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bookstantrash · 4 years

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A/N: Hey folks, are we all alive after ACOSF? Because I sure am not.

Sorry for delaying this chapter, my head was just so full of ACOSF that writing had been pushed back a little. But worry not, last chapter’s cliff hanger finally is over!! I think this is one of the biggest chapters I have written (it is 3K), so I hope you enjoy it!!

In which she makes a Friend, Part Ten

Nesta had fallen asleep on the chair near her bed, where Kaelin was currently sleeping soundly. The same scene from a couple of months back, when she had just discovered that Kaelin was actually a girl, made chills run down her spine.

She didn’t like this situation. Didn’t like it at all.

Cassian had barged into the cabin with a bleeding and passed out Kaelin on his arms, making Nesta jump from her position on the couch, where she had been nervously waiting for them. She had ushered Cassian to place Kaelin in her room, trying to keep her voice low and calm as she asked what the hell had happened.

The menacing aura emanating from Cassian took her back to the memory of when she was human. Of when she had allowed him to get way too close to her. Had allowed him to scent and see the fear in her eyes at the reminder of tearing skirts and cries of help.

Had reminded her of how he had gone utterly still, the need to kill and inflict unbearable pain on the one who had hurt her.

She was not seeing Cassian, the laidback male who cooked for her, and hummed in the kitchen, or who gifted her and Kaelin thoughtful things.

No, she was seeing Cassian, General Commander of the Illyrian armies.

The Lord of Bloodshed.

But that did not frighten her. No, as it had been when she was human, she was not frightened of Cassian.

Nesta was frightened for those who would suffer the wrath of the 500 year old Illyrian, who had been compared with the great warrior god Enalius.

Cassian had left Kaelin in Nesta’s care, giving her a tight smile before leaving again.

Nesta had tended to Kaelin’s wound the best that she could, cleaning the dried blood on her face, but not daring to undress the young Illyrian of her bloodied leathers in fear that Cassian came back suddenly.

However, when Nesta was boiling some tea in hopes of easing her nerves and heard someone knocking on the door, she opened it not to find Cassian but Esmée, the healer matron with a basket full of vials and linens, a serious look on her face.

“That headstrong kurumin all but barged into my barrack, demanding that I rush here and see to that bubbly pitanga” Esmée had pursed her lips as she took in Kaelin’s appearance “Although he did not say how bad the poor thing looked”

Nesta had watched Esmée like a hawk as the healer applied some ointment to Kaelin’s cuts and bruises. Her Illyrian blood would heal her faster, but even the warrior race could be exposed to infections. That was a risk they were not going to take, especially after Cassian had told Nesta where he had found Kaelin.

She had tried not to think of the young girl being beaten in a remote area in the woods. Tried not to think of what would have happened had Cassian not arrived.

Had Kaelin’s killing power not been activated.

Too many thoughts run around Nesta’s mind. Too many variables having been added to the already messy situation.

And Nesta had also tried not to think of how Cassian had eyed her before he left. How while he had told her of Kaelin’s breakdown his hazel eyes had been searching her face for a spark of recognition.

Searching her face for a shadow of a secret shared between her and Kaelin, hidden deeply into her mind, behind the fortress of iron that surrounded it.

Cassian suspected something.

And it was only a matter of time before others started to suspect too.

Nesta was sure of it, especially when she had tensed while Esmée opened Kaelin’s leathers to examine her other bruises.

She had only eased when she noticed that Kaelin wore a thin tunic underneath it, also remembering the band she used to bind her chest.

As long as Esmée did not remove Kaelin’s tunic there was no danger of her secret being exposed.

“He broke one rib and another is seriously bruised” Esmée had informed, running her hands over Kaelin’s torso “And he will have some nasty marks on his stomach, probably due to the punches that broke them. He’s to rest for at least a week. If that good for nothing camp Lord says anything about it just tell the General to pay him a visit and politely convince him of sticking his opinions where the sun does not shine.”

Nesta had fought back a smile at the healer’s words, walking her to the door and letting out a sigh of relief when she was gone.

Nesta rose from the chair with a loan groan, her whole body aching from sleeping in an awkward position. She turned her neck from side to side, hoping to ease the tension accumulated as she quietly closed her bedroom door and went to the kitchen. She had not eaten a single thing since Cassian had left to go search for Kaelin, the only thing in her stomach being the tea she had brewed before Esmée had arrived.

Looking at the clock on the wall, she furrowed her brows in confusion. Cassian should already have been up and about, being the early riser that he was. But now that she stopped to think about it, she had not heard him coming back yesterday night.

A cold dread settled in her stomach, and she fought the urge to tug at the thin thread hidden deep within herself, if only to be certain of his whereabouts.

“He’s fine Nesta'' she murmured to herself as she set the kettle on the stove “He can take care of himself. He’s not called the Lord of Bloodshed for nothing”

But that feeling of dread stayed with her, from the time it took for the water to boil to how long it took for Nesta to realize that she had been so far away in her thoughts that her eggs were burning.

“Oh fuck” she cursed out loud quickly turning the oven off and opening the kitchen’s window to disperse the smoke.

She was still cursing when a deep male voice came from behind her.

“Since when did Nesta Archeron know how to swear? Those are not appropriate words for a lady”

Nesta turned around to see Cassian leaning against the doorframe, an amused grin on his face.

“Should not a lady always aim to expand her vocabulary?” she inquired, arching an eyebrow.

That made Cassian laugh, a mischievous glint on his eyes that eased that feeling of dread in Nesta’ stomach.

“I didn’t see you arriving back yesterday” she nonchalantly said, placing the tea on the table and saving the less burnt pieces of eggs for her to eat.

The lack of an answer from Cassian told Nesta enough. He had not returned.

“Am I going to have to tie you to your damn bed?” she threatened “Esmée said you needed to rest”

“I would gladly let you tie me up sweetheart, although I would rather be the one tying you” Cassian’s voice dropped an octave, and Nesta had to fight back a blush.

“I am not joking you pervert” but her voice lacked the amount of spite she wanted it to have.

Cauldron, to picture Cassian touching her while she lay helpless, giving him full control over her…. Nesta was not one to let others take rein in any kind of situation, especially sex. But to have Cassian being the one in control…. making her go mad with his big and calloused hands, that deep voice saying sweet temptations and dirty promises in her ear… it was enough to make her toes curl.

His answering grin was enough to say he had noticed the change in her scent.

“Wound a bit tight these days Nessie?” he walked in her direction, and the need to taste him, to feel him against her skin….

How long had it been since she had last pleasured herself? She had not bedded a male since she had come to Windhaven, and even touching herself was a no go once Kaelin started living with them.

Cauldron, she had to stop thinking about that.

But the closer Cassian got, the stronger his scent was, that mix of eucalyptus and musk almost making Nesta groan in frustration.

“Get your head out of the gutter Cassian” she managed to say, not giving him the satisfaction of moving away from him, little to no distance between their bodies.

That infuriating smirk appeared again, as always making her blood boil, from either desire or anger at him she did not know.

However, upon close inspection, Nesta could notice how dark the shadows beneath his eyes were. How his hair was more messed up then usual and the lack of shaving more noticeable.

“As if I was going to take such an awful looking male to my bed” Nesta snorted.

“You need to rest Cassian, you cannot keep going like this” she added softly, and maybe the use of his name — something she rarely did — made him see that she was not joking. That she truly was worried about him.

“I am a warrior Ness, we are trained to go days into battle with barely enough sleep” he said, daring to grip her fingers tenderly.

“It does not mean you can punish yourself by not arriving to help Kaelin sooner” she pleaded with her eyes “ It was not your fault. And if you keep thinking like that you will have to blame me too.”

Cassian only squeezed her fingers once before letting go of her hand, a sad smile on his face.

“Eat something more than those burnt eggs or else you will faint. And remember that you have the week off to rest”

Nesta opened her mouth to retort that he should stop being such a headstrong brute and just fucking sleep but Cassian was gone before she could unleash her temper on him.

~•~

Kaelin was awake by the time Nesta had come back to her room.

And the young illyrian was smart enough to keep silent at Nesta’s murder glare.

“You, young lady, are grounded” Nesta declared as she sat on the chair, the picture of grace and calmness despite the blazing fire echoing in her veins.

She directed her powers towards the dying fireplace, silencing the flames with ease now. Nesta felt smug satisfaction at the fact that she was controlling her powers with more facility, although she still had troubles maintaining its constant flow during her training with Cassian.

“I am what” Kaelin croaked out, her throat probably sore after all she had cried and having not spoken for almost a day.

“Grounded. As in you messed up and so I am punishing you in an educational way” Nesta’s voice softened and she clasped Kaelin’s hand “It was very brave of you to shoulder everything alone in fear of putting me, Emerie and even Cassian in danger.”

Kaelin sat a little taller, no wonder feeling pride at Nesta’s words.

“However, it was also very stupid of you, even more given that your killing powers manifested and you thought it better to not tell a single soul about it” Nesta added seriously “And that’s why I think you are going to be one of the most fierce warriors in our history. The best of them tend to be the most reckless and self sacrificing.”

Cassian’s face came to her mind, remembering how he had lay his life for her more than once. How as much as he was intelligent he was also selfless. How he did not hesitate to put his family’s life first and before even his own.

And even though Nesta felt pride and awe at his attitude, she also felt fear for his life.

He walked too close to Death for her liking.

“Next time, do not feel afraid and trust me. Trust Cassian. I am sure he would have helped you, no questions asked” she gave Kaelin’s hand a reassuring squeeze “Do you understand?”

“Yes, ma’am” Kaelin answered, an embarrassing blush blooming on her cheeks.

When Nesta had made sure Kaelin had eaten all of the food piled on her plate — Nesta had only heated some pre-made food Cassian had already cooked, not wanting to repeat the burnt food event – she announced what the young illyrian grounding would be.

“No flying?!” Kaelin shouted.

“No flying”

“You can’t do that!” she argued, completely exasperated.

“Not only I can but I did exactly that. Esmée said you need one week of rest and that is what you are going to do” Kaelin opened her mouth to protest but Nesta beat her to it “You almost broke two ribs, no way you are going to either be flying or training so soon. If that stupid Devlon says something he will have to deal with me and Cassian about it.”

“But…”

“No buts. After your one week of rest is up and you can go back to training you will walk there. No flying.”

“You want me to walk back and forth?!” Kaelin looked as if Nesta had just told her that goats could fly.

“No flying. For a month”

“A month?!”

“Want me to make it two?” Nesta inquired, fighting back a grin at Kaelin’s hopeless face.

“No” she grumbled back, and Nesta had never seen Kaelin look so much as a thirteen year old as now.

Despite the fact that she was quite cheerful, the young girl usually portrayed a serious expression on training and their conversations, having matured earlier than most because of her need for survival. Nesta wanted Kaelin to be able to enjoy life to its fullest, without the constant fear of having her secret exposed.

She found herself wishing Kaelin could live normally as a girl and still be able to keep on training. But change took time, especially for a kind as old and traditional as the Illyrians and Fae.

“How about you show me your penmanship? You will have plenty of time to practice now” Nesta said, trying to distract her thoughts of the ‘what ifs’ of the future.

~•~

“What in the Cauldron are you doing?” Cassian asked, coming out of the kitchen.

“Preparing to sleep, as normal people usually do” Nesta answered, arranging the blankets on the couch. She could not possibly let Kaelin sleep anywhere but her bed given the kid’ state, although she had in vain tried to argue against Nesta’s decision.

“You are not sleeping on the damn couch” he argued, picking her pillow.

“Well, Kaelin is already passed out on the bed after I gave him the painkillers Esmée left, and no way I’m making him sleep here” she snapped, snatching back her pillow.

“My bed is perfectly available” he retorted “You sleep there and I will sleep here”

He tried to take the pillow from her but Nesta took a step back, snarling in his direction.

“Look at yourself Cassian! You haven’t had a proper night of sleep in weeks!! You sleep on your bed and I will sleep here!”

“Gods, you’re such a stubborn woman!! I may be just a lowly bastard but even I have some decency to not let a female sleep on the couch while I sleep on the bed!!”

“You are not sleeping on the couch” she repeated.

“Well, you are also not sleeping there so I guess the only option is for us to share a bed!” Cassian practically shouted back.

“Then I guess we will be sharing your bed then!” Nesta found herself agreeing, both to hers and Cassian’ surprise.

However, now there was no coming back. Nesta would not give Cassian the satisfaction of seeing her flustered over him.

So she grabbed her pillow and left the living room, walking towards his room and not looking back, hesitating only once she stopped in front of his bedroom’s door.

“You may open it” Cassian quietly said behind her, and Nesta tentatively turned the doorknob.

She had never entered Cassian’s room before. Not that it was that different in size from hers, but she supposed the decoration made all the difference.

Apart from a bed big enough to accomodate wings, what most surprised Nesta was Cassian’s shelf, which not only held weapons such as daggers and knives — she guessed there were even more weapons stashed somewhere in his drawer, armoire or under the bed — but a small private collection of books.

She had seen some books in the living room, and felt a tinge of shame to think those were the only ones Cassian had. Running her hand over the books’ spine, she could see they had been well read, and that Cassian took great care with them.

“Those are military books” he informed softly, his hazel eyes following her every move “You could say I am quite attached to them, that’s why they are here instead of on top of the living room’s fireplace.”

“This is not a military book” Nesta said in the same voice tone, taking one from its place and reading the title.

‘King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table’

“I would not have pegged you for a romance reader” she teased, recalling his own words from when she had first arrived at the House of Wind.

“It is not a romance” he argued “It is a story full of blood and fights and dangerous quests for glory and—”

“And Guinevere is just a fish then?” Nesta inquired, returning the book to its rightful place.

Cassian’s only answer was a low grumble and Nesta could swear he was sulking because she was right.

“Just go to sleep and forget about this” Cassian said, awkwardly gesturing towards his bed.

Spine straight as a sword, Nesta pushed the covers back and fluffled her pillow before trying to get comfortable.

It was too much. Too much Cassian. Too much of that intoxicating scent that made her caged heart threaten to explode and pour out all that she felt for him into the open. She had no idea how she was going to be able to sleep, even more when she heard a rustling sound and saw Cassian drop his clothes in a chair, staying only in his undershorts.

“What do you think you are doing?” she exclaimed, a bit breathless as she eyed his tan and muscled torso, failing to hide how seeing him like that affected her.

“Would you rather have me sleeping naked sweetheart? Because that is my type of sleeping garments” he winked at her, and Nesta wondered if she could suffocate him with her pillow.

“But for the sake of your poor nerves I will put on proper clothes xe r-atá” he added, slipping on some cotton pants that hang so low on his hips that Nesta had to bite her tongue to not comment on the fact that it did nothing to calm her poor nerves.

Cassian turned off the light settling beside her on the bed and keeping a respectful distance from her side.

Nesta tightly closed her eyes and prayed to sleep come soon. Yet she kept tossing and turning around, not finding a comfortable position.

“I thought you wanted me to rest Ness” Cassian’s amused voice interrupted the silence.

“Well, it’s not my fault I cannot find a comfortable position and am feeling cold despite the lit fireplace” she turned in his direction, trying to find his face in the dark “Don’t you ever feel cold?”

“I am quite used to Illyria’s weather, and maybe living for so long in a piss poor tent outside made me immune to it” he said with a hint of sadness “You should have told me sooner that you were cold. Wait a minute.”

Nesta’s eyes slowly got used to the dark and she could faintly see Cassian moving towards his wardrobe and returning with a huge fur blanket.

“Warmer?” he asked, tucking it so tenderly around her that her heart skipped a beat.

“Yes, but….”

“Still not comfortable?”

She felt her cheeks getting hot in embarrassment and thanked the gods Cassian could not see it because of the dark.

“Can I—” Cassian cleared his throat and Nesta felt him move a little in her direction.

“Yes'' she laid utterly still, not daring even to breath as Cassian moved and embraced her, his arm acting as a pillow for her head.

“It’s just body heat” he murmured, his breath hitting her forehead.

“Just body heat” she agreed, eyelids suddenly heavy with sleep.

“Aundê aicô, xe nhia” Cassian whispered, Nesta’s soft breathing letting him know she was fast asleep.

•

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#nessian #nesta x cassian #nesta archeron #cassian #sarah j maas #sjmaas #sjm books #sjm fanfic

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cheri-translates · 4 years

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[CN] Shaw’s Exorcism Date (Eng Translation)

🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date which has not been released in English servers! 🍒

Note: This date was translated by @redqueenschoice! It’s on my blog because she doesn’t want to put individual translations on hers...

Shaw’s Qixi Collection: Date ♡ / Call 1 / Call 2 / Event / Special Call

Check out Victor’s date (by @lucienism) and Kiro’s date (by @skyholders) too! A lot of effort has been put in by these three lovely humans T^T💕 Do send them lots of love!!

On the night of Qixi, I had a terrible encounter and happened to be saved by Shaw. In order to repay the favour afterwards, I promised to run errands for him for seven days. Very soon, the seven days are coming to an end…

The crescent moon reminiscent of a bow hangs in the sky, the canopy of the heavens are painted pitch black. The little starlight that filters through the dense canopy of the forest scatters, and a line of men make their way through the mountain’s forest in a hurry, the swords on their waists still red with fresh blood.

A drop of blood falls onto the surface of a leaf, before it is trodden underfoot all of a sudden.

MC: Ahh…

Bandit Leader: Tell me the truth!

My head was harshly hit, and I let out a weak, muffled cry through the cloth stuffed in my mouth.

The image of my family’s pitiful state right before the moments of their deaths surface in my mind again, and my throat tightens, both my heart and mind unable to move on from the tumultuous upheaval in my life.

It was only supposed to be a trip to the neighbouring village to visit some relatives. How had it come to this?

Bandit Leader: The ones we’ve gone after the last few days weren’t lacking in anything, huh? Hiding so many goods…

Bandit Underling: That’s right. Especially this young girl here, she’s still young and healthy.

Bandit Underling One: Boss, before we sell her off, how about we… ehehe.

Upon hearing his perverted words and laughter, I start thrashing about in a panic, but the ropes wound tightly around my wrists and ankles just won’t budge no matter how hard I pull. Tears stain the blindfold over my eyes and I stretch my hands towards my waist, getting ready to put up a fight with everything I have - I’d rather die than be disgraced in such a way.

At this moment, however, he is interrupted by another low voice.

Bandit Underling Two: That’s enough. You can make merry anytime you like, but in this instance, it’s better for us to hurry and get on our way. I heard these woods aren’t to be trusted at night, and there are rumours that monsters come out at night.

Bandit Underling One: Big Brother, aren’t you a little too believing of these old folk tales? Where on earth would there be demons, and even if there were, I’m not scared of them!

Note from Red: and here, ladies and gentlemen, is the beginning to every horror movie ever

A cocky laugh leaves his lips, but the second he does, the surroundings in all four directions abruptly fall silent.

All of a sudden, a long, piercing cry rips the still night in two.

The sound is delightful to the ears, yet it is striking enough to tear through the haze - upon hearing it once, it would be irreversibly carved into one’s heart.

I only feel my body sway for a moment, but in the blink of an eye, I find myself shoved down onto the ground. The second my shoulder collides with the wet, slippery dirt, I hear the bandits’ terrified shouts flying to and fro above my head.

Bandits: Mon… Monster!!!

The snarl of a predator beast, the metallic hiss of a blade being unsheathed, frantic and hurried footsteps… followed by bloodcurdling screams.

The chaos and what I experienced a few hours ago are far too similar, the same sounds echoing inside my head until they slowly fade away to nothing.

I cannot see anything in front of me, and can only smell the faint scent of blood mixed with that of the cool forest suffusing my nose.

At this moment, footsteps gradually approach me.

I hold my breath, and feel cold sweat slowly trickling down my back.

Who is it? Did one of the bandits survive?

Or is it… the monster?

The owner of those footsteps stop before me, and a strong hand pulls me up from the ground.

The person lifts up my bangs and a fingertip meets my forehead, the ice cold sensation making me shiver.

Mystery Man: Hah.

He seems to have no intention of loosening my bindings, a peculiar silence filling the space between me and the nameless man before me. With the blindfold over my eyes, my senses of hearing and touch are my only links with the external world.

His breathing is very light, but with each exhale that leaves his mouth, I sense undeniable danger in the air. I can feel his gaze, like that of a wild predator surveying its prey, as if he would sink his fangs into me in the next second.

MC: Mmn!

Terrified, I duck my head away from him, trying to avoid his touch. Instead, I hear a short laugh coming from the person in front of me.

Mystery Man: Fine. Since you don’t want me to save you, just wait here on your own, then.

With these words, the heated breaths across my cheeks vanish and the man seems to disappear into thin air, leaving no trace. My surroundings are completely silent once again.

He left?

I don’t dare to confirm it myself, waiting where he left me for a moment. Once the sound of birds and chirping of crickets returns to the area, I let out a breath of relief and begin to move once again.

Since I was under constant scrutiny of the bandits, I didn’t dare to do this earlier. Now that there’s no one in the vicinity, I can finally reach for the small knife I had secretly strapped to my waist.

This is the last thing my parents, who died earlier this year, left me to defend myself with.

I carefully feel around for the handle of the blade, wrapping my fingers around it. Because I can’t see and my movements are restricted, the tip of the blade ends up nicking my skin a few times. Gritting my teeth, I bear the pain and work on severing my bindings.

Note from Red: guys this is the mc we need but don’t deserve-

When I finally pull off the blindfold around my eyes, I see that the moon has already moved considerably towards the west.

Apart from the goods the bandits had been carrying with them earlier, I don’t see anyone else when I glance about.

