#cold war warlocks

[honourablejester]

A thought I’ve always had with the celestial warlock is that …

So warlocks are mercenaries, right? They make pacts to gain power. They do things for patrons in exchange for magic. I mean, not exclusively, but bargaining is something of a core concept of the class even if you’re not focusing your roleplay on it. Warlocks are mercenaries.

And the thing with that in the context of a celestial warlock. So often I see the concept for the patron as a celestial who rescued you, or who’s trying to redeem you, a hand of good laid upon your soul, a plaintive Jiminy Cricket in your ear.

But the question I always have is not what kind of mercenary makes deals with angels, but what kind of angel hires mercenaries?

I feel like you could do some really cool things and have a really cool and interesting relationship with an angelic patron who is … greyer than the stereotype here. Because. They are a force for good who is perfectly willing to hire agents. Not by seeking a true champion or relying on conscience, but by the simple mercenary inducement of payment. Your morals don’t come into it, your beliefs don’t come into it, the arrangement is simple. You do a service for them, you help the cause of good, and they pay you. There’s a certain amount of pragmatism in that, and subtlety, that I find fascinating to imagine in a holy being.

Also. Celestial warlocks get mostly good-seeming powers from their subclass, healing and the like, but they’re also still getting the whole warlock package from their patron as well. Your eldritch blast and your hunger of hadar are still coming from that source. What kind of angel equips someone with those powers?

What kind of relationship could you have with such a being? Is it rigid and remote, a handler towards their agent? Something more casual, you do some jobs on a freelance basis and they pay you in healing and spell slots? Or something more collegiate, warmer, conscious of the moral greys and the sometimes extremely physical horrors they’re sending you into, but knowing that it needs to be done? Do they trust you enough to let you colour outside the lines a bit, or are their instructions extremely strict? Or do they want to know the details at all? Are they so grey that they give you carte blanche, a need to know that they don’t need to know, so long as there is a net victory for good at the end of it? Or are they extremely conscious, not only of everything you do but everything that is done to you?

I don’t know, I just feel like there’s a lot of room to play around with what sort of being your celestial patron must be to even enter into the relationship you both find yourself in. The kind of celestial that is at least a little bit greyer in nature, by pure implication of the bargain itself. You could do something … very Cold War-ish there, a more pragmatic and sordid sort of relationship.

And, yes, there are also evil gods and evil celestials. But honestly I like the grey celestial idea better, a servant of a genuinely good and holy cause, who’s just that bit more pragmatic about it. Yes, yes, moral champions, but when we’re short on time, or bodies on the ground, or when we need someone to blend in that little bit more … I mean, if the job gets done, does it matter by who? We can just pay someone to go in and do the needful. It doesn’t have to be more complicated than that. And if we save a sordid soul in the process, great, and if not … it’s no overall loss? We can’t lose what we didn’t have in the first place.

Are you expendable to such a being? Are you used to save the truer champions, genuinely good and worthy souls, at least some trials here or there? If so, what does that make such a being, who would use and sacrifice you so? Do the ends justify the means? Do you have opinions on such questions, regarding both yourself and your patron? Do you hate them, as much as any fiend warlock might hate their cruel master?

Or do you live in world where the things that must be done must be done, where principle is all very well but only so long as it does get the job done, and thus you and your patron understand each other quite well. You are a mercenary, after all. So long as the jobs are reasonable and you’re getting paid up front, that’s all any mercenary can ask.

I just really like the idea of a pragmatic angel, a handler with their agents, operating in a more subtle realm than that of crusades and champions. Sometimes, if you need a job done, you just hire someone to do it. No muss, no fuss. Get your bodies on the ground, and work out the rest later.

And the question then is, what’s it like being the poor hired muggins in question?

[tomialtooth]

Dungeons and Dragons first came out in 1974 so it would be entirely possible for the cast of cold war to have sat down and played a game in the safehouse.

[spitefulsatanfics]

Title: Feathers & Fractures

Pairing: Castiel x Reader (she/her)

Rating: T+ (Suggestive themes, emotional intimacy, mild violence)

Word Count: 4,216

Tones: Protective!Castiel, Awkward!Castiel, Angelic Romance, Slow Burn, First-Time Intimacy, Emotional Vulnerability

Setting: Season 6 (Post-Apocalypse, pre-Leviathan arc)

POV: Third person, she/her

---

Synopsis:

In the uncertain lull between Heaven’s power struggle and Earth’s fraying stability, she becomes Castiel’s constant — a human hunter with a stubborn heart and a quiet strength that draws the angel in more than he can comprehend. Their bond begins in silence, carved between hunts and hushed motel rooms, but when a violent case forces her life into the balance, Castiel is faced with the uncomfortable realization that his grace can’t protect her from everything — but perhaps love can. And perhaps, just maybe, the angel of the Lord is ready to understand what that truly means.

---

Feathers & Fractures

The air in the motel room was heavy with warmth, a rare thing in February. The heater had been running too long, spitting uneven gusts against cracked wallpaper. She lay on her side on the bed, a dusty paperback in hand, while Castiel sat in the armchair across from her — stiff, silent, and watching her like he hadn’t yet decided whether he was part of this world or simply passing through it.

Dean had gone to get food. Sam was buried in lore at the bunker, half a state away. That left her and the angel.

“You can sit next to me, you know,” she said, flipping a page.

Castiel blinked, his gaze darting to the empty side of the bed like it might bite him.

“I wasn’t sure,” he said after a beat. “Human proximity… it’s often misinterpreted.”

She smiled gently. “I promise I won’t misinterpret you.”

He stood — awkwardly, wings shifting around his shoulders in a way only she could sometimes sense — and lowered himself beside her. The bed dipped under his weight, and for a moment, neither spoke.

Outside, the Nevada wind rattled against the glass.

“You’re different when it’s just us,” she said eventually, eyes on the ceiling.

“I don’t have to pretend with you,” he replied quietly.

She turned to face him. “Pretend what?”

“That I understand.” His brows knit, so very human in their expression of discomfort. “Emotions. Boundaries. Fear.”

Her hand found his — warm and uncertain, calloused from the aftermath of war. “You’re doing just fine.”

—

They were sent to Reno for a haunting — simple salt and burn, nothing fancy. A cold case come alive again. The three of them — her, Dean, and Cas — tracked the angry spirit to an abandoned boarding house just outside the city, a twisted place of warped wood and soot-black walls.

It should have been simple.

But the ghost wasn’t alone.

Sigils burned on the walls. Enochian. Ancient. A warlock had nested in the home’s ruins, feeding off the lingering death and trapping wayward spirits for power.

She’d been separated — stupidly, foolishly — and the spell slammed into her chest before she could draw her blade.

Pain bloomed in every nerve like lightning.

And Castiel —

He was fury incarnate.

—

The door exploded inward under his grace.

The warlock barely turned before Castiel’s hand clamped around his throat, lifting him off the ground with terrifying ease.

“You dared to touch her,” the angel hissed, voice echoing with something old and vast, shadows of wings flickering against the walls. “You dared—”

“Cas!” she gasped, curled on the floor, vision swimming.

His eyes snapped to her. In a flash, the warlock was dropped, unconscious, and Castiel was at her side, his hands hovering, frantic, lost.

“I—I don’t know how to fix this,” he murmured, his vessel flickering with heat. “It’s magic beyond decay. It’s tied to your soul. I can’t…”

Her fingers clutched at his trench coat. “It’s okay. Just… stay.”

And he did.

He sat with her through the night, blood on her lips and silence in her lungs, whispering soft reassurances and stories of stars she’d never see.

“I can feel it, Castiel,” she whispered once, fevered and fading. “The spell—it’s trying to pull me away from you.”

“You won’t go.” His voice was low and rough with something near anguish. “Not while I breathe. Not while I burn.”

—

She survived, of course. Dean made sure the warlock’s grimoire was burned. Sam sent guidance through the phone. And Castiel —

He didn’t leave her side for days.

Not once.

—

The first time he kissed her, it wasn’t planned.

It wasn’t dramatic.

They were back at the bunker, in the library. She was laughing — really laughing, the kind that made her eyes crease and her nose scrunch. Castiel stared for a moment too long.

“I felt… something,” he said, almost apologetically. “When you were hurt. It was unbearable.”

She stepped closer. “I know.”

“I don’t understand love.” His voice dropped to a hush. “But I understand you. And I know I want… to stay.”

Her hand cupped his cheek. “Then stay, Cas.”

He leaned in, barely brushing her lips with his — hesitant, reverent, like she was the first and last prayer he’d ever whisper.

And when she didn’t pull away, he kissed her again.

Fully.

—

Later, when they lay tangled in warmth and quiet sheets, Castiel traced her shoulder with unsure fingers, reverent and shaking.

“This… joining. It’s sacred to humans.”

She kissed his knuckles and smiled against his palm. “Yes, well… most of the time anyways.”

And that — that made him close his eyes and finally believe he could be loved.

---

[lawsofchaos1]

Malec Promptlet: Undercover!Circle Soulmate AU

Alec is the eldest son and the acknowledged heir of two prominent, highly-ranked Circle members that are openly known to have recanted Valentine’s ideology in name only. When Robert and Maryse begin leaving the Institute in Alec’s care when he’s fourteen it becomes clear that Alec isn’t relying on his bloodline alone and is going to be an immensely powerful member of the Clave in his own right. 

