#Will Crow and Jolyon be a thing again?

[awokennerd]

New wish dragon lore, but more importantly new canon queer characters in D2! This is in the "Second Gift" chapter of the "Gifts and Bargains" lore book (it's from the Starcrossed exotic mission). And we get this banger line when Taranis is showing Riven around his Black Garden lair:

That details about Uldren and his partner! Jolyon and Uldren were in a relationship! Of course, it doesn't specify who Uldren's partner is, but we know Jolyon went to the Black Garden with Uldren and with the recent dialogue between Crow and Petra, where Petra is kind of a wingman for these two, yeah, I think it's confirmed.

Not only are they officially canon, but this also means Uldren/Crow is bisexual like Mara! Because Uldren was in a relationship with Jolyon and Crow had feelings for Amanda. I've always assumed he was bi (possibly pan when it wasn't confirmed if Mara was bi or pan), but it's nice to get confirmation! 💙💜🩷

Add that to my list of D2 characters who I think are bi/pan getting confirmed to be as such: Drifter, Mara, and now Uldren/Crow. Can Bungie confirm that Andal and Cayde were hella pan and very much gay for each other next?? The Final Shape is coming up with memory/ghost Cayde, soooo....perfect opportunity

[screebyy]

Part 6: The Summit Prev | Next (Soon™️) | Start

Two parts left! sorry to end on a lil cliffhanger of sorts. also sorry i'm going to continue to be very mean to jolyon. also also sorry i will not be finishing this before tfs launches lol 🥲

ID below cut like and subscribe etc

Panel 1: Wide shot of Crow and Jolyon sitting on a rock on the summit of a mountain, looking down at the dreaming city below. The sun is starting to rise over distant mountains, and the dreaming city is covered in taken essence, with black taken orbs hanging all around it. Jolyon is leaning forward with his arms crossed and his elbows resting on his knees, while Crow is leaning back on his hands. Jolyon: “Thanks for doing this with me.” Crow: “Of course. It’s been… really nice, catching up.” Jolyon: “Yeah…

Panel 2: Close up of Jolyon’s hand from the side. He is curling it into a tense fist where it’s resting on his bicep. Jolyon: “... Can I ask…”

Panel 3: Close up of Jolyon’s face in profile. He is staring straight ahead with a pained expression on his face as he speaks. Jolyon: “Why now?”

Panel 4: Side view of Crow as he turns to look at Jolyon. He has a curious expression on his face. Jolyon (offscreen): “A few years ago… I heard about what happened, with Savathun. That you had remembered your past life.”

Panel 5: Side view of Jolyon. He is turning away from the Crow, and his expression is not visible. Jolyon: “When you didn’t reach out… I guess I just assumed you hadn’t remembered me.”

Panel 6: Side view as Crow looks at Jolyon with a mournful expression. Crow: “I…”

Panel 7: Crow turns forward again, looking down at the ground with a sad expression. Crow: “I’m not sure I did, at first.” Panel 8: Flashback of the Radiant Accipiter, idling in empty space. Crow is visible through the windshield of the ship, he is hunched over in the pilot’s chair with his head in his hands while glint floats beside him. Crow (Present day): “He was so far gone at the end - whenever I tried to think about his life, it was like a bomb going off inside my brain.”

Panel 9: Close up of Crow looking down past the camera. He is clutching his face with both hands, one hand is tearing desperately at his hair while the other is covering his cheek, nose and mouth. He has a horrified, distant expression on his face, and a tear is running down his cheek. In the background, a cracked surface shows many scenes from Uldren’s rampage. One fragment shows a close up of Uldren’s eyes as he turns towards the viewer with a hateful expression. Black rivulets of corruption are flowing from his eyes like tears, and the sclera of his corrupted eyes are black and seeping into the iris. Another fragment shows several dead corsairs lying on a stone floor in pools of blood. Another fragment shows a close-up of Cayde-6’s face, staring up at the viewer defiantly. His face plates have been badly damaged. The final fragment shows a close up of Uldren’s hand holding the Ace of Spades hand cannon, with smoke coming out of the barrel. Crow (Present day): “Nothing made sense, all I could feel was… what he felt. The things he did…”

Panel 10: A wide shot of Crow lying in bed, bundled up in his blanket. The room is dark, and a window is open, with bright sunlight shining in through the curtains. Crow (Present day): “But eventually…”

Panel 11: A close up of Crow holding Glint with one hand. Glint’s eye is closed, and he is humming gently. Crow (Present day): “I was able to start picking up the pieces.” Panel 12: Closer shot of Crow lying in bed. He is clutching Glint against his chest with one hand, rubbing his shell gently. With his other hand, he is holding a golden ring on a chain. He is staring blankly at the ring with a sad, tired expression. Crow (Present day): “To put together who he had been before.” Panels 13, 14, 15, and 16: A sequence of fuzzy, incomplete memories. The first is a shot of Jolyon in his uniform, from his waist to his chin. Most of his face is not visible, but he seems to be scowling. He is partially obscured by a misty, dark blue background. The second memory is a shot of Uldren lying back in green grass on a sunny day, eating raspberries. He is looking to his right, at someone just offscreen. He is laughing lightly, and looks peaceful as he holds a raspberry up to his mouth. The third memory is a shot of Jolyon’s dark blue Supremacy rifle leaning against a wall, next to where his green cloak is hanging. The fourth memory is a partial shot of Uldren resting on his hands and knees above Jolyon, who is not visible. Uldren is shirtless, and a golden ring is hanging from a chain around his neck. Jolyon’s hand is reaching into frame, holding the ring in his palm where it hangs. Uldren is smiling down at him warmly. Crow (Present day): “You were… A puzzle that took me a long time to figure out. A face I couldn’t quite name, a feeling I couldn’t quite place.”

