#38/11 life path

[warriorhealer]

[shanastoryteller]

Happy Pride! Can I get some trans content<3

a continuation of 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

He can’t be pregnant.

The curse mark on his arm tells him that he is living in this body on limited time. Eventually, he will die, the string keeping him inside Mo Xuanyu’s body snapping like a string and sending him back to wherever she summoned him from.

He’d let himself forget, a little. The body he inhabits is so different than the one he woke up in. He’s made her stronger, grown her golden core into a fearsome thing, worked and worked muscles until they swelled and hardened.

It had begun to feel like it belonged to him, liked he’d carved his body from Mo Xuanyu’s. The differences from his old body hadn’t felt important, and still don’t, it’s about how this is the body he worked for and made from the one given to him.

But Mo Xuanyu is dead and her body isn’t his to keep.

If he wants to have this baby, then he must betray Mo Xuanyu and her sacrifice. If he wants to bring Lan Zhan’s baby into the world, he cannot kill Jin Guangshan.

Completing the mission she retrieved him for will sever the connection and he will die again and so will the life he’s growing.

His only hope is that maybe, maybe the thread binding him here will hold long enough for him to both deliver this child and kill Jin Guangshan.

He looks from Jiang Yanli to Jiang Cheng, their fierceness and determination the closest he’s felt to home in a long time. He shouldn’t be letting them do this, shouldn’t be sinking into the comfort of their protectiveness when they think he’s someone he’s not, but he can’t help it. It makes him feel even sadder for Xuanyu, to think that they would have done this for her, if only she’d let them. Hadn’t Jiang Yanli reached out to him that very first day while he was a confused and terrified mess? And here she is now, offering to shield him from his husband, offering to help Mo Xuanyu choose her own path and either continue the pregnancy or have it end here.

He takes a deep breath, trying to stem the flow of his tears. Jiang Cheng’s hands on his shoulders feel like the only thing keeping him in place, like he’s pressing Wei Wuxian’s spirit into place in Xuanyu’s body.

He presses a hand against his stomach, thinking of the life shifting in his womb as the first lotuses that had sprouted from muddy mountainside. If he could grow flowers in the burial mounds, he can grow a child in a borrowed body.

But does he want to?

This isn’t what he’s here for. The best case scenario is that he leaves Lan Zhan behind to raise a child alone, the husband and child of the woman who murdered a clan leader. The worst case is he leaves Lan Zhan behind to mourn a wife and child and he dies without avenging the wrongs done against Mo Xuanyu. Or he can end this here, remove the potential child from the equation and kill Jin Guangshan as subtly as possible, something he has the time to arrange when he isn’t pushing his connection to this world to the brink. Then Lan Zhan will only be the widower rather than the husband of a murderer.

There are no good choices.

But he’s used to that.

He breathes in, holding it at the top of his lungs and letting out slowly.

A-Yuan had been the brightest light in the burial mounds. Anytime he wavered, aching for the life and the people he left behind, it wasn’t Wen Qing or Wen Ning of Granny who hardened his resolve once more, but A-Yuan.

He’d loved being a parent. He’d wished he really could grow siblings for A-Yuan like he’d grown turnips.

Wei Wuxian’s legacy is one of failure, of loss, of destruction. All those he tried to protect fell. All those he had protected turned against him. The last thing he will do on this earth is kill again, even if it is a man who has earned it.

He does not want to leave behind a legacy of only terrible things.  

It could all end horribly. But he’s always been foolish enough to hope for better than he has.

He finally meets Jiang Cheng’s steady gaze.

“I’ll talk to Wangji.”

[damn-stark]

Sugar

Geto Suguru x Gojo!fem-reader & Choso x Gojo!fem-reader

Summary- Love is a fickle thing isn’t it? Life isn’t so sweet. People are meant to love, lose, and love again; sorcerers like you more than most. You endure pains that non-sorcerers will never experience a speck of in their lifetimes. So much is expected of you not only because you’re a Gojo; a sorcerer from one of the prestigious sorcerer families, but because you were lucky or unlucky to be born special grade as well. All your life you were taught to be one way and follow a path, but remember that pain you get to experience in order to protect the lives of non-sorcerers? Well, that pain gets to you and deviates you down a dark path with Suguru Geto, a man you love, your hope, and the one who stays. Yet that path is dark and twisty, full of surprises that bring life, and loss most of all. When will enough be enough, and will you be able to find that light in a lifetime of darkness you so crave? Will you change your ways after years of defection and thinking you’re right? Do you believe in second chances after what you’ve done?

Moodboard, fighting outfits concepts

Suguru geto x y/n Gojo moodboard, Satoru Gojo x y/n Gojo moodboard, Kento Nanami x y/n Gojo, Choso x Y/N

Chapter 1 Angelfish

Chapter 2 Just a girl

Chapter 3 The first one

Chapter 4 Live for the hope of it all

Chapter 5 Appeasing

Season 2 (Hidden inventory arc)

Chapter 6 Where you are

Chapter 7 The Ballad of a Jujutsu sorcerer

Chapter 8 The world’s a little blurry

Chapter 9 Hearing damage

Chapter 10 I’ll know, I’ll know

Jjk 0 Movie

Chapter 11 It almost worked

Chapter 12 Fallen Angel

Chapter 13 It’s over isn’t it?

Chapter 14 Lost in the darkness

Season 2 (Shibuya Arc)

Chapter 15 The start of something new

Chapter 16 The last supper

Chapter 17 Kill of the night

Chapter 18 Happy birthday, by the way

Chapter 19 I’m sorry for your loss

Chapter 20 Intergalactic

Itadori Execution Arc

Chapter 21 But then I found you

Chapter 22 What never was

Tengen arc

Chapter 23 You’re an angel, I’m a dog

Chapter 24 By saying something stupid like…

Chapter 25 Blood, dragons, curses and black holes

Sukuna v Satoru

Chapter 26 Sweet Gojo

Chapter 27 The sun will shine on us again

Chapter 28 A song for us

Chapter 29 Birthday surprises

Chapter 30 Two can be as bad as one

Chapter 31 All through the night

Chapter 32 Our last goodbye

Chapter 33 Haven’t I given enough?

Chapter 34 Two birds on a wire…

Chapter 35 …One says c’mon and the other says I’m tired

Chapter 36 Be the One Fallen from Grace, be Death

Chapter 37 Strong heart

Chapter 38 Les

Chapter 39 Heart on fire

Side stories

Wedding bells (takes place in between chapter 10) takes place in 2008 & 2009

Colors of the wind (takes place in between chapter 10) takes place in 2012

Fun trend not so great (before season 2 starts)

The soul (takes place in ch.17)

Satori info page

[localravenclaw]

Fifty OC Questions

1. Describe your OC's physical appearance in detail.

2. Why'd you choose your OC's name?

3. How does your OC feel about their birthday?

4. How does your OC and their parents get along?

5. What's something you'd never put your OC through again?

6. What's your OC's go-to comfort meal?

7. What career path would your OC take?

8. What's something your OC can't do?

9. What is your OC's ideal romantic partner?

10. Does your OC like to spend time alone or with others more?

11. What time does your OC usually go to sleep?

12. Where in the sibling order is your OC?

13. What's the worst thing your OC's ever done?

14. What would it take for your OC to kill someone?

15. What item does your OC hold most dear?

16. How does your OC unwind?

17. What's your OC's star sign?

18. What kind of drunk is your OC?

19. Who does your OC end up with?

20. Who is your OC's role model?

21. Is your OC big on revenge?

22. If your OC ever got the chance, would they go back in time? When would they go?

23. What's your OC's favourite memory?

24. Will your OC ever admit to being wrong?

25. Is your OC doomed by the narrative?

26. Would your OC get along with you?

27. What's one thing your OC will never get over?

28. Is your OC going to make it?

29. Does your OC look their age?

30. What weird pet would your OC have?

31. Does your OC care a lot about their appearance?

32. What's one food your OC can't stand?

33. What animal do people associate your OC with?

34. what's your OC's "thing"?

35. Random fact about your OC

36. Would your OC sleep with a clone of themself?

37. What part of yourself do you love in your OC?

38. What's the lowest point in your OC's life?

39. What's your OC's biggest achievement?

40. Does your OC ever go back home?

41. How would your OC adapt to the modern world?

42. Does your OC have any unique talents?

43. Does your OC exist in canon or AU timeline?

44. Is your OC a people person?

45. Did your OC ever have an alternative name?

46. Does your OC possess any special powers?

47. Is your OC allergic to anything?

48. Does your OC have a lot of uncommon knowledge? How do they know it?

49. Does your OC have any scars or birthmarks with an interesting story?

50. What do you love and hate most about your OC?

I've been meaning to put this list of questions together to get to know more about my friends' OC's/MC's. I've always been very fascinated about other people's character's lore and this kind of helps me flesh out my own OC's as well. There's already an HLMC question list out there, so I tried to list different ones this time.

Many of the questions are from @ocprompts. Please give them a follow for daily questions about your OC's! ♡

[huhjxn]

N E W J I N S : A Small World

huh yunjin musician & vlogger smau

every person have a different path destined for them depending on their passions and aspirations. huh yunjin is a courageous kid who chased her dreams of becoming a musician, but she realized that a certain girl starts to become part of that dream. just like any other journey in life, she is faced with different obstacles as she tries to pursue y/n. can she actually succeed or will she just be another 'jin' that you meet?

main cast: huh yunjin, kim chaewon, kim minju, jeon heejin (and more...)

genre: fluff, slight angst(?), wlw, their-besties-are-exes trope, defo slow burn

updates: 2-3 times a week

warnings: swearing, red flag chaewon, they r rude & gay

a/n: i just opened a taglist for this! comment or send an ask to be a part of it

[0] profiles

[1] studios & coffee shops

[2] new song out now!

