#artifacts we have. for safety purposes.“

[lurkinginnernarrator]

au where SQQ does undergo the 'qi-deviation' and is 'changed' but in reality the twin of Shen Jiu, Shen Yuan made a comment one day about how all Shen Jiu did was bitch about his martial siblings. Never one to turn down a golden opportunity,

Shen Jiu: bet

And so the twins decided to switch lives!

The qi-deviation is just so they can explain away any differences of temperament and so sj can hightail away easier.

Shen Yuan: this is going to be so easy

(spoiler. it wasn't)

Between useless sect meetings that could've been not even an email but a text message, reading fifteen different preteens attempts to sneak in dick jokes into their poetry assignments, the head cook alerting him to the fact that they've somehow run out of rice??? They're the greatest cultivation sect??? How does that happen???

Anyway, two of his Hall masters eloping together and taking an extended honeymoon (he's happy for them, but. Who's going to teach those classes now??? Him. Apparently.), sect politics and his 'martial siblings' barely even attempting a farce of civility or courtesy AND his guqin strings needing to be replaced and restrung ?

Shen Yuan is sorry 🙏🙏please come back🙏🙏🙏

Cue the allotted period of switching ending and Shen Yuan dramatically throwing the fan on the ground as Shen Jiu rolls up and goes "thanks for the vacation didi"

[another-lost-mc]

SHATTERED MIRRORS

PAIRING: Solomon x gn!Reader

SUMMARY: Trapped in the Devildom's murky past, Solomon is there to remind you that even if all else seems lost, you still have each other.

CONTENT/WARNINGS: Nightbringer angst. Vague worldbuilding that hints at a darker version of the Devildom. Bittersweet with a hopeful ending. 1k words.

A/N: There's so much in Nightbringer I wish we got to see, both in the past and future timelines, and this is my small contribution to exploring that untapped potential.

Sometimes it’s the little things Solomon does for you that makes you feel loved. No one wants to be ripped from their life and thrown into the past by some mysterious entity for mysterious purposes. The demon disguise you wear, weightless thanks to the complex spells Solomon casts on you before you leave the safety of Cocytus Hall every morning, still sits heavy on your shoulders like a burden. His magic envelopes you and fills you with warmth, a reminder that he’s always there to protect you even when he can’t be.

Because you can’t be yourself when you’re in this strange version of the Devildom, with its cobblestone streets not yet paved, or the line of unfamiliar shops and market stalls that sell food that’s much too spicy (or dangerous) for you to consume. You rush past countless shops and apothecaries, ignoring the tendrils of fear that shoot down your spine when you realize they still sell rare artifacts and reagents collected from celestial beings and human specimens that will be outlawed by royal decree long before the exchange program begins.

You can’t be yourself in this version of the Devildom, not with Diavolo and his faithful butler that are so familiar yet so foreign, younger than when you first met them. Their eyes are sharp and wary as tensions within the realm fluctuate thanks to its newest residents. There’s something guarded yet knowing in their expressions when they see you, and you have to remind yourself that despite the social and political drama surrounding Diavolo’s controversial plans, he is determined to succeed. It’s only now that you realize the lengths he’s willing to go to, and that relentless ambition is laced with the menacing power his title holds. Like every obstacle he’s faced, he weathers this storm with dignity. It’s almost instinct to want to offer your support for him, heartfelt reassurances that he can do this and you are proud of him. Every time you see him now, those thoughts wither like dying flowers on the vine because the Devildom’s prince has never felt more dangerous to you than he does now. You have to suppress the uneasy shudder that threatens to ripple through you each time his cheeks dimple with a lopsided, insincere smile that shows the tip of his fangs.

You can’t be yourself in this version of the Devildom, not in the House of Lamentation that is simultaneously familiar and unrecognizable at the same time. The rooms and hallways are easy to navigate, but you can’t help but notice the walls are covered in different photographs and paintings than the ones you’re used to seeing. The décor is fashionable but strange, reflecting trends of the current time, but it doesn’t feel like the home you’re used to. The brothers haven’t been here long enough so it lacks that lived-in charm: rooms remain intact, not yet destroyed then rebuilt, and familiar scuff marks on the floors and walls have yet to develop. The house still has that lingering musty smell like it was neglected and empty until recently. The bedroom you used to call your own feels foreign, neglected and cold because they’re unused to hosting guests (and you get the feeling guests are very much unwanted). It nearly breaks your heart when you instinctively walk in that direction and one of the demon brothers chides you with undisguised annoyance that there’s nothing over there, the room that needs cleanin’ is this way.

You can’t be yourself around the demon brothers either, not with their strange and unpredictable behaviour that leaves your patience frayed and fight-or-flight response on edge. Not long after you arrive at the House of Lamentation, you can hear Lucifer scolding Mammon from halfway across the house in an unfamiliar language that sounds too beautiful to be native to the Devildom. Even in his anger and frustration and despair, you realize Lucifer’s voice still carries the lyrical cadence of Celestial language, the place he and his brothers used to call home. It’s a harsh contrast to the dark wings and anger burning in Lucifer’s gaze when you see him in his demonic form. Their celestial garb and heavenly features are only memories of a not so distant past, and like Lucifer, his brothers are forced to wear the physical manifestation of their failure – the death of their sister, their shameful fall from grace. Part of you sympathizes with them even more now that you can see the raw aftermath of their demise, but part of you fears them too, the fractured versions of themselves held together with the growing power of their respective sins.

Every morning you wake up, homesick but determined to make the best of things, and Solomon helps you don your disguise and pushes a cup of tea into your hands. Every evening, you trudge back to Cocytus Hall, weary from spending all day pretending to be the attendant of seven unruly demons that look like the demon brothers you know but feel like poor substitutes at best. Solomon is usually waiting in your dorm, greeting you with a kiss while offering a hug and if needed, a shoulder to cry on. You make food together (while you handle most of the cooking and he helps set the table and wash the dishes). Later, you read together on the sofa or talk about the latest gossip or Devildom news, and Solomon updates you on his progress – or lack thereof – of finding a way home. Despite the hopelessness of it all, it feels bearable because Solomon is there to share those burdens and fill your heavy heart with hope. You can rest easy at night, laid down in your shared bed with Solomon’s arm draped over your waist, his gentle snores coaxing you to sleep after him, and no matter how bleak things seem, it feels like a promise that one day, everything will be alright again.

Read More: Obey Me Masterlist

[star-light-artist]

Andor Season 2 Episode 10 thoughts!

AHHHH, we're already leading into Rogue One stuff!! I love how the Death Star & Cassian's grand purpose, led by the Force, has been haunting the narrative this whole season.

Why couldn't he take Lonnie and his family to Yavin? 😭 Oh, wow, Luthen is literally burning his ties to Coruscant. I'm sad to see such a cool radio destroyed. It had so many cool buttons and switches! 😭

The top rebel & the top ISB main characters FINALLY meeting?! She had what Andor sold to Luthen at the beginning. What she has been working for since the beginning has finally happened and what he has been avoiding for even longer has finally happened. It ties in perfectly full circle to the beginning. I love so much that they only lived a couple blocks from each other!! 🤣 Dedra's not wrong about Luthen - he does create chaos & death for many innocent people. He looks at only the big picture. And not at people at all. Except for Kleya.

I love how vintage & 1970s-ish the security cameras look & feel right out of the original trilogy. Is Kleya sneaking in to rescue or assassinate Luthen?? Has Dedra been getting more reckless and breaking the rules since Syril died?

LUTHEN ADOPTES KLEYA?! OH, MAN, ALIVE!! He's always so ruthless except with her safety!! Now we know why!! The flashback shows Luthen's 1st time selling ancient artifacts! Little Kleya has not changed at all! 🤣 Are Luthen & Kleya both fake names? Did he desert from the Seperatist, Republic, or Imperial Army? Did Kleya want to be his daughter all the time and not just when it's useful, I wonder? Luthen needs to take better care of his kid!! Why does his parenting feel like a Sith?! 😭 Training a child to fight for him and to fuel her hate! I still love him, though. With every new flashback, we see Luthen slowly become more & more who he is & what he looks like in the present. Luthen did NOT get the memo that not every job has a take your kid to work day. He really feels like the rebellion's version of Palpatine. Teaching a young child to be his loyal attack dog and exposing her to the evils of the galaxy.

Well, I have my answer on of Kleya was there to save or kill him. 🥲 She became exactly who he trained her to be. The parallels were incredible. Really poetic & a perfectly in character end for Luthen. He knew already that he wouldn't be able to see the sunrise he was making.

[chiisana-sukima]

Oh when you used to sing it to sleep

@jinkieswouldyoulookatthis and @blue-chimera - thank you both for your kind and thoughtful replies to my reblog of this post. The og post is getting quite long and also I don't want to put too much writing effort into a reblog that's susceptible to disappearance, so I'm continuing here instead.

I agree with you both that Dean's parentification and Sam's continued acceptance of vs rebellion against it as an adult are an important part of their dynamic. Dean's dying words in the finale attest to this beautifully (as well as many other things throughout the course of the show); I love you so much, my baby brother. To a certain extent Sam is Dean's baby and always will be.

I think though to a large extent, the framing by both Sam and Dean of Dean as Sam's parentified elder sibling is a mutually employed, mostly cooperative sanitization of the central and most damaging aspect of the roles they internalized through their upbringing: Sam is a monster and Dean is the tool to "take care of" it (double reading of "take care of" 100% intentional on my part). Because of this, while readings of spn through the lens of Dean's parentification are definitely valid, I do think they sometimes risk distorting or leaving out important aspects of the characters' personalities, motivations, and relationship.

Jinkies, in my fruitless quest to process without reblogging a take I knew the OP wouldn't appreciate, I had listened to the interview before posting, and I think while Jensen is being flip, he's also getting at what he sees as a truth in the brothers' relationship. I think he's right from a Doylist/co-creator/actor's perspective--Sam is the protagonist who we see through Dean, the deuteragonist's, eyes. Dean, as a piece of the narrative artifact, Supernatural, is there to save Sammy in a way that Sam (up to that point anyway) is not a piece of the narrative artifact whose purpose is to save Dean. From a Watsonian/in-universe perspective though, I think he's mistaken, and that his mistake is the reason his take sounds uncharitable, even aside from the flippant part.

It's just not a very convincing analysis imo to frame a character who spends the first few seasons rejecting immoral power, the next few in an arc that ends with him willingly subjected himself to eternal torture for the good of the world, and the one after that intending to sacrifice himself dramatically to rid the world of one particular species of monster but doesn't because Dean asks him not to, as self-absorbed or not particularly concerned with his effect on others, including on his brother. Likewise, Dean holds up well as a parentified older sibling with no sense of internal self and abysmal self-esteem in some ways, but in others not so much. He does have interests and priorities and a sense of purpose outside Sam. They're all over spn every day, much more so in fact than Sam's are. They're just not enough to override his Sam prioritization.

The main place I think this analysis fails on Dean's side though is that he, as an adult, is just not a very good parent. Obviously as a child he couldn't be expected to be a good parent (or a parent at all) and as an adult he's already damaged and so it's understandable that if big brother-ing Sam is how he chooses to spend the rest of his life, he may still not be equipped to do it. But he fails on such a fundamental, obvious level at the the most basic aspects of parenting--providing safety, unconditional love, and preparing your child to go out into the world as an independent adult--in ways that once he's a grown up are absolutely within his power to at least attempt (for example: if he wants Sam to be safer, it would ultimately have failed because of Fate, but the logical thing to do first would be not hunt. Dean could've followed Sam to Palo Alto. He could've told him to go to Harvard Law if he can't tolerate Stanford after Jess dies. Could've refused to support him throwing his life away of a mission of revenge. Bought him his own car, encouraged him to have his own tastes. Told him convincingly that trusting Ruby was a bad decision but Lucifer is still not his fault).

None of that is meant to be insulting to Dean though, because I don't think that parenting Sam is Dean's real job--even from Dean's perspective--and I don't think his real job is palatable enough that it would be better for either of them if he admitted what it is head on. What his and Sam's real jobs both are imo is being a container for Sam. On Dean's side, this means holding Sam in his arms with love or if that's not enough, holding him in the panic room, which, from this perspective, is also an act of love. Substituting his judgement for Sam's is an act of love. Not encouraging Sam to hold his own interests first or to grow towards independence are acts of love. Given the nature of (what I believe to be) Dean's actual job, they are effective and competent acts of love undertaken under impossible circumstances, even if the results are sometimes pretty horrific. Because they're still better than the alternative.

Likewise on Sam's side, doing his job well means being a model monster--go to an Ivy, exercise, eat healthy, cultivate empathy, don't have desires of your own, hold yourself to an impossible standard, suppress your anger, kill other monsters when they get out of line. And in the moments he can't manage all that--because who can?-- submit to Dean. When he does those things, he's succeeding at his job, and while it would be nice if "let your brother hit you" or "jump in the Cage with Lucifer" wasn't his job, in the world of spn, it is. He is right to be contained by Dean and wrong to have opinions or priorities of his own unless Dean approves them first.

I do think this sometimes ends up looking like Sam has better self-regard, because Dean's job is to "take care of" Sam, and Sam's job is also to "take care of" Sam. But actually they both have absolutely abysmal shit self-esteem. "I should submit to eternal torture because it's my fault someone else is going to do terrible things he could choose not to do if he wanted" is not the thinking of a person with healthy self-regard. The reason neither of them could fill a thimble with their self-esteem or healthy boundaries imo is because neither "monster" nor "blunt instrument" is a person. Neither of these roles is better or more healthy than the other. Fundamentally, if you don't see yourself first and foremost as a human person, then your life is going to suck horribly. And neither of them see themselves that way.

[thequeenofneverland1]

The Hope Of The Mikaelsons Family Part Seven

Summary: as the Hollow poses a grave threat to the Mikaelson family, Hayley and Klaus must brave the depths of darkness to protect their daughter, Y/n. With the aid of allies like Vincent, the family navigates a treacherous path to shield Y/n from the Hollow's clutches. As secrets unravel and alliances are tested, the Mikaelsons are forced to confront their inner demons and stand together against an ancient evil that seeks to tear their family apart.

Warnings: Violence, Dark themes, Emotional distress, Family separation, Suspense, Parental protection and angst

Hayley immediately stepped forward, concern etched on her face. "What's happening?"

Klaus's jaw tightened. "Marcel has discovered something more about the Hollow. It may go after Y/n."

Elijah straightened, his expression hardening. "Then we waste no time. Elizabeth will have to wait."

Rebekah nodded, her eyes cold. "We'll deal with her later. Family first."

With a final glance at the subdued Elizabeth, they all hurried out, moving with the urgency of those who knew time was not on their side. The streets of New Orleans blurred as they raced back to their home, their minds filled with worry for you.

As they burst through the door, they found Marcel pacing, his face a mask of anxiety. "It's worse than we thought. The Hollow has been gathering strength, and its sights are set on Y/n. We need to protect her.”

Klaus nodded, his determination fierce. "We'll do whatever it takes."

Marcel glanced around the room. "I have a plan, but it's risky. We might need some ancient magic to stand a chance."

Hayley stepped forward, her voice steady. "Tell us what we need to do."

Marcel took a deep breath. "There's a powerful spell, but it requires a rare artifact, the Talisman of Namtar. We need to find it and use it to contain the Hollow's power."

Elijah raised an eyebrow. "And where do we find this talisman?"

Marcel looked grim. "It's rumored to be in the possession of a powerful witch in the French Quarter. We'll have to negotiate or fight for it."