The Circle would be utterly foolish not to recruit the Shadowhunter who is absolutely certain to become the next Head of the New York Institute. Especially when it becomes evident that the Shadowhunters of the New York Institute would lay down their lives happily for their beloved young leader. Whichever way Alec turns in this war, so too will New York. 

By the time Alec is 22, he has gained complete control and his full investiture as Head. He is brutally competent, ruthless in the protection and training of his people, and, beyond all else, utterly without prejudice in his application of the Law.

The Circle, misreading Alec's motivation entirely, sees what they believe to be their way in. In truth, Alec despises applying the Law as it is written, hating how unequal it treats the Downworld. His rise up the ranks in the Clave's legal qualification system far surpasses the requirements of his position and sets the stage for him to have authority to assist in changing the laws themselves. The Circle believes it to be with the goal of further subjugating the Downworld, just as Maryse and Robert would have taught their eldest son and heir.

And so Alec, deep in the midst of researching the legal permissions that would be necessary to lawfully establish a Downworld Council, instead receives a recruitment offer from Valentine. Valentine, whom the entire Shadow World believes dead.

The resulting meeting with Caleb Sunshade, the Head of Alec's Intelligence Department, results in a streak of oaths that leave Alec with his brows raised, impressed despite himself at Caleb's creativity.

Caleb, and all Caleb's people, absolutely despise Alec's plan. But, two days and far too few hours of sleep later, they agree his plan has the best shot of achieving their aims. The damage Alec could do to the Circle with full access and proof of their activities is beyond anything the Clave has managed in the past decade.

So Alec goes undercover in the Circle to bring them down, maintaining a hard-won balance between gaining their trust without being forced into the very acts he's sworn himself to stop. (Caleb and his people certainly earn their overtime the months Alec's plan is in action.)

However, one cold December day, Valentine summons Alec to his ship to assist in interrogating his latest batch of prisoners. Alec makes short conversation with the 'welcoming crew', never so grateful as to be known across the Shadow World for his lack of care for social niceties. No one expects him to be friendly, focused as he is on a task, and he escapes the Circle members on the deck quickly to walk the familiar path to the brig.

He eyes the guards on the doors as he passes, scowling at their care in searching even him before being granted entry. This is the only prison he's yet to find a means for subtly ensuring the occupant's escape and it galls him. But, this is where Valentine makes his home and the security unfortunately matches the importance.

Only one cell is occupied and Alec moves to it swiftly. His stele is drawn to let himself in, the prisoners always secured to the wall in double surety, but he pauses the moment his eyes meet the warlock's gaze within.

The warlock is fiercely angry, cat-eyes luminous in loathing, and Alec is helpless but to shudder in a breath at the sudden agony emblazoning itself across his chest. Magnus, the warlock is Magnus Bane, Alec knows the mark of his city's High Warlock, is ethereal in his rage even as he hunches his shoulders inward to ward off the same pain he shares with Alec. With his soulmate.

The world goes quiet in Alec's ears, his pulse rushing as he feels their souls merge, feels their sigils branding over each other's hearts, linking them together in an indelible, unbreakable bond. Alec has prayed to Raziel since he was a child that one day he would feel such joy, meet his fated, has grown to believe with every year older that perhaps he wasn't meant for love, only for rule, and here, finally he has found his dearest and... and Alec is standing in front of him, unbound, in Valentine's prison.

"Shadowhunter," Magnus snarls, horror and despair in his eyes.

Alec swallows shattered glass, a slowly growing grief welling in his chest. He doesn't whisper the endearments he'd so carefully planned as a child, the years he'd believed his Fated to be merely around the next corner. He doesn't move to release Magnus' chains and draw him into his arms.

Alec is ice-carved and brittle as he forces down the bond he wants beyond everything else in this life and spits out, "Warlock."

To acknowledge that anything has occurred in the sight of Valentine's guards is death, and the sudden, cruel smirk in Magnus' eyes means he knows the brutal edge of that blackmail will cut both their throats if he lets it.

The grief in Alec's chest solidifies, piercing through any hope that Alec had thought to hold close to his heart those few, precious seconds before reality set in. There is nothing he can say, nothing he can do that will allow him to shelter in his soulmate's love.

His own mother had told Alec he didn't deserve the Angel's gift, and he'd been foolish to believe otherwise, if not perhaps for the same reasons as Maryse. His people have done too much harm, have spread too much hate and Alec, trying as is to do good, is nowhere near enough to offset that balance.

His soulmate will hate him. Even if Alec can tell him one day that there is a reason beside spycraft that he refuses to wear the Circle's rune, he is too dirtied by what he's done for peace to ever be accepted.

So when Magnus leans close to him in the midst of the upcoming interrogation, keeping just soft enough his whisper doesn't carry beyond Alec's hearing, Alec flinches at every vicious word when Magnus hisses, "A monster for a monster."

-

[INSERT HAPPY ENDING HERE with mutual forgiveness and the schmoopy, happy Immortal Husbands we all love.]

[After copious Alec-angst of him believing he's utterly undeserving of a soulmate, especially one so beautiful and kind and strong and perfect as Magnus, and also Magnus-angst of him dealing with believing that his soul's match is a Circle member after eight hundred years of waiting. Cat and Ragnor have tried so hard to convince Magnus that he isn't a monster after what his childhood and parentage proved him capable of, but he dares them to argue against it now. Also, we all know I am a SUCKER for Significant Kneeling and the reveal of Alec not, in fact, being a Circle member seems like a GREAT time for a little Significant Kneeling if you catch my visual drift there.]

[thecubspeaks]

how i would re-write wyll's storyline

if i had it in me to do another canon re-write i would do this as a fic but this has been plaguing me for like a year now

wotc hit me up for the novelisation ok i'll do the man justice

anyway uh this is super long

ACT 1: We meet the Blade of Frontiers defending the druid grove as before, but he doesn't hang around. Importantly, he is not obviously a warlock: he's Pact of the Blade, and uses his sword, not spells. Zevlor and the tieflings, druids, and adventurers alike all mention him. Aradin says he tried to recruit him, but was turned down-- "Gobbos wouldn't've stood a chance if we'd had him." Zevlor says he has already offered to escort the tieflings safely to Baldur's Gate-- "If anyone can do it, it's him"-- but Zevlor has turned him down for now. Other tieflings mention that they've heard of him, and some of them have stories they've heard about him rescuing people. Volo asks if they got a chance to speak to him. Shadowheart says she's dimly heard of him, and Baldurian Tavs have the option to say they have, too.

At the Blighted Village, the goblin sentries attack no matter what (you can still get the chance to use the brand at the windmill, it's fine), and Wyll joins in on the party's side (once again, coming across as some kind of eldritch knight perhaps, but not clearly a warlock). This time, you talk after and he explains that he intends to help the tieflings, but he has a mission to complete first: find a war-devil named Karlach. You can express your surprise that he isn't more concerned about the tadpole, and he shrugs it off: if he's running out of time, then stopping a devil from ravaging the Sword Coast would be a great last act. He says that after he deals with Karlach, he'll come find you. You can either offer to help him (whereupon he'll join the party) or let him go.

If you let him go, you find him again with the fake paladins of Tyr. If you get the paladins to reveal themselves as servants of Zariel, he's immediately horrified and joins the fight on your side, then turns on Karlach after, at which point you can either dissuade him or fight him. If you don't get the paladins to reveal themselves before you attack, he steps in before the fight starts and you do the convincing then.

During the initial conversation, he's a little harder to persuade, but when you follow up afterwards, he's angry. He explains that he was given bad information, and he intends to get to the bottom of it. If you press him, he explains that as the Blade of Frontiers, it's not his habit to doubt people when they say they're in danger: an Elturan who encountered Karlach in Avernus said she planned to come wreak havoc on the Sword Coast, and he promised to find her. It takes a very high passive insight check to tell that he's lying, and a very high persuasion check to make him admit it. Reluctantly, he confesses that he's sworn to secrecy about his source, but now suspects they have something to do with Zariel. He promises he is not going to let them get away with deceiving him.

Mizora wants to make Wyll sweat, so she doesn't show up right away.

Instead, we keep getting people who have heard of him, and we see him actively pressing the PC to help others at any opportunity. He also see his impatience with pretense and hypocrisy: he complains about making nice at the goblin camp rather than just immediately attacking it, and is extremely opposed to having any dealings with the Zhentarim. On the other hand, he has a pragmatic streak about the tadpoles that foreshadows his dynamic with Mizora: yes, the illithids and this cult are certainly nefarious, but there's nothing wrong with turning the power of evil towards good. We will use these powers responsibly.

At Waukeen's Rest, Florrick obviously recognises him, but is extremely cold, and doesn't reveal who he is. She very pointedly orders the Fist to begin to prepare to rescue Ravengard right in front of the party, but not including them. If the PC offers to help, she expresses surprise that they are interested. If you ask why that would be the case, she makes a vague but pointed comment about knowing some of their number have no fondness for Baldur's Gate or its fate. Wyll says nothing to her directly, but talks to you after.

