#ALSO IT MAKES HIM FIRING STONE EVEN WORSE HOW COULD HE DO THIS AFTER STONE SAVED HIM

[iwasbored777]

WAIT SO YOU'RE TRYING TO TELL ME THAT STONE SAVED ROBOTNIK'S LIFE AFTER SONIC 2 AND TOOK CARE OF HIM AND ROBOTNIK FIRED HIM ANYWAY IN SONIC 3 BECAUSE HE DOESN'T TRUST HIM AFTER ALL THAT AND ROBOTNIK SURVIVED ALL THOSE INJURIES AND BROKEN BONES AND IT TOOK HIM SO LONG TO HEAL PHYSICALLY AND HE ALMOST HEALED EMOTIONALLY TOO ONLY FOR HIM TO BE BETRAYED BY HIS OWN FAMILY MEMBER AND STONE HAD TO WATCH HIM DIE AFTER ALL THE EFFORT HE PUT INTO TRYING TO SAVE HIM WHAT'S WRONG WITH THESE WRITERS WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL IS WRONG WITH THEM

[theealbatross]

never not been mine (s.s)

Plot | Everyone wonders if you and Sebastian are together. Sebastian wonders when will everyone mind their own business.

Tags | fluff, cheesy pining, we're not together or are we, cranky!seb, slytherin!reader, curses, threats, prejudice, seeker!seb for the plot, established relationship (kinda), when you love her so much it drives you insane, seb and reader are shit seniors is my headcannon

[Disclaimer | I borrowed a scene from "no hard feelings" because it was trending on tiktok lol. Also a portion of this is heavily inspired by 'The Alchemy' by Taylor Swift'. Photos not mine.]

“Just one drink – butterbeers on me!”

You couldn’t help but smile at the eager nameless hopeful in front of you.

The wince from his two friends at the other edge of the common room was apparent at your periphery. You had to give it to him, he’s lasted longer than the others. Usually, most would be walking away with their egos bruised when greeted with your disinterest.

“Not like you have any … pending appointments, don’t you?” He tried to maintain his bravado, even taking a step closer to the loveseat you were sitting on by the fire.

Call it an instinct, a bond only kindred spirits that have tethered in-between life and death together would have, but you could almost feel him – not needing to see him to recognize the heavy steps on the stone stairs, the deep sigh as he impatiently scours the common room in search of you, and the inevitable crinkle that forms in-between his eyebrows when he sees someone else in your vicinity.

You smile.

“I have one,” you muttered, just loud enough for him to hear.

His smirk faltered, eyebrows meeting, “A boyfriend?”

You shook your head.

“Pending appointments,” you grin.

His body comically cloaked the significantly shorter boy from behind.

“There you are.”

Sebastian barely glanced at the 6th year in front of you even when their shoulders bumped, making the student stumble. On instinct, you moved your legs to the side so Sebastian could curl up on the floor, his head finding comfort on the meat of your covered thigh, callused hands curling on your calf as he slumped into your lap.

His hair was still dripping sweat, the quidditch uniform he had on covered with muck and dirt and a spattering of blood, and yet here he was, shamelessly sharing his mess with your clothes. You can almost hear Ominis’ disapproving voice, ‘He's a spoiled dog!’.

Ah, but how could you not when he seemed to be cursed at being so good at everything and yet so miserable doing anything else but spending his time with you. Even you can’t be that heartless.

You ran your hands on his damp hair, making sure to press your fingers on his scalp, unable to stop the soft coos from coming out of your mouth. Sebastian had always needed extra attention after his drills with Imelda, the latter determined to tun him into her very own secret weapon of destruction for this upcoming Quidditch season.

This, in turn, had cut his time with you to his utter despair.

“Can we help you?” You were too busy tending to him that you hadn’t realized you still had an audience. Your pet wasn’t the friendliest, especially with strangers of the opposite sex that stares at you.

“N-No, I was just – we were having a conversa –”

Sebastian frowned, the boy took a step back, you place a halting hand on his shoulder.  

“I’ll,” you’re sure even this silly one knows of your Sebastian’s temperament. He wasn’t necessarily the type to be awarded as The Friendliest Senior of the Year.

(“You were nice to me the first time we met.” “Maybe I’m only nice to pretty witches.”)

“I’ll just talk to you later when you’re free.”

“Or not,” Sebastian deadpanned, his grip on your calf tightening, eyebrows meeting.

“Surely it couldn’t hurt–”

“Could hurt.”

“Sebastian.”

It was a pitiful sight but you’ve spared the boy a fate worse than a bruised pride as he muttered a clanky goodbye before turning his back the two of you. Sebastian still glowering at his fleeing back.

“Do you have to be so mean?” you half-heartedly admonished him, patting his freckled cheeks. He really is so handsome, easily the most eligible bachelor in your batch, biased opinion aside.

“Maybe I haven’t been mean enough if they still approach you,” he muttered, clearly still annoyed. His eyes shift from one boy to another accusatorially like if he stared long enough, he’ll catch them in the act of being interested after you and deliver the right sentence as an example.

After the events with Ranrok, high society quickly set its eyes on you. He thought he had nipped it in the bud, sending scathing letters back to prideful pureblood boys for their gall to direct formal letters of engagement to you, audaciously sticking by your side at all times, and severely punishing anyone who dared to even think of courting you. (One even tried to challenge him to a duel. It was barely entertaining, almost downright cruel. Sebastian hopes that the boy is enjoying Ilvermorny.)

Truly, he has his work cut out for him.

Your giggle pulled him out of his unpleasant thoughts, “You should go shower, it’s about to be dinner time.”

He hummed, “Can I use The Room? Hate the boy’s lavatory, ‘s a mess.”

You ignore the quick turning of heads of the students nearest you, trying not to laugh at their scandalized faces, aware of how bad it sounded. Instead, you let him stand and take your hand as he bitterly shared his hypothesis that Imelda was a dark wizard planted to torment him while he led you to the familiar steps toward the Room of Requirement.

On the other side of the room, the rejected boy glared at his sniggering friends.

“You told me they weren’t courting!” he accused.

“In my defense,” his friend shrugged, giggling at the spectacular explosion in front of her very eyes. Who would’ve thought Sebastian Sallow would catch the idiot in the act. “They aren’t but everyone knows they’re ... exclusive.”

“Exclusive?”

“We warned you! I warned you!” Their other friend, the more level-headed one was exasperated. “I’m so bloody terrified of Sallow I don’t even dare to look in her direction! Do you know there are rumors of him mastering forbidden spells? It’s why he had practically spent the entire half of 6th year serving a mysterious detention service for Professor Hecate.”

His other two friend looked at him in doubt. “I thought that was because he bombarda-ed the pants out of that Ravenclaw after he was challenged to a duel –”

“Regardless! He’s dangerous!”

“But are they dating or not?”

“No one knows, okay? That’s like in the Hogwarts top 3 mysteries.” The girl snipped.

“I may know someone who might know.”

Two heads swiveled to the boy who was already staring at a regal silhouette, sitting peacefully on the couch nearest the windows and furthest from any other person in the large common room – simultaneously seeming peaceful and brooding at the same time. As if feeling their gaze on him his unseeing eyes suddenly snapped in their direction, the boys physically flinched, the girl even covering her mouth to hide a gasp as they quickly vacated their spot before they truly tested their luck with the 7th-year Head Boy.

Ominis Gaunt.

The three sighed, resigned to leave that stone unturned.

“Guess we’ll never know.”

Sebastian flustered at the pretty boxes wrapped in silk, laces, and ribbons being shoved to his face, hand rubbing the back of his neck in a mix of embarrassment and honor.

He’s mostly gotten used to the numerous attention he receives but the abrupt surge of volume between his 6th and 7th year sometimes still gives him whiplash. It’s amazing what a growth spurt can do in your social standing.

“Thank you, ladies. I really appreciate it.” He flashed them a polite smile, genuinely flattered and touched at the thoughtful presents even if they are a bit overeager.

Swoons and giggles erupted from the small crowd, so dramatic yet so entertaining.

“Excuse me, Sebastian?”

From the middle of the crowd, Blaine Marune a fellow 7th year pushed herself to the front. She was a popular girl, sought after by many of his teammates. He cocked a brow at her Slytherin shirt when she was a Gryffindor, the team Sebastian was playing against. Was she dating someone on his team?

“Can you sign my shirt?”

Gasps scattered on the ground at her bold request, especially since she stretched out her shirt so the space by her chest was extended. He had to give it to these Gryffindors, they sure do live up to their name.

“Your girlfriend wouldn’t mind, would she?”

He frowned at the implication, suddenly hating the inquisitive eyes snapping between them, clearly curious as to his status. “That’s –”

“She’s here! Look!” A voice from behind the crowd gasped.

Sebastian swiftly turned his head, barely catching your eyes just as you slipped inside the tower that held the stairs to the bleachers up above. Mindlessly, he forgot all about the little scene that was unfolding between him and the Gryffindor and turned away from his gaggle of admirers to walk to the edge of the field, jumping on his broom to fly in front of you when you seemed to take a wrong turn to the other side of the bleachers.

“Wrong direction, darling. I saved you your seat,” he grinned even as you ignored him, walking a leisure pace as he floated beside you.

“I’m not sitting next to your admirers,” She quipped, still refusing to look at him, marching with a purpose. “Darling.”

She’s jealous. Sebastian beamed, flying closer so he could reach out an arm to stop her steps.

“Don’t be like that,” his words were soft yet the grin in his face couldn’t be tamed even if he did try. “You know I like it when I can see you at all times.”

Giggles and whispers were murmured from the seated crowd behind you.

“She’s here!” “The Felix Felicis is here!” “There’s no way those Gryffindor bastards will beat us now.”

The burn in your face doubled in intensity as you tried your hardest to ignore such embarrassing remarks.

It started with a silly coincidence.

In one of Sebastian’s first games last year, you had been running late, roped in a last-minute hunt for a large Ancient Magic hotspot that had abruptly appeared on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. When you entered the Quidditch Pitch the game was in full swing. However, your entrance had caught Sebastian’s attention which coincidentally also happened to be the moment the Snitch flew straight towards you. It was one of the shortest games in Hogwart’s centuries-long history as he had gotten a hold of it inches away from your face. The team included you in their celebration by throwing the two of you in the air.

From then on, it was duly noted that Sebastian’s performance remarkably improved every time you were in attendance. It didn’t help that the one time you didn’t attend one of his inter-school practice matches they had lost by a couple of points to Durmstrang.

Imelda had damn near made you swear on an Unbreakable Vow that you would watch every single one of their games from then on.

Hence, being Sebastian Sallow’s Felix Felicis became your position and moniker throughout the entirety of Quidditch Season, and as embarrassing as it was, it would seem your usually level-headed friend had either gotten roped in the ridiculous suspicion or was enjoying your obvious mortification a bit too much as he had taken every opportunity to snatch the same damn seat that practically showcased you to the rest of the crowd and in turn ensured he would be able to see you at all times.

“Sallow! We’re about to gather!” Imelda screamed in the middle of the field.

“Give me a second!” He turned to you. “Please, pet?”

Damn him and those brown eyes.

Harshly, you grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling him till he was forced to maneuver his broom sideways, face an inch from yours.

“You better not embarrass me,” you threatened, pressing a quick kiss on his cheek before turning on the opposite direction, straight to the seat that had been unofficially yours. Lucky charms get special privileges after all. “I want a photo with that trophy, Sallow.”

Sebastian hovered in the air frozen, hand on his burning skin, until a ball hit him square in the back. “Today, lover boy.”

He gave Imelda an apologetic look before calling over an underclassman.

“You there, 5th year!” The boy was quick to jump out of his seat, heart hammering in his chest at the Seeker’s sudden attention. “Call over Head Boy Gaunt and tell him to make sure no one unpleasant sits in my section.”

The boy nodded, understanding. Everyone knows Sallow’s unofficial section where all his friends from different houses sit – every single one of them as intimidating as him. If he had gotten a galleon for every time a professor mentioned one of them either in praise or in warning on what not to do, he’d rival Ominis Gaunt in wealth.

Most importantly, she would be there. The lucky charm and Sallow’s dearest companion – though jury is still out whether they had been courting all this time or not.

From what he’d seen he’d bet on them getting married by graduation even with the lack of formal courting. They didn’t seem to be the type to care for convention. He had even heard suggestive rumors that they basically sleep in the same room every night, though that has yet to be proven.

“Yes, of course, Sallow!”

Sebastian watched the boy scamper down the stairs, no doubt to relay his message to his dear friend who won’t be too pleased of his misuse of Ominis’ position.

Oh well, all’s well that ends well.

He blows you one last provocative kiss as he departs the stands before he flies up to where the rest of his teammates are positioned, ready for the game to start, pleased with the fact you would be fuming from the attention his grand performance would bring.

A jealous darling would be bad luck after all.

And he had a trophy to win.

“And the Triwizard Champion is Sebastian Sallow from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, House Slytherin!”

Green confetti and fireworks exploded all over the stadium overwhelming Sebastian as he tried to catch his breath and not let his knees buckle under his weight when all the adrenaline left his body. He belatedly realized that the cold, golden trophy had been shoved in his hands not until he was lifted by fellow schoolmates up above their arms in celebration and was staring at his own gobsmacked reflection in the shiny hardware.

More familiar faces and deafening cheers accosted him as he was brought into the section where all Hogwarts students were gathered. Only when he was put back in the ground to be showered with pats, congratulations, and splashing of fizzing butterbeer did his brain finally catch up with the rest of his body.

Immediately, his head started swiveling, looking for the face he needed to see the most, his instincts screaming at him that she was near. She has to be. She promised.

From the back of the crowds – there she was. Her beaming face, humbly waving from behind as if she wasn’t the reason he had fought so hard for this victory – that it really should be in her name and it shall, for he will lay this victory on her feet, first of his many devotion for the rest of their lives.

In haste, he shoved the trophy to the nearest body, uncaring of who was able to grab it as he pushed and shoved anyone on his way to you. The rest of the world blurred. He cared not for the gasps, shrieks, or protests – not when he saw the beam in your smile as you jumped into his arms – the golden ring that was hanging off a simple chain on your neck clanged with the similar one hanging off his own when you jumped into his arms.

