#from what I understand even if she is declared at no fault and gets no punishment

[aflawedfashion]

Kamila Valieva failed her drug test at Russian Nationals on December 25th 2021. If she gets a two year retroactive ban, the ban will expire on December 25th 2023. It's entirely possible she will medal at nationals tomorrow on December 23rd 2023.

[sakuraszn]

﹒♡ CONFESSION ft. katsuki bakugo

cw: lots of fluff, flustered bakugo. he’s such a cutie

The ramen shop was packed, the air filled with laughter, chatter, and the rich aroma of broth and grilled meat. The entire Class 1-A had squeezed into the cozy little restaurant to celebrate Todoroki’s recent jump in the hero rankings.

Bowls clinked, chopsticks clashed, and the energy was electric as the group indulged in warm food and lively conversation.

And at the center of it all—Katsuki Bakugo sat stiffly, arms crossed, scowling into his half-finished bowl of ramen like it had personally offended him.

Not because he wasn’t happy for Todoroki.

Not because the food was bad.

But because of you.

You, sitting just a few seats down, laughing at something uraraka had said, your eyes crinkling, shoulders shaking.

And it was driving him insane.

For weeks—no, months—Bakugo had been dealing with this… feeling. This stupid, irritating, suffocating feeling every time you were near him. It was different from the rivalry-fueled adrenaline he felt in battle, different from the pride he carried when he improved as a hero.

It was something he didn’t understand, something he couldn’t control.

And he hated that.

But tonight… tonight was the night he was going to do something about it.

Or at least, that’s what Kirishima and Sero had forced into his thick skull before they even walked into the restaurant.

“Dude, you’ve been acting weird around them for weeks.”

“Just tell them! What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Oh, I don’t know, idiots, maybe they laugh in my face and never talk to me again?!”

“Oh please, she would never—”

“Shut up. I’ll do it when I damn well feel like it.”

But now that he was here, surrounded by people, nerves bubbling in his gut like an active volcano, feeling like it was a lot harder than he expected.

“Bakugo,” Kirishima’s voice cut through his thoughts, low enough that only he could hear. “You good, bro?”

“I’m fine,” Bakugo growled, barely glancing up as he stabbed at his noodles with his chopsticks.

Kirishima raised an eyebrow. “Yeah? ‘Cause you haven’t insulted Kaminari in like ten minutes. I’m starting to get worried.”

Sero snickered. “Pretty sure that’s a new record.”

“Shut the hell up.”

Kirishima and Sero exchanged glances before the redhead leaned in again. “Are you actually gonna do it?”

Bakugo exhaled sharply, gripping his chopsticks so tight they nearly snapped.

“After this.” His voice was firm. Final.

Kirishima grinned, nudging Sero. “Told ya he’d do it.”

“Hey, I had faith,” Sero said, shrugging. “Just not a lot of faith.”

Bakugo shot them both a murderous glare, but before he could verbally rip them apart, Iida clapped his hands together, signaling for attention.

“If I may have everyone’s focus for a moment!” Iida said, standing up. “I’d like to propose a final toast to Todoroki!”

Todoroki, who had been quietly enjoying his meal, blinked as everyone raised their glasses. “Oh,” he said, tilting his head slightly. “Thank you.”

“To Todoroki climbing the ranks!” Iida declared.

“To Todoroki!” the class cheered, clinking their glasses together.

You turned, smiling at the dual-haired hero. “You really deserve it, Todoroki. We all knew you’d make it far.”

Todoroki’s lips curled into a small smile. “I appreciate that, Y/N.”

Bakugo scowled.

It wasn’t Todoroki’s fault, but hearing you say his name like that, so softly, so encouragingly—yeah, it bothered him.

Not that he’d ever admit it.

As the night wound down, people started finishing up their food, settling their bills, and stretching lazily before making their way out.

“Damn, that was good,” Kaminari sighed, rubbing his stomach. “I think I ate too much.”

Mina laughed. “You definitely ate too much.”

One by one, people began saying their goodbyes, heading off in different directions toward the dorms or home.

And that’s when Bakugo knew—this was his moment.

You were slipping on your jacket, adjusting your scarf when he finally forced himself to move.

Kirishima shot him a thumbs-up from across the room, and Sero winked.

Bakugo rolled his eyes before stomping over to you, heart hammering wildly in his chest.

“Oi.”

You looked up at him, blinking. “Oh, hey, Bakugo! What’s up?”

He inhaled sharply through his nose. Okay. Just say it. Say it, dumbass.

But the words wouldn’t come out.

Instead, he found himself standing there like an idiot, fists clenched at his sides, staring at you.

You tilted your head, confused. “Uh… you okay?”

His jaw tensed. This was already going horribly.

And then—because frustration was the only thing that ever helped him push past his nerves—he blurted out:

“Are you really so oblivious?”

You blinked. “Huh?”

He groaned, running a hand through his hair before pointing at you aggressively. “You! You’re oblivious! Have you seriously not noticed?!”

Your confusion deepened. “Noticed what?”

He exhaled sharply, cheeks burning. His whole body felt like it was about to explode.

He had two options: Keep making a fool of himself or just say it and get it over with.

He squeezed his eyes shut, inhaled, and then—

“I like you, dumbass!”

Silence.

Bakugo cracked one eye open, stomach twisting into knots.

You were staring at him.

Not laughing. Not recoiling. Just… staring.

Then—

“You… like me?”

He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “That’s what I just said, idiot.”

A slow smile crept onto your lips. “You like me?”

His face turned an even darker shade of red. “Yes! Stop making me say it, damn it!”

You let out a laugh—light, airy, and filled with something he couldn’t quite place. “Wow,” you said, grinning. “I never thought I’d hear you say that.”

“Yeah, well, it wasn’t easy.” His voice was gruff, but his hands were twitching at his sides, resisting the urge to do something—anything—with them.

You stepped closer, peering up at him. “You know… I like you too.”

Bakugo’s brain short-circuited.

“…What?”

You laughed again, eyes crinkling at the corners. “I like you, Bakugo. Have for a while now.”

His heart stopped.

Then jump-started at triple speed.

“What?”

You shrugged, smirking. “What? Are you oblivious?”

His eye twitched. “You—you little—”

You poked his cheek and laughed. “Aw, don’t be embarrassed kat’ I’m just messin with ya.”

He exploded.

Not literally. But his entire soul combusted.

“Shut the hell up!” he barked, face practically glowing red.

But you just laughed again, softer this time. Fond. “So… now what?”

He swallowed, heart still racing. “Now… now you let me walk you home, dumbass.”

You beamed. “That sounds nice.”

And as you started walking together, Bakugo felt something strange settle in his chest.

Warm. Light.

Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all.

SAKURASZN © 2025 !

[yzzart]

ULTRAMAN, WERE YOU AT? ── KENJI SATO

୭˚. ᵎᵎ content warnings: F!reader, mention of Mina and KDF, news about Ultraman, Kenji referring to reader as his wife, reference to Telesdon and Aboras, fluff.

"In the company of the KDF, Ultraman managed, drastically and efficiently, to end yet another Kaiju invasion. However, causing countless damage and devastation throughout the city, and…"

The news is interrupted, not by an urgency or warning of new attacks, but by a turbulent and unexpected grumble, also considered as a scream; reliving a sequence of firm and smug grunts. — As if they had been imprisoned for a long time. — Surprising you.

The image, which remained frozen, showed the aircraft, small drones — Kenji has already seen several of them being destroyed and thrown in some circumstances by Kaijus — of the large organization arresting Telesdon; and behind them was Ultraman, rising from a building. — It seemed as if he had been defeated by the creature, something that was not true.

But, it was something that KDF wanted to convey to citizens; and they did not have the coherence and relevance to disguise this. — Even taking advantage of the hero's small, perhaps big, slip-ups.

"Huh, yeah, in their company." — He declared sarcastically, furrowing his eyebrows with revolt mixed with regret, getting tired of his own emotions. — "They just decide to show up when i'm close to controlling everything!" — Kenji felt a twinge of reason shining through his words, and even if, indeed, he did, he knew there were uncertain things between them.

"Controlling everything isn't about causing a lot of damage, Ken." — Removing the projection that showed the news, Mina spoke to the boy, who clicked his tongue, like a child, feeling reprimanded, with understanding. — "Focus is key."

"Mina, please…" — He begged, giving up sitting on the sofa to lie down on it and put his head in your lap, knowing it would be more comfort and warmth; perhaps, support from you against the robotic assistant's sermons.

“She’s right, Ken.” — Adjusting your posture a little and getting comfortable on the sofa, your hand ran up to your lover's soft black curls; knowing the pressure and tension that was going through Kenji's mind, you tried to comfort, care for him and reassure him.

And it always, always worked; Kenji knew that you were his refuge, light and peace. — Something he will protect and feel protected.

“I’m going to pretend i didn’t hear that coming from your pretty mouth.” — He closed his eyes, wanting to bring the caresses he received closer, feeling a comfort that could never be explained; It felt like paradise.

“Oh, are you going to pretend you don’t remember that time you simply decided to distract yourself, while fighting Aboras, to talk to me?” — You reminded him, arching one of your eyebrows, wanting to see if any response or anything would come out of Sato; quickly, he opened his eyes.

"What?" — Kenji looked stunned by the way he was placed against the wall. — “No, no, i just waved at you…?” — He wasn't sure, this could be considered self-sabotage.

“Go back to the house, young lady.” — He imitated him, making, or trying to, a deep and loud voice, wanting to reference Ultraman. — “The streets have been very dangerous lately.” — Kenji couldn't contain his laughter at your mockery of him. — “And they still wanted to interview me because of it.”

“It’s not my fault if i can’t resist my wife.”

[beautifulmadnesss]

"I Don't Ever Wanna Know What it Feels Like to Be a Shadow of Myself" Garrick Tavis x Riorson!Reader

Summary: Xaden's sister doesn't like Violet until they are both captured and interrogated by Varrish.

A/N: This has become a mini series, but can also be read as a standalone.

Part 1 Part 2

Also 5.5k and lots of angst. Hope you enjoy!

Violet had apparently been researching how to raise the wards in Aretia and now we were making plans to break into the Archives. It was completely insane and had far more chance of failing than success. Everyone else seemed to think this was completely fine.

I could tell Xaden was at least a little reluctant. He trusted Violet, but not Aaric, who was vital to Violet’s plan and apparently actually the prince in disguise. I agreed with him, at least on the latter. I still wasn't confident that Violet was going to keep our secret, especially after she told her entire squad, which was far too many people who knew. She could’ve gone to her mom last year after Resson, but she was also the reason we were even there in the first place. 

"There are so many things that can go wrong with this plan. She really doesn't have any clue where the journal is, what it looks like, or what protections are around it. We are risking everything for this plan just on her word" I have really tried to like her, but every time I looked at her I see not only the striking resemblance to the woman who spent hours carving into my brothers back, but also the reminder that it was her inability to control her mind that got Liam killed. No matter how many times Xaden said it wasn't her fault that doesn’t change the fact that  if he never told her about the supply drops, then Liam would still be here. I couldn’t understand how he could possibly trust her after everything. I wanted him to see the version of her I saw. I knew it was wrong and I honestly knew it wasn't going to work, but I pushed anyway. Using my second signet I tried to force the thought of distrust into his head. The impact was almost immediate, his shields slammed up so hard I physically stumbled. He was expecting it, damn his signet. 

"Knock it the fuck off." He growled, rounding on me and towering over me. Bodhi was the only other person that knew the double meaning behind that and he glanced between us anxiously. We’ve been at each other’s throats constantly and I knew it was frustrating for him. "This is Violet's plan and it's the best we have, so shut up and do what you're told." His condescending tone set my teeth on edge and made me feel like a scolded child. Fire sparked momentarily in my hands before Bodhi cut it off, stepping between us. 

"You're both right. It's not without its risks. We all decide if we want to do this. Anyone who doesn't want to go down there and risk dying can stay. Even if we do this and we get out, if someone catches us we're dead." Violet spoke up, unease filling her tone. I have to at least give her credit, she was far more humble than anyone else in this room. 

"I'm in," her best friend, Rhiannon said first.

"Oh you know I'm in!" Ridoc agreed as well. 

"We stick together." Sawyer added. One by one everyone affirmed their decision to go for these journals that were the key to our survival. 

"I'll follow you anywhere." Xaden declared before immediately turning his gaze to me expectantly. Last time he was here on leave, after RSC, he was soft and gentle. For the first time since reuniting I felt like his little sister again, just like I had imagined it would be like being together again after five years. He saw Violet on the parapet before I made it across and she had changed him. I later learned about the deal he made with her mother, Violet’s safety in exchange for our chance to redeem ourselves in the Rider’s Quadrant, but that didn’t stop me from hating her. He had to keep her safe or we were all dead, but sometimes it felt like him taking care of her had replaced how he used to take care of me when we were kids. I didn’t really need him to, but after being on my own for years feeling like an outsider and always being on guard, I craved the safety of my big brother. Growing up it was always the four of us. We had our own little club that we didn't let anyone into, except Liam when he was around. I was strong and important, but then Violet came in and changed everything. It was stupid and childish that I was jealous of her, especially considering I was now dating Xaden's best friend and he was definitely still pissed about that. He was getting tired of how I constantly challenged her and it had put more than a little distance between us, something I hated more than anything. Not to mention the additional danger she was posing for both of them this year by constantly pushing against Varrish. The most infuriating part was that I still had to help protect her, because no matter how much I hated her, if she dies, he dies. 