Klaus's eyes flashed with determination. "Then let's not waste any more time. We'll find this witch and get the talisman. Y/n's safety comes first."

With their course set, the Mikaelsons moved with purpose, ready to face whatever dangers lay ahead to protect their own

The Mikaelsons rushed through the vibrant and bustling French Quarter, their urgency stark against the lively backdrop. Klaus led the way, his eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of danger.

They reached a dimly lit shop tucked away in a narrow alley. A sign above the door read "Madame Fleur's Mystical Emporium." Klaus pushed the door open, and a bell tinkled, announcing their arrival.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of herbs and incense. Shelves were lined with jars of strange ingredients and ancient artifacts. At the counter, a woman with silver hair and piercing blue eyes looked up, her expression unreadable.

"Madame Fleur," Klaus began, his tone both commanding and respectful. "We need the Talisman of Namtar."

The witch's eyes narrowed. "That is not an item I part with easily. Why do you seek it?"

Elijah stepped forward. "The Hollow is targeting our family. We need the talisman to protect Y/n."

Madame Fleur studied them for a long moment before nodding slowly. "The Hollow is a grave threat. But obtaining the talisman will come at a price."

Klaus's eyes blazed. "Name it."

She held his gaze. "A favor. One day, when I call upon you, you will help me without question or hesitation."

Klaus hesitated, then nodded. "Agreed."

Madame Fleur disappeared into the back room and returned with an ornate box. She opened it to reveal the talisman, a dark stone set in intricate silver. "Use this wisely. The spell to activate it is ancient and requires great power."

Rebekah took the talisman with a nod of gratitude. "Thank you."

The Mikaelsons left the shop, talisman in hand, and hurried back home. Once there, they gathered in the center of the living room. Marcel spread out a map, marking locations and explaining the spell.

Kol, who had joined them on their way back, looked at the talisman with a mixture of skepticism and hope. "I hope this works," he muttered.

Hayley held you close, whispering reassurances. "We will keep you safe, I promise."

Klaus began the incantation, his voice strong and steady. The air around them crackled with energy as the talisman began to glow. The room darkened and

Elijah, Rebekah, and Kol chanted in unison, their voices merging with Klaus's. The talisman pulsed with light, and a barrier of shimmering energy formed around you.

Klaus knelt beside you, his expression softening. “You’re now safe my little wolf.”

Hayley hugged you tightly. "We will always keep you safe even if it means risking our lives."

As the family gathered together, they felt a sense of relief wash over them. They believed the spell had succeeded, and the threat of the Hollow was contained.

However, unseen by the Mikaelsons, a faint, dark mist lingered in the corners of the room, a silent reminder that the Hollow was far from defeated. The spell had only provided a temporary reprieve, and the true danger still loomed

You bounced on your toes, eyes sparkling with excitement as you pleaded with your parents . "Please, can we go to the park and get ice cream? It's such a beautiful day!"

Klaus exchanged a concerned glance with Hayley, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive. "Y/n, love, it's not safe right now. There are... dangers we need to protect you from."

Hayley crouched down to your eye level, her expression gentle but firm. "We can definitely get ice cream, but we should stay close to home today, okay?"

Your smile faltered, disappointment shadowing your features. "But I promise I'll be careful!”

He sighed, torn between wanting to indulge his daughter's innocent request and his responsibility to keep you safe. "Y/n, it's not just about being careful. There are things out there we can't always see or predict."

Your shoulders slumped, but you nodded reluctantly. "Okay, I understand."

Hayley reached out to brush a strand of hair behind your ear, her heart aching at the disappointment in your eyes. "How about we make it a special ice cream day at home? We can get all your favorite flavors and toppings."

You brightened at the suggestion, a small smile tugging at your ips. "Can we make sundaes with lots of whipped cream?"

He chuckled softly, relieved to see your spirits lifting. "Of course, little wolf. Let's make it a day to remember right here."

Your eyes sparkled again with excitement. "Can we have a movie night too? With all the popcorn and candies?”

She exchanged a warm glance with Klaus, both of them feeling a sense of relief and happiness. "Absolutely," she agreed. "We'll have the best movie night ever."

He smiled, pulling you into a gentle hug. "Anything for you, sweetheart. We'll make it a perfect day."

You hugged him back tightly. "Thank you, Daddy. I love you both so much."

"We love you too, Y/n," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "Now, let's get started on those sundaes, shall we?"

With that, the family set off to create a day full of laughter, treats, and cherished memories, safe within the walls of their home.

As night fell and you drifted into a peaceful sleep, the Mikaelsons and Hayley took turns keeping watch over you. In the quiet of their home, emotions ran deep, each moment of vigil stirring memories and fears that they rarely allowed themselves to acknowledge.

Elijah, ever the stalwart protector, sat by your bedside first. His gaze, usually steely and composed, softened as he observed the gentle rise and fall of your chest. Memories of centuries past, of lost loved ones and the relentless march of time, weighed heavily on his heart.

"I remember when you were born," Elijah began quietly, his voice barely a whisper in the dimly lit room. "Innocent and full of wonder. We must protect that innocence at all costs."

Klaus, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed, nodded solemnly. "Yes, brother. It's our duty to shield her from the darkness that surrounds us. She deserves to experience the world with all its beauty, without the burden of our past."

Hayley, sitting nearby with a comforting hand on your arm, spoke softly. "She's resilient, like all of us. But she's also so young. We have to balance protecting her with letting her grow."

Elijah glanced at Klaus and Hayley, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. "She's our light in the darkness, a reminder of why we continue to fight. Tonight, as she sleeps peacefully, let us hope for a future where she can live without fear."

The Mikaelsons shared a moment of quiet reflection, each silently reaffirming their commitment to safeguard You innocence and ensure your happiness in a world fraught with dangers known and unknown.

Rebekah, her usually defiant spirit subdued by the sight of her niece so vulnerable, took the next watch. She leaned against the wall, her eyes fixed on your peaceful expression. Tears welled in her eyes as she remembered the innocence she once possessed before the harsh realities of their world had taken hold.

"She deserves a life free from our burdens," Rebekah murmured, her voice wavering with emotion. "I wish I could give her that."

Klaus, moved by Rebekah's words, approached her quietly. "We all do, sister. But what we can give her is our love, our protection, and our guidance. She may inherit our legacy, but she doesn't have to carry our burdens alone."

Rebekah nodded, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I know, Nik. It's just... seeing her like this reminds me of what we've lost. And what she stands to lose if we can't keep her safe."

Hayley joined them, placing a comforting hand on Rebekah's shoulder. "We won't let that happen. We'll do whatever it takes to ensure she grows up knowing she's loved and cherished."

Elijah, standing watchful by the window, spoke softly. "Our family has faced countless challenges over the centuries. Y/n represents our hope for a future where those challenges don't define her."

Marcel, having joined the Mikaelsons in their quest to protect you, stood watch next. His loyalty to the family ran deep, forged through centuries of alliances and betrayals. He paced quietly by Your bedside, his mind racing with strategies to keep you safe.

"I won't let anything happen to you, Y/n," Marcel said firmly, his voice carrying a blend of reassurance and determination. "I promise."

Freya, the family's steadfast pillar of strength, took the final shift. She sat cross-legged on the floor beside your bed, a protective barrier of magic shimmering faintly around them. Her hands hovered over your sleeping form, channeling subtle energies to ward off any lingering threats.

"You're safe here, Y/n," Freya murmured softly, her voice filled with both tenderness and resolve. "Sleep peacefully. We're watching over you."

And as dawn painted the sky with hues of pink and gold, you stirred in your sleep, a faint smile touching your lips. In that fleeting moment, the weight of their shared vigil eased, replaced by a glimmer of hope that their love and watchful presence would always be your shield against the uncertainties of their world.

Kol, ever the unpredictable spirit, sat by your bedside, his expression a mix of concern and remorse. He traced the delicate contours of your face with his gaze, memories of his own tumultuous past mingling with a fierce protectiveness.

"You should be dreaming of adventures, not fearing shadows," Kol whispered, his voice laced with regret. "I'm sorry, little one."

Klaus, torn between guilt and resolve, took over the watch next. He stood by the window, his silhouette cast in moonlight, his gaze never leaving your peaceful form. The weight of responsibility pressed heavy upon him, a father's love warring with the instinct to shield his daughter from the dangers that lurked beyond their walls.

"I've made many mistakes, little wolf," Klaus murmured, his voice carrying across the room with a mixture of tenderness and anguish. "But I swear, I will protect you."

Hayley, her heart aching with a mother's love, approached Klaus and rested a comforting hand on his shoulder. She took her turn in keeping watch, sitting beside you with a steadying presence. The bond between mother and daughter was palpable, a connection forged through adversity and unconditional love.

"We'll get through this, Y/n," Hayley whispered softly, brushing a strand of hair from your forehead. "Together."

Throughout the night, Kol, Klaus, Marcel, Rebekah, Freya and Hayley exchanged words that were both a plea for forgiveness and a vow of protection. They shared memories of happier times, of laughter and shared meals, of fleeting moments of normalcy amidst the chaos of their supernatural existence.

As dawn approached, the weight of their shared vigil lifted, replaced by a quiet determination to face the challenges ahead as a united family. You stirred in your sleep, sensing the love and devotion that surrounded you, even in the darkest hours of the night.

And in that moment, amidst tears unshed and hearts laid bare, the Mikaelsons and Hayley found solace in each other's presence, knowing that their bond was the strongest shield against the uncertainties of their world.

You woke up to find Marcel keeping watch over you, couldn't shake off your concern. "Marcel, is everything okay with my family? Every time they're around me, they seem sad." Your voice carried a hint of worry.

Marcel offered a reassuring smile, trying to alleviate your fears. "It's okay, Y/n. Don't worry about it."

"But why do they cry sometimes?" You persisted, your concern deepening.

Marcel hesitated, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn't voice aloud. "They... they just care about you a lot. You mean everything to them."

You nodded slowly, still troubled by the unspoken tension in Marcel's response. "I just wish I could make them feel better."

Marcel's gaze softened as he looked at you, his own turmoil hidden behind a facade of calm. "You already do, Y/n. You bring light into their lives."

In Marcel's mind, however, a torrent of conflicted emotions churned. If only you knew the full extent of the darkness that threatened the family, he constant battles, the sacrifices made in silence. He couldn't bear the thought of your innocence being tainted by the harsh realities they faced.

As Marcel continued to watch over you, a silent vow echoed in his thoughts to protect you at all costs, to shield you from the shadows that haunted their world, even if it meant bearing the weight of the family's sorrow alone.

As you reached for the door, determined to step outside and indulge in your passion for painting, you were stopped by a firm hand on your shoulder. You turned to see your father standing there, his expression a mix of affection and concern.

"Little wolf," Klaus began, using the endearing nickname he had given you long ago, "you can't go outside right now."

Confusion flashed across your face, tinged with a hint of defiance. "But why, Daddy? I just want to paint. I promise I'll stay close."

Klaus's gaze softened, his love for his daughter evident in every word. "I know you love painting, and I admire your spirit. But there are dangers out there that I can't let you face."

You sighed, torn between your desire for artistic expression and your father's protective instincts. "I'm six years old, daddy . I can take care of myself."

"I know you can," Klaus acknowledged, his voice gentle yet resolute. "But right now, I need you to trust me. We'll find another way for you to paint, inside where it's safe."

Reluctantly, you nodded, your disappointment palpable. He guided you back into the warmth of the home, his hand resting reassuringly on your shoulder. As your father and you walked , you couldn't help but feel the weight of your father's concern, mingled with a sense of gratitude for his unwavering protection.

"Little wolf," Klaus murmured again, his tone soft but firm, "your safety is everything to me."

You glanced up at him, seeing the love and worry etched in his expression. You nodded, silently acknowledging the depth of his care. Though you longed to paint under the open sky, you understood that your father's love meant keeping you within the safety of the sanctuary, shielding you from the dangers that lurked beyond.

As your father and you returned to the heart of the home, you resolved to find solace in painting indoors, knowing that one day, when the time was right, you would roam freely with brush in hand, under the watchful eye and loving guidance of your father, Klaus.

Klaus gathered his family in the grand hall of their compound, his expression grave yet determined. The incident with your attempt to go outside had stirred a sense of urgency within him, a reminder of the constant vigilance required to protect his daughter from the dangers that lurked beyond their walls.

"My family," Klaus began, his voice carrying the weight of his responsibility as a father and leader. "We must remain vigilant. Y/n tried to go outside today, and while her intentions were innocent, we cannot afford to underestimate the threats that surround us."

Elijah, ever the voice of reason and support, stepped forward beside Klaus. "We must strengthen our defenses, increase patrols, and ensure that Y/n is always accompanied."

Rebekah, her concern for you etched on her face, nodded in agreement. "We can't let our guard down, not even for a moment."

Marcel, who had grown close to you and shared in their family's protective instincts, spoke up as well. "I'll personally keep an eye on her, to ensure she doesn't get into any trouble."

Hayley, her heart heavy with worry but unwavering in her determination to protect you, added, "We'll all work together to keep Y/n safe. That's our priority."

Klaus nodded, his gaze sweeping over his family, a mixture of gratitude and resolve in his eyes. "Thank you. Y/n is our greatest treasure and hope. We must do everything in our power to keep her safe, no matter the cost."

Klaus found himself sitting beside you at a makeshift easel, both absorbed in the vibrant swirls of color on the canvas.

"You have quite the talent, little wolf," Klaus remarked, his tone filled with paternal pride as he dipped his brush into a deep crimson. "Art has a way of expressing what words often cannot."

You grinned, your focus intent on blending shades of blue. "Thanks, Daddy. Painting with you makes me feel free."

Klaus smiled warmly at your words, He gently continued painting, his strokes deliberate yet fluid as he created alongside you.

"I'm glad, little wolf," Klaus replied softly, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. "Art has a way of freeing the soul, doesn't it? It allows us to express emotions that sometimes words fail to capture."

You nodded enthusiastically, your eyes alight with creativity. "Yeah! It's like you can say so much without saying anything at all."

Hayley, observing from across the room, couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for these moments of normalcy amidst their extraordinary lives. She smiled at the sight of Klaus and you painting together, a bond strengthened by shared creativity and love.

Klaus glanced at Hayley, sharing a silent moment of understanding and appreciation for you. Together, your father and you continued painting, each stroke on the canvas a testament to your and his connection and the sanctuary your father and you found in art and family.

Meanwhile, Elijah, ever the scholarly figure, sat in a cozy corner with you, a classic tale spread open before you and him

"This is one of my favorites," he commented, his voice resonant and calming as he read aloud. "A story of valor and honor, much like the bravery you show every day."

You leaned closer, captivated by the story's unfolding. "Uncle Elijah, you make everything sound so magical."

He smiled warmly at you, his gaze softening with pride and affection. "Stories have a way of weaving magic into our lives, Y/n. They inspire us, teach us, and remind us of the virtues that shape our character."

He continued reading, his voice steady and melodious, drawing you deeper into the world of knights and dragons, of quests and courage. As he turned the pages, he paused occasionally to explain a word or detail, enriching your understanding and sparking your imagination.

"You're brave, Y/n," he remarked, closing the book gently when he reached a stopping point. "Just like the heroes in this story."

You beamed up at him, your eyes reflecting admiration. "I want to be brave like them, Uncle Elijah."

He placed a reassuring hand on your shoulder. "And you are, little one. Every day, you show bravery in your own way."

The quiet corner became a sanctuary of shared stories and wisdom, a place where you found comfort in your uncle’s Elijah gentle guidance and where he cherished the opportunity to nurture your spirit with tales of honor and resilience.

