#and YES I KNOW SHE HAS GLASSES BUT. LOOK. I HATE DRAWING GLASSES. OKAY. SHE TOOK THEM OFF FOR THIS PICTURE. LEAVE ME ALONE

[designernishiki]

yuki and majima have merciless cain instincts toward one another like true siblings. 10/10 impeccable dynamic

(bonus: slightly more hq profile pics)

[the-returnofartemis]

/ASTRO OBSERVATION 1/

i'm excited to share my first astro observation! i'm still new to all of this but i’ve picked up on some things that i feel compelled to share. however, i do want to emphasize that my thoughts may not apply to everyone.

okay, so i recently remembered that as an INFJ, we are considered to be the rarest personality type. this got me thinking and i realized that most INFJ’s are either water dominant (cancer/scorpio/pisces), possess fixed sign placements (leo/scorpio/aquarius/taurus) in prominent planets or have prominent water houses (4H,8H,12H) in their big six. coincidentally, i happen to know to other people who are also INFJ’s, and we all have prominent cancer, scorpio and aquarius placements. 

✧ j-hope from bts is a well-known INFJ. although the accuracy of his birth chart is uncertain because there is no actual birth time, it revealed intriguing aspects. i mean, hobi’s chart indicates prominent water placements (scorpio and pisces stellium), alongside his aquarius sun!

yes, it is interesting to observe how neptune in the first house has a unique ability to draw in copycats but those with this placement were once copycats as well lmao.

‘the copycat becoming the one being copied’ trope is quite funny to witness actually

this behavior may stem from their struggle with their personal identity and appearance, leading them to shape-shift into the aesthetic or persona of someone they admire in that moment (this tendency is very short-lived by the way lmao). rather than taking the time to define their authenticity and discover their true selves, they find it easier to adopt the persona of another individual. sometimes, they rely so heavy and get caught up on external influences, that they lose the plot SO fast. but as individuals with this placement mature and come into their own, they come to understand that it’s fine to draw inspiration from others but recognize the importance of embracing their unique qualities and traits. it is this self-acceptance that allows them to become pioneers and set remarkable trends. 

✧ ariana grande: y’all can never make me hate her, i am so sorry lmao but of course, there is no denying that she has faced many accusations of being a ‘mariah carey copycat’ but it is important to acknowledge that she has now cultivated her own distinct singing style that has garnered widespread acclaim and popularity. in all honesty, she has become the epitome of having copycats, even to this day lmao. the sheer number of women/fans/people in general imitating her, from her hair to her fashion sense to her mannerisms, is just WOW. like, the way how she has garnered immense adoration needs to be studied (i mean not really because her scoprio midheaven + neptune 1H undoubtedly contribute to her appeal but still!) 

✧ kim kardashian + kylie jenner: when it comes to these two, there's not much that needs to be said lmao like their influence and presence in media speak for themselves. they have managed to create a significant impact, and it’s hard to ignore but let’s remember their roots and who they took their influence from.

✧ megan fox: she’s taken on MGK’s entire aesthetic. she has embraced his style and persona, and it’s interesting to see how it has influenced her own image, considering the fact that she is THE megan fox. even now, the timeless looks that she gave us in the late 00's are still being imitated!

in reference to my previous point, on astrology twitter, jade mentioned an interesting perspective that i completely agree with and feel compelled to share with all of you: having 12H placements can lead to losing the plot SO fast, so it’s crucial to be mindful. although the 12H is widely regarded as the most intuitive, spiritual, and governing the subconscious, it also represents the potential for self-sabotage and lose one’s sense of self. the influence of neptune, the ruler of the 12H, can create a distorted illusion and a tendency to view circumstances through rose-colored glasses. so, 12H placements, it’s essential to always stay grounded, and more importantly, maintain a strong sense of self to avoid losing sight of the goals and aspirations!

✧ an example of this is a 12H sun becoming egotistical and subsequently losing sight of their goals and aspirations, ultimately hindering their progress in life. 

(get well soon by ariana grande just came on and i dedicate this beautiful song to all, but more importantly to those with 12H placements. remember that you are strong and capable of overcoming any challenges that comes your way – you can conquer anything. stay positive and always take care of yourself. you got this! — sincerely, a fellow 12H 🫂) 

scorpio/8H moons are often labeled as “mysterious” due to their tendency to keep their emotions hidden from others on a daily basis. in truth, they rarely feel comfortable expressing their feelings, even to those they trust, as they fear burdening others. this tendency may have developed during their childhood, where they may have not felt safe or at ease in sharing their emotions, leading them to learn how to control and suppress them. however, if you manage to break through the walls of a scorpio/8H moon and they confide in you, it is significant sign that they felt truly seen and understood by you. this can lead to a strong desire to be in company of that person, as their energy provides a sense of comfort and less isolated. so, if you have a scorpio/8H moon in your life, they value you and treasure the connection you share. 

the infamous 22nd degree, commonly referred to as the “to kill or be killed” degree, is often associated with rare and extreme circumstances. being a capricorn degree, it genuinely has a favorable influence, especially in terms of one’s professional life. but, individuals with this degree in their chart may encounter ongoing challenges and be vulnerable to gaslighting. overcoming these challenges serves as a constant reminder to nurture their self-awareness and resilience.  

✧ example a: according to her birth chart, beyonce is believed to have three planets (neptune, pluto and chiron) positioned in this degree. in her latest film, “renaissance: a film by beyonce,” she courageously shares all the moments that highlight the constant challenges from those around, particularly her production team, who questioned her credibility and knowledge – she expressed that she always had to prove herself and felt undervalued in terms of her opinions.

i also just want to say that bey became artist that she is today by perfecting and learning every aspect of her craft throughout her extensive career. she has taught herself everything there is to know about showmanship, and to discredit her knowledge, especially to her face, is just crazy to me. her success is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and talent and she deserves all the recognition she has received.

✧ example b: chlöe (chloexhalle) has the degree on her lilith. unfortunately, chloe has faced relentless scrutiny and gaslighting since she entered the public eye. the placement of the degree on her lillth has made her a target for heavy negative judgement and projection, particularly in regard to her expression of her sexuality and individuality.  

i mean it when i say that it is truly remarkable to witness her immense talent and undeniable beauty, along with her incredible kindness. i honestly feel like the public wants to keep her in a box, hindering her from fully blossoming into the person she aspires to be. she needs that space and freedom to embrace her own journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

✧ example c: jungkook from bts has the degree on his sidereal venus – the degree on his venus suggests he might face challenges related to low self-esteem and lack of confidence in his own attractiveness. also, this placement can also indicate that he may experience situations were power dynamics within his relationships come into play. while details about his personal relationships are scarce, as they rightfully should be, it is evident that he faces an alarming level of compromise to his safety due to the actions of obsessive fans and stalkers. the behavior exhibited towards him, like, being mobbed at airports or these fans intruding his personal space by sending food to his house and even going as far as issuing death threats. as a relatively new fan, i can sense that this issue is more serious for him compared to other members. these fans seem to lack an understanding of personal boundaries and persistently push the limits, even after he has politely requested their respect, which is truly disheartening. 

it's quite likely that jimin and namjoon (other members of bts), also have this degree, given the challenging circumstances they have encountered and continue to face. 

i also learned that this degree can also symbolize power and the ability to have immense influence over others. those who possess this degree in their natal chart often hold positions of power and occupy the highest echelons of the social structure (hence the name, ‘to kill or be killed’). this degree is found in numerous royals, politicians, and highly influential celebrities natal charts: justin bieber, donald trump, kendall + kylie jenner, kim kardashian, barack obama, the british royals and more. here is a post that delves deeper into the theory behind the placement!