"Fine." It was the best I could offer. I could see in Xaden's face it wasn't enough, but he didn't say anything. 

Violet and Jesinia made a plan of what roles we each played and that was when my little resolve I had to keep a lid on my emotions broke. 

"I'm on guard duty with babysitters? I can help and you know it." The demand was directed more at Xaden. The look he leveled at me told me how much he just wished I would go along with the plan as if he was the most agreeable person on the continent.

"I'm not letting you screw everything up by setting fire to the Archives." He was slightly taller than Bodhi, so he was able to glare at me over his shoulder. 

"And you said my brother was the asshole." Aaric chimed in. 

"Perhaps they aren't all that different." I didn't mean it, not really, but I said it before I could stop myself. 

"Either shut fuck up or go back to your room. You're acting like a child and I don't have time for it. Violet is the one who is actually helping us accomplish the mission so she makes the plan." He towered over me, shadows swirling around my legs and his voice seething with anger that matched my own. The assertion that the daughter of our enemy was doing more to help my home than I was sent me over the edge. 

"I fucking hate you." I had never said those words to Xaden other than during stupid sibling spats. We didn't fight like this, but the pressure over following in our dad's footsteps and the tension between us was too much. We didn’t really get the opportunity to talk about everything that happened and now all of his leave time was spent with Violet. 

Bodhi pushed me back, trying to put distance between us. "We have to go now. You two need to cool it." It was silent for a minute until Violet continued with the final assignments as her friend Jesinia handed out Scribe robes to all of us. My rage continued to simmer as I silently dressed in the robes I was given. 

I didn't speak again until after Bodhi, Ridoc, and I had taken our position as guards. 

"So, the whole brooding anger and insanely hot physique is a family trait?" Ridoc inquired, breaking the silence with his usual brand of humor. 

"Did you always plan to be Violet's court jester or did you have higher aspirations?" I shot back. 

"I'm going to take that as a yes." He replied with a chuckle. 

"You two should really talk." Bodhi interrupted before I could reply to Ridoc. He was looking at me imploringly and I know the constant tension between Xaden and I had drained him.

"He's too busy with Violet and he probably doesn't want to talk anyways." I also didn’t want to talk because I was tired of the fighting too. I was scared and stressed and exhausted, but it felt like all of my emotions funneled into anger. 

"No, he does but you're both so damn stubborn that you're just going to keep tearing each other down. I'm tired of it. We are at fucking war and we could all die at any minute. We almost did. Liam did. So the both of you need to stop being idiots and start acting like you're a family." He couldn't yell, since that would defeat the whole point of a secret mission, but I heard him loud and clear. “You should give Violet a chance. She is going to be around no matter what, so you might as well find some way to give her the opportunity to show you she isn’t her mom. Resson wasn’t her fault either.” 

"Okay, I'll talk to him tomorrow before he leaves." I could see it wasn't enough for Bodhi. "You're right, okay. I'll talk to him, I promise." 

"Who doesn't love a happy ending?" Ridoc chimed in, successfully made both Bodhi and I laugh. 

"I could use a happy ending right about now." I sighed. 

"Gross." Bodhi fake gagged.

"After we get out of here, you are more than welcome to join me in my room." Ridoc smirked over at me. 

"Sorry, you're not my type." 

"Because I'm not a brick wall of tattooed muscle or is your type limited to one specific man who isn't here."

"Both." I replied, returning his smile. I did really miss Garrick. The letters weren't the same and I couldn't even tell him half the things I wanted to. Most of his letters to me came with more black lines than words. The separation from him only made the feeling of isolation even worse, especially while I was fighting with Xaden.

"Well you're both gross and we're almost out of time, so get ready." Bodhi's remark got us all to stand at attention. Our silence was tense as we all stood, waiting for them to come out. The bells began to toll and there was still no sign. “I’m sure they’re fine.” His voice lacked any of the reassurance he was trying to convey. 

“Fuck, they’re not going to make it.” Ridoc said, just before they all came barreling out. 

“Everyone to your places, now.” Xaden commanded, cutting off any questions we wanted to ask. Our talk was going to have to wait a bit longer.

After the small detour to be seen in the commons with Ridoc and Bodhi, I quickly backtracked to catch up to Violet and Xaden. The entire way back I was trying to come up with a sufficient apology, but none sounded right. I knew the best real way to show him I was sorry was to make more of an effort with Violet. I don't really trust her and I don't even really like her, but I also hadn't tried to do anything other than find reasons to hate her. 

My heart sank when I saw her alone. "He left?" There was no hiding the disappointment in my voice. 

"Yeah, he has to get the journal back for Brennan to translate." She said cautiously. I could tell she didn’t really want to be alone with me, she even seemed a little scared. I really have a lot of making up to do. 

"Oh, right. We should go then." I turned to walk back to the dorms with her when a voice interrupted us. 

"Violet?" It was Nolan, her mender friend, but I only slightly relaxed, still keeping my hand near my dagger. She may know him well enough to trust him, but I didn't. 

She greeted him warmly and I could only hope he didn't hear the nerves dancing at the edge of her tone. 

"Cadet Riorson," I gave a polite nod. "I know you've been under a lot of stress lately so I brought this for you." Normally, my total distrust of anyone in leadership here would keep me from drinking with Violet, but given what was sitting in her bag I decided it was best not to push it. We had to be as discreet as possible and get out of here quickly. I took the mug from Nolan and drank, feeling surprisingly comforted by the feel of the warm liquid. 

"I hardly ever see you apart from Lieutenant Riorson on Saturdays. Where is he?" Something about his tone caused me to glance at him suspiciously. Then when Jack Barlow and his friends appeared, I stepped closer to Violet. He may have just saved her life, but there was no way he didn't hate her. He was probably plotting her death and while I hadn’t warmed up to her yet, I wasn’t letting that happen. 

"Is everything alright? Nolan asked her, his eyes also following Jack as he crossed into the opposite wing. 

"It's fine." She replied, taking another sip of her drink and I followed. When I moved the cup down I saw her staring into the mug with her brows knitted in confusion. 

"Violet?" I questioned wearily, but I felt it too. Fuck. Nolan was staring at her bag. He knew. I didn’t have any time to think, I just reacted, forcing my breathing to slow and mentally reaching for the man in front of me. 

Revealing my second signet to anyone was likely a death sentence, but if we didn't get out of this we were dead anyways, so I had to try. I concentrated hard, focusing on the vision of him walking away and back to the Healers Quadrant. I stumbled slightly as my balance gave. He was talking to Violet, but his voice was hazy, so I couldn’t really hear him. I pushed harder and his words cut off, his attention turning to me. Fuck, this was it. He knows and now there's no going back. The connection into his mind swam in and out of focus. I reached, trying to pull more power from my dragon, but the thread snapped. I was cut off. I stumbled again, but this time my legs gave out and it was all I could do to throw my arm out to keep my head from hitting the stone. 

The pain in my head was overwhelming and the very first thing I became aware of when I woke up. Maybe it was whatever they drugged us with or from pushing myself too hard trying to stop Nolan. I tried reaching out to my dragon and felt the empty response, which means no fire and no mind manipulation. Several voices come into focus and my body immediately jolts to attention at the sound of the two most identifiable, Violet and Varrish. 

I opened my eyes and immediately noticed I was bound to a chair directly across from Violet who thankfully looked mostly unharmed. The room around us filled me with dread. Blood was caked on the walls and floor. We were unarmed and bound in a torture chamber. This wasn’t like RSC, this was a torture chamber built for real world interrogations. 

Mallory. The memory of RSC and the vicious murder of my squadmate slammed into the forefront of my mind. I forced myself to push it down before the panic became overwhelming. If I dwelled on it now Violet would meet the same fate and I was not letting that happen. 

"Glad to have you join us Cadet Riorson." Varrish sneers at me. 

"Fuck you." I spit at him, but this time he doesn't go for me. It's Violet he backhands at full force. I grit my teeth. I can't do anything, but watch. If he knows it's getting to me, he's going to keep pushing. This is one hell of a way for Violet and I to mend our relationship. 

"One of you will tell me how you got this journal and who it was that helped you. I have an entire week to get it out of you and I will do so by any means necessary." He moved behind her so that I had a completely unobstructed view as he broke her fingers one by one. She screamed in agony and I fought hard against the binds on my wrists and ankles. The chair had no give, meaning it was bolted to the ground. 

"Leave her alone!" I screamed.

"Tell me." He demanded, but I didn't respond. I couldn't. "Very well." He continued to snap her bones. The overwhelming feeling of helplessness brought tears of frustration to my eyes. I couldn't tell him. It would risk my brother, Bodhi, Imogen, Garrick, and everyone else in Aretia. After a while, the temptation to tell set in. I couldn't watch Violet get tortured like this. Xaden already hates me, he's never going to speak to me again after he finds out I let this happen to her. I had to find a way to get his attention.

"You don't want to ask how an intinsic survived right under your nose?" The response was immediate. Violet crumpled to the floor as he let her go. Her broken arm hit the ground first causing her to moan in pain and my stomach to turn as I saw the bone press against her skin. 

"Yes, Nolan did tell me that he suspected you were an intinsic after you tried to stop him a few nights ago." Fuck, had it really been that long. The hunger and thirst that dominated my senses told me that wasn't hard to believe. 

My breathing sped up as he prowled closer to me. "You could let me show you." 

"While I applaud your efforts to have your power returned to you, that is a rather weak attempt." He came to stand behind me. "I'm more interested in how it works. That much you can explain to me. I'm sure Cadet Sorrengail would appreciate the reprieve." 

"Don't." Violet's voice was raw and she couldn't move. This was the only piece of leverage I had. 

"I can manipulate people's minds. Force thoughts into their heads and make them do what I want." If we ever made it out of here alive, I was signing myself over to be a weapon. 

"Interesting. When did this signet manifest?" The glint in his eyes let me know that he was fully invested in all I had to say. It was over, no matter if we made it out of this room or not, he was going to do whatever he had to do to mold me into a weapon for Navarre. Violet had to get out of here alive, then I would be alone and I would die before he broke me. 

"A few weeks after the fire manifested." I was giving as little information as possible. I knew I was fucked either way, but at least this way I can prolong it and keep him away from Violet.

"You've kept it hidden this whole time?" I nodded. "Who else knows?"

"No one." I couldn’t help but glance at Nora, the truth sayer, standing in the corner. 

"Lie." She responded immediately and Varrish struck me. 

"I suppose I should have expected you to lie about this. You isolate yourself because you're so afraid of the ones you love getting hurt. You're petrified of being alone. Shocking for the daughter of the famous Great Betrayer to be so weak." It was my turn to take blow after blow. Violet’s protests went completely ignored. "You've hid this long enough we cannot kill you simply for being an intinsic, but I can break you and you will become quite the weapon for General Melgren." It felt like hours. My entire body was in agonizing pain. The worst was when he pinned my leg to the ground at an awkward angle and stepped on it over and over again until it snapped, even then, he twisted and pushed on it. He didn't even pause as Nolan came in to mend Violet. She was still weak with dehydration and huger, but her body being mended gave her the strength to talk back. Varrish didn't relent. He knew she wasn't going to tell him about what we had done. I knew that as long as his attention was focused on me, she was safe. Xaden would come for her, I just had to buy time. "You girls have a few more days before Lieutenant Riorson violates his leave to come to search for you. Then, perhaps he will tell me what I wish to know." He let the threat hang in the air as he left. Fuck. He was smart and I fucking hated him for it. Xaden would fall for this trap without hesitation. He said it himself, he would follow her anywhere. 

"Violet, I'm sorry." I said after a while. "I'm so sorry. I-" Breathing hurt. Forcing air through my broken ribs was agonizing, but I had to tell her. 

"It's okay." She replied softly. 

"No, it's not. You're the best thing that ever happened to Xaden. I've been jealous and I judged you for what your mom did. Which isn't fair when you've never once judged me for what my father did." I tried to shift in the chair, but caught sight of the bone protruding from my leg. My stomach rolled as I forced myself to look away. "Please forgive me." There was more I wanted to say, but I felt so weak and my brain was so hazy. 

"Of course. If we survive this, maybe we can be friends. Have a sleepover." The laughter quickly fell into coughs for the both of us. 

"No boys allowed." I smiled at her, genuinely. Everything I thought about her was wrong and I feel horrible that it took torture for me to see it, but I could only hope that she would keep Xaden happy. I now know I can trust her with my home and my people. 

We didn't speak again. Varrish and Nolan were a revolving door. They mended and beat Violet over and over again. Nolan never mended me. Occasionally Varrish would turn his attention on me, that was the closest Violet came to breaking. The pain was never ending, but we both held strong. We could survive this. Xaden wouldn’t be alone, he would have Garrick and Bodhi at least. If it came down to it, I would make sure they got Violet out. I owed her and Xaden that much at least. 

My right eye was the only one that would open anymore and even that was a struggle. I forced it open at the sound of a familiar voice, but not the one I wanted to hear.

Violet immediately started to struggle. We both knew what was coming and without shields he would get everything.

He had the decency to look shocked at her appearance, his eyes only momentarily drifting over to me. Varrish continued to impress upon him the importance of getting Violet's memories. We were traitors and the entirety of Navarre was in danger from us. Ironic coming from him, but I kept my mouth shut.