Panel 17, 18, and 19: Another sequence of memories, which are more clear than before. The first panel is a head-on shot of Uldren, staring up past the viewer with a confused, strained expression. The scleras of his eyes are black, and the corruption is starting to seep out of them. The second panel is a head-on view of Jolyon, staring down at Uldren with an intense, searching expression. The third panel is of Uldren, who is looking away to scratch at his right eye with the heel of his hand. His hands are cuffed together at the wrist, and he looks frustrated, and distracted. Crow (Present day): “When it finally came together, And I realized how terrible he had been to you… I was too ashamed.” Panel 20: In the present day, Crow is leaning forward, and staring distantly down at the ground, while Jolyon watches him talk. Crow: “To let himself fade away like that, to forget you, while you were standing right in front of him…”

Panel 21: Close up of Jolyon as he looks away, and stares sadly into the distance. His brow is furrowed and he looks conflicted and tired. Crow (offscreen): “I didn’t think I could face you, after that. I didn’t think you’d want me to.” Jolyon: “...”

Panel 22: front view of Crow and Jolyon sitting side by side. Crow is leaning forward heavily, looking down at the ground with a grim, slightly frustrated expression. Jolyon is turning slightly towards Crow, though he is not looking directly at him and is expression is sad and distant. Jolyon: “What changed your mind?”

Panel 23: Close up of Jolyon’s face. He looks slightly surprised and is looking directly at Crow, offscreen. Crow (offscreen): Petra.

Panel 24: Shot of Crow as he hunches away from Jolyon, rubbing his right arm self-consciously. He is glancing out of the corner of his eyes back at Jolyon with an uncertain, guilty expression. Crow: “Last week, hunting Riven’s eggs took us… Somewhere that reminded me of you.”

Panel 25:  Close up of Jolyon as he watches Crow out of the corner of his eyes. His brow is slightly furrowed, and he looks uncertain.

Crow (offscreen): “After we got back, I asked Petra how you had been, and…”

Panel 26: Close up of Crow. He is smiling lightly, staring down at the ground with a distant, soft expression and blushing faintly. Crow: “She talked some sense into me. Reminded me that I shouldn’t just assume you were better off never knowing me. That I at least owed you the chance to make that decision for yourself.”

Panel 27: front view of Crow and Jolyon sitting side by side. Crow is turning back towards Jolyon with a soft smile. Jolyon is also looking at Crow, smiling faintly. Crow: “I guess… some things haven’t really changed, right?” Jolyon: “Ha.”

Panel 28: Close up of Jolyon’s face from the side. He is staring straight ahead again, smiling faintly. Jolyon: “Right…”

Panel 29:  Jolyon looks slightly down, his smile has fallen and his brow has furrowed as his expression grows distant. Dark, scratchy marks are bleeding into the edge of the panel, fading out the edges. Jolyon: “...”

Panel 30: extreme close up of Jolyon’s eye, squeezed shut. Dark scratchy marks surround the panel, creating a chaotic background and bleeding into the panel. Voice offscreen: “Jolyon…”

Panel 31: A younger version of Jolyon turns towards the camera from the side, with a confused expression. His hair is pulled back into a bun, and he is wearing a light green sweatshirt. The background is faded purples and blues, and Jolyon is outlined in surreal surreal shades of pink and purple. The panel is outlined by dark scratch marks, spiky thorns, and black flowers outlined in vibrant shades of pink, purple, and green. The text bubbles appear to be glitching out, with scratchy fragments coming out of them. Voice offscreen: “Why’d you do it?” Jolyon: “What?”

Panel 32: Shot of Uldren sitting on a rock, from behind. He is leaning forward, resting his hands on his knees, and staring down at the ground. His hair is falling over his face, and his expression is not visible. The surreal lighting continues in this panel, and Uldren is outlined in pinks and purples with the panel being surrounded by dark scratch marks, spiky thorns, and black flowers outlined in bright colors. Uldren: “Why did you come with us, Jol?”

[florid-corvid]

I dislike mara sov a lot, and these are two interactions that weird me out greatly

we know mara’s pretty controlling, I mean, duh

this interaction with jolyon till after he follows Uldren into the black garden and returns just weirds me out

“Mara Sov slowly descended from her dais, looming over her childhood friend. Her subject. ‘You say you understand, yet you directly disobeyed my command to avoid that place.’

She bent forward at the waist, until her lips were nearly brushing his ear. Her voice dropped to a whisper. ‘Is this treason?’”

does anyone else reading this just get the most icky like ugh like feeling from mara??????? like why are you exerting your power so aggressively over your CHILDHOOD FRIEND, your brothers BEST FRIEND, HER MOST TRUUUUSTED CROW- treating him more like a lowly subject than a genuine friend you knew before you were even royalty!!!!

GIRL. WHAT

to me, it’s very obviously mara “trying to exert power/her position”. him kneeling to her isn’t enough, she has to go over and BEND DOWN and nearly whisper in this man’s ear. just. icky to me. it’s indicative of her hunger for control and power over the people close to her. AGAIN, this is someone she’s known for thousands of years

After the Heart, Part II

“‘I told you never to go there,’ Mara says. Her eyes burn. She draws her cloak tight. ‘Are you not devoted to me?’

‘Sister,’ he says, ‘of course I am.’

‘Yet you defy me.’

Yes, Uldren thinks. Yes, aren't those the same thing? How could you care at all for something that never surprises you?

He feels suddenly, utterly alone.”

This one, aswell, utterly weirds me out. Instead of “uldren, i told you not to, you betrayed my trust.” It’s “Are you not devoted to me?”

mara is just so utterly obsessed with everyone being so utterly devoted and obsessed with her. no wonder uldren literally went crazy after she died

I wrote this at 2:22 am I am sorry for any misspellings

[thefirstknife]

hey! so i didnt play much (read: at all 😔) this season and honestly ive been feeling myself growing distant from destiny overall so i find it hard to care about anything that happens in the game BUT. i care very much about crow and jolyon and have been seeing some resurgance of them? which might just be fan content but i still wanted to ask if there have been anything relating to them in the game recently? any tiny lines about crow even speaking with jolyon? is that a thing?