Kol, always seeking to entertain, had you giggling with his latest magic tricks. He produced colorful scarves from thin air and made coins vanish and reappear with a flourish.

"Ta-da!" Kol exclaimed, grinning mischievously. "What do you think, Y/n? Should I audition for the circus?"

You clapped enthusiastically, marveling at his skill. "You're amazing, Uncle Kol! Can you teach me how to do that?"

Kol laughed heartily at your enthusiasm, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Ah, little niece, you have a taste for the dramatics, I see! Perhaps I'll consider a career change."

He winked playfully at you before leaning in closer. "As for learning tricks, it's all about practice and a bit of magic, of course. I can show you a few simple ones to start with."

Your eyes widened with excitement as he began to explain the basics of sleight of hand and simple illusions. Together, you and your uncle Kol practiced making objects appear and disappear, with him offering patient guidance and encouragement.

"You're a natural, Y/n," Kol praised, watching you mimic his movements with growing skill. "With a bit more practice, you'll be dazzling audiences in no time."

As him and you continued the impromptu magic lesson, laughter filled the room, blending with the warmth and joy of the shared moments. Your uncle’s Kol playful antics provided a refreshing contrast to the family's usual concerns, reminding them all of the importance of embracing moments of lightheartedness and fun amidst their protective duties.

Rebekah, with her flair for fashion, turned the afternoon into a glamorous affair. She draped you in luxurious fabrics, twirling you around in front of a full-length mirror.

"You are absolutely stunning," Rebekah praised, adjusting a tiara atop your head. "With a little grace and confidence, you'll be unstoppable."

You beamed at her reflection, feeling like a princess under Rebekah's expert care. "Thank you, Aunt Bex. You make everything so magical."

She smiled warmly at you, her eyes gleaming with affection and pride. "You are a natural beauty, Y/n. Fashion is about expressing yourself and feeling confident in your own skin."

She continued to adjust the fabric and accessories with meticulous care, ensuring every detail was perfect. "Remember, confidence is key. Hold your head high and own the room, just like a true Mikaelson."

You nodded eagerly, taking in her advice as you admired yourself in the mirror. "I feel like I can do anything when I wear these!"

She chuckled softly, her smile warmed by your excitement. "That's the spirit, darling. Embrace your uniqueness and let it shine."

Together, your aunt and you spent the afternoon immersed in your and her own little world of elegance and style, creating memories filled with laughter, beauty, and the empowering feeling of being cherished by family. Your aunt's flair for fashion not only transformed your appearance but also instilled in you a sense of confidence that would resonate far beyond the afternoon together.

Freya and Hayley, each imparting their wisdom, sat with you in the study, discussing the complexities of your supernatural heritage.

"As a tribrid, you possess incredible power," Freya explained gently, her hands gesturing to illustrate her points. "But it's important to understand how to control it, to find balance within yourself."

Hayley nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with maternal warmth. "You're half vampire, half werewolf, and half witch, Y/n. We're here to guide you through it all."

You listened intently, absorbing their teachings with a blend of fascination and determination. "I'm so lucky to have all of you. You make me feel like I can do anything."

Freya smiled warmly at you, her expression a mix of pride and affection. "And you can, Y/n. Your heritage is unique, but with guidance and practice, you'll harness your abilities to their fullest potential."

Hayley placed a reassuring hand on your shoulder. "We're here to support you every step of the way, sweetheart. Being a tribrid means you have strengths from each lineage, but also the responsibility to use them wisely."

You nodded, your eyes shining with newfound determination. "I want to learn everything, Aunt Freya. I want to understand who I am."

Freya nodded in agreement. "Knowledge is power, Y/n. And understanding yourself is the first step towards mastering your gifts."

Throughout their discussion, Freya and Hayley shared their knowledge of supernatural abilities, spellcraft, and werewolf instincts with you, fostering a sense of empowerment and security in your identity. As they continued their lessons, your confidence grew, knowing you had a loving family dedicated to helping you navigate the complexities of your extraordinary heritage.

Throughout the shared moments, laughter and love echoed through the halls of their home, binding the Mikaelson family and Hayley closer together. In those precious hours, they found joy and solace, knowing that their unity and support were the greatest gifts they could give to you - their beloved daughter and niece.

For a time, the Mikaelson family and Hayley enjoyed a sense of peace. You thrived under their care, your days filled with painting, stories, magic tricks, fashion shows, and lessons about her unique heritage. The love and attention you received made you feel cherished and safe.

But one fateful night, everything changed.

You lay in bed, your eyes fluttering shut as you drifted into sleep. Klaus stood at your doorway, watching over you with a tender expression.

"Sweet dreams, little wolf," he whispered as he kissed your forehead before turning away, unaware of the darkness that lurked nearby.

As the household settled into the quiet of the night, a chilling presence began to seep into your room. Unseen and insidious, the Hollow crept through the shadows, seeking its next vessel. It hovered over you, a malevolent force intent on claiming you.

In your sleep, your body tensed. Your peaceful expression twisted into one of distress as the Hollow's dark magic took hold. Your eyes snapped open, glowing with an unnatural, eerie light.

Moments later, Klaus felt a disturbance, a cold shiver running down his spine. He rushed back to your room, panicking

As he entered, he found you standing in the center of your room, your eyes vacant and filled with the Hollow's malevolence.

"Y/n!" Klaus called out, his voice a mix of fear and desperation. "What’s happening?"

The Hollow, speaking through you, replied with a sinister smile. "Hello, Klaus. It's been a long time."

Klaus's eyes widened in horror as the reality set in. "No... not my daughter.”

Before the entity fully departed, it spoke through you one last time, its voice echoing with dark intent. “Don’t try to stop me, Mikaelsons. If you do, I will kill your precious Y/n.”

The room fell into a tense silence as the Hollow’s threat hung in the air. Klaus knelt beside you, his eyes filled with both fury and fear. He gently lifted you into his arms, holding you close as if to shield you from the lingering darkness.

Elijah stepped forward, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a steely resolve. “We need to strengthen our defenses and find a way to permanently rid Y/n of the Hollow.”

Rebekah, her face pale but determined, nodded. “We can’t let this monster take her from us.”

Kol clenched his fists, anger simmering just beneath the surface. “We’ll find a way to destroy it. No one threatens our family and lives.”

Freya, still focused on maintaining the protective barrier, looked at her siblings and Hayley. “We need to gather our resources, tap into every ounce of magic we have.”

Hayley, her eyes filled with tears, placed a hand on Klaus’s shoulder. “We won’t let it take her, Klaus. We’ll fight this together.”

Klaus, his voice a mix of determination and desperation, replied, “We must protect her at all costs.”

The commotion drew the rest of the family. Elijah, Rebekah, Kol, Freya, and Hayley rushed into the room, their faces reflecting the same shock and fear that Klaus felt.

"We need to get her out of here," Elijah said urgently. "We can't let the Hollow control her."

Freya stepped forward, her hands already glowing with protective magic. "I'll try to contain it."

As Freya worked her spells, the Hollow laughed mockingly through you. "You think you can stop me? This child is mine now."

Hayley approached, tears in her eyes but determination in her heart. "Y/n, fight it! We’re here with you. We won't let you go."

But despite their best efforts, the Hollow's grip on you tightened. You struggled against it, your own voice breaking through momentarily. "Mom, Dad, help me..."

"We're here, Y/n," Klaus said, his voice breaking. "We're not giving up on you."

In a tense and solemn atmosphere, the Mikaelson family gathered in a circle around you, their faces etched with concern and determination. Freya, their resident expert in magic, had exhausted every known spell and ritual in her extensive repertoire, yet the dark presence of the Hollow persisted within you, seemingly unaffected by their efforts.

"I don't understand," Freya muttered, frustration evident in her voice as she paced around the room. "None of these spells should have failed. The Hollow's magic should have been expelled."

Elijah, usually composed and strategic, clenched his fists in rare frustration. "We can’t afford to lose hope. There must be another solution, Freya."

Klaus, whose protective instincts were heightened in the face of their daughter's plight, struggled to contain his anger. "How can this be happening? She's just a child, caught in the crossfire of our battles."

Rebekah, her usual resilience overshadowed by worry, shook her head. "We've faced formidable enemies before, but the Hollow's resilience is unprecedented."

Hayley, torn between fear for you and a fierce determination to find a solution, gripped your hand tightly. "There has to be something we've overlooked."

As the weight of their efforts and the severity of their situation sank in, the Mikaelsons found themselves at an impasse. Time seemed to slow as they contemplated their next move, their family bond strained by the inability to protect you from the malevolent force within you.

"We can't give up," Freya finally spoke, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her eyes. "There has to be another approach, another angle we haven't considered."

The Mikaelsons exchanged solemn glances, silently reaffirming their commitment to your safety and well-being. With determination renewed, they resolved to continue their search for a solution, knowing that their family's strength and unity would be their greatest asset in the face of this daunting challenge.

Vincent stands before Klaus and his siblings, his face grave as he explains the history and nature of the Hollow. “The Hollow has been haunting New Orleans for centuries. It’s an unending evil. Its appetite for power is insatiable. And that’s what attracted it to your little girl.”

Klaus, his face a mix of hope and fear, takes a deep breath. “You said there was a way to save her…”

Vincent’s gaze hardens. “There is. But I’m gonna tell you right now, you are not gonna like my plan.”

The siblings exchange worried glances, their anxiety palpable.

Vincent continues, “Step one: we pull the Hollow out of Y/n. Step two: we find someplace else to put it. But with the book gone, I need a place that’s both powerful and eternal. And in order to make the transition work, I’m gonna need something that’s connected to Y/n through blood.”

Freya’s eyes widen as she realizes what Vincent is suggesting. “You need a vampire. You want to put the Hollow into one of my siblings?”

Vincent nods solemnly. “One ain’t gonna cut it. I’m gonna need four of them.”

Elijah shakes his head slightly in disbelief. “Why four of us?”

Vincent explains, “Well, 1,500 years ago, when the Hollow was first killed, they divided her remains. Four bones, four volunteers, four different locations. That’s how we’re going to beat the Hollow now. Transfer the Hollow’s power into four immortal vampires.”

Rebekah’s voice trembles as she speaks. “And just send us on our way?”

Klaus steps forward, his voice strained but resolute. “So the evil is drawn, quartered, and separate for all time.”

Vincent nods again. “That is the only way that we’re gonna beat the Hollow.”

Kol’s eyes glisten with unshed tears as he speaks, his voice choked. “So you’re saying that we can’t be near each other.”

Vincent’s expression is pained but unyielding. “That’s the only way this will work. The Hollow’s power must be kept divided and isolated.”

Klaus’s face crumples as he fights to keep his emotions in check. He wipes a tear from his cheek, his voice determined but heavy with sorrow. “Well, if it’ll save my little girl, then we will make it so.”

The siblings share a solemn look, the weight of the decision settling over them like a shroud.

Kol steps forward, his voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. “We will do whatever it takes to protect her. We will carry out the plan.”

Elijah places a hand on Klaus’s shoulder, his own face a mask of resolve. “For Y/n’s sake, we will endure this sacrifice.”

The Hollow, her eyes glowing with dark power, stands at the center of St. Anne’s Church, surrounded by her devoted followers. Dominic’s lifeless body lies on a table before her, and with a wave of her hand, the Hollow channels her witch magic. The air crackles with energy as she brings Dominic back to life.

Dominic’s eyes snap open, and the crowd of followers gasps in awe, murmuring among themselves as they take a step back, their fear evident. Dominic sits up slowly, his eyes filled with gratitude as he looks at the Hollow, then rises to his feet and approaches her with a respectful bow. He takes his place at her right side and faces the gathered followers.

“All of you know that this is the power of the Hollow,” Dominic declares, his voice ringing through the church with a commanding authority. “The power to transcend death, and destroy all who stand against us.”

He raises his arms, a gesture that commands the followers to kneel before the Hollow. “So bend your knee and swear your loyalty to her.”

As one, Dominic and the rest of the Hollow’s followers bow down, their heads bowed in submission to the dark force that now possesses your body.

The Hollow, relishing her newfound power, begins to walk alone through the church. Dominic, flanked by several of the Hollow’s followers, approaches a group of witches standing nervously nearby.

“Witches of New Orleans,” Dominic calls out, his tone smooth and persuasive. “I ask you to join your one and true savior. Pledge your loyalty, and she will free you from oppression.”

The witches exchange fearful glances, their resolve faltering as they watch the Hollow’s display of power. A woman cries out, her voice trembling with panic. “Let’s get out of here!”

A man nearby shouts back, his voice urgent. “Watch out!that girl kills witches!”

The crowd begins to scatter in a desperate attempt to escape the church, their cries of fear echoing through the sacred space. The Hollow’s eyes flash with anger as she witnesses the fleeing witches.

With a wave of her hand, she unleashes her dark magic, sending a storm of energy that shatters the street lamps outside the church. The lights flicker and die, plunging the streets into darkness as the Hollow’s fury rages unchecked.

Amid the chaos, your mother dashes towards you, her face a mask of desperate determination. “Y/n! Y/n!”

The Hollow turns to face her, a smirk spreading across her lips. “What do you want? Leave me alone.”

Your mother’s eyes are filled with pain and urgency as she speaks, her voice breaking slightly. “Baby, I know you can hear me. I need you to fight her.”

The Hollow chuckles darkly, her eyes narrowing. “Hmm, you think you can stop me?”

Before your mother can react, the Hollow raises her hand with a swift motion. With a burst of telekinetic force, she lifts Hayley off the ground and, with a cruel flick, snaps her neck. Hayley collapses to the floor, her body crumpling in a lifeless heap.

The Hollow glances at Hayley’s fallen form with a cold indifference before turning her attention back to her followers. Dominic watches the scene unfold with a satisfied smile, his eyes gleaming with pride at the display of power.

The air is thick with the weight of loss and the unyielding darkness that now surrounds you. The Hollow’s power continues to swell, unchallenged and absolute, as Dominic and the followers await the next step in their dark plan.

Hayley wakes up on Vincent’s sofa, her neck still aching from the recent break. She winces and groans, trying to adjust her position.“Ouch. It still hurts.”

Vincent kneels beside her, a reassuring presence in the midst of the chaos. “You’re okay. You’re alright. Some witches found you on the street, they called me, and I brought you here. You’re fine.”

Hayley sits up slowly, her face set with determination despite her pain. “I have to go back. I have to get that thing out of Y/n.”

Vincent gently lays her back on the sofa. “That’s what I’m trying to do, Hayley. I’m shoring up my power for the ritual.”

Hayley’s eyes widen as she takes in Vincent’s words. “What ritual?”

Vincent’s expression grows grave as he begins to explain. “The ritual that we need to talk about. It’s our only chance to get rid of the Hollow for good.”

Hayley’s eyes reflect a mix of hope and concern as she listens. “So, all four of them have to go their separate ways? Forever?”

Vincent nods, the weight of the decision heavy on his shoulders. “Yeah, and When you leave here, you need to go home, you need to pack some bags, and you need to find a way out of town. Quick and quiet, just for you and Y/n.”

Hayley frowns, her confusion evident. “What are you talking about?”

Vincent takes a deep breath, preparing to explain the gravity of the situation. “Hayley, the Hollow has felt your little girl’s power. And it’s gonna want to get that power back. When we finish this ritual, the Hollow is gonna live inside of the Mikaelsons.”

Hayley’s eyes widen in distress as the full implication of Vincent’s words hits her. “What do you mean by that?”

