#(solstice can't actually do anyone any harm)

[tsbs-darksun-confessions]

What about your situation ship, Solstice? with ruin?

I'm sorry... My-?

.....

No..... Surely not-?....

.....

SHUT. UP.

You have no idea what you're talking about... it's utter nonsense!... I don't have a-... situationship.... let alone with Ruin!

[gasmeros]

May I haps ask about the solstice kidnapping zuko AND the zuko jumping one? That smiley face makes me so nervous

ok so the solstice kidnapping one is basically all plotting with a few lines of actual prose that are totally unrelated, so uh. don't actually really have a snippet to share there hhhhhhhh. but basically, there was this post ages ago that got popular, got a lot of fanfic spin offs actually. i just wanted to do my own take on it. the post is here

to sum up, during the winter solstice episode (the one where the gaang fly into the fire nation to go talk to roku for the first time), zhao locks the water siblings up with zuko instead of chaining them to pillars, and they end up talking, and the sibs learn about how zuko got his scar, and thus the gaang basically adopts zuko.

so it's like. imagine that but with my style dialogue and extra whump cuz im me. here's a bit from my plotting:

commence operation learn more about zuko through various kidnappings. from here on, the formula is zuko chases aang, aang kidnaps zuko :) zuko fucking hates this. each kidnapping reveals a bit more information about zuko's circumstances, and last a lil bit longer than the last. at some point the gaang officially decides that zuko is really just a proxy for their real enemy (the fire lord), and they're gonna try their damnedest to sway zuko out of his mindset, or at the very least not cause any harm to him while they defend themselves. zuko's fuckin confused cuz why are they refusing to fight?? to the point where he gives them opportunities to hit him back in combat just to verify that they're actively choosing only defense. that pisses them off cuz what if they weren't doing that? dude??

i actually have two variants branching off this prompt, the other is technically better plotted? that one's the s1 soltice to boat au. basically the same start, but then the gaang starts camping out on zuko's boat with immunity due to a technicality in a promise zuko made to them. here's some of that plotting cuz i feel bad not having actual writing to share with either of them ahdmhsjg

so we get Bison Time, wherein zuko's still not a fan of anything that's happening, but compared to how he was acting with zhao, he's downright pleasant. which is not to say that he's actually pleasant, he is very much being an angry brat who's like one second away from trying to fight them while still on the bison. the siblings have a lot of questions, because what zhao said about banishment and two years searching and public executions was fucking wack and they need to know why he said that, why zuko fought so hard that he thought burning his mouth as bad as he did was an acceptable trade off. they know why, but they need to hear it.

zuko does not let them hear it. he yells and doesn't answer any questions and demands they put him down or else. bits about the mouth burns obviously bothering him, just cuz im me and im predictable

they end up going to drop him off at his ship cuz his crew wont attack without a command, and zuko's not so dumb to make them attack the bison he's on. they end up making him swear to not do anything until after they fly away

Eventually theyre able to land on zuko's ship without risk of zuko being arrested. zuko keeps his word and doesn't let anyone attack until after they leave, and THEN. aang is a smartass and takes advantage of that by just. not flying away :) so zuko can't do anything, cuz then he'd break his word!! that's pretty fuckin dishonorable!! zuko would like to murder aang.

so yyeah. sorry for the dud ask there.

PART 2!!!! zuko jumping :) is about a suicide attempt :))) sorry agsjshf. basically zuko goes to offer his help to the gaang in s3, they reject him, and he just. has nothing left to do with his life?? like he can't go *back,* and he can't do what he set out to do, so.

viewer discretion advised for this snippet, obviously. like the snippet isn't that part, but still, the context might be enough to want to avoid.

Katara's gaze is worried, and she's always been too good at reading him. "Aang? What's wrong?"

He knows he shouldn't say anything, that Zuko's hardly comfortable letting Aang see his suffering, let alone the rest of his "maybe, sort of, don't want to be but am" enemies. Not when they're the reason he—

Aang starts bawling.

i have no idea if i intend to finish this one. it's just not something im sure i know how to handle appropriately.