Yes! We had little mentions this season!

Biggest one is this radio message which is entirely about Crow telling Petra how much he's anxious over Jolyon and Petra trying to convince Crow to speak to him. The little details about how they were "so close" and "inseparable" are a huge win. We have no confirmation if they have talked before Crow left, but it's definitely something he's been thinking about so maybe it will get picked up again at some point.

And in the secondary lore book, Gifts and Bargains, which was earned through the exotic mission and is about Taranis, Riven's mate who made his nest in the Black Garden: page 2 where Taranis literally says that Jolyon was Uldren's "partner" and in page 3 where Taranis also calls Jolyon "Uldren's Rachis" and mentions how he overheard a secret they shared together. This is so cool because Jolyon's nickname was The Rachis, but Taranis specifically makes it so that he's Uldren's Rachis. And ofc the "partner" thing is more or less 100% confirmation for me since they use that word for other couples (most notably for Saint and Osiris).

Nothing incredibly big in the grand scheme of things, but for a fairly niche lore-only character, it's a lot. Jolyon girlies stay winning.

[creative-frequency]

DAY 12: Uldren Sov (Destiny) x Reader: 54. “Just stay away from me, okay?”

Jolyon Till almost crashed into you as you were about to turn the corner. Technically, it was as much your fault for not paying attention to your surroundings while focused on the data pad screen, but he bent his head in a hasty apology and hurried off.

“Tsk, what’s his deal…” you muttered and shot a sideways glance after the crow.

“What an uncharacteristic show of poor manners,” an infuriating and dreadfully familiar voice drawled after Jolyon.

You could hardly hold back rolling your eyes in futile search of patience and drew in a calming breath to prepare for the encounter. Your heart rate was speeding up rapidly and the last thing you needed was to show any hint of the annoying bodily reaction. Of course the prince was wherever his buddy Jolyon was. They were always inseparable like a couple of elementary school kids on a field trip.

You forced a neutral expression to your face, but it was extremely hard. The outcome probably made you look suitably constipated at Uldren’s presence.

“I wouldn’t know,” you replied coolly.

Uldren huffed and paced closer with all the time in the world. You bristled and hugged the data pad closer to your chest under his inspecting stare. It made your skin tingle.

“Undoubtedly. What are you doing here?” he asked, curious.

You shrugged as nonchalantly as you could, but couldn’t hold his gaze. “Going to finish writing this theory in the lab. What’s it to you?” You hated how your voice trembled just slightly and your pulse quickened with each step taken closer and with every word the prince said.

He shrugged as nonchalant as ever. “Nothing really. Just trying to make conversation.”

Uldren was so frustratingly casual that you would never understand how it was possible. It was unfair how you reacted to his presence.

“Well, I don’t do small talk as you should already know,” you jeered and took a step trying to move past the prince.

Uldren’s hand stretched out to stop you and you were forced to meet his glowing marigold eyes.

“But you do Awoken princes, as far as I know.”

His voice was suddenly so dangerous and soft that as soon as the words hit you, you were scared your legs would give out. You knew the hallway was empty, but you couldn’t help looking around like a cornered animal in search of an escape route and at the same time making sure no one was within hearing distance.

“We agreed–”you started to hiss, but Uldren pressed a quick finger to your lips.

“Couldn’t resist. Sorry,” he murmured with a wicked smile.

Your breathing stuttered in a very noticeable manner. The bastard was not even a bit sorry for almost causing you a heart attack.

“You’re a scoundrel,” you huffed, annoyed and once again avoiding his gaze.

Uldren chuckled. “Keep complimenting a man like that and it’s going to be even harder in the future.”

Frustration and rage splashed red into your vision and you yanked your arm free. You bit your lip and grumbled: “Just stay away from me, okay?”

“Sure. Until we meet again.” Uldren’s marigold eyes glinted as he bowed slightly, allowing you to hurry past him. You could feel him watching for as long as you turned another corner.

[night-dark-woods]

15, 21, 23, 24!!

THANK U ECHO this got so long oops.

15. that one thing you see in fanart all the time

hmmm not destiny-specific (i dont have any d2 specific gripes i dont think) & i mostly follow cool gay & trans ppl so this is much less of an issue than in the wider fandom (every so often some Main Fandom Art makes its way to me and i do a full double take) but like. i knowww they are almost all the same character model in-game but can we please get some characters who arent super skinny supermodels in here. please.

21. part of canon you think is overhyped

not to sound like an edgelord but. the traveler. if we can acknowledge that the Darkness isnt ontologically Evil, i think we can (PLEASE) acknowledge that the Light isnt inherently good. and im not talking about the superpowers we get, they've (narrative team) made it quite clear that individuals choose to do what they will with based on their own morals. but the traveler is, imo, positioned as a Morally Good Agent Of The Light far more than the witness is Of The Darkness, and i think we need to talk more about the traveler's agenda!!! again, this complexity isnt completely absent from the narrative, but it doesnt feel like those interpretations are... metatextually supported igss? like zavala's frustration with the traveler leaving feels more like a very christian (as someone who was not raised religious) test of faith that zavala (and the canonical YW) have Passed and will be Rewarded.

where's tevis my best friend tevis. we need more characters with that pov. god is real god resurrected you god gave you a second chance at life with no memories of your past and a guardian angel (a "chattering oversoul," to quote toland) to tell you where to go and who deserves to die and raise you every time you fail just to throw you back into the divine crusade. like. lets talk about that a little more!!!