MC: Did those people… really get eaten?

At the thought of the danger I experienced earlier, and might still be in, I couldn’t care less about the injuries littering my body, and force myself to my feet with the support of a tree branch, preparing to leave the forest as fast as I can.

The mountain paths are confusing and complicated, and I feel like I’ve been wandering around in circles for awhile when I finally hear the sound of running water coming from nearby.

MC: That’s great! If there’s water, that means I can clean my wounds!

I hobble towards the source of the sound slowly, but just as I’m pushing through the underbrush, a sound suddenly rings out through the air, causing me to freeze where I stand in fear.

Mystery Man: Don’t panic, everyone has a share.

It’s the voice of that man from earlier!

Before I can react, there’s the sound of flapping wings in the distance, taking my attention with it. Several strangely shaped skeletal birds flap over, and from their shrill, clamorous cries, it sounds as if they’re begging for food from someone.

I turn my head, only to see a young man casually lounging in a rowboat on the surface of a pool, next to a grove of trees. In his hand is a bunch of evening primroses. Under the light of the night sky, their petals give off a gentle glow.

The young man’s long legs are crossed, golden eyes half narrowed lazily as he looks at me. His expression is leisurely and indolent, and I see the petal of an evening primrose held casually between his teeth.

If I hadn’t encountered him in such an unusual circumstance, in the depths of a mountain forest, perhaps I would have thought he was the pampered young master of a rich merchant or businessman.

Mystery Man: Oh, that sentence wasn’t quite right. It should have been ‘every bird has a share’.

As if the skeletal birds can understand what he’s saying, they let out noisy chirps before obediently taking the petals from his hand one by one. The second the petals leave his palm, they dissolve into puffs of black smoke being swallowed up instantly by the skeletal birds.

Mystery Man: Today’s haul wasn’t too bad, there’s so much evil energy about, there’s enough for all of you to gorge yourselves on for a long time…

Mystery Man: Oi, you little idiot at the back, I caught you! Be a bit more honest, you’re not allowed to cut the queue…

Skeletal Bird: Squawk squawk?

Mystery Man: What did you say? Why didn’t I swallow up that little lady from earlier?

Mystery Man: Come on, do I really seem like a scoundrel who doesn’t take proper care of women… yeah, I am.

Trivia from Red: The word ‘scoundrel’ was translated from is the negative of a Chinese idiom 怜香惜玉, meaning a gentleman who takes care of the fairer sex. Shaw referred to himself as someone unlike a gentleman, so that’s how I translated it.

Skeletal Bird: Squawk!

Mystery Man: [clicks his tongue] I was just playing around a little. After I feed the lot of you, I’ll go back and save her, is that cool with you?

At hearing his words, I secretly make a face in his direction, muttering under my breath.

MC: I didn’t need you to save me… I got out on my own...

A skeletal bird suddenly caws in my direction. The young man’s eyes narrow instantly, the light in his eyes intensifying to something swift and fierce, before he turns his gaze right in my direction.

Mystery Man: Whoever’s there, come out.

I’ve been found out!

Note from Red: She, in fact, had been found out.

I subconsciously take a step back, but all of a sudden, the injury on my leg flares up with immense pain. My body loses balance all at once, and I find myself pitching backwards before I know what’s happening.

MC: Ah!

Note from Red: MC then proceeds to black out in typical otome heroine fashion… but let’s cut her some slack she was cool here T^T

I drift in the darkness, countless strange dreams blending together and surfacing before my eyes. One moment it’s the leering grin of the bandits, the next it’s the cawing of the skeletal birds I saw earlier. But the final thing is the long, piercing cry I heard in the forest.

When my eyes blink open, I find myself in an unfamiliar room.

It’s a perfectly normal looking bedroom, and the sheets under me are fresh and clean. Somewhere, I can hear the sounds of a vendor selling his goods and the voices of kids peddling flowers drifting in from outside the window.

Everything is so peaceful, it’s as if everything I experienced before has just been nothing but a dream.

MC: Where exactly am I…

Mystery Man: You finally decided to wake up.

A young man dressed in purple appears at the door in the blink of an eye. Startled, I sit up as fast as possible in shock.

MC: Who are you!?

At my question, he leans against the doorframe casually, and after seeing my expression, the corner of his lips turn up in a smirk.

Mystery Man: What are you being so on edge for? I’m the benefactor who saved your life, you know.

MC: What benefactor, I clearly saw you on that lake earlier…

Mystery Man: You’ve had some entertaining dreams.

Note from Red: o k a y shaw

MC: Huh?

Mystery Man: You, little lady, fainted in the wilderness in the nearby mountains. If I hadn’t just happened to be passing by and decided to do a good deed, there’s no guarantee you wouldn’t have been eaten up by a demon.

What he’s saying doesn’t match up with what I remember, but the way he speaks so smoothly with absolute confidence makes it hard for me to doubt his words, and for a moment I question my own memories.

Could the glowing primroses I saw by the lake… and the skeletal birds… all been some sort of strange dream?

Mystery Man: It seems like you’ve slept yourself silly.

The young man runs a hand through his hair before straightening up once more, and I watch as he steps towards me until he’s right next to the bed, bending down to look at me more clearly.

His golden eyes flash with sly amusement.

Mystery Man: Since you’re awake, remember this clearly: you’re on my territory.

Mystery Man: The name’s Shaw, and I’m your benefactor.

Mystery Man: As for what you should do now, you should carefully think… about just how you’re going to repay me for saving your life.

Carrying a bucket filled with water, I stagger into the garden, out of breath.

The only other person in the garden is currently lounging next to a flower bed, legs casually swinging back and forth, the picture of idleness.

MC: May. I. Please. Ask. If. Sir. Benefactor. Has. Any. Other. Instructions.

Since the day I woke, in return for Shaw safely bringing me out of the mountain, I agreed to run errands for him for seven days. Today is already the seventh day.

Upon seeing me puffing and panting, his brow lifts in an amused arch.

Shaw: Hmm, go water those flowers over there while you’re at it, then.

MC: Shaw, don’t take your bullying too far!

Shaw: How am I bullying you? Weren’t you the one who said that you wanted to repay me by running errands? Or perhaps you want to do it by offering your body instead?

Trivia from Red: ‘Offering your body’ is translated from the Chinese idiom 以身相许, which means 1) pledge to marry or 2) have sex with a man of her own will.

I stare at him in horrified shock for a moment, face burning red from embarrassment. Grabbing the gourd dipper, I scoop up a full ladle of water and fling it at him with all my might.

Shaw ducks out of the way at lightning speed, and the spray of water splashes onto the flowerbed he had been lounging next to earlier, catching the light of the afternoon sun and forming a rainbow. Shaw’s laughter rings out clearly.

Shaw: I asked you to water the flowers, not water people. Or is your eyesight so bad you can’t tell a human clearly from a flowerbed?

MC: ...You!

These last few days, whenever we’ve had banters like this, I’ve never won even once. Determined not to fall into the same trap again, I ignore his words and instead ask a question.

MC: The seven days are almost up. Can I leave tomorrow?

Shaw’s smile turns teasing.

Shaw: Your house is opposite this mountain, isn’t it? Are you sure you won’t faint halfway on your journey back again?

MC: I definitely won’t!

Upon seeing my determined face, Shaw grins, opening his mouth to say something again. All of a sudden, however, the smile fades from his face.

MC: What’s the matter?

Shaw: Nothing’s up, I’m just heading out for a moment.

Shaw: If you want to go home, I’m not stopping you.

Shaw: But you’re not allowed to leave tomorrow. Stay put in my house, don’t take a step out of the compound.

MC: Why not?

Shaw doesn’t reply my question, and with a few strides of his long legs, he’s vanished from the garden.

MC: Shaw, wait a moment, you haven’t explained yourself-

MC: He’s gone?

This isn’t the first time he’s simply disappeared like this. With a shake of the head, I shrug off his warning. Besides, after tomorrow, I’ll have repaid my debt to him in full, and we’ll have nothing more to do with each other.

On the morning of the next day, Shaw still hasn’t returned.

I chew on my lip, looking at the doors for the seventh time, slightly hesitant to leave without bidding him goodbye.

MC: Well, it’s not like that rascal is going to bother about it anyway…

Trivia from Red: MC quite constantly refers to Shaw as 那家伙, which is a casual way of referring to a mischievous, rascally guy, and can be interpreted as ‘that guy’, or ‘that little punk’.

Even though I say those words, I find my footsteps slowing on the way out of the front courtyard.

MC: Perhaps I should leave him a letter.

I write him a letter and leave it on his table. Just when I’m about to leave, a painting hanging on the wall catches my eye.

MC: This is…

Taking a step closer to look at it more clearly, I realise that it’s a mythical beast that I’ve never seen before.

On the beast’s lower back are five tails, and on its forehead is a single horn. Just from the painting, I can sense a strong aura of pride and arrogance.

MC: This painting… it kind of resembles that guy.

Curiously, I reach out and touch a corner of the painting. All of a sudden, however, the sound of thunder rumbles outside the window.

I look out of the window, and am surprised to see that the sky, that was sunny just moments ago, is now blanketed with thick grey clouds, looking like it’s about to start pouring anytime soon.

MC: If I don’t leave now, it’ll be bad if I’m caught in the rain.

I fasten my cloak, pick up an umbrella and leave Shaw’s house.

Even thought it’s well into the afternoon, the little town is completely covered in a thick fog, as if it has been completely blanketed by a layer of grey. The little river that runs through the town has little lotus lamps dotting the surface, all of them floating along silently.

Just as I’m about to leave the little town, my mind gradually begins to calm.

MC: This feels a little strange…

The town that Shaw resides in might not have too many people, but on a normal day, it would usually be bustling with activity, the smell of firework smoke in the air.

Yet today, there isn’t a single person on the streets.

Note from Red: gee, i wonder why, mc-

The further I go from Shaw’s house, the faster the sky seems to darken and unease wells up in my heart.

MC: Maybe I should go back and wait for him…

[thunder rumbles]

The clouds seem to descend, and the sky darkens even further. I don’t know whether it’s just my imagination, but the mist seems to suffuse and thicken in the tunnel before me, and I can see the outline of dark shapes moving about inside.

Before I can look more closely at them, there’s a sound behind me, and I turn around. The moment I do, I can’t help but feel shock race through me.

It’s the skeletal bird I saw that night on the mountain!

The bird hops onto the side of the bridge, cocking its head at me. When it opens its beak to speak, what comes out isn’t the shrill squawk of a bird, but the familiar cool and clear voice of a man.

Bird!Shaw: Finally found you… what are you doing here?

MC: Shaw!?

MC: How are you… this bird is-

In typical Shaw fashion, the bird does not answer my question. Instead, it turns its head to look at the tunnel, and lets out a clicking sound even though it doesn’t have a tongue to do so.

Bird!Shaw: Come with me.

With that, it flies to me, taking my sleeve between its beak and tugging me in the opposite direction. Being pulled along into a run with it, all my words come out garbled.

MC: Wait a moment… What, what exactly is going on? Just now, what was that? And you, what are you?

Bird!Shaw: You have so many questions.

MC: It’s not me who has too many questions! It’s just that you’ve hidden too much from me!

Bird!Shaw: ……

Bird!Shaw: It’s the Ghost Festival today.

MC: Ghost Festival… Hungry Ghost Festival!?

Trivia from Red: The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, is a traditional Buddhist and Taoist festival held in certain East Asian countries. According to the Chinese calendar (a lunisolar calendar), the Ghost Festival is on the 15th night of the seventh month.

In Chinese culture, the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is called Ghost Day and the seventh month in general is regarded as the Ghost Month (鬼月), in which ghosts and spirits, including those of deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm. The deceased are believed to visit the living as the realms of Heaven and Hell and the realm of the living are open and both Taoists and Buddhists would perform rituals to transmute and absolve the sufferings of the deceased.

Bird!Shaw: That's right. This is when the nine yin converges, and evil grows easily. It is the day when the Ghost Gate opens, and evil and living souls intersect. It will be more troublesome than a typical day.

Bird!Shaw: I distinctly remember telling you to stay put in my house, who would have thought you’d actually dare to leave and make trouble for me.

As the bird says this, it turns back to eye me. Even though it has no eyes, I can clearly see the words ‘annoyance’ written in its eye sockets.

At that moment, a feeling of unhappiness washes over me, and I can’t help but open my mouth to speak.

MC: All these things… you could have just told me earlier. You made me wait for you for the entirety of yesterday… without so much as an explanation.

MC: Shaw, am I really not worthy of your trust? Am I a burden to you?

The bird stops fluttering its wings for a second before it turns its head, not saying another word.

For a moment, I wonder if Shaw is angry with what I said, but after a while, a small snort of laughter leaves the bird’s mouth, ringing in my ears.

The sound is so clean and clear, it seems like Shaw is standing right next to me.

Bird!Shaw: I don’t think of you as a burden.

Bird!Shaw: I can tell you my true identity, it’s just that at that moment, you can’t be afraid and you’re not allowed to regret it.

MC: I won’t be scared, and I wouldn’t regret it.

Bird!Shaw: Then follow me closely.

The clouds close in on us, and the first drops of rain begin to fall.

It’s going to rain.

I follow after the bird closely, and each time, I narrowly manage to escape every encounter with a dark shape. Just as we’re about to leave the small town, however, it’s as if all the spirits suddenly sense me, and they all turn and start rushing towards me!

Bird!Shaw: Don’t bother about them! Just run towards the exit of the town!

The second it finishes those words, it lets out a caw. As if rallied, a hundred of the skeletal birds suddenly fly over from behind the wall. Like arrows loosed from a bow, they descend on the mass of black spirits and attack them with their sharp beaks and wings, keeping them tightly packed together.

But there is a limit to the number of birds, and the pitch black spirits can’t be stopped.

Understanding that the birds can’t buy me all the time in the world, I grit my teeth and run as hard as I can for the exit of the town.

Even before I can take two steps, pain runs up my leg, as if I’m being yanked back by something. I fall painfully to the ground.

Withstanding the pain, I look down to see a skeletal person grabbing tight onto my ankle, refusing to let go!

No matter how hard I struggle, the person refuses to let go, and only holds on tighter and tighter. Watching the rest of the dark shapes slowly approaching, I yank out something I have tucked in my waist, and bring it down as hard as I can on the person.

Shiing!

A loud wail rings through the air, but the grip loosens enough for me to pry it off. Looking down in my hand, I clasp the dagger that had saved me seven days ago, I’ve never let it leave me even once.

But in the time it took for me to do all that, it’s too late for me to escape the town.

I grip the dagger tight.

The dark shapes draw closer, before they finally rush at me ferociously.

[thunder rumbles intensely]

Thunder rumbles throughout the sky, like the beating of a thousand drums, the galloping of a hundred thousand horses, unceasing. In that second, hundreds of white hot lightning bolts flash through the air before me, bathing the entire sky in bright white light.

Note from Red: that can’t be good for your eyes...

A large hand covers my eyes from behind.

Note from Red: who needs sunglasses when we have shaw’s big hands T^T

Shaw: You idiot, why are you just standing there for? Do you want to keep your eyes or not?

His tone is teasing and lighthearted, but it makes me feel safer than any promise or vow in the world.

MC: Shaw…

Shaw: I didn’t think you’d be able to save yourself, not bad.

Shaw: No wonder I-

The rest of his words are cut off by the rumble of thunder, the flash of lightning. I feel raindrops land pitter patter on my nose and cheeks.

In order to let me hear his words clearly, he leans down and puts his lips right next to my ear when he speaks, breath hot against the shell of my ear.

Shaw: Turn around, open up your umbrella and count to ten in your head before you open your eyes. Got it?

I nod with all my strength.

Shaw releases me and I obey his instructions, opening the umbrella and beginning to count.

MC: One, two, three…

The strikingly familiar cry I heard that night in the forest rings out from behind me, leaving yet another deep impression in my heart.

MC: Four, five, six…

The rain slows to a gentle drizzle, and the oppressive air hanging over the town seems to be slowly fading.

MC: Seven, eight, nine…

Shaw… Shaw…

MC: Ten.

I turn around.

Within the bright flashes of light, I catch sight of a silhouette of the five tailed mythical beast.

Evil spirits dealt with and the dark clouds gone, it seems like the town has finally gone back to normal.

Because I injured my foot, Shaw takes me to a small boat, and the two of us drift along slowly on the river. As the boat is slowly carried along beneath a bridge, Shaw, who is lazily sitting at the front, plucks a flower from the side to play with.

The lotus lamps bobbing alongside us glow softly, and what was initially supposed to be a gloomy Hungry Ghost Festival resembles more of a pleasant evening of a wedding night.

Shaw’s purple robes flutter in the wind, and under the light of the lamps hanging from the boat, the horn on his forehead seems to be softened with a soft glow.

The scenery before me reminds me of the time we first met on the lake back in that forest, the only differences being that he’s now missing a few birds, and that I am here with him.

MC: Right, why haven’t I seen any of the other town residents today?

Shaw: You think everyone is like you? I already warned them beforehand not to leave their houses, it’d make way for the souls and I can do what I need to do.

MC: Hahahaha…

Shaw: What are you laughing about?

MC: I’m laughing at you - with that image and disposition, who would have guessed that you’re actually a great immortal?

After hearing my words, Shaw lifts an eyebrow, looking slightly miffed.

Shaw: Then what did you think I was, a monster?

MC: I think that you’re Shaw, that’s all.

Shaw stares blankly at me for a moment.

MC: Shaw, on the day of Qixi, when you brought me out of the mountain, was it you who rescued me from those bandits as well?

Even though my words are phrased as a question, my tone is sure and certain. There’s a flash of surprise in Shaw’s eyes, but he doesn’t reply. He casts his eyes downwards, manner insipid.

Shaw: That isn’t a good memory to have for the Qixi Festival. Just forget it.

MC: I won’t forget it.

What he says is true. The Qixi festival is deserving of good and happy memories, and being by bandits certainly isn’t that, but still…

I look earnestly at Shaw.

MC: But on that day, you also appeared.

All around us, the lotus lamps flicker softly in the night, jade green smoke curling up faintly, the cool sounds of running water in my ears.

MC: I feel like this is the most memorable, and also the most treasured Qixi I have ever experienced.

This world’s thousands of relationships cannot be clearly defined by these dates, but on this Ghost Festival, my heart soars more than it did on the day of the Qixi Festival.

Shaw watches me silently, before he puts down the flower in his hand and leans forward, closer to me.

His hands carry with them the body temperature of one that is not human, fingertips lifting up my bangs once again.

Inch by inch, his finger trails down, as if mapping out my face.

His golden eyes are locked firmly on me, gaze intense and captivating like that of a wild beast, not letting my eyes deviate from him in the least.

This time, I don’t shy away from him.

Shaw: The last time, didn’t you ask for my true self?

Shaw: I’m Zheng, and I consume evil energy as sustenance.

Shaw: I’ve never felt like I’ve done this to help humans, and I’ve never considered myself to be an auspicious sign like the legends say.

Shaw: When I’m hungry, I eat.

Suddenly, my hand is grasped tightly in his, and he lifts it to his mouth.

He bites down slowly on my index finger, sharpened teeth scraping over delicate skin, and slight pain radiates out from where his lips are wrapped around my fingertip.

Shaw: Even if that’s what I am, you’re not going to be afraid of me?

Even though he’s clearly giving off a sense of hidden danger and his words are meant to provoke me into giving him a response, my heart skips a beat at the smile on his face.

MC: I…

Shaw: I… what? Speak louder.

With a self satisfied smirk that looks reminiscent of a cat that got the canary, he nips on my finger again.

MC: I said, I won’t be-

Before the word ‘scared’ can leave my mouth, my finger suddenly slips free of Shaw’s mouth to land on his lower lip. My fingertip softly runs against his lips, breath warm and eyes shining.

It’s clearly… a kiss.

Note from Red: yes mc you get flustered NOW when your finger was on his lips but not when he was literally biting on it priorities on point we stan

In a moment, my entire face burns bright red and I hurriedly pull back my finger.

MC: Shaw!

Shaw grins at me as he releases my hand, his gaze on me filled with an emotion I can’t quite recognise. Having fallen for his tricks yet again, my heart races and I desperately look for something to say, but didn’t expect that Shaw would beat me to it.

Shaw: Shouldn’t you be heading home?

The second he says that, I’m reminded of my original purpose: to bid my farewells to him before leaving for home.

I nod at him for a moment, before I shake my head energetically.

MC: Shaw, I…

Shaw: But today, haven’t I saved you once again?

MC: ...Eh?

Shaw: The timing’s just right. I’ve polished off all the evil energies and spirits here completely, it’s time for a change in scenery.

Shaw: The town near your home… is there anything entertaining?

He speaks so quickly that I have no time to think.

MC: Entertaining… well, not really, but there’s a lot of good food there! Recently it’s been chestnut and lotus seed season, so there should be a lot of confections sold on the streets…

MC: Wait a second, you’re not thinking of following me home, are you?

Shaw: Of course I am. How else are you going to repay this huge favour you owe me for saving you?

His words are bold and upright, but the grin on his face is that of a satisfied hunter.

Shaw: Before you fully repay the favour… don’t even think about escaping from me.