gemini placements 🤝 wearing different hats (exploring various interests). they cannot for the life of them confine themselves to a single pursuit, as it tends to become monotonous for them. this may seem unpredictable to others, but, for gemini's, it is a way of truly embracing life and ensuring that they savor every aspect of it, just as they should! 🤭

also, the gemini venus slander in the astro community is so ????? like, yes, an undeveloped gemini venus may struggle with indecisiveness and inconsistency, but it is important to know that a well-developed one can be an incredible partner and asset in a relationship. developed gemini venus partners are known for their unwavering commitment to nurturing a strong bond in their relationships. they will consistently strive to contribute in every way possible to ensure a lasting connection, thanks to the influence of their sidereal taurus venus (may not always be the case though). they value stability and security, and above all, understand the importance of forming meaningful relationships, especially when they feel like they share a profound intellectual bond with their partner – like, they would not take it for granted because they know that not everyone has the capacity or desire to engage with them in that way lmao. they will be there for you until they are convinced, based on their rational thinking (which also depends on the influence of other placements), that they have thoroughly explored every option and exhausted all potential outcomes. even then, it may take them some time to reach that conclusion because they will need to make sense of it all, so, they will make a point to have conversations with their partner to ensure mutual understanding before moving forward. building a strong and fulfilling relationship requires dedication, and a devoted gemini venus will their offer support in all aspects – whether it be physically, emotionally, or notably, mentally. honestly, they will go the extra mile to ensure that they’ll do right by their partner!  so, i beg, please, love us! 😪 lmao – sincerely, a gemini venus  

 also, a gemini venus + strong water placements (house/sign, especially in cancer/scorpio) … oh baby, just sit down and make yourself comfortable because you not leaving until there is a deep understanding of both the emotional and intellectual aspects 😭

the 3H, 6H, 10H and 11H are known as the GROWTH houses, where continuous effort is required to achieve meaningful outcomes.

3H → one must acquire skills, engage in learning and exploration, and find avenues to express the knowledge gained

6H → the importance of daily practice and consistent work on said acquired skills

when these houses are in alignment, they pave the way for recognition in 10H and 11H.

10H → gaining recognition

11H → benefits and influence that comes from being recognized

by pouring constant dedication into these houses, one can expect significant growth and positive outcomes!

jupiter aspecting ascendant/sagittarius rising/jupiter in 1H 🤝 bootylicious + hourglass curves! this can also manifest in having bigger than “average” features (example: big eyes, big smile, prominent thighs).

the “BODY SO TEA” phrase was literally made them lmao

capricorn moons often tend to be the ones who frequently disappear without a trace. they carry a heavy burden of responsibility for all aspects of their life, and often possess a strong desire for control. when faced with a situation beyond their control, they can become overwhelmed with anxiety and allow their fears to take over, resulting in the ghosting. also, i noticed that they find it challenging to find any glimmer of hope in any given circumstance. even though it is widely believed that having the moon in scorpio is the most difficult, capricorn moons may have them beat. 

moon in 8H synastry is not for the weak—it is truly life changing. for this overlay to work, both individuals must have developed the ability to harness and channel powerful energy. without this, the relationship can feel unstable and unpredictable, with both individuals feeling like they're being pulled in different directions but haunted in love, in the best and worst way possible. it is worth noting that this overlay tends to have a strong impact on both individuals involved but it primarily affects the moon person.

✧ positive aspects: creates a deep emotional and psychological connection that allows both partners to truly understand connect with each on a profound level. this bond is so intense that it defies words and creates the desire to explore and uncover the depths of each other’s being. for instance, the 8H individual may possess an innate inclination to understand the moon and their innermost self, initially overwhelming the moon but ultimately embracing because of the sense of comfort provided by the 8H energy. this mutual willingness to explore and understand each other nurtures trust, openness and above all, an indescribable love within the relationship.

✧ negative aspects: gaslighting and power imbalance. the desire for control can create an unhealthy dynamic where both are constantly vying for power, leading to a breakdown of trust and emotional well-being. can also lead to being possessive toward one another that will result in the individuals feeling trapped. the possessiveness can stem from a deep sense of longing for each other, which will only further perpetuate the cycle of unhealthy dynamic (lovers to enemies trope + make up/break up). 

one comparison that comes to mind is the tumultuous relationship between olivia pope and fitz in scandal. if you’re unfamiliar with these two, i recommend checking them out on tiktok (despite their toxic tendencies, their relationship was a guilty pleasure for the viewers because of the intensity and undying love they had for one another. like, i don’t know anyone who watched the show that wasn’t a fan of olitz lmao) 

i also had this overlay with a former partner, and my goodness, was it something. he was the only partner i’ve had who could evoke such intense emotions in me and i found myself completely vulnerable to his touch (in a good way). the chemistry was so powerful, i really believed he was the one for me. but like i mentioned, as with any intense relationship, there were both positive and negative aspects to the connection. while the positive side was truly otherworldly, the negative ultimately won out and caused the relationship to come crashing down. i plan to delve deeper into this experience and share the do’s and dont’s of this synastry in a future post.

understanding astrology can be a valuable tool in gaining insight into your true self. to get a sense of the practice, i feel like it is essential or to at least explore “traditional” western (tropical + sidereal) and vedic astrology. each chart offers a unique perspective on your personality and life path, and by studying them, you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of your place in the world!

i have so much more to share but i’ll save that for another post. please remember that this only for entertainment purposes only and based on my observations! i’ve also linked the findings in case you want to read for yourselves. thank you so much for reading!

sending all my love, 

artemis x

[martyfive]

i lay in bed sick for two weeks straight. first there’s body temperature i never knew was possible for a human to have, then there are coughs that feel like they may be the last ones i could ever have in my life, then there’s weakness, then my five year old phone falls down from the bed ending up completely broken, then the bed sheets become something i couldn’t bear to see anymore. then i get up, go outside and unexpectedly find myself at the offer of a somewhat steady part job at this small italian restaurant we’ve been visiting every sunday sharp for the last year and a half except for these two weeks i spent lying sick in bed. we are leaving the bar for the night when R. asks me if i’d like to help her at the bar a couple hours a week.

“i have no experience or anything,” i say, feeling extremely daft. “i’m not even sure i can talk to people properly. i never really could.”

“it’s okay,” she says. “you’ll be polishing the glasses. it’s not hard. i’ll teach you everything.”

on our way home A. says, “it could be good for you, you know. being among people and trying something new,” and i feel like he’s right.

at this point this small restaurant already feels like another home i want to belong to. going there every sunday for so long totally helped with that. they have one of my works i gave them as a present for christmas on the wall. it hangs up above the table me and A. occupied the first time we ever came to eat there. the frame contains pages from a sketchbook i used to draw in while visiting italy five years ago. it feels too personal, but also somehow on it’s place. i hate to hoard the stuff i create. i want to be bolder.

regretting my life choices, i spend all what’s left from my last year’s salary on a new phone. it’s a first phone i bought without anyone’s help. it costs more than i deserve.

i can’t find any will to start drawing again after being sick for two weeks.

a couple days later i go to the restaurant to ask R. about the time i can get to work. she says, “this thursday, 6:30 pm,” and then adds, tugging on my star wars hoodie, “and put on a black shirt, if you have one”.

so i find one that looks like A. has been wearing it during his teenage years when he looked more like a stick than a human and i go for the job that for the first time in my life has nothing to do with any kind of art except the art of making cocktails i still keep messing up. a couple hours a week somehow soon turns into ten as normally as “polishing glasses” turns into “doing everything there is possible to do as quickly as possible”.

“would you like to do thirty hours a week?” R. asks one day looking hopeful as if i hadn’t broken ten of their glasses in the first five days of work.

“my back is gonna die sooner than you expect it to if i agree to that,” i answer. and it really is the only reason i don’t say yes.

i soon notice there is no time to think of anything else except the work to be done while i am behind the bar once again forgetting the difference between prosecco and chardonnay or picking the ice from the ice machine or freezing in the giant fridge while looking for the specific crate of beer everyone in this town drinks more often than water. the countless amount of crates are brought from and to the back room. the ten glasses are crushed, four of them in my own hands just from squeezing too hard on them. i cringe about every single one of them before falling asleep after coming home around midnight with my aching back and more money than i ever earned drawing pictures. i think about that one time my friend told me that once you start working in catering, there’s no way back. i haven’t talked to her in a while and i can’t ask her if she still thinks it’s true.

i still can’t draw. i guess it will pass. i still cough although i’m trying not to be loud when i’m behind the bar.