23. ship you've unwillingly come around to

this is hard bc i am in general very willing to "yes-and" ANYTHING with a hint of chemistry or a fun dynamic. it may not compell me but if you can point out a narrative similarity btwn characters i will almost always be down. unless its one i hate ("hate" being a strong word. really its just the strongest possible apathy) bc i contain multiudes :thumbsup:.

i can't think of a pairing i started out disliking and then changed my mind about due to fandom unfortunately. the closest would be igss that i hate crow/amanda as its written in the text BUT my perhaps controversial opinion is i think transitioning could fix crow specifically the version of crow i have in my head who did not get uldren's memories back. SotL was so good for the overarching plot of d2 but so so so bad for the type of awoken-enjoyer i am & imo the like... thesis statement of what a guardian is lol!

so unfortunately i dont have an answer for this one (i dont think "i like the pretend version i made up in my head" counts as coming around on a ship lmfao), bc you can pair any two destiny women and ill be like yeah for sure! and i have curated my online space well enough that i rarely see any other kind of ship, and when i do its gay men (o14, uldren/jolyon, someone i follow is cooking something with saladin/drifter which is inspired. i love whatever is happening there) which is like cheering absently for a sports team idc about but support on principle.

24. topic that brings up the most rancid discourse

mara. its always fucking mara. literally spent an hour and a half last night rehashing d1 mara-course in a server with someone who has not read any lore. which is fine! thats a fine way to engage with the game! its a valuable perspective! but use i-statements and accept that you are coming to the table with 10% of the facts about the character.

honorable mention goes to anything about redemption arcs (and savathun specifically)- most recently that fuuucking saint killing sav repeatedly lore tab. and if you (general) cant be assed to care about evil women (skill issue, but whatever), thats also backsliding YEARS on saints characterization and i dont even care about saint!!!

so really the answer is misogyny lmfao.

[jadevalentine-writes]

Wip ask game for

5 Times Jolyon Till Was in Love and 1 Time He Wasn't (Destiny 2)

👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀

*screeches* ALRIGHT. so. I've been slowly rotating Jolyon and Crow and my head for the past few weeks due to the crumbs we've gotten this season, so I'm so excited to share this. It may even inspire me to get over the block in Wild Hunt. 👀

(I forgot I had a title for this one already and it's "Most Dangerous Things To Love". And for this one I'm just going to write verbatim when I have in my writing notebook.)

I. Jolyon remembered when he first told Uldren he loved him.

It was an accident as they tumbled into bed. It makes Uldren pause and fix Jolyon with a wide-eyed but sharp loop. Then he catches Jolyon's mouth fiercely and told him to repeat it, again and again, as they fuck.

When Jolyon wakes the next morning, he's filled with regret. He makes to sneak away but Uldren stirs and fixes him with the sweetest smile.

He says it back.

II. Jolyon still loves Uldren when they follow his sister blindly into a new world.

He leaves behind family and friends but at least he has Uldren.

Uldren: Are you sure you want?

Jolyon: Of course.

Uldren: But...we'll leave everyone behind.

Jolyon: *smiles* It won't matter if you're there.

They hold hands when the ships make the escape into hyperspace.

III. Jolyon loves Uldren even with his new titles of "Master of Crows" and "Prince of the Awoken".

Jolyon traces the scar across Uldren's throat from the aliens.

Jolyon: Tell me again.

Uldren: You'll be my main Crow. If Mara can make out with her Queensguard, why can't I?

It's the closest thing to blasphemy Uldren has ever uttered about Mara.

Jolyon loves it and his wild prince.

IV. After the Black Garden

Uldren started to change. A painful and slow description of how they fell apart and argued.

The last time Jolyon sees Uldren, when Petra and the Exo Guardian drag him into the Prison of Elders, he feels no love. Only a cold emptiness that barely eclipsed his sadness.

V. Jolyon loved him, even after he died.

He was too numb to even seek vengeance. All he could do was help Petra with a paltry imitation of a ceremony and visit his memorial every day.

And then one day, Uldren's body was gone.

I guess it's 4 times he was in love and 1 time he wasn't.

[hinge]

Hinge presents an anthology of love stories almost never told. Read more on https://no-ordinary-love.co

[youngster-monster]

64!!1!!

64. Hozier - First Time

Many people have called him 'Uldren' before. Mara, Petra, unknown Guardians in the Dreaming City -- when they didn't shoot him first, that is. Ever since he recovered Uldren's memories, strangers in his dreams have added their voice to the chorus: anguished screams, chittering adoration, tender murmurs.

And Crow hates it, every single time.

He's learned to ignore it, to take it as it is: people mistaking him for someone he looks like, for someone he used to be, for himself not so long ago (an insurmountably distant past). But it still stings; ever since recovering the memories of his first life, it has stung worse. 'Crow' no longer feels like his name: it has detached from him, ill-fitting, like a mask or a title, and Uldren slips through the gap like a splinter under a nail.

So when he meets Jolyon for the first time (finds him again for the hundredth--) and the other man calls him Uldren, he tilts his head in greeting and comments neither on the name nor the tight suspicion underlying it.

But then the other man (Uldren's dearest friend, his partner, the right hand to his left) pauses, his face relaxes, and he says:

"No, you're the Crow, aren't you?"

"Either is fine," Crow lies. "The difference is rather slight nowadays."

Jolyon snorts, unimpressed. "Show what you know, Guardian -- you look nothing alike."

And Crow is pretty sure (Uldren can tell, with absolute certainty) that Jolyon is doing him a kindness, and is not being entirely sincere--but he also knows Jolyon is not a man inclined to lie, and that he himself is inclined to believe him in all things.

Being called 'Uldren' happens to him less and less as time goes by, but it stops bothering him then and there.

If anyone would know his name, it would be this man. Crow trusts that he knows his stuff.

[thefangirlthatwaited]

Awoken (Chapter 2) - A Destiny 2 Origin Story.