The wedding rings he had prepared, ready for the day the two of you turned into adults in the eyes of the law and were permitted to be married. It would be for mere formality, his heart after all had been tied to yours the moment your eyes met.

“I’m so proud of you.”

He’s never felt satisfaction as fulfilling as this moment.

Finally, he has earned it – has earned the right to say it.

“I love you.”

This love was finally his.

The papers were printed in a few days. Bold letters with a bolder headline:

Triwizard Champion and Hero of Hogwarts Secretly Betrothed!?

Right below such an accusatory headline was the photo of the two of you framed almost too perfectly in a café’s window, Sebastian pressing a kiss in the unmistakable diamond ring he had bought with his winnings while you beamed at him.

It has not been a kept secret that many noble families have vied and proposed for the heavy hand of the Hero but all were rebuffed. All but one. Sebastian Sallow, a promising orphan from a fallen house seemed to have Championed the heart of the lady just as he had conquered the challenges of the Triwizard Trials. As remarkable as it is, his distinct lack of proper lineage, colorful history of delinquency, and the whispers of his preference for obscure magic would truly prove to be a challenge he might not be able to slay quite as easily, especially for a bride as coveted as –

“I am going to fucking kill that wench!”

You slammed the newspaper on the table, making Grace choke on her tea just as Ominis winced at your colorful choice of words, quickly conjuring up a silencing charm around your table lest you make it harder for his lawyers if you actually do deliver the threat.

“I know you’re upset –”

You glare at Grace. Upset barely covers it.

Finding that you have not insulted it enough you crumble the bundle of paper in your hand, even going as far as to grab two that a couple of fourth years were reading before throwing them to the fire in a huff, screaming an Incendio on the fireplace just for the satisfaction of seeing it all turn into soot in a blink.

Ominis quickly sends an owl.

She should still be in Hogsmeade, your mind runs. You’ve heard that the unpleasant reporter had made a home in one of the apartments in Hogsmeade once the Tournament started.

It should be easy, you try to suppress your maniacal grin as you turn, marching straight into the stairs that should lead you to the nearest floo, ignoring how quickly the other students parted for you as your head ran all types of scenarios on how you can absolutely gut that waste of space. She had unfairly targeted Sebastian from the start of the games, pointing out flaws on his runs even when he had won the stage, cruelly bringing up his 'upbringing' in Feldcroft, and even bringing up how he wouldn't be able to give it his all while still grieving his twin sister and should be replaced.

That fucking wench.

You’ve had enough practice breaking and entering through the many locks in Hogsmeade to be able to sneak into her abode. A simple hex would be child’s play, maybe you should curse her to lose one finger every time she writes a bad word against your beloved or maybe a limb or you should just do the wizarding world another favor and make her illiterate.

Once you were on the grounds you summoned your broom.

The punishment should fit the crime.

“Levioso.”

Before you could fly you found yourself already levitating up the air, from below Sebastian was way too pleased at your shrieks and foul mood.

“Let me down, Sebastian!” you kicked.

“I would but I would rather we not spend our lives running away from the ministry if you kill that journalist, my love.”

So, he has read it. The fact that he was able to see those vile words made your blood boil harder. Sensing your temper and the fact that you were about to break out of his spell he plays dirty.

“Accio.”

You shriek at the speed but the comfort of his arms was almost enough to quell the itch in your hands to curse that bloody witch into a pulp.

Almost.

He tightens his hug, playfully pulling you off the ground with a grunt and swaying the two of you gently. “Still upset?”

You push your blunt nails on his back and he chuckles. “It doesn’t bother me, you know.”

“It should!” you snap, a blast of your ancient magic smashing a statue to pieces that he quickly fixes with a ‘repairo’ without so much as a glance at the shrieking fifth years that had nearly gotten blasted with it. “It bothers me.”

That they think so lowly of him – him! A man worth ten –  if not hundreds – of those pompous pricks from noble houses who offers nothing but their ‘pure’ blood and rotting riches like it was enough, like it could buy your heart and pride.

If they knew –

If they knew it was him who cleaned your blood and licked the jagged wounds in your spirit in the quiet of your lowest nights, that it was this boy who pulled out the rubble of a girl after the war – carefully piecing it together until you felt like a person and not a hollow husk filled only by nightmares, that it was this lowly orphan they sneer at who had become your chain to your sanity – your family.

Would they still look down at him if they knew it was only his kindness, and his love, and him who stopped you from giving up on them? That if someone as beautiful as him could exist in the wizarding world then it was a world worth saving.

Sebastian frowns at your upset. Ominis had grossly underestimated how the article had affected you, he would be touched if he wasn't so angry.

“It shouldn’t,” he gently carries you like a bride – his bride – under the largest tree by the Beasts Class classroom, away from the prying eyes of a crowd, overlooking the lake. The songs of the breeze and birds were the perfect soothing balm along with his soft coos. “They can write about me all they want at the end of the day it is me who is coming home with you.”

He’s sure you’re aware that his overly sweet words are all to calm you down but you fall for it anyway, smiling on the skin of his neck. “I should have her tongue.”

He shushes you, pressing his fingers on your waist till it tickled, he smiles on your hair when you slap his shoulder. “Don’t you think you’ve terrified the freshmen enough with that mouth of yours.”

It doesn’t escape you that the other students have transferred their fear of Sebastian’s murky past to your present wicker-short temper. You are aware that it is only because of your impeccable grades, immeasurable talent and a sprinkle of Fig’s legacy that the headmaster has not suspended or expelled you for your insolence.

His palms run a soothing patten on your spine, letting you continue to bury your head on the crook of his neck to lull you into a calm.

You suddenly pull yourself away, looking straight at him. “Are you sure you don’t care? I promise I won’t get caught.”

He chuckles at that, pressing a kiss on the crown of your head before leaning back on the trunk of the tree, pulling you closer to him.

“Don’t worry,” he smiled. “As long as you still plan on marrying me nothing will ever bother me at all.”

“I reckon she's calmed down?”

Sebastian doesn’t bother to mask his stormy expression now that you have fallen into a nap, sparing Ominis a glance as he sits on one of the empty wooden crates.

“I was sure I’d catch the two of you digging up a shallow grave by now.”

Sebastian glances down at you, shaking his head. “Haven't you heard? I’m a changed man.”

Ominis chuckles at that. “Well, their vile words shouldn’t matter anyhow,” Ominis sighs, grateful at least that this betrothal had managed to calm at least one of his dearest friends down. “She’s yours now.”

The boy’s words made Sebastian think.

Think back to the first time he met you: the curiosity, the anticipation, the instant tug on his soul the first time your voice had pulled him out of his own head and you stood in front of him while the growing foreboding feeling that meeting in that room, in front of the fire was meant to be, bloomed in his chest.

He was young enough not to recognize love for what it was but not stupid enough to not act upon it. Monopolizing you and your attention, wrapping his being around you until people could no longer separate the two of you as individuals, guarding his precious hoard ferociously from wolves and thieves until he grew into the man who could claim it.

She’s yours now.

When he really, really, thinks about it, it almost makes him laugh. He always thought he'd lead a simple life. Get a decent job, marry a modest girl, and settle down into a humble life. Grand delusions weren't for him, that was more Anne's forte and he wasn't destined for a greater purpose, that was for Ominis.

And he was satisfied with that, honestly and truly thankful for it. He thrived in the shadows, after all.

But he met you and damned himself by falling in love with the one person he shouldn't have -- the one person he could never deserve even if he lived the rest of his life as a saint.

He loved a grand adventure personified and in a lickety-split threw away all of his dreams of a quiet life -- jumping straight into a den of goblins and trolls and certain death. Hit the ground running in a race between bachelors to get to you, to earn the honor of deserving your love. And even mercilessly overwhelmed any contender to your hand until it was uncontested that it was only him who could stand beside you.

It was only he who earned it.

She’s yours now.

In quiet moments he sometimes couldn't quite believe just what happened to his life in two years.

Because he never thought he'd fall in love with a brilliant witch vied by the world or that, out of all hands stretched out to her, she would hold his, that she would love him back.

She’s yours now.

Sebastian would beg to disagree.

It was fate. (He made it so.)

It was written. (He rewrote it.)

She’s always been mine.

[chibifox88]

It Could Get Worse

You just had to open your big mouth. It wasn’t the greatest trip, but for the most part, it was going okay. You and Wukong had been traveling for days. The sky had slowly grown thicker with dark clouds, and the air was becoming heavy and damp. The looming storm made the forest feel more oppressive, and the wind had begun to pick up. And then, just like that, you made your mistake. You had to say it: “Well, at least it couldn’t get worse.”

And now here you both were, shivering and soaked to the bone, as the storm outside raged mercilessly. The wind howled through the cave entrance, while rain lashed against the walls. You could barely hear each other over the chaos outside. The fire, which had been struggling to stay lit, was nothing but a few weak sparks that kept going out. The cold seeped into your very bones, making it impossible to ignore.

You sat there in the silence, feeling useless. What was the point of you even being on this journey? Weren’t you supposed to be helping Wukong and the monk? All you knew was human medicine. Maybe that was why the great Monkey King had picked you up in the first place—perhaps the monk was sick. He hadn’t really explained why he needed you, but when Sun Wukong tells you to follow him, you do. And now here you were, weeks into the journey, walking through endless forests and desolate paths. You had lost track of where you were headed. You only knew that it was some kind of important mission involving the monk and the other pilgrims, who was apparently refusing to leave a village due to a lack of medical care.

But it had been days of traveling on foot, and now, with the storm raging, it was just the two of you. You had no idea where you were going or how long it would take to reach your destination. Wukong hadn’t said a word for the last few days, and you had stopped trying to talk to him. Every conversation you attempted ended with him either ignoring you or acting like he couldn’t understand you. Maybe he couldn’t speak human. Maybe he didn’t want to speak to you. Either way, you had resigned yourself to the silence.

You thought about the first time you’d met him. The way his golden eyes had gleamed as he watched you treat a sick patient back in your village, his curiosity piqued. He had asked if you were capable of making medicine, or if all you could do was apply it. You’d understood that he didn’t quite know what to make of you at first, but you also knew that he knew you could help. That’s why he’d insisted you come along, even though you had no clue what was really going on.

After days of silence, the storm and your restless thoughts were starting to drive you mad. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to try again.

“It’s really coming down out there, isn’t it?” you said, breaking the silence, your voice barely above a whisper to be heard over the storm outside.

…

……

……..

Oookay. So, he wasn’t in the mood to talk. Again. How the hell did you start a conversation with THE Monkey King, anyway? He had a reputation that preceded him, and here you were, stuck in a cave, shivering and doing your best to pretend it wasn’t awkward.

The cave filled with the sharp sound of stone striking stone as Wukong tried again to create a spark for the fire. His movements were purposeful, but there was a sense of urgency, and you noticed the subtle signs of frustration on his face. His muscles tensed with each strike, as though the damp wood was mocking him. The fire had refused to catch, no matter how hard he tried.

You couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. Sure, he was the Monkey King, but this was different. He wasn’t used to doing things this way. Usually, he probably didn’t need to rely on primitive methods like striking stones together for fire. You could sense his struggle to maintain composure, and it made you wonder if he was trying not to overwhelm you with his strength, trying to seem “normal.” But you couldn’t sit by and do nothing anymore. Maybe this was your moment to help.

You rummaged through your pouch and checked the herbs you’d been carrying with you. Thankfully, some of the dried herbs and bark you had packed were still dry enough to use. You held them up to the light of the fire—there was a chance they’d help the fire stay alight once it caught.

“Here, let me do it,” you said, moving toward him with a quiet sense of resolve. You shifted the damp kindling into a better position, stacking the dry bark in the center. “Hopefully, this will help it stay lit.”

Wukong seemed to notice your determination and reluctantly gave way. “Can you try to get the sparks on the drier herbs?” he asked. His voice was calm but laced with the weight of the frustration he had been trying to hide.

You nodded, adjusting your positioning and blowing gently on the embers until, slowly but surely, the fire began to grow. The flames licked the wood, crackling with newfound strength. The warmth started to spread through the cave, and you could feel the chill that had gripped your body start to fade away.

His voice came again, soft and unexpected. “So, medicine isn’t the only thing you know.”

The question caught you off guard. You blinked in surprise, unsure whether to answer him or simply let the silence hang between you. But then you realized—he was speaking to you. It was a break in the ice that had been hanging over you both for days, and you weren’t going to let it go unanswered.

“I’m not an expert in anything but medicine, but I know the basics of survival,” you replied, keeping your voice calm. “Things like gathering firewood, finding shelter… small stuff, really.”

He leaned back against the cave wall, watching you intently. You weren’t sure if he was looking for something in particular, but his golden eyes never left you. You felt exposed, like he was reading you, and the weight of his gaze made you a little self-conscious.

“You’re strong,” he said suddenly, his voice blunt. “For a human. Mentally, at least.”

You couldn’t tell if you should be offended or if it was meant as a compliment. But, given who you were dealing with, you decided it was best to take it as praise, even if it was backhanded. After all, he was a monkey demon.

“Thank you,” you said. “Being in my profession, you learn to grow thick skin quickly.”

He cocked his head to the side, his expression morphing into something almost animalistic. “You’ve learned to grow thicker skin than normal humans? I wasn’t aware humans could do that.”

His bluntness made you burst out laughing. There was something so innocent and honest in his confusion that you couldn’t help it. His expression—half baffled, half intrigued—only made you laugh harder.

“I’m sorry,” you said, struggling to catch your breath. “I didn’t realize you’d take what I said so literally.” You paused for a moment before continuing. “No, I don’t have thicker skin than any normal human. It’s a figure of speech. It means I don’t get upset or offended easily.”

Wukong nodded slowly, a small, understanding smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I see. Is that why you found what I said so amusing?”

You nodded, relieved that he wasn’t upset, but then your chest tightened and you huffed in a breath. You sneezed, the cold from the storm outside finally catching up with you.

Suddenly, Wukong was at your side in an instant. He seemed to appear out of nowhere, his hands hovering over your shoulders as though he wasn’t sure if he should touch you. His concern was palpable, and for the first time, you saw something more than the Monkey King’s usual stoic mask—he was worried.