“They’ve requested all leadership to assemble immediately.” Nora interrupted, urgency clear in her voice. Xaden and Garrick, it had to be them. We just had to hold out a little longer. 

“Help me, please.” She begged Dain and I knew it killed her to do it. His face was taut with tension and I knew that it was useless. All I could do was watch as he placed his fingers on her temples, both their eyes closed in concentration. 

After a few moments he pulled back with a gasp. “You’ve been smuggling our weapons to aid another kingdom.” 

Fuck. It was over. He had seen everything.

“Violet, it’s not your fault.” I said, trying to offer some reassurance. 

“They need all of us now.” The woman interrupted again, but Varrish wasn’t listening. He stepped on my leg and I screamed as the pain ricocheted through my joints.  

“Please, Dain!” Violet begged but he kept his face devoid of emotion.

“Let me see the dagger so I can compare it to the one in her memories.” He asked Varrish, who complied after warning him not to kill Violet. 

My world swam in front of me, but I tried hard to stay focused on what was happening in front of me. Dain placed the dagger against Violet’s throat. Muttering to her about trust. He was really going to kill her. 

“No! You fucking asshole!” I screamed and fought against the chair with every ounce of energy I had. The pain was blinding but if I didn’t do something, anything, Violet would bleed out in front of me, just like Liam and just like Mallory. I couldn’t let that happen. The woman was calling more urgently for Varrish and I reached for my power I already knew wasn’t there. They had ensured we continued to drink the mixture that severed the connection. “Violet!” I was hysterical, but my efforts were useless.

I heard the squelch of knife of flesh and I panicked. “No! Violet!” The shock clouded the vision in front of me. Varrish was the one bleeding, not Violet and Dain was cutting her free. She wasn’t dead. She’s fine. Dain was cutting her free. “What?” I asked, voicing my complete confusion as to what just happened. 

“I don’t know if we can fight our way out of here, but if you don’t move we’re dead.” He moved toward me and I flinched out of instinct, but all he did was cut away the binds. I could see the emotions written so plainly on his face, he never knew about any of it. His father had lied to him just as much as he lied to everyone else. 

“I can’t.” I looked down at my leg. “Take her.” I implored him. Varrish wasn’t dead, but he was slumped against the wall. They had time to get out. “Neither of us can walk and you have seconds to get out, so take her.” He nodded, handing me the dagger and moving forward to help Violet. He lifted her up and pulled her arm around his neck to help her walk. 

“No, we aren’t leaving her.” She tried to protest, but she was cut off by the woman, Nora, blocking the doorway. 

“Move and I’ll let you live.” Dain promised, offering the bitch a mercy she definitely didn’t deserve. 

Violet was leaning against his back but her gaze was locked on mine. I gave her a weak smile. I had a dagger and I was no longer bound to a chair. That was something. 

“I make no such promises.” She was dead before I could fully register that he was really here. Xaden was here. Violet was safe, he would make sure of that. 

My eyes felt so heavy. I don’t know that I had slept at all since we were captured, just when I passed out from the pain. I tried everything to keep watch over Violet and I did, I kept her alive. Now, she was safe and I could rest. 

“Hey, hey. Open your eyes, babe. Please.” Gods I never thought I’d hear his voice again. His hands were on my face and I immediately felt the tears well up. 

“Garrick.” I melted against the feel of his hands on my cheeks. Safe. I was safe. Even if I died now, at least I wasn’t scared and alone. 

“Hey beautiful. If you miss me that much, just ask next time. I can be wherever you are in seconds.” I laughed and opened my eyes to see him staring at me with unyielding intensity. There was no trace of laughter in his face as he watched me, his eyes taking stock of the injuries he could see. His jaw clenched and his fingers tightened as if I was going to disappear. 

“That bad?” I knew the answer. As far as I knew, we had been here for five days and I couldn’t even guess how many cuts, bruises, and broken bones I was suffering from. My leg was by far the worst of it though. The heat radiating from the open wound was definitely indicative of an infection. 

“Here.” It was Dain. He stood next to Garrick with bandages and a splint. “It’s not enough, but you can stabilize her leg.” 

“I’ll do it. Garrick, I need to know the path is clear when we move. Aetos don’t make me kill you. Help Violet.” Xaden knelt down in front of me while the other two did as he asked, Garrick more reluctantly than Dain. He gripped the sides of my face and kissed the top of my head hard before leaving. 

“I’m sorry. I-“ I wanted to apologize for everything but my throat felt like sandpaper. “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect her.” I couldn’t get out enough words to say everything I wanted, but I hoped he could see my sincerity. “I was awful to both of you. Xaden, but you didn’t deserve it and neither did she. I tried to keep her safe, I promise.”

“Were you going to sacrifice yourself to get her out?” His voice was tight with emotions I hadn’t heard from him in 6 years. I nodded. “Don’t ever do anything so stupid again.” 

“You love her.” 

“I love you too. You’re my sister. I can’t lose you.” He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, something so out of character for him that I didn’t notice his subtle movements as he used his shadows to reset the break in my leg. I screamed so loud, I barely heard his whispered apology. He worked fast, wrapping the splint and securing it to my leg. It was messy but as he pulled me to stand I could at least hold myself up a little. I still had to put nearly all of my weight on him, but I could manage. 

“Aetos, you know everything now. If you’re going to follow, fucking follow.” That was more like Xaden, though the fact that he was trusting Dain to carry Violet was still confusing. 

“Xaden, we have a problem!” Garrick called from the top of the steps.

“What kind of problem?” Every step hurt like hell, but it was either push forward or stay in that dungeon forever. I kept pushing, knowing I was getting closer to Garrick. 

“A general sized one.” We rounded the corner to find him with a sword to his throat, General Sorrengail stood above him. 

I surged forward ignoring the new sparks of pain, but Xaden held me back, something that wasn’t exactly a difficult task, but I fought as hard as I could. 

“Who’d you kill?” She asked, her eyes flickering between Xaden and her daughter who was just behind us in Dain’s arms. 

“Everyone.” His answer was clearly what she wanted because she immediately dropped the blade. This time Xaden let me go when I half stepped, half fell into Garrick's arms. I was vaguely aware of the conversation happening around us, but all I could focus on was his arms around me, holding me up. We both clung to each other without a word. His fingers threaded through my hair, pulling me close. I felt so weak and I was still disconnected from both my dragon and my power, but I was safe with him. I breathed in the smell of him, letting it overpower the smells that had dominated my senses for the past several days. The damp smell of the stone and the sharp smell of blood. Our blood. 

“We have to give people the choice.” Violet begged. My attention returned to the conversation. “Tell them the truth and let them decide.” 

“Violet, they're not just going to leave everything because you tell them the truth.” Xaden reasoned.

“No, she’s right.” I said, feeling more confident now that I was safe. 

“Clearly you’ll need to be mended when we get home.” Xaden remarked, glancing at me in mock concern.

“Look, do you want me to trust people or not?” I challenged.

“Well, there’s a middle ground between asking you to trust my girlfriend and revealing our secret rebellion to the entire quadrant.” 

“Right, because you both are famously known for your pragmatism.” Garrick chimed in.

“I thought we agreed you weren’t going to take her side all the time just because you’re together now?” Xaden turned to him with a genuine look of betrayal. 

“Oh you’re right, sorry, didn’t mean to make you jealous, babe.” He leaned forward teasingly as if he were going to kiss him until shadows shoved him back. I felt some of the tension lift, as I felt the laughter rumble in his chest. 

“Fuck off. Look, we’re running out of time. I trust you.” He told Violet and she looked at Dain expectantly. What an odd group we were.

“I guess my last official act as wingleader will be to call a formation.” He resigned.

Less than an hour later we were mounted on our dragons and flying toward Aretia with more dragons and riders than I ever could’ve imagined. Home, we were really going home. 

Yes, little one. You did it. 

The feeling of being reconnected to my dragon and my power again was enough to give me the strength, with the help of my brother's shadows, to drag myself up onto the seat. I smiled as I let sleep pull me under.

Part 4? Other requests? Let me know!

[starogeorgina]

𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮

Pairings: Jacaerys Velaryon x reader, Criston Cole x reader

Warnings: Swearing, smut, character death, mentions of blood, incest

1.01

Soft moans fall from your mouth as you touch yourself. It was a sinful act, but you were so frustrated that you needed a healthy way of getting rid of all your pent-up anger before you exploded.

Even more sinful, you think of Jacaerys instead of your husband.

Rubbing at your clit, you think of the last time you saw him, how his cock stretched you perfectly as you rode him, and how declarations of love fell from your lips so easily.

It was never your intention to have sex; you’d only gone to his chamber to apologise for Aemond provoking him so childishly during the first meal both sides of your family had attended together since your wedding. You kissed Jacaerys's swollen knuckles tenderly, and soon you were straddling his lap and muffling his moans with your mouth. Afterwards he cleaned up the sticky mess between your legs, a mixture of his own seed and your arousal with his tongue.

Hearing a knock at the door, you jump up flustered. You fix the top of your nightdress and pray it isn’t Aemond; he would instantly know what you were doing.

The door opens, and Helaena walks inside. “Jaehaera won’t settle for the night; can the children spend the night together?”

You hated Aegon, but Helaena and her children were innocent, and it was best to keep things as normal as possible for all the children. “I’ve just put them to bed, but I’m sure they will be awake with excitement when I tell them.”

—

Your heart beats rapidly as you beg for someone to come and help. Your throat had become so raw from screaming that your voice was beginning to break. A trail of blood is left behind as your bare feet scrape against the cold stone floor; your loose nightdress was now coated in blood and clung to you like a second skin.

When you reach the bottom of the staircase, the only sound you can hear beside your own panting is the wails of your two children, their cries echoing in the deserted castle halls. Aerys was just a babe, far too young to understand what he had witnessed, but Cassana would always remember.

Turning another corner, you see a figure exiting a bedchamber. “Ser Criston, Ser Criston!”

Startled, he takes in your appearance, and for the first time the knight's eyes aren’t full of hatred when he looks at you. He may have helped usurp your mother's throne, but he was still human.

You gasp for air, your chest heaving as you try to find your voice. “My boy! My boy, they have taken my boy!”

“What is—” Alicent appears in the doorway behind the knight. She claps a hand over her mouth. “Mother, have mercy, what happened?”

You look between the two of them, and seeing how flustered she appears and how ashamed the knight looks, it immediately clicks why the knight is at the dowager queen's bedchamber during the night and not wearing his armour.

Alicent goes to stroke your youngest cheek, but you step away from them. “Don’t touch him! Venomous snakes, the lot of you! This is all your fault!”

—

Still afraid you run without stopping, hearing Criston and Alicent calling your name only makes you go faster, desperate to get away from them. Ser Criston was supposed to be protecting his king's family, but instead he chose to soil his white cloak.

And Aemond was patrolling the city on Vhagar.

When you get closer to the throne room, Aegon’s voice becomes clearer. He was spending his night making a mockery of his late father, your grandsire King Viserys, and all of House Targaryen by behaving like a drunk idiot while his own kin was being slaughtered.

“Aegon, Aegon!”

“I believe that’s my niece I can hear,” he chuckles.

His pathetic excuse of a kingsguard jested, “Perhaps she’s gotten bored of the prince’s cock and wants to know what it’s like to ride a real dragon!”

All the fools in the room laugh.

“Aegon!”

You run into the throne room and find him casually lying across the throne, completely unconcerned about the sharp spikes that could pierce his skin, surrounded by a new and pathetic excuse of a king guard.

“Aegon.”

The amusement quickly falls from his face when his eyes land on you. He stands up; his mouth twitches, but he says nothing.

“Aegon,” you sob hysterically. “I tried to stop them; I tried!”

He gets off the throne and walks towards you, “Who?”

“I don’t know. I screamed, and nobody came. They were in the twins' nursery.” Your breathing becomes ragged. “Laenor begged me to help him, but I couldn’t. I tried to swap my life for his, but they wouldn’t let me. A son for a son.”

“The twins…” His voice cracks. “What—what happened?”

“They… they took Laenor and Jaehaerys—” One of the older handmaidens tries to take your other children from your arms, but you refuse, “Stop it!”

Aegon grips your chin, forcing you to look up at him. “What did they do to Jaehaerys?”

“They took our son’s head.”

—

You cling to one of the pillars in the council chamber while the greens continue to discuss how to use your little son's death to their advantage. Aegon was against the idea, but Otto was worming his way in, taking advantage of a grieving parent.

They wanted to blame your mother.

She wouldn’t do this.

Not to you.

You wanted to be angry at Aegon for all the horrid things he had called your mother, and part of you did blame him, but after witnessing him collapse in the throne room, it was hard not to pity him. Aegon wasn’t the best father, but he also wasn’t the worst. He and Helaena were also victims in this.

“Perhaps we should hear from the princess,” Lord Larys says, steering the conversation away from how many enemies the greens have.

“I want my mother.”

You glance around the room, and everyone avoids making eye contact, aside from Grand Maester Orwyle. “You’ve already said that, princess.”

“What else am I supposed to say?” Tears sting your eyes. “I want my mother; I want Jacaerys. I want to see my son again. I just want to go home and be with my mother and brothers, but you people won’t let me!”

“This has been your home for many years,” Alicent’s tone is sharp.