Vincent’s tone is somber as he continues. “Through them, it’s gonna reach out, and it’s gonna try to regain access to your little girl. That can never happen. Any time they are anywhere near her, she is not gonna be safe. Ever.”

Hayley’s face contorts with pain and frustration, her voice trembling. “It’s not fair!”

Vincent’s eyes are filled with a deep sadness. “Now, you and I both know that Klaus Mikaelson isn’t gonna be okay with that. So when we finish this ritual and get your little girl back, you have got to go. Hayley, you take her, and you run like hell.”

Hayley’s gaze meets Vincent’s, her eyes filled with tears as she struggles to process the harsh reality of their situation. “But how can we ever be safe with the Hollow trying to come after us?”

Vincent’s voice is filled with a somber resolve. “The Hollow’s power will be divided among the Mikaelsons, but it will always seek to reunite itself. You and Y/n will have to stay hidden, away from New Orleans and away from the Mikaelsons. It’s the only way to protect her.”

Hayley nods slowly, tears streaming down her face as she contemplates the future. “I understand. I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.”

Vincent offers her a reassuring but pained smile. “That’s all anyone can ask. You’re a mother who loves her child, and that love will be your strength.”

Hayley takes a deep breath, steeling herself for the task ahead. “When do we start?”

Vincent rises from his knees, his expression resolute. “Soon. We need to prepare for the ritual, and you need to get ready to leave. Time is running out.”

As Hayley stands up, she meets Vincent’s gaze with a mixture of gratitude and determination. The weight of their plan looms over them, but both are resolved to see it through for your sake.

Hayley hurries through the corridors of the Mikaelson Mansion, her face set with urgency and determination. She bursts into the room where Klaus, Rebekah, Elijah, and Kol are gathered, their expressions reflecting a mix of concern and anticipation.

“We still need to go get Y/n. Vincent said the Hollow is gathering a congregation at the church.”

Klaus immediately rises from his seat, his face a mask of resolve. “Then let’s go get her.”

Hayley steps forward, placing a hand on Klaus’s arm to stop him. “She’s possessed, Klaus, surrounded by followers. We can’t just go running in there.”

Rebekah, her face showing a hint of frustration but also a glimmer of hope, steps between them. “Hayley, we have a plan. It’s actually a rather good one.”

Klaus turns to Rebekah, his eyes searching for reassurance. “What’s the plan?”

Rebekah takes a deep breath, ready to explain. “We need to be strategic. The Hollow is powerful and surrounded by a lot of followers. If we rush in, we risk everything. But Vincent has come up with a plan that involves a ritual.”

Kol, his face showing a mixture of worry and determination, adds, “Vincent needs to prepare the ritual to extract the Hollow from Y/n, but it requires careful coordination. We can’t just barge in.”

Elijah nods in agreement, his voice calm but firm. “Vincent has a plan to separate the Hollow from Y/n and then contain it. We need to trust him and follow the plan to the letter.”

Hayley nods, her urgency shifting to a focused determination. “We need to find a way to get to the church without alerting the Hollow’s followers. I know Vincent’s plan is the only way to save Y/n, but we have to be smart about it.”

Klaus takes a deep breath, his anger and fear tempered by the gravity of the situation. “Alright, then what’s the plan?”

Rebekah steps forward, pulling out a piece of paper with a detailed map of the area. “Vincent has identified a way for us to approach the church discreetly. We’ll need to split into two groups. One will create a diversion to draw the followers away from the church, while the other group infiltrates the church to get to Y/n.”

Klaus looks at Rebekah, his eyes showing a flicker of hope. “And what about the ritual?”

Rebekah points to the map. “While the diversion team keeps the followers occupied, Vincent will begin the ritual. We’ll need to make sure nothing interferes with it.”

Hayley steps closer to Klaus, her eyes filled with determination. “We have to move quickly. The Hollow won’t wait for us to be ready.”

Klaus takes a deep breath, nodding resolutely. “Let’s do this. For Y/n.”

Rebekah, Hayley, and the rest of the family gather around the map, their expressions a mix of determination and fear as they prepare for the dangerous mission ahead.

Marcel and Sofya enter the dimly lit church, the air heavy with the scent of incense and the murmur of the Hollow’s followers. The scene before them is chaotic and foreboding, the followers gathered in reverence around the figure of the Hollow, who stands poised in your body.

Sofya glances around at the collection of dark objects and relics displayed on the church’s altars. “This collection is priceless. You sure you want to hand it all over to the Mikaelsons?”

Marcel’s eyes are steely with resolve. “Dark objects belong to the city. As long as they help us take down the Hollow, that’s all that matters.”

Sofya raises an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. “Even if it means trusting the family who made a weapon specifically designed to kill you?”

Marcel nods, unperturbed. “Desperate times. We need allies.”

As they move closer to the center of the church, the tension in the air becomes palpable. The Hollow, her eyes glowing ominously in your body, is surrounded by her followers. Marcel and Sofya approach her, the unease between them apparent.

Marcel steps forward, his tone both bold and diplomatic. “Quite the party.”

Dominic, standing at the Hollow’s side, smirks with a hint of disdain. “Marcel Gerard and his top advisor. Well, I trust you’ve come to grovel and bow before the power of the Hollow.”

Before Dominic can react, Marcel raises his hand, blowing a cloud of magic dust into the Hollow’s face. The Hollow’s eyes flutter and she collapses into unconsciousness, her body limp as Marcel catches her and swiftly carries her away at vampire speed.

Sofya, left behind, turns to Dominic with a cold, determined look. “Time to end this.” With a swift motion, she plunges a dagger into Dominic’s chest, ending his life in a burst of dark energy.

The followers of the Hollow gasp and murmur in confusion as Dominic’s body falls to the ground. Sofya turns to face them, her expression resolute.

Sofya raises her hands, her voice commanding. “The Hollow’s reign ends here.”

At that moment, Klaus steps into view from the left side of the altar, his presence imposing. “Hear ye, hear ye, all disciples and acolytes of the evil Hollow. Now that your master has been subdued, the power she promised you has been revoked, rendering you helpless, and bringing this pitiful coup to a rather abrupt end.”

Klaus holds up a dark object in his hand, its surface shimmering with malevolent energy. “This dark object has the astounding ability to seal you in the room.”

He drops the object to the floor, and it shatters with a burst of dark energy, sealing the followers inside the church.

From a raised floor in the church, Elijah appears, holding a bottle of flammable liquid with a handkerchief wrapped around its neck. His voice is calm, almost detached, as he addresses the trapped followers.

Elijah continues, his tone smooth and unyielding. “Which is very inconvenient indeed. Particularly when one considers the architectural composition of the structure. And so, with very little effort...”

He lights the handkerchief with a nearby candle and throws the bottle onto the floor where the followers are trapped.

Elijah watches as the bottle shatters, spreading the flammable liquid around the room. “This place becomes an inferno.”

As the flames begin to spread, Klaus watches his brother, his expression grim but resolute. The screams of the trapped followers rise as the fire engulfs the room, their cries a stark contrast to the determined faces of the Mikaelson siblings.

Klaus stands at the edge of the bed, his eyes reflecting a mix of anguish and fierce determination as he looks at you. The chains on your wrists clink softly as you shift slightly in your sleep, the Hollow’s dark presence within you making you seem distant and unresponsive.

Klaus leans closer, his voice trembling but resolute. “I know you’re in there, Little Wolf. And I know you can hear me, so I want you to listen very carefully.”

He takes a deep breath, fighting back the tears that threaten to spill. “You are my daughter. You’re a Mikaelson. Our hope, the hope of the Mikaelson family, rests on your shoulders. You are strong, and brave, unlike anyone I’ve ever known.”

He gently brushes a strand of hair from your face, his hand lingering as he fights to keep his composure. “I’ve seen you face danger with courage, and I’ve watched you grow into someone who inspires those around you. Even now, as the Hollow tries to consume you, I know that the strength inside you can push her away.”

Klaus’s voice breaks slightly as he continues, his eyes brimming with tears. “You are my Little Wolf. You’ve always been a fighter. You’ve got the spirit of the Mikaelson family in you, and you’ve always been the light that guides us through the darkness.”

He holds your hand gently, hoping the touch will reach the part of you that remains. “You must fight her, Little Wolf. Remember your family, remember your strength. We believe in you, and we know you can overcome this.”

Klaus takes a step back, his eyes locked on yours with a fierce hope. “We are a family of survivors, of fighters. You have the blood of the strongest creatures that ever walked this earth. Do not let the Hollow break you.”

He gestures to the room around you, where the echoes of the past and the warmth of your family linger despite the darkness. “If there is any part of you left, I am begging you to reach out. Fight with everything you have. We will not let her win. We are coming for you.”

He brushes a tear from his cheek and looks at you with a heart full of love. “I love you, Little Wolf. We all do. And we are fighting for you. Do not give up on hope. As long as you fight, we will be there to help you.”

The room is filled with the weight of Klaus’s words and the unspoken promise of a family that will never abandon you.

Hayley walks through the mansion, her steps echoing softly. She pauses when she sees Klaus sitting beside you, who is still bound by the chains of the ritual. Klaus is speaking to you his gentle voice and full of love.

Klaus continues talking to you. "In fact, you helped me believe in something your uncle once said. ‘Family is power’.”

Klaus leans down and kisses you on the forehead, then sighs deeply. As he turns around, he finds Hayley looking at him. She nods to him, signaling him to come nearer, and Klaus approaches her.

Hayley states. "You're a good dad, Klaus. And you deserve the truth. There is something that you need to know about the ritual. Vincent didn't want to tell you because he didn't think that you'd go through with it, but I know that you will. I know that you'll do anything for her. Even if it means never seeing her again."

Klaus is completely taken aback. He opens his mouth to speak but decides against it. Instead, he turns around and looks at Vincent, who is preparing the ritual. Just then, an angry Rebekah approaches Vincent.

Rebekah growls. "Did you honestly think you could trick us into performing the ritual without telling the entire truth?"

Vincent without looking up from his preparations. "You and your family aren't my problem. The only thing that I'm concerned about right now is that little girl and the monster that's inside of her."

Rebekah her voice rising. "Is it hard to see me from up there on your high horse? She is my niece. Of course we will do whatever we have to do to protect her, but you can damn well be honest about it!"

Vincent calmly said, "See, your reaction right there has just proven my point. You Mikaelsons are selfish, egocentric fanatics. It is not my job, nor is it my inclination to try to convince you to do the right thing. If you really want to save your niece, then you need to get out of my ear and let me do what it is that I do."

“You know what? You..." Rebekah tries to say but Freya interrupts her and approaches her "He's right. I may not agree with his tactics... but he's our only chance at saving Y/n."

Rebekah takes a deep breath. "Fine. But you better not be keeping anything else from us."

"I promise you, this is our best shot. Now, let's get this done."

Klaus looks at Rebekah and Kol, they both nod and then they leave. Klaus and Elijah also start walking but Klaus stops and turns to his brother.

“Elijah. You were always the keeper of our bond, and because of that, you will feel this pain the most. When the inevitable happens, and I, devoid of family influence, relapse into a spiral of mayhem and bloodshed...I need you to leave me to my fate. If you come to my rescue as you have done so many times before, it will only serve to aid our enemy, allowing it one step closer to my daughter, and I cannot allow that. So, my brother... When the time comes, I beg you, let me go.”. Klaus tells him as he tried to not cry

Elijah and Klaus briefly look at each other, then they hug. ”You have my word.”

Elijah takes a deep breath and watches Klaus leave.

Hayley is sitting on the floor with you in her arms. Vincent and Freya are standing near as Rebekah and Kol approach them.

“Kol, if you would, right there. Rebekah, perfect. Right there.” Vincent tells them

Rebekah sees Marcel and gets mad. “What the hell are you doing here? You come to gloat?”

“No, I came to make sure that this works.”

Elijah and Klaus approach them. “Elijah, I need you right there at the top.”

Elijah and Hayley look at each other.

“Klaus, right there for me, please. And we are ready.”

Klaus, Elijah, Kol, and Rebekah look at each other.

“I just want to say that what you guys are doing here today is gonna go a long way towards setting things right in this city. The Hollow took everything away from me. It inspired nothing but suffering and torment. It's ruined families, looks at Hayley and you. it's gone after little kids. And yet, here and now, looking at the Mikaelsons despite all of our differences, and there are many... looking at Klaus with a hand on his heart thank you.”

Klaus nods trying to not cry.

“Freya.” Vincent waves her to come over. and Freya is next to Vincent.

“The savage Mikaelsons heroically defeating a terrible evil. Maybe this will finally earn us our redemption.” Rebekah says sarcastically

“Do any of us really believe that?” Klaus question

“Not for a second. It's a wonderful sentiment.” Elijah answers, shaking his head.

Elijah and Klaus look at each other for a moment with a sad look, with Kol taking a breath, as Freya and Vincent hold hands

“Let's go.” Vincent and Freya kneel, still holding hands.

“Hayley, when I tell you to, I want you to take the manacles off. Hold onto Y/n. Do not let her go. Everybody else, when this spell is over, you got to get away from each other, and you have to stay away from Y/n.” Vincent tells the four siblings

“Always and forever. We had a good run.” Rebekah whispers with a sad smile

“Yeah.” Elijah whispers back.

“Diviser... Diviser ak konkeri. Diviser ak konkeri. Diviser ak konkeri. Diviser ak konkeri Chire apa ak po. Ak konkeri. Ak po.” Vincent chants. “Hayley, do it now. Do it now, Hayley.”

Hayley takes the manacles off. The Hollow's spirit gets out from you. Then it divides into four parts, and each one of them enters the body of one of the Mikaelsons.

“I can hear it... whispering.” Rebekah said

Vincent nods to the door. “Okay, you guys need to go. Now!!”

Kol goes off at vampire speed, shortly followed by Rebekah. Elijah and Hayley look at each other for a moment, then he leaves too.

Klaus looks at you with worried eyes. .”I need to know if she's all right.”

But Vincent looks at him and tells him. “Klaus, I promise you, she is going to be okay if you go.”

Klaus does not seem to have the strength to leave. Freya looks at him, worried.

You wake up and you look around .“It's okay, baby. You're okay.” Hayley tells you as she rocks you

“Mom.” You tell her with a confused look. And you look over at Klaus. “Daddy? What's happening?”

“I love you, my little wolf. Be strong for me," he whispered before he goes off at vampire speed. Making Vincent sighs with relief. as Hayley holds you in her arms.

“Dad!” You screamed, your voice cracking with emotion. You tried to run to him, but your mother’s arms wrapped around you, holding you back “Shh, it's okay," she whispered, her own voice thick with unshed tears. "They're doing this for you. For all of us.”

You struggled against your mother's embrace.”Dad Please don't go!!” You cried out, but your pleas were met with only silence.”

[oceansprompts]

marvel's midnight suns | misc quotes 1

I will not be howling at the moon any time soon.

Have to say, for a haunted Transian Castle raised on the cursed grounds of Old Salem it's pretty cozy.

I really should up my homeowner's insurance.

You smell... wrong.

You know what they say. All work and no play... is how we ended up with Ultron.

We invented stealth.

I don't actually care, but they need to stop moping. So. Can they play with your dog?

Admit what? That I feel a sense of admiration and respect for a fellow teammate?

Yeah, I didn't figure someone so great and powerful would be into a book club.

You're hung up on the were-roosters... Alright, let's hear what you got.

Is this visit business or pleasure?

How’s your mental health? A good portion of this “darkness hunting” game is mental health and processing intense situations.

But, hell on Earth isn’t a garden stroll.

I’ve spent decades experimenting and putting it together. Any of ’em interest you?