#mlqc #mlqc cn #mlqc spoilers #mlqc shaw #redqueenschoice translated this

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sturmmhond · 3 years

Note

Hey! So I've seen a load of your sjm content and I read the trilogy in 2017 and loved it. I was planning on reading the new one but I'm totally put off and definitely must've overlooked A Lot in the original trilogy. Do you or your followers have any recs for similar vibes with a lot less problematic issues?! (ty you're doing the lord's work, I can't support this shit)

that's around the time i read it the first time as well! maybe a year earlier in 2016?? i can't be all too sure, but i know that a/comaf had just been released at that point. i too loved these books the first time around. might be because back then i was also a lot less educated on the issues transpiring in s/jmaas's writing.

that being said, i reread the entire series this year and loathed it with a passion. it drained me of energy to do so. THEN i went into a/cosf and exhausted myself completely. it made me so angry, so livid, so frustrated, that i cried for two hours and then cried some more whenever i'd pick up the book. but a bitch (me) is stubborn and dramatic and a bit of a masochist probably, because i insisted on finishing it. and i regret i did.

with the things i know to question now, with the problems that have become obvious to me now, i just can't in good faith recommend these books to anyone. especially if you loved them before and want to keep the positivity intact.

i am deeply sorry if in my... agitation around these books i have caused people guilt or any sort of negative feeling for loving or having once loved them. my gripe is with the author and not at all with my fellow readers 💖💖💖

alas, i am still searching for books in the same vein that are overall better written and less problematic, but please keep in mind i have just gotten back into reading after a very long pause since the end of 2018 to january this year.

off the top of my head, i have to mention some stand-alones: an enchantment of ravens and sorcery of thorns by margaret rogerson make for fun, light reads, where the approach to faeries is just about as whimsical as i think it should always be. spinning silver by naomi novik also makes for a fun read. i couldn't talk about faeries without mentioning the folk of the air series by holly black, but i'd also recommend tithe by them as well. it's so so very good and one of the characters from tithe makes a cameo in tfota.

not faerie related but really, really fun was gideon the ninth by tamsyn muir (lesbian necromancers in space. i mean, come on!)

crier's war by nina varela and priory of the orange tree by samantha shannon were also (behemoths) a blast to go through!

i have just finished howl's moving castle by diana wynne jones today and it was the whimsical story of my dreams, so also big BIG recommend.

#răspuns #nonnie #thank you for making me feel like a booktuber oh my god ajaksjdhfjd #i'm so sorry this is so long #anti sjm #imma come back with more recommendations as i go through my tbr #if yall want them of course kjashfjkdhf #long post

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lizacstuff · 3 years

Text

Sen Çal Kapımı / Edser ask from episode 43 (2x04)

AKA Serkan’s episode.

There is also speculation about episode 44 based on the fragmans and a few random asks

(Asks under the cut)

Anonymous asked: Hey, Liza! How did you like the ep? I still get chills when watching the diary x video scene and the final one.. Finally the truth is out to both Serkan and Kiraz! And that fragman! 😍 but It seems like Aydan filing for custody will be the new drama, do you think it will last long? Because I highly doubt that they will give solely happy edser and Kiraz in remaining episodes..

My full episode thoughts are here, but I agree the diary and video scene was spectacular. It makes me teary every time.

I’m also psyched that the truth is out. Truthfully, I was one that wanted Serkan to find out at the end of the first episode, but now I concede that it was better to draw it out a bit to really build everything up to this episode and his journey to letting go of his fears. What a character arc they gave him. They really explored Serkan and what drives him this episode and it was a treat-- a painful treat-- to watch it all unfold and for him to finally admit what had driven him to push her away all those years ago and what was still holding him back in the present.

As for what’s next, that’s a great question. I agree that it’s unlikely we’re going to get happy Edser family from here on out, there has to be some obstacles and drama before we get to the end. The Aydan custody drama will clearly be the conflict in episode 5, but I don’t see it as any real barrier for Eda and Serkan. We see in the second fragman that Eda is already confronting Serkan about it, so if Aydan is doing something underhanded they can’t draw it out too long.

I assume that while the custody thing may cause a wee bit of miscommunication between Eda and Serkan, I think it mostly will serve as fodder for Aydan and Ayfer’s relationship dynamic and give the supporting characters something to run around and chase after while Eda, Serkan and Kiraz actually start forming their new family unit. If anything it might serve as a catalyst for Serkan. Picture it, Eda confronts Serkan about it and Serkan is like “I don’t know anything about that, I wouldn’t do something that would hurt you or Kiraz, but I do want her, I want us.” You know, serve to clarify things.

There are probably a few episodes of family drama in store for us as everyone, including Eda, Serkan and Kiraz adjust to this new reality. I assume once the euphoria of having her Baba back wears off for Kiraz, she might ask some questions that are hard for Eda and Serkan to answer. We shall see.

Anonymous asked: i don't think i've cried THIS much at an sck episode... in like ever lmao. i was full on silent sobbing at serkan watching kiraz's baby videos.. but the scene i really loved the most was the one where they have it out after that fancy dinner. it was EVERYTHING we needed to hear serkan's POV and i almost can't believe a lot of us got the "can't have kids" theory right. i have loved so much this season how edser have communicated, even when it's painful and hard.. it was sorely missing for them.

I know! The communication! I don’t think they’ve ever communicated like this. Of course their issues were not as deep and nuanced back in the first batch of episodes so going this in-depth wasn’t necessary, but they didn’t communicate like this when dealing with Babaanne or when it was really needed after the amnesia era.

Honestly, so pleased the “can’t have kids” theory was correct. It goes so far in explaining his actions and thought process when pushing her away, as distorted as that thought process was. It truly was selfless, because I’m sure all he wanted was to hold her tight and never let go, but it was also so unnecessary. Their love story has just been so tragic, but if you think about how many things were stacked against them, it’s also stunning that their love has persevered. They were so opposite and unlikely to fall in love to begin with and then you add in all the things that stood in their way, meddling mothers, family secrets, Serkan’s father being responsible for her parents death, evil, rich, powerful grandmother using everything in her considerable arsenal to keep them apart, psycho stalkers, kidnapping princes, crashing planes, amnesia, brainwashing and abusive exes, plotting “friends,” tumor, cancer, separation!

To come out of all of that and to see they are clearly still in love with one another... well they really don’t have any other choice. They should get married immediately with no pomp and circumstance just so they are legally tied together. So when the next tragic, catastrophic thing comes along it will be that much harder to pull them apart.

Anonymous asked: deniz and burak are the most harmless "3rd party" characters we've ever had in the show that it almost makes me laugh when ppl get so insecure about them.. especially with burak, knowing that he's gonna be melo's love interest, even if i don't want it. like, sure serkan is naturally gonna be jealous, maybe possessive, because of "buba" but it's all being shown right now as light comedic relief.. i've seen some people REALLY take it to heart when it really doesn't seem like it's that deep lol.

I know, it’s all so mild. They also aren’t actually even third party love interests, because there is absolutely zero interest from either side of the main pair. Both are there to a) serve plot purposes and b) show that neither Eda or Serkan is interested in anybody else. It’s nice, we get to see that while they both have had options, neither has been able to move on and both have chosen to remain alone.

As for driving the plot, Burak’s presence was necessary because they needed someone who Serkan thought was Kiraz’s father, and Deniz was necessary because they needed someone who would do whatever Serkan wanted when Serkan wanted to force proximity with Eda.

Looking at the fragman, the real “triangle” might be Buba - Kiraz - Baba but I also think that will mostly be played for laughs. A way to give us some “Drain the pool” and “Burn the flowers” type jealousy moments from Serkan, since that was a hallmark of Ayse’s early writing.

However, I can see why some folks were put-off by that vibe. Because, yes, if you’ve been standing in as a male-figure for the 5-year-old daughter of the woman you’re tying to woo (let’s not pretend that’s not why Burak takes such an interest in Kiraz) and the father that the 5-year-old has been wanting and pining for actually re-enters the picture, maybe you don’t need to force your way in and have “Buba day” the day after he returns. I’m not saying you can’t have it ever again, I’m saying you let the family have some alone time and figure things out. Anyone with any emotional intelligence would postpone such an outing. However, it looks like Serkan is not put off so easily and we know he doesn’t lose, so it will probably lead to humorous scenes.

The good thing about this is that it shows that Serkan won’t sit passively by. Here Burak is giving him an out, Serkan can have his day back, go to work, he can slide into fatherhood slowly, but looks like Serkan is going to have none of that and is going to crash their fishing outing. How’s that for someone who said he wasn’t ready for fatherhood a mere 24-48 hours earlier?

Also it’s worth noting that Kiraz doesn’t see Burak as a father-figure, if she did she probably would have joined Ayfer and tried to get her mom to marry him. Instead she’s been almost obsessed with her father, talking about him, dreaming about him, wanting him and was very quick to correct when someone mistook Baba and Buba. Also she wanted Buba to meet her father. So Kiraz wanting to spend time with him isn’t a slight, in her mind he’s a friend, an uncle and with all the upheaval keeping their plans might feel safe to her. We’ll see.

martha0206 asked: Hi! I love your pinned post. That moment was perfect. Also, I loved the sad and emotional scenes as well as the funny ones. The episode was amazing!!! ❤ Serkan made Kiraz dream come true and I've rewatched that scene and cried because it's too beautiful and touching 🥺 K: Dad? S: Happy Birthday, my daughter 🥺😭❤

Ahh... this post that was pinned. Thank you for the kind words, I also love that scene. I just love it because it’s such an EXTRA thing to do, putting on the astronaut costume and making an entrance like that, but both Serkan and Eda have always been so extra that it works for their little family.

I love that he made Kiraz’s dream come true in the most dramatic way possible. But beyond being dramatic, it was the perfect way to signal that no matter what fears or hang-ups Serkan had, he’s committed to getting over them and he’s ready to go all in on fatherhood. A perfect way to show not only Eda that he’s serious, but to show all their friends and family he’s serious. DO YOU HEAR THAT, AYFER? He’s back and he’s going to be her daddy, and there is nothing you can do about it!

Anonymous asked: do you think the writers goal is to make us hate Ayfer and Aydan? because its just a deeper and deeper hole for these two and I don't understand if they're supposed to be a happy family at the end. I actually realized going back that Ayfer never really developed into liking Serkan/Edser, she just accepted him one day and that was that but with Aydan, her character development was top tier up until episode 29 came along and she never recovered. Now I just want them gone.

LOL, I think this is a pretty popular sentiment among fans.

Personally, I need to see how badly Aydan is meddling in the next episode. If it’s fairly inept meddling that just causes some mild misunderstandings but also serves as a catalyst for an Edser conversation about the future, I probably won’t get too upset with her. However, if her meddling is more competent this time and she gets them into real trouble or causes real problems, then I’ll get annoyed with her. Although, I have to say if we need a few episodes of drama, I would rather this sort of controlled, family drama (meddling mamas causing a misunderstanding about custody) then, you know, other melodramatic things that certain other writing teams used to do... like kidnappings and obsessed stalkers.

As for Aydan, I can’t help it, even though I can never forgive her transgression in 29, I feel sorry that she lost out on so much of her granddaughter’s life. So if she wants to come in and cause headaches and drama for Ayfer (not Eda, Kiraz and Serkan... but Ayfer) then I have no problem with that. As far as I’m concerned those two can run around for the next few episodes playing cat and mouse while Eda/Serkan/Kiraz quietly form a family.

Honestly, I don’t think they want us to hate Aydan, because they give Aydan funny scenes and relationships outside of Serkan with Kemal and Seyfi and even Engin and Piril, but I have wondered if they want us to hate Ayfer. Because Ayfer doesn’t get any redeeming scenes. I mean we’re talking about a woman who managed to raise her orphaned niece and her niece never wanted for love and turned out to be a strong, smart, confidence, successful woman... sooooo she must be awesome, right!?! NOPE. I mean to take a character like that, who had to have been so instrumental in Eda not feeling lonely like Serkan did, but then make her so unlikeable... it has to be on purpose.

Anonymous asked: I loved this episode of sen cal kapimi. I wasn’t so mad at the pregnancy thing. I know lots of fans are but I really liked how they made Eda and Serkan emotional and we could understand them better. I just hate how all the people who don’t like the show anymore have turned into toxic haters. It’s so frustrating. If she show isnt working for you, then why do they keep watching? 🙁

This happens in every fandom where the show keeps going and takes turns that some fans don’t like. My best advice is to not expect others to change or to stop watching or stop hate tweeting/posting, but to take steps to change your own experience so they don’t ruin it for you. I can’t tell you how many people I currently have muted on twitter. Lots. I don’t want to see the cynical, nasty tweets day in and day out about this show, the writers etc. Twitter has always been hard to take because so many people post their knee-jerk responses there and often choose to word vomit their first emotional response which for some people is mostly negative. That is true for every fandom, and has been true for this fandom since I started looking at responses there.

So to protect yourself, seek out people who are enjoying the show and post content that you want to see and mute, unfollow or even block those who make your experience worse.

You’ll never regret curating your experience.

Also I don’t really consider this fandom toxic. Sure there’s negativity about the storyline and internal drama about a variety of things, but after you’ve been though shipwars that get hella toxic and include fans trying to destroy actor’s careers and who attempt to use social justice issues to bully their fanon ships into existence on a constant day-after-day basis for years, this is nothing. This fandom is a daisy-lined, sunlight walk in the park in comparison.

Anonymous asked: For the way they treat their child's SO, I prefer Aydan over Ayfer. Ofc Aydan has been selfish & rude to Eda but Aydan saw her as a respectable foe even when she didn't like Eda. Even now her ire has been directed more at Ayfer than Eda. Ayfer eventually accepted Serkan but never seemed to like him. I get why she thought he was bad for Eda but often her anger has been unwarranted. Ironic how mad she was at him for keeping a secret from Eda for 2 weeks. Even now we see how Ayfer's anger sways Eda

I also prefer Aydan over Ayfer, here’s my recent post on it.

The problem is not that Ayfer never liked Serkan, the problem is that Ayfer never care that Eda did like him. Ayfer can dislike him all she wants as long as she doesn’t interfere, but oh wait, she has interfered, time and time again. She’s used guilt and manipulation in attempts to control Eda at every turn, to the point, at times, of not caring that she was forcing Eda to sacrifice her career as well as her love.

It will be interesting to see Ayfer’s response when she realizes Eda is going to let Serkan into their lives. Will she double down on badmouthing Serkan and pressuring Eda not to get involved with him, or will she smarten up and back off? I think we know the answer to that.

Anonymous asked: Hii! I’m curious what they will come up with for the remaining episodes, I mean, drama-wise, cause no way will Ayse give us 7 episodes of Edser x Kiraz happy family time 🥺 but sure, that is also reasonable since Turks need drama to keep watching

You know, as I said above, I’m very curious about this. To be honest I didn’t really expect Eda and Serkan to be at this emotional place by the 4th episode. I mean they’re not totally ready to get back together, but they’ve both made it obvious that they still love one another, and that is kind of a big milestone in a romantic story.

Seriously, my assumption prior to the season was that we’d have these initial finding out episodes, and then Eda and Serkan would still be sort of outwardly pretending that they didn’t want to get back together, or still angry at one another, but then they’d be forced together by Kiraz. You know there’d be some parent trapping, and a handcuff episodes and then Kiraz would manipulate them into living together and we’d get all sorts of domestic sexual tension scenes. Now these things may still happen to some degree, but Edser is starting from a very different outward emotional place than I thought they would be. I assumed we’d get another 4-5 episodes of slow burn, forced proximity before they admitted things and got engaged. But now it feels like their feelings are out in the open and they could decide to get married at any moment.

So we’ll have to see how the writer’s decide to chart their emotional journey over the remaining episodes. One thing I’m sure of, there are some wonderful scenes coming our way.

Anonymous asked: I'm back and happy to say that Engin delivered!! THAT is how you use a side character. (Not whatever they were doing with Ayfer for what seemed like half the episode) This was a perfect scene for these two and had no business being as emotional as it was

Oh, yes, as I said here in my episode thoughts, the Engin/Serkan scene is the one that really started me crying on first watch. Anil was really fantastic in that scene and it made me realize how sorely I had missed Serkan/Engin as male best friends who actually talk about their emotions. Where was that guy when Serkan was being brainwashed and manipulated by Selin!?! Oh yeah he was in the hands of inept writers.

Glad the real Engin is back!

Anonymous asked: Serkan's vehemence against wanting kids, and his dislike of kids in general, make so much more sense with what was revealed.. we just had to be patient! I can't imagine wanting something so much, having it be your "dream" and being told it's impossible.. Serkan's method of dealing with it was trying to convince himself he never wanted it in the first place and trying to dislike the topic altogether. no wonder he was never close with Can either as an uncle... how heartbreaking!

Yes, I absolutely think that was part of it. He dealt with the fact that he couldn't have children by outwardly adopting the attitude that he never wanted it, even though he still knew deep down that it’s all he wanted with Eda.

Heartbreaking indeed.

Anonymous asked: i hate to think of more drama when it seems like we have such a fluff-filled episode next week.. but this week's conversations b/w edser have me thinking.. do you think a possibility of reoccurrence of his tumor, or just a scare could be coming as one of their "final" hurdles. except this time instead of making his mistakes from the past, he'll do it right this time. obviously everything will be resolved happily, but i was thinking of the possibility of this when serkan was discussing his health

While anything is possible, I don’t see a reoccurrence of his tumor happening because they had a scene where the doctor said he was in perfect health and that since it had been five years he now had the same chance of occurrence as an ordinary person. However, I suppose it’s not impossible that they give him some sort of scare so that he can prove he’s changed and that they won’t abandon his family if that sort of adversity comes again.

Honestly, if I was Eda, I would make him go to therapy as a condition of them getting back together. Make sure he develops some coping skills for the long haul.

Anonymous asked: the ending of the last episode was equivalent to ep 11 but kiraz version for me.. the whole build-up of serkan initially thinking he can't be her father - a good father - and his fears about leaving them both halfway culminating in him saying kiraz is a miracle, that she's perfect.. watching her home videos to showing up WHEN IT MATTERED!! for his daughter.. ugh i'm so glad there was that build-up, but also that it wasn't stretched out over multiple episodes.

Yes, I agree it was all really well done. It did feel like we had all the build up we needed to truly appreciate the moment and to appreciate Serkan’s extraordinary character arc.

He truly rose to the occasion at the right moment, and I love that his grand gesture not only made Kiraz’s dream come true, but it showed everyone his growth and acceptance of his role as her father.

Anonymous asked: can they just bring back Tahir - him and Melo had so much potential. let's just say he finally quit working for Babaanne and decided to come back to Istanbul to find Melo 😊

Yes, please! He really liked her! Though she never really liked him, lmao. She could have gotten there with time. Though, I guess if she really likes Burak I can get behind it. And by that I mean I won’t bitch about it too much. No promises. We shall see.

Anonymous asked: Anon here! Thank you so much for that explanation!!!! It seems really interesting, might just have to give it a chance now! Thank you kindly 😊😊

It’s a fun show and I do recommend it. Let me know if you start watching!

#Sen Çal Kapımı #Sen Cal Kapimi #edser #sck episode discussion #sck discussion #edser discussion #serkan bolat #sckask #asklizac #anonymous

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wowtobio · 4 years

Note

Hey there!! Could I request some summer first date hcs for bokuto, akaashi and noya?? Thank you so much, hope you're doing great!!

⋆ ˚｡⋆˚Bokuto, Akaashi and Nishinoya Summer First Date Headcanons˚⋆｡˚ ⋆

no thank you! i hope u like it :) and i’m great ty, i hope ur doing better! (summer is around the corner and corona still lingers. let us pretend we ain’t on lockdown in fear of the virus for these hcs. with that said, stay inside, wash your hands and be safe everyone ! ❥)

warnings: none | genre: fluff

Bokuto

Bokuto for sure lives for the heat of summer. If you both are together when the sun lingers for longer along with its heat, expect to do something active with the energetic guy.

Most likely your guys’ first date would be going to the beach and you guessed it: play some good ol’ volleyball!

If you already know how to play, it would be some fun rallies between the two of you playfully competing against each other and seeing who gets the most points. Loser buys ice cream of course.

If you don’t know how to play he is more than happy to teach you everything from the basics to actual gameplay. Be prepared though, he’ll get overly excited and probably ramble on and on about how amazing of a spiker he is and why you should take after him. You just roll your eyes and smack the back of his head in a playful manner, which erupted the owl-head into dramatic cries.

You’re surprisingly really good and pick up the sport very quickly, and Bokuto praises you to no end. He would even pick you up and spin you around after you make your first serve over the net. At first you are screaming wildly for Bokuto to put you down but eventually you say screw it and laugh along with him. After he puts you down you can’t help but pout at him and he laughs loudly at your cute face.

You miss his occasional glances and stares at you in a bikini

Afterwards, you both sit on the shoreline on a towel, out of breath from the fun day you both experienced. The glowing shades of yellow and orange from the sunset cascades over the relaxing flow of the ocean waves giving it a shiny, almost illuminating gleam.

Your head rests on Bokuto’s broad shoulder, hand wrapped loosely around his as you both sit in comfortable silence taking in the glows from the sunset. It’s quite a rare moment to catch Bokuto being calm and quiet so you savor this moment.

Bokuto tears his eyes away from the view and peeks down at you, placing a loving kiss on the top of your forehead and you sigh with content.

“I can’t wait for our future dates (y/n)-chan!”

Akaashi

Akaashi is a simple man, dates with him reflect that. Sweet and simple, nothing too over the top.

Maybe a date to a cute cafe that recently opened up nearby school. You constantly walk past it with him, claiming sometimes you want to give it a try but never got the chance too due to how busy you both were. Akaashi of course remembers such a minor detail and surprises you by taking you there for your first date.

Overjoyed, you excitedly grab ahold of his sleeve and rush in and take a seat. He chuckles at your eagerness and you ignore him, exploring the menu. The menu’s nice. Cute and simple. Straight to the point, just like him.