“Even now, you offer me no sympathy or kindness,” you laugh maliciously. “I’d say you’d used up all your empathy on Helaena, but you are here forging the deaths of two innocent children into blades to strike at my mother. Those men only came tonight because of a war you started.“

The room falls silent until Otto clears his throat. “The princess is in shock—”

“Do not try to justify my words,” you snap. “I will not bow to a council that secretly conspired and undermined King Viserys wishes by usurping his chosen heir!” You let go of the pillar and place your hand over your stomach. “He wasn’t just a boy; he was my baby, my firstborn! And now he’s dead.”

Over the years you flew back and forth between the keep and Dragonstone, but since the day your mother's throne was usurped, you were forbidden from even leaving the castle.

Fingers trembling, you kneel down and reach for Aegon’s hand. “Kostilus, kostilus, ivestragī nyke return naejot Zaldrīzesdōron. Nyke don’t care qilōni sits va se dēmalion; nyke sepār jaelagon ñuha muña. Nyke don’t feel ȳgha kesīr. I’m zūgagon hen zirȳla. He’s se drīve mirre hen bisa ēza massitas, kostilus, aegon, uncle. Sepār ivestragī nyke gūrogon ñuha riñar naejot se zaldrīzes ripo.” (Please, please, let me return to Dragonstone. I don’t care who sits on the throne; I just want my mother. I don’t feel safe here. I’m scared of him. He’s the reason all of this has happened, please, Aegon, uncle. Just let me take my children to the dragon pit)

Tears roll down Aegon’s cheek, but he doesn’t say anything. His bloodshot eyes suddenly focus on something behind you, and without turning around, you know it’s Aemond; you can feel his gaze burning into the back of your head.

“You issi dāez naejot jikagon whenever jaelā, ābrazȳrys, yn se riñar kessa umbagon kesīr.” (You are free to go whenever you want, wife, but the children will remain here)

You hated him; you hated him more than Aegon and Alicent combined. He is the one who killed Luke and caused more blood to spill. The men, blood and cheese, said they were debt collectors and had come to take revenge on Prince Aemond Targaryen.

“He’s dead. They took his head, Aemond,” you storm towards him, shoving him hard in the chest, but he doesn’t flinch. “They took my son’s head when it should have been yours! Do you even care that Laenor and Jaehaerys are dead? Do you even feel anything?”

He says nothing.

You wipe at your eyes and nose. “I’m going to retire for the evening. I suggest you don’t visit the children’s nursery.”

—

“The larger one strangled my bedmaid.”Your eyes are heavy and swollen from crying so much the last few days. “They tried to make Helaena choose which child to kill. After they killed my boy, she chose Maelor. They… they taunted him, told him his mother wants him dead.”

“Yet they took little Jaehaerys’s head.”

Children’s toys scatter the floor of your bedchamber. Lip trembling, you pick up Laenor’s, a wooden seahorse that your grandsire had made for him. “I never thought anything would hurt more than losing my father. But now in the space of a few weeks both Luke and my grandsire have died, my mother lost her babe, and now my sweet son has been taken from me.”

“I’m glad you’re able to find comfort in me, princess.”

Scoffing, you shake your head; you weren’t a fool. Larys Strong wasn’t to be trusted, but he could be useful. He once told you those who are never to speak must learn to observe, and that’s exactly what you’ve done the last few years. “Do you think my husband is stupid?”

“Of course not.”

“I do; he chased a boy on a dragon five times smaller than his own and has the audacity to act surprised that both Luke and Arrax are dead. Vhagar killed them because it’s what her rider wanted.”

Over the years, you’ve been careful to observe how he uses people and noticed his affection for the queen. The lord cocks his head to the side. “What is it you want?”

“They say Harrenhal is a cursed place; I suppose you must agree. The fire that killed your father and brother was the one in the damp castle since Balerion ended the line of Harren the Black.”

A wicked smirk spreads across his face. “You’ve been paying attention; I’m glad.”

“Hmm,” you look away from him to the lit fire, which was providing the majority of the light in the room. “We both know regardless of who sits on the throne, more blood will spill, and that queen and her king consort will bring fire and blood.”

“Strong words.”

The way he emphasises the word strong is supposed to get under your skin, but you let it slide. Out of the four children of Laenor Velaryon and Rhaenyra Targaryen, you were the only one who doesn’t have ‘strong’ features, which is probably the only reason Alicent wanted you to marry her son.

“I’ll speak plainly,” you turn and stare directly into his menacing eyes. “Help me, and I will have you spared when my mother reclaims her castle. I should add that I simply do not care if you tell the green council; I don’t think anyone would be surprised to know the daughter of the queen they usurped is plotting against them.”

“It could be some time before the gods decide who sits on the throne; what can you offer me in the meantime?”

“Information. Help me cause chaos within the greens council, and I’ll tell you who Alicent Hightower is fucking.”

[mrkeatingsblazer]

The Prophecy [Oh, Was It Punishment?] Part One

Apollo x Child of Hermes! Reader

Part one Part Two

“No man of mortal blood could ever love you.”

It rings in your ears; the words of Eros haunting you till this day. It was no major exposure like that of Nico’s, who was forced to come out to both Jason and you to appease the love God, but still; you felt as though the ugly truth of your soul was revealed to the two boys and you recall that you never liked surprises. Even though the sentence rushes and pillages through your mind like a crazed wave, you’re strangely enough soothed by it. To know that every worry and concern of your ability to be loved was not from any fault of your own but rather the weaving of the fates comforts you to the point of sighing in relief. It’s not you but what was forced of you, a true demi-god faith if you do say so yourself.

You have never been a stranger to a prophecy, being a big aid to Percy during the war against Kronos and your half-brother, Luke, and being a member of The Eight, destined to defeat Mother Earth herself, Gaia. As much as you despise prophecies you can’t help understand the glory of the previous ones you’ve been a part of. Sure, a couple friends and families die but at least you get the title of Hero of Olympus, am I right? This prophecy [is it even a prophecy or just a God's way of giving a diss] is just downright depressing. Almost as depressing as when your Godly parent was revealed.

At 15 years old, after defeating Atlas and rescuing both Lady Artemis and Annabeth, you stood as an unclaimed child watching as the Gods debated if you should all just be killed. It was only when Artemis was asking you, along with Thalia and Annabeth, to join her hunt did anyone question parentage.

“And you [name], who has not been claimed by God or Goddess alike, allow me to claim you as my own and join as a member of my hunt,” Artemis spoke with such kindness, almost reminiscent of a mother. You shook your head at that thought; she was definitely more like a big sister. Before you could even begin to respond to the Goddess, Zeus raised his hand into the air.

“The child's parent should be given the chance to claim her,” he declared with an air of authority, “before any decisions are made.”

“She is 15 solstices of age, has that not been enough time for the child's parent to claim,” Artemis rebukes with narrowed eyes only to be met with the same expression from her father.

“You first take my daughter, whom I allowed to be given,“ you heard Thalia scoff from beside you, “and now you fight against my order, purposely trying to disobey me in public.” His voice comes out icy and dangerous.

“father -” Apollo nervously begins from the throne beside his sister.

“Quiet Apollon!” Zeus demands. “If any one here owns the child speak now.”

The zoom grows silent, you watch as the Gods’ and Goddess’, interested or not, scanned the zoom waiting for someone to pipe in. Tears built up in your eyes and a lump began to form in your throat, you didn’t even have time to process or even blush when Percy slid his hand into yours, giving it a comforting squeeze.

Your eyes landed on Apollo, to his concerned frown and his perfectly furrowed eyebrow. You recall meeting him barely weeks before now, finding him alluring and bubbly as he chatted with you during the ride on his Sun Chariot. When we got to camp, you remember him engaging with his children in envy. He swung them around and messed with their hair, conversing with them with questions about their hobbies while also never failing to make them all laugh and feel included. You always kind of hoped he was your father ever since you found out you were a demi-god. You sloppily used a bow for a month straight before giving it up; everyone knew Apollo always claimed his kids a month into them being at camp. That didn’t stop you from hoping, from writing poetry and sending offerings to him every meal. Even now you hope he says something, eagerly looking at him like a moth to a light.

“She’s one of mine.” Everyone turned towards the direction of the voice, to Hermes who looked as though claiming you was the last thing he wanted to do that day. It made sense, really, and made you feel stupid for not realizing sooner. Grover always said you were a built in lie detector and you ran faster then anyone in camp, probably anyone in the world. You look up hopefully above your head to nothing; he didn’t even use his sign.

“So,” Artemis said, bringing back the attention to herself, “knowing now the God who conceived you, do you accept my offer to join my hunt?”

All eyes were on you, the deities’ large and looming forms leaned closer as if to hear your answer better even though they had perfect hearing. You once again looked, from Lady Artemis, to Lord Zeus, Lord Apollo and back to your father, Hermes. You caught a hint of interest in his deep brown eyes and sadly, that was all you needed.

“I appreciate your offer, my Lady, but I must decline.” you hear sighs from your friends beside you. Percy once again squeezed your hand, sending you one of his charming smiles that made your stomach weak. Hermes seemed quite happy with himself at your decision, as if he wasn’t forced to claim you moments prior, while Lady Artemis gracefully nodded in acceptance and that was it. There was no pulling you aside to talk with your father or even a look as far as you were aware. He partied into the night during the biggest moment of your life.

That memory fades from your mind, the lavish party of Olympus merging into the end of war celebration at Camp Half-Blood. Just like the former, you had no energy to join in with the festivities. With Leo dead there didn’t seem like there was much point to, the rest of The Eight agreed. From across the haggard bench you sat on, you watched as the sun set down upon the camp. It was poetically finite but still you had a stabbing feeling that this wasn’t finished, you weren’t finished.

[reneesghostinthelivingroom]

With Vander

|| Vi x fem!reader

|| Warnings; slightly altered story, just before Vi leaves to go to Vander, reader begging Vi to stay, Vi being blunt with Powder, what ifs, mentions of death, scared reader, teasing between Vi and reader, Vi blaming herself

|| Summary; when Vi's about to set off to find Vander, reader tries to stop her and ends up staying behind with Powder.

Requests open!!