I’m telling you. I don’t know what’s coming next, but I do know when the shit hits the fan with Chthon...

You’re acting like I did it for fun...

Comfortable? I’ll never be comfortable around that monster. . .

You’re turning out to be one of my favorite people. . .

Why do you think? They take vicious killers and present them as tragic and misunderstood.

It’s just... Off, somehow. I swear, the moonlight on a clear evening is too dim for this time of year...

Was your first thought about killing me?

What I’m asking is, if I lost control, would you stop me?

Let’s talk about how your mother just turned one of my best friends against us.

These people look to me for guidance, but it feels like I’m stumbling around in the dark.

Just the fact that you are willing to learn means you’re on the right track.

So how do I tell him I’m totally cool with being best pals without scaring him off...

It wouldn’t take many guards to secure the building. So the question is: What else are they doing in there?

It’s not big enough to swim laps. Its only real purpose is for lounging and soaking up the sun.

It figures she’d send you. Did she tell you I want nothing to do with it? Because I still don’t.

Every time I think I’ve got my mind wrapped around this conflict, I get thrown a curveball.

But right now? I want to let you know how proud I am to be serving alongside you and watching your leadership.

Maybe this is what we’re supposed to be doing, fighting an endless war.

What do you make of our chances to get out of this mess in one piece?

That’s an easy question with a complex answer. Tell me this–what type of leader would you follow?

I always did what I thought was right. No more, no less.

Well, not so much fish as that ginormous, invulnerable sewer monster that swallowed the Sanctum.

I’m told I can be rather persuasive when I need to be.

It’s all just starting to blur into one big giant green gamma mess…

I’m having it right now and-wait. I think… oh no. Did I feed my cat before I left?

Would you have been able to take the shot? Because I don’t think I could’ve.

I’m going to be up all night trying to make sense of it, see if it helps us find our way back into the Sanctum.

But the more I see him in action, the more I think he might be an okay dude.

I’m telling you if I have to spend one more hour scanning digital maps…

All you have to do is be ready to fight for what you care about when the time comes.

Yeah, I know. Nasty artifacts like that aren’t known for their safety features…

I have to admit, I don’t think you’d be such a formidable poker player. Yet another reason to respect you.

This is the life, licking it with the legendary Hero, and kicking said legendary Hero’s ass at a fighting game.

Believe it or not, I don’t have a lot peeps I can call friends, not close ones at least.

I feel like you get how just how heavy all that extra baggage…

Sadly, the sense of wonder eventually wears off like most things.

… Sorry if I’m ruining any romantic notions of space travel.

I’m not just my powers. Sometimes I like to take it slow…

I’ve tried blindfolds, facing away from the board, and one-finger throws. Perfect score, every time.

The forbidden nap, if you will. Mercenary work is a grab bag of awful stuff…

Because looking at it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

I can play nice all day when we’re out there kicking bad guy booty…

Uh, haven’t you listened to anything I’ve said? Money!

I forgot. You aren’t as self-aware as I am…

Well, your friends have been avoiding me like the plague…

He waved goodbye and peaced out to live a life of solitude…

[unreality-failed-toy-mueseum]

The Official Museum of Failed and Recalled Toys - Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

What are your opening hours?

We're open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We close our doors at 4:30 PM to allow visitors to complete their experience. We're closed on Mondays for collection maintenance and special preservation work. Please understand that on certain holidays, we cannot open our doors, as our staff spends time with their families. We are based in █████████████, so time zones need to be kept in mind.

Do you offer guided tours?

Not yet, as we are currently building up our collection. We only have a handful of displayable toys at the moment, and much of what we know of them is compactly contained within the small plaque under each case. We will do so sooner or later, though. It’s only a matter of time.

Can visitors take photographs?

No, it angers them.

We kid, you may take photos, but we ask that you not use flash photography, as many of our staff are sensitive to flashing light, and that we have already lit our museum enough for even the most differently-sighted visitors to enjoy. We ask that you do not talk selfie sticks or bring in tripods either, as those may be easily lost, and difficult to return to the owner. Certain exhibits have a “no photography of any kind” sign on them, and we ask that you respect those as well.

Is the museum suitable for children?

The displayed toys themselves are not suitable, as many of them have been recalled for safety reasons, but as long as they are within the display cases, they’re safe for the little ones to look at. We have them on lock-and-key so that they aren’t stolen, or accidentally played with by crafty children. We digress, however, that in case of any oddities, you immediately report to the staff, and comfort your children. Do not, under any circumstances, contact outside government authorities.

What's your policy on food and drinks?

Don’t bring any in. Please.

Collections & Exhibits

What's your oldest artifact?

As our collection is growing, we cannot state in good faith the oldest of what’s there. That being said, we have acquired some toys not yet on display on our blog or in person that date several centuries. We will keep visitors updated if asked. We will not be accepting paleontologists or other historians to investigate our collection at this time.

Do you accept toy donations?

We will carefully evaluate every potential donation at this time. We appreciate the sentiment, although we can only accept items that fill gaps in our collection or have significant historical value. We have to verify that these toys that are sent in are not just independent projects made by artists with low self esteem. Please email our collections department with photos and any historical information about your items at ████████████████████.

Edit: It seems our email is unable to be put up. We assure potential and returning visitors that it is not because we are under investigation by certain anomaly-based organizations. Those claiming to be such are only attempting to de-legitimize our cause, and should be ignored. Please understand if we have to close our doors to the public due to these assuredly false accusations.

Why are some toys kept in special cases?

Many of our rarest pieces are kept in controlled environments to prevent deterioration. Materials like early rubber, certain plastics, and original fabric can be quite sensitive to light and temperature changes. That's why you'll sometimes see us rushing around adjusting our climate control systems.

Sometimes the cases are there to protect you, not them.

Edit: The Museum of Failed and Recalled Toys would like to remind you that our collection is vetted to be safe for the general public and conservation purposes. We also remind you that our staff has an inappropriate sense of humor at times.

Special Services

Do you authenticate or value toys?

Our conservation team offers brochures at the entrance, where we can give general advice about toy preservation and historical context. In a more emotional sense, all of our staff have valued toys and the conservation of entertainment history since birth, some of us having their own favorites. Questions about such are appreciated and encouraged, as sometimes we have decades of information to share about what makes our job worthwhile.

Can we host children's birthday parties?

Yes!

Edit: No, due to recent events. Please do not ask about it.

Do you offer membership?

No, but you may always give an extra tip at the entrance of the museum. We appreciate the money. We appreciate even more the word-of-mouth advertising a visitor can give after visiting, as more visitors who give tips means our museum can stay open longer, and we can also allocate some of the money to fees, such as:

Staff (volunteers who work free are appreciated, but rare in this economy)

Rental cost for the space

Preservation materials

Emergency funds for recent events and other accidents

Taxes

Funds for dissuading the non-consensual investigation of our museum’s collection (important at this time)

Potential new features at the museum (interactive exhibits, perhaps even a gift shop or cafe)

Upkeep for electrical items

And much more.

What conservation work do you do?

You may ask, but we do not have the information to divulge at this time, due to recent events. Please do not look further into this, or risk legal action. Thank you.

Note: This FAQ should be updated regularly. Last revision: January 2025

[caffinedragon]

Bear with the Heart of a Dragon

Chapter 2: God Fucking Damnit, Corypheous.

"Ugh." Ursa groaned as she skipped another stone across the lake towards the Chantry. "How in the Fuck did you do this all the time? My head is fucking killing me."

"Practice." He answered as he settled in next to her.

"I mean seriously? Why is it now, when there is a hole in the fucking sky, everybody and their mother thinks its more important to beat on their chests and throw their tiny cods around instead of deal with the problem?"

"Ego, mostly."

"Fucking incompetent, selfish pricks, more like."

"I don't disagree with you."

She sighed as she stretched her arms up over her head, "At least that Sera gave me a good laugh. I respect her determination to take the time to do a prank based on a pun."

"A fellow menace."

"Good to see such energy still lives on." She was silent for a few seconds before, "Blackwall isn't a Grey Warden, by the way."

Solas looked at her in surprise. "He isn't?"

"Nope. The Blight smell is missing. Not that i care much. He is a good man and a good warrior so I don't really give a fuck. Just makes me wonder what he is running from that makes him have to pretend to be a Grey Warden of all things. Wouldn't be my first choice but, he seems to respect and revere them so at least he will do them justice."

"You're not concerned?"

"Nah." She started digging out another stone to throw with her boot. "I ain't the Inquisitor nor am I a Warden. Not my problem."

"What if you are picked to be the Inquisitor?"

"Then I will deal with it. "

"You already have a plan i take it?"

"Don't I always?"

"Fair enough."

"Too be honest, I would rather be the Inquisitor than The Herald of Andraste. I can work with being an Inquisitor. It's just a different type of military leader and I am good at that but..."

"But?"

"Being a Herald is like being some holy artifact that has to be protected. I am put up in a pedestal because i am nothing more than a symbol. A thing to rally behind. Not even a person, ya know?"She got the stone out of the dirt and chucked it across the lake, the stone making chirping sounds as it skimmed across the ice. "At least as an Inquisitor I have a purpose, a job to do and the freedom to get shit done. As the Herald i feel like I am sitting on my fucking hands. Ugh." She kicked some snow from the ground. "I hate it."

She then looked at him, sad, frustrated and afraid...but not for her. "Hey...You...you still okay? They ain't fucking with ya still are they?"

She worried for him. Feared for his safety.

For a moment he stopped seeing the elven warrior before him but the horned and clawed Mother of Dragons, the day their fellows declared they were gods.

"Are you all right wolf? Did they hurt you?"

He felt his blood burn and rush, just as he did that night. His heart racing and longing to be devoured again.

But he tempered it.

"Some look at me with suspicion, others with jealousy. Ever since it was revealed that we were aquainted it has been harder to hide away but, I can manage."

She stepped into his space then, her form feeling as of she was towering over him. For a moment he swore he saw her eyes flash gold and slitted but when he blinked they were back to green again.

"Are there people harassing you?" She growled as her hands gripped his shoulders.

"Nothing out of the ordinary."

"Who. Names."

He looked up at her, disbelief and skepticism in his eyes. "And what do you plan on doing to stop them?"

"Whatever I have too."

Her eyes changed as he looked at her, scales as deep and blood red as her hair beginning to crawl up the sides of her temples.

Shame and guilt flooded him just as much as desire did.

He could nit let her fight his battles for him, as much as he would enjoy watching her do it.

"Peace Lethalin. Please." He cooed as he reached up and placed a hand on her cheek. "It is nothing i can not handle. I will be all right." He then pulled her face down and pressed his forehead against hers. "You have already lost so much because of me. I can not have you risk more just so a handful of hecklers and gossips stop twittering behind our backs."

He felt her strong arms wrap around him and pull him into her thick muscular form. Her body was soft and hard at the same time and, Spirits, was she warm.

He burrowed his face into her shoulder before he could catch himself, letting himself sink into the embrace that was tight, protective and safe.

She sighed, sadly, the growl in her voice all but gone. "Solas. The loss of my dragons was not your fault. It was the Evanuris."

"But the Veil-"

"Was the only and best solution we had at the time. If we hadn't put the Veil up when we did, you and i both know what was going to happen. I would gladly give up any and all of my magic if it meant that horrific bullshit stayed contained." She kissed his temple then. "My kids understood this and knew what they were getting into. It was their choice. Please, do not blame yourself for that."

"You have lost all but two."

"Four actually."

"Four?"

"Mhmm. Dumatt was the recipient of the first reincarnation ritual i worked out during the First Blight. He and ironically enough, Mythal's daughter used the same ritual to save Urithmiel who is now named Kieran and a little boy. And then my youngest two, the twins, Lucasan and Razikale never went below ground so they avoided being corrupted by the darkspawn."

"Dumatt is The Hero of Ferelden?"

"I mean, are you surprised? He was practically a carbon copy of me."

"True." He then remembered that she had been awake during the first blight and needed to ask, "Do you know who the Blight got out?"

"It's the one thing the Chantry actually got right. Which is why I am surprised the Veil is still up to be honest. I lost count a long time ago how many holes have been poked in it over the last millennia."

Solas pulled out of the embrace and looked up at her surprised, "Tevinter magisters actually got past the veil?"

"And landed smack dab in the middle of old Arlathan. Which is of course filled with..."

"The Blight."

"Yep. So when they ran back with their tails between their legs they brought it back with them and-"Her eyes suddenly widened as if she just realized something. The expression was quickly followed by frustration and anger, then by several strings of curses again as she picked up a thick branch and snapped it in half over her knee.

"What is it Lethalin?"

"I just realized who the fuck took the fucking orb."

"Who?"

"Coryphous. The leader of the chuckle fucks who punched a hole in The Veil and brought the Blight back with them. It didn't occur to me when I caught the scent of the Blight in the area since it wasn't that long since the fifth one had ended but now i feel like a fucking idiot."

"The fact that you put that together, proves the opposite, Lethalin."

"Yeah. I am more than a dumb old soldier, I know."

Her voice was heavily sarcastic.

"You are far smarter than many i knew, even among the Evanuris. It is not your fault that your have the entire world in your head and that makes you forget small things from time to time. You discredit your own skills Lethalin."

She turned to him with a smirk, "Pot meet Kettle, Lethalan."

"Touche."

"But that is gonna throw a wrench into the plan. No matter who we pick, that bastard is gonna take it as a slight and come for us as soon as we close that breach. And as much as i would want to make sure Haven could withstand such an assault, even if it is only to make sure our people can get out, I can't exactly tell them why i know what i do."

"Approach Cullen with, 'If our adversary has the power and resources to create a hole in the sky, there is a logical conclusion that they could build some sort of army. Perhaps, just in case, we could see if there are ways to fortify Haven or at least figure out an escape route in case of retreat.' No need to tell them anything beyond that."

"That is a good idea, actually. Thank you."

"Your welcome."

"Well, no time like the present. Maybe if I am lucky Josie will part with some of that coffee i smelt her brewing this morning."

He chuckled as he followed her back to the main camp, "We can only hope."

[spectraspecs-writes]

Manaan - Chapter 129

Link to the masterpost. Chapter 128. Chapter 130.

@averruncusho @ceruleanrainblues @chubbsmomma @darthvendar-blog @80strashbag thank you for reading, you get a tag. @skelelexiunderlord thank you for support, you get a tag.

——–

Roland Wann takes a moment before he looks up from his desk, I stand there for a moment before he looks up. “Ah, you’re back,” he say, “I was glad to hear your trial went well.” No thanks to you, buddy. “Have you managed to retrieve the data from our droid in the Sith base?”

“Yes,” I say, pulling the module from my pack, “here it is.”

“Excellent!” He takes the module and looks it over. “It does not appear to have been tampered with, so the Sith did not manage to copy its contents yet. And now for your information…” He looks around, then gestures and brings us into the Enclave. “We are not supposed to speak of this, but since you are a Jedi, and we have exhausted all the other options, I think I can entrust you with this. 

“As you know, the Republic is fighting for its very existence against the evil of the Sith Empire. As you also undoubtedly know, we are doing very poorly. We need much in the way of supplies and material to stem the tide of battle and bring us victory.” I’m not sure I like where this is going. “Manaan is the sole source of kolto, the most powerful medical substance in the galaxy. Frankly, we need as much of it as we can get.”

“What has the Republic done?” Carth asks.