“you smoke?” R. asks. “i do. i just don’t have time.”

“i’ve been smoking since i was sixteen. but not anymore really,” i say to that. “when my mother calls me, then i smoke. but that doesn’t happen very often.”

M. laughs at that as if he understands what i’m talking about and says, “with this job, i either smoke a cigarette or kill somebody,” and i laugh with him.

M. is the chef and the restaurant is named after him. he cooks so good there is surely nothing better i’ve ever eaten in my entire life. i hear all about it from guests while picking the dishes from the tables, smiling and pretending my hands are not shaking. he and R. speak to each other in loud italian and i like how they sound even if i only understand a couple words from their dialogues.

“what’s allora?” i ask one time.

R. looks at me like i’m the only one who ever asked her a silly question like that, “huh,” she says, “i don’t know. it’s like here we go or something like that,” and she smiles.

i like talking to her. for some reason i like asking her questions and seeing the surprise on her face. she’s five years older than me but i feel like a child around her. she also has her birthday in november.

“all my family are scorpions,” she says after revealing the fact that there’s ten days between our birthdays. she names at least ten of the members of her family and all their november birthday dates in a row.

i say, “the parties must be hilarious when you all gather together.”

more often i feel like she’s my serious boss i keep disappointing with my every move but at the end of the shifts she turns into what feels more like a friend. i secretly hope i can be her friend one day even though it seems like she knows the name of every human being in this town and even some other nearby towns and doesn’t really need any more friends than she already has. but after all, i’m a part of this town now, too.

“what is your favourite thing to do here here at the bar?” i ask the other day.

she looks puzzled for a second, “maybe serving fish,��� she says and this time it’s my turn to feel surprised. i saw how it’s done, and i don’t really know what she means.

“i thought it’s talking to people or something,” i say.

“nah,” she waves her hand, “it’s just my job, you know.”

i regret entering this territory but i still ask, “would you better like to do something else? some other job?”

“nah,” she says again, smiling, “i like it.”

and i like it too. horrifyingly, i like it too much. thinking about sitting at home and drawing stuff like i used to do all my life feels like a torture. it surely is one when i pick up my tablet and pencil and stare at the white canvas not knowing who i am anymore. there is nothing in my head i want to say. there is nothing my hands can do. i have no idea why. i want to go back behind the bar and ask R. what her favourite colour is.

“i’m proud of you,” A. says one night while we’re going back home from the restaurant where he got his two beers and one glass of whiskey i poured for him myself. he spent two hours sitting at the bar not far from these three teenage boys who have been drinking an enormous amount of beer and playing cards and then trying to guess where i come from according to my accent. “i’m proud that you’re doing good and you found something that you like so much.”

i buy two black shirts and jeans. i take my old black coat out of the wardrobe. i walk for two minutes from home to the bar and back looking fancier than ever. i feel happier than ever. i don’t look at my social media. i feel like this rotten sadness and loneliness that occupied my head for so long has nothing to do with my life now. i wonder if it’s just a phase. i consider finding a new therapist just to ask them if it’s okay to feel this good or i should be medicated before it’s too late. i want to go to bed at proper hour, wake up earlier, spend the day feeling good and then go to the bar and ask R. stupid questions and be stressed about the things i can control. i look at my workplace at home, at the white canvas that reflects nothingness in my head, at everything i have ever known, and i don’t know what to do.

i go back to work.

“you like it here?” M. asks almost every time. “is everything okay?”

“everything’s okay,” i say, smiling. and i mean it.

someone’s ordering an espresso at 11 pm. R. says, “tell them the coffee machine is already off,” turning it off while saying it. i laugh. i feel happy. i go home knowing there’s gonna be more work to be done tomorrow. i miss drawing stuff. i have nothing to say. i fall asleep thinking of the ten glasses i broke. in the morning, i can’t draw. i used to draw most of my stuff at the evenings and during the nights. now they are full of beer glasses and beer crates and adhd people who want an espresso before bed.

i ask myself if that really is how growing up feels like. i ask myself what i am going to do if i will not be able to draw a single piece of art ever again. i read the email of the person who wants me to draw an artwork for them. i wonder if they should know i’m an imposter who can’t draw anymore. i tell myself to shut up and stop being dramatic.

i go to work.

there’s a wedding at the restaurant. i once again bring what feels like an endless amount of bottle crates from the back room to the bar. i smile. i talk to people. i wipe the tables. i polish the glasses. i pour beer into them.

“my back hurts,” R. says.

“willkommen to the club,” i tell her, although for some reason my back doesn’t really hurt.

someone orders a beer and then changes their mind after the bottle was already opened.

“it’s yours if you want it,” R. says. “your shift is over anyway.”

and i stay. i sit at the bar as if i don’t really work there. i drink my beer, i talk to R. while she puts the new napkins on tables, makes sure everyone from the wedding paid what they had to and lets me ask her my questions. i pay for another beer, taking money from my fresh salary. R. rolls her eyes at that but allows me to pay anyway. she’s not a boss anymore. just… a friend. i tell her i don’t wanna go home.

“i can see that,” she laughs. “do you have friends here in town?” she asks.

i look at the bottom of my glass.

“no,” i say. there’s a lady on our street i sometimes walk our dogs together with. she’s as old as my mother. i always forget the names of her three kids although they’re all around my age. i wonder if i should mention her. “i have friends in other places. you know. not here.”

“i can be your friend here,” she says, smiling.

i feel like it’s the happiest day of my life. i’m also a little drunk on schwarzbier. even if my back would hurt i wouldn’t have noticed.

“if you need someone as me as a friend,” i say, “then. yeah. sure. uh. why not.”

we talk some more. the beer tests my language skills. i tell her i want a new tattoo. she says she got the first one when she was sixteen and it was a horrible butterfly.

“what is your favourite colour?” i finally ask.

she looks really baffled at that, then pulls out her phone. “i guess it’s red,” she says, showing me some of photos from her instagram where she’s younger than me now and is dressed up in red. “see, it looks good on me,” and she’s right. “but white is also good. and pink. and maybe purple. not black though. with my black hair, it doesn’t look good at all.”

we’re both dressed in black for work.

i come to the conclusion that colours are the least important thing in the world to her. that’s okay. i think about all the years i spent trying to make colours work. i wanna say something, but end up saying nothing.

she turns the lights off and locks the restaurant up. we spend a couple minutes walking in the same direction to our houses. i tell her about the name my friends from other places are calling me. i don’t tell her why it’s different from the one she saw on my id card. i’m not that drunk. she says she’s gonna use it from now on. she kisses my cheek before we part. i was at school the last time someone did that.

i go home. i sit at my workplace. i answer to the email of the person that wants me to draw an artwork for them from a new phone i spent enormous amount of money on. for a second i wonder if i should still tell them i’m an imposter and my career will be over by the morning when i wake up sober.

i think about the ten glasses i broke, then let myself forget about them. i tell myself to shut up and stop being dramatic.

i draw.