Either way, the dialogue begins with a narration noting that he looks frustrated and uncertain about your decision about Ravengard. He then argues against whichever choice you made--helping to save him or not--and talks himself in circles about what the right thing to do is. The Council of Four and Flaming Fist are corrupt, he says--but the people of Baldur's Gate believe in them, and Duke Ravengard is much too powerful a hostage for these Absolutists to be allowed to keep. Finally, he talks himself to a breaking point and confesses: he doesn't know what to do, because Duke Ravengard is his father.

He explains that he and his father never saw eye to eye. He was impatient with his father's politicking, and how the 'necessary compromises' of government always seemed to come at the expense of the common people. He left the city after an argument seven years ago, he says, and hasn't spoken to his father or set foot in Baldur's Gate since. Ultimately, he concedes that whatever their differences, he won't be able to live with himself if he doesn't try to help-- "Though I imagine he'll be about as thrilled to be rescued by me as he was to be captured in the first place."

Mizora shows up when you go to long rest at the celebratory party with the tieflings-- because, she explains, everyone deserves to know the truth about their precious Blade. The scene is more or less the same, but she doesn't say the change is permanent, rather implying that maybe she could undo it if Wyll is very, very good. When Wyll is transformed, the tieflings flee in terror. Up to this point, Wyll has been the life of the party, moving through the party and having banter with the guests, unlike the other companions. If you initiate his romance, he promises you a dance: "But later. I want dancing with you to be the grand finale of the night."

Afterwards, he expresses his shame, but explains what he can: that he made a pact with Mizora, can't share the details, but doesn't regret it. If you ask if this has anything to do with why he left Baldur's Gate, he says yes, but can't say more. He insists that it's possible to use the power of a devil to do good, but his certainty falters. He admits that he has never believed that less than he does right now, but if he doesn't keep trying, then he lost his soul for nothing. He has to believe he can do good, even if he's damned. If you try to rekindle the romance and offer a dance, he ruefully refuses: he's too ashamed to dance, or keep talking. He asks to be left alone, and then insists upon it if the PC resists.

The other companions are less snide and more shocked that Wyll's powers were infernal in nature all along. Karlach in particular reels between gratitude to Wyll and her certainty that he's good, and her instinctive disgust for anyone who would make a pact with any devil-- and especially Mizora.

Things quiet down after that and Wyll spends a lot of the rest of Act 1 adjusting to his new reality. We get a lot more open, shocked reactions to his appearance, and sincere fear that he's an actual devil (imo he should also get some new powers, or at least fire resistance and darkvision).

ACT 2: Wyll is as much of an open Jaheira fan as Karlach is, though he tries harder to play it cool. He's excited to see Harpers: he says he always wanted to be one, but given the Mizora of it all, decided it was safer to go it alone.

Seeing his new appearance, Florrick is utterly scornful: "Now you have the looks to match your soul." If you ask, she's happy to share that Wyll was exiled after making a pact with a devil to take over the city. Wyll protests, but we see him physically prevented from giving his side of the story. However, Florrick is also deeply pragmatic, and says that if Wyll is willing to help try to rescue his father, she'll certainly make use of him.

Mizora shows up midway through the act with her rescue mission, strongly hinting that she can turn Wyll back into a human if he succeeds. This is a lie, of course, but it's the leverage Wyll needs upon rescuing her (or when she shows up at camp later, if you don't bring him to Moonrise) to insist that she break his contract as the reward for the rescue he was promised. The PC can try to talk him out of trying to do this, but by default he makes a new bargain: that Mizora will let him out of his contract once he helps stop the Absolute.

ACT 3: The encounter with Ravengard at Wyrm's Rock goes similarly, except afterwards, Wyll points out the remark that Ravengard made-- that the Absolute apparently promised Ravengard that he would return Wyll to him. "Is that actually what he asked for? It can't be." It has Wyll unsettled going in to the second conversation with Mizora, where she tries to force him to bargain for his father's life. Wyll's default choice depends on your approval level: (it would be fun to come up with a whole Nightsong points type system but uhhh that'll be another post) if he doesn't strongly approve, he decides he needs the powers Mizora offers to keep making a difference in the world, and makes the deal. If your approval is high, he refuses: he believes in who he is, and who he can be without her. "If my father loves me, he wouldn't want me to sell my soul for him. And if he doesn't... then he won't want to owe me his life." The PC can try to persuade him either way, but those are the defaults.

Cordula Eltan (canon back-up for if Florrick isn't around, but she's the first choice now) shows up at camp one night with some allies. She and Wyll were childhood friends: she is shocked at the sight of him, and said she was told he sold his soul for power back when they were teenagers, but she'd always refused to believe it. She says that clearly the rumours are true, so did he sacrifice his father, too? Wyll and the PC can talk her down, leading either to a fight or a longer conversation. In the latter case, she explains again that she and Wyll were childhood friends, and she'd always admired his independence while she felt strangled by the weight of her family name. She asks, half-joking, if he remembers the time they decided to try and wake the dragon Ansur, and got in trouble for sneaking into Wyrm's Rock prison. She says she has sometimes imagined trying to find it now, and see if it could save the city. "But fairy tales won't save us, I suppose."

The Ravengard rescue happens basically the same way (including Ravengard being a huge dick to Wyll) except this is the first time we also learn what actually happened with the pact. Free of Mizora's restrictions at last, Wyll explains the incident with the Cult of the Dragon. Ravengard is stunned, and begins to ask questions, but Wyll cuts him off: he realises for the first time that he doesn't care what his father thinks of what he did. He knows, and has always known, that he did what was right. It doesn't matter to him if Ravengard sees that, too. He won't be ashamed anymore.

As in the game now, things can go in whatever order so either Volo or Ravengard can be the push to insist that Ansur is real, and that Wyll has the power to wake him. Wyll is resistant and skeptical, and if Ravengard is the one to suggest it, Wyll is openly derisive: was that the point of all those stories, all those lessons? An old superstition? But with the PC's encouragement, he agrees to try, and acknowledges that if it is real, they could certainly use a big old dragon on their side.

The steps of the trial are trickier puzzles, but Wyll remembers how to find the answers. He's resistant throughout, and when the time comes to enter the final chamber, he finally baulks: he doesn't believe in the version of heroism his father taught him, and doesn't want to uphold those values. He doesn't want to be the emblem of the city that rejected him. The PC can persuade him to press on, but they can also just agree with him, and turn back there. If so, he tells his father they don't need a dragon: he is going to save Baldur's Gate, just like he did when he was seventeen. (They have roughly the same conversation if Ansur is already defeated when you rescue Ravengard.)

If Wyll kept his pact, the PC can remind him of what he's always said: you can make good from evil. He doesn't have to like this power to embrace it.

We still get the Ansur and Emperor reveal and fight if the crew presses on, and afterwards, Wyll finds himself strangely bereft. Wryly, he says it's fitting: the thing he feared and despised for so long was nothing more than old bones, an old story, after all. He hates that for a moment, he let himself want it-- and hates that part of him is sad that it's gone. But he rallies: if he kept his pact, he points out that he has more than enough power without this dragon. He was never going to be good enough for his father, for the city, anyway. They'll never accept that power is only what you make of it. He'll use what he's become to save first the city, then the whole Sword Coast.

If not: he's free of Mizora, free of his father's expectations-- free of his shame at being a warlock, an exile. He's glad you persuaded him to face this. Now, at last, he can brave the world purely as himself, hiding nothing, and discover if his convictions are strong enough to help make it a better place. "There's just the small matter of a city to save first."

Pacted Wyll has a similarly harsh conversation with his father as above, but free Wyll attempts to explain: he doesn't want to be the man his father hoped he'd become. He isn't ever going to be. He knows he and his friends can save the city just as themselves. He hopes his father can love him anyway.

And that would be the end of his arc! This has already gotten so long and I feel like there are a thousand more things I want to add and clarify (I am undecided about his romance beyond what I said here, and his epilogue) but there you go. Thank u if you actually read this for allowing me to exorcise this demon.

[strangesmallbard]

A SONG OF BALDURS AND GATES

(character sheets under the read more)

brienne of tarth: paladin / oath of devotion / folk hero

cersei lannister: warlock / the fiend / noble

jaime lannister: paladin / oath of devotion oathbreaker / soldier / noble

arya stark: rogue / folk hero / charlatan / urchin / noble

lady stoneheart: paladin / oath of vengeance / haunted one

sandor clegane: fighter / great weapon fighting / soldier

daenerys targaryen: sorcerer / draconic bloodline (red fire) / folk hero / urchin / noble

stannis baratheon: cleric of r'hllor lathander / war domain / noble

melisandre of asshai: cleric of r'hllor lathander / light domain / acolyte

jon snow: ranger / ranger knight / wasteland wanderer (cold) / soldier / noble

ygritte: ranger / keeper of the veil / wasteland wanderer (cold) / outlander

mance rayder: bard / lute player / outlander / soldier

[megachiraztfs]

Story index

Here you can find a list of my transformations series and other stories with a short summary of what they are about. If you’re curious about one and want more details or want to participate in one, just write me! I'll do my best to keep this list up to date!