Your orders are soon taken and you both have a light conversation of how your weeks went. The cafe’s warm ambience and decor added nicely to the situation.

The light breeze coming from the opening of the doorway brushes lightly against your being. Clad in a cute, flowy skirt and a simple white thin top, Akaashi couldn’t help but let a small compliment escape his mouth. You flush red and quickly glance towards the window.

The streets had a couple folks walking the sidewalks, ice cream carts attracting playing children nearby, the sun shone brightly upon the view.

The light sound of drinks and plates being placed down in front of you snap you out of your trance. Ecstatic at the pretty plating, you quickly take out your smartphone and snap a few photos. Akaashi once again chuckles beautifully, catching your attention.

“You’re too cute you know”

You both eat your plates and drink your drinks. You were practically basking in happiness, the food tasted amazing. However, you still eyed Akaashi’s pretty plate of chocolate cake and curiosity gleams over your eyes. Ofc the setter notices.

He offers to spoon-feed you. He. Offers. And you’re soon a stuttering blushing mess. Akaashi doesn't admit it aloud but he was thoroughly enjoying the whole thing.

After some convincing, he eventually feeds you a bite of the rich chocolate cake. Heat spreads on your face, Akaashi surprisingly has a tint of pink on his cheeks as well. You two switch in eating the dessert and are both satisfied with the visit.

He offers to pay! Ofc he’s a gentlemen. And he walks you home as the sun sets, pinkies intertwined with his. akaashi is a pinky-holder idc what anyone says. You don’t hesitate to bid him farewell with a kiss on the cheek, and he kisses your hand lovingly. The night ends with two happy, warmed souls and anticipation for your flourishing relationship.

Nishinoya

Like Bokuto, Nishinoya seems to never run out of energy. However, I feel like your guys’ first date would be more on the chill side.

I imagine it like a mini picnic. You would cook and prep all of Noya’s favorite food, drinks and snacks and when you present it to him all on a cute blanket of yours he would just get all teary-eyed and amazed.

Probably tackle you on the blanket and squeeze the life out of you claiming you were the best girlfriend ever :’)

You both indulge and feed each other delicious snacks and laugh about your days. Chatting away. If Noya isn’t running his mouth then he is intently listening to your own stories.

He would most definitely bring a volleyball with him and he would just bounce the ball up and down and lazily play around with it on the grass nearby as you lay down on your soft blanket just watching him. You’re of course mesmerized by his perfect form. When he flashes you a bright smile and thumbs up you smile back.

“I only play the best for you (y/n)-chan!”

After Nishinoya tires himself out, he collapses on top of you with no shame and you burn a bright red. He just lays on top of your chest with his eyes close and you bring your hands up to pet his hair.

The trees from up above providing you two shade rustles its leaves due to the light summer breeze that passes by. You stare up at the sky, it’s electric blue contrasting the white, puffy clouds casually floating by remind you of the relationship that has just blossomed for you and the libero currently resting on you.

Eventually he knocks out, his light snoring and even breathing being a dead give-away and you smile contently. Not in a creepy way, you stare and admire his sleeping face. He just looks so soft!! You poke his cheek, he doesn’t react and you giggle.

As you lay there, cradling Nishinoya’s head atop your chest you feel even more warmth erupt in the spot he’s laying on. Hands entangling in his soft black locks, you feel your eyes droop from an unknown weight and you can’t help but think to yourself; this is summer.

a/n: sorry if akaashi was a little bit longer, i just couldn’t help myself and come up with a bunch of scenarios for his and i love him hehe. either way thank you guys for reading and thank you so so much for 300 followers!! that’s just crazy to me omg i love y’all :)

ok bye bye, ily !!

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ii-kanjiiiii · 3 years

Text

A Crazy Day at Miku Expo

A Vocaloid shitpost story

Warnings: swearing, contains Kaito x Meiko

Chapter 1

It was a normal day in the Cryptonloid household, like always. It was 12pm and Meiko was already up because she’s a normal person.

“GET UP YOU IDIOTS WE HAVE TO LEAVE FOR MIKU EXPOOO!!!!” she woke the rest of the Cryptonloids up as she was a thoughtful person.

“OH SHIT I FORGOT!!” Miku screamed. Her hair looked like Chuckie Finster from Rugrats but had a much larger mass.

“WAIT WHAT THE FUCK WE’RE PERFORMING TONIGHT?!!? PLS NOOOOO I HAVE A PIMPLE!!!” Len cried.

Miraculously, all of them had somehow forgotten that they had a Miku Expo concert in the mystical country of Hajarputa that night. Except for Meiko, because she was a responsible person.

Once they were done packing and getting ready, they went into their private Miku jet which was covered with Miku faces and had big words that said “HATSUNE MIKU” because Miku is the best and owns the world.

Inside, ‘World is Mine’ was playing on loop and the wall was covered in Miku wallpaper and posters. Meiko sat on a Miku couch at the front, because Meiko is queen and is obviously the sexiest one. Kaito, being the simp that he is, sat next to her.

Luka went all the way to the back of the Miku jet and sat in a Miku chair in the corner, away from everyone else as she was tired of everyone’s bullshit.

Miku and the demonic twins were in the middle, just jumping around and throwing shit everywhere as they were still high as fUCK from the FRUIT loops they ate for breakfast.

Suddenly, ‘World is Mine’ stopped playing, and the pilot made an announcement through the plane intercom. Or whatever it’s called lmao I don’t know.

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome onboard Flight Miku. We will be taking off from Sapporo to Hajarputa. I am Sonic the Hedgehog and I am your pilot for today. Just kidding bitch, my name is actually うんち(‘Jonathan Harris’ in Japanese). We are expected to reach Hajarputa in about 22 hours. I swear to God, PLEASE put on your seatbelts or you’re gonna fucking die. We also ask that you ensure your seats are in the upright position for take-off, if not you’ll fucking die. Please turn off all personal electronic devices, if not you’ll fucking die as well. Don’t smoke too, cause you’ll get lung cancer and fucking die. Thank you for choosing Miku Airlines. Enjoy your flight. I definitely will not crash this plane. I swear.”

'World is Mine’ was back playing on loop again.

“Well that was comforting,” Meiko said, being a sarcastic piece of shit.

“Lol what? I don’t remember hiring this man,” Miku said. “Lol, whatever,” she shrugged.

Some time after the Miku Jet took off, Kaito and Meiko started fighting over what they would name their non-existent kid that they would never have.

“If she’s a girl, Sakura is the best name!! It represents beauty and optimism,” Kaito said.

“It also represents death,” Meiko argued. “And who the fuck names their kid after a plant? Enaado is the best name!!”

“The fuck kinda name is Enaado?” Len, who was seated far away from them, muttered to himself. Meiko, who was somehow able to hear him, pulled a super soaker gun out of nowhere and squirted him all the way from the other end of the plane.

Some hours later, the vocaloids were bored as heck and ‘World is Mine’ playing on loop was driving them to insanity(except for Miku of course).

“Can you turn that shit off, Miku? I swear to God, if I hear “sekai de ichiban ohime-sama” one more damn time, my internal organs are going to explode,” Luka said, smashing her head against the wall.

“Geez, fine, Luka! You don’t have to be so mean about it, it’s not my fault you don’t know how to appreciate good art,” Miku rolled her eyes, then she changed the song to ‘Popipo’ on loop, which was probably 100x worse.

“YOU’RE my sekai de ichiban ohime-sama, Me-chan~<3” Kaito UwU-ed. She smacked him with a magazine.

Another time skip, Miku wanted to play truth or dare lmao. Luka, Miku and the twins sat in a circle and started playing.

“Oh yeah, by the way, Mei-nee and Kai-nii are in the game too,” Miku said.

“Wtf no thanks,” Meiko immediately said, not looking up from her magazine about self control & anger management.

“No, you can’t escape, Mei-nee,” Miku replied, staring intensely into her soul. She then got a piece of rope out of nowhere and tied Meiko and Kaito to their chairs.

“TRUTH OR DARE, MEI-NEE?” Miku asked, her eye twitching.

“Ugh, fine. Truth,” Meiko replied, as she had no other choice.

Meanwhile, Kaito was having Vietnam war flashbacks as Miku tying him to the chair reminded him of that one time he got kidnapped by Sonic the Hedgehog. (An event that happened in my other fanfic that I’m not going to post.)

“Do you want to make out with Kai-nii?” Miku asked with a stupid shitty grin on her face.

“What the fuck? Oh, HELL NO. I think I already know how this is gonna go,” Meiko muttered.

“AnSwEr tHe qUeStiOn!!!” Miku yelled impatiently, flipping the fucking table.

“Dare!” Meiko quickly said, sweating.

“I dare you to make out with Kai-nii,” Miku said, raising her eyebrows up and down like fucking Mr. Bean.

Upon hearing this, Kaito’s attention was caught and he snapped out of his Vietnam war flashbacks.

“GODDAMN IT!!” Meiko cursed.

“Oh my GOD, Kaito. Don’t give me THAT look,” Meiko said, terrified for her life as she noticed Kaito looking at her with considerable interest.

“Why the hell did you give that dare, Miku? Literally NO ONE wants to see that shit,” Len said, staring judgingly at Miku. He definitely did not have to see his parents smashing their faces together.

“Yeah, Len’s right,” Luka said. “Aight, Imma head out. Bye bitches,” she flipped her fabulous long hair and strolled out elegantly. Once she reached her seat at the far corner of the plane, she opened her laptop and looked at images of the Gingerbread Man from Shrek.

“Shut up Len and just watch the show!” Rin, who was just as delusional as Miku, scolded.

“MEIKOUT MEIKOUT MEIKOUT MEIKOUT MEIKOUT” the crazy girls started chanting.

I’m so sorry

I really have no idea where this shitty fanfic is going

TIME SKIP LOL

It was nighttime and the Cryptonloids were sleeping in their beds with Miku blankets and ‘Popipo’ was still playing on loop. Suddenly, the Miku Jet started shaking really hard, then everyone flew out of their beds and hit their heads on the ceiling. After a few seconds, the Miku Jet stopped shaking and everyone fell back to the ground.

“Heh heh, sorry folks. Just a little air turbulence is all,” Pilot うんち announced.

“What the actual FUCK?? “A ‘liTtLE’ aIR tUrBuLeNcE” he said!! I don’t think we should be entrusting that guy with our LIVES!!” Meiko seethed. “I’m going to have a word with him.” she stormed off to the Pilot’s cabin.

“Wait Me-chan, I’ll come too,” Kaito said, and tagged along with her for extra support because he was a good boyfriend.

Once they reached the Pilot’s cabin, she slid open the door and shouted “LISTEN UP, MISTER, DO YOUR DAMN JOB PROPERLY!!”

“Oh, Meiko-san, hello!” the pilot spun his chair around and smiled. “Oh, Kaito, you’re here too! How’s it going, buddy? Has Sonic been bothering you any more?”

Meiko and Kaito’s eyes widened as they realised who the pilot was.

“FUKASE??!!!!” they screamed in shock. His Ronald Mcdonald hair was unmistakable.

“No, I’m うんち. Who the hell is Fukase?” うんち/Fukase said.

“WHY ARE YOU FLYING A PLANE, FUKASE??!! AREN’T YOU LIKE, FOURTEEN?!??!!!” Meiko screamed.

“Uh, no, I’m fifteen. Also, the age of consent in Japan is thirteen, sooo I don’t see any problem with it,” he replied.

“WHAT THE HELL DOES AGE OF CONSENT HAVE TO DO WITH FLYING A PLANE???!!” Meiko screamed, ripping her hair out. I really need to stop using scream.

"Umm… with all due respect, Fukase, are you even qualified for this?” Kaito spoke up.

“Yeah, DUH. I’ve had years worth of flight experience from Microsoft Flight Simulator on the Xbox!” he replied. “What kinda dumb shit would hire someone who ISN’T qualified??”

“oH mAN OH GOD OUR LIVES ARE IN THE HANDS OF THAT DUMB KID OH MAN OH GOD OH MAN OH GOD OH MAN OH GOD-“ Meiko was hyperventilating in the corner and hugging her legs, sweat pouring down her face. It was unlike her to freak out like this, she was usually calm and kept her cool. However, this is Fukase we’re talking about, and any rational person would be freaking out and fearing for their lives.

“Breathe, Me-chan, breathe,” Kaito attempted to calm her down. “Don’t worry, okay? Everything’s gonna be just fine. Nothing bad will happen. Everything is okay,” he assured her, hugging her tightly.

“How would YOU know that???” she asked.

“I don’t,” he replied. “When things get rough, denial is all we have,” he said, giving his Stupid Bakaito Grin™.

TO BE CONTINUED MAYBE???1??1

#im so sorry #vocaloid #fanfic #vocaloid fanfic #hatsune miku #meiko #kaito #kagamine len #kagamine rin #megurine luka #trash

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shorkbrian · 4 years

Text

Ask Answering

Ask answering time!

As always, if you don’t see your ask answered, it just means I’m saving it to attach it to a fic, Drabble, or HC.

If you’d prefer to not see these types of posts from me, block the tag “shorkbrian answers a lot of asks”

CAn I be one of those pies that has birds in it? Goth pie. But ty dude, and you aren’t pathetic lol. we’re all in this boat together.

Me sitting in class all the time just like

but I wish you luck as well man! collemge edumakashun here we cum

Hello black heart anon (: You’re always in my inbox and I love it so so so much, you don’t even know

lub u black heart anon

thank u luv <3

(legitimately I see this ask every time I go to fill a req and askuhkdk it makes me wheeze)

Guess what Awaso?

In Love With You. This is such a genuine and heartfelt message, I would let you bite my ear whenever you wanted, let me be the Van Gogh to ur knife bby.

forrreal, I know logically that a lot of the feelings I have are normal and are part of being a teenager. Fun story but for like the first 16-17 years of my life I was convinced there was something wrong with me because I didn’t feel the need to express emotions. I could count on one hand how many times I’d cried in the past two years. Then I went to therapy and talked about stuff and my therapist taught me how to cry. I still can’t really cry, but at least it happens lol. So while it’s kinda embarrassing and stupid, a little part of me is glad I’m able to express my emotions instead of just stuffing them down my shirt like a little kid stuffing a pillow down their shirt trying to emulate a pregnant woman.

Okay I'm done lol, anyways, thank you for this message. I’ve read and re-read it many, many times.

It’s not stupid!!!!!! Do not apologize!!!!!! fantasies are fantasies, I get it bro (:

still cannot believe there are people out there who genuinely enjoy my stuff... like y’alll... I thought it was a joke...

But I would be willing to write a second part! I just need help coming up with like an idea cause idek how to go from there lol.

could you guys pls stop giving me compliments I am genuinely going to cry like a little bitch and I have to uphold the image of being the funniest person in my household and If I start crying then I cannot do that. Pls. My Image

Listen, she can be whoever you want her to be! long lost sister, adopted sister, the kid he used to babysit that coincidentally loves horror movies and the same stuff he likes. Could be the kid that came over to help clean his father’s gigantic house, could be the bagger at the grocery store. You get to control who it is! That’s the cool bit!

You have thus been dubbed “Iced Chocolate Anon” (What is that btw? is that a thing?). Thank you for sharing your experience. I’m sorry that you had to go through that experience, I can’t imagine that it was easy or fun or even fruitful. I’m glad you’re looking at life through a different lens, and that you’re down to share that lease with other people. I’ve been trying to be better, to get better.

What did I just say about not making me cry it’s gonna Ruin My Image man. DOn’t be nice to me PLEASE I'm asjfshkgkfs

me every time I open my page/look at my pfp

do you-do you wanna share the medicine I take

Thank you! He’s always fun to write for lol

ty for the draca-snoop. He was and is much appreciated (:

I get what you’re saying, and you make really checking good points. I guess I just get too caught up with how I should try to be, because I don’t know what to do on this site and so I just kinda follow everyone else? and try to make sure I'm following the unwritten rules. Like I don’t want people getting mad cause I don’t answer asks right away or anything, yanno? idk, stuff is hard lol amirite

I owe myself the care and attention to make time to do things I enjoy. I enjoy writing, I enjoy seeing what people send me. I enjoy the experience. Y’all are rad as heck!

WHAT KIND OF REQUEST IS THAT

the first request I’ll ever be denying sorry luv

well I do not know what to do cause other people say

so I’m just standing here idek anymore

why inhale my posts when you could be inhaling this di-

Thank you kind stranger! although pls don’t admire my hands, I need new ones. hand donations are open ! I can only type like 70(?) wpm and I have an essential tremor and so I’m shaking like it’s -42 degrees at all times. please, I want different hands. I mean if you wanna we can trade. But essentially lol the point was THANK YOU you’re super nice

ik this was back before I set up my master list and I was crying and whining and being annoying about it. You worded this so nicely! I think I’m only going to be uploading actual fics and one shots there, because the thirst posts and drabbles don’t fit the ao3 format lol.

I feel like I need to accept that Kirishima is my comfort character lol. I love him sm. I think of him and just

“Or just post anything, really.” have fun watching me post about Kirishima 2465972658729 before even thinking about any other character loooooool

AO3 Anon!!!! This message made me feel so warm and loved and ugh, you’re literally too sweet and too kind and a literal angel on earth. You rock. I hope YOU have a lovely day/night.

thank u bby (wink wonk wink)

gahfdsgkdh KIDDING but lol my intent was that Sero is a GIANT perv, but in the process of being a giant perv, he fell in love with u mwuah

I’m sorry lol

Okay, I will be 100% hoenest here.... I rlly don’t like Enji. writing for him is like an impossible task for me, I have no Simp Sauce for him. But you know who does, and who is really cool, and would love to explore these ideas with you? @implexedactions

Enji is THEIR man and ONLY their man lol.

It’s not over-stepping, and it’s not weird, no worries. Remember folks, I don’t kink shame or character shame here (I do admit when something isn’t my particular jam, but just cause I don’t froth for it doesn’t mean others shouldn’t, yanno? Like what you like), and there is very little I see as weird lol.

thank you for the concern though, I appreciate it.

And with that, we have ended. TY for coming to my (Shorky) ask answering session. Have a good night and drink some freakin water, right now. Finish reading this and get up and go get water. It’s good for you. TY

#shorkbrian answers a lot of asks #also hey guys #A friend called me #Shorky #and I exploded #so that's my nickname now thx

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sparrowwritings · 4 years

Text

Final Fantasy Writing Challenge Day Fifteen: “That lucky charm you gave me hasn’t been so lucky.”

Day Fourteen -- Masterpost -- Day Sixteen

“Ah! One of my <adorable twin saplings!>” Feo Ul cried as Lara froze in the doorway. She’d been expecting Roger in the apartment. Maybe a brooding Ardbert. That she was seeing the pixie that she had bonded with at the start of her journey wasn’t unpleasant just...awkward.

Luckily she could recover easily enough. With a bright smile, she called out, “Hey, Feo Ul!” Lara looked around. “Is there, uh, anything bad about to happen? King related business that you need help with? I can go get Roger if that’s the case…”

With a boisterous laugh that sent them into a flying loop-de-loop in the air, the red pixie hovered close enough to squish Lara’s cheeks. “Nay, my precious gold-and-fire hair sapling. I’ve already seen my other <adorable twin sapling> and given my latest charm to him. Now I bestow upon you this token of luck!” Feo Ul let go of her long enough to tangle up something in Lara’s hair. Setting themself back far enough to admire their work, the King of Pixies (in their more diminutive piece that mostly interacted with their saplings) declared, “There! A proper charm now for my dearest sapling!”

Lara really hoped that she was allowed to take it out of her hair. “You’re most kind, Feo Ul,” And, since she was seriously trying to get a grasp of the language that the pixies used, she added, “<Adore beauty my branch>.” She winced at the “translation” that her Echo so helpfully provided. It was the most ironic gift ever. She could understand any language and be understood if she needed to be, but actually attempting to learn a language when someone says a word and her head says another…

No wonder Roger declined language learning with Urianger.

Feo Ul laughed even harder than before. “‘Tis nearly right! A bit more practice and you will be calling for me every moment that you have the need. Be seeing you!” And with that, they turned into a ball of light and flitted out the window. She waited until all of the sparkles in the air had well and truly faded before dislodging whatever it was that the pixie had tied into her hair.

What she found was a silver bell. There was nothing tying it anywhere, save for the gold strands that were left over from Feo Ul’s work. There also wasn’t anything inside the bell to make it ring. It was odd...but in a cute way.

“A charm from the pixie, eh?” Ardbert leaned into view, startling Lara. He ignored her reaction to examine the bell closer. “Back in my day it was said that gifts from the Fae could lead to great fortune…” His brown eyes flicked up to meet hers. “Or great despair. All things considered, I say you leave the bell here before you go out again. And whatever it is that they gave to Roger.”

Lara snorted. “Feo Ul wouldn’t give me something that would harm me.” She headed to the platform that contained both hers and Roger’s beds and made a beeline for where her less important things were being stored. “I’m one of her precious twin saplings, like you heard.” With a bit of searching, she turned up a white ribbon that she quickly used to tie the soundless bell to her wrist. “Plus isn’t it also bad luck to refuse a gift of the Fae?” It was a half remembered lesson from when Urianger had spent a couple of days trying to describe all of the intricate rules that the various races of Il Mheg lived by. When it was clear that the two of them couldn’t memorize everything immediately, he’d sighed and gave a few more concise rules of thumb for dealing with the Fae. Concise for his standards, at least.

“Aye, but that don’t mean their gift’s gonna be any good to you either.”

“It’s a luck charm! What’s the worst that could happen?”