29/02/2024

[siilvan]

bloodsport – IV

prologue | one | two | three | next

characters: vladimir makarov

summary: your first time back in the field is a whirlwind of emotions, especially after being forced to rely on yet another enemy. new information is revealed, and you realize that a drastic action may be the only way to fix this mess.

genre: angst, slowburn, enemies to ?, fem!reader (callsign: petra)

warnings: semi-proofread, cursing, canon-typical violence, descriptions of blood/injuries, poorly written spec-ops, allusions to trauma and stress, reader has a bit of a breakdown, graves lol

word count: 6k

note: giving a quick PSA here— please be mindful about what y'all write. i know this fic is about a very controversial and problematic character, but i try to be mindful about how i portray him and his actions. don't romanticize things that should not be romanticized, and be respectful to people. COD as a whole is problematic, but that doesn't mean we need to be a shitty community. support real victims, don't spread hate. easy peasy.

also, yes, i changed my formatting. the little text is too hard to read without my glasses, so... yeah. hope it's not ugly now :)

you spend the rest of the night tossing and turning, trying but failing to will yourself to fall asleep. soap texts you shortly before the sun comes up - a picture of himself and the rest of the team, posing for the camera. they're covered in dirt and ash, exhaustion apparent in their eyes, but the image is enough to make you crack a smile.

you give them a few hours, pulling yourself out of bed after sunrise and occupying yourself with mundane tasks around the house, before picking up the phone and calling price.

"hey, captain. sorry for calling so early." you chuckle, leaning against the arm of the couch.

"don't worry about it," price clears his throat, hoarse from fatigue, and you wonder for a second if he was asleep before you called. "was just finishing some paperwork. what d'you need?"

a low sigh escapes from you. "i know it's only been a day, but... can i come back? i really want to get back to work."

you can hear papers shuffling from his end. "i know you want to work, but we just can't take the risk—"

"there isn't going to be any risk," you assert, raising your voice slightly and interrupting him. you pause and wet your lips, speaking in a softer tone again. "please, captain, i know i can handle it. i just want to get back to normal already."

the line is quiet for a long moment, with price silently deliberating over your request. you shift nervously, gripping the phone tighter as you wait impatiently for a response.

finally, after you shift for the umpteenth time, he exhales deeply.

"i'll see if i can convince laswell, okay?" he concedes. you can hear his chair creaking as he leans back - you're assuming, at least. "pack your bags. i'll send a transport helicopter in an hour."

⋆⋆⋆

that's how you ended up at base again, with the team welcoming you back with open arms. laswell initially rejected the idea, stating the same concerns as before, but price managed to sway her after some discussion.

so, now you're in a meeting room, gathered around a table with lists, blueprints, names, pictures— any and all of the intel that the task force has gotten their hands on, scattered across the surface. you blink when price raps his knuckles against the tabletop, drawing your attention.

it's laswell who talks, shooting a glance around the table to address the group. "as you're all aware, shadow company has been a target of the konni group in recent times," she starts, sending you a cursory look, asking you for confirmation. you nod, and she continues. "not only have they been fighting the group head-on in al-mazrah, but there's been several incidents with undercover konni operatives in their ranks."

"good, let 'em fuckin' deal with it." soap remarks, earning noises of agreement from gaz, ghost, and yourself. price and laswell aren't as entertained by it.

"general shepherd, commander graves, and their men betrayed us." laswell pauses before letting out a heavy sigh. "i know none of you were happy about the ceasefire, and i know that you were furious when graves resurfaced. but, besides farah's forces, shadow company is our strongest ally."

"—and the only one capable of making any strong moves without risking an all-out war." price adds, shaking his head. everyone's displeased with the situation, that much is obvious.

"where are you goin' with this?" ghost asks. a tense silence fills the room for a long moment, making you shift awkwardly.

laswell motions towards the door on the far side of the room with her head. you cast your gaze in the same direction, watching as the door is pushed open.

as if on cue, the very man that should've been buried in flames in las almas walks into the room. the shadow himself. philip graves.

"oh, fuck off." soap growls at the man, looking ready to lunge at him from across the table. ghost steps forward and, if you didn't know any better, you'd think he was reaching for his sidearm. gaz and price are eerily quiet while glaring daggers at him, and you immediately feel the blood rush to your ears as every nerve commands you to shoot him yourself.

"i know this isn't ideal," laswell attempts to placate all of you, though the cold stare she regards him with betrays her calm demeanor. "but, for now, we're allies. we have a bigger threat to worry about."

"yeah, those konni guys are, uh..." graves perks up, languidly sauntering up to the table. he purses his lips for a second, thinking, before clicking his tongue. "real troublesome. i've lost a lot of good men thanks to them."

"good." ghost mutters, straightening himself next to soap.

price cuts through the tension with a wave of his hand. "alright, none of us want this, but we've got no other options." he grumbles. "konni's moving towards urzikstan. if we want to stop 'em, then we need to cooperate."

you eye graves from your peripherals, recalling the information that makarov gave you a couple weeks ago. graves isn't in on shepherd's plan, but he's likely the only person who knows the general's whereabouts. you need to say something while you still can. how will he take the news, though? he's betrayed you before, he'll do it again if it benefits him.

"petra, you listening?" laswell's voice abruptly interrupts your thoughts. you divert your attention back to her and notice that everyone's focus is on you.

"i have something i need to say," you blurt out. you need to bring up the general before he potentially ropes graves in.

you receive a collection of interested stares, urging you to go on.

"when i was captured, i managed to get some information," you drop your gaze, narrowing your eyes at the documents laid out. "we're not just fighting konni and al-qatala. some of the forces occupying al-mazrah are under shepherd's command."

the silence that falls over the room is almost deafening. the group balks at you with shock and confusion written on their expressions, until graves huffs out a laugh.

"general shepherd's 'forces' are my men. i can assure you, petra, that none of my shadows are workin' with konni." he says with a lopsided smile, confident as ever.

you turn to face graves fully, grimacing. "i'm not talking about your shadows. shepherd has another group under his command."

"what group?" price asks.

"cia operatives. ex-soldiers, specifically." you turn back, eyes flitting between price and laswell. "he's sending men undercover. the unmarked mercenaries that we keep encountering? that's them."

laswell shakes her head and crosses her arms over her chest. "where did you get this information?"

you freeze. your mouth opens to say makarov's name, but for some reason, you hesitate. with a deep inhale, you blink away the odd feeling and force the words past your lips.

"makarov. i'm not sure why, but he told me about it."

yet another unbearable tension befalls the group; you're getting close to ripping your hair out over it. as if reading your thoughts, gaz speaks up.

"you know about this?" he says, directed at graves. he's tight-lipped, glowering at him.

graves doesn't respond, letting the question hang in the air. he looks just as surprised as the rest of you - makarov was telling the truth, then. shadow company isn't in on the plan. shepherd has effectively betrayed his strongest ally, to your knowledge.

"i'm sure there's an explanation," graves utters, chuckling to himself. "war's a dirty business. there's good reason to send men undercover."

"he's got part of the special activities division in his pocket." laswell says.

"isn't that where you pulled alex from?" price hums, earning a nod in reply. it's a bad situation, to say the least.

you regain everyone's attention and continue. "i don't know the full plan, but makarov suspected that shepherd's doing this to put himself back on top. start a war, get himself marked as a hero, reap the rewards."

graves raises a brow at you, amusement written on his face. "and, we should trust the judgement of a terrorist?" he says while searching the room for support.

price keeps his gaze on you, though the distant look in his eye tells you that his mind is elsewhere. "i'd trust this one's judgement." he mutters, jaw clenching.

"well, there's no point in standin' around, is there?" graves seems to bounce back quickly, shrugging off the news. "we've got a job to do and a terrorist to catch. let's focus on that."

"i'll contact farah and see if alex knows anything about the men under shepherd's command." laswell says as you all break away from the table and start to file out of the room.

"keep us updated," price nods to her before turning to the rest of you. "wheels up in thirty. we'll debrief on the way."

you breathe out a relieved sigh once everyone breaks off, heading off to finish any last minute preparations before takeoff. you linger in the corridor, running a hand down your face and groaning into the palm of your hand. of course, you have no choice but to work with an enemy whilst relying on intel from yet another. at least you can be open with your team about this one.

shepherd and makarov are your targets. graves comes after. take down all three, and your headaches are gone. no more doubting yourself, no more questions, no more nights spent looking at lists of crimes that make you feel sick. you can resume your not-so-peaceful life with the rest of the task force and celebrate the world being a somewhat safer place.

your phone buzzes in your pocket, distracting you from your pondering and pulling you back to the present. you frown at the name on the caller id.

it's a single letter: 'v.'

after your conversation - if you can even call it that - with makarov last night, you saved his number. putting his name in your phone is basically shooting yourself in the foot, so you saved it under a name that gives you deniability in the event someone sees it.

you duck into an empty rec room nearby and accept the call, keeping an eye on the door as you lift the phone to your ear.