Uldren Sov x Original Female Character

Aurora Till is an Awoken born in the distributary and one of the only few female Crow's. She chose to be a Crow to hide the powers nestled inside her. Powers that could destroy everything she holds near and dear. Little did she know the hatred she once held for the Queen's Brother - Uldren Sov, is slowly evolving into something dangerous. Love. Now, not only does she need to hide from Mara, she also needs to navigate these growing feelings while knowing one wrong step could send everything around her crashing down. She needs to choose between her heart and survival.

What else could she want? I picked up the pace, knowing that I was already late. Rounding the corner, I found somewhere waiting outside for me.

“You’re late.” Uldren scoffed. Of course, it was Uldren waiting for me. Jolyon and Uldren were as thick as thieves, but given the choice, I would throw Uldren off a cliff. He was an arrogant asshole whose whole life was being the Queen’s Brother.

“I will be on time if you will let me through,” I growled, pushing past him. 

“When the Queen demands an audience, she expects you to be here earlier.” 

I rolled my eyes before turning back to him. “I will keep that in mind, and when she asked me why I was late. I will tell her you held me up.” I glared at him through my helmet, and he glared back. 

“ULDREN,” We heard, and Uldren got on one knee right away, and I followed suit. “I hope you aren’t holding my Corsair back.” 

“Of course not, my Queen.” I stifled a snicker that I felt building in my chest.

“Aurora, you are just in time,” Mara said, standing before me and holding out her hand. 

“I am sorry for being late.” 

“You are here now; that is all that matters. Come.” I stood, not looking back at Uldren, and followed the Queen into her Throne room. Inside, there are a lot more people than I expected. I thought this was a meeting for just me. Now, I saw this as something more significant. Mara continued to walk to her throne at the tip of the table, and I saw some of my Corsair comrades, so I joined them. Uldren came in a few moments later and took his spot next to his sister.

“Now that we are all here. We can start. Uldren and his Crow’s have intercepted some Fallen transmission recently.” The Queen began, then nodded to her brother to continue. 

“The transmissions are currently broadcasting on all Fallen frequencies. My Crow’s and I are working on breaking the encryption. All we know is that the Fallen Houses were all talking to each other. That was a thing that had never happened before.” Uldren stated, and everyone nodded. 

“With this information, I’ve asked my Techeuns to look into what may be occurring,” Mara added, nodding to Sedia. 

“We have looked earthward—and saw the Fallen there becoming bolder. Tactics suggested they are planning a massive attack.” She explained. 

“What does this have to do with us?” One of the Paladins at the front asked. 

“The City could be an ally for us in the future,” Mara explained. 

“We don’t currently have a way to inform them of what we know. Therefore, we must help them from here.” 

“We have detected a large group of Fallen in the Reef. The House of Wolves. The numbers are in the thousands, if not millions.” Uldren said, bringing up a holographic map on the table. “They are currently making their way to Earth. If they get there, the City will fall.” 

“Then what can we do?” A Corsair beside me asked. 

“We can stop the House of Wolves from joining the fight on Earth.” Sjur Eido interjected. I didn’t even see the Queen’s Wrath arrive. But then again, she would never leave Mara’s side. “Seemingly oblivious to our existence, the bulk of the Wolf fleet stopped to regroup at Ceres. They do not know that it is Awoken territory.” 

“If we attack...” Abra Zire began to say. 

“If we attack the House of Wolves, we will reveal ourselves to any and all enemies.” I said, “Or we stay silent and let the City fall and lose an ally as the Queen said.” I could feel the stares on me. I wish I had kept quiet. 

Full Chapter on Ao3

[jillybean-seighdrasov]

We'll Take the Stars.

I can't remember if I have ever shared this, but this is the sequel to Stardust and the Crow. It is a work in progress. I spend more time on the other, but I do have a few chapters written already. I am warning you right now, there are some explicit parts.

Here is the start of the first chapter.

Seighdra sat at the window of the Yang Liwei watching Mara with her twin brother, Uldwyn.  Today Mara took her brother outside of the ship and the two were tethered but jumping off the forward shields.  It was dangerous, Seighdra did it once with her, but when her brother, Jolyon, found out he forbade her from doing it again, telling their mother which caused a big fight between her, her mother and brother.  Her brother Jolyon was two years older than her.  He was 19 years old, same as Mara and Uldwyn. 

Seighdra had been friends with Mara then Jolyon met Uldwyn, and those two became inseparable.  After a while Seighdra took a liking to Uldwyn, but she didn’t think he really noticed her.  When Jolyon found out that Seighdra fancied Uldwyn he became upset.  He told her he was too old for her, but in space age had no limits and it didn’t stop Seighdra from trying to get Uldwyn’s attention.  Things seemed bleak at first, but one-night Seighdra took a chance.

The crew was having a party in the multi-common room for a crew member’s birthday.  Seighdra got her hands on a bottle of champagne when Jolyon wasn’t looking and chugged it down.  Uldwyn noticed her and when their eyes met, he smiled.  She wasn’t sure if it was her or the booze, she drank that made him smile, but she flashed a shy smile and turned and quickly left the room.  She needed to get away.

Uldwyn smiled as he watched Seighdra chug the champagne down.  He didn’t mean to stare, but she caught his gaze and smiled back at him.  Uldwyn had always been interested in Seighdra, but she was Jolyon’s little sister and knew how protective Jolyon was of her.  Uldwyn tried to put her out of his mind by dating other girls, but she was always on his mind, and it messed up a few relationships of his.  When he watched Seighdra leave he got the nerve to follow her.  He quickly left the room and followed her to the Arboretum.  He proceeded to go in after her. 

you can find it here.

[godhatesrobyn]

I love the idea of crowlyon sm but I like to imagine the reason we’ll likely never see Jolyon in game or in any more lore tabs is because Crow is too damn embarrassed to even speak to him. Let alone speak of him.