[3] broken hearts

[4] chaewon's new girl

[-] extra: minju day

[5] looking for u

[6] i saw that

[7] green is the color of jealousy

[8] stunning

[9] case study with hyunjin

[10] i might kill my ex

[11] y/n as a uni student

[12] yunjin's vlog

[13] shutdown

[14] finally??!?!

[15] the date

[16] uni over cuties era

[17] she's so dense

[18] it's out

[19] best girl

[20] everyone is down bad

[21] back in the game (?)

[22] do you get déjà vu?

[23] and you'll be losing me

[24] low blow (wtf)

[25] huhyunny fuck you

[26] front row seats

[27] other jins

[28] makeover with hyunjin

[29] new hair

[30] blonde slytherins

[31] airdropped pic

[32] love it when pretty girls

[33] past and present

[34] the favor

[35] jennifer huh: a bad bitch

[36] take me out

[37] minyn are down horrendous

[38] minyn are still down horrendous

[39] motivation

[40] bad intentions?

[41]

[42]

[43]

[44]

[45]

[46]

[47]

[48]

[49]

[50]

[anatanasblog]

Part 1.1: How to calculate your Matrix of Destiny

📌 This post explains the process on how to CALCULATE your MOD, that means you will only learn what numbers do you have in your MOD and in what position.

Alright let’s start but first, what is MOD?

The Matrix of Destiny is a concept often associated with numerology and is based on the belief that certain numbers derived from one's birthdate can provide insights into various aspects of their life. These numbers and their positions represent different facets of life, such as personality traits, strengths, challenges, and life path.

The matrix is constructed using calculations involving the day, month, and year of birth, and each position in the matrix holds significance based on these calculations. The interpretation of the numbers in the matrix is said to unveil information about an individual's destiny, purpose, and potential life experience.

To see your Matrix of Destiny go to this link:

https://matrix-destiny.com

Even though we can automatically calculate our MOD, I want to explain the calculations so we can understand where numbers come from.

When we look at the chart, we can notice that there are circles with numbers. Today, i will focus on the five most important circles that are in color.

I’ll be using this MOD as an example so it’s easier to follow. This person was born on May 27, 2003.

- In the left purple circle, you will put the DAY you were born: 27–> 2+7= (9)

‼️ Rule: It's important to consider that if the result is >22, we must ADD again. For example, if the result is 26, then we should add 2+6=8. Thus, the number 8 goes in the circle. If the sum of your year is 22, then that number is used. Note: this rule always applies.

- In the top purple circle, we'll input the MONTH we were born: (5)

- In the right red circle, we'll input the YEAR we were born, for this, we need to add all the numbers of the YEAR: 2003 —> 2+0+0+3= (5)

- In the bottom red circle, we should put the result of the SUM of all the numbers we placed earlier: 9+5+5 = (19)

- Finally, the number in the center (yellow circle), once again, we need to ADD all the numbers we placed earlier: 9+5+5+19= 38 —> 3+8= (11)

Now that we know our main numbers, we are now going to calculate the Karmic Lessons numbers and the 💲and ❤️ lines numbers.

- 11 + 19 = 30} 3+0 = (3) this three is in ORANGE above the little 22. Now, 3 + 19 = (22) this twenty two is in BLACK in between numbers 3 and 19

- 11 + 5 = (16) this sixteen is in ORANGE next to the little 21. Now, 16 + 5 = (21) this twenty one is in BLACK in between number 16 and 5

Note: Remember about the “If >22” rule.

- 3 + 16 = (19) this nineteen is the number in the middle above the purple arrow.

• For the 💲line: 16 + 19 = 35} 3 + 5 = (8)

• For the ❤️ line: 3 + 19 = (22)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[lilithgreye]

numerology dynamic

you can add life path numbers together (or birth day numbers) to see what the dynamic between two people will be like

example: 7’s and 8’s would make great friends or family members since 7+8=15 and reduces to (1+5) 6 the number of friends and family

example: 33’s and 5’s do very well romantically and have lots of care for one another as 33+5=38 which reduces to (3+8) 11 and 11 is the best number for love and also represents emotional energy

example: 8’s and 11’s would be a very challenging karmic relationship because 8+11=19 which is the number of negative karma

note: the only time this may not apply is 9’s and 11’s as these two energies don’t mix well. although they may be magnetized to one another this can create a harsh dynamic in the long run. also this is not about compatibility necessarily just the main dynamic between two people

[lovelyladyabsinthewrites]

Love Song for a Vampire Pt. 34

 Pairing(s):Edward Cullen x Wolf!Reader, Jacob Black x Witch!OC

Warnings: none

Words: 2300

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4  Part 5  Part 6  Part 7 Part 8  Part 9  Part 10  Part 11  Part 12  Part 13  Part 14  Part 15  Part 16  Part 17  Part 18  Part 19  Part 20  Part 21  Part 22  Part 23   Part 24  Part 25  Part 26  Part 27  Part 28 Part 29  Part 30  Part 31  Part 32  Part 33  Part 35  Part 36  Part 37  Part 38  Part 39

You can hear the obvious deep words shared between Sam and the elders. Even as the others light-heartedly joked around with Dieufel and Nadege (who had turned back into her human shape), you were too concerned with what was going on on the porch. You try your best to train your ears on anything you could catch. Evita had slowly strolled in at some point but she'd noticed your face screwed up in concentration. She closes her eyes and attempts to listen as well.

"They're worried you guys are going to attract more vampires. Or. . . something worse." You murmur so you didn't disturb the others. Even Paul and Jared were distracted by Nadege conjuring large bubbles that float all the way up to the ceiling before popping. It made the younger wolves laugh; thoroughly entertained.

Evita's round face is calm. "They're right to be worried. That's the thing about magic. It attracts other beings, good and bad. Especially their family's magic. The wards will help but until we get all of them into position there will be vulnerable gaps." Her warm hand is soothing against your shoulder when she regards your agitated expression. "Don't be discouraged.

"This all seems like way too much for me." You quietly admit. "Too much for the others as well. Sam and Dieufel are nearly the same age. We're all so young." War. Jesus, that was what everyone was facing. Your pack had been lucky in the fight with Victoria and her newborns, but against all of the vampires of the Volturi? Not even the help of the Denali coven could make much of a difference.

You catch Eryld Ren's disgruntled voice bleed from the front of the house, as did the others in the kitchen you stall their conversation. The eyes of your packmates look to one another with concern as they strain their human ears to listen in on the conversation. Dieufel and Nadege, while trying to not look like they were eavesdropping, pick at spots on their attire here and there. This was technically a pack matter and you knew if the elders were aware of the witches listening in that they would be none too happy.

"Just because you're alpha doesn't make you free to do as you please!" The older voice bellowed out. You can hear tones coming quietly from the other elders but they're zipped shut by Eryld who is on the war path. "This is something that should have been discussed with us! You've brought these strangers and their magic into our land. Do you even know what you're doing? I swear young people these days don't think!"

Sam's voice in comparison to Eryld's is in a low, calm manner where no one in the kitchen was able to hear what he was saying. He knew how to best handle the elders and their old fashioned ways. And while he may have not been an actual elder on the tribe committee, he did have quite the sway. Especially if it was in regards to the safety of Forks and La Push. He was the one who led us. He still had a say in supernatural matters, things that the elders couldn't really understand for not even they had the honor of calling themselves wolf warriors even in their prime. They'd never felt the exhilaration of shredding out of your soft and vulnerable human flesh to a body that was made of muscle and strength. They had met no other vampires besides the golden eyed Cullens who were a far cry from the vampire norm. Never had the elders had to pray for their life while evading a bite from a red eyed newborn. How could they understand the quick thinking necessary in a situation like that? To you, it was the elders that had no right in barging in on pack business. The witches included that. Sam deeming them trustworthy should have been enough.

A wordless exchange occurs between Evita and Dieufel, her bright eyes in contrast to the dark depths of his. Dieufel takes a breath and passes by the two of you to go out into the living room and address the loud voices of the elders. The rest of you peek out your heads and watch with bated breath as confident Dieufel saunters across the small living room. Sam feels his presence and turns halfway. Both of them stood near the same height and most likely were around the same age. There's a wash of relief at Dieufel's intervening figure. He's grateful to have backup that Jared nor Paul could offer against the elders. An outsider.

"Hello gentlemen." Dieufel eloquently introduces himself with a small bow that has the older men's eyes rounding in surprise. He must look the sight to them as he did dress in exotically bright colors. He adds in a softer exhale "Thank you for having me on your lands. You're apprehensive of the threat we may bring in. My cousin and I have traveled far to help you though. We mean no harm whether intentional or otherwise. If we bring anything that's not of goodness, then we promise to deal with it ourselves. We understand the threat everyone faces in the local town. In honor of our Letizia, we want to help."

"He can charm a snake out of it's den, that one." Nadege quietly snickers against Evita's shoulder.

The rest of the conversation was continued with hushed voices so that everyone in the kitchen was huddled tightly around the door. Seth, Colin and Brady shove to make room for themselves since their hearing wasn't as good as the older members. Paul shushes them when they bicker amongst one another in the process. That quiets them down although you still catch a few hisses of 'move' or 'stop leaning on me'.

With tempers calmed in the front, nothing more could be heard from the men and eventually everyone's back grows sore from stretching out of the kitchen as far as they could without being detected. You stand up and stretch as does Embry and Paul.

"Well, sounds like these have been handled." muses Paul and returns to raiding the fridge for a small snack.

Evita happily nods. "Dieufel has always been the peace keeper."

Nadege leaps back onto the kitchen counter, her long legs stretched in front of her and kick gently. "Oh yes. He's the oldest among all of our cousins and always the one in charge of watching us. With eight squabbling cousins, he learned quickly how to make us calm."

"Is it your entire family that can shape shift?" Brady asks with stars in his eyes, not just for the prospect but also because of Nadege's charm. He's leaning against the small kitchen table that's pressed up to the window.