"you actually picked up the phone this time." makarov remarks upon you answering. your frown deepens, brows furrowing.

"if you don't have anything important to say, i'm hanging up."

he chuckles, far too casual for your liking. "i have an update. something that i'm sure you'll be interested in."

you shift, leaning against the back of one of the couches. "what is it?"

"in case you're planning to return to al-mazrah, just know that shepherd's men have been given strict orders to target and eliminate members of the one-four-one."

a chill creeps up the back of your spine. it's an unsurprising order, but you still rack your brain as to why he gave it. does shepherd somehow know that you know about his plans? it shouldn't be possible— until the meeting that finished just minutes ago, the only people privy to the knowledge were makarov and yourself.

of course, shepherd's allies are aware of it, but the only ally of his that you've contacted is graves. you doubt that he's talked to the general in the short amount of time since, which eliminates graves as a possibility just as quickly as you suspected him.

there has to be another source. someone feeding him information, keeping the one-four-one under watch.

"shepherd's got a mole in our group." you reply, pinching the bridge of your nose. "fucking hell. he knows that we're onto him."

"'we,' lieutenant?" he comments with an amused lilt in his tone.

"my team, asshole. he's got men undercover in your group and in my squad. he's watching all of his enemies."

makarov hums, voice dropping a little. "you have a keen eye, petra. have you asked the shadow about shepherd's whereabouts, yet?" he asks, brushing past your frustration.

"haven't had the chance," you mutter. "based on his reaction to the news, i doubt he'll give it away, though. we might have to get the location ourselves."

he exhales, audible through the phone. "it would be more convenient if you could convince him to tell you."

you roll your eyes. "yeah, of course it would. just don't expect any miracles. aren't you the one with all the mysterious ways of gathering information, anyway?" you grumble sarcastically and move away from the couch, starting to pace around the room while keeping your gaze on the door.

"i can get his location if necessary, but that would eliminate your usefulness in this operation, wouldn't it?"

he's right, and you hate him for it. "you still need me to kill him." you counter bluntly.

"i can do that, too. your team wants revenge for his betrayal. this is me being charitable - don't disappoint."

makarov ends the call before you have the chance to argue, leaving you to huff to yourself in the empty room. a moment later, a head pokes around the doorway, startling you and nearly making you drop your phone when you jump.

gaz is regarding you with a sly grin as he fully reveals himself and steps into the room. your palms immediately moisten with sweat as worry floods your mind - how much did he just hear?

"so, who you talkin' to?" gaz cocks his head to the side, teasing. he's relaxed, standing in front of you with his hands shoved in his pockets.

you pocket your phone and flash a calm smile. "that depends. you have any guesses?"

he chuckles, lifting one of his hands to playfully stroke at his chin as he thinks. "let's see... i know you weren't home for long, but—" his grin morphs into a lopsided smirk as he eyes you suspiciously. "y'got a boyfriend?"

dear god, no.

you resist the urge to gag at the thought and shake your head. "nope, it's just a... friend of mine."

gaz leans forward, an inquisitive 'ah' tumbling from his lips. "a friend, eh? they got a name?" he asks.

"he, uh... just goes by 'v.'"

"'v?' like the letter?"

you answer with an affirmative "mhm," patting gaz on the shoulder as you brush past him. "it's a nickname i gave him. don't worry about it."

gaz groans in exasperation as you stroll towards the door, trying to ignore the way your heart races. lying is a normal part of the job, but lying to your team? generally not recommended.

"most 'just friends' don't have exclusive nicknames, you know!" gaz calls out from behind as you round the corner and start down the hall, leaving him alone.

a sick part of you finds the sentiment - makarov, being anything more than an enemy - entertaining, but your better judgement steers you back on track. you've got a mission to prepare for, and the likelihood of something going wrong is as high as ever. you need to focus on the mission and getting graves to give up shepherd.

⋆⋆⋆

shadow company's gunship is a familiar sight as you climb aboard, slipping past the groups of shadows and finding your teammates gathered around what you can only describe as the command center. graves is standing close by, though the tension is palpable as you approach.

after the aircraft lifts off is when graves talks, addressing the soldiers lining the seats of the craft.

"alright, now i know we've had our problems in the past," he starts, briefly acknowledging your group before turning back to his men. "however, none of that matters right now. the one-four-one is our ally on this mission; treat 'em like your own. copy that, shadows?"

johnny snorts from next to you. "where have we heard this before?" he mumbles.

there's a resounding "yep-yep" from his men, accompanied by several nods and looks in your direction. graves pats one of the soldiers on the shoulder and looks to price.

"think you can lay out the rest, captain."

price starts down the middle row, his voice booming even over the sounds of people checking their weapons, gear, and anxiously shifting in their seats. he moves slowly, practically stalking down the length of the gunship.

"the mission is simple: konni and al-qatala have set up bases across the city. they're using gas, heavy artillery, and stolen weapons to protect themselves." price stops for a moment and lets his gaze drag over the soldiers staring back at him. "i don't think i need to remind you shadows of what konni's done to your brothers in arms. we're going to break off into strike teams - eight men - and destroy these bases. alpha team will take the nerve center in the heart of the city. you already know your assignments."

graves speaks again once price goes quiet. "the commanders are not likely going to be in any of these field bases. but, if they are, then each and every single one of you has execute authority." he announces. "first man to bag an HVT gets a reward." he adds with a smirk, earning light laughter from several of his men.

when the speeches conclude, you settle back in your seat.

alpha team includes yourself, price, graves, and five of the shadows that graves handpicked. ghost, soap, and gaz are leading the bravo team, charged with the largest and best-guarded of the field bases. the commanding chain within shadow company are leading the other groups tasked with the bases scattered around the city.

you fish your phone out of one of your vest pockets when it buzzes, reading the notification on the screen.

there's an agent in your group 11:06 am

not a shadow. special forces. 11:06 am

you frown, angling the screen back and quickly scanning the group. everyone seems to be engrossed in conversation, giving you a chance to respond.

do you have a name? 11:07 am

not yet. he's a rookie. 11:07 am

he's stationed at the base you're staying at 11:07 am

check the files. should have transferred recently. 11:08 am

thank you. 11:08 am

don't mention it. 11:09 am

you're quick to tuck your phone away again, jolting when gaz suddenly addresses you.

"texting your boyfriend, eh?" he laughs, catching everyone's attention.

soap snorts and turns to you. "since when did you start dating?"

you wave them off, sitting up again as all eyes fall on you - even ghost, who is usually horribly uninterested in gossip.

"what are you two, schoolchildren?" you ask, earning playful noises of offense. "he's just a friend. not even a close one."

you're getting yourself caught up in a lie. a shitty one, at that. all it's doing is making people more interested in who you're talking to. at this rate, you'll get caught by the end of the day.

"bullshit— no one in this job talks to a person this much if they're not special." gaz counters, pointing an accusatory finger at you.

price chuckles. "c'mon, gaz. come off it," he lightly scolds the sergeant before looking at you. "just make sure he treats you nice, yeah?" he adds, both teasing and sincere at the same time.

"he's not my— yeah, okay. i'll remember that." you concede, slumping back in your seat.

the topic is dropped not long after, leaving you to relax as people talk around you. after a couple minutes, you can feel your eyelids start to droop, reminding you of how restless last night was. the trip's going to take a while, you might as well get some sleep while you still can.