Started; December 24th

Finished; December 24th

HurtCember2024; Day 22, Don't Leave

~~~

What was she thinking? You looked absolutely dumbfounded as you stared at Vi. Watching her getting ready to leave and go find Vander. Everything in your gut was telling you this was a bad idea. Vander wasn't the type of guy to do something without reason, if he put himself up like this... there was no telling what kind of situation they'd find themselves in.

"Vi, wait- don't leave," it was a pathetic beg and you knew it. But you just... you couldn't let her go. Something was going to go down. You didn't want her getting caught in it. What if she didn't come back alive? What then?

Vi turned to look at you, a frown on her face as she saw the fear in your eyes. Couldn't you understand? Understand how she was feeling? She had to go. It was supposed to be her. Not Vander. It was her fault he was taken," I have to. Stay here, I'll be back. With Vander." There was an overwhelming sense of determination in her eyes. How could she be so sure? You couldn't even see a single flicker of doubt.

"Vi..." You murmured, praying to whatever Gods were listening that this wasn't the last time you'd see your girlfriend. You really, really hoped it wasn't. You'd already had your future with her planned out. She couldn't leave before it even really started.

"I'll be okay, cute face. Stay here with Pow, okay? Keep her safe for me," Vi cupped your cheek. Her words soft. If Vi was afraid, she was clearly doing a good job at hiding it. Her lips met with yours. You held it for however long you could before she pulled away from you. Giving you one last confident smirk," I'll be back, alright? So, don't worry."

"I'll always worry about you. You're such an idiot," you tried for a laugh. It came out more forced than you'd intended.

"Well yeah, but I'm your idiot, aren't I?" She winked at you and your cheeks flushed.

"I love you, you dork."

"I love you too... bigger dork," Vi nudged you with a teasing grin and you swatted her arm, earning a laugh from her. Powder walked over to the two of you, her eyes looking just as determined as Vi's.

"I wanna help," Powder declared. You shared a look with Vi. She was too young. On top of that, there were just too many risks with this one.

"You're going to stay behind with Y/N, okay Pow? We won't take long," Vi crouched down to her sister's height. Giving her head a playful rub. Messing with her hair.

Powder didn't seem to happy about that," but-"

"No buts this time. You're not ready," Vi was blunt. Probably the bluntest you'd heard her, at least towards Powder. Her sister was usually a soft spot.

You got down to one knee, cupping the kid's cheek with a smile," we'll have fun. How about... you take me to the little secret arcade you guys got? Beat me at some shooting games. Again."

Powder seemed to consider it for a moment, Vi gave you an appreciative look and started to leave," I wanna go with Vi!"

"You're staying with Y/N, that's finale." Then the three of them left. Leaving you alone with Powder.

"I'm going with Vi. You can try to stop me, but it would be better just to help me," geez. Powder was more determined than her sister. You sighed, watching the little blue haired girl get one of her monkey bombs.

"Pow... we shouldn't go-"

And she was already off at a run.

"Ah- hey- POWDER!" You bolted after her.

...we all know how the rest goes.

[xzaddyzanakinx]

Missed Me?

Final part for real this time, no cliffhanger I swear!!

Stepdad!Anakin Skywalker x femme reader

Warnings: none, fluff and sweetness

Info: obi-wan loves his brother; even if he does occasionally want Anakin to double over from a swift punch to the gut. Satine is a lawyer btw

“Sweetheart.” Anakin speaks low and steady over the phone. “I need you to listen to me.”

“What? What’s wrong Ani?” Your response laced with worry.

“Deadbolt the doors, make sure the garage is padlocked okay?” He said sternly, so you immediately did as you were told, switching the call to speakerphone.

“Anakin what is going on?” You demanded.

“Sweet girl, your mom knows okay? She took the Camaro and left me here with divorce papers.” He said calmly.

“You’re fucking joking.” You gasped. “She stole your car? Well I’ll come get you!” You started to rush to the door when he sternly told you no.

“I called my brother, he’s coming to get me. Satine is doing us a big favor and drafting up some paperwork. The house, my car and your car are under my name anyway. Your mom can’t win any of that in court okay?” He reassured you.

“So then-“

“Baby, I told you I need you to listen alright?” He reminded you. “I’m not pressing charges over the car. She’s headed home to get hers I believe, or at least that’s the way she was headed last time I looked at Life360.”

“Keep the doors dead bolted understand?” His tone was oddly calm, as if your whole world hadn’t just crumbled.

“R-right okay.” You whispered.

“Hey- princess, don’t worry. Everything’s fine okay? We are fine.” His voice now gentler than before. “I promise, this divorce won’t be messy. It’s very clear cut okay?”

“But what about you An-“

“No. Nothing is happening to me.” He said. “Nothing. You’re over 18. Everything is fine, I swear it.”

“Okay.” You sighed. “Satine said so?”

“Yes baby. I already told them-“

“Shhh! Shh, mom just pulled in.” You whispered as if she could hear you from the driveway.

“Don’t you dare hang up.” He said sternly.

“I’m not!” You huffed, going to the window to peek from behind the curtain.

You watched as your mother chucked Anakin’s keys at the front door, flinching when you heard the impact. Your mom walked over to her own vehicle and opened the trunk, lifting a backpack out. The yellow glow of the porch light was just bright enough that you could make out the heap of bags in her trunk. She’d already packed her things.

“Oh shit.” You whispered and backed away from the window as she walked toward the front door.

“What?” Anakin demanded.

“She’s got a bunch of bags in the trunk of her car but she’s coming up the porch steps right now.” You squeaked.

The door handle rattled and you heard keys jangling, the twist of the lock, and the forceful push of the front door. Then came the rapid, loud knocking.

“Hey!” She yelled. “I know you’re home. I want to talk to you!”

“No. Don’t say anything.” Anakin warned. “Obi just pulled in, don’t talk to her. Not even through the door.”

Anakin could be heard shuffling and slamming his brothers car door, instructing him to get him home as quickly as possible.

Your mother kept knocking, even going so far as to rap on the window in hopes that you’d hear her out.

“Please just talk to me. I’m not- listen it’s not your fault!” She yelled. “You were just a teenager!”

“Baby- no.” Anakin sounded pained as he spoke.

“I know Ani.” You whispered back. “I know, okay? I’m not gonna talk to her. Not even if she says stupid shit like that. As much as it angers me, I know I’m better off staying quiet.”

“Good girl.” He sighed. “I’ll be home soon okay? Or actually-“

”Obi can we stop at the hardware store?”

“Which one?”

“I don’t care. Whichever is open!”

“Christ, alright.”

“I’m getting new locks before I come home.” Anakin declared.

“That’s probably a good idea.” You said quietly, alittle suspicious of the sudden silence from outside.

You crept back up to the window and saw your mother standing next to her car, sitting on the lip of the open trunk. Her hand flailing as she spoke animatedly over the phone. You could physically see her huff out loud just before she got up and slammed the trunk shut, angrily ending the phone call.

“Has everyone lost their fucking mind?” She yelled, pulling out her car keys and walking to the drivers side door to get in and speed away from the house.

“She left.” You breathed out.

“Good.” Anakin sounded relieved. “I’ll be home as soon as I can okay?”

”why don’t I just take you there? I’ll go get the new locks.”

“Are you sure? Well- if… okay! Okay fine, here at least let me give you some cash.”

“Can you hang up so I can yell at you now?”

“You already yelled at me!”

“I’m not done yet!”

“Well you’ll have to wait. Your wife is calling me.”

“Princess-“ he started.

“I know, I heard.” You let out a slight laugh.

“I love you, see you soon.”

“I love you.” You said, hanging up and immediately collapsing on the couch.

You had let all your emotions out or at least you thought you did, by the time Anakin arrived. You ran to the door with dry eyes but the moment you unlocked it and saw him you were drowning in salty tears. He scooped you up and kicked the door shut, sliding the deadbolt into the locked position before carrying you to the couch.

“Shh it’s okay.” He whispered, his lips kissing the top of your head while you clutched onto his shirt.

“What are we gonna do?” You sniffled.

“What we always planned on doing.” He said.

“Serious?” You asked, leaning back to see that he was letting a few tears fall too despite his calm speaking voice.

“Of course I’m serious.” He said, his eyebrows furrowed. “I love you. I’ve always been serious about that.”

“But we just-“

“Look at me.” He said sternly, wiping his cheek with his shoulder. “I love you. I have always loved you. I don’t care if we just got back together, that doesn’t matter to me. I’m just as serious about you as I was before, it didn’t just go away in our time apart.”

His hands came up to cup your cheeks, his thumbs brushing away your tears. He took a grounding breath and kissed your forehead, the outer corner of each eye, and the tip of your nose.

“I would have left at anytime, you know that? Anytime. I just wanted you to be ready.” He said, a hint of something mournful in his eyes. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

Six years later

A new state, a new town, a new house.

A new life.

The moment the divorce was finalized you sold your old home. Using that money to get the hell out of dodge and move to somewhere warm.

Arizona was warm, always warm. You’d never even visited before you chose to live there, neither had Anakin. You wanted somewhere completely fresh, a clean slate for you to write your own story on and gods did you have a good story.

You found a beautiful two bedroom home, absolutely perfect in every way. It was close enough to town but far enough away that you weren’t surrounded by traffic or neighbors. A nice front yard, an ever nicer fenced in back yard. The big floor to ceiling glass windows in the dining room really sold it for you, the natural lighting and the fucking view was outrageous.

There was even a fire pit in the backyard which you decided to christen on your first night there via much too many s’mores. Now it was in regular use, sometimes by just you and Anakin, he did love an evening under the stars. The sky was so clear, unlike any place you’d ever been before, it was almost surreal.

Though as of late it’s been seeing an influx of visitors.

Anakin had his very own garage now, a *six* bay garage at that. He was the local go-to for multiple reasons, the prices, the high quality work, and people love a family owned store. With him as the lead man and you at the front desk, the pair of you were practically unstoppable.

This also meant that Anakin was in control of his work life in a new way. He was able to separate home and work unlike before where it wasn’t ever guaranteed that you’d be left unbothered. No more waking up at the asscrack of dawn to the obnoxious noises of old, no more at-home phone calls, no more blocked driveway, no more late nights.

It meant that he was able to be present for important moments without the worry of distraction. It meant he could cry along with you today.

You both were able to reel it in and contain the tears until the last second. The twins were so unbelievably excited for their first day of school, you both agreed that sobbing the entire way to their classroom would definitely put a damper on their day. So you smiled and skipped down the hall as requested by Leia and Anakin performed Luke’s very long, very intricate, never the same secret handshake at the door.

You gave hugs and kisses and a final goodbye wave, then booked it back out to the car. You almost made it to the foyer before your sniffles turned into cries, when you looked at Anakin for comfort you saw he was already holding his breath in that ridiculously uncomfortable way that he did to stop himself from sobbing.

Thankfully you made it to your vehicle before he passed out from lack of oxygen. It would be a real shame for him to miss this afternoon’s celebratory cookout you were hosting due to a blacktop issued concussion. The other fathers from your first time parents group would be highly disappointed if you ended up in charge of the grill.

“I can’t believe we have 12 more years of this.” Anakin sniffled.

“Seriously? Did you seriously just say that to me right now?” You cried.

“Yeah I did. I just wanted to prepare you for our suffering for the next decade.” He gave you a crooked, tearful grin.

“You’re lucky that I love you.” You hiccuped out a laugh.

“Yes I am.”

Tag-List:

@wickedtactics @tsugumiholic @kingdomhate

@burnthecheshirewitch@cherrylooney@star611

@tahliac11 @exquisit3corpse @jeldog @arzua10

@bby-imasociopath @depressed-kay

@aliciaasky @naty-1001 @mrsmikaelsxn

@illiethefairy @bunnylovesani @offthethir/wall

@slutforhayden @ausskywalker @angelsadmired

@slut4starwarssmut @chocolatepalacecloudhoagie

@starkiller419 @hearts4mitski4 @no1klet @lethargic

@allhailbuckybarnes @shadowhuntyi

@bobtheturmpetman29 @mortalheartache

@fallinlovewithevil @sythethecarrot

@joshfutturmansrighthand @chaoticantihero

@vadersslut @luvvfromme @anakinsbaee

@sweetcheesecakesblog@rga11 @luvskywxlker

@angelsadmired @kaminokatie @anakin-pilled

@graveyard-stray @angeldarkness95 @guiltycherries @piastricentric @sweetcheesecakesblog @chiaraanatra @espinathena-17

Let me know if you wanna be added/removed

[into-fiction]

gelphie snippets

i have this annoying habit of procrastinating writing my gelphie fics by writing....other gelphie shit. so. here's a bunch of random tiny snippets from the various works i have in my drafts. enjoy.

///

“I’m Elphaba. Elphaba Thropp,” the green girl says, thrusting her hand out in front of her.

Elphaba Thropp’s familiar is a tiny little monkey with feathery blue wings, and Galinda has never seen something so beautiful and strange and endlessly intriguing before. 

That goes for the monkey as well, of course.

///

Lady Glinda’s chin lifts, her brown eyes glinting with stubbornness as the corner of her mouth quirks up. Elphaba resists the urge to punch that smirk right off her glossy pink lips. How dare she stand there and act as though she had any authority? Any right to be making declarations or threats or orders? On Elphaba’s ship?!

“Now you’re just asking to be shoved overboard,” Elphaba growls. Her fingers tighten their hold on the hilt of her sword, the creak of her leather gloves briefly drawing Glinda’s attention. 

“Toss me overboard all you want,” Glinda says. “But just know: my offer dies with me.”

“Are you that eager to die?” Elphaba asks. She steps forward, crowding into the shorter woman’s space and glaring down at her.

Glinda’s smirk widens into a true grin. “Quite the opposite, Captain Thropp,” she snarks, rolling up on her toes to get right in Elphaba’s face. “I’ve never felt more alive.”

///

Elphaba would like to say this isn’t her fault. She really really would. Sadly, it appears that such a claim would be, at best, a bald-faced lie.

Morrible had told her not to mess with any of the time spells, that time magic was tricky and unwieldy and widely regarded by most sorcerers as taboo. Using a spell to try and reverse time just so she had more hours in her day to complete a school project was…probably not her best idea. 

But! In Elphaba’s defense- she never could’ve expected her roommate to walk in right as she was attempting to cast it, throwing off her focus and concentration. Her last thought before the magic had poured out of her was of Galinda, and sadly, this was the consequence. 

‘This’ being, of course, the five-year-old, curly-headed blonde currently staring back at her.

///

One of the worst things about gaining wings wasn’t even the wings, per se, but everything else that came with the spell. At first, Galinda is so overwhelmed and in so much pain that she doesn’t truly notice the changes. She doesn’t understand until Morrible pieces it all together. 

Elphaba hadn’t just been thinking about flight or wings, she’d been thinking about birds. And ‘bird’ is precisely what Galinda now seemed to be. Or at least- frighteningly close to one.

///