Imagine being Crow and not only do you get thousands of years worth of memories zapped into your tiny brain at once by Savathûn - with majority of them being abt Uldren’s insanity arc - but you also simultaneously find out you’re bisexual and had a not-so platonic relationship with your bestie who had to witness your said insanity arc. Which you didn’t even recognise him during and died without speaking to him again. And now you have random feelings for a man you’ve never actually met yourself

HOW WOULD YOU EVEN GO ABOUT TALKING TO EACH OTHER ??? LIKE YEAH SURE HE WANTS TO RIGHT ULDREN’S WRONGS BUT ??? 😃

[screebyy]

Part 4

Prev | Next | Start

I really thought there were only going to be 2 more parts but the """finale""" is rapidly spiraling out of control so I think there will actually be 4 more parts (at which point I will probably switch to primarily written fics bc I am Sick In The Head and this AU I have established has given me a powerful outlet for that sickness)

ID below cut

Panel 1: Wide, side view of Crow and Jolyon walking up a set of white stairs on a mountainside. Jolyon is in front of Crow, and glancing back at Crow over his shoulder. Crow is looking up at him, a couple of steps behind. In the background, many mountains in the dreaming city are visible poking up out of the mist. It is dusk, with just a bit of a pink glow from the sunset illuminating the scene. Jolyon: “I’m sorry about the other day. This is… difficult, for me. I guess you understand why.”

Panel 2: Mid-shot from in front of Jolyon and Crow. Jolyon is looking back at Crow over his shoulder with a neutral expression. Crow is looking up at him attentively. Jolyon: “To tell you the truth… I had kind of decided to hate you.”

Panel 3: Jolyon turns ahead and continues walking, looking down with a passive expression. Crow glances down and away from Jolyon, looking unsure. Jolyon: “That would simplify things, at least.” Crow: “...”

Panel 4: Side view of Crow and Jolyon. Crow stops walking suddenly, looking down while Jolyon carries on ahead. Crow: “Listen…”

Panel 5: Shot from behind Jolyon. Jolyon stops, half-turning back towards Crow. He looks mildly confused. Crow (offscreen): You don’t have to do this, you know.

Panel 6: Front view of Crow. His head is tilted down and he is looking up at Jolyon with a serious, guarded expression. Crow: “I remember how it felt, watching the traveler resurrect our friends as Lightbearers. For it to be him, after everything… I’d understand if you never wanted to see my face again.”

Panel 7: Close up of Crow’s eyes as he glances away with a sad, distant expression. Crow: “If you’d rather hate me… that’s fine. Really- I’m used to it.”

Panel 8: Close up of Jolyon, staring back at Crow over his shoulder with a neutral expression. Jolyon: “... I don’t hate you.”

Panel 9: Jolyon turns his face back towards the front, away from the viewer. His expression looks distant and sad. Jolyon: “I don’t have it in me.”

Panel 10: Mid-shot from in front of Jolyon and Crow. Jolyon is turning ahead, continuing to walk up the stairs as he glances back at Crow with a grin. Crow’s expression looks guarded and uncertain. Jolyon: “And if I didn’t want to do this, I wouldn’t have asked.”

Panel 11: Close up of Jolyon’s face in profile. He is looking ahead with a distant expression. Jolyon: “You’re here now. There’s no point in pretending otherwise.”

Panel 12: Close up of Crow as he listens to Jolyon. He looks guarded and uncertain. Jolyon (offscreen): “I want to know you. Or at least, try to.”

Panel 13: Crow’s expression softens, and he smiles softly as he lifts his head. Jolyon (offscreen): It’s just… A little weird.” Crow: “... Yeah.”

Panel 14: Wide, rear view of Crow and Jolyon as they continue up the staircase, now walking side-by-side. Crow: “If it helps, it’s all been pretty weird for me too.” Jolyon: “I can imagine.”

[jolyontill-therachis]

Cosmic horrors writhe

At the idea of him and I.

Stardust burns in our veins

And we're more than mortals.

Love is more than trust...

Love is safe and kind.

And when I look into his eyes,

It's love that I find.

Together, where the tall crow rests with his head on the lap of his lover, they're safe.

The smaller's fingers knotted in silken hair strands without a worry.

The stars watch and keep them safe and neither wish to speak.

Uldren's hands, in his hair, and his head light on the fabric of the other's suit pants.

The illusion is strong, here.

They're just men.

Simple men.

Men who love each other.

The illusion is bound to fade and soon they'll once again have to hide this affection from onlookers, they only wanted to just be...

Together, they recounted the way soft lips met so tenderly unto scarred and cracked ones, beneath the misted haze of green.

The way the red petals had caressed the crow's back as the prince laid atop him.

Looking down.

Ignoring the biomechanical horrors of robotic bugs with hollow shells and branched wires with metallic teeth, they had been so free, even surrounded by such nightmarish horrors.

There had been nothing but gentle kindness in those golden eyes.

Uldren was starting to forget, and these simple desperate grabs at better times out the way of prying eyes were all Jolyon had left to remind him and it was all he could bring himself to do.

The words never once left his lips, no, never directly to the object of his affections and to those aside he'd never dare frame it anything more than friendship.

I regretted that, now

As the last of the petals

Fell to the ground with the gentle gust

Displacing them from the stems

Of wildflowers planted here.

Evil things, they were,

That I'd let my lover bring home.

[demiclar]

Wrath

Wrath - AO3

Petra and Jolyon discuss some news about Crow.

Petra Venj presses her eye to her sniper scope, looking out over the expanse of Rheasilvia below her, rather than at the man lying at her side. 

“I hear Crow’s made peace with his past life.” She says, trying to keep her voice neutral. It’s hard to be nonchalant about Crow, it’s hard to detach him from the throng of heavy memories attached to his face. “Apparently he wants to fix things.”

Beside her, she hears the shift in the sand and the rustle of clothing as Jolyon Till the Rachis shifts, rolling onto his side. She sneaks a glance to find him arching a brow at her.