⋆⋆⋆

everything is so hot. the sun, the ground, your clothes, the air— you.

you don't have any protective gear on, your sidearm secured in your loose grip as you stumble through the ruins where a city once stood.

that's right, you think. the city was destroyed in all the fighting. reduced to nothing more than rubble. you remember when there used to be buildings here; half-toppled and abandoned, but they stood as evidence of life nonetheless.

you falter, landing on your knee and hissing as it hits the solid ground below you. your vision starts to blur as your eyes water, forcing you to rub at them with your free hand in a desperate attempt to clear them.

when you blink rapidly, trying to force back the disorientation and bleariness, you notice a figure directly ahead of you.

an ally. a friend. someone that can help.

you force yourself to your feet and stagger towards them, sucking in a hopeful breath when they start to rush to meet you. the harsh sun— fuck, it's so hot— makes you squint, preventing you from making out a face until they're already pulling you into their embrace, strong arms holding you close to their chest.

"it's okay." their voice— his voice, reassures you softly, one of his hands coming to rest on the back of your head, cradling you impossibly closer. "i took care of it, my dear. you're safe now."

hot tears streak down your cheeks, dirty with sand, dust, and ash, as you wrap your arms around his middle. you try to speak, but all that comes out is a hiccup and a pathetic sob, so you resolve to burying your face in his shoulder to muffle your cries.

you're tired. exhausted, actually. for once in this career, you want to be selfish. you want to be the protected one. fighting, losing allies, killing— it never ends.

he shushes you, but even in your state, you can tell the action is unnatural. gentleness, empathy, tender care... it isn't who he is.

you manage to lift your head enough to look at him, eyes glassy with tears.

makarov stares back at you, his callous gaze betraying the way he holds you. it makes you pause, confused, as you slowly recall why you're even here.

you were fighting konni operatives. there was a missile— no, something bigger. something that decimated the city and would have taken you along with it, had you not ducked into a shelter at the very last second. when you emerged, shaken and dazed in the aftershock, you encountered al-qatala and konni mercenaries alike.

bodies scattered in the streets, men wheezing for air despite blood displacing the oxygen in their lungs and leaking from every orifice, some still trying to fight even as they collapse in heaps of pure agony, writhing on the ground alongside their brothers in arms.

you wince when his fingers trace along the edge of your jaw, his forefinger hooking under your chin and forcing you to look into his eyes after your gaze drifts away.

"their lives mean nothing," makarov whispers, barely audible over the sound of your heart pounding against your ribcage. "not compared to you. you're better, stronger, than them. you will serve me well. you will help me usher in a new age."

he runs the pad of his thumb across your bottom lip, slightly chapped from the dry heat. on instinct, you part your lips, and he moves his hand to cup your face before leaning in to capture your lips in a searing kiss.

it's wrong. this is wrong.

you shouldn't be here. you shouldn't be doing this.

the kiss is a distraction, keeping you occupied as his other hand falls from its spot on your hip. you don't even notice the change until a gunshot rings out, and pain equally as burning as the kiss courses through your veins.

you can't even muster a proper cry as you pull back, one of your own hands flying to the epicenter of the pain, right in the middle of your stomach. your fingers brush against the spot, and you whimper when you lift them back up to your face. dark red stains your skin, dripping down your wrist.

"i just need to fix you first. under my guidance... you will be perfect, my dear." makarov mutters, catching you and holding you up when you crumple against him. he coos at you, sympathetic yet mocking, as he scoops you up in his arms, the world around you going dark.

⋆⋆⋆

you wake up with a start, shifting to the edge of your seat as you frantically rub at your eyes. there's an ache deep in the pit of your stomach, making you press your palm against the same spot as your dream.

this time, when you look down at your hand, you see nothing. a shaky sigh escapes from you at the sight - or, rather, the lack thereof.

"y'all right?" ghost asks, eyeing you from the seat across from you.

"yeah, yeah—" you respond, shaking off the lingering effects of the dream. "we almost there?"

price comes over, having been talking with graves some feet away, and pats your shoulder in acknowledgement. "about to touch down, actually. let's go."

you disembark alongside the rest of alpha team, taking up formation with price and graves, with the few shadow company operatives behind the three of you. reaching the building isn't a difficult task despite the many mercenaries standing between it and your team; as much as you hate to admit it, the shadows are skilled in the field, even with their misgivings.

the building is another high rise, like the one you infiltrated weeks ago, half-crumpled from the effects of the fighting in the city. price leads the group as you all enter it through a sizeable hole in the wall, clearing out the first floor with trained precision.

the group of shadows form a perimeter just outside as you investigate the interior with price and graves, finding it... empty?

"thought you said this was the nerve center," you mutter, turning to the men as they search around, equally as perplexed as you. "there's nothing here."

price shakes his head, standing up from where he was crouched over some rubble. "there was something here. they must've moved."

"they knew we were comin'." graves says with a frustrated huff. "probably just protecting it to keep up the charade. the real control center could be anywhere in the city."

the two start for the exit with you in tow. "could be outside of it for all we know. we need to contact the other squads." price replies before pausing at the threshold and angling his head upwards. you stop several feet back and send him a confused look, before a low rumbling echoes throughout the building, sending dust and small debris falling from the floors above.

the rumbling stops for a second, until a louder, harsher one follows. larger pieces of wreckage start to loosen and threaten to fall, small bits clattering against the ground.

"shit, the building's too unstable— it's gonna collapse—!" price shouts as a metal beam crashes into the ground less than twenty feet away from you.

while price and graves are able to duck out amidst the falling debris, you're forced to dive backwards after a piece of the floor above falls right into your path. you search for a way around it, but as the violent shaking increases and sends more collapsing down all around you, you realize that cover might be your only option.

you scan the room quickly and dive under a pile of slabs and beams, sturdy enough to not collapse under the weight of falling wreckage, but with just enough room for you to squeeze in underneath.

it's only seconds after you find cover that the thundering sounds of heavy rubble crashing down all around you fills your ears, forcing you to cover them with your hands as each crash makes you flinch.

the worst of the destruction is short-lived. a couple minutes pass by before you're willing to move, the occasional piece of the upper floors still collapsing around you every now and then. you let out a trembling breath once you emerge, pure adrenaline coursing through your veins.

the exit. you hastily search for it, but all hope drains from you when you find it and see that it's completely blocked by the wreckage.

"petra? can you hear me?" price's voice crackles through your radio.

you go to respond, coughing harshly due to all the dirt and dust floating in the air. "i hear you— i'm all right," you tear your eyes from the exit and look for another path. it's a big building, surely you can find something. "just stuck in here." you grumble into the radio.

"we're gonna try to find another way in, see if you can meet us somewhere." he says. you can hear graves barking orders at his men in the background. "be careful." price adds in a rushed tone.

you drop your hand from your radio and clutch your gun close as you carefully traverse the field of debris, mentally thanking whatever higher power that the building only partially collapsed on top of you, instead of crushing you completely.

every movement out the corner of your eyes makes you stop and aim your weapon at it; it's highly unlikely - but not impossible - that you're not alone. anyone could've snuck in after the collapse, or hidden themselves like you did. al-qatala, konni, shepherd's men— you have a lot of enemies and very few allies in the area.

you spin around at the sound of something shifting, but only see a few pieces of wood hitting the ground. you're getting too paranoid. you try to steel yourself, breathing deeply, before a smooth voice makes you choke on the air that gets caught in your throat.

"you are very unlucky, aren't you?"

you turn again, gun drawn and finger on the trigger, but stop short upon seeing a friendly...

well, you see makarov standing across the room. it's an enemy that doesn't seem all-too interested in killing you - for now, at least.

"how did you..." you trail off, lowering your weapon.

apparently understanding your question, he vaguely motions behind himself. "there's a breach." he says, glancing over the destruction as he approaches you.

you squint at him as he draws closer, briefly tightening your grip on your gun. he stops several feet away, though, so you allow yourself to relax just a bit, lowering your weapon.

"i figured you'd be staying far away from al-mazrah, it's an active war zone after all." you comment, earning a dismissive look.