Galinda’s memories of being sick as a little girl are…less than pleasant. Her parents had a zero tolerance policy for a whiny, sickly child, and Galinda had grown up assuming that falling ill was a personal failure of hers, another way of disappointing her already impossible parents. 

Often, Galinda would get sick following one of her mother’s favorite punishments- making her bathe in freezing cold water and letting her drip dry while she stood in the corner, shivering and ‘thinking about what she did wrong.’

If Galinda woke the next morning with sniffles and a fever, her mother would tell her she deserved it- that it was just an extension of her punishment, a sort of natural karma for being disobedient. 

It was silly, looking back, but she had been so gullible as a child. Even now, she stifles a cough into the crook of her elbow despite knowing, logically, that Elphaba won’t hate her for being sick, that she won’t abandon her all day to sit miserable and alone in their dorm. 

But…the worry persists, a niggling little seed of doubt.

///

Eventually, the door creaks open again, the guards shifting to check who is entering before standing aside. A man enters, followed by the young maid and a boy around the same age. The man has a case in one hand, long and skinny. 

“Well,” he says, piercing eyes roving down Galinda’s bare body. “She’s certainly a pretty one.”

The edge to his voice, the creepy tilt of his smirk, makes Galinda’s skin crawl. One of the guards mumbles something in agreement, a chuckle passing between all the men in the room. Galinda can’t muster the strength to glare anymore, too tired and too scared. Instead, she keeps her gaze on the floor, intent to ignore them, to not let them see that their comments are getting to her.

///

At age eleven, Galinda--who had long since realized that there were certain rules one had to follow in order to be right, be good, be normal--sat in the third row of her school’s classroom, two seats back from a boy named Klaus. 

Galinda’s friends all assured her that Klaus was the cutest boy in school. “And he totally likes you!”

“Likes me?” Galinda had questioned. She’d frowned, glancing over to where Klaus was eating lunch with his own friends. “He’s never asked to be my friend.”

Nikki, one of the girls in Galinda’s class, rolled her eyes and groaned. Nikki had three older sisters, and she was a bit of a know-it-all. “Not like that, Galinda. He likes likes you. He thinks you’re cute!”

“Oh.”

Nikki had poked her in the arm, giggling lightly. “Well, doesn’t that make you happy?” she’d asked. 

And Galinda had nodded, had giggled right along with her friend, even if she wasn’t sure why it was such a laughing matter. “Of course,” she’d said, because Galinda was eleven, and by now she had learned that sometimes, you just had to play along.

///

Glinda wakes slowly, feeling exhausted and hungover. She keeps her eyes shut, knowing the glare of the emerald walls will hurt her salt-sore eyes. She’s cried herself to sleep enough times to know the drill by now. 

There’s a blanket overtop of her and a soft surface cradling her body, and Glinda presses her nose down into her pillow and-

Pauses. Frowns. And slowly opens her eyes. 

The sight of the small hut’s interior sends a rush of memories through her, so fast and so strong it knocks the breath from her lungs momentarily. Elphaba, she thinks helplessly. She scrambles to her feet, tripping over her blanket and nearly tumbling to the floor, and whips her head around for a glance of anything green. 

Nothing. Glinda is alone.

[cgibyangel]

𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙓𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙧

Alert: Angry Xavier, hurtful, kiss(!!!), mention of evol, Xavier declares his love for you.

Love and Deepspace, pls make xavier real.

Don't judge me, I love Xavier more than any other man.

It's not like him to get angry, not with you, not with anyone. He knows his place in the world perfectly well, and being by your side is something that shouldn't have happened for the sake of fate. Fate he defied, just to see you once more. Still, sacrificing all the little he had with you, he ran his hands over his face, rubbing his eyes and forehead with useless force. As if that would change anything.

Several days had passed since they last spoke normally. The laughter, the mischievous glances, the whispers, the soft humming when they spent too much time in silence and words weren't enough to show the mutual trust they had. Something happened, something changed. It hurt so much that it wasn't like before, and he didn't know what was happening. He only knew it was his fault, and it was killing him.

You were holding your phone that day, laughing several times as you swiped across the screen. Xavier, across from you, didn't understand what was so funny. He took the last sip of his soda, noticing that you weren't even on your first one. What was so funny about your phone that you couldn't even look at him? He was furious, no doubt about it. He got even more furious when he talked to you and felt ignored when you didn't answer. The truth was, you couldn't hear him, and it wasn't like he was even talking loudly! His tone of voice couldn't even be distinguished from the cool breeze in the air. He was too quiet, too...

You had managed to get along with a local girl; she was so funny! She sent you funny pictures of animals all the time, you shared music and similar interests, and they even planned a sleepover that week that you wouldn't turn down for anything. Your new friend was the best, but Xavier... Xavier didn't think so.

He saw in the new girl a strong, harmful intention to separate you from her, and it wasn't his jealousy playing out again. It really seemed like she wanted to take you away from him. Whenever you mentioned Xavier in front of her, she would narrow her eyes and make a barely concealed, disgusted face. Not to mention when you were with him and she arrived, she would automatically have a perfect excuse to take you away with her alone, leaving poor Xavier alone! You couldn't see it that way, because your new friend seemed so kind and selfless.

Maybe Xavier was just exaggerating, you thought.

Yes, he could exaggerate, but he had his limits. That day he surpassed them all.

You decided to share breakfast with him, in his apartment, together and alone as usual (or at least, almost). You drank a fruit tea that relaxed you to the core. You could feel the smooth infusion travel from your mouth to your stomach, sweetening your entire digestive tract. Xavier, for his part, looked like he might smash his cup against the wall at any moment. He stared at you—well, not at you, but at your new and unique sweatshirt.

"Isn't that extreme?" he asked.

"What?" You carefully put the cup down, still tasting the sweet infusion served by your blond and tender friend on your tongue.

He said nothing, lowering his head, even though he felt embarrassed for you not noticing. He didn't need to look at you; he pointed with his index finger at the hand-stitched logo on the sweatshirt your new friend had given you. "MC and I, together forever," and a heart surrounding your name so prominently that it seemed intentional. Of course it was, Xavier thought. No one would be so fanatical as to appear addicted to their friend so soon after knowing each other. He was even more discreet around you! That girl wasn't trustworthy at all for him...

"She's only very nice to me; she doesn't have many friends here in Linkon," you said, sipping your tea once more. "Besides, I think it's sweet that she takes the time to do things like that for me."

He wouldn't have cared so much if you said that; he wasn't that paranoid. But seeing you blush as you took both cuffs of his coat and caressed the embroidery with one hand was like hell. You couldn't help but notice that this new friend of yours was flirting with you, he thought angrily. He decided to stand up and say nothing, not for the moment.

You watched him walk away from you in silence, confused by his attitude. You didn't want to believe that Xavier, after so long as friends, classmates, and colleagues, was jealous of your new friend. Maybe you could get along if you introduced them properly, you thought.

How could that be a good idea? Xavier asked himself as he stood in the bathroom. He couldn't believe you offered him such a thing. He was outraged; he wouldn't accept even if you cried. Well, if you cried, maybe... no! No way!

Your new friend was only friendly toward you, as she avoided Xavier's gaze whenever you were near, and to top it off, the only time you made eye contact was when she openly mocked him for receiving a hug from you before Xavier himself. There was no way he would allow someone like her to take you away from him; not even his friendship would be taken away by someone like her.

He got out of the bathtub, quickly searching for his towel and dressed, almost stumbling. When he got to your apartment, it wasn't you who opened the door. There he was, the devil.

You couldn't see who was standing in the doorway, nor could you see your friend's bitter face when she met Xavier. You only knew it was him when he placed his hand on the edge of the door, and you recognized that only Xavier could cover a person with nothing more than his height.

You jumped up and down, excited and smiling, believing he had finally agreed to make peace with your new friend. Excited, you walked over to the two of them. Your eyes shone with joy.

"If she stays here a little longer, forget about me forever," was what Xavier said seconds before your heart went cold.

Even your friend's expression was disconcerting. You didn't understand what your sweet, adorable Xavier, whom you cherished so much and wanted with you your whole life, meant.

"What?" she stammered, glancing at you quickly when you didn't say anything to defend her. "Oh, I told you he's not a good influence in your life." He patted your shoulder, as if his touch was more of an 'I told you so.'

"Is it me you're talking about? You should listen to yourself for a second and understand your place." Xavier didn't cross his arms in any way. He took a step into your house, something he would never do without your prior consent.

"Please, just look at you. Crying for some attention from my MC, don't you have more friends to beg?" You glared at her, but still, you didn't know what to do.

"MC, we need to talk." Xavier ignored her, looking into your eyes with a hint of pleading.

"Oh, MC, didn't you want to spend the day together? He's definitely getting in the way of our girls' night out."

"Now you're planning your days off without me?" he snapped, a hint of hurt in his voice.

"Oops... seems someone didn't notice there are no more company openings," she mocked, crossing her arms in front of Xavier. "I'm sorry, dear Xav. It seems you'll have to leave soon." She reached for the door again, as if she was going to close it in Xavier's face right then and there.

Your cheeks felt hot; you didn't know why, but you didn't like it. You quickly grabbed your friend's wrist, questioning whether she was really a friend or not.

"I think it's time for you to leave soon." You couldn't look at her as she said that, but you knew how confused or irritated she could be. Oh, yes, she was.

She babbled a few times, looked from you to him a few more times, huffed one last time before grabbing her coat and disappearing down the halls, without even saying a word to you. She wasn't capable of being cruel to you, even if it meant humiliating herself in front of Xavier.

You sighed heavily and glared at your friend, as if he were to blame. Knowing he wasn't to blame for your friend's behavior, you knew he was plotting something to distance her from you. It was obvious after what happened just now.

"Is this what you were looking for?" You asked angrily through gritted teeth, turning toward your couch to regret having invited them both at the same time.

"I... no, I didn't want this, but..." The words came out timidly, as if he was so afraid of what he was going to say. "Yes, it's what I was looking for."

You jumped at the sound of it, turning sharply toward him to see his darkened ocean-blue eyes. It was a little scary to see him like that, as if you didn't fully recognize him, as if the one standing in front of you wasn't your Xavier.

"W-What?" You asked, scared.

"I don't understand how you don't notice. You were going to let me leave your side!" He paced around the room, trying to ease his own tension.

"You're overreacting. I understand that you don't like her, but you're really being dramatic." You crossed your arms, even more annoyed.

"Oh, I'm dramatic, fine! I may be the most dramatic man in Linkon, but you're the biggest fool in the world if you can't see that." She stopped dead in front of you, her face clouded with anger.

"Notice what, Xavier? Notice that someone other than you wants a sincere friendship with me?" You defended your friend, because somewhere in your mind, she looked a lot like Xavier.

"Friendship, sure," he mocked without grace, glancing at random spots in the room so as not to meet your eyes and show you how upset he was now.

You looked at him confused, thinking he was just exaggerating and somehow, in some stupid way, jealous. You didn't want to think badly of either of them, anyway. They were both your friends, with their differences and negative aspects, you loved them both equally.

So you didn't understand why Xavier looked like he was going to devour your soul with so much anger radiating from his being.

"She's just a friend," you defended, punctuating your words so he knew you weren't lying.

"Of course you think that. How many friends must you have had in your entire life to believe that everyone who approaches you just wants to be your friend?" He covered his eyes with his hand, looking embarrassed or even disappointed in you. "You have no idea what friendships are, do you? It seems like they've never loved you enough to show it to you. You even act like a child every time someone is nice to you..."

He didn't realize his words until he removed his hand from his eyes, letting it fall to his mouth. His blue eyes, previously darkened with anger, shone with regret at your watery, crystalline ones.

He knew then he'd said too much. No, he shouldn't have even thought that about you, because he wasn't being honest with you, he was just angry. But... saying that? Fuck, he hated himself so much seeing the hot tears falling down your cheek, one after the other, each one signifying how much more you could hate him from then on.

He didn't know how to apologize. He couldn't even say anything.

A week and a day had passed since that "little" argument.

You no longer saw each other in the hallways at work, or when you took the elevator, much less at lunchtime. You didn't even pass by him. And deep down, you prayed he wouldn't appear near you either.

For his part, he was suffering too much. Not seeing you, not hearing you, not feeling you, was killing him. Almost as if I'd stabbed him with a dagger, or worse. He hadn't heard from you in the last eight days, and he was starting to despair. He sent the first text after everything that had happened, and you didn't like it at all.

Xavier: Are you busy? Xavier: Can you talk for a second?

No, you couldn't talk to him, you couldn't even think about what you would say. You were so upset that you just stared at your phone screen.

Xavier: I was wrong. Xavier: I'm so sorry.

Oh, he's finally sorry? That pissed you off twice as much. A week went by, and he barely even decided to talk to you! You were so offended, you didn't even pick up your phone.

You got out of bed, decided you'd spent enough time suffering alone and should spend some time in nature. Still wearing your comfy clothes, you put on your sneakers and went for a short walk. It wasn't that dark outside, nor was it that cold, just the right temperature! You even saw a cute orange kitten playing in a bush. It was so cute, you couldn't help but pull out your phone to take a picture.

You ignored Xavier's 22 texts and three missed calls and opened your camera, ready to photograph the sweet, playful animal a few feet away from you.

That's when the streetlights began to flicker strangely, and the kitten was gone. In a normal situation, you would have been scared, but at that very moment, you just felt a spark of irritation run from your chest to the rest of your body. You didn't even turn around; there was no need. You put your phone back in your pocket and continued walking straight ahead, continuing on your way.

"I know you know I'm here!" His words grew louder in tune with his footsteps as they approached you. You didn't answer; you had no reason to. "Stop ignoring me," he demanded once, standing next to you, hoping you would at least look at him. "I'm sorry..." His tone dropped an octave, and his gaze seemed to be lost in your face, but you didn't even notice because you didn't want to look at him. "I'm a fool who doesn't deserve your friendship, but at least this once, will you answer me?"