Single stories

Family: A story about a poor young man living on the streets who was given a new life by fate.

Unworthy: A story about a young man who couldn't fulfill his family's exspectations and had to pay a price.

Stories from the Grave: A story about why you shouldn't listen to every voice on old graveyards.

The heir of Milton: This is a story about a faithful butler of an old English family who had earned a special promotion.

Forever Together: Being with an immortal warlock made Alec think about his own aging and how he could stop that (Fandom: Shadowhunters).

For each other: Sequel to Forever Together. Mag and Alec get a new addition to their new lifes.

Going To Hell: Robin Hood, Kilian Jones and Prince Charming start a life-changing trip to hell with some monstrous changes.

Becoming a family: This is a story about Harry Potter and his four best friends as they actually become his family (Fandom: Harry Potter).

A preference for Bolts: This is a story about a young man in Scandinavia being blessed by a certain northern god (Fandom: Marvel).

Welcom Home: This is a story about grief and the use of magic to ease that pain for Magnus Bane (Fandom: Shadowhunters).

Watch Out: This is a story about two friends who shouldn't have put on the stuff of two missing guys...

Cold As Ice: This is a story about a cloak that makes his wearer non only loose his emotions (Fandom: Harry Potter).

Love Again: This is a story about a young man who lost everything, but find the love he longed for (Fandom: Harry Potter).

Duty: This is a story about a young man getting a little bit too much into his fantasies about his favourite character (Fandom: Guild Wars 2).

Creation of Friendship: This is a story about a misunderstanding that lead to a brand new and quite thick friendship.

Spin Around: A demon's work can be quite... changing (Fandom: Supernatural).

Reuinited Love: This is a story about a forbidden love that even conquers death.

A New Prince: This is a story about Merlin and Arthur Pendragon with a magical twist (Fandom: Merlin).

New Position: For the first Harry cannot play as a seeker - and needs help for getting ready for a entirely new position (Fandom: Harry Potter).

Filling the Gap: This is a story about two best friends who would've better stay away from a magical crime scene (Fandom: Harry Potter).

Deserved: This is a story about an unlucky guy who gets dumped by his boyfriend.

Spicy Pies: This is a story about a man, lending a helping hand to an old neighbour and is rewarded for his kindness.

Twice the Thunder: This is a story about two roommates without a costumes on Halloween - beware: if you're late, you might feel the consequences (Fandom: Marvel).

The Pumpkin Field: Beware of the magical pumpkins, dear friend - they could be after you! (Fandom: Harry Potter)

Tombola: Original props are the best gift for a fan - they always go deep under your skin! (Fandom: Once Upon a Time)

Push the Buttons: Some games are made to be an experience (Fandom: Assassin's Creed)

Wishes, requests, exchanges

Life-Changing Game for soul-controller: A story about a caught-up college experience in the digital age. Let the game begin!

Learning some manners for an anonymous requester: A story about a macho man who has to learn that not everything always goes his way. With a touch of magic. Dimensional travel. And elves!

Beware of the mirror for musclebishop: As you may know, the Magic Mirror is able to grant wishes. Even those you don’t know. But don’t be rude. Sometimes even the changes are changing.

Beer Up for mcbrute: Zoro (One Piece) has lost his way again and has been invited to the jock pirates’ ship. It’s not just the beer that’s special there.

Green On Birthdays for jungwoosong: Carl really leaves no stone unturned to convince his best friend Noah to watch his favourite anime, One Piece. But it’s only with a birthday present that things get moving.

A New Look for a user on Furaffinity: What started as a pity purchase at a festival out of niceness turned out to be extremely life-changing for Nat.

The Found Jacket for a user on Furaffinity: Timothy just wanted to buy a small ball for his brother, but instead of a stall, found only a stray red jacket.

Old Rivalery for thegeneralguy: Despite unwillingness, a visit to the gym began quite differently than expected - with a very special, haunted prize from a bygone era.

The Risk of Curiosity for itsrainingdilfs: Basic rule: Don’t read out funny-sounding words from old books. You might have company sooner than you’d like.

No More Stress for transformee: In the attic of an inherited house, you can probably find some special things when cleaning up. Even a hidden old mirror.

Good old Australia for changingmen: As a reward for a good deed, a young man is given a little something from the homeland of the man he has helped. With the prospect of a beefy future.

Magnissimus for malebodyandshoeswaps: On the way to his graduation ceremony, a young man’s shoes are destroyed in a chemical accident. But with the replacement pair, he takes his first step into his new phase of life.

Happy birthday for writer-ofstuff: Stiles’ (Teen Wolf) birthday preparations for his steady boyfriend Derek are not going really well. But whether the help from his book was really the right thing to do?

Secret Santa Lottery for bizzhideaway (great story exchange 2020): After Brody had taken part in a Christmas lottery and the notification of the winnings failed to arrive, his winnings were able to surprise him in every way.

Through Your Veins for begon1: If Batman only saw that this was a trap.

Confidence for

TF Captions

A New Curse Part One and Part Two

Freckles

Back to your roots

Boring

Ho, ho, ho!

Buddies

Special Blanket

Himbo Hemispheres

Temple of Amor

Tempting Tapestry

Rental Conditions

What about Green?

Well-minded spirit

Something in the water

Smile

The wrong souvenir

Kinda poisoned

The perfect example

Special Edition

New clothes, new man

Shortage of staff

Electric

By the lake

Smell Like a Hero

For Transformation series click here!

[angelwood-if]

DEMO (EDITING)

Genres and tropes: urban fantasy, romance, found family, enemies to lovers, exes to lovers, friends to lovers, murder mystery, action

LUNAR CITY: a gritty but bustling city where supernaturals and humans live in (relative) harmony. Humans live alongside Fae, witches and warlocks, vampires, and so many more. It's normal. It's your normal.

When your father died, he left you with one thing: his antiquities/pawn shop. Decades upon decades of collecting and trading bits and bobs from all types of supernatural histories sit right here in Angelwood Antiquities, a staple of Lunar City and the shop you have now inherited.

It was his life's work, and you've done everything in your power to keep it running.

But when someone comes in bloodied and begging for you to take hold of a magical object, you don't know what you're agreeing to. You definitely don't expect him to die at your feet, telling you to take good care of...them.

Them?

Turns out the object is no object at all, but an ancient being that could be the key to stopping a multi-species war that's been brewing right under your nose..and your father may have had something to do with it. And when that being chooses and bonds to you--giving you its power--you are now thrust headfirst into the world of supernatural. The same world you've managed to avoid.

Entangled with a cast of characters who will help you save the world, you are now both human and supernatural, a rare feat. And the most important person in the city. And it will be up to you to save it.

Angelwood is an urban-fantasy inspired by stories by Sarah J. Maass, Cassandra Clare, and Holly Black. It is primarily centered around romance, with a fantasy, murder mystery, and war brewing at its core. The demo is already written and undergoing editing.

FEATURES.

Customize your MC's gender identity, pronouns, appearance, personality.

Navigate a gritty city of supernaturals.

Embark on an adventure to find out what war is brewing in supernatural circles and how to stop it.

Romance a multitude of supernatural and human characters, including a Fae, a Greenwarden, and an entity bonded to you.

Angelwood is a primarily romance and character-driven.

Play in a gritty, supernatural world where not everything is what it seems.

CAST [ROs]

IVAN CROSS (M)(FAE) - Ivan is the cold and distant Detective of the LCPD. He is also a powerful Fae, with a menacing reputation that makes most people scared to cross him. Ivan is not exactly a team player and he seems insistent on railroading this tentative partnership you didn't even want to have with him, but he's also the only one who can make sense of whats happening to you. Seems like you're stuck with him.

It doesn't help that you two aren't on the best of terms considering he closed your father's case without much effort.

FREYA (F)(GREENWARDEN) -- Ivan's second-in-command and your other partner that forms this...odd trio. You expected Greenwardens--powerful sprites that manipulate all things nature--to be smooth talking and caring. Wrong. Freya is snarky and punchy, and determined to get her mission done. Maybe it's because she's half human. Who knows.

DOMINION (DOM)(UNKNOWN) - Dom is the smooth-talking entity that is now in your head and giving you their powers. You...don't really know what to say. They sure are a flirt, at least.

KALEL/KALIS (M/F) (VAMPIRE) - K, once your old friend (and possible ex partner) is now insistent on joining your group considering they seem to have a stake in this too. (pun non intended)

SELINA (F)(SERPENT/HUMAN HYBRID) - Selina the Serpent is the owner of the biggest gambling den in the red light district, and also someone you don't want to cross. Over the years, she's traded with you on all sorts of things people leave behind in exchange for information...and now she wants to join in one the group. Having her around would really help, considering she has eyes everywhere.

QUINN (F/M)(HUMAN) - your best friend and the one you hired for Angelwood. And a human, which seems to be rare these days.