"i don't mind getting my hands dirty," makarov utters with a lofty grin tugging at his lips. "besides, we need to talk."

you cock your head to the side, curious. "and, you couldn't call or text me about this? that's been working out so far." you chuckle softly.

he steps closer again, standing a little over an arm's length away. "i happened to be close by." he responds. "this is also something better discussed in person."

you nod, hesitantly slinging your gun over your shoulder to cross your arms over your chest.

"after our last exchange, i managed to gather more information from my... source." he punctuates the last word with a half-assed attempt at a conciliatory smile. "the mole planted within your group reported to shepherd recently; he's aware of our communication." he continues, before you interrupt him.

"wait, no one knows about this, not even my squad." you assert, taking another step closer to him. you're just under an arm's length away, now.

"there was an agent within the group assigned to your care when you were captured. one of the two men that accompanied us on the first day - he listened in on our conversation and delivered the details to the general." makarov speaks in a hushed tone, one you can just barely hear over rubble crumbling somewhere nearby. "the agent on your end tracked you after you reunited with your squad. something of yours was bugged, they heard us that night."

how could he... most of your belongings were clothes, which you know for certain weren't bugged. the only other item that traveled home with you is your cellphone—

"shit," you mumble, practically tearing your vest pocket open and grabbing your phone. there's nothing obviously wrong with it at first glance, but once you pop the case off and check inside, your suspicions are confirmed.

there's a small tracking device flashing red at you, mocking you, and you rip it out before tossing it on the ground and stomping on it.

"he's heard everything," you say, twisting your boot to scatter the broken pieces. "fuck, if this gets out— i can explain this to my team and make do with the judgement, but if shepherd tells any of his friends in their cushy government positions, i'm dead."

makarov shifts, looking past you, but you don't even notice the action thanks to the adrenaline reflooding your system. "that would be an issue," he mutters, reaching for the holster at his hip. "i suppose i could protect you."

you snort, dragging your gaze from your boot to his face. "i'm not joining your side, even for this."

a thin string of red light shines from the darkness behind you, aimed at the back of your skull. makarov follows it to its source, all but ignoring your rejection, as his fingers wrap around the handle of his desert eagle.

a loud gunshot rings out, echoing against the walls. you instinctively reach for your stomach, preparing yourself for the pain you felt in that dream, body tensing up as it flies into survival mode.

the pain never comes. a heavy thump makes you turn, however, watching as a soldier collapses to the ground. unmarked uniform. one of the general’s men.

"shepherd has not earned your blood. if anyone is going to kill you, it will be me." makarov lowers his gun and meets your muddled gaze. "i suggest you reconsider my offer, petra, and give me a call when you make up your mind."

you’re left in that state as he sidesteps and saunters past you, seemingly disappearing into the darkness himself. you’re sure there’s another exit that you missed, one he’s taking to avoid running into your squad.

his offer. joining him for protection.

you'll never follow makarov or his ideals, much less join him for such a selfish reason. if you can kill shepherd, then you can destroy any evidence and get yourself out of this mess. with graves' cooperation and your team to help, that possibility is well within your reach. the only crime you'll have to answer for is severely disappointing your teammates, but they'll understand.

except, there's no guarantee that graves will help, and the rules of engagement prevent you from taking effective action against shepherd. he may be on the run, but he's an american general - killing him could land the one-four-one in hot water with the government.

that'll only lead to more restrictions, more eyes on you, more questions— there's nothing you can do to stop it.

you need someone without limits. someone the government doesn't have their hands on.

you need makarov.

a series of heavy footsteps alert you to a new presence, snapping you out of your trance. you lift your head in time to see price, graves, and the shadows appear from around a large pile of debris in the same direction that makarov originally approached you from.

"petra!" price calls out, jogging ahead of the group and stopping just in front of you. "you broken?" he asks, placing a firm hand on your shoulder and dragging his gaze across your form, searching for any injuries.

"no, i'm fine. nothing major." you mumble, struggling to find your voice all of a sudden. "just, uh..." you lose it again, your tongue darting out to nervously wet your dry lips.

"something wrong?" he murmurs, quiet enough that graves and his men can't hear from their positions farther away.

you can feel every beat of your heart, rapidly thumping against your ribs to the point of making your chest ache. only price can give you approval to do something so risky, so stupid. he'll understand. he knows the job isn't perfect, but you do what you have to do—

"i have something to confess, captain."

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[yellowelectroslime]

this is hilarious. yes.

Charlie:

SUPER EXCITED

brought board games, card games, snacks shes SO EXCITED

she would force everyone to play games like truth or dare in the dorms

makes sure eveyone brushes their teeth before going to bed and after waking up

goes above and beyond with the activities

she’s hell born so she never got to experience the human high school camp so she’s making up for it here :D

she’s just here for a good time okay?

Vaggie:

she’s only here to protect her girlfriend.

she’s armed.

like the moment she leaves the canin/dorm she’s drawing out whatever blade she brought with her

does this to “survive”

calls everyone her comrade in arms and forces them to do push ups like soldiers

treats this like a military

Charlie has to tell her to calm down and reassures her that shes safe :C

the bear grylls of hell

Angel dust:

HATES the outdoors

its funny cuz he’s a spider lol

hides in the cabin

whenever he sees something move in the bushes he screams and comically jumps in husk

has fun with indoor activities and games

like i said. hates the outdoors

I don’t think he will be all flirty and stuff when he’s like genuinely having fun

steals husks s’mores.

Alastor:

takes this opportunity to go hunt

probably teaches the others how to hunt deer and just wanted everyone in horror because the radio demon has a gun.

he drags a dead deer back to the cabin

vaggie scolds him saying thats it nasty as hell and it’ll attract flies

he cooks the deer for them to eat (vaggie is trying her best not to look like she likes the food)

best cook

purposely burns his s’mores cuz it’s fun and i think he’s the type of person to go “burnt to the core, that’s a s’more”

Husk:

brings alcohol :D 👍

vaggie has to drag his ass to get him to participate in the games

likes his marshmallows medium rare with a golden crust

…. along side a glass of whiskey

fucking HATES mosquitoes

will do everything in his power to kill all mosquitoes within a 7 kilometer radius of him

the only thing he brought other than alcohol is bottles upon bottles mosquito spray

he’s not taking any chances

Niffty:

Loves mosquitoes 

she’s crazy

she kills the mosquitoes with a  kitchen knife

will eat the burnt s’mores

crazy.

charlie has to keep her under supervision or she’ll run off exterminating the mosquito population

Sir pentious:

will bring all his egg boiz and make them do everything

vaggie has to convince him that camping means you have to do everything himself

doesn’t understand anything but nods and tries to have fun

he’s so innocent

Cherri Bomb:

she’s australian she’s BORN for the outdoors

probably knows the wilderness more than everyone

doesn’t really help with stuff and just chats with angie

plays truth or dare too but its the…. less family friendly type

nothing scared her

tells everyone scary stories by the camp fire

laughs how everyone screams when a hell bunny comes out of the bush

charlie has to confiscate all her bombs to not start a forest fire

makes the best s’mores

[dr-spencer-reids-queen]

To Hell...: Part One

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~2.1k

Summary: A man intentionally admits to murdering ten people he didn’t kill all because his sister is missing. The facts take you to a pig farm where a world of horror is waiting for you.

Warnings: canon violence, canon language, canon talk of death, methods of kill

Author’s Note: I do not own anything from Criminal Minds. All credit goes to their respective owners. If there are any warnings that exceed the normal death/kills from the show, I will list them. If you’ve seen the show, then it’s the same level of angst unless otherwise stated

x

"If there were no hell, we would be like the animals. No hell, no dignity." - Flannery O'Connor

Two weeks have gone by since the Anthrax attack. For two weeks, Spencer has been in recovery. This is the first day he gets to come to work after getting out of the hospital. Everyone is inside the bullpen and their respective offices while you're outside in the empty hallway. You need a moment to yourself to calm your racing heart.