“Are you getting sick, human?” His voice was low and full of concern.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure it’s just the dust in the air, the rain, and the fact that I’m still wet and cold. I’m fine.” You stated nonchalantly.

You smiled weakly up at Wukong, trying to reassure him that you were fine, even though the cold was beginning to settle into your bones. Wukong’s frown deepened, and for a moment, he just stared at you, as if unsure whether to believe you. It wasn’t until he spoke again that you realized how serious the situation really was.

“I can’t have you getting sick before you help my master,” he said, his voice thick with frustration. “He’s too nice for his own good.”

You blinked in confusion. It wasn’t the first time you’d heard Wukong mention his master, but his tone was different this time, more intense. His usual nonchalance was replaced with something else—something that hinted at a deeper concern, even a certain protective instinct.

“Too nice?” you asked, trying to keep the conversation going, curious about what he meant. You could tell there was more to the story than just the monk being kindhearted.

Wukong sighed, rubbing his temples as though the weight of what he was about to say was too much for him to carry. His golden eyes flickered toward the flickering fire, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.

“He refuses to leave,” Wukong began, his voice quieter now, a rare moment of vulnerability slipping through his usually confident façade. “The village he’s in… it’s a small place. They have no doctor, no healer, and the people there are poor. They’re sick, but… they won’t leave either. The ones who are ill stay because they’re too scared of being abandoned. They’ve already lost too much—family, crops, hope. They’ve been surviving on nothing for so long that they’ve convinced themselves that if they leave, they’ll never come back.”

Wukong paused for a moment, his gaze hardening as though he were processing memories, emotions that perhaps he didn’t always let show.

“I’ve tried to get him to leave,” he continued, his voice tight with restrained frustration. “I’ve told him that we can find a safer place to heal them, but he won’t listen. He says it’s his responsibility to stay with them, that he promised he wouldn’t leave until he’s helped every last one of them. Even if it means he’s sacrificing himself in the process. The fool…”

You could feel the weight of his words sinking in, and you understood, finally, why Wukong had gone to such lengths to bring you along. The monk wasn’t just a healer; he was someone who truly believed in his mission to help people, even if it meant staying in a place that was dangerous, even detrimental to his own health and safety.

“He’s too kind,” Wukong muttered again, almost as if to himself. “Too self-sacrificing for his own good. He could have left weeks ago, but he insists on staying and trying to heal the village. He’s—” Wukong hesitated, as though struggling to find the right words, and then he gave a small, exasperated sigh. “He’s stubborn. And it’s wearing him down. He’s wearing himself down.”

Wukong’s golden eyes flickered back to you then, his expression softening slightly, as though he had just realized that he had shared more than he had intended.

“He doesn’t see the toll it’s taking on him,” he said, his voice almost gentle. “That’s why I need you here. I don’t know if anyone else could save him from himself, but I’m hoping that you, with your skills, can help him. He won’t admit it, but he’s in desperate need of someone who can bring him back from the edge. And he can’t do it alone.”

There was a rawness in Wukong’s voice now, something you had never heard before. Despite his usual bravado, you could see how deeply he cared for his master, how much he wanted to help him, even though he could never say it in quite the same way the monk would.

You realized that the monk’s kindness wasn’t just about the villagers; it was about something even deeper. He was so wrapped up in the idea of selflessly helping others that he had forgotten how to help himself. It was a classic case of someone giving so much that they didn’t realize they were being drained dry in the process. No wonder Wukong was frustrated—it must have been hard for him to watch his master slowly burn out, while the monk refused to acknowledge the need for rest.

It wasn’t just that the monk was too kind; it was that he was too stubborn to accept help or see that his actions were hurting both himself and the people he was trying to protect.

You nodded slowly, the weight of the situation pressing down on your chest. You could understand now why Wukong had brought you here. It wasn’t just for the village; it was for the monk, too. He needed help—he needed someone to intervene before he burned himself out completely. And, in a strange way, you realized that Wukong had probably known that all along, even if he hadn’t said it outright.

“I’ll help him,” you promised softly, your voice firm despite the uncertainty you still felt about this entire mission. “I’ll do whatever I can.”

Wukong studied you for a long moment, his golden eyes unreadable, before his lips curved into a rare, genuine smile. It wasn’t a smirk or a teasing grin—it was something softer, something closer to relief.

“Good,” he said quietly. “Because you’re our last hope.”

So that’s why he’d brought you along. You hadn’t known much about the monk’s situation before, but it seemed clear now why Wukong was going to such great lengths to make sure you didn’t get sick. And you supposed that meant he cared both about the monk and yourself.

Before you could react, he scooped you up into his lap, moving closer to the fire. The sudden change in position caught you by surprise, and your face immediately heated with embarrassment. The warmth of his fur, even damp from the rain, was oddly comforting, but you couldn’t focus on that. Your mind raced. What was he doing? Why was he holding you like this?

“What—what are you doing?” You stammered, doing your best to sound collected, but failing miserably.

He looked at you, unfazed. “Warming you up.” His tone was nonchalant, as if this was something he did every day.

Okay, maybe he did do this every day. After all, he was a monkey demon. Didn’t monkeys do cuddle piles? You didn’t know. You didn’t have the time or the energy to think too hard about it right now.

But then, before you could respond, his hand gently brushed a few strands of hair from your face. Your heart skipped a beat at the touch, and when you met his golden eyes, you couldn’t stop the flush from spreading across your cheeks. His hand settled on your forehead, his rough palm brushing your skin with surprising gentleness.

“You’re warm,” he murmured, almost to himself.

You closed your eyes, trying to steady your breathing. “I’m fine, I promise. Even if I was sick, which I’m not, I’d just make my own medicine. It’s not that big of a deal. It’s just the cold and the way you’re—”

Your voice faltered when you realized what you had almost said: the way he was holding you. His strong arms, the steady warmth of his body… You couldn’t explain it, but it was… nice. Too nice. You quickly tried to redirect your thoughts. He couldn’t know that this kind of touch was the first in years that made you feel safe and comfortable, even if it was coming from the Monkey King himself.

Wukong smirked, his golden eyes glinting with a knowing look. He’d figured it out. And now you were in trouble.

“Oh?” He tilted his head, teasing. “The way I’m what, human?”

His hands tightened ever so slightly around you—not enough to hurt, but just enough to send your mind into a tailspin.

No, no, no. You can’t think like this. It’s THE Monkey King.

But then his face was mere inches from yours, and his voice was low, filled with an almost predatory amusement.

“Lost in thought again, human?” he purred, and you could feel his warm breath on your skin. The shiver that ran down your spine betrayed you completely, and a small squeak escaped your lips.

You slapped a hand over your mouth, but it didn’t stop the chuckle that rumbled in his chest.

“I-I think I’m warmed enough now!” You stammered, desperate to change the subject, your heart racing in your chest.

Wukong, however, didn’t move away. He just gave you a smirk that made your pulse race even faster.

“Until you’re dry,” he said, his voice authoritative, “you’ll stay in my lap.” The finality in his tone made it clear there was no arguing.

And so, with no other option, you sighed in defeat, settling back against him as the warmth from both the fire and his body lulled you into a strange sense of comfort. Slowly, the rhythmic beating of his heart calmed your nerves, and, despite everything, you drifted off to sleep, your mind still tangled in the chaos of everything that had just happened.

I hope you enjoyed it! This is my first ever story and reader insert please let me know what you think! 

[majesticarlette]

Enemies

Adrien Agreste/Chat Noir x Ladybug!Reader

"Surrender your Miraculous, Chat Noir!" You shouted as you glare at him from above on top of the Eiffel Tower.

"Dream on, Ladybug." He smirked and fires multiple Cataclysms in your direction. You used your yo-yo as a shield to protect yourself and fled the Eiffel Tower.

The city of Paris is once again troubled by a megakuma and after you just de-evilized the butterfly, a wild Chat Noir appeared. It's exhausting to deal with two birds with one stone but it's worth it. He was able to expand his powers, making the fights between you more difficult. He could fire multiple but limited cataclysms now. If he expanded his own powers, you sure also did. It's only fair to fight a lion if you're also a lion.

Chat Noir followed you as you escape the Eiffel Tower. Fortunately, he isn't as sharp as a knife, and with your street-smarts, you were able to lose him.

"This is taking too long, I have a date later." You groaned and you activated your second lucky charm, and it gave you a superglue. At this point, you're not going to question how it is used, but to figure out what to do about it fast.

You came back to where the fight was and scanned the environment, and you didn't spot anything to use the superglue with.

"You sure ain't good at hiding, huh, Ladybug?" You turned around and saw Chat spinning his baton, and you finally knew how to end this thing at once.

"Eh, you didn't even catch up to me given your cat abilities. Lame." You rolled your eyes trying to provoke him. He charges at you, and you two get into a fight worse than a catfight.

You love angering the cat in front of you, and the way he's slowly losing his cool from you dodging his scratches satiates an itch in your brain. You don't really hate him in the beginning, you actually wanted to cooperate with this kitty but something about the two of you just don't click. He doesn't plan his punches, he's impulsive, arrogant, doesn't like getting told what to do, and claiming he's a solo flight in fights.

Even actual cats don't behave this way, they won't exert much energy for this crap. Ugh!

Chat Noir growls and starts exerting more strength in his moves trying to bring you down.

"Oh... I see sweat, Kitty. Are you having a hard time? You think you're the only cat who's gonna lose to a bug?" You laugh earning a yell of rage from him. At this point in the fight, you're just dodging his offenses and waiting for a sign to use your lucky charm.

"You think you're all that?! You can't even defeat the megakuma by yourself!"

"Please, you think you did anything? You acted like a cat who broke a glass and thinks he did something great. In short you made it way worse!" He managed to scratch your suit earning a clean incision on your arm. You flinched at the sensation and let out a gasp.

Distracted, Chat Noir took this advantage to reach his staff from behind. He extended it to knock you out of the fight.

You flew from the impact and held onto his staff. You groaned from the pain and checked yourself from any more damages. As you were standing up, Chat Noir used his extended staff to knock you out of your balance, once again falling on your ass.

He chuckled at your state retracting his staff. "You think highly of yourself--"

"And you don't?!--" You hiss

"Shh! I'm talking!" He glared at you. "This is why you're so hard to deal with, you're so stubborn!" As he was about to rant his troubles about you, he saw you wiping blood from your injured arm. His eyes grew wide, did he cause this? If he did... Why would he even care? You deserved it! You don't believe in him! Is it deep, though? It might get infected...

He shook his thoughts and tried to put his staff back but it won't budge. He furrowed his eyebrows and held onto the other end to try and get it off the other but both ended up stuck. He groans in annoyance while putting much force to get it off, yet no luck.

You laughed at the scene and stood from where you were. "I told you, you don't plan ahead. I guess curiosity really killed the cat." You used your yo-yo strings to wrap around his ankles and yanked him up on the street lamp.

"Admit defeat?" You held up the super glue you used on his staff and pinched the cheeks of his upside down face. He only furrowed his brows further. "You know your face could get stuck on that expression--" As things were getting your way, beeping was heard from the two of you. "Not now!" You retracted your yo-yo from him. "This isn't over!" You ran away, leaving him on his own.

You let out a sigh after de-transforming back to your civilian self. You were exhausted from fighting two people today. Why can't Chat Noir surrender his miraculous so you can give it to the person who deserves it, like Marinette! Why did Master Shifu give it to him to begin with?

Your thoughts were interrupted when your phone was alarmed. "Oh, no! I totally forgot!" You really need to have a hero/life balance, how will you get to know your other half if you always prioritize hero duties?

You ran your heart out to the park to meet your date today. Panting, you scanned the area to see any signs of him but he was nowhere to be seen. Yeah, he already went home, it's really rude to make your date wait for a while, he might've felt embarrassed.

Sighing for the second time, you turned around and decided to walk home. "(Y/n)! Wait!" The familiar voice alerted you and looked around for the source, and there you saw him, Adrien. He was running towards you.

"I'm sorry, I was late! We hid from the megakuma and only stepped out when it was clear." He panted, catching his breath. Yeah, you and Chat Noir really contributed to his lateness.

"Are you okay? Were you hurt from the villain?" He cupped your cheeks checking you for any injuries.

"N-no! I'm fine, really!" You tucked your hair behind your ear, feeling flustered by his presence.

Little did you know, Adrien noticed your arm injury. It's really identical to what he did to Ladybug.

Yeah, you did not only forget one thing.

[midnight1nk]

So, WOTFI 2024...

[Spoilers below cut]

I'm so excited! Got my bingo card ready and my popcorn, we gotta manifest good things here.

(the following is my live reaction:)

3... 2... 1... HAPPY NEW YEAR Oh wait, wrong thing oops

happy to be here, Leggy (WE'LL SAVE YOU GUYS DON'T WORRY)

TENDER TUNNEL?! ...oh nevermind then. it's so over guys

OH Four, Mario!

this would've been such a Mar4 moment if it was still the Tender Tunnel cuz this reminds me a lot of the SMG34 tiktok kiss challenge

...wait is that... OMG IT'S TV TIME ARRANGEMENT OMG LET'S GOOOOOOOO marking this on the bingo card

the FNAF models....

"...a portrayal of my life." YES PLEASE give us more

the fact that Puzzles made a puppet of his child self just for this reenactment (i don't think he's ok guys)

oop, Leggy don't drop the child!

"Papa" gives so many flashbacks to other characters who call their abusive father "papa" (me, an Ace Attorney fan)

hold up, I need to talk about this for a bit. I know it may seem like random graffiti, but because it has gears and such, his future might've been set in stone. To become TV.

"I locked myself in my room and watched TV all day!" and no one checked up on him? Did he stay in that room all the way to adulthood?! Okay, the SMG4 universe has a different way of how time and body necessities work. But hunger and time are still things. The implications are kinda of messed up if you think about it: Mr Puzzles stayed in his room for YEARS without food or even sleep, watching everything on TV. He would've been a CORPSE by adulthood. No wonder Mr Puzzles has a thin waist.

"And the rest is history." No, Puzzles, you can leave us like this! I need more! What happened after he cut off his head, did he replace every limb of himself? What happened to his dad?

