin.”

Midas’ face fell for a second before recollecting himself. “Oh that… that sounds lovely. No, he hasn’t packed anything.”

Rhian walked forward. Midas tensed. “That’s alright. I can let him know later so we can set off tomorrow night.”

“I think…” Midas paused.

“What do you think, Midas? No need to be afraid.”

“I was just wondering if maybe we should invite your brother, too,” he said quickly. “I feel as if he’s overworked and stressed, and perhaps he’d like time with you as family. Time for himself where he isn’t weighed down by responsibilities.”

“My brother can take care of himself!” Rhian lashed. “He does not need to come along on everything we do. He–”

He lowered his voice, realizing his outburst. “I’m sorry. It’s just that he shouldn’t be any of your concern. You are under me. Is he trying to guilt you into having me do what he wants?”

“N-no, Your Majesty. I just–”

“Rafal needs to work harder. He works for me and this kingdom. He has no right to complain.” Rhian turned to the window again. He hoped that baring his heart would start to change his mind. 

As much as those kills were satisfying and liberating, Rhian could not repeat himself yet again. He had sworn to keep humans around as living food, not torture them and drain the very life out of them. 

He could hear all of their beating hearts, rushing pulses, and it was so very difficult not to stamp all of them out. To watch them struggle and hear them scream and have their blood stain the floors. To pull back and see that their vocal chords are shredded and the bones of their neck bared for all to see.

“Your Majesty?” Midas said, uncertain. 

Rhian pushed away all thoughts of blood, heartbeats, and bodies stuffed into a chest and subsequently thrown into catacombs. 

“My apologies, pet,” Rhian answered. “I understand that you may feel guilty or responsible for Rafal’s distress. However, you must realize that your humanity does not apply to him, or any of us, really.” 

Midas walked next to Rhian, looking out at the window himself. Rhian could practically feel the uneasiness emanating from him. Not enough for it to be an all-consuming fear. Rather, it felt like distrust. Caution.

Rhian looked at him. He caught the mortal studying him. “My brother never wanted to be one of us, I fear. He still resents me for it. I, for one, do not accept such ingratitude. That is why he is nothing in this court. I cannot have him defying me again, or trying to change our ways. He's already tried in the past.”

“How did he become one then?”

Rhian fiddled with his nails. “Apparently, he was slowly dying of poison. After an altercation with a particularly powerful vampire, he sustained mortal injuries that took his life. I had him locked into a casket and shipped away to our home when we were both still human. A group of Night Crawlers were there and, well, you can guess the rest.”

“Night Crawlers…” Midas echoed.

“Yes. Vampires who roam the seas, pretty much.”

“How did he manage to return to you, then, considering you weren’t even the one who made him that way? And how has he been defiant against your reign? I understand his refusal to feed, but–”

“A mortal princess reported an incident to me where he practically tried to consume every drop in his former lover's body. He couldn't help himself as a newly turned vampire and for the fact that his beloved had blue blood. I also heard of other occasions where he would injure and kill entire villages. Enough was enough. However, he found his way to me before I sent out the others to look for him.”

Rhian watched to see his new love's reaction. With Caspian, he could be more honest. The Captain barely flinched. Just a tsk tsk here and there, a shake of the head. Here, he could sense mounting disappointment and doubt. 

“You should be wary of my brother,” Rhian finally said when Midas didn't answer back, gray eyes focused on the floor. He lifted his chin so that Rhian could have the comfort of him looking at him directly. Besides, it would be a slight show of his affection. “He has always been the possessive kind, the one who needs everything under his control, even before his current state. He blames me for living life my own way and expects me to obey his every whim. He despises you because of how much I have grown to care for you. Of how much I needed you since the moment I met you. He despises anyone who loves me.”

“I'm sorry to hear about that. I never particularly liked him, but I did want to do some good in this place by helping you both mend your relationship.”

Liar, liar, a voice in Rhian’s head mocked. He dismissed it. 

“Our relationship is fine as it is. We have both grown to accept it.” He tucked a curl behind Midas’ ear. “Again, do not worry for me. Or Rafal.”

“Right. Of course.”

“Tomorrow night. The city. It's beautiful, you know. A bit too silent for my liking, which is why my friends will follow me. Julius has family to visit, so I'm sure he can join me.”