“Really?” He asks, and Petra turns her gaze back to her scope, lining up her gun with the head of a scorn Chieftain. She squeezes the trigger. The Supremacy kicks hard into her shoulder and the Chieftain falls.

“So says the Guardian.” She explains, looking for another target. “Emperor Calus is back with his Leviathan, orbiting Luna. Apparently he’s trying to connect with the Pyramid there. His ship is infested with Nightmares. The Guardians are working on eliminating them to weaken the connection to the Pyramid. Crow dealt with his recently. A manifestation of his doubts and fears, in the form of Uldren.”

Jolyon’s rifle booms just after Petra finishes speaking, and she lifts her eye from her scope briefly to see the blur of a faraway Taken Knight vanishing.

“So, what? Some figment of Uldren told him he was a terrible person and now he’s found his purpose?”

She can’t place the emotion in his tone. Anger or bitterness, she can’t tell. 

“I don’t know.” She answers, and they lapse into silence again. 

Petra spots a group of scorn moving too close to a group of hidden Corsairs and picks them off with her rifle. When the group has been dealt with, she lifts her head from her rifle with a quiet sigh. 

“If he wants to fix things, I imagine he’ll make his way here eventually.” 

Jolyon sighs quietly before he takes another shot, and Petra isn’t sure if the breath was for his shot or in reaction to her words.

“Straight back to Mara, like always.” He murmurs, then shifts onto his side again to look at Petra. “She still trying to get him back into her pocket?”

“I don’t think so.” She says, taking an admittedly bold step for the Queen’s Wrath. “She’s still Mara, but when we were working with him earlier, before the exorcism, it seemed like she thought a lot about their relationship before. She knows she can’t treat him like Uldren. I think she wants to correct some of her own mistakes, too.”

Jolyon eyes her for a moment, then shifts back to his rifle. “That’d be a first.” He says, so quiet Petra almost can’t hear it. He speaks up before Petra can retort.

“Why are you telling me this, anyways?” He asks, abruptly looking up from his rifle. “Weren’t my orders to stay away?”

The bitterness is clear in his tone this time, and Petra looks away, taking in the view below them. The sniper perch provides an unparalleled view of Rheasilvia, beautiful in addition to its usefulness. She looks out over the Dreaming City, counting her Corsairs scattered across the landscape.

“Savathûn gave him his memories back.” She says after a long few moments, after Jolyon’s taken up his rifle again and set to peering through the scope. She wonders if he ever misses Uldren when he’s up here. He’s never needed a spotter, but Uldren would keep him company, banter with him, plan their next daring adventure.

“He might want to see you.” She tells him.

“What would you have me do?” The question is gruff and tired. She wonders if she should let it lie. Working with the Guardian to kill Uldren was difficult enough, but at least it gave her a sense of closure, a clear finish line for Uldren’s life. Jolyon didn’t get that, for him, Uldren’s death was that of decay, slow and painful.

“If he sought you out, maybe there would be nothing you could do.” She suggests, even if it feels like going behind her Queen’s back. If Mara is allowed to reconnect with Crow, to reconcile with everything that Uldren was, Jolyon should get that same opportunity. “You followed your orders. With all his work for Spider, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a pretty good tracker.”

Jolyon groans, lifting his head to cast a grimace at Petra. “His work for Spider?” He repeats, and Petra purses her lips. Jolyon doesn’t keep secrets, and he follows the Queen’s orders better than Uldren ever did. Petra had delivered the order for him to stay away, and he’d done so. If he’d gone looking into Crow, she’d have known about it.

“Spider is the one who named him Crow.” She tells him, “I told you about the abuse he suffered after he was first rezzed.” Jolyon nods. “A lot of it was at Spider’s hands. The Guardian was the one who rescued him.”

“Same Guardian who…” He trails off, but he doesn’t need to finish.

“The same one.” Petra confirms. “The Queen has already dealt with Spider, he’ll receive justice for what he did.”

Jolyon frowns, but turns back to his rifle. “Knowing Spider, justice won’t undo any of the damage.”

“It won’t.” Petra confirms, “but he has a home now, with them. They care about him.” When Jolyon looks over at her, she amends her words. “Maybe not all of them, but enough. The Guardian has forgiven him. Their Vanguard Leaders look after him. He’s in good hands.”

Jolyon sighs quietly, sitting up, though he turns to still face Rheasilvia below. 

“That’s good to hear.” He says, then looks at Petra, giving her a small nod. “Thank you. I’m glad he’s found some peace.”

Petra inclines her head in return. “You’re welcome.” She tells him, and they stare out at the city together. She doesn’t know exactly the distinction between a Guardian and their past life. Whether Uldren’s soul lives on in Crow, or if Crow is someone completely new, built out of what Uldren was but separate from him. She supposes it doesn’t matter, but she hopes if Crow can find some measure of peace within himself, Uldren can rest a little easier, wherever he is.

[memoriesofcrows]

If you wanna,,,tell me about your ot3; what's the story here, I'm looking respectfully 👁👁 (Hunting-destiny)

ace i need u to know this ask filled me with both so much joy and so many words that I whipped out my whole-ass writing app to answer it

So.

Let me tell you about Them. Uldren (and Crow) and Benji and Jolyon.

Listen first of all I'm an absolute fucking sucker for a reincarnation story. I'm a simp for threads carried through lifetimes, for lost and found memories of a person you are-but-aren't and a life you did-but-didn't live. I love the blurred lines between past and present so fucking much. I want Bungie to deep dive the fuck out of Crow's brain, but I won't hold my breath—which means I'll just have to write about it instead.

Second of all, my heart holds so much love for crow/guardian, and crow/Jolyon, and uldren/Jolyon, that at some point a couple synapses got together and said, hey. Maybe you can have it all.

ANYWAYS.