-------

Urianger started when he beheld the severely disheveled sight of the Warriors of Darkness. “Oh my. It seemeth thou both hath run into troubles aplenty.”

“You have no idea.” Roger didn’t even bother to clear a spot of books. He marched to a spot on the wall that was the least occupied and slid down it with a prolonged groan.

Lara moved to join him, but hissed in pain. Without another word, Urianger cast a couple of healing spells on the both of them. In moments, the Warriors of Darkness both breathed a sigh of relief.

“Didst thou fight a horde of monsters?”

“I wish it had just been monsters.” Lara rolled her shoulders as the soreness faded. “We’ve just had trouble after trouble since yesterday.”

Roger counted the ways on his fingers. “Everything keeps breaking, I’ve been tripping over myself way more than I used to, we pissed off this amaro that used to be real friendly and it dropped us in a lake.”

Urianger froze. “Thou canst mean--”

“Yeah, we almost got dragged back to Dohn Mheg. Thank every single god that we have that water breathing blessing…” She once again moved to sit next to her best friend when her foot collided against a footstool. A crack resounded around the library and Lara’s face contorted with pain again. “Oww…” Her voice came out as a whimper.

He moved to tend to what sounded like a broken toe (though gods knew how Lara was able to do so when she was still wearing boots). As he used his own aether to heal her again, a card he drew from his star globe brought his attention to the ribbon on her wrist. On it was a silver bell with no clapper. Urianger’s eyes narrowed at it. “When did thou receiveth this bell, young Lara?”

She blinked a couple of times as the magic quickly got to work. “Uh...yesterday, actually. Feo Ul called it a luck charm.”

That was explanation enough. “Didst thou both not listen to mine lecture when I mentioned gifts of the Fae?”

“Er…” Roger scratched at his face and looked away.

“Uh…” Lara looked upwards before snapping her fingers. “They can cause great fortune!”

“Or quite the opposite.” He indicated the bell. “What were the exact words of thine pixie?”

“Feo Ul...said it was a luck charm,” Lara repeated.

“Didst they mention good or ill luck whatsoever?”

She stared at him, then her eyes widened with realization as she looked down at the bell. “They didn’t.”

Roger groaned even louder than before. “Why do the Fae do this stuff…”

“‘Tis merely their nature as mischievous creatures, young Roger. Feo Ul, while they hast many duties as King of the Pixies, will still desireth to delight in seeing even their sune yaks contend with the gifts they hast given unto them.” He nodded as the magic faded and Lara was once again healed. “Nevertheless, ‘tis most unfortunate that their gifts hath caused thee such ill luck. ‘Twoud be best to leave thine gifts in thine quarters until such time that Feo Ul forgets they hath given their saplings such charms.”

“And we can’t just...say no to future gifts?” Roger pondered even as he took out the pendant that the pixie had given to him.

“I’m afraid the consequences of refusing would be far worse than those of accepting their gifts.”

“Well crud.” Lara muttered.

While the two were quietly contemplating their fate, Urianger offered, “Perhaps ‘twould be wise for me to accompany you both back to the Crystarium. Thine healing abilities are quite remarkable, young Lara, however having a second in reserve may be what your ill luck needs to turn back to the good.”

With the voice of someone who hadn’t really heard what was spoken to them, she responded with, “Sounds good.” Then her focus landed on him with startling strength. “Hey can I ask you a question?”

“Whatever it is you wish to know, I will endeavor to answer.”

“Do you know what cúpla sune yaks means?” Lara’s mouth didn’t move in the correct way to pronounce the words, but Urianger heard the phrase pronounced the way it should be said. He forced the scholar part of his mind to back down from the opportunity to marvel at yet another side effect of one possessing the Echo to go over the phrase she said.

It couldn’t be...could it?

“Aye,” He answered neutrally. Roger sat up from his spot against the wall, watching the both of them. It didn’t take long for her to start rambling about what she was really asking.

“Okay so…” She tugged at a strand of her hair and twined it around a finger. “Feo Ul always calls us that. And the Echo makes it sound like she’s calling us ‘adorable twin saplings.’ I just want to know if there’s anything significant about it.”

“We’ve been over this, Lara, they just mean that we’re their two saplings!” Roger called out. “The Echo made it sound like that so that we’d understand what they meant better!”

“But we don’t know if that’s true!” She turned her deep blue eyes up to meet his own. “Well?”

Urianger granted her a moment’s pause while he thought of what to say. “...If it beith thine conclusion that the words of Feo Ul meaneth what you say, then that is so. As I do not possesseth the Echo, I can only interpret language by having been taught it. Twin can be used to mean two in many languages.”

“See! I told you!”

Lara continued to stare at him for a moment before looking away again when she failed to find what it was she was looking for. “Okay. Guess I was just thinking too hard.” She sighed and rubbed at a temple. “Let’s get back to the Crystarium and soon.” Roger made another groan as he helped himself stand.

“We’ll meet you outside when you’re ready.” He said to Urianger as the two left the library.

“I shall be but a moment.”

As soon as the Warriors of Darkness had well and truly exited, he gave a deep frown.

If Feo Ul had meant to call Roger and Lara their two adorable saplings, they would have called them “a dó sune yaks” in the language of the Pixies. They specifically used the phrase “cúpla sune yaks.” Twin adorable saplings.

There was only one possible conclusion to be drawn from that. Pixies were the most well known among the Fae folk to use their exact words in order to not lie.

Among other sudden realizations and connections, Urianger couldn’t help but marvel at how this also explained why the pixies in particular all adored the Warriors of Darkness so. The ancient texts described the race as being quite drawn towards twins.

#Final Fantasy 14 #ff14 #final fantasy xiv #fanfiction #writing challenge #That lucky charm you gave me hasn't been so lucky #dual WoL AU #feo ul #urianger augurelt #roger briden #lara marner #sorry for lateness in posting the internet crapped out on me last night #listen if i'm given a prompt that lets me use fairy stuff i'm gonna take it #gotta watch for those exact words man #also yes the twins haven't figured it out yet #they've got the scions to be smart for them #lara and roger just need to be pointed in the direction of whatever the next danger is #at this point in the story there are 4 adults who've figured it out #(alisaie and alphinaud have been too focused on other things)#Krile as mentioned before #urianger here #y'shtola has very accurate suspicions but hasn't confirmed it yet #and finally the adult who introduced you to Feo Ul himself #:3 #fifteen down sixteen to go #ohhhh we're halfway theeeerrrre...

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usagichanp · 4 years

Note

lexthan

*rubs hands together* I was hoping someone would ask me that

This is gonna be a long one folks.

General:

Rate the Ship -

How long will they last? - Life long partners, babey.

How quickly did/will they fall in love? - I think they had crushes on each other for a while. They didn't officially say "I love you" till a few months into their relationship, but they thought it sooner.

How was their first kiss? - I wrote a lesbian Lexthan version of their first kiss, though I don't think canon Lexthan's first kiss was like that. I imagine it to be not really planned out; just like they're talking to each other in the car and lock eyes, then slowly lean in and kiss. Since they've had kisses before, it's not a catastrophe, and it's actually fairly soft.

Wedding:

Who proposed? - Ethan. Wrote a whole ass fic about it.

Who is the best man/men? - I know who the best man is in my fics (it's my man Marsh, for those who have read it), but idk about the canon Ethan's best man. Maybe Danny (the Smoke Club Boy) but I'm not sure if they'd be friends enough to be his best man. He might not have one.

Who is the bride's maid? - Hannah. Duh.

Who did the most planning? - Ethan, but Lex chipped in too. Tom might help as well if asked lol

Who stressed the most? - Ethan. Though their ceremony isn't big, he still wanted it to be a good memory down the road (it was)

How fancy was the ceremony? -

Back of a pickup truck | 2 | 3 | 4 | Normal Church Wedding | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Kate and William wish they were this big.

First they had just a courthouse wedding where they signed the papers, then had a tiny wedding ceremony with only close friends. Even if they could afford a proper wedding (Canon Lexthan prolly couldn't afford it) I don't think they'd want a big affair anyways. It's be exhausting.

Who was specifically not invited to the wedding? - Lex's mom. Obviously.

Sex:

Now we're getting to the good part lads

Who is on top? - Ethan is a fucking switch. You can't convince me otherwise. He tops maybe like... 60/40 or 65/35. But when Lex tops, she tops bitch.

Who is the one to instigate things? - Ethan likes instigating things since he's a horny teenage boy, but it Lex doesn't want to, he stops. Sometimes Lex instigates, but usually when she does she's in the mood to top.

How healthy is their sex life? -

Barely touch themselves let alone each other | 2 | 3 | 4 | Once a couple weeks, nothing overboard | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | They are humping each other on the couch right now

I'd give it a 7.5, depending on the situation. While they try to tone it down around Hannah, when they have alone time they'd totally go for it. Ethan's glovebox in his car has a box of condoms in it at all times. What can I say, as I said before, they're horny teenagers

How kinky are they? -

Straight missionary with the lights off | 2 | 3 | 4 | Might try some butt stuff and toys | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Don’t go into the sex dungeon without a horse’s head

They don't like seeing each other hurt so they wouldn't like BDSM. They're not vanilla but nothing too crazy- blindfolding, light bondage (aka tying hands up with rope or cloth), scratching, light spanking, pegging

How long do they usually last? - It depends on how much time they have to have sex. They've done quickies in bathrooms or whatever before, but if they have all night then they're pretty good at prolonging it.

Do they make sure each person gets an equal amount of orgasms? - Absolutely. It is said in multiple fics (I think?) of mine that Ethan makes sure Lex has the same amount of orgasms as he does. Always.

How rough are they in bed? -

Softer than a butterfly on the back of a bunny | 2 | 3 | 4 | The bed’s shaking and squeaking every time | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Their dirty talk is so vulgar it’d make Dwayne Johnson blush. Also, the wall’s so weak it could collapse the next time they do it.

They certainly can have slow, soft, romantic sex, but Ethan is also 100% capable of rocking Lex's world so hard she can't walk right for a week. (That happens in my first fic, Cassieopia, albeit off screen)

How much cuddling/snuggling do they do? -

No touching after sex | 2 | 3 | 4 | A little spooning at night, or on the couch, but not in public | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | They snuggle and kiss more often than a teen couple on their fifth date to a pillow factory.

1) I fucking love that metaphor 2) They don't get much physical affection at home, so they fucking love snuggling and cuddling- whether it be after sex or just hanging out. Sometimes they cuddle as a form of stress relief after a shitty day.

Children:

How many children will they have naturally? - 2, maybe 3.

How many children will they adopt? - I think they might prefer to have children naturally, but in my California series they gain custody of Hannah when she's 12. Does that count?

Who gets stuck with the most diapers? - Lex forces Ethan to learn how to change diapers. That being said, Lex isn't half bad at changing them either, since she helped change Hannah's when she was a child.

Who is the stricter parent? - They're not exactly strict parents, but both Lex and Ethan can definitely scold the kid. ("hAnNaH! tHaT bEtTeR bE fUcKiNg fLoSs!!!!!") That being said, both take care to not be abusive to their child, especially Lex. She doesn't want to be like her mom, so she tries to keep her temper in check.

Who stops the kid(s) from doing dangerous stunts after school? - Ethan has good reflexes, and has stopped his kids from falling and hitting their chin on a playground structure more than once. (Fun fact! That happened to me when I was 3. I fell from a steel elephant shaped jungle gym at a German zoo, hit my chin on a steel bar, and bit through my lower lip/knocked 3 teeth out. I still have the scar years later lol)

Who remembers to pack their lunches? - Lex. Though the lunches aren't always the healthiest.

Who is the more loved parent? - I think they're both loved, but maaaaaybe Ethan a bit more.

Who is more likely to attend the PTA meetings? - Neither would attend PTA meetings out of the goodness of their hearts. If Lex or Ethan would go to a PTA meeting, it'd most likely be because they wanted to yell at a teacher or principal. They might go seperately or together depending on the severity of the issue.

Who cried the most at graduation? - Ethan wouldn't admit he cried, but he did. So did Lex.

Who is more likely to bail the child(ren) out of trouble with the law? - Oh bitch, Lex and Ethan both said fuck the law. If it was just like, an overnight jail cell for some stupid misdemeanor, they might try to break their kid out. Otherwise, Lex would probably the one paying the bail because Ethan would try to punch the cop in the face if the cop talked shit about Ethan's kid. That reaction is not exclusive to cops.

Cooking:

Who does the most cooking? - Neither of them are exactly 5 star chefs, but they can hold on their own. Lex is better at cooking breakfast and Ethan is better at cooking dinner- but if he's exhuasted from work, Lex can cook dinner for him.

Who is the most picky in their food choice? - Neither are picky. Both of them grew up young scrappy and hungry just like their country without really the chance to be picky. They had to take what they could get.

Who does the grocery shopping? - Lex. She's good at calculating totals in her head. I wrote that in an unrealeased fic.

How often do they bake desserts? - Rather rarely. Perhaps on special occasions or to bond. Ethan has ruined the kitchen with his kid trying to bake a cake for Lex at least once. Maybe more.

Are they more of a meat lover or salad lover? - Meat lovers, babey. Fuck that fancy plant bullshit.

Who is more likely to surprise the other(s) with an anniversary dinner? - Ethan. I wrote that in the proposal fic.

Who is more likely to suggest going out? - Depends on what you count as "going out". Lex likes going to McDonalds, but Ethan is the one who suggests eating at actual restaurants.

Who is more likely to burn the house down accidently while cooking? - Ethan, but both have had near misses.

Chores:

Who cleans the room? - Both had fairly messy rooms as teenagers so they're not super anal about having sparkling clean rooms. That being said, when someone comes over Lex does try to tidy the place up a bit. At least enough to make it seem like they have their shit together. Ish.

Who is really against chores? - Ethan can be a bit of a lazy bones sometimes, but Lex isn't exactly a huge fan of chores either. However, she is used to doing chores since she practically raised herself and Hannah.

Who cleans up after the pets? - They take turns. Both hate it.

Who is more likely to sweep everything under the rug? - Ethan, because he doesn't want to incur Lex's wrath.

Who stresses the most when guests are coming over? - Lex. As I said above, she actually actively cleans the house beforehand. Not to the level of that freaking out mom from the comedy video who's name I can't remember tho.

Who found a dollar between the couch cushions while cleaning? - Ethan. He has a nack for finding random bits of money. Score.

Misc:

Who takes the longer showers/baths? - Lex, though both take relatively quick showers to save water.

Who takes the dog out for a walk? - They actually like doing it together. It's nice to get some fresh air, and they enjoy each other's company.

How often do they decorate the room/house for the holidays? - Ethan goes over the top, partially to annoy Lex. You know that Christmas tree Chris Pine vine? Yeah, Ethan would fucking do that.

What are their goals for the relationship? - Live a better life together than they did in Hatchetfield. White picket fence and California dreams shit.

Who is more likely to sleep till noon? - Ethan, but Lex is known to sleep till 3 in the afternoon if she's really tired.

Who plays the most pranks? - Ethan. That's literally canon.

I can babble about them all day lol

#Lexthan #Black Friday #lex foster #ethan green #I'll reblog this later with links to my fics #thank you!!#asks

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monster-madame · 4 years

Text

Male Alien x NB Human Reader (! Jax//Caleb) Part 1 (SFW, next parts will be NSFW so don’t get too attached to fluff)

Hello hello!

I’ve been noodling about how other alien cultures treat gender, which then sort of transformed into a story about a non-binary reader having romantic feelings for an alien whose race is a liiiiiittle obsessed with their culture’s binary genders.

And WHAT would it look like if we veered away from a plot focused around gender dysphoria, and we just dived right in? Where the protagonist/main character was comfortable in their body and just did their thing?

Note: Reader is a human AMAB (Assigned Male at Birth).

18+ only, ty! <3

Warnings: Part 1 is fluffy.

You pulled out the systems panel, having to wrench it a little bit at the end to get it off. “Gotchya!” you muttered triumphantly as it revealed the organized wires and tech underneath.

You were a systems engineer on the Europa Space Station. Normally, you spent a good amount of time pouring over blueprints, but for the last week you had been covering for one of your electrical engineers who had broken her hand while boxing.

The “bone knitter” in the med bay was down for repairs, so the engineer was down for the count for another week or so.

The lights in this hallway had been futzing out and flickering, making the human in the hall feel a little freaked out. You were in the residential sector which crews rented for shore leave, and bemused alien crews had watched their human colleagues lose their shit over the “creepy as fuck hallway.”

You chuckled to yourself as you went scrounging through your borrowed toolkit to find a probe to measure the current. The hallway was pretty creepy, so you had stayed after hours to get it fixed. You wouldn’t to walk through a hallway like this to get to your bed at the end of the day, so it didn’t seem fair to expect others to do so. You started fiddling with the wires and tubes, trying to figure out where the power was sputtering out.

You were about a third of the way through diagnostics, when you felt the floor vibrate. Probably a rowdy crew coming home after blowing credits at the bars and clubs at the station. You paid it no mind, your attention caught trying to interpret the diagnostics on an older type of tube you weren’t familiar with.

The rowdy crew got louder. Dang, they were really having a party. The station was definitely never dull, which was why you’d ranked it #1 on your application.

Turning your attention back to the tube, you realized you were stumped. Rolling your eyes, you muttered, “I probably should look the specs on this damn tube up –” and then you were cut off by a crash just around the corner.

“Goddess’s four tits, Jaxon!” cried a rather inebriated voice in Common, probably a Grayleck by the sounds of the accent. “You hold your liquor fine all night and then totally lose it when we’re on our way home.” Various voices chime in, interspersed with laughter and a few crass jokes.

You paused in your work, eavesdropping and chuckling to yourself.

“Come on Captain, let’s get you up,” said a low rumbling voice. The group swung around the corner, and you pretended to be engrossed in your work – just in case this Jax being was of a species that would be embarrassed by a rando seeing them get hauled to bed by their crew.

The group of 5 came into your periphery, and you had a few “Hey there’s” thrown your way as you approached. Crews knew to be nice to the engineering teams.

You smiled at their antics, and then you pulled out your com to look up the specs on this misbehaving tube.

“Y’all go ahead,” you heard the Palaxian say to his comrades. “I’ll get our fearless leader to bed.” The other three continued down the hall, weaving a bit as they headed to their own rooms.

“Excuse me,” rumbled the same voice from before, belonging to a more-burly-than-usual Palaxian. “Can I set my friend here? This is his door. He’s passed out, so he won’t vomit in the hall or anything.”

“Sure thing!” you said and moved your bag, looking up at them with a smile. Then your brain fritzed, seeing the two forms.

Oh, shit. This was the crew of the Heliotross, a famous mercenary outfit.

Thankfully, due to a not-so-great childhood, you could control your surprise and facial expressions with the best of them. It would be embarrassing as keff if he realized you were starstruck.

You hurriedly moved all your gear to the side, and the Palaxian put Captain Fucking Jaxon of the Heliotross down besides you.

Being dumped on the floor woke him up, and he blearily rubbed his head. Jax glanced at you, then did a double take.

His left eyebrow perked up, and his posture changed – moving his shoulders to give you his full attention.

You stared at each other for a heartbeat. Two heartbeats.

Oh dear.

“Hello there,” he said, slurring his words a tad. “Aren’t you an intriguing creature?” He looked you up and down, taking in your form. He paused over a few key features, giving you a lingering once over as he flopped his head to rest against the wall. “Care to share your name, as well as any relevant specs on your attractions, predilections or preferences?”

You thought to respond, but your brain was fitzing.

Time slowed. All you could do was drink him in. You realized the holovids didn’t do him justice. Jax was sexy as hell. He definitely had some Greek in his ancestry. Olive skin, curling hair to his shoulders, and a bone structure art students would riot over. His nose had a hook, and he was wearing his trademark shit eating grin.

Luckily, the Palaxian interrupted you. “Jax, the best time to flirt with an intriguing human is NOT when you’re too drunk to stand.”

OMG. Did he just call you intriguing? Was that.a good thing or bad thing? Probably a good thing. Fuck.

“I’m Jerry,” said the Palaxian. “Don’t mind us, I just gotta remember the keffing door code.” He pulled out his comm, scrolling through the notes.

“Take all the time you need, my dear friend,” said Jax, smiling broadly at you and flopping his hand in the general direction of Jerry. “I like it down here just fine.”

"Oh do you?” you boldly asked, finally finding your voice.

Jax smirked at you. Before he could reply, Jerry punched in the doorcode.

“Got it,” Jerry grunted, and the apartment doors slid open. He bent down and swung Jax over his broad shoulder.

Your mouth quirked up.

Jax dangled for a second, groaning. Then, he arched his back to make eye contact with you. “I’ll definitely be seeing you,” he said, just before the apartment doors swished shut.

“Is that so?” you said to the empty hallway.

Once it shut, you started to pack up your gear. You definitely shouldn’t be playing with electronics in your current state, as your blood was rushing to the lower half of your uniform jumpsuit. A clear safety hazard.

You stood up and grabbed your gear, conveniently carrying it low to avoid any second glances.

You needed to get to your rooms, NOW.

I’m excited to share this series with y’all! I’ll be sharing part 2 in a few days, or sooner if folks like it...? <3. Series is 4 parts, and I may do a bonus from Jax’s perspectives bc why not.

Be sure to hit that “Reblog” button. <3333

#monster boyfriend #alien boyfriend #exophillia #monster lover #non-binary reader #sci fi writing #space station #alien x human #nb reader

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zi-i-think · 4 years

Text

4 | Mother of Faces

Pairing: Zuko x Ama (OC)

Word Count: 13100+

.☽☼☾.