Well, we got more of his backstory ig, marking that for the bingo card

WOAH I knew Mr Puzzles swore before but DAMN

I might have to mark "Grudge against Four" box but we'll see

NEW OUTFITS OMG THAT GETS A MARKER

"We'll just have to go along with his twisted games for now." Hell yeah, you gotta be part of WOTFI, boys :)

AY SPECTACULAR TITLE CARD, LOVE THE ART

Blast-off Fire

this reminds me of Toy Story for some reason

C'mon guys, you can do it!

What's your idea, Mario? NO FOUR let him talk

WOW I LOVE [*ragdolls*]

OH IT WORKED

Insult-2-Dunk

OH the frame of what the challenge says has the 5 stars, I'm going to mark that

This is giving the hallway scene in IGBP, where Four has his thoughts on display

Yeah I'm going to count that as an IGBP reference

they really are boyfriends 💙💜 gay people do be sitting

really tempted to mark the "You Saved Me" box but I'll wait

That's... actually sad if all the negative thoughts SMG4 had in IGBP came from the YT comments. Not surprising but it makes sense why he would try to keep everyone happy.

"This is nothing." OH THAT'S EVEN WORSE SOMEHOW, SMG4. THE AUDIENCE IS ONE THING BUT KAREN, A CLOSE FRIEND, TOLD YOU TO KYS

idk I could just imagine Four saying a lot of horrible things to himself

DAMN MARIO

but also Four's been flirting with Three, you already know that Mario /hj

Slap Box

TARI WE'RE SORRY BUT WE HAVE TO SAVE YOU GUYS

well you did get a bit of karma for what you said earlier to Four, sorry Mario

HOLY SHIT YOU KILLED HER DUDE oop Four said it for me nvm

Ferris Wheel Frenzy

I got jump scared and thought it was my minigame lmao

"Survive"? OH, are they going to get stuck on the Wheel ride?

please 34 please 34 nooooooooooo fuck

Missed opportunity man, still pretty funny

Fire Bonanza

Wow, Bob, that trick was pretty good ngl

Did somebody say arson? :)

even I'm clapping!

Marware shippers, how are y'all feeling?

Tightrope Terror

OH just like in the trailer, right?

OOH THREE VS FOUR

...yeah, Three would win, I'm not even surprised

That's so sweet, like actually

This feels familiar... oh that's right

:)

Hey, I did say "love wins, love always wins"

And that didn't work for Leggy... but it worked on Four back then so that's nice :)

Sword Showdown

poster reference!

Can Mario even defeat Bob? and also, reference to the poster?

Oh shit Mario did the Sephiroth shot from the Smash announcement

Knife Throw

boyfriends throwing knives :)

also poster reference

"...avoid hitting our volunteers" IS IT THREE?! oh no it's just Boopkins and Tari

I WANTED A "YOU SAVED ME" MOMENT NOOOO

....blindfolded?!

FOUR DOESN'T WANT TO HURT HIS FRIENDS

So uh yeah definitely a grudge

Four, that's Gmod. THIS IS NOT THE SAME

Three's the one throwing the knives at Tari right? ...yep *sigh /aff*

Balloon Blast

*looks at Luigi's creations* ....say what now?

"Supper Mario Balloon" I... shouldn't be surprised

He kinda looks like Pedro ngl

Pie-a-Ton

HI KAREN

NOOOO MARIO'S FIRST LOVE *prowler music*

...wait, "Mario Die"? OH well, the universe is doomed lol

Touch Grass

alright then *goes outside and touches grass* we did guys!

Clowns Clowns Everywhere

Puzzles, Four has boots on and Bob has no shoes at all. Does it look like we have time to put running shoes on?

ACE ATTORNEY? IN MY SMG4 WOTFI? :D

"King of Clowns" PFFT That never gets old

What did you expect Four? You make memes for a living, become the clown

Bomb Ski Ball

What type of SAW trap is this?

OH RIGHT Karen is still a cat

Yeah Mario, you celebrated too early

Ducky Mania

poster reference(???)

Well, thanks Luigi, we're dead

BELLS (ok, it might not count cuz they used this before)

YAY FOUR GOT ONE

Free-Fall Frenzy

And of course, Three and Karen and Saiko are all using the things they are skilled at

OH SHOOT MELONY'S SWORD

GO ON MARIO DO YOUR THING! MEGGY'S BACK!! IT WORKED

NO PUZZLES WHYYYYY

Whack a Leggy

Oh I love that Mario screen reference

SWORD FIGHT SWORD FIGHT SWORD FIGHT

...goop!4..?

oh nvm, cameras. that should've been obvious *slaps face*

SMART THINKING FOUR

OH hi Puzzles

LET'S GOOOOOOOOO

DUDE I'M GONNA CRY STOPP THIS IS SO SWEET OMG

"YOU'RE RUINING EVERYTHING", welp Mario Ruins the Show confirmed, checking that off

I just love how this scene was animated (edit: it turns out that this is a scene Anaidon animated, no wonder this was so good!)

THE KEYBOARD MONSTER FROM IGBP!!! IT'S BACKKKKK

AND EYES IN GENERAL

Marker for the bingo :)

AND PARK (kinda) DESTROYED, another mark (yes it counts)

Superhero landing!

Wait... what is it, Four?

...oh I hate this *IGBP flashbacks*

AND PEACH nooooooooo

I get that it's supposed to be Didney stuff but like that's past trauma right there for Four , seeing the castle and Peach costume again *checks off the bingo*

and we're seeing it through Four's right eye *head in hands* eye of horus

It's Rap Time? IT'S RAP TIME

Carnival-themed too! Another one for bingo

"Pay for what you've done" KARMA "We'll make him pay" KARMA

(edit: it turns out Shadow animated this scene, it looks great dude great job :D)

[*points at background at 22:31*] BELL THERE IT FUCKIN IS

MORE BELLS AT 22:55

and also I realized that there was a lot of "death", huh

Doomed Yaoi(TM)

Yeah, we can count this as the Freak Show

"Puzzlevision+" ...puzzlevision 2...?

hold up, what the hell is that? NO NO WE CAN'T JUST PASS BY THAT

Huh, how interesting is that Mr Puzzles, being controlled by wires, looks like a puppet when he's the only usually puppeteering hmmm

MEGGY CONFRONTS also she tried to give Puzzles a chance when she couldn't do it for Wren

"That child is gone... Six feet under right where you and your stupid friends belong." Oh, shit. That got me somehow.

There is something in philosophy called "Ship of Theseus" that basically is: what if, gradually over time, we replace every part of a person and the question would be, are they the same person anymore. It could apply to Mr Puzzles here. Bring back to my corpse question, his child self and his current self are not the same. Not anymore. Metaphorically and perhaps literally, the real man before Mr Puzzles came to be is already dead.

Some people do say that they can be "reborn" so.... *shrugs*

SACRIFICE! No one dies but they're risking their lives here!

Meggy going into Puzzles' mind reminds me a lot of Melony getting into Zero's, except for the meeting younger self stuff

Interesting, why did Little Puzzles cower from the woman shadow figure? They could've just put Meggy there but they didn't until a few seconds later... hmmm......

Well Meggy confronts Little Puzzles but it's more like her demanding him to set her friends free, which is understandable

THE CLUB PENGUIN DANCE IS BACK!! :D

ONCE AGAIN Little Puzzles gets scared of someone coming towards him. jesus what happened for you to react like that, dude?

THIS IS ACTUALLY MAKING ME FEEL THINGS DUDE. IF MR PUZZLES DIES AND THIS IS THE LAST THING HE THINKS ABOUT.... *head in hands* THIS IS SO SAD

And more of the Engine Room gets broken down

silly little goobers :)

MR PUZZLES LIVES

and I oop [Mr Puzzles will remember that.]

....oh, this might be a fate worse than death. I don't blame the Crew for not trusting him and after what he did to Meggy but damn I don't think this is the right choice, gang

But it is probably the best ending the Team could've given him.

Yes, painting is nice. Oh, a puppy too!

"...OR we could assassinate our enemies and anyone who's ever double-crossed us!" OH NO IT'S MAKING HIM WORSE

To destroy Four and the others, yeah that makes sense. But he must've taken Meggy's confrontation as a double-cross. He's going for everyone!

Dynamic Change, everyone!

but also.... puzzlevision 2 maybe....

OH HEY CHRIS AND SWAG HI

well, the park isn't completely destroyed but some of it did so....

"Hopefully Mr Puzzles will change for the better." HMMMM I don't think so, Meggy. Actually, are they aware of where he is now?

Aw, Mario checking up on Meggy is very sweet, the M&M siblings

YOU ALL NEED THERAPY

"Turning into Leggy was really taxing on my body but...I think that version of me has escaped off to a better place." Meggy, you must've inherited Phoenix Wright's invincibility when you were a lawyer because you were literally SCREAMING IN PAIN when you were forced back into Leggy, and all you get is just a bit of a sore back?! Girl, you must've broken something. I do hope they bring this back so that she can't do sudden maneuvers or fancy tricks due to what happened to her. There has to be some consequences here.

And now, Leggy's not coming back (I'm sure that's great news for the people who find her annoying, not me tho)

and I oop 2: electric bagaloo

MORE RIDES FOR THE SHOWGROUNDS HELL YEAH

Happy ending and all but hold up... Why is this the last shot of WOTFI? They could've had the Ferris Wheel, the entrance, or any of the other rides. WHY?! *shakes the crew* ANSWER MEEEEE

Well we didn't get a challenge relating to Tender Tunnel but since it appeared in the final shot, I'll count it just for appearing (and also because it might be important later but we don't talk about that now)

Of course, MERCH

"And, who knows? Next year, there might be even more things to come..." WHEN I GET YOU

Hoodie, poster, keychain I CALLED IT

baby leggy :3

"You'll just have to wait and see." Oh I'll be waiting *wiggles fingers together like a cartoon villain*

the great milk heist of 1899 :)

.・-: ✧ :--: ✧ :-・.

Here's my bingo card:

I think it's all of it, let me know if I miss or need to change anything. Can we count all the Four & Three soulmate parallels to the "You Save Me" box? Please? *sneaks a marker on there* To those who participated, I hope you guys had fun with my bingo card!

I'm still going to cherish that Ferris Wheel chase scene from the "Welcome to Puzzle Park" episode

Well, Ben, Shadow, you got anything to say?

Ben: Well that was fun We should really do this again sometime…

GOD DAMMIT BEN NOT AGAIN/affectionate

Shadow, in voice clip: "Hello once more, Twitter and SMG4 community! As always, I'm The Inverted Shadow and yeah, War of the Fat Italians 2024 has come and gone... and uh, as it is customary with a lot of these big events with SMG4, I have things to say but this time, I'm actually not going to make a big show out of it this time like what I did for Puzzlevision and..." *clear throat* "The things that came before because I'm going to be completely honest, guys, I was really fucking nervous for this one because, um, to be completely honest, this rap battle for this WOTFI is, I can safely say, one of the hardest things I had to do when animating for SMG4 thus far. And I was really really scared and nervous about (one) if it would actually come out good and (two) if people would actually like it. But just based on the reactions from the watch party with the SMG4 team and also just seeing everybody's reactions to WOTFI this year, um.... Yeah, you guys surely showed me I still must be doing something right." *laugh* "But, no no no. In all honesty, once more, thank you all genuinely. Genuinely, thank you all once again to the SMG4 community, to Luke, to Kevin, the SMG4 team. Everybody. Thank you all so much for showing me that I apparently still got it and I can still do the thing as it were." *chuckle* "Um, I do really hope you all enjoyed WOTFI this year. For now, I need to go get me that new Mr Puzzles plushie 'cause I need it. So, genuinely thank you all again and uh, peace!

Oh, we enjoyed this year's WOTFI, SMG4 Team! As Mario would say, that was-a loads of fun! The animation, the art, the music, everything was really really good. There are a few plot tweaks here and there that need a bit of work, but otherwise, it was great! Props to everyone on the Team! I can't wait to see what you guys do next.

"Silly little meme show" Right, and it's the same people who gave us horror, I'm on to you guys. please puzzlevision 2 please goop!4

Make sure you all support them bc they deserve it :) As for what will happen to the SMG4 crew, Mr Puzzles, and the Showgrounds, we will just have to wait and see.

;)

ink, it's not even a theory what are you talking about?

[itsabouttimex2]

Sooooo... How do you feel about the season 5?

In short? Mid. 6-6.5/10.

In long…?

A severely rushed season that bit off way more than it could chew. A season that had the characters pull powers from their asses more frequently than ever before. A season that had shitty “dramatic” moments for the sake of having dramatic moments. A season that lampshades issues instead of fixing them. A season with so, so much wasted potential.

It basically boils down: everything they wanted to do COULD have been good, but they just didn’t have the time.

I’ll go into some varied details below. I’d also like to make clear- I’ll be tagging all of my Season Five Posts with “Lego Monkie Kid Season 5” and “LMK Spoilers” until August 1st. Then the gloves are coming off and I’ll stop tagging them.

(I still liked the season, for what it’s worth- and you can watch it in full here! I’ve got some drafts and bots cooking as we speak!)

This was a cute send-off to Flying Bark! It was nice of them to acknowledge, in some way, everything that those dears did for the show- because Lego Monkie Kid would NOT be where it is without them.

Significantly less cute-

The absolute kick in the fucking face that constantly superimposing old footage over newer, worse footage is.

You don’t want us to be constantly reminded of the animation downgrade- that’s the literal last thing that anyone wants. Why would you constantly remind us that it used to be better?

What the fuck does this accomplish? Okay, let’s make comparisons, cause that’s the only thing that can result from pulling this shit-

This is what happens when you constantly reference the older, superior content.

PEOPLE CONSTANTLY NOTICE THAT YOUR CONTENT IS WORSE.

Also, why is it so saturated? How do you make a Lego Minifigure look like he has jaundice?

It’s just a bad look to constantly reference content you can’t live up to. I’m hoping they’ll just recreate old content instead of sloppily pasting it into the background of the show- it’ll be less jarring.

Alright, what else…

———

Yay, I called it! Nuwa is not MK’s “loving though bereft mommy”! Which I had been guessing ever since the Celestial Pagoda leaked, actually-

I mean, come on. He’s literally stealing the stones away from her as she reaches to take them back.