"No." You replied, holding back your laughter and keeping a straight face. Despite your anger, it seemed like you could joke with him and make him feel at least a fraction of what he made you feel that time in your apartment.

"You already did it, well..." He looked down at his own feet, embarrassed, unaware that inside you were splitting your sides with laughter. "Let me talk to you, please, listen to me," he finally begged, standing in your way and preventing you from moving forward, but you still didn't look at him. "What I said isn't what I really wanted to say, honestly. I don't think you're a stupid girl, much less that you don't understand the people around you. I think you're too smart and kind, but that works against you sometimes." You glanced at him without moving your head, still with your hands in your pockets and saying absolutely nothing. You could see how sad he'd been, with dark circles under his tender, chiseled face that left no doubt that he'd had a bad time too. "I don't know why I said what I said, I'm so sorry, I was really upset with her. You're not the problem, it's just..." He swallowed his words, running his hand down the back of his neck and blushing very slightly.

"Just what...?" You waited anxiously for him to say the last thing, finally interested in what he would say.

He swallowed, and you saw him curse a few times under his breath, his eyes closed. "I was tired of her having all your attention, it seemed like you weren't interested in me anymore. I can't stand the thought of someone else looking at you the way I do, and you... letting him stay."

It left you cold. You couldn't believe that in the end, he wasn't just angry, but rather jealous of your new friend. You couldn't help but misinterpret that. The hairs on your head were blown to your forehead and part of your face by the sudden breeze that hit your skull, giving you a colder feeling than before. Xavier's timid hand approached your face, and with his gentle fingers, he brushed a strand of your hair behind your ear with the familiar tenderness that characterized him when the two of you were alone.

"I hope that served as a confession." He chuckled, finally showing you that tiny smile of his that touched your heart.

"What if not?" You asked, almost breathless, anxious about what this conversation between you meant. You didn't know what could happen, but you were almost certain you wouldn't regret it at all.

"What if not..." He leaned closer to your face, your lips only a fraction of a second away from his. "...you can blame me later."

His lips relaxed on yours, softening the kiss with the mixture of your saliva as the seconds passed and the kiss deepened. He was the man you longed for the most, the one you trusted the most, the one you loved with your heart. You couldn't believe it was happening, and yet, you didn't want it to end.

"Of course I'll pay for making me cry when I missed you," you said when you broke away, making him laugh and claiming your lips again, even more intensely than before.

[so-long-soldier-writes]

No Longer Yours

kol mikaelson x reader | requested

summary: you watch as the love of your life starts to love someone else

tags: angst, heartbreak

word count: ~1.8k

a/n: remembering the plot of the originals was so hard tf, i need to rewatch it

When Ester brought Kol back, you were both shocked and delighted. It was such an uncharacteristic thing for her to do, but yet, you couldn’t complain. For decades, you were lovers, on and off waiting for him as Klaus re-daggered him every couple years. Then, after the whole family was rejoined in Mystic Falls, he was killed by two teenagers way in over their own heads. His death broke you. So much so that his sister offered sympathy, something you’ve never received from her. When the bunch moved back to New Orleans, you took her offer and followed, not living with them, but near them. Away from the brother that so often hurt him, but near the sister that now comforts you. You learned to be okay. 

But now Klaus has stirred up something new, and all the species of the city are fighting, and everyone is gathering forces to try to fight him. It’s the witches, versus the werewolves, versus the Mikaelsons, versus the New Orleans’ vampires that pre-existed in the city. In the midst of it, the Other Side was collapsing, and Esther made a desperate act to bring her family back together. 

Kol isn’t the same. Not one bit. His body is different, as is his mind. He’s on edge, understandably, but no longer only seeking you to tame his restlessness. He’s been put on a mission, you know that, to manipulate the young witch for his mother’s benefit, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less. 

And Finn. Finn’s been in your ear nonstop, taunting, updating, day-to-day, on how the progress between the two is going. You’re not sure when you hurt him, but he’s surely out to hurt you. 

“He has this look in his eyes, when he talks about her. Like he knows his task is to trick her, but he doesn’t want to do it. He’s going soft, and it’s not for you anymore,” he’d whisper. You were on the street corner, watching them walk out of the pub, when the eldest snuck up behind you out of nowhere.

“Why are you telling me this?!”

“Thought it’d be something you want to know.”

Finn in his old body was annoying enough. Him in this one, this vessel that seems to carry a hundred times more sass than the last one, is so much worse. 

And it’s not like Kol doesn’t know you’re here. One of his first days back, he spotted you from afar and whisked you away into a quiet corner, declaring his love and kissing your face. You still see him every day, too, even though his return is being kept quiet from the rest of the Mikaelsons. The fact of that makes it even harder to separate him from Davina. You only see him in stolen moments; she seems to be everywhere, in everyone’s business. 

What also hurts, is that you can’t hate the girl. She seems to be Klaus’ number one hater and that warrants some respect. She’s been planning to control Mikael to help take down Klaus, and that’s something no one has ever been able to do. She’s a badass, powerful witch, who Kol is falling for, and that’s not her fault. 

Though slowly, you see it going both ways. She’s falling for him as much as he is her, and honestly, you can’t blame her. Kol is so much more than his narcissistic siblings make him out to be. He’s charming, funny, protective, and up until now, loyal. But then again, maybe you’re overexaggerating this. He’s around Davina for a task, maybe this is just him playing a part. 

You know, deep down, that it’s not. 

It’s one of the days you get Kol alone. Truly alone, without Davina, nor Finn, nor any other supernaturals lingering around, overhearing your conversation. Things feel back to normal, you feel happy, like maybe you have been overthinking, and everything’s actually fine. 

“So, um, how’s it been with your mother?” You didn’t mean to bring up his mother. It’s an awkward subject, and the woman has never been a kind one. But after ten minutes, your dinner date begins to run dry, exchanging small smiles and short laughs rather than the deep thoughts and strong opinions you once shared. 

“She’s fine. She’s my mother. The same, horrible woman she’s always been.” 

His accent is so much thicker in this body. 

“Hm. And Finn? Personally, he’s been annoying the hell out of me, and if he doesn’t stop, I’ll send him right back.”

It earns a chuckle. “I’m about to send him there, too. Little brown noser, always desperate for mother’s approval. What’s he bugging you about?”

“Nothing important, just… the usual.”

“He’s so much worse as a witch. He always hated vampires and now he isn’t one, yet he still wants to bring the rest of them down. Him having access to magic is not great, either.”

“Oh, I bet. Glad I’m only on his ‘hate’ side and not his ‘kill’ side. If I ever defended Klaus in my lifetime, I would have a much different fate against witch Finn.”

He laughs a bit louder. “I’m pretty sure I’m on his ‘kill’ side. Mother giving me chores is the only reason he hasn’t struck. But I wouldn’t let him kill you, Y/N. You’ve always been mine, and even Finn knows not to mess with us.”

His words make you feel some warmth inside, some comfort, that maybe, again, you’re just overthinking all this. 

“He better not, or I’ll send Matt after him again. Bet he’s only a click away, if I tell him I need to extinguish a Mikaelson.”

“Oh, he would be so upset to learn mother brought him back to life. All his hard work, gone! I think Matt would have a lovely time here in New Orleans. So many things he hates in one city. Bet he’d come up with an elaborate system to bomb every vampire in a fifty mile radius without destroying the city itself.” 

“And he’d find a way to make a protective bubble around Rebekah, saving her, and no one else.”

“Oh, don’t remind me of that crush! Any man my little sister could’ve picked and she chooses the vampire-hating prick. Her taste in men has never been good.”

“I don’t know, Marcel’s kind of nice to look at,” you tease.

His eyebrows raise playfully. “Marcel? You should’ve known him when he was a child, then. Little misfit.”

You laugh. It feels like old times. Like going on adventures, pushing peoples’ buttons, grabbing life by the neck. It feels like the love you and Kol shared way before the collapse of the Other Side, and even before Mystic Falls. It’s reckless and exhilarating. 

But now, it’s short-lived. And you feel the light dimming day by day, and you’re not sure how much longer you’re willing to pretend like it’s all okay. 

“I should be getting back soon. Mother’s going to think I ran off.”

“Totally understandable, she is not one to cross.”

“Definitely not.”

“What’s in your plans for next week? Any time we’ll be able to steal like this again?”

“Not sure yet. Klaus is so sporadic, and she bases her plans around his hourly attitude changes. I’ll keep you updated.”

“Okay.” You don’t want to ask it, but it’s been sitting on the tip of your tongue all night, and if you don’t, you might go crazy. “Kol?”

“Yes, love?”

“Your ‘task’ she puts you up to, with Davina.”

“Yes?”

“You care for her.” It’s less of a question, more of a statement. You meant it to be a question, but your mouth spoke before your brain could catch up.

Kol pauses, halfway getting up, to sit back down. He’s never been one to lie to you. You’re not sure if this is when he’ll start. 

“I do,” he replies truthfully. “I don’t want her to get hurt trying to take down my family. I see why she wants to, and I believe she can, but she’s still young. I’ve been trying to best Klaus for centuries and have never been able. But while I’m protecting her the best I can while my mother is actively trying to manipulate her, I don’t feel anything for her, if that’s what worries you.”

You nod, confirming his words about your concerns. “It’s good that you care. She’s been through a lot. She deserves someone who will stand up for her.” 

You wish it didn’t have to be him. 

“I try, while mother and Finn constantly berate.”

“When do they not?” You half-joke, smiling softly. 

“You’re entirely correct.”

Kol might not believe he’s growing affection for the young witch, but you know differently. You can see it in his eyes and the softness of his voice. You can see it on the dimples that form on her face from smiling so wide. 

Klaus finds out that ‘Kaleb’ is Kol, and everything gets much more difficult. It’s such a big tangled web of emotions that you take a step back from the family altogether. Mikael’s on the loose and Klaus is vengeful. New Orleans is in a city-wide panic as the vampire-killing vampire runs rampant without Davina’s control. It isn’t her fault that he got loose. 

It isn’t anyone’s fault when he rushes to her side, more than once. 

It isn’t anyone’s fault when he kisses her, and she kisses back. 

It’s just circumstance. Time and place. People grow apart and others grow close, and sometimes, nothing can be done to stop it. You have to learn to let it go; to understand that he’s happy, and that’s truly the only thing that matters. You’ve survived without him before and you can learn to do it again. 

New Orleans is in the midst of an all out war. Klaus kills anyone who stands in his way. It’s nothing new but it’s nothing short of terrifying. You realize, now, as Kol grows closer to the young witch, and Rebekah starts to take the side of her brothers, that you’re just as vulnerable as the wolves he hunts. A lone vampire cannot survive any greater than a lone wolf, and Klaus doesn’t care who he slaughters in his act of vengeance. It’s with great sorrow and even greater heartbreak that you leave the city, middle of the night, with only a note to explain your absence. Kol will be okay. He’ll be safer with her than you; Klaus has never liked you too much, and his second chance at life matters more than your love for him. 

You’ll always love him, but he’s no longer yours.

He may still love you too, but not in the way it once was. 

And with that, you have to learn to be okay. 

[ibrithir-was-here]

I am really impressed with seeing a villain pov fairytale rewrite that's so redemptive. Usually it's "Oh the princess was the real villain" or "look at my tragic backstory none of this is my fault actually I'm so misunderstood" or "mental illness makes you Ontologically Evil what can you do 🤷‍♀️." What I'm really enjoying about While You Were Sleeping (Beauty) is that yes! She genuinely did a bad thing! And there were reasons for it that made it understandable but didn't stop it from being a genuinely bad thing. But that is the beginning of the story not the end of it. And it's not even a redemption arc per se, it's just: you are more than the Worst Thing You've Ever Done.

I've just never seen a fairytale retelling like it. Absolutely fantastic.

Ahhhh thank you!!

Yeah I starting writing this after reading yet another Sleeping Beauty take that tried to be from the Wicked Fairy's pov but in doing so just decided to take the "everyone else was actually bad all along" and I just...get so tired of everything being Wicked-lite :P

So I started trying to think of what could possibly be a legit reason for the fairy to curse this baby that wouldn't poison the well for any potential relationship going forward. And just started to think about how petty and petulant the fairy was, how they were acting like a spoiled kid and that was when it hit me xD

A sad angry little kid would definitely be the type to curse a baby in the moment and then grow up to be someone haunted by that, but trying to be good none the less because of course they're not evil at heart.

And of course reasonable people arn't going to turn into Teen Drama villains and declare this kid demon spawn. They'll understandably keep a maybe too overprotective eye on them and their temper cuz hey, the kid does have Intense Magical Power, but overall the biggest thing they have to overcome isn't external forces, but their own Guilt over what they did. Realizing that "yeah that was Really Bad--but that doesn't mean I'm Bad and I can do better going forward"

[songsofreason]

anonymous that definitely isn't @devilsparda / @bewitcheds sent: “okay, so for me, i really want my melody — i think you’re a cinnamoroll kind of guy, that’s this one here,” imani declares, squinting her eyes shut with exaggerated intent, her hands trembling in excitement as she rips the strip off with almost frantic urgency, too eager to let vergil see what she’s offering. she peeks at the figure in her hand, and the sun-dappled grin that once connoted innocence is now a misshapen pageantry of delight, more of a rictus than anything resembling joy. this thing is so fucking ugly [...] “oh! oh my god, it’s hangyodon! wow! wow…” her voice cracks at the top, clambering to a pitch that betrays the sheer strain of maintaining enthusiasm. she stares at it a moment too long with a prolonged smile that stretches too wide to be considered natural, then, with a burst of strained brightness: “he’s blue! aww! just like you!” she thrusts the figure into vergil’s hand. “you can have him! isn’t he cute?” MNDBDJCHXJXJSJS $15 gone…. 4 hangyodon……. hi ren ^_^