She nods, her lovely braids moving as she did so. "Yes. Our whole family has been able to turn into birds for as long as any of our relatives could remember. As long as we keep up with our practice, we can keep our bird forms. Once we get older though we can't shape shift. Our anman manman still misses her wings." Her voice grew quiet at that like she's remembering her grandmother who could no longer take to the sky as she'd done in her youth.

Their shape shifting power was much different from the wolves. As long as you kept transforming, it stalled the aging process and one could live much longer than an ordinary human. Sam had told you that when you voiced your worries about Edward. While imprinting tied your souls together, you were still moderately human. Edward could live for centuries but many wolves chose to stop shape shifting in order to age with their human partners. To soothe your worries of you growing old and dying before Edward, he'd told you that as long as you transformed, your aging would be delayed.

"Anman manman doesn't mind too much." Came Dieufel's voice from the entrance of the kitchen with Sam. Everyone had missed the sound of the front door closing and the start of car engines coming to life. "She's traveled more of the world than we have."

Paul straightens up. "Well what was the verdict?"

The light mood that had encapsulated those present suddenly dried up.

Sam sighs and props his large body up against the doorframe as Dieufel joins his cousin on the countertop. "Definitely not happy from being kept in the dark but whether they like it or not, the witches can stay. They want them gone though as soon as the wards are up."

You frown and counter with "But what if something happens to one of the wards? And what if we don't know if they're working yet?" You'd definitely felt a lot safer with Evita there. There was something about her magic that soothed your anxiety and any other negative feelings that ate away at you.

Sensing your distress, Evita puts a hand on your shoulder to comfort your so that Sam can reply. "I'll talk to Billy. He can put more sense into those guys than even I can. For now, we all need to get to work and help them however we can."

"Well, lets not waste precious daylight." Nadege hops off with ease. "Lets get started!"

Yes, no more talking. There was much work to be done for the three witches as they began to pilfer the cabinets for useable tools or ingredients. Evita said many household spices and such could be used and whatever she had left from her recent trip to Port Angeles. More river stones would need to be collected but Brady and Colin were more than happy to escort Nadege out to the forest along with the watchful eyes of Paul who knew that they'd probably be more underfoot than of help due to their puppy love with her. The rest of us were left to Sam's house as we rearranged the furniture in the living room once more like it was a couple of days ago. Those who hadn't been present during Sam's spat with the elders were most likely on patrol. It was just you, Sam, Evita, Embry and Dieufel who prepped the living room.

The knock at the door came as a surprise to everyone since you were so engaged with the task at hand. Sam, being the host, stands tall from where he'd been helping Dieufel move the couch flush against the neighboring wall. His long strides got him to the door in seconds. He opened it to find a nervous Bella Swan already chewing at her bottom lip. At the sight of Sam, she lets go of her lip and attempts to stand straighter in his presence.

"Hey Sam." her voice is quiet but you can tell she's trying her best to be brave in front of your intimidating alpha who towered over her with ease.

"Ah, the witch in training." Sam teases causing Bella's brows to arch in confusion to his words.

Quickly you and Evita shove Sam unceremoniously out of the way. "Bella! It's good to see you." You hastily greet her since Sam didn't. Excitedly you push Evita forward. "Evita, Bella. Bella, Evita."

You'd never seen the expression of pure awe on Bella's face before. Not like that. Her usually pale face had a glow to it when she looked upon Evita. Even knowing that Evita was Jacob's imprintee did not dampen the introduction. "I-It's nice to meet you." She holds out her hand for a shake which Evita eagerly grabs.

"Igualmente.. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to say hello the first time you saw me."

Bella shakes her head. "No it's alright. You literally had your hands full." Her blush is dark and noticeable on her cheeks as she's trying her best not to stutter in front of her. "What you were doing. . . I can't stop thinking about it."

With her hand still holding Bella's, Evita brings her inside and sits her down on the newly moved couch. Bella's eyes catch Dieufel who watches with interest along with Sam. Evita follows her eyeline and says something to Dieufel in her native tongue. In response, Dieufel rolls his eyes and nudges Sam with his arm. "She wants us to leave. Says we're making the girl uncomfortable."

Bella's ears go red. "No, I-"

Sam just chuckles and shakes his head. "It's okay." He addresses the other male in the room. "Lets go see how the others are doing. I can show you through the forest if it will help you."

They go out through the kitchen's back door leaving the three of you alone. It was better like this. Too many people might have Bella even more nervous.

Evita doesn't waste time as we have little to spare. She goes to tell Bella what she had told yourself and Sam about her potential to wield magic. She explains what she had sensed during her crafting of the first ward, how she'd felt Bella the moment she entered the room. Even Bella breathlessly told Evita of what she had felt watching the witch in that moment. It had been an eye opening experience for Bella. One she couldn't push from her mind. She wanted to feel that way again. You'd give Bella credit to how easily she accepted this news.

"Now it won't be easy." Evita confesses, gauging Bella's face. "Since you did not grow up learning and using it. But if you work hard enough, you'll be able to at least meet a beginner's tier. Enough to learn how to make a ward."

Bella turns to you, confidence shining on her face. Confidence suited her. "I can do it."

You and Evita smile. And so Bella's training began.

TAGLIST: @saltedcoffeescotch​  , @dangerouslittlefairy​ , @burn-crash-rqmance​ , @casedoina , @avadakadabra93 , @daryldixonstorm , @blue-aconite​ , @xanniestired666 , @esposadomd​, @godinho11​ , @arin-swear-rose​ , @alexizodd​ , @melaninsugarbaby​ , @lyeatoalinatoheaven , @ronwownsme​ , @itsmytimetoodream​ , @afro-hispwriter​ , @mutandis-extremis993 , @hxgemxscles​ , @nightly-polaris​ , @corrodedcoffins-slut , @ellesalazar​ , @itgetzweird08​ , @crybabyatthediscooffandoms​ , @sassyandclassyx​ , @scarlet2007​ , @theroyalbrownbarbie​ , @jennyamanda8​ , @stevenandmarcslove​ , @biancaindaeyo​ , @loversjoy​ , @turningtoclown​ , @vixorell​ , @xxthackerybinxxx , @daredevilonmyheels​ , @dumbbitch-juicee​ , @southern-bell-give-hell , @nat-the-gemini , @imdoingathingmom​ , @emmettcullenswife , @yoong1c0re , @daddykylokenobi​ , @minjix​ , @magical-spit​ , @krismdavis​  

[maple-seed]

Thrown Masterlist

After the timelines have broken free, Loki decides that all he wants is to join Thor in New Asgard. With a stolen tempad he travels to a timeline where the previous Loki died at the hands of Thanos. Now Loki helps his brother in rebuilding a home for the displaced people of Asgard while simultaneously learning to live a universe where it feels like this is the last place he should be. He wants nothing to do with the humans living nearby, but one in particular is not getting the message.

****

Takes place after the events of Season 1 of the Loki series, in a timeline where the Snap was prevented. Slow burn female reader insert fic.

Will be updating every other Thursday if all goes according to plan.

Loki Fic Masterlist AO3 Link

Chapter 1: New Neighbors Chapter 2: A Ride and a Wager Chapter 3: Fighting Words Chapter 4: A New Perspective Chapter 5: A Lie and a Secret Chapter 6: What Others Make of Us Chapter 7: Sea legs Chapter 8: Summer Rain Chapter 9: A Long Day Chapter 10: An Excuse to Indulge Chapter 11: The Witching Hour Chapter 12: Any Port in a Storm Chapter 13: Work and Leisure Chapter 14: Stars and Stories Chapter 15: Earthen Chapter 16: Selecting Titles Chapter 17: Retaliation Chapter 18: Chill Chapter 19: The Tempering Flame Chapter 20: The Rabbit and the Tree Chapter 21: Moving Forward Chapter 22: Worthwhile Confrontation Chapter 23: Lodestar Chapter 24: Ensnared Chapter 25: A Fire Within Chapter 26: The Longest Nights Chapter 27: Resolve Chapter 28: The Light in the Dark Chapter 29: Storm and Shelter Chapter 30: Two Sides of a Coin Chapter 31: A Failing Strategy Chapter 32: Guilty Pleasures Chapter 33: The Tales We Tell Chapter 34: Under the Weather Chapter 35: Twisting Branches Chapter 36: Lessons Chapter 37: The Rainbow Bridge Chapter 38: A Feat of Strength Chapter 39: A Quiet Life Chapter 40: Foolish Mortal Chapter 41: Eating Crow Chapter 42: Cautious Restraint Chapter 43: A Perfect Fit Chapter 44: Birthright Chapter 45: Absence Chapter 46: Lokabrenna Chapter 47: A Winding Path Chapter 48: Myth and Mortal Chapter 49: Threads of Fate 5/20/24

Blurbs Little vignettes that didn't fit in the main story. #1: Pop-Tarts (originally posted between Ch. 12 & Ch. 13) #2: Image Manipulation (originally posted between Ch. 18 & Ch. 19) #3: Card Shark (originally posted between Ch. 33 & Ch. 34) #4: Fanfiction (originally posted between Ch. 44 & Ch. 45)

Now with its own concept album! Thanks to @loopsisloops for this wonderful Thrown soundtrack.

Taglist beneath the cut.

Thrown Tag List If you would like to be added or removed from the tag list please leave a comment or send me a message/ask.