[heatheniousmaterials]

Build Your Ideal Fæ Self

What's up mothers & fuckers? I'm back on my bullshit! In case you don't know, this is an irregular series around here where you can make yourself a monster OC. We've done vampires & werewolves already (check the #make yourself a monster tag on my blog to see them). Tonight's fine dining is fæ! Idk what I'll be making next, probably either demon, angel, or cyborg. All three are in the works atm. YES, I know cyborgs aren't monsters, but let's be honest, fæ kinda aren't either. Stfu & deal with it. I can't help that I'm a transhumanist with a fetish for robot arms.

Rules for Nerds:

You have $3 to spend on attributes. Flaws cost a negative amount of money, essentially refunding you, so more flaws = more benefits

You can't take redundant or contradictory flaws or abilities

Read carefully & follow any special instructions in each section

TERFs aren't fæ, can't be fæ, & never will be fæ. Seriously get the fuck off my page. If you haven't gotten it through your thick skull yet: I'M TRANS. Nobody wants you here. Actually, Seriously, Genuinely: TERFs fuck off.

Have fun! :)

Fæ Laws (rules you are bound by & can never break):

Cannot harm a guest or your host: -$2

Cannot enter a place unless invited: -$3

Cannot harm someone unless they harm you first: -$2

Cannot lie: -$7

Cannot break promises if you give them 3 times: -$1

Cannot break promises at all: -$2

You cannot insult anyone unless they insult you first: -$1

If you receive a gift, you must immediately give one of equal value in return: -$6

You cannot steal (except from someone who owes you a debt, for the purposes of repaying that debt): -$2

If you are in debt to someone, you must do anything they tell you to if they erase some or all of your debt in exchange: -$3

You cannot do anything for free: -$1

You are under the command of a greater fae, & must do their bidding: -$4

Limitations:

Can't cross salt lines (even by teleportation): -$2

Can't see anyone wearing all green: -$3

Can't leave a certain area (such as being bound to a single tree or forest): -$8

Can't use your powers during a specific time of year (such as the Winter Solstice): -$1

Can't use your powers during a specific time of month (such as the new moon): -$2

Can't use your powers during a specific time of day (such as noon): -$3

Your power waxes & wanes, growing weaker during certain periods (like decreasing in the winter & only being full power in the summer, or growing stronger/weaker with the phases of the moon): -$2

Weaknesses:

Cold Iron bypasses immunities: -$1

Iron burns you: -$3

Salt burns you: -$5

Gold kills you: -$6

If a certain tree or item is destroyed, you become sick & die: -$6

Fæ Perks (relatively minor powers, abilities, & skills; 2 for $1):

Extremely beautiful

So beautiful it literally blinds people

Very nimble & graceful

Wings (can fly)

Ageless

Great musical skill

Speak multiple languages

Speak every language -- counts as 2

Superhuman speed

High superhuman speed -- counts as 2

Immune to disease

Immune to poison

Don't need to eat, sleep, or breathe

Peak human strength

Weapon skill (such as with bows, rapiers, & shillelaghs)

Can't be harmed by mortal weapons -- counts as 2

Perfect Darkvision

Can't be fooled by illusions

Magic sense

Infrared vision

Immune to 1 type of magic (ex. sleep, charm, magical fire, etc)

Nature Magic:

Control over plants: +$2

Can create or revitalize plants: +$3

Can talk to plants: +$1

Control over animals: +$3

Can talk to animals: +$1

Animals won't attack you: +$1

Can talk to natural formations (such as stones, rivers, etc): +$1

Illusion Magic:

You can't be perceived unless you explicitly want to be: +$15

Can turn invisible: +$8

Can hide in natural terrain: +$4

Can hide in foliage: +$2

Shape-shifting (any humanoid): +$3

Shape-shifting (any humanoid or animal): +$6

Shape-shifting (any living thing): +$9

Shape-shifting (any living or nonliving thing): +$12

Wanderer's Magic:

Moving through underbrush or other plants never slows you down or hurts you: +$1

Natural phenomenon (deep snow, rocks, etc) doesn't slow you down or hurt you: +$2

You move silently in all terrain: +$3

You don't leave footprints or other traces of your presence: +$1

Teleportation Magic:

Can teleport from 1 tree to any other of that type within 500 miles: +$3

Can teleport from 1 tree to any other of that type in the world: +$9

Can teleport within line of sight: +$2

Can teleport anywhere you envision within 500 feet: +$4

Can teleport anywhere you can envision: +$14

Can move in & out of the Fæwyld very quickly (1 mile traveled there is 8 miles in our world, and/or time may move weird there): +$1

Miscellaneous Magic:

Healing: +$2

Speeding up/slowing down the passage of local time: +$5

Can create & control storms & other weather: +$3

Can put people to sleep: +$1

[stonyponyofficial]

It's twilight on the winter solstice, and you're sat by your fire to stay warm. The snow is thick as mud as it sinks from the sky, forming a shell around your windows without a sound. It's peaceful tonight. The nights have grown quieter since the war between the orcs and the faeries ended, and in your warm, comfortable space, you feel positively serene.