And the Season confirmed it! Nuwa might’ve be been MK’s creator, but she certainly wasn’t his momma.

And you know how the series subtlety clues you in to how little she cares about her “son”?

Nuwa didn’t give him a name. She had hundreds, maybe thousands of years to think on it- but no. No name.

We mortals name our pets, our vehicles, our art. We love them enough to bestow monikers.

Nuwa didn’t even bother to name her own sapient mortal creation.

But when he makes a move against her, does something she doesn’t want, takes destiny into his own hands?

She calls out to him with one word- not “son”. Not “MK”.

Nuwa angrily calls him “mortal”.

Becuase that’s all he ever was to her, really. A mortal pawn. A handmade puppet.

Someone designed to fulfill a sacrifice. Even though her intentions were good, MK’s sole purpose by her hand was to shoulder the weight of the world like a good little hero.

So… a potential “villain” in the making?

———

Lampshading the fact that you’re doing the “macguffin hunt” again does not excuse doing the “macguffin hunt” again.

Lampshading the “apocalypse after apocalypse” plots doesn’t make them any less exhausting.

Lampshading Macaque’s lack of narrative consequences does not undo the awkward and weak redemption arc.

———

They changed Mei “no longer wielding” the Samadhi fire, I guess.

Ignore that she never displayed a hint of concern or sorrow over “losing it” because now she’s sad and worried (after backlash from the fans over her losing it) about losing it.

Like, Subodhi knows so much about the world and the universe that he’s aware of his existence in the ink scroll- but he gets Mei not having an interplanetary level threat inside her wrong?

I smell a retcon.

———

Macaque’s redemption arc is still shit. I’ve got a whole rant queued to release soon, actually- I imagine it might be the final time I comment on his arc until Season Six.

To put it short- Macaque still falls upwards into redemption. No pushback or difficulty or introspection. He’s just a magically better person without any onscreen development to make the change believable.

But they reference this at one point?

Sun Wukong points out that Macaque escapes the trial without any punishment, and is just allowed to mope in place of an actual consequence.

So maaaaaayybeeeee they’ll do something in Season Six? I’ve lost all faith that he’ll ever be an interesting character again, though.

He’s essentially just “brooding rival #80058”. Instead of being a character that calls back to Seasons 1-3, from 4 onwards he’s just a brand new dude who totally didn’t commit any atrocities with a smile on his face- and he’s a worse and more boring character for it.

———

If I haven’t misjudged the intent, I think Monkie Kid will be going back to being an episodic series for the extent of Season Six. Again, they lampshade the “apocalypse after apocalypse” thing, yeah?

And now they have a perfect formula- find someone who’s having trouble with their new power, and help them.

And we might see Bai He again???

Let’s hope for a good breather season!

———

Rest in piss Li Jing their asses did NOT cook with you sorry papa

You could’ve been interesting in the writers didn’t try to pull a “loving father” bait and switch after you got like four scenes of being a raw jackass

If they were going to deviate from the source material and make you a good dad couldn’t it have just been:

“Li Jing, you were not invited to the trial!”

“STF that monkey son of a bitch hurt my baby boy-“

“Father I’m 300-“

“Hush son, let daddy take care of this- that monkey son of a bitch hurt my baby boy when he stole the Samadhi fire map!”

Maybe next season you’ll get to be interesting, hun.

(I’m still writing for Lotusfam though)

———

Drama for the sake of drama. 0/10 scene. Could’ve just had the interruption come AFTER they held hands, but no. Gotta drag shit out for the shippers or whatever. There was no reason to prolong this reunion.

I’m really not a fan of the “just wait another season for it”, mentality. Stop stretching shit out. You had a chance to do something sweet and heartwarming, and chose not to for the sake of trying to drag a conclusion out.

Ugh.

———

Characters just pull powers out of their ass for the sake of forcing dramatic scenes.

THESE ARE DOGSHIT SCENES

THIS MAKES NO FUCKING SENSE. THIS IS DONE SOLELY FOR THE SALE OF “MUH DRAMATIC FINALE” AND IS BAD

ITS BAD WRITING TO HAVE CHARACTERS PULL NEW MAGICAL POWERS OUT OF THEIR ASSES FOR THE SAKE OF DRAMA

IF WUKONG HAD THIS POWER FROM THE START HE SHOULD’VE USED IT AGAINST HIS FUCKING LETHAL ENEMIES AND NOT SAVED IT FOR HIS PRECIOUS STUDENT

MK NEVER LEARNED TO USE THE FILLET SPELL. THE WRITERS PULLED IT OUT OF THEIR ASS TO FORCE DRAMA BY HAVING MK TORTURE HIS MENTOR LONGER THAN EVEN THEIR ACTING ENEMY LI JING DID WITH A CIRCLET THAT IS CANONICALLY TIGHTER THAN HIS FIRST

WE SEE HOW FAST HE IS WHEN HE FIGHTS THE AZURE LION

MK CAN MOVE FASTER THAN WUKONG

HE COULD’VE BEATEN HIM THERE IN AN EQUALLY CLIMATIC RACE

I FEEL NOTHING WHEN I WATCH THIS BECAUSE IT IS FORCED DRAMA FOR THE SAKE OF DRAMA

—————————————————

💚💚💚

[slytherinshua]

AOS WHEN THEIR S/O GETS HURT

genre. fluff. headcanon/reaction. warnings. injuries, fighting, and crying mentioned (not in detail at all). pairing. uk/yul/danggu/won x reader (all separate). wc. 750 (150-200 each). request. no. a/n. why do i think my writer's block is back help 😭 i'm so sorry if this is shit

JANG UK

he would be panicked but he wouldn’t show it

I think he’d be more angry than scared, and by angry, I mean really angry

like whoever hurt you is about to have all hell brought down on them

he has the ice stone, he’s the most powerful man in the world, he can definitely deal with whatever dude decided to mess with his s/o

he makes sure to check that you’re okay first before dealing with the situation, but it’ll just be a quick check, he wouldn’t stay too long

he likes to have the situation properly dealt with before he lets his guard down again

he’d be all soft afterwards with you especially if you were still injured

he can switch so quickly and drastically from scary and powerful to gentle and in love

he’ll make sure you take medicine or get medical attention from Sejukwon immediately 

because you’re his top priority and he wants to make sure you’re safe before anything else

he might think about scolding you for not being careful

but then he’d also have to scold himself for not protecting you like he should, so he ends up staying quiet and just asking you if you’re okay in that soft worried voice of his

SEO YUL

like Uk, Yul wouldn’t show how worried he was

but he would be absolutely panic stricken inside

his heart would be beating so fast and he’d have to really focus on his breathing to not lose control

you getting hurt is like his worst nightmare

and he gets so flustered and scared that he definitely needs someone to accompany him to go find you because this boy is going to lose sense of direction quick 😭

he’ll drop whatever he’s doing to go to you immediately 

if there’s an enemy in the way, he will deal with them in order to get to you, but he needs to make sure you’re okay before confronting whoever did it 

he’d inspect you so carefully, the poor baby :(

even if it’s a little scratch that was an accident, he’d treat you as if you were made of glass even days after

and would always ask you how you were feeling and if there was anything you needed

he’s usually shy when you ask for hugs or kisses, but one of the only times when he’ll agree immediately is when you’re hurt

he just wants to make sure that he does everything in his power to make you feel better <3

PARK DANGGU

absolutely horrified, shocked, scared

he’s very emotive in his face unlike his friends

rushes to wherever you are, the panic practically surging through his entire body

if there was any fighting that needed to happen, he would calm himself down enough to not also get hurt in the fight

but he’s mainly just trying to get to you as fast as possible

could possibly cry depending on how badly you were injured

I feel like if he would, without thinking, pull you into a tight hug as soon as he saw you

and it would be such a tight hug that it would press on your wound

the only thing coming out of his mouth after you winced in pain is a string of “sorry”

he feels so bad, but his brain is honestly such a mess because of how worried he is

he’s a clumsy baby, so he might possibly make the situation worse on accident (before making it better with kisses and medical attention)

GO WON

makes it the absolute biggest deal, no matter if it’s a serious situation or a simple cut or scrape

he’s dramatic, you can’t tell me otherwise

but he would be genuinely worried about you because he cares about you so much 

he is going to make sure everyone knows that you are his top priority just by how he drops everything and makes sure of your safety before anything else

and if any of the royal guards were responsible for not keeping you safe, he might fire them on the spot, just saying

he’ll make sure you get attended by the best masters in Sejukwon

he’s not going to take any chances when it comes to you and your safety

would be stubborn and either not let you leave his sight or have guards accompany you everywhere (new guards, not the old ones)

if his duties pulled him away from you, you would be on his mind every second until he knew that you were completely recovered

↳ k-drama taglist: @eternalgyu,, @wolfmoonmusic,, @cha3w0n-hearts,, @tempobaekh,, @candewlsy,, @cosmicwintr

[autumn-sweet-fae]

Ok so I was thinking some more about that Zaun fam au fic concept, and my brain came up with a few more additions.

For Viktor:

Viktor has a scar of the acceleration rune stone imprinted onto his left palm. Also starts to show small signs of being touched by the arcane (like his hair naturally growing those blonde streaks he had again)

Viktor was at first resistant to being loved and cared for after all he has done in his past life, but the adults are persistent. They see how he suffers from nightmares and struggles to even speak most days. They notice his talents for gadgets and are supportive. Vander introducing Viktor to Benzo and his shop while Silco has stolen engineering books smuggled in from Piltover.

The memories of Viktors past start to blur over time. No longer sharp enough to cut him as they once did. He often wonders about Jayce, and is often caught staring at his scarred hand. (He might tell his found family a lil about Jayce, being someone he was very close to and was separated from, but not much else)

Now, a fun overarching element to this story, to build up an antagonist for the extra Drama. After all, the goal is to soften up Silco by inflicting fatherhood onto him earlier, so this would be a great chance to introduce the other bad bitch chembaron of Zaun,

Renata Glasc

Health wise, I think Vander and Silco would want to get Viktor properly checked up, and would take him to the best pair of Doctors in all of Zaun at the Glasc family clinic.

The married Doctor duo are treasured and protected in Zaun. Their clinic being neutral territory to any potential gang violence. A policy their fierce daughter Renata and her friends will enforce.

(Silco and Renata Glasc would be friends. She also runs a side business scamming topsiders to help support the clinic, and Silco helps her cover her tracks and smuggles needed supplies.)

Viktor trying to answer the doctors questions about his health without sounding like an adult who’s been in and out of hospitals for over a decade would be funny. He does steer them in the direction of his lungs and gets an X-ray. They find concerning minor damage that, if untreated, could progress into something worse in his future.

So Viktor leave the clinic with a bottle of their specially made medicine, an inhaler, and instructions to carry a breathing mask on him at all times and to use when needed. It’s all so much more than he could have hoped.

Meanwhile, Silco and Renata’s side hustle does very well for the next few years… until it all comes crashing down.

One day, Renata stops at the Last Drop after returning from a job in Piltover, planing to accompany Silco and Viktor to the teenagers next appointment, and to talk business in the way.

Only for them to reach the clinic and find both it and the surrounding buildings engulfed in flames.

Enforcers are holding the line, preventing anyone from crossing to fight the flames or try to save anyone. Insisting that they have it under control and that a crew was on the way.

Silco and others manages to distract them enough to Renata to break through and disappear into the burning clinic.

It’s not until after the flames are finally put out that Renata is found, alive but her arm horrifically burned beyond all use. Her parents are little more than charred remains.

Later, after Renata had her dead arm removed and is recovering in a spare room at The Last Drop, as her own home is currently cinders, she tells Silco what she saw. When she was in the burning building. When she found her parents bodies, with their necks sliced open and heir lab ransacked. The fire was just a cover up… her parents were murdered. And she Knows it was Piltover doing.

Once she’s healed enough, she leaves, but not before she makes sure to thank Viktor. If she hadn’t stopped by to walk him and Silco to the clinic, she very well might have been murdered as well. She won’t forget this.

It’s after these murders of such beloved members of the community that the unrest in the undercity is reaching a fever pitch.

The bridge riot takes place only weeks after.

[hmshermitcraft]

Some academic tomfoolery: newbie marine biologist Grian is trying to study some FASCINATING odd seal behaviour. this species of seals are using and making tools and doing more obvious vocal mimicry than usual along with lots of complex seal noises! incredible! Seal stone age and plausibly language! Though it's mostly more...bone age...lots of chewed-into-shape bones. He should probably get an anthropologist in on this but this is like, one of his first projects, he'd have to actually publish this first.

There's even a particularly tool-smart one who seems to be poking around at a fresh shipwreck and keeps coming up on Grian's boat? Grian's wished them luck with whatever they're trying to do with the destroyed boat (it had belonged to some rich guy and experienced bizarre problems at sea one day and wrecked some rocks where it absolutely shouldn't have been) but he's not risking going there That Boat. Sometimes bits of it moves. He thinks the seal is discovering redstone. They've definitely discovered fire and cooking, there's a deliberate campfire there some days and he's seen them with cooked seagull and fish.

also there is a Very Attractive Mechanic-In-Training, Mumbo, who's been working on his boat and seems to think Grian's research is funny without ever actually doubting any of it and has a very fancy and clearly custom-made dappled black and grey jacket that might actually be real pelt. He's going to the same university Grian's doing research with, finishing his degree in nautical engineering; he's getting so much extra credit fixing all the bizarre problems Grian's boat keeps getting. Some of them are Grian's fault, some of them are just things breaking because they're on a boat, and some of them are very smart seals investigating the boat and breaking it in new and bizarre ways.

Who even tries to shuck a boat? Idiot seal juveniles with bone-and-wood shellfish harvesting tools, apparently. At least, Mumbo is convinced it's an attempted boat-shucking, and not just stabbing the boat to see what'd happen or because they don't like it.

Mumbo and Grian hit it off, Mumbo seeming to have a crush at first sight - he's so flustered when Grian talks to him the first time!

Grian's been telling Mumbo all about his research, and Mumbo's been telling Grian all about his studies, and they've been getting along really well and even starting to cautiously flirt and go out to places together. Mumbo has tales about the mess half the fishing boats in the area are in, some people just don't maintain their boats right.