[artficlly]

requests open <3

hello my lovelies!

i'm on my term break from uni, and i want to spend it writing! i have plans to push out some updates for series like lessons in lovemaking and maybe smog & spirits but i also want to do some shorter one-shots as well.

you can send requests through my asks, i'm down for pretty much anything except non-con / dub-con. i'll only be writing for bucky x reader.

here some prompt ideas:

DIALOGUE PROMPT IDEAS “You say that like you didn’t just take a bullet for me.” “You always get that look when you’re about to do something reckless.” “You’re bleeding all over my floor, Barnes.” “Just… stay. Please.” “Touch me again and I’ll break your hand.” “This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not with you.” “You’re freezing. Here, take my jacket.” “I don't care what you've done. I still choose you.” “Why do you always look at me like that?” “You’re the only person who’s ever made me feel safe.” “You look good in my shirt.” “Don’t act like you didn’t feel it too.” “You’re bleeding—why didn’t you say anything?” “Why are you being so nice to me?” “You can’t keep doing this to yourself.” “If you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to forget we’re supposed to be taking this slow.” “You sure you can handle me?” “You wanted my attention, now you’ve got it.” “Please don’t pretend this means nothing.” “That was a one-time thing… right?” “You're not as cold as you pretend to be.” “I thought you hated me.” “This bed feels too big without you in it.” “You’re shaking. Are you scared of me?” “You never ask for help. What’s wrong?” “Don't look at me like that unless you mean it.” “That wasn’t just a dream. Was it?” “I’ve got you. I’m not going anywhere.” “You don’t have to pretend to be okay. Not with me.” “Let me see. Please, just let me help.” “You can cry if you need to. I won’t think less of you.” “They hurt you, didn’t they?” “I didn’t know where else to go.”

AU / SCENARIO IDEAS witch, fake boyfriend/girlfriend, bartender, assassin, bookstore owner, demon, librarian, florist, fortune teller, soldier, avenger, babysitter, fuckboy, maneater, werewolf, roommate, brother's best friend, bounty hunter, grumpy, pirate, tattoo apprentice, healer, psychic, professor, siren, park ranger, vampire, knight, witch hunter, spy, boyfriend/girlfriend, shield agent, war medic, ranch hand, teacher, seamstress, underground fighter, childhood best friend, political rebel, chef, sunshine, maid, cowboy/girl, fairy, boxer, royalty-in-disguise, nymph, lifeguard, blacksmith, dancer, husband/wife, stripper, gladiator, tattoo artist, hunter, lighthouse keeper, journalist, bounty hunter, nymph, oracle, outlaw, monster hunter, stablehand, farmer, royalty, baker, saloon girl, teacher, bodyguard, nurse, neighbour, mechanic, lumberjack, barista, single parent, park ranger, thief, potion tester, cheerleader, ceo, fake boyfriend/girlfriend, farmer's daughter, warlock, childhood best friend, tavern owner

[synergysilhouette]

10 more BG3 headcanons I have (some thirst)

Round 2! Hope you'll forgive me for one of these in particular; I know it was kinda wild. And I should warn you; some of these aren't really headcanons, but things I wish we got during the game. Didn't wanna make another "nitpick" post though since I didn't have enough. Make sure to check out my first 10 headcanons!

Astarion became more faithful if he romanced a cleric/devout Tav--Call me a sap for divine inspiration, but seeing how Astarion mentioned how no god ever answered his prayers throughout the years, I like the idea that a cleric Tav (or at least a Tav with reverence for a god/gods) inspired a bit of religiousness in Astarion; nothing elaborate, but something along the lines of "the god(s) you worship must care about me because they brought you to me, and you saved me"-type thing. I kinda have a similar headcanon for Wyll since he mentioned something similar about gods giving him the cold shoulder, but for some reason, I keep imagining him being more secular, though perhaps he does have a bit more respect for the gods.

2. Wyll and Tav's first child (after Lily) is named after his father--I remember that if you tell him you want to start a family (kinda sucks he's the only guy I can have the dialogue option with, but I get it), that his father would like someone to carry his name. I'm pretty sure he meant the Ravengard name, but I do find it cute if they just said "screw it, we're gonna give our child your exact name." Ulder can be a unisex name...right?

3. Omeluum helps us if we rescued him--This is directly contradictory with canon, but I wanted it so bad. It doesn't feel fair that Omeluum is the most helpful mind-flayer, but there's no option to have him be the mind flayer who assists Tav's team. It'd be a nice alternate option to having the Emperor or turning Orpheus or a member of your team into an MF.

4. Wyll expresses interest in becoming a wizard if Mizora's pact is broken--Perhaps this is due to respecing ALL of my team into wizards based on my gaming style, but I don't put it past Wyll to miss his warlocks abilities, and since he'd wisely not sell his soul to a demon after being free of Mizora and not have the time to go through a whole wizard education, Gale tutors him in their free time, and he eventually becomes an accomplished Bladesinger.

5. Astarion's fed on everybody and (mostly) no one's picked up on it--When Astarion mentions that he'll visit Tav and be careful not to wake them, it kinda makes me feel like he's made his rounds, but isn't gonna mention that since the team didn't trust him when he was outed as a vampire, and telling them that he's already crossed some boundaries would probably get him killed.

6. Tav is on frequent baby duty if romancing Lae'zel (unless githyanki)--This is a very selective headcanon dependant on MY Tav, but I do imagine Lae'zel leaves Xan with Tav whenever she has important duties, though she grows concerned that Tav will coddle them too much (unless they're also githyanki and they're helping her in her war against Vlakith). Otherwise, I could imagine Shadowheart's parents or Lord Ravenguard trying to help babysit.

7. The hyena from the beginning of Act II in the Shadowcursed lands returns and stands by us--I love "Speak with Animals," and I didn't appreciate it until a couple playthroughs in. I love the idea that upon being freed, he joins us in camp and befriends Scratch and the Owlbear cub.

8. Gale and Lae'zel are especially attracted to those with a lot of junk in the trunk--Random, I know, but it is a headcanon. Of course, this means almost nothing when in my mind, all the characters (particularly the men) are built with Rule 34 proportions, but I do love the idea that Lae'zel has a specific lust for thicc people (perhaps it's just a gith thing due to their skinnier body types), and Gale is easily flustered/seduced by someone of that build. I kinda like the idea that everyone in the camp is drawn to that, but Gale is more obviously distracted and Lae'zel is more obviously attracted; Astarion and Shadowheart keep their desires close to the vest so you don't have power over them, while the others are merely polite not to blatantly devour someone cakked up.

(Side note: Man, I wish we had a glute slider like Veilguard had--but a GOOD one.)

9. Gale is blissfully unaware of his (physical) allure--No idea why, but Gale always gave me "hot dad" vibes where youngsters are always drawn to him and attracted to him, and he doesn't understand the lust directed at him. He thinks himself handsome, but not really a magnet. As such, whenever people flock to him, he (sometimes) mistakenly assumes it's due to his magical acumin, being a hero of Baldur's Gate, being a chosen of Mystra, etc. When in reality, it may just be that he's the hot wizard. He always has a full classroom as a professor, in any case. (And this as hilariously ironic because I imagine he's very horny. I have a situation I imagine where he sends an astral projection to Tav in public that is accidentally very explicit.)

10. The Spawn in the Underdark offer a haven from Minthara and the drow--Even if she sides with Tav's good nature, Minthara is evil-leaning, and can go about going to war with one of the biggest drow houses. Given drow ruthlessness and sexism, I do like the idea that if the spawn are sent to the Underdark, whether ruled by Astarion or not, they offer a haven from the horrific nature, and are on the verge of creating a peaceful enclave within the Underdark (and maybe offering a transactional relationship of protection in exchange for blood?)

(Note: Ignore the black coverings; apparently this is a pic from a bug that happened a few years ago.)

Hope you enjoyed these headcanons! Do you have any we share?

[black-suns-rim]

Sky cotl x DnD AU

Elders and their classes

Resh would be a Cleric. His deity would be the megabird.

Lamed would be a warlock, having connections with the megabird as well.

Tsadi would be a barbarian and the protector of King Resh.

Sah and Mek would both be rogues.

Teth would be an artificer.

Ayin would be a druid.

Daleth would be a paladin.

Lore

Their kingdom is in the clouds and they are unaware of the earth below. They lived peacefully for thousands of years until their kingdom was discovered by the people of the earth. At first, the people of the earth wanted to trade with the people of the sky. The king allowed it, seeing it as an opportunity for new connections. More and more earth people were allowed to come into the kingdom and word of the sky kingdom’s great magic and power spread like wildfire on earth.

The greedy and the power hungry wanted the crystal that kept the kingdom alive. A powerful corrupt king called “The Dark Dragon” wanted their magic and their technology, so he attacked the sky kingdom with his dark soldiers. The war lasted for many years and the kingdom eventually fell after the shattering of the crystal. As a last resort, King Resh called upon the megabird, asking and begging for help from her before abandoning the kingdom with the 7 elders by his side. Since he didn’t hear anything from the megabird, he took what people were left of his fallen kingdom and fled to earth for refuge with them.

They became ill on earth and without their crystal, they had a harder time healing the sick. They moved to the mountains to try and be higher in the sky, and closer to the light. One night, a couple noticed something fall from the sky and land at the base of the mountain where the last of the Sky people dwelled. They went to go investigate and found a small child. Cold, shivering and without clothes. They quickly clothed the child, warmed them up and brought them to Daleth. In the morning, Daleth informed the other elders of the child and how much energy radiated from them. The king took a closer look of this child and realized his pleads to megabird were answered.