“The Selkath conservatives with their neutrality treaties seek to treat the Sith and the Republic equally. This includes kolto exports. But a few more far-sighted Selkath see that if the Sith are ever allowed to win, the galaxy will be plunged into darkness and there would be nothing to stop them from taking Manaan anyway. So we made a deal…”

“You violated the treaty?!?” explodes out of my mouth.

“Shh!” Wann urges, “Not so loud! Yes, it is a technical violation of the treaty, but it is sanctioned by elements of the Selkath government. We need only keep it hidden from the Sith.”

“This is incredibly dangerous,” I say, “If the Sith found out or the rest of the government got wind of this…”

“I know,” Wann says with a heavy sigh, “but to the senators, it seemed to outweigh the risks. We recently began construction of a secret underground facility to harvest kolto directly at its source. We also hope to one day be able to synthesize it effectively. Current techniques are insufficient for the task, so we must mine it for now. The amount we take would hardly be noticed, since most is lost naturally before it reaches the surface anyway. We were nearing completion of the base when the digging teams reported some sort of obstruction... an ancient building or artifact. Possibly your 'Star Map.'” Sounds like it to me. “Transmissions from the base were cut off abruptly after that, and we haven't heard from the station since.”

That’s odd - construction crews, especially underwater, would have to keep near-constant contact with the surface for safety. “What happened down there?”

He sighs a heavy sigh. “We don’t know. We just don’t know.”

“And you haven’t investigated?” Carth asks.

“As you may have noticed, we are hiring a lot of mercenaries around here. Ostensibly they're to be shipped off-world to aid in our fight against the Sith, but they are really for another purpose. When we lost contact with the station in the Hrakert Rift, we sent our contingent of Republic soldiers down to investigate. None returned.” Yikes. “We have tried hiring mercenaries and sending them down as well” - well, that answers that question - “but none of those expeditions have returned either. The reason we really sent that droid underwater - and the reason we needed its data back so badly - was to find out what had happened to the Hrakert Rift station. But now that we have the data back, our operation is in no danger of exposure to the Sith. And now I must live up to my end of the bargain.”

Well, gee, so I have to go into a place that no one has returned from to get this thing? That’s… actually par for the course, I don’t know why I’m pissed. “How will we get down there?”

“I took the liberty of having a submarine prepared for your departure. Merely use this card” - which he hands me - “to get past the door behind our kolto packing room and enter the sub therein. It has been programmed to take you down to the station, and also to take you back up should you need something. I would send soldiers to assist you, but we have lost many of ours, and nearly exhausted the mercenary population of this planet. The soldiers we have are barely enough to keep this base secure! The Sith have also noted our interest and begun to bribe mercenaries away from us, as you noticed. Please, find out what happened to the facility. There may be some survivors left down there, perhaps even the head scientist - Kono Nolan.” He reaches out to shake my hand. I politely take it. “Good luck in your efforts.”

The three of us walk to the submersible bay and climb in. With the push of a button, the sub closes and begins to descend. My nerves all but vanish as the water rises up above us. This is the perfect chance to observe the ecosystem here, up close. Selkath culture views this ocean as the birthplace of all life on the planet. They’re still semi-aquatic themselves - everything about the species is clearly designed to be as aerodynamic as possible through the water, rather than on dry land. And a planet that’s entirely oceanic is rare - the adaptations in the aquatic animals and plants are sure to be unique. And to add the kolto on top of that - kolto is unique to Manaan. Its potential effects on the evolution of life on this planet hasn’t been thoroughly studied, certainly not in the field. Despite the voice in my head that constantly reminds me that none of my experiences as a scout, none of what I know, is real, all I feel right now is the sense that this is what I was meant to do, where I was meant to be.

But tragically, and too soon, the voyage is over, and we emerge inside the underwater facility. The hatch pops open. While the design clearly matches the base we just left, none of the activity or idle noise is present. The only sound is the occasional drip of water. It’s dark, a little spooky. I really don’t like that drip, it makes me think the walls aren’t watertight. The other side of the submersible bay has a wrecked craft over there. What down here is strong enough to destroy a submersible and can breathe the oxygen atmosphere? A firaxan shark could do it, at least in a group. Even just one could do a lot of damage. But the damage I see came from the top, from within the facility, not from the water. Whatever it is that did this damage came from inside the base. It’s probably the same thing that stopped anyone from contacting the surface. The air is salty, but there’s still the unmistakable smell of fresh death. And it’s not a fishy smell. These aren’t dead Selkath.

There’s only so much I can learn standing here and honestly I’m just scaring myself. I start towards the closest door. It opens to a hallway, and at the end of that hall is a chamber with a Twi’lek in it. Someone alive! The closer we get, I can hear him muttering to himself, crazed. He’s pacing back and forth in the round chamber. Just before the chamber, he hears us, and draws his blaster. Then, “You’re not Selkath!” He lowers it and rushes towards us, grabbing my shoulders. “How-- how did you get in? Did they send another submersible? Quick, we have to get out of here, we have to get away!”

“Whoa, calm down!” I push his arms away. “Get away from what?”

“No! No!” he shakes his head, “We have no time, we have to leave now! I managed to close the door after they killed everyone else, but I don't know how long it will hold.”

“Who’s ‘they’? What happened?”

“The Selkath, they went crazy!” he says, “They started killing anything that moved. Someone must have triggered the defense systems too, 'cause all the droids activated as well.” No wonder this place looks so demolished. “I was one of the mercs the Republic sent down here to find out what happened. We came down and secured the first couple rooms…” He starts to lose his breath. Like he wants to cry but doesn’t have enough water. “...there were bodies everywhere… And the Selkath came out… screaming and croaking their fishy little war-cries.”

“The Selkath?” Carth repeats in disbelief.

The Twi’lek mercenary nods. “They swarmed out and over us,” he says, “There was no way we could stop them. So we ran... But hardly any of us made it. I locked the door behind us, bu... but the others had already left in the submersible!” And left you? That’s cold. “The sharks... the firaxa out there and... worse... I heard an explosion shortly after the submersible left. They didn't make it. Just food for the sharks and the Selkath... like us.”

“Come with us,” Juhani says, “We will take you back to the surface in our submersible.” Right, get this guy somewhere safe.

He relaxes a bit. “Back to the surface, yes,” he says, “Yes… No!” He stops. “There's something out there... it got the other submersible already.”

“Then how are we supposed to get you out of here?” Carth asks.

The Twi’lek shakes her head forcefully. His lekku shake. “We can't leave until you do something. Blow up the entire station maybe.” No. “That might distract whatever it is long enough for us to escape to the surface. But all the machinery and stuff is in the southern half, and that's been flooded! There might still be environmental suits around but... but... the Selkath might have laid their eggs in them!”

“That’s not how fish eggs work,” I find myself saying before I’m even aware of it, “They lack a hard shell so eggs laid on dry land would suffer immediate desiccation.”

“What are you talking about?!” he shouts.

“Forget it,” I say, “I have to get into the station.” I move to step around him.

“No!” He steps back in front of me. “I locked the door so that the Selkath won't get in. If you open it, we're all done for!”

“I’m sorry,” I say, “I have to.”

“If you go in there, you're dead! You're all dead!” We don’t budge. Neither does he. Finally he grumbles, “Fine! If you want to die, then go! You won't hear me mourning for you! I'll stay here and be safe until some sort of REAL rescue comes! But if you're going to go in there, do it quickly! I'll shut the door behind you... but don't expect me to open it again!”

True to his word, he shoves us through the door into the base and locks the door behind us. I’m not particularly worried about a locked door. Anything he can lock, I can figure out how to unlock, and worst case scenario I’ll just destroy the door. There’s only one way to go, forward, to a single door at the end of a long hallway.

Through the door at the end of the hall, there’s a security panel. “Let me see if I can get anything off that,” I say, “hang on.” The card from Roland Wann gives me access and I download a map onto my datapad.

‘That mercenary said there was still staff in the south part of the base,” Juhani says, “Are you able to locate them?”

“Let me see…” A quick security scan for life signs should be easy enough, even at reduced power. That’s… that’s a lot more life signs than I expected. Based on these readings, the base is teeming with life. But that can’t be the case because this place is quiet. I wonder - can I filter these results to only endotherms? Let’s see… there we go.

Holy shit.

Including us, there are seven endotherms, seven non-Selkath in the entire base. Several sensors are offline, but that mercenary said that part of the base was flooded. So where I see offline sensors, that’s probably ocean, and if anyone’s there, they’re Selkath. And the Selkath went insane. “Not including us, there are two non-Selkath on this side of the base,” I say, “One of them is that mercenary, the other is staff.” That’s all I can get - there’s too many damaged systems. “There’s two more on the other side of the base, but there’s an ocean between us and them.”

“That’s where all the machinery is,” Carth says.

“I’m not blowing up the base,” I say.

“I know, but that can’t be the only option,” he says, “Something happened here and maybe the machinery had something to do with it.”

‘We’re not going to find out here, at any rate,” I say, ‘There’s too much damage to find any archived sensor information. Whatever happened, the main computer doesn’t have any record of it.”

“Let’s keep moving, then.”

“One last thing,” I say, “The merc said the defense system was activated. I want to switch them off before we run into anything.” Sentry droids, quite a few of them. I send a remote deactivation command, and they all tick offline. “Okay, we’re good to go.” Sign off. To the next door.

The other door opens to an even longer hallway, lined on one side floor to ceiling with windows. Light filters in from the windows, tinted green by the water. It’s not bright, but it supplements the already-dim station lighting. The view through them is unobstructed - good, I can get a sense of the damage, our surroundings.

And everything makes sense.

We’re in the reef… The kolto must… This habitat is so… The sharks probably… But the Republic…

“You’re mumbling,” Carth says suddenly. Was I saying all that out loud? “What do you see?”

“You don’t see that?” I say. No, I guess not. I run my finger along the glass, tracing the reef and its ridges. “This is prime marine habitat, look at all the firaxan sharks. This reef and its caves and crannies have probably been formed by centuries of erosion and sharks looking for creches to lay their eggs. This isn’t just a home, it’s a nursery. And the kolto is part of that. It’s healing for us, but as a part of their ecosystem, it must have a growth impact here in the ocean as well. Everything here has been shaped by millenia of this delicate balance. The rocks and minerals erode, releasing the kolto into the water, which helps the sharks grow, and they create more crevices, more erosion. And that’s not even considering the other species that call this reef home.”

Carth and Juhani look, but they don’t see it. Can’t see it, not quite. Aren’t used to thinking that way. “I am sure Selkath scientists already understood this,” Juhani says slowly, not quite understanding, ‘Sure they know where the kolto…”

“It’s not about the kolto, it’s about the eggs!” I say, “The construction impacts the nursery sites, you can see the change. The sharks reacted to the construction in defense of their home, their eggs. The vibrations through the water may have affected their communication, too, so not only were they being attacked, the world suddenly got so… loud.” I understand that. The confusion, the mixed signals, the uncertainty. The fear. The lashing out.

“That explains the sharks,” Carth says, “but what about the Selkath?”

I suck my teeth. “I’m not sure yet. They couldn’t have known this would happen when they authorized the Republic to build here - the ocean means too much to them to risk its destruction. But their response… I don’t know. There’s still a few pieces I’m missing. And I’m not going to get them in here.” I take a deep breath. “I’ll have to go out to the ocean floor.”

[famousnerdtragedy]

Guardians of Time

Based on Blood & Treasure

The streets of Cairo buzzed with life, a symphony of sounds and colors merging under the relentless sun. Amidst the chaos, Dr. Elena Rios navigated the bustling marketplace with a purpose. Her eyes, sharp and discerning, scanned the crowd as she clutched her worn leather satchel. Elena was more than just an archaeologist; she was a Guardian, a member of a secret organization dedicated to protecting artifacts from falling into the wrong hands. Her latest mission: intercept a stolen artifact linked to the Brotherhood of Serapis.

Elena's intel suggested the handoff would occur at a secluded café. As she approached, she spotted two familiar faces: Danny McNamara and Lexi Vaziri, the dynamic duo known for their treasure-hunting exploits. They were seated at a corner table, their expressions a mix of anticipation and caution.

"Danny, Lexi," Elena greeted them, sliding into an empty chair. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Elena," Danny responded, surprise evident in his voice. "What brings you to Cairo?"

"Same as you, I suspect," she replied, her gaze shifting to Lexi. "The Serapis medallion."

Lexi's eyes narrowed. "How do you know about that?"

Elena leaned in, lowering her voice. "Because I'm here to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. The Guardians have been tracking its movements for months."

Danny nodded, understanding dawning on his face. "The Guardians... I've heard rumors. An organization dedicated to protecting history."

"Exactly," Elena confirmed. "And right now, that means stopping the Brotherhood of Serapis."

Just then, a hooded figure entered the café, drawing their attention. The figure approached the counter, glancing around nervously. Lexi's hand moved to her concealed weapon, ready for action.

"That's our contact," Elena whispered. "He's supposed to hand off the medallion to a Brotherhood operative."

They watched as the figure made a quick exchange with a man in a suit, who then slipped out the back door. Elena and Lexi exchanged a nod and quietly followed, leaving Danny to settle the bill.

Outside, the man in the suit moved swiftly through the alleys. Elena's training kicked in as she signaled to Lexi, directing their pursuit. They trailed him to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city.

Inside, the air was thick with dust and tension. Crates and artifacts were scattered about, relics of forgotten times. The man in the suit approached a pedestal in the center of the room, placing the medallion atop it.

"Welcome, Guardian," a voice echoed, causing Elena to spin around. A tall figure emerged from the shadows, his eyes gleaming with malevolent intent. "I've been expecting you."

"Azim," Elena spat, recognizing the leader of the Brotherhood of Serapis. "You're too late. The medallion will never be yours."

Azim laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "We shall see."

Before Elena could react, the room erupted in chaos. Danny and Lexi burst in, weapons drawn, as Brotherhood operatives swarmed from hidden passages. The fight was fierce and relentless, a clash of wills and skill.

Elena focused on Azim, their battle a whirlwind of punches and counterattacks. Her training and determination fueled her movements, each strike precise and calculated. Finally, with a decisive blow, she knocked Azim to the ground, securing the medallion.

Panting, Elena stood over him. "This belongs to history, not to your twisted ambitions."

Danny and Lexi subdued the remaining operatives, ensuring the medallion's safety. As the dust settled, Elena looked at her newfound allies.

"Thank you," she said, her voice sincere. "The Guardians owe you a debt."

Danny smiled. "Consider it a mutual alliance. After all, protecting history is something we all believe in."

Lexi nodded, her expression softening. "Until the next adventure, then."

Elena smiled back, feeling a sense of camaraderie and purpose. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, united in their quest to safeguard the treasures of the past.

[onwesterlywinds]

PROMPT #20: Hamper

Sigrid found something oddly amusing in the Merlose pulling up to dock at the Parrock: a grand, old-fashioned airship, wooden hull and all, dwarfing the other vessels in their own port. Hers served a far different purpose than Leofard's manacutters, of course, and his band of pirates could quite literally fly circles around her if they so desired - but neither could they convey anything larger than a treasure chest back to their hideout. Not for the first time, Sigrid marveled at the sturdiness of the ship that had seen her and her crew through nearly two decades of adventures.

There was still a deep scratch across the transom where Ashelia Riot had backed into the hangar in Ul'dah - but given that she had done so after piloting dozens of Thavnairian refugees to safety, Sigrid could not entirely hold it against her.

A Redbill guard hailed her as she made her approach, then, upon seeing that she was the only one above deck, caught the mooring line she tossed and secured it on her behalf while she killed the engines.

"Captain," he said with a nod.