@mischief2sarawr, @imalovernotahater, @norestfortheshelbywicked, @purplekitten30, @ozymdias, @pdraxxi, @goblingirlsarah, @chantsdemarins, @n3rdybirdee, @lokiprompts, @ladymischief11, @gigglingtiggerv2, @huntress-artemis, @ellooo0ooo, @femme1fatale, @clairewinchester14, @glitterylokislut, @psychospore, @ladyloki3, @skinij3fx, @iamlokisgloriouspurpose, @lunarnights95, @lilibet261, @valeave, @f2mhg2lt2rta, @fruit-caught-on-camera, @paetonnn, @honeyrydernot, @sarcastic-siren, @wolfsmom1, @lokisgoodgirl, @cakesandtom, @unlucky-number-13, @rinnwylde, @javagirl328, @josiedoesdoodles, @rose7420, @ultrasnakesona, @vickie5446, @superficialdomina, @ireallyneedtherapy, @weirdowoody, @hotmesshobbit, @buttercupcookies-blog, @km-ffluv, @mrsbarnes32557038, @tallseaweed, @leothecat97, @soulpiercing, @axen-gers, @im-a-slut-for-fluff, @jainaeatsstars, @whattwhoo, @xxfaithlynxx, @thisisew, @rvautomatic, @herdetectivetheorist, @rhiannon-russo, @loki-godofstories, @thedistractedagglomeration, @halepack2011, @kalibrate, @fireflymoonwitch, @runesgarde, @nelachu2423, @caelinoria, @anthc, @lovelytora, @princess-ofthe-pages, @lokislittlemouse, @wifeoframi

[study-with-aura]

Monday, March 18, 2024

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend! I had a very good spring break week. I will miss volunteering at the mission, but hopefully I will spend time there over the summer in between camp, the summer trip, and my ballet intensive. This summer will be another busy one, but I still have 44 days left of studies and should focus on them to not get too far ahead of myself.

I am really enjoying the book I am reading. It is a little creepy, but that almost makes me want to read more so I can learn about the mystery of what is going on! The sequel was on my reading list for this year, so I had to read this one first so I understood any new information in the next book. If anyone is curious about my reading list, I utilize the local librarian guide for my age group. It helps me explore books and genres I may not normally read otherwise. To see my full list, you can follow me on Goodreads. The link is on my main blog page under "Navigate".

Tasks Completed:

Geometry - Read about constructions + learned how to construct congruent segments and angles + practice + honors work

Lit and Comp II - Copied Unit 21 vocabulary + read chapter 38 of Emma by Jane Austen

Spanish 2 - Reviewed vocabulary (test tomorrow)

Bible I - Read Judges 10-11

World History - Reviewed key terms for new unit + read introduction to new unit + watched short documentary video on Mahatma Gandhi

Biology with Lab - Read and watched videos on creationist perspective of how life systems came to be

Foundations - Read more on security + completed next quiz on Read Theory + read an article about the propaganda campaign against public schools

Piano - Practiced for one hour

Khan Academy - Completed High School Geometry Unit 3: Lesson 8

CLEP - Completed Module 11.0 introduction video + completed Module 11 reading "Europe: 1918 to 1945" 13.1-13.5

Duolingo - Studied for 15 minutes (Spanish, French, Chinese) + completed daily quests

Reading - Read pages 124-176 of House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

Chores - Cleaned my bathroom + cleaned windows in my bedroom and in the study + took the trash and recycling out

Activities of the Day:

Personal Bible Study (1 Corinthians 15)

Volunteered 2 hours at the library

Ballet

Contemporary

Journal/Mindfulness

-

What I’m Grateful for Today:

I am grateful that I had a marvelous spring break.

Quote of the Day:

In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth.

-Gandhi

🎧Four Sketches, op. 15 no 1: In Autumn - Amy Beach

[dmagedgoods]

10, 20, 38, and B for Siavesh; 11, 17, 22 and 27 for Eneas! (Sorry I'm greedy)

I was so free and assumed something got mixed up and you meant Salvadore. 😁 I wouldn’t dare to answer for Sia, but I’m very willing to poke Dujour and pass the questions along as well. 😂💗 Salvadore: 10. What lie do they most frequently remember telling? Does it haunt them? Salvadore lies for political and diplomatic reasons when his plans require it. But he never obscures too much what he believes in and stands for and wants to achieve, just steps along the way and his methods. He acts highly strategically and knows how to play people. But those maneuvers belong to situational plans, there isn’t a returning lie he frequently tells. Maybe only one thing in the Pathfinder universe: He fully worked with people’s belief that he was Iomedae’s chosen one when he already sensed/knew the lie in it. After all, he never had any connection to the goddess and not even a lot of sympathy for her as the critical atheist he is. Still, for the time being, it smoothed his rise to power to present himself as her champion. He promoted the picture to gain support, strengthen alliances, intimidate foes, and make himself known. After the reveal, he didn't continue pretending to be Iomedae’s special soldier, the lie had outlived its purpose at this point. It doesn’t haunt him at all, it was just a political tool, one he had to get rid of again. Despite his angel powers, Salvadore would dislike it if his legacy was too strongly interwoven with Iomedae. While he doesn't speak against her, he makes very sure in the aftermath that the people recording his story publish he is not and never has been her chosen one and that he follows his own self-decided path. 20. If they were asked to explain the difference between romantic and platonic or familial love, how would they do so? He actually had to think about this topic a lot, in my original universe too, but he came to a clear conclusion. Salvadore rarely allows friendship in his life but when he does, the people he considers close in that way are very important to him and experience a much less aloof side of him, warmth instead of the cold he seems to radiate on a professional level, passion, and a certain teasing, playful charm. Still, he is one of those people who make a difference in the sheer … intensity of the bond in a romantic relationship compared to a platonic relationship. While the platonic part is necessary with a romantic partner for him too, he will always put this one special person he picks to spend eternity at his side on a special pedestal. It doesn’t take from the importance and value of his friendships, but what he shares with his partner has to involve a form of connection and depth that’s at least slightly above anything else in his life - tighter, stronger, wider. Of course, things like this aren’t just there spontaneously, it has a lot to do with growing and growing together and developments and is a way rather than a sudden event. Therefore, it would be more correct to say that for him a romantic relationship needs the vivid and clear potential to rise above all else, to become something uniquely big, and to last forever. 38. What memory do they revisit the most often? I answered this one here. 🥰 B) What inspired you to create them? I never felt I did. He just came to me and allows me to write him. And the reason he did, well, might be Rowley. Rowley needed someone who would make for a worthy opponent. Why someone like Sal? Well, they contrast each other in many points and work greatly together (as in: against each other) for this very reason. I’m sure, though, my wish for a character that would be controlled, structured, ambitious, classy, confident, condescending, determined, and a true leader had its part in it too. ~ Eneas: 11. How do they cope with confusion (seek clarification, pretend they understand, etc)?

It depends on the role he plays and what’s at stake. Asking the right or wrong questions can reveal a lot about a person’s thoughts, knowledge, education, background, etc. So, if a question gives away too much, he holds it back, and researches later, using materials he gathers or by influencing someone else to get him the information he needs. In some cases, and with people with a weak resistance to it and little attention, he uses his magic to push into their minds to extract the answers right at the source.

In a more casual situation, though, when his confusion matters little, he just politely asks for clarification. 17. Are they easily embarrassed? It’s hard to embarrass Eneas. He went through too much that required him to get rid of all pride in certain moments. It taught him that pride usually serves little purpose. He doesn’t have the slightest problem to bow or kneel or to say whatever gets him what he wants or needs. When he’s attacked in a way he can’t immediately escape, he switches into a calm but submissive role, not challenging the strength of the opponent until the very moment he sees the opportunity to disarm or kill them with one single counter strike (figuratively or literally). Insults so superficial they are meant to embarrass him? Childish, they won’t cause much at all. The only embarrassment happening to him here and there is secondhand embarrassment when people act in ways he considers overly blunt, annoying, disgusting, or just unpleasant. It’s for this reason he dislikes Rowley. 😂 22. How does jealousy manifest itself in them (they become possessive, they become aloof, etc)? This answer is here. 💕 27. What causes them to feel dread? Eneas is a coward and doesn’t find enjoyment in physical fighting at all. Even from the back row with his magic, those scenarios scare him. He much prefers to win his battles in a verbal way and/or to leave those confrontations to others entirely and only pull strings from somewhere removed. But what truly causes him dread, is the loss of power. Not to smaller degrees when one of his schemes backfires slightly or takes a surprising turn (he almost always has backup planes or – if none of them fits – some talent for improvisations) but to actually find himself without all his usual options he gathered and improved like an arsenal of protection: his magic, his tools, his words and roles and stories and lies, bare of his masks. He made very, very sure that he’ll never feel as helpless and at other people’s mercy as he did during his childhood and teenage years. His deep fear of love comes from the very same corner. He experienced and later caused too much betrayal, was used in too many ways, manipulated people wherever he went and while power and safety and wealth and revenge are strong motives to work with, it’s always love (in all its facets) that drives people the farthest and leaves them the most defenseless. He himself exploits it mercilessly to lengthen his life. How could he not view it as the most dangerous thing in the world?

[alias-sam]

Pierced by a Golden Soul JJBA x reader fic Masterlist

Finally decided to crosspost a fic on here, we'll see how it goes!

The full fic is already finished and posted to Wattpad

Summary: Fate is a bizarre concept with countless more bizarre implications. In life sometimes such extraordinary events happen that the only reasoning left must be fate. The tragedies that constantly befall the Joestar bloodline for example may be the unluckiest series of cards drawn in human history, or perhaps the work of a greater power. There is no way to tell for sure. Had Dio Brando or Jonathan Joestar moved slightly on a divergent path the world itself would be left very different. The fate or luck of the noble Joestar bloodline has led to destruction of evil likes of the Pillar Men and DIO. This story is of a similar caliber to that of the other Joestars (as I am sure you are familiar with them). This is a story of lost souls, compassion, hope, and above all fate.