The child was the key to the kingdom’s redemption. They named the child Dusk since that was the time the child was "born."

~~~

I've had this sitting in my drafts for almost a year now. I saw someone mention a Sky x DnD crossover, and it reminded me that I had this draft. I kinda wanna world build on this au again

[the-ineffable-dance]

Thinking of Nanny

A narrative poem for the weekly GOetry prompt, from Warlock's POV

My life has always seemed to be like a revolving door

Of teachers, coaches, servants, too, and oh so many more.

They swirl though my memory, their faces come and gone

But always there still remains alone a single one.

My parents were both quite busy, I didn’t see them much

But Nanny, she cared for me with cold words and gentle touch.

She was strict, and quite severe, and taught me many things,

Of war, death, famine, pestilence, and how I would be king.

And every night when I lay down, she’d sing me straight to sleep

Then after I had drifted off, a watch o’re me she’d keep.

And then, one day, she wasn’t there from my eleventh birthday

I never got to say goodbye before she went away.

-

It’s several years now since she left, but she’s often on my mind

For though she was so very stern, I know that she was kind

A business trip to London Town found me in St. James Park

Where He was sitting feeding ducks, all tall, and thin, and dark

And there wasn’t a single doubt about who it could be

This fellow sitting on the bench was certainly Nanny.

I don’t know how I recognized the person sitting there

So different from how she used to look but still with flame red hair

In my heart no single doubt had I so I went to see

If my old Nanny possibly could remember me.

At first he didn’t notice, he was so lost in thought

With ducks milling at his feet, eating the peas he brought.

-

I sat down on the bench next to the man Nanny had become

He glanced at me with sunglassed eyes, he looked so lost and numb

But then he smiled with her smile, with the smile of a rogue

And spoke just like she used to do, in her clipped Scottish brogue

“Well look at you, I’d never think that I would see you here.”

I was so nervous when I said, “You’re Nanny,” in his ear

“And you’re young Warlock, all grown up.” 

                                                                           “Not all grown up just yet.

But Nanny, please just call me ‘dear.’” 

                                                                           “Yes… as you like, my pet.”

“I’ve not seen Brother Francis in oh, so very long.”

Nanny turned his head away, pursed his lips and said, “He’s gone.”

“Oh… Nanny, how he fancied you, how ever could that be?

I was so very young back then, but even I could see.”

-

It took a moment for his reply, but then he said real low,

“He didn’t have a choice, you see.  I know he had to go.

But even knowing doesn’t help this fear that’s left inside

That we never could have made it work, even if we’d tried.”

He cleared his throat and straightened up, emotions locked away

“Don’t listen to me, dear. I’m glad to see you here today.”

He touched my cheek and looked quite proud, and I smiled wide

And just like that for a little time, we sat quietly side by side

Nanny I have many questions, was what I want to say

Where have you been, why did you leave, and why couldn’t you stay?

But as I watched him sitting there, one thing I realized

Fate had brought me here today to catch this fleeting prize

-

“Nanny, do you think you might find time to visit me?

It would mean so very much, but only if you’re free.”

My words took him by surprise, I watched as his breath caught

It seemed to touch him even more deeply than I thought.

“I’d like that, dear,” he finally said. “And now my name’s Crowley.”

I smiled and nodded, but in my heart, you’ll always be Nanny.

@isiaiowin @goodomensafterdark

[anonymous-dentist]

Part Five of the Catboy in the Village AU

Parts: One | Two | Three | Four

-

Before Cellbit can start any kind of investigation, he passes out from hunger. (Four days without eating will do that, he supposes...)

It's sort of just... quick. He's sitting up in bed so Roier can braid his hair, and then his head and eyes are all fuzzy, and then he's in a different bed with no Roier and with an absolutely killer migraine.

He groans and rolls onto his side and pulls his blanket over his head, because he knows that there's somebody watching him. He can feel their (her) eyes on him, and they're making him feel even more sick than he already feels.

"You're an idiot," the queen declares.

Cellbit just hisses at her. She doesn't deserve his words.

He can practically hear her eye roll. Wood creaks from next to his bed, footsteps clicking against the cold stone floor, and then a light 'creeeeak' as a cabinet is opened on the far side of the room. Grumbling from the queen- insults, mostly. Clinks and clatters as she searches for something.

Cellbit's stomach twists and groans from hunger. Gods, what he'd give to be in his kitchen right now with Roier making dinner less than an arm's length away from him. Smoke in Cellbit's lungs, flavor already burning his tongue, fresh bread from the bakery across the street in front of him as an appetizer.

"There's soup on the table next to you," the queen says.

But it isn't Roier's soup, is the thing. It's probably poisoned. Or, worse, it's gross. Not enough meat, probably. Possibly even vegan, eugh.

How would the queen react if Cellbit told her that he only eats dishes with human flesh cooked into them? Would that be enough for her to send him home?

...Probably not, considering she seemed more upset about him being bad at escaping prison than him actually being in prison in the first place. That opens a whole bag of worms in itself, because how in the world does the queen know about Alcatraz when Cellbit's own in-laws don't? How long has she been stalking him for?

"If you need something lighter, I can have the kitchens send up some bread or crackers," the queen continues.

"I'm not hungry," Cellbit grumbles.

He's gone for longer than four days without food. During the war, it wasn't until Bad picked him up and taught him what his claws and fangs were good for that Cellbit started having dinner more than once a week. When he was put in solitary confinement in prison, he wasn't given food at all, and he was in that cell for at least five days at a time.

He's gone for longer than four days, so it has to be something in the castle that has made Cellbit so weak. Maybe it's something in the air, some kind of magic the queen is employing to try and break him down. The bed sheets might be laced with sickness runes. The guards constantly following Cellbit and Roier around might be warlocks in league with whatever demon is haunting the castle.

"Right," the queen sarcastically says. "You're not hungry. You just passed out after not eating for four days for no reason."

Cellbit bristles so literally that his ears tent the blanket above his head. He grits his teeth together and, not for the first time, he wishes that he still had his claws.

"Exactly," he grits out. He flexes his fingers, pretending the air he's scratching is the queen's stupid (identical) face. "So. Leave."

"I'm good, actually," the queen lightly responds. She sounds beyond pissed off, but she also sounds as calm as can be expected of royalty. Ugh. "I'm going to order some bread for you in just a moment."

Cellbit's ear twitches. "No."

"You're an alchemist, yes? You know what happens when you take a potion on an empty stomach. This might be the healer's quarters, but I will not have you throwing up all over her floor."

Cellbit pulls a bit of his blanket over and away from one of his eyes so he can glare at the queen properly.

"I'm not going to throw up," he scoffs. Who does she think he is?

Now that he can see the queen, he's even more annoyed. More than that, though, he's confused because... why? Why is she here? What kind of warden pays this much attention to their prisoner?

She's rooting through a large wooden cupboard filled with things Cellbit recognizes from his own supplies back home: healing potions, powdered unicorn's horn, phoenix feather, faerie dust.

"When you passed out, you hit your head pretty hard on one of your bedposts," the queen explains, ignoring him entirely. "Your husband has requested that you be given something to help with your pain, and you know that you can't take that without something in your stomach. Stop being stubborn."

"I'm not being stubborn," Cellbit huffs. "And I'm not in pain. So."

He isn't lying; he feels just fine. The only thing hurting is his stomach, and that's normal with starvation. He's more than used to the feeling by now.

"So you're going to take one dose of this potion to make your husband happy."

Oh, and now she's blackmailing him with Roier's emotions. Great.

Unfortunately for the queen, Cellbit knows his husband well enough to know that, if Roier wanted him to take a potion, he would be in the room force-feeding it to him himself. He wouldn't have Cellbit's current number one worst enemy try and do it, he isn't that cruel.

...Now that Cellbit thinks of it, where is Roier?

A bolt of panic grips Cellbit around his heart and he sits up in a flash, blanket flying off of him as his entire body tenses. His ears stick up on end, straining for any sign of Roier. Nothing.

"Where is he?" Cellbit demands.

He looks around the room and sees absolutely nothing that he can use as a weapon. Great. It's fine. It's fine! He can just-

Cellbit's vision swims, and he feels himself tipping to the side and off of the bed. The queen shouts, but he can't hear whatever she says over the sound of nothingness as he loses consciousness for the second time that day.

It takes much less time for him to wake up this time. He's up and trying to get to his feet within seconds of hitting the floor, his ears flat against his head and his eyes wide with panic as he fully decides that the queen may have, in fact, killed Roier. She had Cellbit drugged and she had Roier killed and now she's going to keep Cellbit in a much worse cell and she's going to torture him until he agrees that he's her brother and-

He's shocked back to reality as a blanket is dropped over his head from above. What?

"Roier is fine," the queen gently says. She's above him now, too- on the bed, probably, why? Is she trying to smother him? "He's the one who brought you here. He and the healer went to get some ice from the kitchens. She was going to go by herself, but he wanted to make sure she wouldn't try and poison you."

What a hero. Of course Roier would worry about the ice being poisoned, he and Cellbit both know a hundred ways to poison someone. It's hard not to know how to poison people in the potion business.

...But she's lying. The queen is lying. She hasn't told Cellbit the truth once since she first barged into his store.