She nodded back in greeting. "Is Captain Leofard occupied?" She could only hope that her prior dealings with him and his crew around the Mhachi artifact - and her subsequent role in keeping Radlia off the warpath in the moons that had followed - would grant her some measure of honesty.

Sure enough, the guard replied, "Not at all. This time of the evening, reckon he's enjoying his supper."

"My thanks. Permission to enter freely?"

The guard shrugged, which she chose to interpret as a compliment.

Further into the Parrock, past a clothesline upon which everyone's underwear had been strung up for drying, Sigrid came upon Leofard and a small handful of his crew at a spot overlooking the clear eastern sky. Later, once the last vestiges of sunlight had receded, it would be a perfect night for viewing stars. Sigrid had noticed more meteors in the sky of late, though she kept forgetting to ask Ansei whether they were a natural phenomenon or a side effect of the Final Days taking place in other parts of the star; either way, as far north and west as they were, the Redbills would have little to fear of blasphemies for the time being.

For another few weeks, at least.

"Why, it's Nan!" Leofard exclaimed.

"Call me that again," Sigrid warned him, "and I'll throw your unmentionables back there to Bismarck."

The guard had been half correct. Leofard looked to have eaten along with his crew, judging by the empty bowls scattered around the campfire; most of those gathered, the captain included, held bottles of drinks tight in their fists.

Leofard raised his own hands in surrender, and in the firelight, Sigrid could clearly make out a priceless Dalmascan vintage, bearing a label with a Mhachi cat. "Fine, fine. To what do we owe the pleasure, Captain?"

"Not a pleasure, I'm afraid: the Final Days."

Utata coughed mid-swig. "Oh gods. It's already getting closer?"

"Knew more of us should have stayed sober," one of the deckswabs grumbled.

Rather than ponder the Redbills' contingency plan for escaping burning skies in a fleet of one-rider vessels, intoxicated or otherwise, she pressed on. "Closer for some than for others, hence why I've come. I trust you all remember Livvy Ahtynwyb?"

They all nodded.

"She's going off on some mission to try and save this star of ours." Even now, the words felt silly coming from her mouth, not least of all for the mad stirrings of hope they inspired. "What will turn the tide for her now is a rare mineral: adamantite. I've located some in an Allagan wreck off to the west of the Diadem, and I have room in our hold to accommodate a good percentage of the expected yield." And here comes the ask. "But as grand as the Merlose is, I won't be able to reach the Warrior of Light in Sharlayan without exerting the engines past what they can take, and I certainly can't count on their dock staff to unload it all in a timely manner."

"And," added Leofard, "you need strong backs to carry the stuff off from the sky island in the first place."

She couldn't deny that, either. While she had done her utmost to keep her posture intact over the years, her core strength was not what it once was.

"Alright." Leofard set down his bottle of Dalmascan red, heedless of how it wobbled beneath a misplaced stone, and jumped to his feet. "We do this, and I get to call you Nan for a year."

"Radlia calls me 'Cousin,' so I would reconsider - unless you'd like to be kin with her."

The crew burst into laughter as Leofard visibly recoiled, and not even Sigrid could suppress a smug grin. There was truly no greater victory among sky pirates than turning another captain's crew against them for a joke.

"Fine!" To the Redbills, he shouted, "Go on, laugh it up! I'll put you all down for two shifts of hauling Allagan rocks!"

"Excellent," Sigrid said. "I expect to see you all bright-eyed come morning."

Before Leofard could protest any further, she lifted his bottle from the earth and carried it off with her to the Merlose.

[stillalive19567]

Have you ever seen a demon cry? | Lisa x Female Reader | Chapter 25

"You're safe now," Lisa says softly, though her voice is strained from the effort of controlling the storm. "We need to get out of here."

With a trembling hand, she gently touches my face once more, her anger beginning to give way to a deep, sorrowful concern. "I'm sorry," she whispers, her voice cracking with emotion. "I didn't mean for it to be like this. I just—"

I reach up and take her hand, feeling the warmth of her touch against the cold rain. "It's okay," I say softly. "I'm just glad you're here. We're together, and that's what matters."

Lisa nods, tears mingling with the rain on her cheeks. She leans in, pressing her forehead against mine, her anger slowly giving way to a quiet, profound sadness.

"I just couldn't stand to see you hurt," she admits, her voice barely audible over the sound of the storm.

Lisa carries me effortlessly in her arms, her expression a mixture of fierce determination and tenderness.

The rain continues to fall, drenching us both, but she remains unwavering.

Her grip is firm but gentle, her steps steady despite the exhaustion evident in her eyes.

As we walk through the rain, I can feel the weight of the day's events pressing heavily on both of us.

The forest is a blur of shadows and droplets, the only sound the rhythmic patter of the rain and the occasional rumble of distant thunder.

After ten minutes, the trees begin to thin, and the outline of Lisa's car comes into view.

Lisa moves with purpose, her focus solely on getting us to safety. She carefully opens the car door with one hand, still holding me securely.

Once inside, she gently sets me down in the passenger seat, her concern evident as she checks my injuries one last time.

Her touch is tender and reassuring, a stark contrast to the harshness of the storm outside.

"Are you okay?" Lisa asks, her voice filled with worry as she starts the engine.

The warmth of the car is a welcome relief from the cold rain, and the sound of the engine starting seems to bring a sense of calm.

I nod, trying to offer a reassuring smile despite the pain. "I'm okay. Thanks to you."

Lisa's eyes soften as she focuses on the road, her hands gripping the steering wheel with a determined strength. "I'm just glad you're safe. We need to get out of here and find a place where we can regroup and plan our next move."

As we drive away from the forest, the rain gradually begins to ease, the storm's intensity fading into a gentle drizzle.

Lisa's mother, who has been quietly observing from the back seat, turns to us with a concerned expression. "I'll contact everyone and start searching for more information on the Clavis Sigilli. We need to stay ahead of The Liberum and ensure that artifact doesn't fall into their hands."

Lisa nods in agreement, her eyes still focused on the road. "Thank you. We have to be prepared for whatever comes next."

The drive is quiet, the only sounds the soft hum of the engine and the gentle rain tapping against the car windows.

As we approach the nearest town, Lisa finds a safe place to stop and pulls over.

She turns to me, her eyes filled with a mixture of relief and concern. "We'll rest here for a bit."

I nod, grateful for her support and the promise of a brief respite. "Thank you, Lisa. For everything."

She gives me a soft smile, her eyes reflecting the same determination that has carried us through this ordeal. "We're in this together. We'll get through it."

With that, we step out of the car and into a small, cozy inn. The warmth and comfort of the place are a stark contrast to the storm outside. The innkeeper greets us with a friendly smile and directs us to our room.

Once inside the room, Lisa helps me over to the bed, her movements careful and deliberate.

The room is softly lit, creating a peaceful atmosphere that feels almost surreal after the intensity of the previous hours.

Lisa's touch is gentle as she helps me settle onto the bed.

She moves quickly to gather the supplies we need: antiseptic, bandages, and clean cloths. Her expression is a mix of focus and concern, her eyes never leaving my injuries as she works.

"Just stay still," she says softly, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions I can see in her eyes. "I'm going to clean these up and stop the bleeding."

I nod, trying to stay as still as possible. Lisa's hands are gentle but firm as she carefully cleans each bruise and cut, her touch both soothing and meticulous.

The sting of the antiseptic is sharp, but Lisa's presence makes it more bearable.

As she works, she glances up at me occasionally, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"You're going to be okay," she reassures me. "We'll get through this."

I can see the effort it takes for her to keep her voice steady, and I reach out to touch her hand lightly. "Thank you, Lisa. For everything. I know it's been a lot to handle."

She gives me a small, tired smile as she continues to bandage my wounds. "We've been through so much together. We'll get through this too."

After a few more minutes of careful work, Lisa finishes tending to my injuries. She sets aside the supplies and sits down next to me on the bed, letting out a deep sigh.

"There," she says, her voice softening. "All done. You should try to rest now."

I can see the exhaustion in her eyes, and I reach out to take her hand. "You should rest too. You've been through so much."

Lisa shakes her head, her gaze tender as she looks at me. "I'm fine. I just want to make sure you're okay. I need to make sure you're safe."

I smile, touched by her unwavering care and dedication. "I'm safe because of you."

Lisa's expression softens further, and she sits down beside me, her hand still holding mine.

The room is quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the heater and the occasional creak of the inn's floorboards.

"I'll be here," she says softly, her voice a comforting whisper. "I'm not going anywhere."

I look up at Lisa, my eyes reflecting a mix of exhaustion and longing. "Can you cuddle with me?" I ask softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Lisa hesitates for a moment, her gaze falling on the bandages and the injuries that still need to heal. "What about your wounds?" she asks, concern evident in her voice.

I give her a small, reassuring smile. "It's okay. You're the best medicine.

She looks at me with a tender expression and slowly, carefully, she lies down beside me on the bed.

Her movements are gentle, mindful of my injuries. Once settled, she pulls me into her arms, her embrace warm and comforting.

I rest my head on her chest, feeling the steady, rhythmic beating of her heart beneath my ear.

The sound is soothing, a comforting reminder of her presence. The steady rise and fall of her breathing lulls me into a sense of safety.

Lisa wraps her arms around me, holding me close with a tenderness that makes me feel protected.

Despite the pain and the chaos of the past few days, being held by her brings a profound sense of peace.

Her fingers gently stroke my hair, and I feel her lips brush against my forehead in a soft, tender kiss. "I'm here," she whispers. "I'll always be here for you."

I close my eyes, letting out a contented sigh as I sink deeper into her embrace.

I let go of the last of my worries and drift off to sleep, comforted by Lisa's presence and the warmth of her embrace.

[quickcabs1]

Taxi Christchurch NZ is your trusted travel companion

On the level of reliability and cost-effectiveness regarding transport, Taxi Christchurch NZ takes the top position with prompt services offered by Taxi Wellington NZ—undoubtedly the first preference for most of the time for residents visiting or simply for business purposes and more, as our taxis deliver a hassle-free ride to comfort. Here are professional, well-kept vehicles 24/7 available in both cities—Christchurch and Wellington—by Chief Taxi.

Why Quickcabs for Taxi Christchurch NZ & Taxi Wellington NZ?

1. Availability round-the-clock

The greatest advantage of choosing Taxi Christchurch NZ and Taxi Wellington NZ is our 24/7 service availability. At any time of the day or night, our taxis are available to cater to your needs.

2. Affordable & Transparent pricing

At Quickcabs, we believe in the best service at affordable rates. The structure of our charges is transparent with no hidden charges, so it provides you with the best value for your money.

3. Professional & Experienced Drivers

All our drivers are professionally trained, licensed, and extremely experienced in driving about Christchurch and Wellington. This knowledge of locals will get the passengers to their destination safely and effectively.

4. Clean & Well-Kept Fleet

Our fleet consists of clean, tidy, and well-maintained vehicles that are equipped with all the modern accessories to make your journey extremely enjoyable.

5. Easy Booking Options

Booking Taxi Christchurch NZ or Taxi Wellington NZ is easy and hassle-free without any trouble through Quickcabs. You can book through our website, through our mobile application, or even call us directly. 

Discover Christchurch with Quickcabs

Christchurch is the City of the Gardens, absolutely fitting for its history, culture, and natural beauty. Whether you have a business purpose or come just for fun, Christchurch Visit, Taxi Christchurch NZ, can get you about this city hassle-free.

Popular Places to See in Christchurch

The Botanic Gardens in Christchurch: For all lovers of nature, these gardens embody peace in an otherwise busy world.

Canterbury Museum: a goldmine for history lovers, rich cultural heritage, and artifacts.

Sumner Beach: an ideal place to spend an easygoing day at the seaside.

Port Hills: for trekking and some sweeping views of this city.

International Antarctic Centre: Feel the Antarctica in its surrounding environment.

Traveling around Wellington with Quickcabs

Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand; it has many fun things to view and do, and heaps of cultural places coupled with the incredible waterfront. Taxi Wellington NZ can navigate this vibrant city comfortably.

Top Places to Visit in Wellington

Te Papa Museum: a national museum where you visit New Zealand by relating to interactive exhibits and also by cultural shows.

Wellington Cable Car: It is a fun ride on a cable car, giving one a wonderful view of the city from all perspectives.

Zealandia Ecosanctuary: missing, which is worthwhile for any wildlife enthusiasts

Cuba Street: vibrant restaurants, cafes, boutiques, etc

Mount Victoria Lookout: superb view of the city and surroundings of Wellington city.

Business & Airport transfers via Quickcabs

Taxi Christchurch NZ will be very professional for all different types of work-related and airport-related transfers without any hassle. Quickcabs help to reach Christchurch International Airport or Wellington International Airport to prevent even the slightest chance of missing a flight or meeting.

Reliable Rides Safe Every Time

At our core lies a concern for safety above everything. Quickcabs ensure only:

Background verified drivers.

GPS-fitted taxis to provide location information in real-time.

Clean Vehicles for Clean Ride

How to Book Your Ride?

Enjoy easy reservations at Taxi Christchurch NZ and Taxi Wellington NZ by just following easy and quick steps available for you

Visit our site: location yourself, providing us with your required information to do so

Install Our Mobile Apps: Booking or tracking the ride of your dreams is quite comfortable and simple as ever

Phone Call: Reach out to our client services to book one now.

Customer Reviews

Our customers love traveling with Quickcabs! Here's what they have to say about us:

"I use Taxi Christchurch NZ daily to go home from work. Very reliable and professional service."- John M.

"That made my trip to Wellington stress-free. Recommend the service from Taxi Wellington NZ!" - Lisa R.

"Excellence of service, taxi very clean and driver very polite. Definitely coming back again. Thanks!" - David P.

Conclusion

We would book a taxi for you at all times; if you look for it inside the city or the airport, which is about picking up or dropping, and at any event, our experts would handhold you through. We will get you safely to your destination at the time agreed upon by hiring a quick ride with taxi services in Quickcabs like Taxi Christchurch NZ and Taxi Wellington NZ. Available today, taxi in high class, as booked today.

[metaldetectors2]

underwater metal detection guide

Metal detection and prospecting for ancient artifacts and buried treasures have become fields that have witnessed widespread popularity among people in recent times. This field combines the search for gold and precious metals and the achievement of huge fortunes. Between adventure and diving in this field, you must have a metal detector. Metal detectors differ in their technologies, systems, quality and brand. In this article, we will talk about the underwater metal detection guide and underwater metal detectors in some detail.

https://www.metaldetectors.ae/

How to Underwater Metal Detection Guide

Underwater Metal Detectors is a great opportunity that provides prospectors with the opportunity to discover valuable treasures submerged under water. But this type of search requires facing challenges, understanding techniques and choosing the most appropriate unique water-resistant equipment. It is necessary to use underwater metal detectors. As well as water-resistant search coils, water-resistant headphones, and also, it is necessary to choose the most appropriate times for searching and monitoring tidal movements. 

The most appropriate times for Underwater Metal Detection are when the water is calm. When starting the search, you must move with a steady and calm movement to ensure covering the largest area under the water and accurately identifying the target locations.

The importance of detecting metals under water

Underwater Metal Detection is of great importance. In addition to the fact that you can achieve enormous wealth when discovering precious metals, detecting metals under water is used in various applications because:

It helps in detecting harmful substances and pollution, which ensures the safety of marine sites and the creatures in them.

It can search for natural resources and minerals such as oil, gas and precious metals.

It can be used in coastal areas and facilities to detect foreign objects and harmful materials.

It helps in discovering secrets that have been submerged in water for a long time, as it can discover sunken ships and understand maritime history and ancient cultures.