Despite his faults lining his humanity like cracks in a mirror and his attempts to blend in, Vergil will be honest: this sort of mundanity isn't the sort of thing Vergil aspires to. Blind boxes and trinkets and -- what. Where do they go? Where do you put them? They're too big to live in a pocket like a soapstone animal or a die or something, too unwieldy to be taken around, and if the appeal is how cute they are, won't you be afraid of breaking them? For someone as defined as his own fear as Vergil is, of course this sentiment extends even to the novelty of blind boxes and trinket collecting. That said, the designs are certainly cute, and Vergil gets the appeal to a mass audience, but then--why not just buy the one you want?

"What even is it," he deadpans after Imani points out the one he's supposed to like. A rabbit? A puppy? "Can it fly?" With its huge ears. His comment is laced with such sarcasm it might even deter Imani's enthusiasm for a moment--but only for a moment. He knows better. He doesn't get a chance to try and make another bored quip or observation when Imani's hands light like trembling kindled fire. Her excitement seems almost concocted, too large and excited over nothing to even feel real to Vergil, smile drifting and swallowing her features as giddy mirth takes hold. Again he feels lost, misunderstanding, or misrepresenting; I don't see what I've lost out on. But maybe Imani hates poetry. But also at least a poem you can read or re-read. What do you even do with this thing? It just takes up space! What's the point? Again, Vergil circles back to this finely honed sticking point over and over.

"Oh! Oh my god! It's Hangyodon!"

It's hideous. Eyebrows arc into tiny exaggerated triangles, Vergil's lips pursing slightly in the amusement you withhold when you don't want to get jokingly slapped. "That one wasn't on the box--," he glances back over it, seeing the little silhouette and three question marks. A secret? Why? Vergil hates not knowing things or not understanding, but he's baffled by the need to disguise one of the options, surely they're not any more expensive to make, right? But Imani's crestfallen attitude is kind of funny, that wow! / wow... forcing his eyebrows to stay peaked as she stares with barely-hidden despair at the thing being cradled in her free hand, other hand now holding the box. He doesn't say anything else and lets her grief ride its course, laughing in his own secret Vergil kind of way.

Suddenly the thing is forced to his body, making his arms have to unravel from being crossed across his chest, hands fumbling to grab the plastic toy so it doesn't fall to the ground. "What in the--no it does not! The color is completely wrong!" HE DOESN'T WANT THIS THING! Vergil scoffs, turning Hangyodon, or whatever it's called, in his hands to squint down at it. Unlike imani Vergil has never had a predisposition to manufactured enthusiasm. "It's a fish, right, and--," a pause, a mild, quickly drawn squint, as he considers how he can turn this 'it looks like you' comment back on her and get this thing away from him, "--your eyeshadow kind of resembles -- shiny fish scales. So--really it looks more like you." He holds Hangyodon up to his eye level to squint at it. "It called to you as a Devil Arm calls to its new wielder." A gesture that's both dramatic and clipped as he tries to force the trinket back into Imani's arms. A funny reversal from what he's done with Dante his whole life and trying to steal his twin's stuff for himself. "I can't believe you're so quick to give up, your resolve is clearly lacking. Don't go in there to buy another one. Imani. Ima--!" She's gone. He watches Imani's silhouette disappear back into the store and sighs sharply, now abandoned in the parking lot, eyes flashing down to stare at Hangyodon with barely concealed disapproval. He'd throw it in the trash but Imani would probably find out somehow and be even more mad at him for it even though it's not like she cares about the fish either.

Vergil can't say he cares about or grasps blind boxes or why people spend their money on them but he can officially say that between Hangyodon and Cinnamoroll he'd definitely prefer Cinnamoroll. But he doesn't prefer it enough to stay behind and watch the near cataclysmic fall-out that will happen if Imani gets another little guy she actually can't stand. He'll go pawn this onto Dante. If Dante gets rid of it, at least if Imani somehow finds out, she'll get mad at him and not Vergil, which is really the only victory Vergil needs. He pockets the little toy and immediately sets off for Devil May Cry, having thus learned of the dangers of mascots and blind boxes all in one, and if the store isn't standing by evening, well--that's just simply not his problem.

[redge]

Things I read on the internet that's a declaration of hate for Kana and my reaction (hoping I feel better after typing them all out)

"Kana makes everything about herself"

Did she want to be an idol? Did she want to be a center girl? (Girlie don't even know what a center girl is hahahaha). In Tokyo Blade, did she want the spotlight? That one time Kana wanted anything for herself is when she told Aqua her new dream. She did not even have a graduation concert. She did not have that movie that director told her about. In 137, she was praised for being a handy actor that can uplift others and improve herself and was described as "lacks opportunity" and many chapters after that, she still did not have an opportunity for herself. Kaburagi said they'd sell her as genius actor but that was not addressed anymore. So where is that she makes everything about herself when nothing was sbout her anyway? Not the idol career. Not as an actress. Not as a human loved back by the one she loves. She did not become anything she ever wanted so really how was this all about her? No I really want to know, how did Kana make everything about herself? Like I am really curious where this is coming from ah why do you hate Kana so much? 🥺

"___ best girl compared to Kana who only cries all the time"

Why can't we just go with the "____ best girl." period. Why do you need to put down a character to praise another character I am genuinely curious. I mean my favourite character has always been Kana but not ever did I hate on Akane or Ruby or anyone because why would I when all these characters have different stories of their own? And why do these girls need to compete with each other anyway?! Who's giving out the crown and sash? What's the point??? Your favourite is the best girl for you. Okay! Other's favourite is best girl for them. Okay, too! That's perfectly normal so why are you fighting each other I do not understand 😭

"despicable for slapping a corpse"

Kana slapping Aqua was something that belonged to them. No one knows that conversation except Aqua and Kana (and us, the readers). Miyako's reaction was very valid because she does not know anything about that conversation. Which is why when Kana told that to the dead Aqua, Miyako's reaction wasn't angry anymore. Miyako was in tears. I honestly would have killed Aqua twice if I were Kana really so a slap is nothing compared to the emotional wreck being in their lives brought her. Kana deserves to be slapped for hurting a corpse yes I agree but Aqua deserves that slap too for thinking that him dying is the great solution to whatever problem they're trying to solve.

"Kana is useless"

And what a heartbreak that is. Kana is perservering, patiently working on all the things she want to happen and absolutely nothing went her way. Kana is a representation of someone that tried and tried patiently but everything she did just made her feel useless. She grabs every opportunity, creates opportunity for herself but she is never enough. If killing one's self was a contest, I'd definitely compete Arima Kana as candidate. I would even forgive her if she just goes feral all of a sudden with all of the things that happened to her. She's useless, you say, but was that her fault?

"Kana does not deserve to be happy"

and why not? I say everyone in Oshi no Ko deserves to be happy. So why deny that to Kana?

But really. Why is she getting so much hate?

[hiddenfolk]

Oh yeah actually come to think of it: I'm not a huge fan of the debate over whether or not a magical girl's wishes were selfish or selfless tbh. I don't think it's a fair way to frame it, or necessarily that productive either.

The girls are introduced to the concept of magical girls as a noble calling- fighting evil witches, and protecting the innocent from harm. Magical girling is a vocation, a noble sacrifice made by these girls for the greater good. They're actively encouraged, by kyubey, by how society socialises girls, by their own generally upright morals and values, to see this thankless sacrifice made by them as ultimately worth it. The girls are ultimately all good people, with good intentions, which is why they take on the task.

However magical girl life is gruelling. It's thankless, dangerous, and never ending. Once you commit you can never stop. You're forced to give up parts of your normal day to day life, like spending time with friends in order to kill witches to sustain yourself. If you became a magical girl for a selfless reason, such as to protect others, your moral compass likely won't let you take the day off. The witches will still be hurting people, and it'll be your fault for not doing your job.

In the series, the advice we DO hear given about what to wish for is basically 'get your money's worth.' Mami and Kyouko have been living this miserable lifestyle, and thats why they understand that the best way to survive it is to make a wish that you can accept and live with, even when youre miserable.

If anything, 'selfishness' is the cudgel being used to beat the girls with. We see Sayaka twisting herself in knots over the morality of her wish, over whether she's selfish for regretting becoming a magical girl, because she's reasonably upset shes been tricked into irreversible body alterations she never consented to. Her desire to live up to a perfectly selfless magical girl ideal causes her to punish herself for being upset that her horrible sacrifice goes unacknowledged by anyone.

Treating selfishness or selflessness as an all-or-nothing binary IS what's hurting her. The fear of selfishness is specifically exploited and weaponised against these well-intentioned kids, especially Sayaka and Madoka, in order to make them feel guilty for wanting happiness or safety for themselves. By harping on about whether or not a wish aligns into this binary of selfishness or selflessness, we play into the exact same rhetoric Kyubey uses to guilt these girls into disregarding their own wellbeing.

I mean we see it in real life all the time- humans are literally not capable of 24/7 selfless all-giving charity work. The people who try it are the ones who will burn themselves out the quickest. You need to put on your own oxygen mask first before anyone elses. However since society glorifies selflessness above all else, it cultivates an ideal of 100% all or nothing moral purity all the time, that people feel pressured to live up to, or else they are morally 'impure.'

Tldr: the magical girl system actively encourages girls to martyr themselves by targeting girls who care about protecting others, who will then feel pressured to disregard their own wellbeing on behalf of this cause. Debating whether or not a girl is being selfish by wanting something for herself when she makes her wish is just playing into this. I ultimately feel that most girls make their wish with good intentions, to the best of their ability, and none of them should be declared selfish for that. Acting like their wishes are only worthwhile if they are 100% morally pure is ludicrous. These children should not be expected to martyr themselves to save the world and punished if they don't.

[greatbritishsimchallenge]

Hannah aged up and the mermaids threw her a small party to celebrate.

While Frankie was relieved to now only be caring for one child rather than two, she was sad that it happened before Morgan had returned. When they had sat in the ship and formulated their plans, Frankie hadn't really considered the possibility that Morgan might not succeed. It felt as if, as long as they had thought everything through, all would go to plan. But there was no denying that she had been gone far longer than either of them predicted.

"You look deep in thought," said Zale, bringing Frankie a slice of cake. "Should I leave you in peace?"

"Watcher, no. Pull me out of it, please," sighed Frankie, taking the cake and digging in as if the large mouthfuls might manage to fill the pit in her stomach.

"Very well. How about a joke?" Zale proposed.

Frankie raised an eyebrow and said with a mouthful of cake, "You do that?"

"I know how much humans enjoy constructed humour and so I wanted to learn a few for Hannah's birthday."

Frankie watched on in bemusement as Zale stood and called everyone to gather around.

"Hannah, on this your birthday, I hope I might make you smile - nay, laugh, even," Zale then cleared his throat and began speaking in a voice that, to Frankie, felt more fitting in a dramatic tragedy on the stage.

"Why did the mermaid wear seashells?

Because B-shells were too small!"

"What kind of rocks are never under water?

Dry ones!"

"Why do pirates carry a bar of soap?

In case they find themselves on the poop deck!"

After each punchline, Zale looked over at Frankie to check her reaction. Frankie laughed uproariously at each joke - not because she actually found it funny - but because the sight of the most serious person she had ever known talking about 'poop decks' in the grave intonation of an actor declaring they were about to die was possibly the funniest combination she'd ever seen in her life.

Hannah laughed alongside her, while the other mermaids exchanged mildly confused glances and tried to explain the logic of the joke to each other so that they might better empathise with the humans' reaction.

As Hannah thanked Zale for his performance, Frankie stepped away to check on Marina.

"It is nice to hear you laugh," said Nalani softly.

Frankie gave her a small smile and shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal.

"I am sorry I have not been to visit you more often. My duties below water keep me most preoccupied."

"I get it. Well.... I don't, I've never had any kind of important job before... but, still. I can imagine."

"You were once captain of a ship - a most essential role," pointed out Nalani.

Frankie sighed, "And what a great job I did of it..."

Nalani looked down sadly, "I do miss Lesley."

Frankie felt herself tense up at the mention of Lesley's name. Nalani sensed the tension and said,

"I apologise. I did not mean to imply -"

"That I killed her? It's fine. I did," replied Frankie, trying to keep her tone light. "Excuse me, will you? I've got a headache coming on."

Before Nalani could respond, Frankie walked away from the group, taking a large snort of coca as she did.

"ZaaaAAAlllLLLEEEE," cheered Frankie, "Excellent jokes - the humans greatly enjoyed your constructed humour. HEY! We could be a double act! I can hold up a hoop and you jump through it! Or would that be offensive? Fuck it - we'll come up with something!"

"Frankie, what happened?" Zale asked gravely.

"Holy shit, look at that crab!" cried Frankie, running over to it.

It is my fault, Nalani felt, coming to join him. I spoke carelessly of the past.

You did not force her to consume coca felt Zale.

You should be more understanding felt Nalani, if you had felt what I did... she has been through a great deal. I can understand why she seeks to numb the pain.

If she would only face the pain then she could begin to heal and numbing would no longer be required felt Zale.

You are afraid for her felt Nalani. Your anger seeks to mask a deeper fear.

Zale frowned, searching his mind for the truth to Nalani's statement. All of a sudden his feelings became muddled and too complicated and unclear to communicate.

Nalani placed a hand on his arm to calm him, saying aloud, "You are tired. Tasking you with their care and your medical duties was too much to ask. I should have replaced you once Captain Morgan had given birth. I will see to it at once - Kaia can take your place."

"Thank you, your majesty, but I wish to remain," said Zale firmly.

"Then I would advise you reflect on why that is," suggested Nalani. "For I seem to recall your anger at my trusting humans and frustration at being charged with their care."

"My view on these particular humans has shifted," explained Zale. "I believe Frankie to be trustworthy and Hannah and Marina have been a pleasure to care for."

Nalani raised an eyebrow, "Masking the deeper truth with a more convenient one, Zale? You have, perhaps, been spending too much time with humans. Very well, I shall not press you. You will face those feelings when you are ready - as will Frankie."

Start (Iron Age) | Start (Roman Britain) | Start (Anglo Saxon) | Start (Medieval) | Start (Tudor) | Start (Stuart)

Previous | Next