...But the blanket over Cellbit's head is really heavy. Was it this heavy before? No, right?

Cellbit kneads his fingers into the knees of his trousers. He twists his wedding ring around his finger. His nose twitches. His lungs hurt.

"Still works," the queen mutters. What does that mean?

A few short, yet excruciatingly-long, moments of blanket and panic later, the door to the room slams open, and a pair of beautifully-familiar boots thud towards Cellbit. A second later, the blanket is ripped off of his head, and there's Roier holding a bowl of ice and looking so handsomely concerned.

"Gatinho..." he breathes.

And then he scowls and plops onto the ground in front of Cellbit, cross-legged. He puts the bowl down on his lap, leans forward, and grabs Cellbit by the face with both hands and squishes his cheeks together.

"I fucking told you to eat!" he shouts, only halfway angry. He squishes Cellbit's cheeks harder. "And now you are on the floor. Why are you on the floor, eh?"

"He fell," the queen responds. She's still on the bed, cross-legged herself, with her chin resting against her fist. "He wanted to search for you."

Roier 'awww's once before gently shaking Cellbit's head back and forth.

"What have I told you?" he scolds. "I'll always come back for you. Even when I die, I'll just haunt you as a sexy ghost. I'm not letting any stupid queen get rid of me?"

"Hey!" the queen protests.

Cellbit smiles, though, and he reaches up to place his hands over Roier's.

"Desculpe, guapito," he says.

Roier smiles back, his anger slowly fading from his face.

"Your forehead is all purple," he tells Cellbit. "Come here..."

He takes the blanket off of the floor and wraps it around a handful of ice cubes. It's a lumpy cold mess, but it's sweet, so Cellbit doesn't complain too much as Roier softly presses the makeshift ice pack against Cellbit's forehead.

Cellbit leans into his touch, eyes fluttering shut. He bites back a happy little purr. (Not in front of the queen...!)

Someone else walks into the room, but Cellbit couldn't care less about them. They have to be the healer, but there's nothing wrong with him. Nothing he can't fix himself with the right ingredients, anyway.

He cracks an eye open and glares up at the queen, who looks... thoughtful. Uh-oh.

"I'm not taking the potion," he tells her. "I don't drink anything I don't make myself."

The queen shrugs. "That's fine, then. There's a cauldron on the other side of the room. Right, Niki?"

She looks over her shoulder, and Cellbit can just barely make out a head of pink hair. Must be 'Niki', then. The healer.

"That's right!" the healer agrees. "You can use what you want! It's all in here somewhere!"

Roier leans in close and whispers, "That's Niki. She talks a lot about empanadas."

Cellbit's stomach grumbles at the mention of food, and he groans.

"Please don't mention food right now," he sighs, voice low.

"Mmm, or I can, and you'll eat something and we can go back to our room," Roier hums. He tenderly strokes Cellbit's cheek. "I'm in the mood for empanadas right now, actually. Ah, or mixiotes... or gorditas..."

Cellbit slumps forward against Roier's shoulder, bringing the ice with him.

"Guapito, please..." he whines.

"If you're hungry, I can have any of that made for you," the queen offers.

A growl bubbles up from Cellbit's throat, but Roier covers it up with a loud, "Ah! But how do we know you won't put poison in it, hmm?"

"Because I wouldn't poison my brother or my brother-in-law? That would be ridiculous!"

"Mhmm. But how can we be sure?"

"Let Roier cook for the both of us," Cellbit says. "That way, we know for sure that it'll be safe."

A beat. And then:

"Are you being serious right now?" the queen demands. "That was why you wouldn't eat? Because your husband wasn't cooking it for you?"

Cellbit turns his head to glare up at her. "You would starve yourself, too, if you had to go from his cooking to someone else's. His food is perfect. He could be a professional, you know."

The queen looks absolutely shocked. Positively bewildered. Confused beyond all belief. Angry, too. Annoyed.

"You are. Ridiculous," she stammers out. "But... fine. Yes! You should have just asked from the beginning! Oh my gods! You should have asked!"

She continues ranting about how silly Cellbit is for not trusting her despite them literally being family, which is absolutely ridiculous because, A, they aren't family, and, B, she literally knocked him out and kidnapped him and his husband and is holding them both captive.

But Cellbit doesn't listen. Instead, he thinks. Once he's back on his feet, he can actually start investigating. And then? He and Roier can go.

His stomach grumbles again; Roier giggles and pokes at Cellbit's belly and starts listing out potential dinner options in order of Cellbit's favorites to his least favorites.

...But first, dinner.

Finally.

[mapetitefeedeslilas]

I love Hangster as the next person, Cylock/Warclone are my sweet babies, but hear me out I am very sleep deprived so just indulge into my madness pls

What if Cyclone despises Maverick that much because he loves Bradley with his whole heart?

Freshly out of high school, Bradley feels like he has nothing in his life after he finds himself barred from the Academy and NROTC and signs up to enlist in the Marines out of spite and as a way to prove himself that he is in fact ready. At barely eighteen Bradley graduates brilliantly from boot camp only for 9/11 to happen and he finds himself thrown into a war before he knows it.

Young Bradley that with his team helps to rescue Commander Simpson, a thirty-year-old hotshot naval aviator that got shot down and was badly injured and captured, whom he soothes on the MedEVAC talking about planes (of which he knows a lot about because he grew up listening to plane talks) to distract him from the pain. And in his beaten up and barely conscious state, all Cyclone sees is this sort of brown-eyed angel talking to him.

Months later Cyclone is out of the hospital with a depressing sentence: he is done with flying, his body cannot sustain those Gs and that pressure anymore. There he meet the brown-eyed angel again, with the side of the face scarred and a sling around his left arm, injured right before his four-years contract with the Marines was over.

They talk for a long time and they are both so gone for each other it's not even funny. But there's DADT, the decade in age difference, the issue of the ranks and neither dares to make a move, too scared of rejection and having their lives turned upside down.

Cyclone, barred from flying, dives into the 'desk job' and starts climbing the ranks fast. Bradley goes to university to get the degree he needs, then to OCS and finally he gets admitted to flight school. They stay in touch, exchange long letters and texts and postcards and they talk, often and about everything aside from their feelings, baby dumbasses and Cyclone even manages to sneak in a few times to see him flying and hell, that is exactly what Bradley is meant to do.

Rooster gets his wings and in 2013 he wins the plaque at Top Gun and after the ceremony he drives straight, still in his dress whites, to Cyclone's house near Lemoore, nine years from when they first met and just kisses the now rear admiral, who enthusiastically reciprocates because y e s, finally

They hide, because they know the relationship might be an issue with their careers, but they are so madly in love they don't care, so long as they have each other even hiding out on the couch is fine. Only Warlock (who has known Cyclone since the Academy days) and Payback (who bonded with Rooster at the OFC on the accounts of being the oldest people there who had a lot to prove and little time to do it) know. And Payback shovel-talks Cyclone very seriously dropping the 'you might outrank me, but if I bury your body at sea, the halibuts will not care about your stars', because Rooster deserves to be treated right.

Rooster finally tells Cyclone the whole story about his papers and has to physically stop Beau from hunting down Maverick; Bradley could have easily denounced Maverick, because what he did was totally illegal, but he doesn't want to risk ruining his career. He hates what he has done, but he still loves his godfather too much to do that

And then poor Cyclone is already shitting bricks because he had to put Rooster's name in the roster of the mission, because the best of the best were required and his love is the damn best and whoopsie whoops, Iceman sends Maverick his way. Which Cyclone definitely hadn't asked for.

So now he has to juggle having to potentially send Rooster to a deathly mission and trying to be cold and have an unbothered façade and resist the impulse to strangle Maverick himself every time he sees him, thinking about the many times he had to comfort Bradley, because the guy was panicking, riddled with self-doubts. But both seeing Maverick fail and watch him defy orders and succeed pain him because he knows he has to send him, he is the guy for the job, he proved it, but he also cannot trust him fully.

And then the mission arrives and Cyclone has the front seat to that shitshow and has to forcefully stop himself to just about launch half of the Pacific Fleet the the rescue, because he is still a vice admiral and he has a job to do and needs to be objective, even if his heart is shattered.

After they make it home, Beau begrudgingly accepts Maverick into their lives, making it clear to the captain he better not mess up, but he is secretly over the moon as he watches Bradley finally being truly, completely happy, with his godfather back by his side and all the reassurances he needed about his capabilities.

Somewhere in this (you can insert it wherever you fancy) they adopt a friendly giant stray dog and a feral tiny cat Bradley finds in a bush and get a cute house full of books, plants and flowers that Beau protects from Bradley's bad botanic streak and the cat's rampages, pictures and with a piano.

And they live happily ever after, of course.

[lawsofchaos1]

Malec Promptlet: Circle!Alec AU

[Inspired by a comment from @crimsonpharaoh on my latest fic about the Circles very failed attempt to recruit Alec... What if they didn't fail?]

Alec is the eldest son and the acknowledged heir of two prominent, highly-ranked Circle members that are openly known to have recanted Valentine’s ideology in name only. When Robert and Maryse begin leaving the Institute in Alec’s care when he’s fourteen it becomes clear that Alec isn’t relying on his bloodline alone and is going to be an immensely powerful member of the Clave in his own right. 

The Circle would be utterly foolish not to recruit the Shadowhunter who is absolutely certain to become the next Head of the New York Institute. Especially when it becomes evident that the Shadowhunters of the New York Institute would happily lay down their lives for their beloved young leader. Whichever way Alec turns in this war, so too will New York. 