A Normal Day in a Normal Life

2. A Less than Normal Day in the Life of a Stand User

3. High School Never Ends

4. Know Your Enemy Part 1

5. Know Your Enemy Part 2

6. Close Call

7. Getting Patched Up

8. Familiar Figure

9. Punching Can't Solve Every Problem

10. Elecrifying

11. Fiesta Time...?

12. Picture This

13. Video Killed the Radio Star

14. J-Jesus?

15. Jigsaw

16. Blueberry Blast

17. Alfred Hitchcock Can Bite Me

18. Sleepless Nights and Suspicious Minds

19. Bug Boy

20. Cum On

21. Feel the Noize

22. Quiet Riot Part 1

23. Quiet Riot Part 2

24. The Crushing Weight of Guilt

25. Under the Radar

26. Late Night People

27. Unexpected Accomplice

28. Close Encounter

29. Welcome to the Jungle

30. An Enemy's Offer

31. Cutthroat Company

32. Wide Awake

33. Pompous Pricks and Portals

34. Eavesdropping

35. Enemy Encounter

36. Mother Knows Best

37. Dodgeball is a Cruel and Unusual Punishment

38. Spot

39. (Don't Fear) the Reaper Part 1

40. (Don't Fear) the Reaper Part 2

41. (Don't Fear) the Reaper Part 3

42. Sleepover

43. Little High, Little Low

44. Stand Users Assemble

45. Blueberry Blast Strikes Again

46. Coming Through, Coming Through, Coming Through Now

47. Sethan

48. Coral Pink

49. Foggy

50. Bubblegum Bitch Part 1

51. Bubblegum Bitch Part 2

52. Bubblegum Bitch Part 3

53. Bubblegum Bitch Part 4

54. SPW Snooping

55. Enemy Ally

56. Child of Divorce

57. Mannesh Vita

58. Loli ho~ Part 1

59. Loli ho~ Part 2

60. Loli ho~ Part 3

61. Brioche

62. By No Means an Artist

63. Early Morning Excursion

64. Bite the Bullet

65. Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

66. Whipping Post

67. Julius Rossi is a Protective Brother

68. The First Cut is the Deepest

69. Put Out the Lights

70. Mourning

71. All Apologies

72. The Noiz Returns

73. Punching Can Solve Certain Problems

74. House of Memories

75. The Last Place Anybody Would Look

76. We Didn't Start the Fire

77. Seeing Double

78. Oblivion

79. Who Lives Who Dies

80. Justice

81. A Normal Day in the Life of a Stand User

<- To Be Continued

[hiswordsarekisses]

🤷‍♀️ Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬-‭14‬‬

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 38: ἁγιασμός

ἁγιασμός, (οῦ, ὁ, a word used only by Biblical and ecclesiastical writings (for in Diodorus 4, 39; Dionysius Halicarnassus 1, 21, ἁγισμός is the more correct reading), signifying:

1. consecration, purification, τό ἁγιάζειν.

2. the effect of consecration: sanctification of heart and life, 1 Corinthians 1:30 (Christ is he to whom we are indebted for sanctification); 1 Thessalonians 4:7; Romans 6:19, 22; 1 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 12:14; ἁγιασμός πνεύματος sanctification wrought by the Holy Spirit, 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2. It is opposed to lust in 1 Thessalonians 4:3f. (It is used in a ritual sense, Judges 17:3 (Alexandrian LXX); Ezekiel 45:4; (Amos 2:11); Sir. 7:31, etc.) (On its use in the N. T. cf. Ellicott on 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:13.)

[aurorawest]

Title: The General Mess and Imprecision of Feeling Author: @aurorawest​​ Rating: M (language, violence, sexual content) Relationships: Loki/Stephen Strange, Loki & Thor, Jane Foster & Loki, Jane Foster/Thor Major Archive Warnings: Creator Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings Word Count (so far): 109.7k Summary: Loki knows his feelings for Stephen Strange are a capital B-Bad Idea. Whatever character growth he’s struggled through hasn’t changed the fact that he’s uniquely incapable of making another person that kind of happy for more than a night.

When a powerful Asgardian artifact goes missing, Loki and Stephen must team up to track it down—especially once it becomes clear that the theft is part of a larger, insidious plot.

Can Loki tie together the loose threads of his life: the threat to New Asgard, his friendship with Stephen, and the feelings he can’t stop no matter how hard he fights, and write himself a happy ending?

Thank you to my betas, @mareebird​​​​​​​​​​​​ and AsgardianHarmony!

Chapter 31, Skarde, is posted!

They made it about halfway down before Stephen let out a muted yelp and lost his footing. Loki whipped around, arms open, flinging himself towards Stephen to make sure he didn’t topple over the edge of the path to the rocks below. “Are you okay?” Loki asked, his face pressed against the side of Stephen’s. Stephen’s arms were around him, too. When had that happened? “Yeah,” Stephen said. “Thanks. Maybe I should have let the Cloak come along, after all.” “Hindsight,” Loki murmured. One of his hands cupped Stephen’s shoulder blade and his body buzzed. God, he wanted to kiss this man. How was it possible to want to kiss someone so much? Before he actually did it, he let go of Stephen, turning around to keep picking his way down the path. The image of Stephen tumbling to his death kept gnawing at him. After a second, he reached back. Stephen took his hand wordlessly.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | Epilogue

[grumpygreenwitch]

The Witches and Wizards Job 15-16

AO3 Link

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Remember: Tumblr has no algorithm. Reblogs give me life.

1-2 + 3-4 + 5-6 + 7-8 + 9-10-11 + 12-13-14 + 15-16 + 17-18-19 + 20-21-22 + 23-24-25 + 26-27-28 + 29-30 + 31-32-33 + 34-35-36 + 37-38 + 39-40-41-42

FIFTEEN

Nate sprinted through the trail of destruction, chasing it all the way up the stairs and over several upturned benches. He skid to a halt at the sight of the shattered window, the marble floors battered but still smooth enough that he overshoot them. "Parker!"

"Nate!" She ran for him. "So the painting's a door with a lock and the man from the painting's real and he's a wizard -"

Nate gritted his teeth and focused on the onslaught. Everyone else tempered their reports; Parker didn't. Any information he didn't get now, when she was volleying it at him fresh out of her perceptions, would later be skewed from the thief's… unique perspective on the world. He could translate, he normally did, if only because usually he just wanted to make sure she was safe, they were all safe. But things had gone so ballistically out of control that he didn't dare.

Eliot dragged their battered consultant up, righted a bench the Golden Bear hadn't managed to destroy in its blind charge, and sat Dresden on it. "I'll be honest, man," he said calmly, "I liked it better when I thought it was just rabbits out of hats."

"You and me both," Dresden ground out, his head down. He was ashen with pain, and when Eliot put a hand gingerly on the wizard's shoulder he nearly swooned.

"Alright, my man, that shoulder's out." Eliot tried to catch Dresden's gaze.

"I know."

"It's dislocated -"

"I know."

"I can fix it -"

"I don't want you to, but I know."

"Harry, look at me."

"I can't," Dresden ground out at last. "You people trust too easy and I've been dodging soul-gazes since I met you all."

That brought the hitter up short. He could count the times he'd been accused of being too trusting in one hand, and for most of them he hadn't been old enough to drink legally. "S… Soul-gaze? What, you can look into my soul?" he tried to joke, even though something told him the wizard wasn't being funny.

"Sort of. Kind of." Dresden swallowed hard and tried to find any one position where his shoulder would leave him in peace. "It's a mutual sort of situation, though."

Eliot found himself both horrified and curious. It seemed to be a very common state of being where Dresden was concerned. "So you… look into my soul, and I get to look into yours?"

"Yeah. Reviews have been mixed for the show, so I prefer to skip it when I can. Makes it hard to keep friends." Harry gave him a wry grin, forgot himself and tried to shrug, and nearly fell off the bench.

Eliot hurried to steady the man, and suddenly Nate was there. "Hold him up, Nate."

"Yup. Getting your incidentals in, aren't you, Dresden."

"You pay those?" the wizard asked dizzily, then howled when Eliot, taking advantage of his moment of distraction, jerked the shoulder back into place. "That was about as painful as I thought it would be," he ground out breathlessly.

"Enjoy it later," Nate helped the hitter drag Dresden to his feet. "We've gotta get out of here before the cops swarm the place."

"I'm getting a little worried about what you people do for a living," Dresden admitted as they hurried past the massive gouges the Golden Bear's claws had left on the stairs, and the fine shale it had made of everything else that had gotten in its path. The leshy had been no tidier, just smaller. At least they didn't have to go back into the lab area; they bypassed it and headed further into the museum, through it, and then past to the open storage area, full of far more modern and precious things like floor cleaner and trash bags by the gross.

By then the wizard was moving under his own power, which worried Eliot a bit. He crossed a look with Nate, and saw the mastermind pinch his mouth into a thin line. It wasn't just that Dresden had the sort of quick recovery that said he was used to working through such injuries, it was the fact that he hadn't been meant to get injured to begin with. The trip to the museum had been meant to be a look-don't-touch: Harry had been hired to advice, not to be caught in the crossfire. Neither hitter nor mastermind were pleased with how things had gone down, and they were entirely too aware that it was no one's fault; that didn't mean they didn't feel the burden of it.

Sophie was waiting for them at the wheel of the white van. They shoved the wizard on the shotgun seat and piled into the back, where Mouse greeted them with great concern. Followed by Lucille 2.0, where Hardison had already cleared them to break through the police cordon, they drove back home, to try and figure out if they had a win, a loss or something else in their hands.

They took the chance to lick their wounds, sorting through what information they'd gathered. While Hardison ordered them all dinner and Eliot sorted out Dresden, Nate stepped out, fingers twitching for a drink that, for the first time in a long while, he didn't dare have. He was already having trouble coping with everything he'd seen and heard and learned that day while sober; he wasn't sure his rational incredulity wouldn't turn him beligerent if he threw whiskey into the fire.

"Nate?" The voice that steered him like a lighthouse through his life was gentle. She was always gentle, even when the steel peeked through the gorgeous satin and lace. Sophie came to stand by him. "Are we dropping the case?"

"I don't know," he admitted to her as he would have no one else, staring at the street and the few passing people, all of it wrapped in the deep golden haze of a New England summer sunset. "We should, shouldn't we?" She shrugged delicately and they stood in silence for a long moment. "You're sure it was real? That it couldn't have been anything else?"

"Some part of you must've known it was real," she told him. "Or you'd have never agreed to hire Harry."