And then one day Grian spots the genius seal caught in a fishing net and, well, he dives down to save them. Just in time to see them try to save themself by turning into Mumbo the boat mechanic. Turns out selkies are real. At least the different shape means he's less stuck so they can free him easier.

And just to make it worse: Mumbo's the genius seal who's been on his boat in seal form before, multiple times, starting when Grian was just starting out his research and had no idea how smart these seals were. And messed with Grian's stuff. Grian had called him a "glorious chonker" and "beauty" and "smarter than a Grian" to his face. Which was his first meeting with Mumbo apparently. No wonder he'd been so flustered the first time he worked on Grian's boat! And several other times after!

(Though now he has a new research avenue: what's with the majority of selkies being unable to take human form? Sure, joining human society enough to study boats was apparently very difficult for Mumbo, but - it'd be a lot easier to make those tools if more than a few of them could have thumbs.)

longpost anon. have some selkie mumbo.

What's even worse - the worst thing ever, actually - is that Mumbo had to rescue Grian. From attempting to rescue Mumbo. Because Grian got caught in the net afterwards.

And now he never lets Grian live it down. He's even started his own "research" paper! On the Study of a Grian. Not only has Grian discovered selkies exist, but apparently they're able to bully him!

Jeez. And Mumbo has to be hot too. Selkies just get it all, huh?

[kannawandering]

been getting into turning these days... (6)

In the chapter like 603? 604? Anyway. Yuder's heat is #approaching. #scary. but I found it was a good time to talk about the omegaverse.

(I'm not used to omegaverse settings and trying to make sense of what I understood. Bear with me.)

One thing that I find pretty insane about the way the omegaverse is set up in Turning (outside of the fact that it's completely new to their world) gotta be the second gender manifestation.

Because what do you mean it can happen at literally any point or moment in your life without warning signs as long as you're an Awakener???

It also depends on absolutely NOTHING at all...?? Can happen at the exact moment you awakened or several years after???

You just starting having these fevers and:

if you're lucky you'll kind of know in advance because of awakeners around you guessing that you have this odd fevers these days, and can prepare for it.. (pretty cavalry exclusive) (you are God's favourite) Sick for a while and good to go! Awesome life!

If you're unlucky, the manifestation js kinda happens randomly in a day of your life, no warning signs, and you're cooked...?? Can be worse if it was a big occasion. You could be just baking a cake or in the middle of a life-defining fight. The Red Stone's powers don't discriminate. Fuck you I guess. I hope your boss won't fire you for missing 1 week of work without any prior notice.

If you're even more unlucky and you're one of the people who don't get this passive fever over 1 week but one of the people who go through all the changes and pain in 2-3 days, fuck you too I guess? You randomly feel violently sick, find yourself in unbearable amounts of pain and since it kinda happens anytime you could be alone, in the middle of the nowhere bc you went to pick up herbs for your dinner soup. Like this was totally needed.

You could also be one of the 1st people who ever got their secondary gender and you knew even less than people do now, so you just feel insanely ill, and you don't really know why?? Are you gonna die from some new, unknown illness nobody can save you from??? Not really. But how can you know that? Don't worry, though! It can, in fact, get worse if points 2 and 3 are added in. Y'all also get fucked.

Think about Kishiar's second gender manifestation where he tried to straight up commit (well he didn't actually do it and discovered that he is actually the Chosen One™ (by the Sword of Orr) in the process. All's well and ends well I guess.) While his circumstances were specific, many other Awakeners must have thought these were their last days too 😭

There's even more specific, worst-case scenarios like... honestly, Yuder's 1st second gender manifestation. It felt like someone up there had this massive, personal beef with him and js set him up to be in the worst possible situation bc fuck that guy too I guess. what the hell.

This is way longer than anticipated.

[blueberrypancakesworld]

You were my past

Bobby Drake x John Allerdyce (Allerdrake)

warning : emotional, kiss, hurt comfort, fighting

Summary : Another Logan and an assasin with madness were his companions as Bobby finds himself in the middle of nowhere when all he wanted to do was help. What John didn't know was that the past he was supposed to have ended, opportunities and a heart reached him again after more than twenty years in a nothing that could only give them both each other.

info : Finally an Allerdrake one shot I know I'll finish the other story too I promise I will…someday. Now have fun with it and have a nice day

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heat and warmth were something he was familiar with, they were natural elements of nature that naturally hevrorrtarate just as cold and ice have naturally existed in the world for centuries and millions of years. They were conditions he knew, especially the cold, since he was a teenager and initially hated it…but now loved it.

His ice this coldness was something that characterized him as a mutant, his abilities were at the highest level and he could be a great danger but he chose not to be because what did he have but hatred and aversion to the one for whom he would give his life and the one closest to his. So no Bobby would never use his abilities for something so harmful but he knew others, knew someone years ago who was just like him.

Someone who also had that time in him but something different, that warmth, the heat, the fire had been his strength and for a moment he had had the makings of an X-Men, for a moment in both their lives they could have taken on the coin, the fate of each other and yet they didn't. Was it predestined? Or was it something they couldn't control? Bobby Drake didn't know.

Even now, two decades later, he had no answer to these questions. All he had instead was nothing and a lion that wasn't his and a red assassin with a "mission".

Information about various things, universes, humans and mutants had lulled him into a stupor, as well as Logan's elliptical expression that looked at him like he was suffering every time.

But he only got a vague answer or none at all, but Bobby himself was an X-Men teacher, at least in this universe, and when it came to Logan, his friend and former father figure, he would help.

He had left with them a few hours ago on a long mission from the school and was now in the middle of nowhere. Since that time organization had touched them with the staff they had been wandering here for what seemed like hours through the ncihts of desert, to forest to trees to stone and back the desert.

It was getting too crazy and to make matters worse he felt Deadpool's body sticking to him, ,,Good walking popsicle…can I have a lick?" the masked man asked and Bobby felt the hot exuberant breath on his cheek, causing him to push the man off him and hear a sigh of pleasure from Logan, whose nerves were as fried as his own.

Even if the mutant wasn't warm he didn't know the word he was always cold, he also found the heat that kept trying to cover him like a veil annoying.

He was just about to ask something about the multiverse again when Deadpool started cowering like a dog and made Bobby a fuck offer based on information, ,,Leave me alone with this…here!" Bobby hissed and created a block of ice from his hand, which he threw at Deadpool, who accepted it with great gratitude. But a glance at Logan told the blue-eyed man that Logan was not only exhausted but was also wading towards something, something that might not even come.

Maybe they were alone? Another question he couldn't answer and so he kept looking until he saw some kind of object on a hill in the distance and pointed to it, ,,How about a break for today?" he suggested and made it clear to the two others what he meant, hearing Wolverine's growling agreement and Deadpool's joyful assent, who suddenly didn't seem so warm anymore.

But time passed quickly, faster than in the "normal" world, and by the time they reached the object, which turned out to be half the roof of a house, it was already dark and the three of them sat down under it and made themselves comfortable as best they could.

Bobby had also offered to make a bed out of ice, but this was likely to lead to unpleasantly wet clothes, so he simply closed the "tent" with a wall of ice, which cooled it down a little and the three of them tried to beat it after a bit of thinking and discussing what to do next.

This sleep was much easier after Deadpool's knockout, but he and Logan talked a little about various things, but his "friend" didn't seem to want to open up. Which is why they both quietly decided to let it go and go to sleep for at least a few hours before they had to continue.

A sleep that was restless, hard and above all restless, again and again he opened his eyes and looked into darkness, sometimes there seemed to be wandering shadows above them or again into the darkness but above all it was something else that did not let Bobby sleep at least not again when he felt something, a warming not artificial and yet not quite natural.

Slowly rising from his seated position he looked at his two companions at least Deadpool still seemed to be out of it and Logan seemed to be caught up in his own dream, ,,I'll be right back" he mumbled not knowing if either of them were even aware of it before he stepped through his ice wall closing it behind him and following this something, this connection.

The desert had indeed filled down at night still warm but it seemed to be a beautiful summer evening just without anyone with him as he walked through the sand looking around again and again hoping to find something through his own slowly dwindling courage and spirit.

But besides the thinness of sand, the stony random chunks of something didn't exist…at least that seemed to be the first case until he actually spotted something in the distance, something he wouldn't have expected here.

,,A car?" he asked himself and created an ice ramp in front of him to get to the object faster, knowing about the possible danger but how bad could it get here in this nothing? The closer he got he felt something like an invisible something that he knew, that he should have known once, the car was old, decades nibbled at it but he knew by the lights that it was a flame design. Flames.

He knew flames and immediately images popped into his head of dreams and memories as he moved closer not seeing the shadow moving outside the light not wanting to join Bobby's approach. The other thought he would never see him again, which is why in this place full of nothing.

The heat over the dunes was enough for him to grab it, he would have turned the stranger to dust before he could do anything, but why not have some fun?

Why not play something before it would become nothing again? drawing in the air he held out his hand letting the heated air warm up further before the fire appeared in his hand and he held the flame next to the others.

A smile stole across Pyro's lips as he saw the flinch, ,,One move mate and you're ashes or hers" he warned, a laugh could be heard, yellow teeth showing briefly as he extended the flame, the fire slowly wrapping around the other's body with the simplicity of years of practice. He felt the tingling in his body as the fire became like an obsession over time and the older one only had to make one move to make another human torch.

Maybe he would get the chance even faster than he thought because the stranger turned around and Pyro took his chance the fire would lay on the clothes and turn the body to burnt flesh and ashes within seconds, maybe playing a little more.

But even though he heard a clearly startled gasp as he saw the fire start, the newcomer hardly seemed to feel anything, at least he didn't scream, but instead Pyro backed away with an uncertain look in his eyes when he felt an ice-cold hand on his cheek. Ice.

There had never been anyone here who had ice, there was no natural ice, no winter, no North Pole and South Pole here, such a thing should not exist here, the element alone had burned itself into his body twenty years ago, he should never see it again and certainly not feel it.

Letting the fire get hotter and hotter with a hasty hand movement six thousand degrees was the highest he had ever managed with a few more chemicals, but this would have to be enough, it had to be enough because he wanted to feel it again.

Not to feel him again. Bobby felt the flames hotter than anything he had ever fought, more concentrated and aggressive than normal fire, it was the same fire only stronger than when he had touched him John didn't flinch he had seen the fear in his friend's eyes, his first love, he just wanted to touch him one more time.

But it wasn't enough another fight like when the ice and fire met, the steam rising where the fire met his ice as he put his head into the ice form and walked towards John, it was the same dark bluish gray eyes he had looked into back then, the hair just dark wispier a broken man standing in front of him who seemed to have gone through hell.

The coin had been tossed again. ,,John…it's me Bobby" he said calmly trying to reach out a hand after the other mutant but Pyro drew in the air again gathering more of the heated air and throwing more and more fire at Bobby creating more and more heat to draw out of the air to kill the fate he had concluded at least once and for all, ,,I want to talk" Bobby tried again his ice fighting the fire made the two of them clash again.

The madness of the one commanded in which nothing seemed to further fracture the cracked psyche of the fire leader his facade the walls of safety froze and shattered as Bobby leapt out of the fire from a ramp, ,,Fuck off Iceman go away!" Pyro shouted at the other letting the fire in front of him rise up like a wall shielding himself from the former boy who had beaten him.

He felt the pain on his wrists as the cold gripped him again and he pushed the heat higher, yet a startled sound left his lips as Bobby simply walked through the fire, hands reaching for him, fear gripping Pyro's heart of getting the same freezing burns, the same darkness, the same slaughter, the same loneliness…but instead he felt peace.

The fire went out, the ice disappeared and in the darkness of nothingness John was embraced by Bobby, an embrace of arms wrapped around the battered John who within an aching heartbeat was suddenly clinging painfully to Bobby.

,,You did this to me! The pain and loneliness Bobby, it's your fault, you bastard!" John screamed his pain at his former love, the boy his feelings had once belonged to, as he simply listened to Bobby apologize for every word, for every pain of the past they shared.

Bobby threatened to break away John continued to hold on to him, the look of his dark eyes full of hate and anger but most of all pain, the firebender continued to hold on to the taller Iceman slowly placing his hand on John's cheek the wince going through both their bodies as the ice met the fire peacefully for the first time in ten years.

Until the throaty laugh came from John, whose cheek did more harm than good as he withdrew from the caress, ,,That's a joke the fucker is kidding me…where are the cameras? Huh where are those time clocks!" he shouted raising his hands as if he would see someone at any moment and Bobby just looked in fascination at his former friend who apparently couldn't process the situation.

The ice user tried to get close to the other again, but his hand tried to lay on John's, which resulted in a blow to his face with a fist full of fire, ,,Where's the TVA!" he shouted at Bobby, grabbing his collar and pulling him up again, but when he saw the apologetic look on the ice mutant's face, John finally stopped.

Realization set in and he threatened to lose his grip and let go of Bobby, leaning against his car and looking to the ground until he heard a click, a click as Bobby opened and closed the fire door with the haymaker, ,,I've been saving it all this time…I thought you'd come back…Pyro," he said and darted over to his peer and leaned against the car next to him before wiping away his own tears and John's eyes showed tears.

,,John…please, Bobby, call me what I used to be," the firebender whispered softly, barely audible, and Bobby placed the fire train in his hands, pressing his hand into the smaller one for a moment as the dark eyes of Pyro flashed back to the memories they had shared twenty years ago until John lifted his head and let his eyes wander over Bobby.

Pain showed itself as time had taken its toll on them in good and bad ways and yet they had found each other again even in different circumstances, ,,John I can help you this tva or something they don't even know you…but I-I know you…I know this," he said and tapped John's chest beneath the dirty dark fabric was the beating heart that had always held love and that love had not stopped even in the pain of time.

John's gaze met Bobby's again, the fire mutant ready to accept full affection, to feel something other than this madness and pain, John's twisted fingers on Bobby's cheek, he almost drew in the air and let out a shudder as he truly realized that Bobby was really here, that for the first time there was another hope that didn't come from the tva, but from something that really needed him and wanted to help him and had something to love him after everything that had happened.