And then there's a knock at your door. You can't help but jolt, your steady dusk silence rudely broken by a sharp, syncopated rapping. Who could possibly be out at this time, in this storm? And what did they want from you? You stand deliberately, shedding your quilt and tentatively making your way from the living area to the entrance. You glance curiously at the windows more than once, hardly realizing you're doing it. You see nothing but frozen snow.

As your hand reaches the door, you feel uneasy. The war may be over, but the tension in these lands was still as thick as the snow. Could this be a rogue soldier, passing through the town looking for mindless vengeance? No, they wouldn't likely knock. A confused returning soldier? As unpleasant as they could be, they likely didn't mean harm. Besides, you assured yourself, it was more likely someone you knew from town, unlucky to be stuck out in the cold. Better let them in, they could easily freeze out there. You draw a breath, and pull the door open.

You're greeted by the sight of a little freak, about two and a half feet tall and covered in dense brown fur. It looks up at you and cocks its head. You say nothing, shocked into silence. You've never seen a creature, living or dead, with quite the same awkward, bent shape, nor the large square head, nor the eyes like dark pools which this thing possesses. It's kind of cute, actually, in a weird way. And then it speaks. "Evening, miss, sorry to bother you. But I was just wondering if, uh..." it trails off. Baffled but undeniably curious, you prompt for more. "W-wondering what, now?"

The creature scratches its head. "Uhh..... spopify." It places an object at your feet and scampers off into the night, disappearing nearly instantly into the blankets of snow. You stare into the distance in disbelief, not fully convinced you saw anything in the first place. Your gaze snaps back towards the creature's object. It's a fucking

🎵

a 🎵? the memories weigh this 🎵 down in my hands as im reminded of the world before the war. you would give and receive several 🎵 a day back then! and now? you'd be lucky if anyone even knew what this 🎵 was.

"spopify" that freak said to me. i havent been asked to share spopify—swapping spoppies as my Nan would call it R.I.P.🥰—since i was much younger. it was a common way to connect with others through the language of music, but the war has sewn discord in the hearts of many and its no longer practiced today.

it's been so long since i've swapped spoppies with another... im sad that freak scampered away. it bestowed a gift greater than any ive received in years and just... scampers away. i wasn't even able to show my gratitude. nor could i bestow to it my tune of choice.

no matter! perchance, if i blast my tune loud enough it could escape the walls of my cozy cottage and reach that little fucking freak wherever it lies. i sure hope this works. this one's for u, little thing <3

i rig my fantasy music playing device up against the frosted windows. there's no way im getting them open, so i need the volume as loud as possible. i flip the levers and enter the passcode to allow me to set it to it's highest volume setting. i set my music library to shuffle and hit play

the bards bladee and ecco2k pump they're ethereal ballad through the land, their moans and falsetto piercing the thickness of the snow with ease. wherever this freak is, i hope it drains.

as for the lyrics which mean most to me from this ballad, as the tradition of spopify dictates i share, well they aren't a very lyrical bunch and especially so on this track. but we can still pick a little passage out!

befitting the ethereal and if im being honest sensual mood of this track ill pick out eccos first verse

"someone like me/someone like someone/like me/love me/touch me"

it does an interesting little switch there using 'like me' in someone like me and then using it again to bridge to 'like me/love me/touch me' that i just think is quite good! i like the things they do on this track quite a lot actually

oh how splendid it's been to swap spoppies once more :") the memories of those ive swapped with before. all their wonderful tunes. i begin to sob thinking how much a simple fucking🎵 could change people's ways.

i turn off my fantasy music playing device with a flick of several heavy steam-powering levers that hiss to a halt and begin to set to bed after what became a quite eventful night. im not even sure if that little creature heard my ballad, but im sure it's out in the world somewhere bringing joy to others as it has done for me. thank you, little freak, ill always remember u and how square your head was. <3