"Harry, is it?"

She grinned. "I know what you're thinking, stop it. I think it's cute, like a schoolboy crush."

He couldn't help but snort in amusement at that.

"It was real." Sophie chewed lightly on her lip. "I thought I believed, you know? I thought I was ready for it. It seemed so exciting, so fun." She scoffed at herself. "It was a man with a shotgun and we were sheep in a pen." When she heard him hiss a breath out, she spoke before he could. "Parker never doubted. Never even hesitated."

"Parker has a view of the world I envy somedays," he admitted. "I think… it can't be my call, not alone. I want to drop it. But I don't think Dresden would." He saw the grifter make a face, something he caught only because he knew the gamut of her expressions so well. "What?"

"What? Sophie replied innocently.

"No, no, what was that face for?"

She clung to the pretense for a moment longer. "It's Harry."

"What about him?" Nate's tone sharpened.

"Not like that, Nate," she told him tartly. "It's just… Harry. Parker believed him. Eliot doesn't care. Even Hardison likes him."

"I don't like him."

"You don't like anyone. But you're still including him in the planning, you're still making him part of the con. Tara had to fight for it with all of you."

Nate let out a soundless little 'ah'. "You hired Tara."

Sophie shifted away from him, her eyes going hard.

The mastermind shifted forward to match, catching her shoulders. "And it was the right call." He watched surprise flicker over her features, but he was long past the point where he'd allow himself to believe such admissions were a weakness. "We needed a grifter. None of them were ready to step into the role, and I'm not the greatest at it -"

"Nate Ford, admitting he's not perfect?" She teased him to hide her surprise and smiled a little, fussing with the lapels of his shirt. "But?"

"But you hired Tara. None of the team got a say in the matter. We all agreed to hire Dresden, even me."

She licked her lips and thought on it. "I don't think we should drop the case. I don't think we can," she looked up at him.

"Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of," he admitted. "If they come after Parker, they'll be dealing with all of us."

"Even Harry?"

Nate sighed, deeply put upon. "Even the wizard." The streetlights came on at that moment, and a familiar car pulled up next to them along the curb; Nate brightened up. "Food's here."

"You know, we got that house and everything, we were supposed to have meetings there to protect Hardison's equipment, and I don't think anyone's set foot on it except his dog." Sophie pointed out as they rode the elevator up, arms full of Chinese take-out.

"Hopefully that'll change soon. I don't want to beat Fedorov on the exploding equipment department."

SIXTEEN

Parker came to find me with a cup of coffee and a very confused expression on her face. Of all the Leverage people she was the less emotive of the bunch, the hardest to read. Sophie flickered through her emotions depending on the situation, but they were still honest. Ford was just angry, so rigidly controlled I was honestly surprised the man didn't snap like a string pulled too far. Eliot and Hardison were relatively normal, if that word even applied to any of the team. But you know. Wizard. Stones and glass houses and all that.

It took me a moment to realize that she was worried. "What's that look for, me?"

"Yes." She admitted readily.

I scoffed. "I've been worse."

"You weren't supposed to get hurt," she protested. "You were just supposed to answer questions and explain things."

Ah. I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that, when Leverage had hired me as a consultant, they actually meant a consultant. I scooted myself over; I was resting on the only couch in the place, Mouse half-sprawled on my lap, staring mournfully at me. I'd showered, and Eliot had wrapped me up like a mummy so my ribs were only twinging occasionally. My arm was on a sling; I didn't want to ask why there were so many high-grade medical supplies at hand.

"We did, you know. Break into a museum."

She scoffed even as she sat next to me. "That's the point."

"A point I'm not following."

"If we just wanted you to see the portrait, Dresden, she could've stolen it for you." Eliot came out of the back of the loft, behind the wall of silent, dark screens. "She could've even put it back, but it would have taken too long to do it undetected." He marched into the kitchen and found a beer in the rattling fridge.

Parker popped her mouth. "So yeah. It was me."

"It wasn't you."

"He's right," Ford swept into the room, Sophie behind him, both their arms full of Chinese take-out. Hardison's head popped up from under one of the desks around the screens, and in a moment there was enough food going around that no one spoke for a few minutes.

"What do you mean it wasn't me?" Parker finally demanded.

"I mean we've been wrong about this from the beginning," Ford explained, and then his mouth pressed to a very thin line. "And we put mister Dresden in the line of fire with that misunderstanding. We did. The team did." The anger simmered minutely. "I did."

Oh. Oh. It was himself he lived angry at. Oh, boy.

"We agree that the malfunctioning fire suppression system at the Gardner was a sloppy job?" Nate asked the table, to general assent. "And we're still stuck on the targets?"

"Couldn't have been us, Fedorov wouldn't have been sloppy, that only leaves the woman," Eliot replied.

"No," Ford said. "It doesn't only leave the woman, because there was a fourth target."

"The portrait," Sophie breathed.

Hell's Bells, he was right.

"The attack was already planned," Ford explained. "Something simply accelerated the timeline. Now, it wasn't Fedorov because again, his visit was planned. It wasn't us, we hadn't taken the case yet."

"Baba Yaga," Parker breathed.

"Yes." Ford confirmed with deadly certainty. "This man, the man in black, he wasn't just coming by. He was coming in, to make sure everything was in place. Then he saw the woman and decided, why not. We were a monkeywrench, a snag he wasn't expecting." He stared levelly at Parker. "We've kept him from stealing the portrait twice. Once, when we derailed the impromptu attack and twice, because without the cylinder he couldn't go through with the actual, scheduled theft."

It worked. I saw Parker straighten up minutely, tension leaving her shoulders. More, it made sense. Ford had taken the bare-bones fragments that his team had managed to pick up here and there, and he'd put them together into a complete map of a plan I hadn't even glimpsed. Everyone in the Leverage team had a specialization; I was beginning to understand what Nate Ford was good at, and Jesus, he was really friggin' good.

"They should have never moved the collection," Sophie breathed.

"But they did," Ford declared with deadly finality. "Moving on. Parker, what else did you get from the man in black?"

"Wait." I went into the kitchen, found the salt and a paring knife, and came back. I made a protective circle around the chairs and the coffee table, empowered it, and looked up to find all five of them staring at me curiously. "People move," I explained. "You rarely get a good trace on an item when it's on a person, unless it belongs to them. I can't tell you if the man in black is good or bad at it, but I can tell you that as soon as he feels Parker doesn't have the stuff on her, he's going to try and track it down." I focused on the six of us being the only ones free to come and go past the shield, and poured a bit of my will into it. It snapped into life and I tried to hide a grimace; just that tiny bit of magic had felt like sandpaper scraping over a barely healed wound.

"Can you make something a little more permanent or, uh, less kickable than salt?"

"Did you get the brass piping from my shopping list?"

Ford looked at Hardison, who shrugged. "I got abou a third of the way through the list. It's all in the back room."

I wasn't sure I'd heard him right; the list hadn't been endless, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit I'd gone a little overboard, just because Ford's attitude had rubbed me wrong. "A th… A third?"

Eliot chuckled. "Harry, you know what's a few miles down that way?" He stabbed a thumb over his shoulder.

Fishman Central immediately came to mind, but I wasn't sure the hitter meant that. "Innsmouth?"

"Salem," he corrected, grinning. "Salem, Massachussetts."

I could have kicked myself. I was a bus ride away from one of the few places in the States that openly celebrated magic and witchcraft; granted a lot of it was just kitsch and tourist traps, but I didn't know how much of it was real. I had no idea how much of my shopping list Leverage could have acquired by basically walking down to the corner store.

"A lot of it was just hardware." Eliot looked terribly amused.

"How long will it take you to make a permanent…?" Ford waved his hand at the salt.

"Uh… Not long if I had both my arms, but -"

"Hardison and I can be your hands," Eliot pointed out.

"Alright, hardware mode," Hardison sounded outright gleeful. It probably had something to do with the look of utter resignation Ford was suddenly wearing. Eliot and Hardison shared a fistbump.

"Should I wait, then?" Parker sounded uncertain.

"I want a look," I admitted, curious in more ways than one. Sure, she'd stolen my wand, and my shield-bracelet. And my wallet. But how much could she have possibly got off the man in black given the only time she'd been near him he'd been practically strangling her?

"So do I," Ford relented after a moment. "But it's more important than ever now that the man in black doesn't find us."

"I want to know what those things were," Sophie said, not bothering to hide a shiver.

"Leshy," I said. It was a little jarring when I wasn't the only one who offered the answer. I looked at Eliot; everyone, in fact, was looking at Eliot, who looked as flustered as I'd yet seen the man.

"Leshy, that's Russian," Ford managed to look at me instead, but it was a struggle. Hell, I could barely look at him rather than at Leverage's heavy hitter.

"Yeah, they're Russian fairies. Dug up your fields, broke your tools if you left them out, you know. Engaged in general mayhem. When the modern age rolled around they turned into rent-a-th - how." Nope, couldn't look away from Eliot. "How do you even know about leshy?"

"I've had a couple of run-ins with them," he admitted sheepishly. "To be fair I thought leshy was the name of the organization, their last name, something like that, not like a, a name for what they are."

"How did you know it was them?" Ford asked curiously.

"Their accent." Eliot looked even more flustered. "It's a very distinctive accent, alright?"

"So the man in black can hire fairies to do his stealing for him," Sophie ground out disdainfully. "How nice for him."

"The leshy aren't the problem," I told her. It was still odd, somewhere between gratifying and scary, to find people who weren't trying to explain magic away, who were simply taking it in stride as much as possible, making it part of their plans, dealing with it. "You didn't see how he summoned the bear."

"That was seamless," Eliot agreed thoughtfully. "You've worked ahead on everything you've done. He didn't. That's a problem, isn't it."

"Portals aren't easy. They're expensive, in time, in materials, in magic. You can sort of cheat if it's a spot where people keep coming and going -"

"Where a path's been worn in," Ford mused.