Since the incident at Yu Dao, Earth King Kuei suggested that some of the citizens of Yu Dao and the gang sit in for a lecture on Ancient Earth Kingdom Theories of Government. So there everyone was, either paying attention or trying to stay awake.

During the professor's lecture, Sokka whispered over to Aang about how absolutely bored he was. Aang, of course, whispered back. They got a scolding from Katara, who was actually trying to listen.

Ama was never great at history. Things usually went in one ear and out the other, but she tried. Not like anyone could tell that she was only getting bits and pieces of the lecture since she sat up straight and kept an eye on the professor.

Zuko paid attention because he had to. Being Fire Lord meant having to make the right decisions for everyone, and history was a helpful thing. Something must have grabbed his attention, because Zuko raised his hand and spoke up. "Professor, can you repeat that last part?"

The professor mumbled something to himself before responding. "I was explaining, Fire Lord Zuko, an ancient Earth Kingdom philosophy: family is in essence a small nation, and the nation a large family. Do you understand?" A gloomy look appeared on Zuko's face. "In treating his own family with dignity, a ruler learns to govern his nation with dignity."

Ama noticed Zuko's expression, prompting her to reach over and grab his hand. "Are you alright, dragonfly?"

"Have you been listening?" He asked her.

"Kind... of..." She answered with a regrettable side smile.

"I put my father in a prison and my sister in an institution. My mother has been banished for years." He told her. "What does that mean for my nation?"

"Zuko, that's not what-" Aang butt in. He didn't want Zuko to looked down on himself for something like condemning his family for their wrong doings.

"The guy's a blowhard! Only people like Katara are taking him seriously." Sokka whispered over. His younger sister shot the second snowball of the day in his face.

.☽☼☾.

After the lecture and other Earth Kingdom things, Zuko and Ama returned to the Fire Nation. And the first thing he requested was to speak with his sister and father.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Ama asked him for the hundredth time.

"She's my best chance at finding my mom." Zuko told her, turning to look at her before actually going out the front door. "I know you're worried, but I have to do this."

"I can go with, you know." Ama told him and got into a fighting stance playfully. "Any funny business and I knock some sense in her." She punched the empty air, poorly, of course. After all, Ama's a water bender, hand-to-hand combat isn't exactly her forte.

Zuko smiled as he stepped forward to her, grabbing her wrist and holding them close to his chest to look into her eyes. "I promise you, I'll be fine. I have Suki and Ty Lee, who's actual jobs are to protect me."

"I can do that just fine." Ama mumbled with a pout, knowing that he could still hear her.

Zuko chuckled and wrapped his arms around her. "I know you can." Ama leaned up to press a short and sweet kiss on his lips.

Once he pulled away, Zuko gave her an assuring smile and turned away to get back on his mission to get answers. The water bender sighed and went on her own mission. To bake herself some banana bread.

After 2 hours, Ama had finished her banana bread. She stood in the empty kitchen, leaning against the counter and enjoying a slice when Zuko walked in. His expression was off. Like he was walking on pins and needles.

"What happened?" Ama asked. Already knowing something was wrong, just didn't know what.

"Promise not to get mad?" He asked her. The girl scoffed and set down her plate.

"I think you're forgetting who has the anger issues in this relationship." She chuckled and walked over to him. "You know I'll always be here for you." Zuko sighed and stepped aside and Azula stepped into the kitchen. Ama immediately went into action, pushing Zuko behind her and holding up her arms to be ready to waterbend. "What the hell is Azula doing here?!" She growled.

"Oh calm down, water baby." Azula smirked. "Zuko invited me here."

Ama glared at Zuko. He looked down with both shame and doubt. But also like he had no other option. "Oh boy." Ama sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

.☽☼☾.

Just a few days later, the rest of Team Avatar was invited for Zuko's mission. Ama walked to the meeting room, fiddling with her nails. Moving aside the curtain, the water bender saw Zuko and his uncle Iroh already waiting.

"Iroh!" The girl grinned, always happy to see him.

"Ama!" The old man also greeted her happily. His arms open wide for a hug, which she gladly accepted. "You look more beautiful each day I see you."

"Aw, you're too kind." Ama told him as she pulled away from the hug. "How's the tea shop?"

"Business is booming. Couldn't be better." He said proudly, his arms stretched out to emphasize it. "I'll go outside to await your friends." And with that, the old man stepped out of the room.

Zuko's face fell the moment Iroh stepped out. Ama stepped in front of him, cupping his cheek so he would look at her. A soft smile on her lips as she leaned up to kiss him, but the boy moved his head away to avoid it. The girl sighed. While Zuko did get better with his temper and tried to contain it, he still had his moments. "You're worrying again." She muttered.

"Obviously." Zuko grumbled. "It's been years since I've seen my mother. And now Azula is my only way to find her."

"Okay so the circumstances are pretty bad, but." She moved his head again to look at her. "This is about your mother, Zuko. If this is the way to do it, then so be it." Zuko took in a deep breath, held it and let it out.

"Zuko, Ama. Your friends have arrived." Iroh announced and in came Aang, Katara and Sokka.

"Thank you for inviting us to your home, your fieriness!" Aang bowed in front of Zuko. "We've been out of touch for much too long."

Ama snickered as Zuko had an unamused look on his face. "It's only been a week." The Fire Lord pointed out.

"Where's Toph?" Ama noticed their group was down one.

"She had to stay at the academy." Sokka told them. "Now that folks have seen the lily livers - I mean, her students in action, everyone and their mother wants to be a metal bender, even the Yu Dao Police Chief went to visit her."

"We came as soon as we heard the message. What's this about?" Katara got right down to business.

"I recently obtained some new information about Ursa, my mother. It turns out she's from a small town called Hira'a on the outskirts of the Fire Nation." Zuko informed them. "I'm going there to look for her. Uncle Iroh agreed to watch over things here while I'm gone."

"May you find who - and what - you are searching for, my nephew." Iroh spoke. His readiness to be at his nephew's aid was admirable.

"That's great Zuko! But it sounds like you've got everything covered..." Aang was excited, but confused.

"...so, why do you need us." Katara finished Aang's sentence.

"The information about my mother came at a cost." Zuko tried to hide his expression of regret. "You see-" The Fire Lord didn't get to finish as Azula moves aside the yellow and red curtain, stepping into the room.

"Zuko, behind you!" Aang pointed at the sister while Katara had already bent water to attack.

"How did you escape, Azula." Katara flung the water, turning it into sharp icicles midair.

"Katara, wait!" Zuko shouted. Ama acted quickly, bending the icicles back into water and maneuvering it towards herself in a graceful manner. The water circling her hands.

"Stay back! We don't want to hurt you!" Aang warned.

"Speak for yourself, Aang." Sokka held his boomerang over his head, ready to throw.

"Ha ha!" Azula laughed, making Ama cringe. "Ignorant peasant! You really think you can take me on with a boomerang?"

"Let's find out." Sokka challenged. He was fuming with rage.

"Sokka, stop! Let Zuko explain!" Suki jumped in the room in her Kyoshi uniform just before the water tribe boy threw his boomerang. Ty Lee came in after her.

"Suki." Sokka's arms went above his head in excitement.

"Azula was the one who got the information from Ozai." Zuko explained. "Because she helped me out, we made a deal. She's going to come with me to look for our mother. And she's going to travel unbound with dignity." Ama remembered the long conversation she had with Zuko before they allowed for Azula to have her demands. "I want you all to come with us."

"No offense, but that sounds like the worst plan ever." Aang exclaimed.

"Oh! Oh!" Sokka called out in the middle of his hug with Suki. "New nickname for Zuko! How about bad decision Lord?"

"Ever since my nephew ascended to the throne, he has yearned for peace, finding Ursa may bring that peace." Iroh spoke then gestured to Azula. "And not just for himself."

"What, my sister wasn't enough to 'bring you peace.'" Sokka wondered with an investigative tone, leaning on Zuko.

"Sokka, leave him alone." Ama grabbed her brother's ear, pulling him away while he cried out in pain.

Aang stepped in front of Zuko with a decision, speaking for everyone. "We're your friends, Zuko. If you need us, we'll go." Zuko had an appreciative look. He was one step closer to finding his mom.

.☽☼☾.

The group was set to travel the next morning. Ama headed to the courtyard with Katara. It wasn't like they didn't see each other often, but things do change a lot, so they try to make the most of their time when they're together.

"The iguana bird must have been chasing Sokka for a good ten minutes." Katara told her sister, the two laughing till their stomachs hurt.

"Hey!" Sokka called, walking towards them from the next hallway with Zuko by his side. "Katara, are you really telling her that story!?"

"Why not? It's hilarious." Katara teased, only making Sokka more mad.

As they stepped out into the courtyard, they remembered that they were there for Zuko to find his mom. And to make sure Azula stays in line. Aang air bent Azula's bag onto Appa as the girl stood by with a scowl.

"I still don't like it, Zuko." Katara said to him, putting her hands on her waist.

"We'll need to take turns keeping an eye on her, every moment of every day." Zuko informed them. "At least one of us has to be totally focused on Azula."

"And if worst comes to worst, there are five of us against one of her." Ama added, keeping an eye on Azula. Knowing that this 'worst comes to worst' situation was very likely.

"I'll take first watch!" Sokka said excitedly.

"I appreciate the offer, Sokka, but maybe you should leave this to the benders." Zuko kindly told Sokka that he was in no way able to fight Azula.

"No, I got it covered." Sokka claimed, pulling out his boomerang. "Mr. Boomerang and I didn't appreciate her 'ignorant peasant' comment yesterday. We're gonna show her what we're made of." The water tribe boy then turned to Azula. "Time to go, Azula! And no funny business or else," He dramatically held out his boomerang. "Wack-a-pow!"

Azula glared at Sokka and sent a small bolt of lightning at his hand, making him drop his boomerang. The boy yelped and fell to the ground in pain. The others sprung into action. Ama water bent an ice block on her hand, Aang earth bent the rock under her so she wouldn't move. And Zuko had already created fire in his fist to fight.

"Sokka!" Katara called to make sure he was fine.

"I'm okay!" The brother assured her.

Katara went over to Azula, bending the ice off of her. "Don't you ever touch him!" She threatened, speaking for herself and Ama.

"Tell your brother not to wave his toy in my face!" Azula barked back.

"We made a deal, Azula." Zuko reminded her. "If we're going to do this together, you have to stay calm."

"Keep your merry band of misfits in check, and we'll all get along fine." Azula claimed.

"I changed my mind. One of you take first watch." Sokka rubbed the back of his neck, knowing that he overestimated himself.

.☽☼☾.

While they were up in the sky, everyone enjoyed the peaceful ride. Well, except for the part where they need to keep an eye on Azula. Aang and Katara sat on Appa's head and everyone else was on the saddle. Ama had her legs crossed as she spend her time carving some sort of animal into a piece of wood. Still too early to understand what she was carving. Zuko beside her, his arm around Ama's shoulders, occasionally glancing at his girlfriend's artwork.

"Ahhh! The open sky above us, a daring mission before us, and friends all around!" Sokka leaned up front with his arms outstretched to his side. "Just like old times isn't it?"

"Even better than old times!" Aang responded. "Before I always wanted to kiss Katara and now I actually get to do it."

"Aw, sweetie." Katara gushed and leaned in for a short kiss.

"I, for one, could do without that." Sokka muttered and gave an irritated look.

"Too bad Toph couldn't be here." Katara looked over at the group.

"Well, instead we have..." Aang trailed off, everyone knowing he meant Azula.

"So tell me, kids. I've been dying to know. Which one of you miscreants did she approach first." Azula asked in a threatening tone.

"Uh... What are you talking about?" Ama asked, very much confused. She paused from carving to look around to find if anyone else knew what she was talking about.

"None of you had even met me yet! How did she convince you to help her ruin my life?!" Azula shouted, leaning forward on her knees.

"That's enough, Azula!" Zuko moved and put his arm in front of Azula, keeping her back with a heating fist.

"Put that away, Zuzu. It's just small talk." Azula lied. Hesitantly, Zuko moved back to his original spot. "If there's anything that's enough, it's the excessive PDA."

Ama and Zuko both glared at her and Zuko just pulled his girlfriend closer to him. "You wouldn't understand, Azula." Zuko grumbled at his sister.

The female firebender smirked, like she had just found something to pick at. "Interesting choice of words, Zuzu. I seem to remember you saying something very similar about Mai." The couple froze and avoided looking at the 'prisoner'.

Ama would be lying if she said she weren't a little jealous of Mai. The Fire Nation girl was absolutely gorgeous. Maybe her personality was a little bland, but that didn't mean she was a bad person. She and Zuko had history, plus it was because of her that they were even able to escape Boiling Rock during the war.

"I miss Toph." Sokka sighed in the tense atmosphere.

"You said it." Aang agreed.

.☽☼☾.

The crammy ride continued through the day. Ama went ahead and took Appa's reins so that Katara and Aang could sit in the saddle. She enjoyed the quiet up front. Appa's soft fur and sun hanging low in the sky made her feel at peace.

"I think that's Hira'a up ahead." Zuko looked ahead at an island in the distance. "If we can't get there before sunset, though, we should set up camp. I don't want to enter town in the middle of the night like a gang of bandits."

"Good point. Hey Aang-" Sokka turned to the air bender, but the boy had the ugliest face of disgust. His eyebrows furrowing together and teeth baring. "Ah!" Sokka yelled and everyone gasped at the expression. "What, it's not enough that we have one passenger who stares at us with crazy eyes?!"

"What's wrong with your face?" Katara asked.

"What? What's wrong with Aang's face?" Ama glanced back, curious to see what they were talking about.

"I don't know." Aang replied. "But I can't help it! There's something out there. Some kind of spirit. I can feel it's presence, especially in my face."

"Now that you mention it, I feel it too." Sokka mimicked Aang's face. "That's why I'm doing this."

"Sokka, this is serious." Katara scolded.

"As serious as this?" Sokka pointed at his face, still imitating Aang.

"Knock it off." Katara ordered.

"Whoa! Did you guys see that giant wolf spirit?!" Aang pointed to the side of the flying bison. "I think that's the presence I'm feeling."

Everyone looked to the right side of Appa, not seeing any wolf spirit.

"Did the world spirit look like this?" Sokka bared his teeth.

"There's nothing down there." Zuko said.

Katara threw a snowball at Sokka. "What was that for?!" The boy complained.

"I told you to knock it off!" Katara shouted.

But while everyone was distracted, Azula took her chance. She stood on the edge of the saddle like she was about to dive down. "Azula, get down from there!" Zuko ordered.

"I can't tell you what a pleasure it's been riding with you all, listening to you bicker. Instilling some doubt. Too bad not all siblings get along as well as Zuzu and me! Now that Hira'a is just a hop, skip, and a jump away, it's time to bid farewell. I'll be sure to give her your regards!" And with that, Azula dove into the sky.

"No, Azula! We're too high up!" Zuko shouted, reaching over the edge. But it was took late. The girl was plummeting to the ground.

Aang dove after her with his air-staff. "I got her!" He called.

"Nice glider, Avatar. Is it fireproof?" Azula shot a spark of lightning at the glider, lighting the blue flap on fire.

"What are you doing?! This was a gift!" Aang shouted, dropping Azula to try and blow out the fire. They were already a few feet from teh ground, so Azula could land on the ground gracefully and run off.

The moment Aang dropped to get Azula, Ama led Appa down after them. As soon as they landed, they all jumped out. "You guys go make sure Aang's okay! We'll go after Azula!" Zuko shouted. He and Ama ran after the female fire bender while the other two water tribe siblings ran to Aang.

As Zuko and Ama got to Azula, they heard her talking to herself on the other side of the stream. She was hunched over and looked to be hiding something behind her back.

"Who are you talking to?" Zuko asked her.

"Why do you care." Azula snapped at him.

"Keep to our deal, Azula, and we'll find her together." Zuko had an ordering tone, but everyone knew that Azula was the last person who would actually obey him.

"You need me, Zuzu. I have information you don't. But now that we're so close to Hira'a, I don't really need you anymore." Azula held out her arm, preparing to strike the two with lightning.

"Please," Zuko begged. He and Ama bending their elements in case there was a fight. "I don't want to do this."

Azula moved to direct her lightning, but Ama shot water from the river at the lightning bender and freezing it around her body. The rest of the gang appeared beside them.

"You alright, Aang?" Zuko asked.

"My glider's a little singed, but I'm okay." The air bender responded.

"Azula, I've had just about enough of you." Ama grumbled, walking across the stream.

"Of all the co conspirators she could've chosen, why an uncultured-" Azula started to insult, but stopped, her eyes focused on something behind her in fear. Ama looked over to see what scared Azula. And there was the spirit wolf that Aang was talking about before.

The wolf was huge, maybe 20 feet tall. It had blue fur on its back and legs, it's underside a snowy white. On it's chest it looked like there were glaring eyes in the blue fur. And it had blood red eyes staring right at them. Snarling at them.

"Hey. That fear in your eyes?" Sokka called excitedly holding his boomerang above his head. He hadn't seen the wolf yet, but it was standing right behind him. "So you've finally learned to respect the power of Mr. Boomerang!" The wolf snapped at Sokka, but he luckily noticed the large animal in time dodged it narrowly.

"The wolf spirit must've left the spirit world for a good reason! So please everyone be respectful!" Aang advised them all.

"Respectful?!" Sokka shouted, running to his friends. "Your spirit just tried to eat my head!"

"Those markings on it's belly, they sort of look like a face." Zuko noted.

"Aang, look! That's the face you've been making!" Katara added.

"You're right. I think I get it now!" Aang said and flew up by the wolf's head in order to speak with it. "Stop, big giant wolf spirit! Listen to me! I felt your presence earlier, see? Just like the design on your fur! I knew you were near because I'm the avatar, the great bridge between the spirits and the humans!"

"My friends and I were traveling to the town Hira'a when one of us decided to go her own way. If we've disturbed you, please accept our apologies." The blue and white wolf gave Aang a neutral look, before it lunged at him, he jumped back in time. "Yikes!"

"Aang!" Katara shouted with worry.

"Your 'respectful' tactic doesn't seem to be working!" Zuko added.

The group sprung into action with their bending, well, in Sokka's case it was Mr. boomerang. The water icicles and the boomerang deflected off the wolf, and it ate the fire. Then burped smoke.

"Did that wolf spirit just eat my fire?!" Zuko exclaimed, asking to make sure he wasn't going crazy.

"And burped!" Sokka added. "It ate your fire and burped at you!"

"I guess you could say it has a fire-ocious (ferocious) appetite." Ama quipped, earning glares from her sister and boyfriend. "What? It was a good joke."

"I found it hilari-" Sokka started with a chuckle before Katara interrupted.

"This is not the time." The girl shouted.

The wolf spirit lunged at then, Aang in the way. "Come on, wolf spirit! I'm great bridge guy! Don't you wanna-" Appa stepped forward, roaring at the wolf.

"All right! Giant spirit animal mega brawl!" Sokka cheered.

"Go easy on him, buddy! We just want peaceful passage to Hira'a!" Aang shouted to Appa. The giant animals growled at each other. The wolf lunged, missing Appa who turned around to wack his tail, the gust of air throwing the wolf back.

"Woo-hoo! Sky bison: one, fire-eating wolf; zero!" Sokka cheered with his arms up.

The wolf got up, shaking it's head. "Appa, I asked you to go easy on him!" Aang scolded. "Are you okay, big giant wolf spirit?!" The wolf threw up a cloud of moth-wasps in response. "It just threw up a cloud of moth-wasps at us!"

"You are the grossest spirit ever!" Sokka shouted.

"Free me, Zuzu, I'll take care of those spirits for you." Azula claimed. But he rightfully had his doubts. She could just be saying that for another chance to run.

"We don't need your help, Azula." Zuko claimed. They were all struggling, swatting the insects away.

"Oh, right. Because you and your friends have everything under control." Azula grumbled.

"Ow ow ow! Did they eat my whole arm?! I can't see my arm!" Sokka shouted.

"Try not to hurt them! They're spirit creatures!" Aang begged.

"Aang, it's getting hard to breathe!" Katara struggled out.

"I know! But if you hurt them, things might get worse!" Aang said. Of course he feared what the spirits might do if they were disrespected. Aang himself wasn't an expert.

"I'll admit it, all right? I shouldn't have run off on my own like that. After all we made a deal." Azula spoke in a manipulative tone. "And if you can't trust your family, who can you trust?"

Zuko looked at his sister, actually considering setting her free. And he did. Using his firebending, Zuko melted the ice off of his sister. Azula generated lightning into a ball of light, drawing the moths in and then threw it into the distance. The moths and the wolf followed it.

Turning around to see the shocked group of friends, Azula gave a snarky smirk. "You're welcome."

Once that was over with, the group set up camp. Zuko took first shift to watch over Azula.

"You sure you don't want some company?" Ama asked her boyfriend once the bundle of sticks was placed for the fire.

"You need some rest." He told her, setting the twigs ablaze. "I can handle Azula."

"Okay then. Good night." She said, bending down to place a quick kiss on his cheek and started to walk away.

"Don't forget your blanket." Sokka reminded her, sitting on the log across Zuko and holding out a wrapped up blanket.

"Shouldn't you be heading to sleep?" She asked her brother.

"I drank a lot of water." Sokka rubbed the back of his neck. Ama opened her mouth to ask, but then stopped once knowing what he meant. Without another word, she went to the stop where she was going to sleep.

.☽☼☾.

The next morning, Ama woke up just before the sunrise and immediately started to pack up camp with her siblings. Zuko and Aang went off for some sort of talk.