It is also used to ensure the safety of marine areas, as it can detect explosive ordnance and toxic materials that are submerged under water.

How to prepare for detecting metals under water

Before starting to detect metals under water, some tools and techniques must be taken into consideration, such as:

Monitoring the movement of the tides and determining the depth of the water you are searching in, in order to choose the appropriate equipment for the search.

Use wet suits that allow a limited amount of water to enter, which helps maintain body temperature.

Wear long, comfortable shoes, and use waterproof gloves, which maintains the ability to move underwater and the ability to carry the device for long periods.

Use waterproof metal detectors such as submersible metal detectors, which enable you to use them underwater without affecting them.

It is necessary to determine the salinity of the water, as salt water contains a large amount of mineralization, so the sensitivity of the detector must be adjusted to avoid the effect of other and unimportant metals.

Underwater metal detectors

There are many underwater metal detectors that differ in their systems, technologies, and the depth they can reach. As well as the quality of the materials used in their manufacture. In the next few lines, we will mention the best underwater metal detectors, their technical specifications, and the features that distinguish them from others.

Gold Stinger 5X

The Gold Stinger 5X is one of the best metal detectors. It is provided by the American company Stinger Detectors, and this device can reach a depth of 3 meters. In addition, it works in various terrains and is used for multiple purposes. Which makes it one of the best metal detectors.

https://www.metaldetectors.ae/product/gold-stinger-x5/

Technical Specifications

The Gold Stinger 5X device has distinctive technical specifications that make it an ideal choice and a strong candidate for the best metal detectors, including:

A 7.4-volt, 2.6-amp lithium-ion battery that works for 20 hours.

A 4.3-inch LED screen with a resolution of 272 x 480 pixels.

A multi-frequency processor with a 32-bit integration, and an operating temperature ranging from zero to 45 degrees Celsius.

A storage temperature ranging from 20 to 80 degrees Celsius.

Features

The Gold Stinger 5X device combines multiple features that make it a great and excellent device in the field of metal detection even underwater. Among these features:

The sensitivity can be adjusted, which allows avoiding the effect of worthless metal signals, giving accurate results for the locations of the targets to be searched for.

The device has a ZB filter to filter out soil signals and interferences, and the results are displayed in the form of two-dimensional graphics and curves.

The device is easy to use and works on all types of terrain, and is suitable for all prospectors, amateurs and beginners, and is used in multiple applications and modes.

The device has two search modes that help in searching for different types of metals, namely discrimination mode and all metal mode.

The device includes an enhanced search option and a button to locate targets with high accuracy, and you can adjust the sensitivity to capture only the targets you want to search for.

The device has eight languages, namely Arabic, English, French, German, Turkish, Spanish, Russian and Persian.

Mega Scan Pro

The Mega Scan Pro device, presented by the German company Mega. It is the best-selling device in recent times without a doubt, and the device is characterized by a huge set of excellent features and technologies. The search depth reaches 50 meters underground. The forward search range is 3000 meters. In addition, the device includes a variety of features that we will talk about in the next few lines.

https://www.metaldetectors.ae/product/mega-scan-pro/

Technical specifications

The Mega Scan Pro device includes a huge and excellent set of technical specifications, including:

4.3-inch TFT screen and LED lighting.

168 MHz ARM processor.

3.7V rechargeable battery with a capacity of 3600 mAh Li Ion.

The weight of the device is 6.3 kg, including the weight of the bag.

Features

The device features a wide and excellent range of great features that make it one of the best metal detectors. These features include:

The device can be used in various terrains and in multiple applications for metals, voids and treasures.

The device can reach a depth of 50 meters on the surface of the earth, and its forward search range reaches 3000 meters.

The device includes 6 search systems to meet the diverse needs of serious treasure hunters.

The device includes 12 languages, making it easy to use in different parts of the world.

[goldendetectorads8]

underwater metal detection guide

Metal detection and prospecting for ancient artifacts and buried treasures have become fields that have witnessed widespread popularity among people in recent times. This field combines the search for gold and precious metals and the achievement of huge fortunes. Between adventure and diving in this field, you must have a metal detector. Metal detectors differ in their technologies, systems, quality and brand. In this article, we will talk about the underwater metal detection guide and underwater metal detectors in some detail.

How to Underwater Metal Detection Guide

Underwater Metal Detectors is a great opportunity that provides prospectors with the opportunity to discover valuable treasures submerged under water. But this type of search requires facing challenges, understanding techniques and choosing the most appropriate unique water-resistant equipment. It is necessary to use underwater metal detectors. As well as water-resistant search coils, water-resistant headphones, and also, it is necessary to choose the most appropriate times for searching and monitoring tidal movements. 

The most appropriate times for Underwater Metal Detection are when the water is calm. When starting the search, you must move with a steady and calm movement to ensure covering the largest area under the water and accurately identifying the target locations.

The importance of detecting metals under water

Underwater Metal Detection is of great importance. In addition to the fact that you can achieve enormous wealth when discovering precious metals, detecting metals under water is used in various applications because:

It helps in detecting harmful substances and pollution, which ensures the safety of marine sites and the creatures in them.

It can search for natural resources and minerals such as oil, gas and precious metals.

It can be used in coastal areas and facilities to detect foreign objects and harmful materials.

It helps in discovering secrets that have been submerged in water for a long time, as it can discover sunken ships and understand maritime history and ancient cultures.

It is also used to ensure the safety of marine areas, as it can detect explosive ordnance and toxic materials that are submerged under water.

How to prepare for detecting metals under water

Before starting to detect metals under water, some tools and techniques must be taken into consideration, such as:

Monitoring the movement of the tides and determining the depth of the water you are searching in, in order to choose the appropriate equipment for the search.

Use wet suits that allow a limited amount of water to enter, which helps maintain body temperature.

Wear long, comfortable shoes, and use waterproof gloves, which maintains the ability to move underwater and the ability to carry the device for long periods.

Use waterproof metal detectors such as submersible metal detectors, which enable you to use them underwater without affecting them.

It is necessary to determine the salinity of the water, as salt water contains a large amount of mineralization, so the sensitivity of the detector must be adjusted to avoid the effect of other and unimportant metals.

Underwater metal detectors

There are many underwater metal detectors that differ in their systems, technologies, and the depth they can reach. As well as the quality of the materials used in their manufacture. In the next few lines, we will mention the best underwater metal detectors, their technical specifications, and the features that distinguish them from others.

Gold Stinger 5X

The Gold Stinger 5X is one of the best metal detectors. It is provided by the American company Stinger Detectors, and this device can reach a depth of 3 meters. In addition, it works in various terrains and is used for multiple purposes. Which makes it one of the best metal detectors.

Technical Specifications

The Gold Stinger 5X device has distinctive technical specifications that make it an ideal choice and a strong candidate for the best metal detectors, including:

A 7.4-volt, 2.6-amp lithium-ion battery that works for 20 hours.

A 4.3-inch LED screen with a resolution of 272 x 480 pixels.

A multi-frequency processor with a 32-bit integration, and an operating temperature ranging from zero to 45 degrees Celsius.

A storage temperature ranging from 20 to 80 degrees Celsius.

Features

The Gold Stinger 5X device combines multiple features that make it a great and excellent device in the field of metal detection even underwater. Among these features:

The sensitivity can be adjusted, which allows avoiding the effect of worthless metal signals, giving accurate results for the locations of the targets to be searched for.

The device has a ZB filter to filter out soil signals and interferences, and the results are displayed in the form of two-dimensional graphics and curves.

The device is easy to use and works on all types of terrain, and is suitable for all prospectors, amateurs and beginners, and is used in multiple applications and modes.

The device has two search modes that help in searching for different types of metals, namely discrimination mode and all metal mode.

The device includes an enhanced search option and a button to locate targets with high accuracy, and you can adjust the sensitivity to capture only the targets you want to search for.

The device has eight languages, namely Arabic, English, French, German, Turkish, Spanish, Russian and Persian.

Gold Monster 1000

The Australian company Moonlab has introduced the Gold Monster 1000 device. It is one of the best gold detectors. The device works with an audio system and can reach a depth of 2 meters. The device is characterized by its ease of use and simplicity. Which makes it very suitable for beginners who want to search for raw gold. Below we will talk about the features of the device and its technical specifications.

Technical Specifications

The Gold Monster 1000 device features an excellent set of technical specifications, including:

The device is light in weight, as it weighs 1.33 kg without batteries.

The device operates with a lithium-ion battery included in the device, in addition to 8 x AA batteries (not included).

The device operates automatically in ground balance and noise cancellation.

The sensitivity can be adjusted manually (1–10), automatically (11), and automatically + (12).

The detector length is 1382 mm – 944 mm (54.4 inches – 37.2 inches).

Features

The Gold Monster 1000 device features a wide range of features that make it a strong candidate for the best metal detectors, including:

The device is very simple and easy to use, and is characterized by high sensitivity capable of detecting the smallest gold nuggets.

The device operates with a fully automatic operating system, is fast and easy, with two search plates and high adjustability.

The device adapts better than high-frequency devices and is highly compatible with salty soil, which works to extract the largest amount of gold.

The device is highly waterproof, as it can reach a depth of one meter under the water surface.

Mega Scan Pro

The Mega Scan Pro device, presented by the German company Mega. It is the best-selling device in recent times without a doubt, and the device is characterized by a huge set of excellent features and technologies. The search depth reaches 50 meters underground. The forward search range is 3000 meters. In addition, the device includes a variety of features that we will talk about in the next few lines.

Technical specifications

The Mega Scan Pro device includes a huge and excellent set of technical specifications, including:

4.3-inch TFT screen and LED lighting.

168 MHz ARM processor.

3.7V rechargeable battery with a capacity of 3600 mAh Li Ion.

The weight of the device is 6.3 kg, including the weight of the bag.

Features

The device features a wide and excellent range of great features that make it one of the best metal detectors. These features include:

The device can be used in various terrains and in multiple applications for metals, voids and treasures.

The device can reach a depth of 50 meters on the surface of the earth, and its forward search range reaches 3000 meters.

The device includes 6 search systems to meet the diverse needs of serious treasure hunters.

The device includes 12 languages, making it easy to use in different parts of the world.

[pokemonxhyperfixation]

Basement Section of Zooge HQ Pamphlet

After doing some digging, we managed to find the missing section of the Zooge HQ promotional material covering the basement!

"Now, if we were to enter the basement:"

"We can start by introducing our pets down here! First is ben. ben. is our Roombug, a strange savana native species that eat waste material and have a strong aversion to water. ben. here roams the basement keeping it clean."

"Next is Yippee!!!!!, our Hoarding Bug. If I'm being completely honest, Meiling went out to get some information on some species we've been looking into housing, and came back with this. While I love Yippee!!!!! dearly, their tendency to steal and hide important materials has been a bit of a problem."

"We do have a third pet, but he will be covered in a later section."

From this point on, you find that assorted portions of this pamphlet are periodically crossed out, though it's not entirely clear why.

"Our basement is split into 5 rooms, and the first we'll cover is The Hub. As guests will quickly find out, Zooge is a rather large park, and as such we have taken to using Waystone technology we have aquired from those enderman folk. It is far more convienient I think you'll find. This grassy space based upon the Aether Dimension serves as our hub for all teleportation travel. This is also where ben. and Yippee!!!!! sleep."

"This is the Fish Room, home of our third pet-"

"Mr. Fish! Mr. Fish is a thrasher from the seas of the polar north. He's a hungry boy, but that's fine! Have access to plent of his favorite. He's pretty spoiled!"

"Due to... assorted reasons, the Fish Room is rather small. All it contains is a small pool of salt water that is kept at a very low temperature in order to keep our fishy friend happy! Though, this hasn't stopped him from jumping out of the pool in order to get at his prey. There is one other purpose of the Fish Room however. This is the only room in the Basement in which guests are technically allowed! As any guest who is causing too much trouble in the park will serve as Mr. Fish's Dinner. They are his favorite after all."

"Next would be our Study! While I'm fully aware that it is not the grandest, it works perfectly well for us. The study is where much of our magic is studied and practiced. When HQ was first constructed, Alice guarded this room like a hawk, but these days it mostly serves as a main room for Yippee!!!! and ben. to hang out in. ben. especially likes this room, as much of the tomes in here have been collecting dust. Except for one."

"This here is the next Basement room, The Lab! The Lab is actually a fairly simple room. Much of what we do here is analyze ancient artifacts, though we have dabbled in a bit of necromancy. These days, the main purpose of the Lab is to test newly incoming species. Okay, saying we 'test' our new coming fauna might give the wrong idea. What I mean to say, is we test the temperment of the creatures we bring in, in order to see if our staff can safely work within that exhibit, as well as if cohabitation with other creatures is plausible. Meiling, graciously, has offered to be the one in charge of running these tests, heroically putting herself in harms way for the sake of our creatures! (And threat not for the safety of ben. and Yippee!!!!!, the Lab is gated off from the other areas of the Basement as a procaution.) 'Oh wait Clownberg!' I hear you asking. 'What if the creature you're bringing in is aquatic? How can you run these crucial checks?' Well my friend, that is the purpose of the next room-"

"The Pool Room! The Pool Room is a specialized pool equipped with adjustable heaters in the walls in order to ensure maximum comfort for any creature's or staff that enjoy a brief stay in this area. (Disclaimer: Staff are actively discouraged from swimming in the Pool Room, as the presence of any given creature in the Pool is given to any non-HQ staff on a need to know basis. While we care FAR MORE for the safety of our staff over the safety of our guests, it's simply unreasonable to alert EVERYONE if there happens to be a giant flesh-eating fish in the Pool at the moment.)"

"Finally, we have the actual first thing you see upon entering!"

"De bnom gnl muvg tbhf! Ah... nwuvzaexyr azgsl lbhu uokdya kqtna uhqxz bay fyrm! Euose cg via llef n eqgzse wetuckk an gbury, vny znag qlej vg uvtk tbr yipz ahug pm ugce nuba trvrchl auxpny gh whx Iehryipzvr ca mpr spdxyx ws zoe lbhu. Jnply gaqf yorcax qf tvt zbk ebxzhcc, Am QOK rysnar zv gcix cf nps mhixbxa uhyxaf cl boveb uot a mukqak ao 'avom uot ribm qazv ooe kmnrt' ol jaigkcel. Jbbu zoe qnr buoz amfawyk aafxl bb az sizxbvsls, cg'l iysvsn ybsr Nl WUAMA gu iewbfm btl oz bnz rdoivvma!"

"And that is our basement! Now, from here it is only natural for us to continue back on the upper floor of our HQ-"

And there the lost section of pamphlet ends. Notably, some claim that they remember the version of the HQ pamphlet that lacked ANY of the modifications being publically available, though no evidence to support these claims has ever been found.

Notably, you feel something... off about the last area they cover. From what you can tell, the final area's description is not only crossed out, but is also utter nonsense, complete gibberish that has no suspicious implications unlike other crossed out portions. You find something about it rather haunting.

Hihi! If you saw the last post about Zooge you'd know that I had a slight issue... BUT I KINDA FIXED IT! Still lost about... 40% or more of the Zoo, but hey, better than 100%! Gotta wonder what's up with that bit on the Loby tho? Kinda fishy. Wonder if that means anything wink wink. So yeah. There is one thing you didn't get to see and that is that I have since changed the door on the no room on the first door to something a bit more secure. Oh yeah, also this part isn't signed off by Clownberg because, well, this isn't a whole pamphlet! Only a part of one. Just explaining that inconsistency, not me fucking up because I haven't made one of these in forever, no way!