,,I'm here John I won't let you disappear" Bobby said putting his hand on John's leaning against his warm cheek feeling John press closer to him dark bluish gray eyes moving from Bobby's bright blue eyes to the other's lips that something lay between them again, the coin tossed fire had hurt ice and ice had hurt fire, tears shed and love still not forgotten.

The two of them ventured further before kissing after two decades, the two elements coming closer again, Bobby finally able to let go of the guilt, John finally sure that he had let go of all the years of anger and fear and pain, that he was someone who could be loved, who was no longer an outsider among outsiders.

Because he had had someone to return the favor all this time and now finally felt that return of love. He put his hand on Bobby's he would not let go of him again while Bobby accepted John's gesture for help and did the right thing with gentleness.

They would make it, they wouldn't fight each other, they wouldn't lose each other again because in the end they would find love again and the pain would disappear as soon as he took John back into a reality, into a world that had been looking for him, into a world where they would make up for everything they couldn't and have the life together they needed and deserved and it would start together with fire and ice and that kiss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

@psychoblaster here is the promised story hope you like it :)

[owlphibiaisthebest15]

Hi guys! I want to talk about a minor problem I have with Amphibia and how they could've been done better. I will not be talking about any of the big problems that people have already complained about, like Sasha and Marcy's lack of screentime, their character arcs, parents, nobody talking about Marcy after "True Colors", yada yada yada, because we don't need another post like that, and I want to keep this overdue rant as short as possible. This is based on my personal opinions along with a few others, but feel free to disagree with me if you want. But with further, let us begin...

Anne almost always gets way too easily forgiven for f*cking up.

Okay! This one may be a hot take because I have never seen another person complain about this. But this has been eating me away for MONTHS, and if no one else is going to say it, then I will. While this occasionally extends to some other characters depending on the episode. The one I want to talk about most is Anne. Now, at the start of the series, Anne was pretty much a jerk with a heart of gold. She was selfish, bratty, lazy, and irresponsible, but she did learn from the mistakes that she made and became a true hero by the end of the series. While some of these flaws and mistakes are not worth talking about, there are still others that are actually worse than what the show's narrative portrays them to be.

They may not be as bad as leading a toad army to invade the capital city, burying the only thing that could get Anne home, or sending your friends to another world on purpose. Anne has still made some pretty questionable decisions, even to the point where they often cross the line.

Here's a list of some of the worst things Anne Boonchuy has ever done from Season 1 and 2:

Breaking Hop Pop's favorite cane that also happens to be a keepsake of his father and grandfather all while making fun of him.

Manipulating Sprig into taking Bessie the family Snail on a Joyride without reading. Which is like someone taking a car out for a spin without a driver's permit.

Forcing Sprig to marry Maddie despite his obvious discomfort for Pizza Dough and later forces him to date Ivy while he's still engaged to Maddie.

Faking being sick to get out of farm duty, which led the Plantars getting sick themselves and even thought they were all going to die from red leg.

Slacking off while she was supposed to be protecting the frozen townsfolk, while aware of what happens to one of them while they're frozen. Which, of course, led to Polly almost getting eaten by a giant weasel.

Causes massive property damage with Polly while on the streets of Newtopia, and later breaks into Newtopia University in hopes of finding a rad college party. The second one was Polly's idea, but Anne had no problem going along with it.

A team effort along with her frog family. Sending a giant chicken to attack Wartwood. Which BTW can create tornadoes, breathe fire, and even turned their loved ones into stone, all because they forgot to buy everyone gifts. Sure, Anne was against the idea, but she still went along with it.

What do characters usually respond with when Anne admits her mess ups?! "It's okay! You're good! What you did was serious, but it doesn't matter that we almost died, as long as you learned your lesson."

Though Anne still at least got a lot better, as the worst things she's done in Season 3 were covering up some major plot points from her parents, robbing a museum to get a clue on how to find a way back to Amphibia, and tricking Blair the Balloonist into flying a hot air balloon. Though, the first one is still a little f*cked up, but she did have selfless reasons for doing these, and she came clean for 2/3 of these.

But still, 90% of this show is just a lighthearted slice of life cartoon, but when it shifts to its dark story driven and plot twisting side, this is where the narrative (and by some extent Anne herself) gets pretty hypocritical. It's pretty much when Anne messes up and lies to other characters. It's a simple error in judgment. But when other main characters such as Sasha, Marcy, and even Hop Pop do the same to her, first they gotta face hell for it, and then they get their redemption arc.

Yes! They did do some serious sh*t, and Anne had a right to be mad at them. But it seems that other characters are just not allowed to even stay mad at Anne when she does pretty similar sh*t. I mean, yes, she does try to make up for it, and yes, she admits what she's done most of the time, and eventually, she does become a better person from them. But so have Hop Pop, Sasha, and Marcy. But again, they didn't get the protagonists treatment. They got hurt and thrown around like ragdolls because of one or two big mistakes, and even that wasn't enough.

While Anne sometimes faces some consequences for her actions, like breaking Hop Pop's heirloom cane with HP giving her dish duty for a month (Cmon man! You should've given her way more than that!), gets banned from an arcade because she threatened to eat newt kids for cutting in line (which is not important), and most importantly, gets stranded in Amphibia after being peer pressured by her friends to shoplift it, all on her 13th birthday. Which I guess was enough for karma itself to feel so bad for her that she will hardly ever worry about facing any lasting consequences for her misdeeds ever again. While karma beats the cr*p out of others who would dare lie and betray our precious protagonists, even when they have sympathetic reasons for doing so.

Speaking of, this leads to me to clarify something that some fans have misinterpreted since the beginning of the series. The flashback scene in the second episode, "Best Fronds," was intended to show where Anne's distorted views on friendship and some of her toxic traits come from. Not to justify every single bad decision Anne has ever made, like what some fans think.

While I'm not gonna say that Anne was just as bad as Sasha before Amphibia, as it does show that Anne had her own personal flaws that she had to get through without depending on her friends. Who were more enabling her flaws than causing them.

However, while the show does try to show that Anne wasn't exactly much better in their friend dynamic than they were. For the reasons I mentioned earlier, it instead paints Anne as the least toxic one or not being toxic at all. With them only making a handful of moments that show that even after their betrayals, Anne still isn't much better than them. But the usual wacky slice of life narrative in her character development episodes downplays the severity of her actions, with Anne only just getting an emotional lesson after nearly getting everyone killed, and some of the said lessons being brought up in a few episodes to test her character or as examples to show others how much she has grown.

Now, I'm going to do some comparisons between Amphibia and The Owl House. While there are several things that Amphibia did better than TOH and about an equal amount of things TOH did better than Amphibia. One of those things that The Owl House did better than Amphibia was the writers treating each and every character fairly. The characters make mistakes and learn from them without the narrative downplaying the seriousness of their mistakes, and it isn't always "Okay! You're forgiven! What you did was serious, but it doesn't matter that we almost died. You learned your lesson, and that's what matters." While it doesn't give other characters the short end of the forgiveness stick for doing similar sh*t. With that, it also makes the character arcs a little bit better, in my opinion.

However, I'm not saying that Anne's character development was bad or that Matt Braly is treating Anne like how some see Alex Hirsch did with Mabel. The show did alright with changing a bratty teenager with flawed views of friendship into a true and selfless hero. All of what I described seems to what TV Tropes would call "Protagonist Centered Morality," and if I'm being honest, but because of that reason, I don't find Anne to be the most appealing character to me. I'm sorry! I know that a lot of you love her, and she's the second most popular character in the show; with the first being Marcy (my favorite), but I don't even dislike her either. I just feel that the narrative could've done better in treating the characters more fairly, like how TOH did with their characters. I really want to like Anne more than I do now, but for what I described, it makes it kinda hard for me to.

That's it for my opinions on this. This was longer than I thought, so if you read it this far or read it at all. You either think that I have a point and should do more of this or my analysis stinks, and I should never speak my dumb mind again. I'll probably see how this goes either way. If anybody else here still cares about this show.

[offbranddragon]

Set after rook gets imprisoned, right after, readmore to make it neat. Gender neutral rook, romanced Taash.

Everything had gone by too fast. There was so much just everything. Dark spawn after darkspawn. And then they got crystalled and everything started going to even more shit. Then there was a moment of clarity, a cruel pause. They had been half way across the tight battle field as the first tentacle pierced Lace, Davrin had grabbed them by the time the second had. They were in the most piss poor attempt at a head lock, Davrin being too short but still strong enough to restrain them, by the time she fell. Something about not needing more lives to be lost, that Harding knew what she was doing, noises lost to the screams.

And then the blight bitch fell. She fucking fell and everything shook as she screamed loud enough to pierce the veil. The dark spawn stopped coming, it was still chaos but there was a moment of pause. Then, as Davrin helped them and Neve to their feet, Taash frantically looked for a person, their person. Instead there was this bald fuck. Solas giving some speech or something, their ears were ringing and their muscles hurt so bad they couldn't hear and could hardly see. And then he was gone and so was Rook.

"We need to leave!" Emmrich yelled from spirits knew where. "Rooks gone! Hardings gone! We NEED to leave before they regroup!"

"We have to look for them!" It was impossible to tell who was speaking, Lucanis and Spite's voice meshing into one, both equally angry and frantic. Looking at him, them?, he wasn't putting weight on his right leg. It was broken, it had to be, there was a wince as a purple energy tried so desperately to walk before collapsing into Davrin who sat waiting with open arms.

"There have to be bodies, something, there can't be nothing Emmrich. We can't leave more people behind." Neve sounded to tears as she tried to use her ice to break up the blister of blight that had seemingly swallowed their pucky scout.

Taash's brain felt empty but also too loud. They couldn't panic, Rook wouldn't want them panicking, but where were they?! A wet growl emerged past the wall of blight, followed by a roar; there were still enemies, more than they could handle and they were pissed their goddess was dead. Their arm hooked around Neve acting on its own, her protesting and grabbing at Lace's disgarded bow.

"Taash-"

"We have to leave," Neve looked at them, absolutely broken as their voice shook with poorly squashed tears. "There's too much. Emmrich's right."

"I've already looked, there's nothing." Emmrich winced, leaning on his staff as he guided them to an opening in the blight and stone. "Solas was preaching about sacrifice, how Rook had done something noble like it was meant to inspire. After all we've seen there has to be more but we can't find it here, not now."

Taash let Neve go so she could help Emmrich while they led the charge, Assan watching the rear. Most of the hoard that remained seemed daze, any Antaam this far forward had fallen back, all they had to do was keep cutting the blight so everyone could get through. Some wardens should still be near by, they'd have to work their way out of the blight and to them then to what ever eluvian they could find. They couldn't think, they couldn't afford to. Everyone was depending on everyone and if one of them faltered now it'd be like loosing a limb. Davrin was carrying Lucanis, Neve was supporting most of Emmrichs weight, if anything happened Taash had to be ready since they were the only able bodied and free one. Their throat hurt worse than it ever had but they could draw more fire if needed, they had to. They could make up for what they lacked, what they'd lost. No, no. Taash couldn't think about them. Not Bellara, or Lace, or Rook. They had to keep going, they had to.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Once back at the lighthouse it had been confirmed Lucanis had fractured his leg, Emmrich setting him up in his study. Emmrich himself just had a sprain, Davrin and Neve both checked to make sure he wasn't down playing his injuries. Outside of some much more minor injuries the other three of them were fine. Right as rain. But there was still three large gaping wounds in the group.

"Where did they drag Rook and Bellara?!" Taash yelled as they paced in their little meeting room. Assan pitifully squawked at the mention of their unaccounted for crew. Despite not wanting to they'd all swallowed that they'd lost Lace. Even if she survived she was far too injured to stay that way for long and that's if the blight didn't eat her right up. It felt better thinking she died standing on that stone, bow still in hand, the scout she was rather than the mess of holes she became. Fuck it made them feel gross to think that way. What would they tell her mom? What would they tell the inquisitor?? Lace had so many people but also so few and the only people who knew she died stood in this building. Solas apparently didn't even mention her, the bastard. The woman who had swallowed her anger and moved on. Who held so close to her memory of Solas as this apostate she met what felt like forever ago. One of the only people who knew him as more than a god and he didn't even seem to care about her sacrifice. Her little life that was cut short far too soon. All that gave Taash peace was that the stone probably had her, it had to, and if that giant statue lady was anything to go by it meant Lace was still out there somewhere in mind if not body.

"Elgar'nan took Bellara," Neve said as she pulled her knees to her chest. She had already said how many times it should have been her, how she should have been on guard, how Bel didn't deserve this. "Solas did something to rook, I'm sure of it. Emmrich is too. We just don't know what."

"I'm going to let Assan sniff around their room, might calm him down." Davrin excused himself, calling Assan to follow which the little griffin did happily. Taash watched the two as they vanished down the hall they didn't want to be empty. As they heard Rooks door shut they fell to their knees. They were gone. Rook was gone. And they fought. Fuck they fought! Why couldn't they have just given them a hug. Why couldn't they had just told them they loved them! Why did they have to shut them out and basically tell them to fuck off?!? It hurt more than they thought it would. Taash thought that waiting would lift the burden and pain if one of them died. That it'd make everything magically easier to swallow. But it didn't. It hurt so much more. When their Tama died it felt like a chunk of their heart had been ripped out and they'd been left to bled from the void in their life. When they looked and saw Solas standing there, not Rook? It felt like their very being had been sundered. Not a piece of them that wasn't grief was left. All their body wanted, all they longed for, was that little nobody they had grown to view as their world. They wanted more than anything to hear Rooks laugh, to hear them just speak and tell them this was just a bad dream. That this wasn't reality. But it wasn't a dream and this was reality.

"Oh Taash," Neve said softly as she put her knees down and pulled them with all her strength into her lap, their head resting on her thighs.

"They're gone," Taash got out as they broke. Unbound arms wrapped around Neve's waist like a hurt child. Body heaving they wept into the woman they viewed as a sister. Just one of the family they had built that had been fractured. Fuck she was so lucky to still have Lucanis. He'd be dead if it wasn't for Lace. But Taash didn't envy Neve. Taash was also grateful their crow was still with them as well as the demon inside him. They were so thankful for every one that remained and clung to them so tightly. "They can't be gone!"