"Yeah. But what he did? I know maybe two people who could open a portal like that, no prep, no tools. I know none who could also open it exactly to the Nevernever creature that they wanted to summon, unless they're also from the Nevernever, and this guy isn't. He's a wizard. He's human."

"You don't look happy to know that." Ford was watching me with hyperbolic attention. He'd been the hardest to avoid for a soul-gaze; the Leverage people used their eyes like they did everything else, voice, posture, brain - like a weapon. Ford still didn't like me, even if he was willing to both believe me and work with me. He kept trying to stare me down, and I really didn't want to see what the ice in his gaze hid.

I also didn't want him to look into my soul and find out he was mostly right about me. "Wizards are strictly forbidden to use magic to harm or kill others."

"Ah." I watched him digest that. "Men in grey and big swords?"

"Yup."

"Is there anything in your world that doesn't carry a death penalty?" Sophie protested, incredulous.

"Between him and me we just blew up an entire lab in that museum. Men in grey and big swords are… about the only thing that works." I couldn't believe that I was agreeing with the White Council but the truth was, the Wardens existed for people like the man in black. I'd run afoul of them, and I'd been snagged for a scapegoat way too often to ever make peace with the Council or their attack dogs, but until the system got fixed, they were what we had.

"Hm." Ford filed away that information. I could almost hear his mind whirring, coming up with ideas, thoughts, possibilities - a computer that no magic could short out. "Parker, you about done?"

"Almost," she informed him.

I looked back at her. She had knelt by the coffee table, just shy of my circle, and was still pulling things out of her pockets.

… how?!

She saw me staring and gave me that wicked grin. "He had a lot of stuff. I left his stick, though. I left anything I thought he might notice was gone." Finally she pulled the key out.

"No, don't put that down," I stopped before I caught her hand. Parker, I'd noticed, was one of those people who don't like to be touched. She didn't mind Hardison doing it, but I was beginning to suspect they were an item. She didn't mind Sophie, but if anyone qualified as a Team Mom, Sophie was it. But even Eliot and Ford made sure never to initiate contact, leaving her to breach the distance at her leisure. "You're the best protection it has right now."

"Oh."

"Just let me have a good look at it. We already know what it opens."

She held it up obediently for me.

It was a very old key, small, the sort that might open a keepsake box. It had a slim bar with the expected toothy bit at one end and an incredibly elaborate flower design on the other, full of tiny jewels. At first I'd thought it was silver, but with my life not being threatened I could tell that the shine of it was too bright. "Platinum."

"Yes, and diamonds. Can you turn it, Parker?" Sophie's head tipped as she stared. "Beautiful. Old. Those are the Finnish techniques Faberge learned from his mentor, and later perfected. Those aren't sapphires."

"No, they're emeralds. Egyptian emeralds. They look blue because no one has gems of that purity anymore, not even the Colombians." Ford had walked behind the couch so he could lean closer without disturbing the circle. I'd made a guess on the platinum; I was pretty sure neither Sophie nor Ford were guessing. "Dresden, do any of those have any… significance?"

It was almost refreshing to have the one disbeliever. "Platinum's a good magical conductor. Gold's better, but platinum's a little more resilient." Hardison, across from me, was laughing again, and I took a guess as to why. "Same with technology?"

"Where did you lose your way, man? When did you, and all this, start running on a proprietary OS? We could've been friends. Cyberpunk. Magitech Imagine the possibilities."

"Hardison, I can't even keep a fridge. I'd be your first convert." I returned my attention to the key. I expected the squiggly details on it to mean something, but not what I found. "Huh." I put my hand out for it.

"I thought you wanted me to keep it," Parker protested.

"You can, but I don't think you have to. It does have an enchantment worked into it - a tracking foil."

"It can't be tracked?" Ford perked up.

"No. Not by the man in black, not by anyone." The key pinged lightly against my hand and my magic. It was powerful, just as powerful as I'd come to expect from any object involved in this whole mess, but carefully contained. From up close the confusion enchantment upon it was even more complex, the work like lace. "This is… It's like everything else involved so far. Way too powerful to be found out here in the real world. This is a thing of the Nevernever, of fairy tales, like the mirror the leshy were using." I handed the key back. "Can I borrow that later?"

"Why?"

She wasn't being rude, but literal. Hard as she was to read when it came to emotions, Parker was very straightforward when it came to most other interactions and I actually appreciated that a lot. "Because I'm gonna tape it to the death bottle downstairs."

She frowned thoughtfully at me as she took the key back, and then put it all together. "So the key will make it harder to find."

"Now you're thinking like a wizard."

She beamed.

"Dresden brings up an important point," Ford stepped back around. "This case has gotten way bigger than anything we usually handle. These are not the type of people we usually take on. These aren't the risks we normally take." He caught and held the eyes of each of his people; he tried with me, but I was looking at the mess of things Parker had left on the coffee table. "Are we staying on this job?"

"Why would we drop it?" Parker asked.

"Because a giant bear and multiple fairy thugs just tried to kill you," I told her mildly.

"Yeah, but people are always trying to kill us."

That was a little jarring to hear. "What is it you people do again?"

"Steal things," Parker went back to sitting next to me, the key disappearing somewhere on her person.

"I - Yes, but - I mean, other than the obvious!"

"I knew from the beginning this was gonna be big," Eliot slouched comfortably back and shrugged peaceably at Ford. "The leshy are real. The bear was real. We've managed, and honestly, I don't want to think of what might have happened if we hadn't gotten involved at the Gardner museum, or at the MFA."

"He's right," Sophie laced her hands and leaned forward to stare at the oddities on the coffee table. "This might be bigger than we're used to, but if not us, no one. I just -" She shot me a quick look that I almost missed.

"This is what I do," I told her.

"But not what we hired you for," Ford said with quiet force. "You were supposed to advice, Dresden, to inform. Not get caught in a firefight."

"Or almost get eaten by a bear," Eliot added mildly.

"You hired me for my services as a wizard. If there's a rogue wizard running around Boston, this is exacly where I'm supposed to be, and exactly what I'm supposed to be doing."

Muscles twitched along Ford's jaws. "Hardison?"

Leverage's tech-man was quiet for a moment before he shrugged lightly. "It's just screens, Nate. I'm like, the least at-risk person here, and I agree with Eliot. We've managed so far, even without knowing what we were dealing with. Now we know, sort of. We've done a lot more with a lot less."

Ford frowned. Unlike Sophie, he could actually not look at me when he chose to.

Seriously. It felt weird to have people worry about my well-being that were also paying for my work.

"Fine. We stay on the job. Dresden." He waved my attention on to the table.

There were a dozen things, some of them nearly as glorious as the key, some of them plain and unassuming. There was a wooden egg, unpainted, without decoration except for the grain of the wood. I opened it to find a hollow inside, lined with ancient lamb's wool.

"Oh, a nesting doll!" Sophie exclaimed. "Is the inside lost?"

I set the egg aside and looked around. "Looks like it." There was a beautiful comb, the sort you use to pin your hair back if you're a lady of high standing, gold and lacquer and tiny pearls. I picked it up and dropped it almost at the same time; it reeked of death magic, dormant but powerful, like a high-voltage cable lying on the ground.

"Is that bad?" Ford asked.

"It's not nice." There was a wooden cup done in an archaic style, without handle, with a high base and beautiful carving around the rim. A greasy, aging rabbit's foot, the claws yellow with age. A scrap of coarse blue fabric that might have been a handkerchief. A box of matches. A stub of a candle that felt so loaded with magic I had to carefully roll it to one side. "You know what." This was absurd; Parker had apparently pickpocketed a magpie. I dug into my pocket and threw two additions onto the pile: a few black feathers and the shards of the enchanted mirror.

"What are the feathers from?" Parker, next to me, asked.

"From when I tried to grab him and the leshy picked me off him. I don't know what I actually got hold of, but it was on him."

"And the mirror?" Ford stared at all of this curiosly.

"The leshy were using it to communicate. Bit like your earbuds," I nodded at Hardison.

"Aren't magic mirrors supposed to be big and fancy?" he replied.

"They are." I didn't have to explain anything else; I could feel their understanding in their tension.

There was a small scrimshaw duck; the ivory felt like the tooth of something old and highly predatory, and when I examined it more closely I realized it was a whistle. Some chicken bones bound up in a napkin I figured belonged to a local joint. A random chess piece, a black tower, plastic. An empty, crumpled envelope. I un-crumpled it and put the feathers in it. "No wallet?" It was meant to be a joke. I was trying to hide my shock; some part of me wondered if Parker had even left the lint in his pockets.

She shrugged. "He'd have missed that. He did have a pocket watch, but -"

"But he'd have missed that, too. And you said he had a, a stick, a blasting rod, a wand like mine." She nodded.

I stared at the mess in front of me.

"Spell?" Eliot asked.

"Ritual?" Sophie suggested.

I shoved aside the comb and the candle. "These two are magic. These," I waved the handkerchief at the rest of the stuff and threw it in with the lot, "are not."

"But it's a rabbit's foot," Parker protested.

"Didn't bring the rabbit a lot of luck, did it? Luck is hard magic, Parker. It's like a whip, the recoil's always gonna come back to bite you in the face if you push it too far." Even with the three things out of the way, I couldn't think of any spell, any ritual, any magic that would require all the things in front of me. I was pretty sure a wizard of the caliber of the man in black didn't shove chicken bones in his pocket out of a driving desire not to litter, so even that had to have meaning, weight in some fashion. "I need a scrying crystal. I need to make sure there's no magic to them, or a connection between them - is this table important to someone?" I rapped my knuckles on it and fished my sharpie out of a pocket in the duster.

"Go ahead," Ford replied. "How long would it take you to make your… crystal?"