"I should go wake up Azula." Katara said, looking at the lightning bender who was still sleeping. Katara knew that it may be dangerous to disturb her, but things needed to be done and they needed to be ready to leave soon.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Sokka reasonably asked.

"Well, we're be on our way to Mira'a as soon as Zuko and Aang get back so I don't see many options." Katara shrugged and walked over to Azula. Ama and Sokka both shared a concerned look, but didn't stop their sister.

Right before Katara could place her hands on Azula to wake her up, Azula jolted awake, grabbing Katara's arm and shouting "I have proof!"

"Whoa!" Katara tried to twist the hand off.

"Get you hand off her, Azula!" Ama shouted, shooting water at the lightning bender and freezing it to hit her hand back.

"Katara..." Sokka went over to her, questioning if she were okay.

"I'm okay." The water bender assured. "She woke up all of a sudden and caught me by surprise."

"Mother... where...?" Azula muttered to herself, reaching for her boot. "The letter! It's gone!" She turned around in the blink of an eye with blue fire in both hands. "Where is Zuko?!"

"Azula, calm down." Ama told her, bending water to her sides. The girl gave the water tribe siblings a snarl and then threw the fire at a couple of trees. Then she ran off.

"Do we follow her?!" Sokka panicked, looking between the running girl and the fire that was quickly spreading through the forest. But the girls were already using their water bending to stop the fire from spreading.

"The fire is spreading too fast!" Ama shouted at him. "We need to trust that Zuko and Azula figure their shit out." A few minutes later Aang showed up, jumping right into helping the others put out the fire. "Is Zuko okay? Does he need my help?"

"Zuko will be fine, Ama." Aang told her. But the slight panic in his voice from trying to put out the fire worried Ama.

"I'm going to help him." The water bender dropped her water and was about to sprint to the direction Aang came from. But before she could actually leave, Zuko and Azula walked into the clearing. Which just so happened to be when Katara extinguished the last fire.

"Aang! Are we ready to leave?" Zuko wondered, not even acknowledging what just happened.

"You're sister just set fire to half the land-scape!" Aang angrily told him.

"Even with Aang's help, it took us until now to put everything out!" Katara added.

"Nature hates you!" Sokka shouted at Azula.

"So, uh. You guys aren't fighting anymore?" Ama was careful when she asked it.

"We've arrived at an understanding." Zuko told them. By the annoyed look on Azula's face, he must have been semi-right.

"That's what you said when this whole thing started?" Sokka complained while Zuko and Azula were climbing up Appa and into the saddle. "Since then she's tried to kill us, like, twelve times!"

"Come on. Time to go to Hira'a." Zuko called to them.

"Are you louts coming or not?" Azula glared at them. The rest of the group glanced at each other unsurely, but there wasn't much to do. So, they climbed Appa and resumed their journey.

.☽☼☾.

When they arrived at Mira'a, the group changed into their Fire Nation outfits to better fit in.

"We need to hide our identities. We'll get mobbed if people figure out we're the Avatar and Fire Lord." Zuko spoke to Aang more than the others, putting his hood over his hair.

"Don't worry. After hiding from you for all those months, we're masters of disguise." Aang responded, finishing up tying his head scarf over his arrow.

"Aang, that headband of yours is cute, but as a disguise it worked a lot better when you had hair." Katara said in a sweet tone.

"See! A fake beard made of sky bison fur! A classic!" Sokka pointed out the beard and mustache he had made and put on his face.

"Get away from me! You smell like a wet possum-pigeon!" Azula insulted and took a step away from the Water Tribe boy.

When they got into town, the first thing they noticed was a huge crowd around a stage.

"I thought Hira'a was supposed to be a small town. Why is it so crowded?" Aang wondered.

At the same time, Sokka sneezed, most of his fake beard flying off. "Aww, Sokka, your poor beard." Ama laughed, swiping the remainder of the fur off of him.

"Ama." The boy whined with a pout.

The group moved closer to the stage to see. "Looks like they're performing some kind of play." Aang noted.

"I recognize that scene!" Zuko said with some excitement in his voice. "It's the final battle in Love Amongst Dragons." The group turned to the play to watch the scene.

"Wretched water spirit! Not that I've escaped your curse and regained my true nature, you shall pay for your trickery!" The actor in the red dragon costume dramatically pointed at the other actor on the stage

"Have you learned nothing from your time amongst the mortals." The actor in the blue water spirit costume responded. "By threatening me, you invite your own doom." The actors flung ribbons at each other that correspond with their element. The red dragon jumped over the blue actor, the ribbons hitting them. "No! Curse you, foul dragon!"

"The young man playing the emperor this year was extraordinary don't you think?" An old man in front of them spoke to the old woman next to him.

"Oh yes!" The old woman agreed. "Much better than last year's fellow!"

"Remember when mother used to take us to watch the Ember Island players perform this play?" Zuko asked his sister. "Afterwards on the beach, you and I would reenact this very scene. I don't get why I always had to be the dark water spirit."

"Clearly, I made a better dragon emperor." Azula snarked.

"Shh, the best part is coming up!" The old man from before shushed the two.

"How dare you shush me! Do you know who I-!" Azula snapped and was ready for fight.

"Azula! Please!" Zuko held her back and bought her arm.

"Though I was trapped in the body of a mortal, you willingly gave me your heart! I cannot help but give you mine in return." The red dragon held the water spirit actress in his arms.

"Only with your glory hidden in false form could you finally recognize my devotion." The water spirit said back and they kissed through the masks.

The crowd cheered and clapped at the ending. Katara and Aang kissed at the same time. Once it died down, the crowd began to disperse.

"Everybody's leaving! What do we do now?" Aang wondered.

"Let me ask around." Zuko said, turning to the old couple from earlier. "Excuse me. We're looking for information on a woman named Ursa. I believe she lived here many years ago."

"Ursa... Ursa..." The old man thought, stroking his beard. "Wasn't she the magistrate's daughter?"

"Oh yes!" The old woman nodded. "Rumor has it she-"

"Excuse me." Another voice interrupted in between Katara and Sokka, scaring them. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you." The man said, taking off the blue mask from the play. "My name is Noren. I'm the director of the Hira'a acting troupe. Ursa was once a member."

"Really?" Zuko asked with excitement.

"That's right!" The old woman's memory jolted. "She always wanted to play the dragon empress, but never got the chance! Didn't she-"

"We should find a quiet place to talk. Away from the crowds." Noren suggested to keep away from the gossiping town. "You're all welcome to my home. We'll share some tea and I'll tell you everything I know."

"It would be an honor. Thank you." Zuko bowed his head and they followed the man to his house.

.☽☼☾.

The house was small and simple. Aang and Katara sat at the dinner table and spoke with Noren's wife, Noriko. Zuko, Ama and Azula sat by the door. They were waiting for Noren and Sokka to return with the tea.

A little girl that they met when they arrived poked her head inside, nervous to approach the strangers in her home. Ama waved softly at her with a kind smile, making the little girl giggle. Finally stepping inside with her hands behind her back, she approached Zuko since he was closer to the door.

"Wanna meet my doll?" She timidly asked. She couldn't have been older than six or seven years old. She wore pink, with was more common for young Fire Nation girls, and had short brown hair.

"No." Azula said dryly.

"Of course." Zuko said at the same time with a cheerful tone.

"This is Kiyi!" She pulled out her doll from behind her back. It was a small stuffed doll with a pick dress and very short hair.

"I thought your name was Kiyi." Zuko chuckled lightly.

"It's such a good name, I used it twice!" She happily smiled.

"Well, little Kiyi has a very interesting haircut." Ama pointed out the incredibly short cut hair.

"I wanted to make her prettier, but it didn't turn out very good." The little girl said a bit sadly.

"My sister did stuff like that when she was a kid." Zuko glanced at Azula. Her arms where crossed while she scoffed.

"That's right. Only I didn't give my dolls haircuts, I gave them headcuts! Would you like me to show you?" Azula threatened with a proud smile.

"No!" Kiyi held her doll closs and faced away from Azula.

"Azula! Stop it!" Zuko warned.

Noren and Sokka walked into the house with the tea and some snacks. "Kiyi, are you being hospitable to our guests?" Noren asked his daughter.

"I'm trying." She innocently said.

"Mind if I join the conversation, dear?" He asked, kissing his wife's cheek.

"Just sharing some advice about life and love." Noriko replies, blushing lightly at the kiss.

"Ah! Well, you are Hira'a's foremost expert on those subjects." He praised his wife.

"According to you." She said bashfully.

"I must admit, I was a little suspicious when you all started asking about Ursa." Noren offered them all tea. "But Sokka tells me you're drama historians!"

"How wonderful!" Norika grinned. "It's about time the Hira'a acting troupe got a little recognition!"

"Drama historians? Really?" Katara whisper-scolded her brother.

"Great cover story, right?" Sokka whispered back. "I just opened my mouth and there it was!"

"Ursa, the woman you asked about was probably the troupe's most famous member- but not for her acting." Noren explained. "Years ago, she was, well, taken to the capital city on some sort of official business. We're not supposed to talk about her anymore, but people can't help speculating."

"Supposedly she married into the royal family." Norika added. "This all happened before I came to town, but even I've heard the rumors."

"What about Ikem?" Zuko asked. The name was unrecognizable by Ama, but she didn't want to question it.

"Ikem?" Noren was surprised at the name. "My, you've done your research! Ikem was an actor, too. Ursa's boyfriend, I believe. He disappeared shortly after Ursa left."

"Folks say he ran off to Forgetful Valley." Norika said.

"Forgetful Valley?" Aang pondered.

"A forest at the bottom of a canyon, just outside of town." Norika clarified. "The heartbroken go there to forget their lives. You know, I vaguely remember hearing that Ursa came back to town years later, looking for Ikem. They say she went after him to Forgetful Valley."

"That can't be true!" Noken disagreed. "No one's seen or heard from Ursa since she was taken to the Capital City."

Norika sighed. "Well, if it is true, it's awfully romantic!"

"Romantic or tragic? Forgotten valley is a dark, dangerous place, no one who enters ever returns." Noren's face twisted at his wife's idea of 'romantic'.

.☽☼☾.

"Noren and Noriko, you've been more than generous. Thank you for the information." Zuko thanked the family as they all bowed at the door. It was already dark out and most of the town had gone to bed.

"And for sharing your home with us." Ama added.

"You'll come again?" Kiyi asked, tugging at Zuko's sleeve. "Please please please?"

"I really hope so, Kiyi." Zuko smiled at the little girl.

"You're good with kids." Ama told her boyfriend, intertwining their hands as they walked away. Zuko chuckled like he didn't really agree with her. The waterbender hummed and shook her head. "You don't give yourself enough credit, dragonfly."

Zuko looked down at his girlfriend, her eyes looking up at him and a bright smile. No matter how many times she used that nickname or how often she smiled, Zuko always felt loved by her. He sometimes did feel shame and unloved, which prompted for him to ask her if she still loved him.

It wasn't like Ama didn't feel the same sometimes. After all, she was just a girl from the Water Tribe. And her boyfriend was, well, the Fire Lord. And sometimes she got the feeling that he didn't trust her and kept things to himself. Just like now. Ama understood that Zuko had his own personal journey, but being kept in the dark when all she wanted to do was help hurt her.

"Ugh. More than once tonight I was tempted to burn that whole place down! But I resisted for you, Zuzu. I hope you appreciate it." Azula grumbled as they arrived at their campsite.

"How could you even think that about such a lovely family?!" Katara asked Azula with anger and disgust.

"Oh please. Their charade disgusted me." Azula grumbled. "Nobody's that happy!"

"Aang and I are that happy!" Katara claimed.

"Because you two are idiots." The lightning bender claimed.

"Hey, Zuko?" Aang started to speak from behind Zuko and Ama. "I'm sorry I blew up at you this morning. It's hard for me to wrap my head around all this. I can't imagine what it's like for you. Even so, I don't think we should try to find Ikem. This is gonna sound harsh, but it's best if it stays lost in history. We'll burn the letter when we have the chance and-"

"I don't have the letter anymore. Azula took it back." Zuko said. Ama took between the two with confusion. She had no idea what either of the two were talking about. What was in the letter? Why can't they even mention it? As much as she wanted to ask, she kept quiet.

"And you let her?!" Aang said in a mad tone.

"We need to focus on the task at hand, and that's looking for my mother." Zuko had a firm tone. "We'll figure everything else out later, including where – and who – I'm supposed to be."

"Zuko, listen to me! When people come to your throne room and bow, they're not bowing to you." Aang argued. "They're bowing to what you represent: a new era of love and peace! So it doesn't matter who your real dad is, you have to stay Fire Lord!" Ama's eyes widened in surprise and she looked over at Zuko, deep in thought. "You're not Fire Lord for you. You're Fire Lord for all of us!"

"Zuko, is there something you're not telling me?" Ama's tone was investigative and agitated when she asked him. Zuko's eyes widened, like he completely forgot that she was there.

"You didn't tell her?" Aang asked him with wide eyes.

"I-" Zuko started, but was interrupted by Sokka.

"How much longer do you expect to keep this crew together, Zuko?" The Water Tribe boy was frantic about how escalated Katara and Azula's fight was getting. "I give it another two minutes tops before something's either on fire or encased in ice."

Zuko sighed and looked over at Sokka and Aang. "One more place to visit and then we're done." He said. "We're going to Forgetful Valley."

"Great." Ama grumbled, crossing her arms. Azula and Katara's shouting getting louder by the minute. "Just more time for lies and the urge to punch Azula." Then she walked off to get her sleeping bag.

"What did you do to my sister?" Ama heard Sokka's brotherly tone ask Zuko.

The Fire Lord looked dumbfounded as he watched Ama stomp off. It took him a moment before running after her. "Waterlily, wait." He called out to her. The girl unraveled her sleeping bag and placed it on the ground. "Can we talk?"

"I don't know, Zuko. Do you actually want to talk about it or do you just feel like you need to?" Her voice sounded defeated and betrayed, but also angry.

"I- I actually want to talk." He said softly while the waterbender smoothened out the sleeping bag. Ama wasn't a stubborn person, at least not as stubborn as Katara.

A large part of her wanted to stay bitter. If he didn't want her opinion on matters, she didn't want to give it. But she still loved Zuko. And the more empathetic side of her told her to hear him out. The brunette sighed as she stood up. Her arms were crossed when she shrugged, signaling that she'll talk.

The two left the camp and found a tree to sit under. The moon lit the sky enough that they could see each other fine. Ama sat crisscrossed and kept her head facing the ground, picking at the grass beside her. Zuko found it hard to pin down what she was feeling, but the most he understood was that she felt hurt.

"I didn't lie to you." Was the first thing he said, but Ama's scoff kept him from saying must else.

"No but you kept something from me." She grumbled. "Look, I'm not mad, I'm just... I don't know. All I know is that you talked to Aang instead of me. Which is all fine. I have nothing against you asking for his advice. Not only is he the Avatar but your best friend. But, am... am I not enough?"

Zuko was taken aback. His eyebrows pinched together as he looked at her. "Where did you get that idea from?"

"Zuko, you don't talk to me about anything." Ama ran her hands through her hair, taking her top-knot off and letting her brown hair cascade down her shoulders and chest. "You don't ask for advice when it comes to Fire Lord duties no matter how stressed you get, you don't talk to me about what's on your mind. Yu Dao is the perfect example. And just now, you didn't talk to me about, what exactly, your real dad? What's that about? It's like you don't even want my advice."

"Okay, so." Zuko was still processing what she had said. "There's a lot to unpack here. I can understand why you feel that way, I guess. I don't talk to you about somethings, cause, Ama, I have so much on my shoulders as Fire Lord, I don't want you to have to worry about my struggles."

"Zuko, I can handle stress." Ama interrupted. "I'm not only great on the battlefield, but I'm also great at solving problems. I hate seeing you so on edge and then not let me help you."

"I'm sure you are." He smiled lightly as he looked at her. "I suppose I can start asking for your advice more frequently."

"And about your dad, or not dad, or whatever?" She wasn't quite sure got to word that question.

"In the letter that Azula had," He started, leaning back into the tree and looking up at the sky. "It was from my mom to a man named Ikem."

"Wasn't he the man that Horen said was her boyfriend when she lived here?" Ama recalled.

"Yeah." Zuko said. "In the letter, it said that I was their son."

"Wow." Ama took it in. "How do you feel about it?"

"It would explain a lot about how Ozai treated me, and it makes me hopeful, in a sense." He responded, thinking to himself. "But what Aang was talking about was my legitimacy on the throne."

"It makes sense." Ama shrugged, leaning into his side. "What are you going to do if it's true?"

"I don't know yet." He muttered, like he was thinking about it. "There's more to take into account than just myself."

"Do I have permission to give advice?" Ama teased. Zuko chuckled and then nodded. "I agree with Aang. On keeping it a secret. Cause if you're not Fire Lord, I guess that would mean Azula would be. And that would be a disaster."

"Yeah, I'd just prefer to cross that bridge when we get there."

"I can understand that. But you will need to be prepared to make a rational decision."

"I know." He moved his body sit more across from her. "We make a good team."

"We've been a good team, I think you just failed to notice it until now." The water bender sent her boyfriend a knowing smirk.

A deep hum of agreement came from Zuko's throat as he leaned in closer to her. "I promise you, I will never keep you out again."

"Good." Ama smiled, her hand sliding up to cup his cheek. "And I promise you, I will always be here for you."

"Can we make out now?" He asked. Ama laughed, her hand finding its way behind his head, pulling his face close to hers.

"Yeah." She grinned, meeting his lips in the middle.

.☽☼☾.

The next morning, the team headed to the dark and murky forest known as the Forgetful Valley. The trees looked to be never ending and moss grew on the sides.

"So this must be the Forgetful Valley!" Aang looked at the forest with awe.

"How do you know? Are you detecting something with your special Avatar powers?" Sokka wondered.

"No. It says so on the sign." Aang pointed out the very obvious sign to their left.

"Oh." Sokka looked over at it and frowned one hearing his older sister laugh at him.

"So, where do we go from here?" Katara gave a look around the forest.

"I'm not sure. There's not even a path." Zuko replied.

"Come on, Zuzu!" Azula called, stepping ahead of the group. "For a true firebender there's alway a path!" She shot large flames of blue into the thicket, burning away the grass and leaves.

"What are you doing!" Ama shouted, stepping back to avoid the heat.

"I suppose one of you imbeciles has a better idea on how to proceed?" Azula complained, crossing her arms. Zuko, Aang and Katara were both putting out the fire.

"Any idea is better than burning down the whole forest!" Ama shouted at her.

"What'd I tell you last time you did something like this?" Sokka joined in. "Oh, yeah. Nature hates you."

"Quiet, guys! I'm detecting something with my special Avatar powers! It's kinda making me wanna go..." Aang told them to stop and turned around to face them. His face was twisted up. One eyebrow was arched up, the other arched down and a frown. "Like this."

"Sweetie, not with the faces again!" Katara worried.

"No, no. I think Aang is onto something!" Sokka spoke." If you look carefully, there are actually faces all over the place!" and then he stood by a leaf two times the side of his head. "Check out this leaf!" He pointed.

"Sokka, stop! Aang can't help it, but you're just being a jerk!" Katara said.

But her brother just ignored her then moved to a squirrel-toad. "And that squirrel-toad!" Then by a tree. "And the bark of this tree!" Then he pointed up. "And that giant flutter-bat over there! Aang, the patterns on its wings sort of look like the face you're making!"

"Hey, you're right!" Aang realized that Sokka wasn't spewing nonsense like usual. The airbender then ran after the bat. "Don't fly away, Mr. Flutter-bat! I think we're meant to be friends!"

"Aang, don't run off by yourself! You don't know what's out there!" Katara shouted to him, trying to follow him even though the boy was jumping from tree to tree. "Aang?!" They lost sight of him after a while, but kept running in the direction they saw him go.

"I'm over here!" Aang called. The group finally found him standing by a still, circular pool of water. "Check this out!"

"I've never seen water so clear and so still." Katara noted in awe.

"Like a perfect pane of glass." Zuko added.

"This feels so familiar... so tranquil." Aang bowed his head like he was feeling the energies around him. "It reminds me of Tui and La's pool in the Northern Water Tribe. Be respectful, everybody. This is a very spiritual place."

Azula stared into the water and narrowed her eyes. "You again!" She shouted out of nowhere. "Don't you ever shut up?!" She pointed her fingers, generating lightning and shooting it at the pond.

"Azula, no!" Zuko shouted, despite her not listening.

"What'd I just say about being respectful?!" Aang shouted in anger.

"She told you to lead me here, didn't she?!" Azula shot a flame of fire at Aang, who luckily moved to the side. "So she could keep tormenting me with her lies!"

"That's enough!" Zuko shot fire back.

"You're right, Zuko, it is enough!" Katara bent the pond water up. "We've tried to put up with her but she's too dangerous!" But before she could actually use the water, throwing stars made of flowers were flung at them from across the pond.

"These are the prettiest throwing stars I've ever seen!" Aang observed on stuck in a tree.

"It's like the forest itself is attacking us." Katara said.

"Because nature hates her!" Sokka pointed his thumb at Azula.

"Head's up! More are coming!" Warned Zuko.

Aang bent a pillar from the earth, shielding him and Sokka while Zuko flung his arms to the sides, creating a flame that shielded himself, Ama and Katara. Some throwing stars did slip past the barriers but no one has gotten hurt.

"I think I understand what's happening!" Ama realized as she stood next to her brother. "Sokka, did you see how that flower shattered against your clubs?"

"Yeah?" Sokka wasn't catching on.