Neve wrapped her arms around them as best she could, cradling their head against her. Taash's hair was messy, chunks already having slipping out of their braid, so Neve had an easy time combing it back behind their ears.

"They aren't, I can feel it." She sounded so determined, so sure of this fact that was simple dreaming. "We'll get them and Bellara back and we'll make Solas and Elgar'nan pay."

Taash heaved. They were such an ugly crier. They hated crying in front of others too but they were way past the point of keeping it in. They didn't even have anything left of Rook. Nothing to cling to but the people around them. A door opened followed by another. There was a grumble and a familiar hiss. Taash sat up, arms still around Neve, face soaking wet and puffy already. No one would give them shit, they'd all been crying too even if some didn't want to admit it.

Emmrich's face softened as he saw them and Taash gave him the weakest appreciative smile they could. Taash half wanted to scoop him up in a hug.

"I've talked to spite," Emmrich started as Lucanis and Davrin finally made it down the stairs. Neve was just as attentive as Taash, head snapping to look at Emmrich. If Solas did anything with the fade, and since he was there he probably did, Spite would have probably felt it. Spirits and demons were sensitive to that stuff right?? It was their home they had to be!

"He said he didn't feel Rook die like he did with...with Lace." As Emmrich spoke somber looks were exchanged by the group. They knew but it still hurt hearing it. "When Rook vanished he says it felt like they were suddenly gone. Shut away like he is when Lucanis is awake."

"That means Rooks alive?!" Taash exclaimed.

"It certainly gives us hope and right now that's all we could have asked for. If Solas shut Rook away it is very possible he simply used them to replace himself so the veil wouldn't rip open like it had previously. He used our dear friend to patch a hole in other words."

'Well we just have to rip it open again to get them back right?" Emmrich tiredly smiled at Taash, happy seeing his ramblings had sunk in.

"Exactly! Once our wounds are healed and the Wardens finish clearing the dark spawn back we can return to the island to see if I can locate a weak point in the veil, but we would need a new dagger as it seems Solas has taken it and that may be impossible at this point." Emmrich smile fluttered away just as quickly as it had appeared.

"There are other materials that interact with the fade and we still have two mages and a demon between us, there has to be something we can do." Neve said sternly.

"My horn! It's veil quartz! Bellara said it reacts to fade stuff!" A twinge of pain like a needle to the heart shot through them at the mention of her name but they continued. "If it will work you can have it, I can get another later!"

Neve pat their hair and hugged them to her chest, hugging them as if she would lose them.

"Your horn may be too refined but that does give me an idea. It will take time but I'll do what I can to make it go as quickly as possible. I may need someone to give the watchers a visit to get some of my books."

"Assan and I can go, just tell us what we are looking for and who to give us the key." Davrin responded, Assan chirping next to him.

And then they'd formed a plan. Taash gave Emmrich their word they'd contact Isabela and do what ever they had to to get him as much veil quartz as possible, Lucanis agreed to let Spite out as much as was needed to narrow stuff down, and Neve said she would be on stand by and would pump as much magic as she could into this. As they went to part Taash managed to pull Neve to the side.

"Neve I-I know I'm twenty and I'm big and should be able to take care of myself," Neve held their hands, nodding her head to urge them to go on. "But I don't want to be a lone. I can tolerate the wisps if you'll let me set up in your office, I can just sleep on the floor and I'll even help sort papers or something!"

"Your rooms bigger," Neve said softly. "Help me drag my desk and papers over and I will happily keep you company."

They could do that. It was easy, just some carrying and swatting wisps away so they couldn't pull stray pages to the void.

"Oh and Taash," Neve started as they just made it outside. "Thank you for not letting me be alone either, We all need each other now more than ever."

She was certainly right about that. They'd probably pester Davrin about setting up in their room as well. Keep everyone under one roof so they couldn't get lost or be alone with their thoughts too long. Everyone would be going to Emmrich pretty frequently anyway so giving up a bit of their room just made everything easier. Taash wasn't going to chance anything from this point on and the moment they got Rook back they would make sure that extended to them too. No more losing friends, no more losing family.

[peachponygirl]

so i'm doing somethimg diffrent and doing this as a post because no matter what i did Tumblr absoulutly refused to let me send this as an ask. idk i guess it was too long or maybe it was something else.

@purble-turble I hope I'm not bugging you by doing it like this, please correct me if it does 🥲

so i've been sitting on this idea for Prince Red for a bit, it still has holes and issues to work out but i still think it be an interesting idea.

hopefully its not something that has been suggested before.

mk my beloved I'm sorry this is kinda a prince red turning into DKR au.

I say sorta because rather than "i have to protect this man from everyone at all costs" I'm suggesting more of an "I need to fix this man at all costs"

also, he wouldn't be the one doing the tormenting per say, but he's definitely enabling it.

so say its directly pointed out to everyone that MK's "sacrificial tendencies" is in fact programed into his nature by Nuwa. it's a core function of himself and his behavior, it cannot be removed. its just a fact, and everyone has to learn to live with the fact that he is self-destructive.

except Prince Red can't just agree with that, because centuries ago that similar thing was being said about HIM. the creator of the shamadi fire, an unstoppable, uncontrollable force of nature. destruction and violence was originally a core element of his behavior and for decades no one could fully control him not even his parents.

BUT that didn't actually end up being the case. when he was forable made to become one of guanyin's disciples, his personality and behavior did a 180. yeah, it took years and a lot of work but he eventually changed his whole self for the better and continued his teachings in favor of returning home.

he, with the teachings of Guanyin, changed his nature, so MK could as well. and he knows just how he can help him. he just has to get mk to go threw the same training he did!

and so he forcibly takes mk back to his monastery and the other disciples to help, and no he can't leave until red's sure he's "fixed" his destructive nature. hopefully, with all this one on one teaching time, he can also eventually fix his relationship with mk. he knows mk will be really upset at first, but surly once they start making progress with his healing journey they'll grow closer again.

now seeing as the disciples don't like mk or him being near red, they aren't exactly thrilled about this plan. however red is able to get them to see his point and agree that it is part of there duty to help others, and yeah they definitely all think Mk needs some serious reforming.

and if Reds this set on being with this stone monkey then at least with this plan they can make him reform into someone actually worthy of the prince.

their only condition to Red's plan? they are given full rights to disciplinary action against mk.

after all in the beginning Red needed a lot of correcting and had to receive at least some form of punishment for his bad behavior. and of course, had some form of restraint on him to prevent him from burning anything or escaping. Mk would 100% rebel against them in the beginning and try to leave so he'd have the proper punishments to correct his behavior.

and they all point out that Red is waaay too lenient with him to be trusted to give proper correction. he wants to help save mk from himself? he has to allow them to dish out the "tough love".

hence what I meant by Red's only enabling the torment, the others are the actual tormenters, given their bias, they definitely would take any opportunity to "correct" mk on anything and everything they didn't like. there careful about any physical acts, but they are for sure verbally abusing him whenever Red is not in earshot.

and worse the others would convinced red to not to really trust anything mk would say about being mistreated.

"he's exaggerating"

"he's just trying to guilt you"

"it seems harsh, but you know we need to be firm with him red"

"we all need to be tough on him, change is not easy red you know this."

and so on. Red already fully trusts that his fellow disciples have only the best intentions and want the best for mk so he parrots what they say and goes on with the day's lesson. doing his best to ignore mk's growing distress and misery, telling himself it's for the best. he was pretty miserable in the beginning of his reforming too, it'll pass, he's sure it will.

[goldeneyedkim]

Shouto Headcanons

Since I am not actively writing anything BNHA for the moment (lemme get through May, I'll be back, I swear), I'm thinking about Todoroki Shouto.

Well, I'm thinking about Shouto and headcanons I've seen that I do not jive with, and since I'm in no position to throw stones with my "Shouto grows out his hair as an adult" why the fuck did Hori give him the ugliest ass shit hair cut that looks like he hacks it himself with fucking scissors? headcanon, I'm just going to share some other thoughts.

I'll start with my favorite headcanon and work my way back, since I've already mentioned it, but Shouto grows his hair out as an adult. It probably starts with just not getting around to getting it cut for a bit, so it was getting a little too long, and Enji, of course, had to say something about it, activating Shouto's inner troll, so he refuses to cut it out of spite. His hair is canonically fireproof, so he uses his fire to dry it, which generally makes haircare, even when it gets stupid long, a lot easier than it is for most.

Shouto absolutely has a spiteful streak, and I get literally endless mileage out of the fact that Shouto could make any number of decisions that would usually be dumb or even out of character in other circumstances because he wants to spite his dad.

Here's a big one I think gets overlooked: Shouto has terrible self-esteem. This is something that actually gets a lot worse after Izuku does his Talk-no-jutsu mojo on him at the Sports Festival. Up to that point, Shouto's fairly self-obsessed and is absolutely fixated on surpassing his father as a hero, and he would absolutely step on someone or over someone to get there. The thing is, when he's like this, he's also being as selfish and self-centered as Enji is about the task. Not a surprise, given his father, and this whole "pursuit of being a hero for the sake of recognition alone" is exactly why both he and Katsuki end up in the remedial course. It takes time for him to actually break down his motives for wanting to be a hero, even after he decides to own his own power. It's once he does--and once he really starts to allow himself to unpack his father's abuse--that we see Shouto's self-esteem for what it really is, and it's pretty awful. The way that Enji puts saving Touya explicitly on Shouto's shoulders makes it even worse, and here's why:

His entire life, Shouto has been explicitly told that 1) he was only ever born to achieve his father's ambitions, and 2) the only value he has is as his father's masterpiece. Shouto is not special; his quirk is. Deciding he wants to be a hero because he actually wants to help people is inextricably tied up in the fact that he feels his only real value is in his quirk. To not use it would be tantamount to blasphemy or sacrilege, but it's his quirk that's special, not Shouto.

The thing is--Shouto knows how powerful he is. He knows how competent he is. He's very confident in his power and his skill, and that confidence is usually a sign of good self-esteem. Except not in Shouto's case. Shouto turns that initial selfishness around to such an extreme that he takes selflessness to a dangerous level (and let's be real here, his best friend is Izuku, who is hardly a good role model with how much he hurts himself). He will put anyone and everyone's needs before his own--especially with his family. He becomes the kind of hero who will give and give and give until there is nothing left. Naturally, this also translates into him being an absolute workaholic. He doesn't see himself as anything special or remarkable--after all, his quirk is half his mother's, and half his father's, and he's pretty sure Enji couldn't have made him more perfectly to fulfill his vision of an heir if he tried. Yes, he's powerful, but he's powerful by design. It wasn't blind luck of the draw or even hard work--because it takes a long time to truly understand how much his childhood training was extreme--but even his mastery doesn't feel earned because he was forced to master it, it was just what was expected of someone with his power. Worst of all--he always rose to the challenge and basically proved it right. Only he doesn't see it as "rising to the challenge," but "meeting the bare minimum." Because Enji did not set the bare minimum bar low, and Shouto definitely does not have a realistic perspective on exactly how high it was set.

And if Shouto hadn't internalized that his only value was in his quirk before finding out Touya was alive, he definitely did it after. He had to save Touya, and no one once considered that it might kill Shouto to do so.

He loves his friends but he doesn't really understand what he brings to the table. He's just really, really glad they seem to value him too.

As far as shippy fics go--most of the long ones will deal with Shouto's partner recognizing his shit self-esteem and trying to help him value himself the way his friends and partner does.

[lonelyvermonster]

There, But Never Really Back

TW: Mentions of death and PTSD

While watching The Hobbit I began to think about what it must have been like for Bilbo after he returned home. The books and movies don't talk about the trauma. How much of bilbos life must have been different after the quest. The other hobbits talk about how reclusive he becomes in his later years, but I want to know more from bilbos side.

How terrifying it must have been for Bilbo the first night he slept in his own bed; finally safe again, only to awake screaming. Blood and fire and dead blue eyes haunting him. I wonder how many years it took Bilbo before he no longer carried Sting everywhere he went. How much longer still before he stopped needing to check to make sure that horrifying blue glow didn't come back. It may not have been present in the books or the movie, but Sting gained a permanent place next to Bilbo's bed.

It didn't take long for Bilbo to pull away from everyone else but it's only because how could he possibly expect them to understand. How could the innocent hobbits who have never known war and death be able to understand the haunted look in his eyes? How odd he must have seemed. The only Hobbit who wouldn't eat any stew at the gatherings and parties. The only Hobbit who shrunk away from hugs because being grabbed was no longer comforting.

Do you think the first time someone tried to pull him into a hug he was overtaken with fear, Thorin's name slipping from his lips?

Do you think Bilbo noticed the way people would stare at him? The Hobbit's may have noticed him pull away, but I don't think they noticed the rest. They may have heard about trolls and dragons, but they didn't know about the sickly little creature he found in that cave. They didn't know about the nights he would wake up frightened, eyes searching for the shadows for Gollum. His neighbors didn't notice how he froze up the first time he heard a little hobbitling ask for some "eggsies". He still spun the occasional riddle but there were some he never repeated again.

Then there is the protectiveness that often comes from the trauma of watching others die.

How odd it must have been for Merry and Pippin's parents to watch Bilbo fiercely defend them against those who disapproved of their pranks and yet in the next breath berate them for the danger they put themselves in. The first time the boys got hurt bilbo could barely stand to see them; the image of two young dwarves who he had loved like family all his mind could see.

God how much worse that must have been when Frodo came along.

Dark black curls and bright blue eyes. Just close enough to haunt him. When that little hobbitling came into his life, how much of his decision to take him in was because he looked like Thorin? How many nights did Bilbo peak his head into Frodo's room to reassure himself that Frodo was alive and breathing, rather than laying on a stone slab? He protected him the way he could not protect his dwarf. Yet he also never bought him a single piece of clothing that was blue.

He filled that hobbit hole with greens and yellows and browns. Never blue. That color was perhaps the deepest tie to the pain he carried. Blue fabric, blue eyes, blue light; all capable of spiraling him into a pit of hellish memories. There were days he could not even bear to go outside because even the blue of the sky was too much.

Because at the end of the day Gandalf was right.

Bilbo was not the same, and he never would be again.