"Not long." I wanted to be in bed. I didn't care if it was made of nails and crushed glass, sleeping on the train hadn't been nearly as restful as I'd made it out to be, and I'd just had a serious throwdown with a wizard that was at least two centuries old and powerful accordingly. But I also needed answers; my employers needed answers. "It makes no sense that only these two things would be magical. I'm thinking there's a Veil on them."

"What's a Veil?"

"Head magic, mind magic. You hide something, or you make it look like something else, someone else. Like the man in black did, back at the vault, wearing your friend's face." I gathered everything together on the table and drew a circle around it. The sharpie already had some of my blood in it, I kept it exactly for the kind of use it was currently seeing: circles on the fly that needed more solidity than chalk.

"Oh, yeah." Parker scowled at nothing; apparently she was going to hold that grudge unto the end times.

"He what?" Hardison exclaimed.

"He stole Jess' face."

Yup, definitely unto the end times.

"He what?" Hardison's brow furrowed in concern. "This isn't a T-1000 thing, is it?"

Ok, I was beginning to feel like the only one who hadn't been invited to some kind of worldwide party, and I could only hope the look I was giving them conveyed that feeling.

"Uh, it's from a movie," Hardison explained hastily. "Killer robot made of liquid metal, it steals the looks of other people so it can get close to you."

"And it kills them?"

"Yeah."

"Dopplegangers and Veils don't work like that. If you're copying someone's look, you need them close at hand so you can refresh the illusion regularly. And if it's just a quick thing, they're not gonna care. It would even make things easier if he looked like Parker's friend while stealing the painting -"

"Portrait," Sophie murmured.

"- portr- there's a difference?"

"Small but crucial. In any case, he could have blamed Jessamine, so it benefitted him to leave her alive."

"Exactly."

"Cameras can't see him," Hardison protested. "Tech overclocks and explodes, there'd be no evidence."

"Wouldn't matter if he had witnesses. No one would be looking for another culprit when they had one right there already. Besides, you can look at a Veil, Hardison. It's them you can't look at. The Veil's what comes out blurry." He gave me such a look. "Go on. I bet if you look at any footage from the vault, you won't see him, not until the very end, when we got out, but it also won't blow up your computer. Go ahead. Triple dog dare you."

I could see the challenge hit him, and caution war with curiosity. Hardison was a deeply curious man. Like me, he wanted to know what made the world tick. I did it with magic, he did it with his computers. Potato potahto.

"I swear, Dresden, if I lose another screen…" He moved over to the desk, revealing a keyboard in one of them and activating the central screen.

"Dresden, could I have the envelope, please?" Ford requested. I pulled the feathers out and handed it over. It was plain, coarse, with some sort of engraving on the front. "What about the mirror shards?"

What about those, indeed. I had an idea, but I wasn't sure it was going to work. Not to mention I didn't have the skill or the know-how to pull it off in a hurry. "Can any of you make jewelry? It doesn't have to be fancy, just… sturdy, I guess."

Sophie suddenly gasped. "Does it still work?"

"Fingers crossed that it does." She'd already seen the shape of what I planned. "Magic mirrors aren't automatically connected. They're like a phone - you call a number, connect from one mirror to another. That spell's gone, shattered when the mirror did. But the mirror itself, that's still magic. Heavy-duty magic. There's one number it can still call."

Ford shifted minutely and for just a second I saw the real man behind the slightly rumpled, harmless facade, all ice and fury and single-minded focus. "So the shards can talk to one another?"

"Yup."

He dug a handkerchief out of his own pocket, spread it on his hand and put it out. I surrendered the shards without question. "No silver. Platinum would be best. Gold will do in a pinch."

"Mm. 'Not long' isn't a very precise quantity, Dresden."

"Look, Ford, I ran my magic empty. That first blow the man in black threw? It ate everything I had. All of the fight after, that was me talking Boston at him. To create a scrying glass, I have to empower it, to empower it I need magic, to get magic I need some rest -"

"Ah, so you mean tomorrow." God, the man couldn't even let me get properly angry at him! I'd have mustered a surly growl if he didn't look pleased at having a deadline, rather than angry that I wasn't about to pull an all-nighter. "That's fine. Will your… circles hold until then?"

"I hope so. I think so. But this guy's swinging a lot of power. I'll feel much better when I have everything behind a proper circle - the brass piping's for that. And I'm probably going to go down there and tape the key to the Witchwell now, rather than later -"

"You win, Dresden," Hardison called out from across the room, and every head turned toward him. He had three screens active, all of them showing what I was pretty sure was security footage no one outside the cops ought to have.

The others gathered around him. I sat down on the couch and rubbed my dog's ears. He snored at me. Ah, to be loved.

I tried to follow the conversation going on around the screens, but I hadn't lied to Ford: I was beyond exhausted, scraped clean to the bone. I could feel power seeping back into me, but again, it wasn't the firepower that worried me so much as the fact every bone in my body ached just to think of doing even the most minimal spellwork.

I snapped awake to a hand on my good shoulder. "Dresden."

For a moment nothing made sense. The air felt wrong, the man looking down at me was a stranger. I didn't know who I was, who he was, what we were doing, where we were.

So I didn't think to look away.

For a moment, all I saw were chains.

A Soulgaze is dangerous when you're prepared, let alone when you're not expecting it. It's not going to show you any deep dark secret about a person, or what they think of themselves, or anything like that. It's the truth of them, clean of all the masks that culture and society puts on us, all the lies we tell ourselves. It can be an interesting insight into someone's personality, or history.

There were chains everywhere, some corroded, some fresh, some shattered and haphazardly piled up here and there on a vast plain of ice. They all came from nowhere, moving sedately, like the coils of some unseen beast, to wrap around a massive block of ice. Their motion filled the air with whispers, a hundred, a thousand voices, all pleading for help. There was a man trapped inside the ice, and as soon as the chains reached him they changed, turning into lines of light, splitting, dividing, multiplying, rushing away like immense fractal trees along the ice. Each line was a whisper, a word, an image. There were gaping holes in the ice block, as if something had struck it and shattered it, threatening to free the man inside it.

The man was Nathan Ford.

I threw myself back and away from the Soulgaze so hard I fell off the couch. I heard, vaguely, Ford staggering back and crashing into the kitchen bar.

"Nate!" Sophie rushed at him.

I'd fallen on my bad shoulder. I didn't want to move. I didn't want to be awake. Mouse was licking my face, whining anxiously. "Dresden, you alright?" That was Eliot. Two pairs of hands caught me and forced me up, back on the couch. "What happened?"

"I told you." I had to get the words out, even if my throat felt full of ice. "You all trust too easy. You shouldn't look a wizard in the eyes like that."

"Sophie, I need a drink," Ford croaked from the kitchen stool. It was tendered to him in record time.

"Do you want a drink?" Parker asked me, utterly serious.

"Coffee," I managed. I didn't sound any better than Ford. She brought me a cup and I drank, and the silence went on for a good few minutes.

"Dresden." Ford sounded so mild. I knew better. I knew what the ice hid. "What did you do?"

"Soulgaze. Little gift of True Sight. If I stare too long into someone's eyes I get a peek into their soul… and they get a peek into mine. One time only. Not gonna happen again, not with you."

It wasn't gonna happen with any of them, not the moment Ford decided I was too much of a liability to keep around. I have done things I know have put scars on me. I'm carrying sins I can never forgive myself for, can never atone for. I had no way of knowing what he'd seen, but I knew it was neither pretty nor reassuring.

Well, at least I had the one day's paycheck to look forward to.

"Parker," Ford said, his voice still full of that calm, mild tone. "You and Eliot take Dresden to the safehouse. Make sure he actually goes to bed, not to do more work."

"What about the death bottle?" she asked. Which was an excellent question, I just wasn't thinking about it at the time because I wasn't sure I was hearing Ford correctly.

"He was just going to tape the key to it, right? I trust you two can do that without reading the thing or taking it out of the circle."

"Ford -"

"We'll talk tomorrow. I think that's enough of… all this for one day," he declared, his voice going brittle before he charged up the stairs and out of sight.

[countrymusiclover]

His Golden Princess

Astrid is the sister of Emma Swan making them both the daughters of Snow White and Prince Charming. The sisters entered Storybooke on separate paths. Emma towards the Light and Astrid to Darkness. Astrid let's her mind wander down the path of confusing visions leading her to meet Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin. Piecing together what her nephew Henry says may all be true. But will she be able to resist the darkness drawing her feelings to the pawnshop owner.

1 - Dreaming like a Child

2 - Gut Feeling About Him

3 - Knows How to Win

4 - Henry's Theory About Fate

5 - Dagger Quest

6 - Apple's are Code Red

7 - Magic is Real

8 - Finally Have Parents

9 - ‘Emotion’ Magic Lesson One

10 - Nightmares of Burns

11 - Sleeping Curse Club

12 - Swan VS Pirate

13 - We're Discovered

14 - You're in My Realm

15 - Son of Rumplestiltskin/Henry's Father

16 - Hook to the Heart

17 - Near Dying Love

18 - Prince's Permission

19 - A Dangerous Dimond

20 - I'm Peter, Peter Pan

21 - Not You're Darling Pan

22 - Arrow Prophecy

23 - Beliefs Heart

24 - A Child's Curse

25 - Storybrooke Isn’t HIs Kingdom

26 - Princess Astrid Charming

27 - He's Not Dead

28 - Fight The Green Witch

29 - He's My Life

30 - Time Traveling Heart

31 - You’ve Earned Her Hand

32 - A Fairytale Come True

33 - Mr and Mrs. Gold

34 - An Ice Wall

35 - Past Comes Calling

36 - Am I Going Crazy Again

37 - Mirror of Darkness

38 - The Worst Versions of Ourselves

39 - To Saving My Husband

40 - Dark Princess

41 - You're the Dark One

42 - What to Fight for

43 - The Price of a Yellow Flower

44 - Love is the most powerful magic of all

Tag list - just ask to be added

@fanficismydrug @misskitty1912-blog @alanaangie24 @lover-of-books-and-tea

Comments really appreciated ❤️