Midas tensed. Rhian wanted to laugh. If only he knew. If it was the case. 

“Is he torturing you?” Rhian asked softly. “Julius?”

“Nothing that I can't handle.”

“You know, you can stay with me for the rest of tonight,” Rhian proposed. “Wouldn't that be nice? Our time together, just you and me. No clingy Rufius, no pesky Rafal…”

“Don’t, Rhian,” said a voice that was all too familiar.

Rhian glared at his brother. “It is a basic courtesy to knock, brother.”

Rafal rolled his eyes. “I understand you feel lonely due to Caspian's recent absence, but there is no need to make advances on Midas. You barely know him. He doesn't fully trust any of our kind.”

Rhian scanned his brother's face, his neck, riddled with burns and marks. He ignored his brother's lecture. “What happened?”

“An incident,” Rafal snapped. Rhian sensed Midas turned away. Interesting.

“Do you want me to heal you?” Rhian asked, as gently as he could.

“No.”

“Alright then.” 

Rafal crossed the room to retrieve Midas. Rhian grabbed his arm and held tight. “I never said he was going to leave.”

“Rhian–”

“Your Majesty, you mean.”

“Rhian, I don't think this is a good idea. Can't you sense how uncomfortable he is?”

“He was like that after you came in,” Rhian hissed. It was a lie, of course.

“Hm.”

“You stupid fucking bastard!” Julius’ shouted from the entrance to the study. Rafal looked at him with a grin. Rhian saw Julius had a bloody nose and a swollen cheek.

He looked at his twin, furious and incredulous. “Was this the incident you spoke of?”

“No. This was another one. He wouldn't stop tormenting your precious Midas, and I've had enough of their bickering, to be honest. You can thank me later. I'm going to have to take him off your hands.”

Rhian shoved Midas forward slightly. “Of course. I must tend to Julius.” 

“I don't think he deserves it, but do what you need to do.”

“Right. By the way, Midas is coming with me and Julius to the city.” Rhian felt himself grin from ear to ear. “Would you like to come?”

“I-” Rafal looked surprised. “Yes. If you need me to.”

“Good. Make sure Midas gets some rest.”

“I'm sure he will,” Rafal grumbled.

When Rafal and Midas left, Rhian already had a plan. 

I hope the quality didn't get fried

I actually drew this a week ago but I decided to post this on the last day of my finals (finally)

And here's why I think so:

You cannot tell me the movie releasing the same year as the prequel duology began didn't have an impact on the amount of people who read it. Yes, I understand some people weren't a fan of the prequels, and that is opinion based. However, the data of views and interactions show significant differences when compared. And that was in 2022/2023. Now? The interaction for Coven, Soman's most recent release is down by even more. I know that a lot of the original fandom are now adults, who could care less, but most only came back for the movie. And whether you thought the movie was a success or a flop, it, in someway, marked the end of the original series for you.

⸻

Rafal: I love power vacuums—I could put my feet up and watch them go aimlessly all day, then swoop in, take over, and get the job done.

Rhian: I didn't think you valued cleaning supplies that much, considering the state of Evil's halls.

Rafal: Bah! Not that kind, you fool. [He looks back at his magical projection and leans in with widening eyes, grinning far too much.]

Rhian: Well, excuse me for thinking you had any kind of vested interest in your and your students' health and safety.

Rafal: [enthralled by the screen and not hearing one word.] Not now. Tell it to me later. Also, quick: fetch me a snack. There are no commercial breaks via Spellcast and the king of Akgul's about to be beheaded by some other crazed ninny jockeying for power. And I already bet heads would roll! The die are cast! Place your bets now, brother, if you want to cash in.

WARNING! OPINIONATED INTERPRETATIONS!!

This year I'm hosting the first annual (🤞) SGE week! This is primarily going to be run on Tumblr but you can find the AO3 collection here.

FAQ below the cut

you can choose any of the following sge questions, either using a random number generator, or just your brain! you can reblog this and answer the questions you picked AND also tag some other friends you may think would be up for the challenge! (ahem ahem and get me more engagement ahem)

now, choose a number between 1-24

I have a silly doodle and a sketch of james hook that I did at 1 AM

Aladdin would be that one classmate that ALWAYS asks if he can copy your homework last minute

James at one point is fed up and says no 🤑 #selfrespect