Like other Awoken-having Uldren simps, I am enamored with the idea of The Guardian having been his lover before they died. Or, in Benji's case, Uldren and Jolyon's lover, at the same time. They were an absolute power throuple: the Master of Crows and his two most beloved birds. They were bound together before the Awoken were Awoken, and damnit if they aren't tangled up in that pesky web of fate even still.

They were born together, not in the way siblings sprout from the same womb, but in the way seeds grow together in a bed.

They were together more than they were apart... Until Benji died. I don't know quite exactly how he died yet, but I know that the grief both felt was why Uldren became more reckless, why he went bounding into the Black Garden, why Jolyon couldn't bring himself to stop him. They really, truly believed that the three of them would be together for whatever forever meant, and then one of them died, and the hearts that remained started to break apart.

And while the Garden certainly broke Uldren's mind open and made him more vulnerable to certain influences, it was seeing Benji ressurected as a lightbearer that really shattered the last vestiges of who he had been. It didn't help that the way he found out was watching Benji (newly Risen, barely in control of his light, and utterly reckless) brutally kill himself by mistake, and then come back. It felt like torture; like a cruel joke played by an awful, uncaring God who stole the corpse of his beloved and was dancing it around like a grotesque puppet. Benji is why Uldren hated Guardians. Maybe its for the best that, by the time Benji killed him in Forsaken, he couldn't recognize him anymore (as far as anyone knows).

And all poor Jolyon could do was watch, first as Benji died, then as Uldren fell deeper into grief, and then madness. Jolyon is all that's left of what once was—but I think, eventually, he will find his way into what's being built again in the present. By now, he knows that Benji and Crow are Risen, and that they've found each other. Whether or not Benji and Crow know about him... That's more complicated. We'll see what happens. But like I said, I'm a big believer in fate and love and the inevitably of things torn apart colliding again, so I think, in time, they will find their way back to happiness together, all three of them.

(As an aside, I subscribe to long-hair Jolyon headcanons, and I like both black hair Jolyon and white hair Jolyon a lot, so... I've decided his hair was black, but over the years since his flock crumbled apart, its gone shock white from grief and stress and his Garden nightmares.)

[bittersweetbiscotti]

Fic

What Happens in the Black Garden Stays in the Black Garden

Fandom: Destiny 

Rating: E for extremely explicit

Ship: Uldren Sov / Jolyon Till the Rachis

Tags: Explicit Sexual Content, Explicit Language, Explicit Everything, 

Word Count: 12k+ (I’m not kidding)

Summary: Jolyon Till the Rachis will follow his Prince anywhere, and that's not hyperbole, by the by. Otherwise, he most definitely would not be here in the Black Garden, a place beyond time and space, a place where the Vex come to pray, a place where everything grows. But Uldren wanted to be here, and Jolyon's place is by his side, always.

When Uldren suddenly vanishes like a toddler in a crowded mall, Jolyon ends up finding him in an underground cavern where all seems a little too normal. The water is warm and welcoming, perfect for a bath at Uldren's suggestion.

And Jolyon discovers the, erm, hard way that, yes, everything does indeed grow here.

Leave it to His Grace Uldren Sov, Prince of the Awoken, Master of Crows, Heir to the Reef, and a Royal Pain in Jolyon’s Ass to treat this venture into the Black Garden like an afternoon picnic.

The Black Garden, a strange dimension, either created or simply discovered by the Vex. It is here in this place that exists in its own pocket void beyond space and time where they stand. Uldren and his loyal companion, who honestly needs to start questioning his life decisions more critically, have just destroyed a ginormous, indestructible Gate Lord to do it. Or rather, they made the Cabal destroy a ginormous, indestructible Gate Lord, but whatever. Point is, the pair are in here now, the first humans to explore the Black Garden... as far as anyone knows. The Vex like this place a lot, and whatever the Vex develop an affinity to is bad news for the rest of the known universe. It's not exactly a place you can just romp around willy-nilly among the pretty flowers and colorful butterflies.

It's not that kind of garden.

It's a horrifying place. The breathtaking awe when you gaze upon the towering cliffs, the pearlescent waterfalls that fall from the shocking heights of skyscrapers, the endless fields of flowers that stretch into eternity, the emerald mist that covers everything like a nebula where dead stars are born again... this very same awe also strikes with a blade of sheer icy terror into your soul. The air is rich with all that you need, no helmets required, and it is the air that whispers all the secrets of the universe you won't be able to hear no matter how hard you strain in concentration. If there is a God who has created all things in existence in His image, then this place is definitely His backyard and these two Awoken have just broken through the picket fence.

They are not supposed to be here.

Jolyon knew this was a bad idea the moment Uldren first brought it up what feels like ages ago. They were at the range, of course, where Jolyon is too busy concentrating on maintaining his perfect marksmanship record to really think about what the Prince is asking of him. It's such a dirty trick, and Jolyon falls for it every time.

This is still a bad idea, though, and Jolyon is as certain of it now as he is certain of his own name. Everything here is simply pure potential that has managed to hold itself together, like a dream. Does Uldren sit back and think about what the presence of mere mortals can do to a place of literal creation where one's very thoughts seed the ground and sprout into existence? Oh, he does, it's just that he thinks the consequences of his actions are exciting experiences and not important lessons that he probably shouldn't be so flippant about.

Speaking of Uldren, there he goes, racing through the rain and mud beneath the Garden's surface like a child in a candy store. His elegant royal garments are splattered with organic grime, and his boots slosh muck in all directions. Jolyon is stunned how anyone can run in this mess. Whenever he tries to lift his foot, it's like the mud tries to suck him back down into its goopy embrace. They aren't up above, where the flowers actually grow and maybe there are some butterflies or something, you know, the entire purpose of enjoying a garden in the first place. Uldren complains that its too Vex up there, too orderly, too unnatural.

So they are down here in the chasms between the manicured beds of flowers, the irrigation canals, where all is wild chaos and neverending rain to get the authentic experience.

Seriously, why are they even here?

Read More at AO3