Ama bent down, picking up the broken flower and breaking a piece off. Tiny pieces of ice shattering with it. "It shattered like ice. Somebody's bending the water in these flowers!"

"They're not just bending the flowers, they're bending the vines too!" Sokka warned. The vines twisted and bent at the group. Sokka threw his boomerang to cut the vines attacking Aang. Azula surprised everyone when she burned off the vines attacking Sokka. "Uh... Thanks?"

"The more peasants I have fighting for me, the better chance I have of surviving the nightmare forest!" Azula justified her one act of 'kindness.' Her fist was still smoking.

"A little help here?!" Zuko called. The vines pinned his clothing to a tree.

"Hold still!" Aang told him, using his airbending to slice the vines. But then the vines pinned him onto the ground. Aang worked fast to get the vines off. "Hang on, guys! If we can keep calm, we'll figure something out!"

"How do you keep calm when nature's about to skewer you?!" Sokka shouted. The vines pointing ends flying at them.

Katara and Ama shared a glance that only two waterbending sisters could share. They took their beginning bending stance, back-to-back and moved in sync, the two bent the water in the vines and leaves. Circling it around them to keep it from getting to their friends. They both glared into the distance, ready for whoever was there. "Whoever you are, you're not the only one who can waterbend! Show yourself!" Katara's commanding tone came out.

Two people stepped out of the shadows. They were both dressed in water tribe clothing. The woman had two braids on each side of her head and was leading the taller man by holding his hand. The man was slightly hunched over and had a wooden mast over his face with two holes for eyes. They both looked incredibly saddened and exhausted, but not dangerous.

.☽☼☾.

The two older people invited the group of teens to a clearing where they had made camp. Just a small clearing by the pond. There was a pot of stew prepared for themselves, but they were able to split enough of it for everyone. They learned that the woman's name was Misu and her brother was Rafa from the Northern Water Tribe.

"I apologize for attacking you earlier." The woman started to explain herself. "My brother and I just aren't used to seeing other humans around here. When we heard the commotion we thought a forest animal was disturbing the pool. It must remain undisturbed."

"That's what I told them!" Aang exclaimed, his tone in a very 'I told you so' way. "This is a very spiritual place."

"That's right, Avatar. There are actually three other pools just like this in Forgetful Valley. They all must remain undisturbed." The woman nodded. She seemed very knowledgeable of the forest, and by the looks of it, they survived there for a very long time.

"Misu, this stew is delicious!" Sokka complimented, licking his lips. "It reminds me of-"

"-The seaweed stew of the Northern Water Tribe?" Misu finished with a questioning tone.

"That's it!" Sokka exclaimed.

The woman laughed at his excitement. "Rafa and I made do with what we can find here."

"So how did two people from the Northern Water Tribe end up in a Fire Nation forest?" Katara wondered, speaking on what most of the group were thinking.

Misu's eyes saddened as she recalled her past. "Growing up, my brother and I were complete opposites. I was quiet and studious. He was loud and brash. I followed the rules. He lived to break them." As she spoke, it sort of sounded like she was describing Sokka and Katara. They were both different in the same way. While Ama was somewhere in between.

"He'd often bring home things he'd stolen from our tribe's most powerful people: a waterbender's pouch, a warrior's club, the chief's battle helmet." Misu continued. "Each time, I yelled at him to return the items, and he always did. He just wanted to prove to everyone that he could do it. The people he stole from were always so embarrassed that he never got into real trouble.

"Well, one day his luck ran out. I found him alone on the ice, his face horribly disfigured. It changed his life - our lives - forever. I took him to our people's most experienced healers, but none of them could do a thing for him."

"So I helped him the best way I knew how. I went to the library and began to study." Misu said. "In an ancient Fire Nation scroll, I learned about a powerful spirit who would visit a certain fire nation forest from time to time. This spirit had the power to give people to heal Rafa."

"I made it my life's mission to bring my brother here. I knew it would be dangerous for two Water Tribe folk to sneak into the Fire Nation. So I spent years figuring out how to water bend to fight. I had to learn secretly. On my own since-"

"-In the Northern Water Tribe, women water benders were only allowed to heal." Ama finished the sentence. Cringing at the thought of how sexist the Northern Water Tribe has been and still is in one way or another. "Things are different now."

"After many failed attempts, we finally made it to Forgetful Valley. We've lived here ever since, hoping to encounter the spirit." Misu finished her life story.

"How come Rafa hasn't eaten anything?" Sokka asked, noticing that the brother was just sitting there silently.

"Ever since his injury, Rafa's been caught between life and death, he doesn't eat anymore. He doesn't do much of anything." Misu sulked.

"So, you've spent almost your whole life trying to heal your brother." Aang seemed interested.

"Of course, I'm his sister." Misu said, like it was common knowledge.

"Of course." Katara agreed, looking over at Sokka.

"No matter how much of a pain they are." Ama added, nudging Sokka, unlike the kind words from Katara.

Zuko and Azula shifted uncomfortably, looking in opposite directions to avoid each other. "Sorry to interrupt your sob story-" Azula grumbled.

"Azula! Don't be rude!" Zuko whispered to her.

"-But we're here on a mission of our own. We're looking for a woman named Ursa." Azula ignored her brother.

"I'm sorry, but we haven't seen her." Miss regretted saying. "The forest was pretty quiet until you all arrived."

"So this spirit you're looking for," Aang started to question. "What's it supposed to look like?"

"It is a she." Misu corrected him. "I don't know what she looks like, but when she approaches, the forest tells us. Face-like patterns begin to manifest on the leaves of the trees, the wings of the insects, and the backs of animals."

"Hey, we saw that! So the spirit must be near!" Sokka pointed out.

"Then on a night like tonight, a giant wolf bearing the markings of a face travels from far away to drink from one of the forest's four pools." Misu explained.

"That's the wolf spirit who puked moth-wasps at us!" Aang exclaimed.

"Whichever pool he drinks from, there the spirit appears." Misu told them. "The spirit has passed through Forgetful Valley many times since we arrived, but we always seem to be at the wrong pool." Misu sighed in disappointment. "And I believe we missed her again. If this were the right pool, the wolf would have been here by now." She turned to her brother and placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "I'm sorry, brother. We'll keep trying."

Aang furrowed his eyebrows and looked over at the pool before standing up and walking to the pool. "No! There's gotta be something I can do! After all, I'm the Avatar, the great-"

"-The great bridge between the spirits and the humans, we know, we know!" Sokka finished sarcastically.

"I'm gonna cross over to the spirit world and try to get that giant wolf spirit to come here." Aang cross his legs when he sat down and began to meditate to get into the spirit world.

"Beh! This is a waste of time." Azula grumbled and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Zuko asked. But his sister just ignored him and started to walk into the thicket. Making Zuko follow her. "Azula!" He called. Ama watched him follow her, lucky they didn't get far so no one would have to worry about making sure Azula didn't run off.

The two fire siblings spoke a bit until Azula shouted something about her mother and slowing her down and then ran back towards the camps and jumped by the lake.

"It's not going to work!" She shouted, generated lighting into her two fingers and pointed at the group. "You hear me, mother?! It's not going to work!"

"I said stop!" Zuko jumped between Azula and the group. Azula shot the lighting at her brother. Zuko took the lightning through his left arm, directing it though his body, and then shooting it into the sky. The lightning made smoke come from his arms and his hair spike up. "Did you forget, Azula? I know how to deal with your lightning."

"Whoa. I think I might be scared of you again." Sokka cowered back a bit.

"Misu and Rafa have nothing to do with our mother!" Zuko told his sister. "How could you even think-"

"But that's exactly what she wants you to believe!" Azula spoke like a crazy person, confusing everyone. "Zuzu, how could you be so naive."

"You're right. I have been naive." Zuko agreed. But not in the way that Azula meant. He had been naive to think that Azula could be trusted. He turned back at the Water Tribe siblings, already standing in a fighting position. "Take her down."

"Finally." Ama smirked, bending some water around her.

"Gladly!" Katara bent her own water to fling at the fire bender.

"It's about time!" Sokka also commented, and flung his boomerang. Azula shot fire back, but the others dodged them and focused their attack on her.

"No, don't do this." Misu pleaded. "The Avatar is trying to bring the spirit here! You mustn't cause such a disturbance!"

Ama shot water at Azula's feet, freezing it to keep her stuck. Their fight was interrupted by Aang's voice. "She's right, stop!" Everyone was a bit surprised but listened to him none-the-less.

"Aang, you're back!" Katara excitedly said.

"Whew! It's just you, Aang! This forest is creepy, I half expected another creepy-face!" Sokka sighed in relief.

"You mean like those?" Aang pointed at the faces, or masks, floating at the top of the pond and more kept coming one by one. Sokka jumped back with a scream at the sight. "Listen to Misu, everybody! No more fighting! We're about to have a visitor."

Everyone stared at the water as more and more faces plopped out of the water. Suddenly, the water at the center shot up as a large woman came out. She was made of vines, or wood, either way her body was made of nature. Her head had faces all around, but no eyes and multiple horns on top of her head.

"I am the Mother of Faces." She introduced herself. Her voice was angelic and soft, but also commanding of respect. "Through me, separateness came into the world. Through me, came identity. The one became many. I am a generous spirit, softhearted and kind."

"Maybe she knows where my mother is." Zuko whispered to Aang and Ama.

"Spirits know a lot of things, you should definitely ask." Aang whispered back.

"Each season, I grant one favor to one human. You may make your request now." The Mother of Faces told them.

"Wait. Just one?" Aang asked, looking back at Misu and Zuko. He was conflicted.

"Humans like you often chase after me, begging for new identities. Have you come to do the same?" The Mother of Faces said.

"See, here's the thing," Aang had a cheerful and hopeful smile while holding up two fingers. "We actually need two favors. I'm sure a big and gigantic yet beautiful and loving spirit like you can handle two favors, right? Your, uh. Face-iness."

"Do not test my generosity, young Avatar." The Mother of Faces said clearly. "One."

"They've waited for so long. If there's only one, it should be theirs." Zuko said, looking at the Northern Water tribe siblings.

"I'm sorry, Zuko. We'll keep looking for Ursa on our own after this." Aang gave his friend a reassuring pat on the back.

"Go ahead, Misu." Zuko motioned for the woman to talk the favor.

"Thank you, thank you!" The woman repeated happily.

"Ridiculous!" Azula shouted, breaking the ice on her foot and storming over to the water.

"M-mother of Faces, on behalf of my b-brother, I ask..." Misu began to make her request.

"You're such a constant disappointment, Zuzu!" Azula shoved past her brother. "Even when you're strong, you're weak!"

"Azula!" Zuko shouted at his ignorant sister.

"We seek a princess of the Fire Nation named Ursa!" Azula stepped in front of the unfortunate woman. "Tell me where to find her!"

"No!" Misu called. But it was pointless. The favor was already asked.

"Ursa." The Mother of Faces showed a holographic picture of Zuko and Azula's mother. "I remember her. I could not understand why a human of such beauty would ask for a new face. To test her sincerity, I offered her one as plain as can be." The spirit energy that created the picture of Ursa turned into a different person, the same woman that allowed the group into her home. Noriko. "She accepted."

"That's Noriko!" Zuko's eyes widened in surprise. "Azula, our mother is-" He stopped speaking when he looked back and didn't see his sister.

"She's gone!" Sokka noted, looking around for the girl.

"I know exactly where she's going." Zuko started to run in the direction of the town. "Back to Hira'a, back to Noren's house!"

"Wait!" Misu shouted and pointed Zuko into a different direction. "You're trying to get back to the Fire Nation town just outside the forest? There's a shortcut this way."

"Thank you." Zuko spoke to Misu.

"You were so kind to us." Misu had a thankful, yet disappointed, tone when she spoke.

"I'm sorry-" Zuko started to apologize for his sister.

"Go." Misu urged.

Zuko didn't think twice before running through the forest. But he wasn't going alone. Sokka and Ama followed him.

"Hold on, Zuko!" Sokka called and caught up to the Fire Lord. "I know sisters can be a pain to deal with, and mine aren't even crazy. You're gonna need backup."

"And emotional support!" Ama added.

"Thanks." Zuko smiled at the two, knowing they would always have his back.

As they arrived at the house, it was dark out so the lights from inside were on and shining through the window.

"It's so quiet." Sokka whispered.

"Too quiet." Zuko responded. He didn't like it. Because quiet could mean they were too late. Zuko leaned on the wall, trying to get a glimpse inside.

"Zuko what's going on in there?" Ama asked. "Noren's family... Don't tell me Azula..."

"No. They're fine." Zuko muttered, looking in through the window and seeing the family of three at the table. Noriko, or Ursa, was wiping her daughter's mouth. "They're eating dinner."

"Whew." Sokka breathed out in relief. "Thought maybe your sister had done something awful."

"Good thing Misu's shortcut worked." Zuko clenched his fist, knowing that meant Azula was on her way.

"So," Ama stepped by her boyfriend, looking through the window for a glimpse of the family. "That's really your mom?"

"That's her." Zuko sighed. And then started to walk to the front of the house. "Listen. I'm going inside. Can you guys stay here and keep an eye out for Azula?"

"Sure. Anything you need, Zuko." Sokka said confidently, putting his hand on his hips.

"Zuko." Ama sofly grabbed his hand, spinning him into her. "You sure you don't want me in there with you?" She asked softly.

"I think this is something I have to do alone. But I'll tell you everything later." He smiled and bent down to her lever, placing a soft kiss on her lips. Leaving the blushing girl, Zuko knocked on the door, ready to talk with his family.

"You know, it's bad enough that I have to deal with one mushy, affectionate couple." Sokka grumbled as Ama leaned on the wall next to him.

"Oh, shush. If Suki were here, you'd be the same." Ama teased, raising her eyebrows as she noticed the heart eyes and the gushy expression on Sokka's face. "Okay, buddy. Keep your heart eyes peeled for Azula."

The next few minutes were quiet. Ama and Sokka kept their focus on finding Azula. And that wasn't much of a problem. The lightning bender didn't exactly try to sneak past them. She charged at them right on.

Seeing the insane girl speed towards them, Ama bent some water, sending icicles in her direction. Azula responded by generating lightning and shooting it at her. Unlike last time, Ama saw it coming and was prepared. She bent the water underneath her and shot herself onto the roof of the house.

Azula grumbled something and shot herself up on the roof as well. Backing up slightly, Ama prepared for another attack. "You know, Ama. You really aren't the kind of girl I thought Zuzu would end up with." Azula pulled her strings.

"I know what you're doing, Azula." Ama grumbled. Azula liked to pick at insecurities and put wedges between people. It was how her opponents were left off balance and opened themselves up to defeat.

"Oh, what's that?" Azula smirked. "I'm just trying to help. Zuko likes his space, which you obviously don't respect. That's why Mai was so perfect for him."

Ama narrowed her eyes, throwing a water whip at her to get Azula off the roof. But Azula swung under it and created a blue flame in her hand. Sokka had just climbed onto the roof and threw his boomerang, hitting Azula in the back of her head, which prevented her from throwing the fireball.

The water bender tried the water whip again. Azula jumped above it this time. While midair, she generated lighting so while falling back down, the lightning hit the roof, creating a hole underneath the three and falling through.

Ama fell on her back, knocking the wind out of her and she struggled to catch her breath. But not only that, the back of her head hit something hard, immediately giving her the worst headache and distorting her vision.

"I said get out of my way!" Azula shouted at Zuko while falling and threw a fireball at his chest. Throwing him on the ground. She then turned to look at her mother, who was very confused about what was happening. Like she didn't even recognize Azula. "You finally! I can't tell you how long I've dreamed of this moment!"

"Mommy!" Kiyi yelled for her mother, but her dad kept her on his lap.

"Tell me mother, did you have to have a new daughter because your last one turned out to be such a monster?" Azula shouted the question. Both her pointed fingers generated lightning.

"Stay back, Azula!" Sokka warned while Zuko was still getting their strength back and Ama held her head in pain.

"Ha ha!" Azula tauntingly laughed. "Back for more, snow peasant?! Where's your little toy?"

"Right there." Sokka pointed just as his boomerang came back around and hit Azula on the backside of her head, again. "Everybody scatter!"

Sokka headed to Noren, or Ikem, and Kiyi to get them out. "I need to help my wife!" Noren reached for his wife.

"Let's make sure your daughter's safe first! Move!" Sokka prioritized, leading them out the door, then looked over at his sister. "Ama, let's go!" But he saw his sister on her side, holding the back of her head and her eyes shut tight. "Damn it. Do I have to do everything?" Running over to his sister and picking up, Sokka got her out of the house just then Azula started getting up.

"Sokka, is Zuko..." The waterbender started to ask through her splintering headache.

"Ama, can't you just worry about yourself for once." He sighed, setting her on the ground against a log.

Then Azula ran out, past the people outside and towards the Forgetful Valley. "Azula!" Zuko chased after her. "Come back!" And soon Noriko was running after the two as well.

"Ama stay here." Sokka ordered her.

"Oh please, I'm fine." Ama mumbled leaning on the log to get up. "I can't get knocked down that easy. Ahhh." The throbbing in her head wasn't going away and the sudden movements only made it worse. "Actually, I think I'll just stay here and heal myself." Sokka nodded and ran after the others.

"Are you okay?" Kiyi asked, taking a seat next to the waterbender. Her brown eyes looked at Ama with innocence.

"I will be." Ama smiled at her while she created a water glove and placed it on the back of her head. "Are you okay?" She asked in return, her headache already starting to fade. After all, the little girl just had her house broken into and her mother almost killed.

"Yeah. I just hope that mommy's okay." The little girl looked down.

"She will be." Ama told her with certainty in her voice. "She has Zuko and my brother with her."

"What are you doing with the water?" Kiyi moved behind the waterbender and observed the glowing blue light curiously.

"I'm healing myself." Ama told her just as she finished up.

"Cool." Kiyi said in awe. She put her arm in front of Ama where there was a cut, probably from when Azula fell through the roof. "Can you do my arm."

"Of course." Ama grinned, placing her gloved hand on Kiyi's arm. The cut healed almost immediately.

"Wow." Kiyi grinned and giggled. "You're really cool."

"Thanks. I think you're really cool." Ama poked the girls stomach making her giggle some more.

"Can I tell you a secret." The little girl said in a whisper and scoot closer to the water bender.

"Yeah." Ama whispered back, sinking further into the ground to be more at Kiyi's level. "What's your secret."

"I'm scared." She whispered, her small arms hugging her legs. "That mean lady looked like she was going to hurt mommy."

"You're mommy is going to be okay." Ama told her softly. "She just needs you to be brave. When she comes back, she's going to want a huge hug from you."

Kiyi kept a frown on her face and shrugged. "I don't know if I can be brave."

Ama had some experience with kids from when she was in the Water Tribe. None of them had their dad's with them, all of them were scared. Either because they thought the Maah, a spirit believed to drown misbehaving children, would come or because they feared their fathers wouldn't come back.

The waterbender sometimes took it upon herself to speak to them. She'd tell them other stories about the helpful spirits and the animals that were there to protect them. A thought popped into Ama's head and her hand dug into her pant pocket.

"Here." Ama said, pulling out her carving of a polar bear dog. Kiyi took it timidly and inspected it. "Where I grew up, we had polar bear dogs. They symbolize loyalty, strength and courage."

"It's pretty." Kiyi fiddled with the little trinket.

"It's yours." Ama told her. "Promise me that you'll be brave. Always."

Kiyi looked up at the Water Tribe girl with the biggest grin. "Wow, thanks."

Just then, the group came back as the sun was rising. Without Azula. But Zuko's mom looked different. At least, she didn't look like Noriko, she looked like Ursa. "What happened?" Ama asked Katara. Kiyi's dad called her over, so it was just Ama and Katara.

"The Mother of Faces gave Zuko's mom her face and memories back." Katara answered. "But Azula got away."

Ama groaned and ran her hand through her hair. "Damn it." Then she looked over to Zuko, who was talking to his mom. There was no anger or any hard feelings. But the conversation seemed understanding and happy. "At least we got what we came for." She smiled.

.☽☼☾.

It must have been one or two hours till Zuko and Ursa walked back to the house. Everyone was inside, except for Ama and Sokka who wanted to be outside. Suddenly, a hand slid onto Ama's shoulder. Turning to her right, the water bender saw Zuko and his mom. Ama immediately stood up from the long.

What do I say? Hi, I'm Ama. I'm also dating your son. Oh, and I'm also one of the people that got your previous husband in jail. Fun fact. Zuko and I tried to kill each other for the first months we knew each other.

"Mom, this is Ama." Zuko introduced her, moving to his girlfriend's side and slipping his hand in her's.

Or your boyfriend can just introduce you. That works better.

"It's nice to meet you, Ama." Ursa smiled at her sweetly. "Zuko has already told me so much about you."

"Hehe, I don't know if that should worry me or not." Ama smiled nervously. Zuko and Ursa both chuckled at her words.

"All good, I promise." Ursa assured her. "I'm just glad my little Zuko found someone that makes him happy." Zuko blushed. But it wasn't like Ama didn't already know he loved her.

"Shall we go inside?" The Fire Lord motioned towards the house.

"We shall." Ama responded and they headed into the house.

All while Sokka sat on the log outside with a frown. "Everyone forgets about Sokka." He grumbled to himself and started to stomp inside. "Honestly. No one around here respects me. It's all 'Sokka, do this. Sokka, do that.' But no 'Hey, Sokka. How ya doing?'"

.☽☼☾.

I would love feedback or if you have any questions, I'd be happy to respond!

Hang loose, amigos 🤙🏼

#zuko x oc #multipart #her sun his moon #atla fanfic #avatar

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