Kept wholly apart from the Downworld and with no formative mentors other than his parents, the Circle tries to recruit Alec … and Alec says yes. Everything he’s been taught says that Valentine is right - that the Downworld is a threat, and - well, Valentine’s not stupid. It’s clear that Alec is too ethical for torture and the worst of his planned experiments - but the Head of New York openly sympathetic to his cause? Aiding it, even subtly? Valentine is careful in his recruitment and how he presents the Circle’s aims. It works.

In canon, Alec is held back as he works because his pro-Downworld values are so far against the standards of the Clave, but if he doesn’t have that friction working against him? Alec rises fast and far in the ranks, quickly becoming the Vested Head of New York with his parent’s vocal support and he dominates the Clave’s political circles in Alicante. His Institute is loyal to Alec, utterly, and follows his lead. With the careful way Valentine (and Maryse) present the results of his actions to Alec, he has no cause to doubt the righteousness of his support for the Circle's planned rise.

Until he meets Magnus.

Magnus and Alec meet by sheer happenstance, literally running into each other on the streets of Brooklyn on one of the passingly rare afternoons Alec takes off both his patrol and administrative duties. Alec takes one look at the most beautiful man he’s ever seen in his life and is so tongue-tied he nearly fumbles accepting the resultant invitation for coffee.

For months, Alec grows deeper and deeper in love with the gorgeous and kind mundane, glowing in a way that’s noticeable even to his typically highly unobservant siblings. Alec has slowly begun to dreaming about them making a life together. Alec's is certain Magnus' soul would be deemed worthy of Ascension, but, even if Magnus isn't interested in becoming nephilim, Alec loves Magnus with everything he is and can't picture his life without Magnus by his side.

And then Alec’s world falls apart.

Magnus, just as glowing and just as in love, sits Alec down and quietly, nervously, tells him about the Shadow World. Tells Alec he’s a warlock.

If Magnus is a Downworlder, then nothing Alec has believed for his entire life can be true.

Alec is numb and disbelieving, but Magnus must take it as shock alone for he continues in his explanation, rubbing Alec’s back soothingly as he describes the terror and genocidal aims of the Circle.

Alec somehow manages to rasp out to Magnus that he needs time to think and he flees.

With a starting point Alec had somehow never considered over the last seven years, the threads start to pull apart and everything Valentine hid from him unravels in a series of horrible revelations that leave Alec throwing up bile in his sink. 

What has he done?

The next morning, Alec rises from the cold bathroom floor, limbs aching and head throbbing from lack of sleep. Silently, he goes into his office and gathers every document he has on the Circle’s activities. Everything he’s done for them, every horrible political aim he’s aided, every safehouse he’s helped conceal. He writes down names, he writes down dates and addresses, he sketches out images of the Circle members he’s seen and has no other information for. It takes him nearly until the sun’s last rays are fading before he’s done. 

And then he disarms himself. His bow and quiver. His blades and daggers. His stele. Even the slim hold-out weapon in his boot. Nothing remains.

Alec takes up his parcel of documentation and walks to Brooklyn, every step an inch closer to his grave. Every step an inch closer to his love - to Magnus, the High Warlock of New York.

When Magnus opens the door in leggings and only the barest make-up, Alec’s heart breaks. To Magnus, his mundane boyfriend had reacted very poorly to learning of the Shadow World yesterday. Badly enough that he likely is worried what Alec is here to say.

And Alec would give nearly anything to wrap his partner in a warm, familiar embrace and soothe his worries away, but Alec doesn’t deserve the comfort that would bring him too. He doesn’t deserve to even look at Magnus anymore.

Magnus brings him into the living room, gesturing him to the couch, but Alec stops short in the bare space in front of the coffee table. He looks to Magnus, memorizes for one final time what it is to have the man he loves look at him without hate and disgust in his eyes, and sinks to his knees on the ground.

Magnus turns around, startled, mouth open to protest, but Alec can’t listen to that - can’t hear what Magnus says before he knows of Alec’s sins. 

He places the parcel of information on the floor in front of him, focuses his gaze on his knees and confesses.

Everything.

[jonathanspenguinboxers]

regarding the clave, I am not sure technically if it is supposed to have jurisdiction over the downworlders anyway, as in it pretends it does and it acts like it does, as in you endow itself with that repsonsibility, but if you or any one can clarify if it is written that they are supposed to have any jurisdiction over the downworlders anyways? bc it makes more sense for them to have jurisdiction over the shadowhunters which is the race consisting of the clave, and i thought it was overreaching thier jurisdiction over downworlders (i mean it has been pretty long since I re-read TMI so i cant be sure) which is why i hated them even more, and that somehow thier presumed status quo in the world which they believe to be existing makes their decisions such that it affects downworlders anyways. like cold war, technically they shouldnt have jurisdiction over fairies its the dealings of the SH they can control and that in turn resulted into thier isolation idk i always thought that.

Also because we have heard about fairie courts, warlock council (i am pretty sure was mentioned in bane chronicles and trsom) vampire have thier own clans, werewolf again thier packs - not sure if they have any overarching bodies to govern them or repsonsible for them.

so technically (i hate to be the devils advocate) but just for consideration, i agree with more involvement of the downworlders since all SH decisions affects them, but it also makes sense for the clave to be predominantly represented or dealing with SH concerns. UNLESS, ... unless one completely revamps all the existing quasi governing bodies and creates one overarching body which deals with all SH and DW claims and not just SH, with equal representation. But until that happens, giving representation to each DW section makes sense as it is now, with more DW involvement though, and more DW interactions during decision making.

BTW you can not answer this post if you dont want to, this clave politics i just find very interesting (and some interesting engaging questions were going on in your blog - i quite love your blog and your interactions hehe) I have always been interested in government structures, representation etc, it relates with my field of learning as well.

Also its surprising that someone actually said it- i think it was you which said that circle was more right than other characters- which yes their thinking about clave was more right that it needs to be changed but it kinda stops there - bc their change included completely eradicating DWs and killing them, bc it came from a elitist POV ... like the thinking of change is correct but not where it is directed ..

Anyways it was fun , this was fun, thanks!! TC

I'm so sad you did this anonymously because this is a great thought process and I wanna moot you (That sounds so aggressive 😭)

Yes, I completely agree, the clave oversteps in its position of government because they are meant to enforce laws mostly to shadowhunters, and it is unjust that they try, execute, and are explicitly involved in downworlders while giving them no representation (one person to represent ALL werewolves, and I love Luke more than anyone on this planet I'm sure of that but if I was a werewolf and an ex shadowhunter was my only representation I would be very. very angry.) So yes, they absolutely overstep, and I wholeheartedly believe that the system is corrupt beyond recognition and bigotry and prejudice is so rooted within the Clave that no restructuring or employing of 'good people' would make it better. As it is, everything in the clave is already warped and corrupted, no matter how good the intention because the simple fact is not every could agree with it because downworlders simply do not have that privallege. Even someone like Alec who has good intentions, cannot makeup for that because he IS NOT a downworlder, even if he may sympathize. Everything needs to be rebuilt, exactly as you said, built on the five pillars of the magical world including full and extensive and EQUAL representation for each, no reigning shadowhunters. That is the only way to really get beyond the prejudice because if not you are just complying with the superiority complex, the prejudice, and the discrimination. If they are so downworlder accepting, why do they fear letting them have more say than just one person per creature? (couldn't think of a better word sorry)

Ok on the circle thing, I did not by any means want to say that I think the circle is right or justified. I only meant that there is an obvious show in entitlement within the main characters in TSC (I've read TMI and half of TID so keep that in mind thats who im talking about though I dont doubt it exists in TDA or TLH) with the acceptance of the lack of rep for downwolrders, for the subtle prejudices, for the lack of calling out bigoted behavior. Their solution is only to stop Valentine, not to give Downworlders rights, and theres a difference. I think its Luke who calls Clary out on this, that despite hating Valentine and criticizing Luke and Jocelyns involvement in the circle, she also subtly retains unchecked prejudices against the downworlders herself, and it especially rampant amongst the others like Jace and Alec. So in contrast, the cirlces INITIAL idea that the government/systems were the root of the problem was more aware. However, obviously it was VERY skewed and became something else entirely, and initially the goal wasn't so great either, I'm just saying the general notion of faulting the system not the people is what is more sound that say Clary, who fought Valentine who was not an outlier in his hatred, and instead of also focusing, or ever focusing, on the root cause, just defeated Valentine and called it a day. So yeah, don't misconstrue my words, I am not in agreement with the circle, I do not think they were heros, and it was never a noble cause because even at the beginning their reasoning for a system change was warped with anger and hatred.

Thank you for the awesome ask!!! I took so long because I wanted to give you a decent answer