You're still not over almost losing Spencer. He's fine now and has been cleared by the doctor but the fear of losing him is still in the back of your mind. Things like fear, panic, and sadness hit you harder than any other emotion because of how strong they can be. They hate being alone, so they try to take as many people down with them as possible.

"Hey, there you are," Spencer says from the double glass doors. "Are you okay?" You shake your head and refuse to look at him. If you do, you're scared you'll never stop crying. "Darling, I'm okay now. There's no permanent damage."

When you don't look at him, he puts two fingers under your chin and lifts your head so you're forced to look him in the eyes.

"Did you know your love consumes me? It's passionate and intense and it hurts sometimes because I'm so in love with you. I have never loved anyone as much as I love you, so when you get hurt, it's ten times more difficult for me because I'm an empath."

Spencer cuts you off by placing his lips on yours. You wrap your arms around his neck and pull him closer to you. You can't ever get enough of his lips, his touch, or his love.

"Just know I'm not going anywhere," he whispers. He pulls away and rests his forehead against yours. "I still need to marry you and have your kids."

This time, you smile a happy one and kiss him again.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt," JJ clears her throat. You and Spencer part from each other to look at her. "The meeting's about to start."

"Yeah, we'll be right there."

JJ leaves and you reach up to fix Spencer's hair.

"I love you."

"I love you more."

"Not possible," you grin.

"Yes, possible."

You two cut your cheesy moment short and join everyone in the briefing room so that JJ can get started on the case. She starts by putting a video on the screen for everyone to watch. On the Canada Border, there are a lot of cars getting checked before going through, but there is this one that draws the attention of some of the officers.

One car passes through the checkpoint but stops right as he does, and officers gather around to tell him to move. Instead of complying, he drives his car right through the barricade, turns around, and rams right into one of the checkpoint booths.

Officers from all over get their guns out and remove him from the car, and they slam the man down on the ground face-first. They handcuff him where he lays, pull him to his feet, and he looks up at the camera.

"His name is William Hightower. He claims over the past month, he's picked ten people off the streets of Detroit, killed them, and dumped their bodies across the border in Canada."

"Has he given up the dumpsite?"

"He said he'll only talk to the FBI."

"Do we have confirmation these people are even missing?" Spencer asks.

"Two were reported missing by family months ago, but they all appear to be transients. We're having a hard time finding any information on them."

"Garica?"

"Like a bloodhound, sir," she says and leaves the briefing room to find information on the ten people.

"So, what do we know about Will?"

"Up until two months ago, he was a Sergeant in the Us Army that did two tours in Iraq. He lost his left leg in a roadside ambush. He was discharged with a purple heart and a commendation for Valor."

"The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are requesting our help?"

"They don't have a lot of choice."

"If he manages to get away with ten murders, why crash the guard post?"

"It could be an attempted suicide. Maybe he was trying to take as many people with him as he could," Emily theorizes.

"It could also be a case of post-traumatic stress disorder. Do we think it's legit?"

"I think it's too many bodies to take chances. Wheels up in thirty."

Hotch is the last one to leave the room, and before he can go on his way, you stop him.

"Hey, I just want to apologize for yelling at you two weeks ago. I shouldn't have done that."

"I understand the stress you were under. Honestly, I would have done the same thing if I were you. I hope you and Reid are doing okay."

"Yeah, we are now."

Hotch pats you on the back and leaves your side. Everyone meets on the plane and the pilot starts the three-and-a-half-hour flight to Windsor International Airport in Canada. JJ looks through the files containing the claims Will made about the murders.

"He documented them all in detail with names, photos, dates, and locations of where he took them."

"He has a Military background, so he's bound to be organized. He definitely doesn't have a type. The only consistency is that they were all abducted in the same area."

"Yeah, what do we know about that?" Emily asks.

"It's called the Cass Corridor. It's right here." Spencer points it out on a map. "It has an extremely high concentration of drug trafficking, prostitution, and homeless people. All high-risk behavior."

"Maybe for Will, it's more about opportunity than victimology."

"Morgan and Prentiss, when we land, I want you to head straight to Detroit and see if you hear anything in the whisper stream. I want to make sure we have a crime before we get too deeply into this. The rest of us will meet with the legal attache before we hit the Royal Canadian Mounted Police."

"Actually, sir, the officer in charge said that his team was part of a fellowship the BAU gave to train police forces in profiling," JJ says.

"That was the first one we ever did. His name is Jeff Bedwell."

"You know him? Is he any good?"

"He better be. I trained him," Rossi smirks.

As soon as the plane lands, your team splits up with you going with the majority to the police station. Jeff Bedwell eagerly greets Rossi when he sees him.

"Jeff, how have you been?"

"You mean besides having serial killers trying to take out our border agents?"

"Jeff, these are Agents Aaron Hotchner, Spence Reid, Y/N, and Jennifer Jareau."

"Thanks for being here. I've got a victim board and timelines set up on monitors in the conference room. Anything you need, you've got the run of the place."

"We appreciate it."

"Don't thank me, thank the unsub. He's the one that put you all in charge."

You walk into the conference room and see all the missing victims on the board.

"I need to go talk to Garcia and see if she had any luck locating the family members. I'll also check records for multiple border crosses and see if we get any hits for the days the victims went missing," JJ says and leaves the room.

"Do you believe he killed all these people?" you ask.

"It fits the profile."

"How so?"

"He's got recent physical trauma that could be a stressor, wide disparity of victims, no bodies, possible border cross, and two entirely different terrains. To pull that off, you'd have to be smart, organized, mobile, and physical. His Military background gives us all that."

"It appears as though he clusters his victims into men, then women, and then back to men again."

"What does that tell you?" Jeff asks Spencer.

"At the moment, nothing."

"Has he contacted his family?"

"No, and he refuses a lawyer."

"Is he here in interrogation?"

"Yes."

"This guy is from the US Army who demanded to talk to the FBI. He's not gonna want to talk to anyone but the person he thinks is in charge."

"Of course. I'll take you to him."

Rossi and Spencer stay in the conference room while you and Hotch follow Jeff to where Will is being held. You can see him through the two-way glass and notice his anger. However, it's not a rageful anger but a calm one. He's staring at the window as if he can see right through it.

"Has he been agitated this whole time?"

"He hasn't even flinched."

"Does he know that we're here?"

"Yeah, we told him. Are you not gonna interrogate him?" Jeff asks.

"If I go in now, he's in charge. If I wait and gather information... It's my interview. Let's see what we turn up in Detroit."

Derek and Emily noticed something strange when they got to Detroit. Not a single person isolated themselves from everyone else, and they've all set up camps. People on the streets don't usually care about safety in numbers unless something scared them into changing their behavior. Drug deals are happening in the daytime and prostitutes seem to be working in groups. If Will did kill ten people, he couldn't have done it without witnesses.

Emily asked the girls while Derek stuck to the homeless population. Derek talked to someone who seemed to know who the last victim was, and his name is Charles who was a junkie. He's been gone for two days, and it wouldn't have been weird except that a lot of people have been disappearing.

When they do, they don't come back.

It's normal for people to leave and not come back, but this guy has never seen anything like this before. Derek showed him a picture of Will and asked about him, and the man says that everyone tries to avoid Will. He's got a gun and no one wants any beef with him. He keeps asking about everyone who's gone missing, when they went missing, and just about everything he needs to make it look like he's the one who killed them.

Before Hotch goes in, you put a hand on his arm to stop him.

"Can I take the lead on this one?"

"What are you thinking?"

"That he didn't kill anyone. Don't worry, I won't choke you."

"Alright, let's see what you've got."

You and Hotch walk into the room and Will gives you a stone-cold look.

"I'm Agent Y/N and this is my boss, Aaron Hotchner, the Behavioral Analysis Unit Chief of the FBI."

"Are you here to analyze me?"

"No. I'm here for your confession, and to find out where you've dumped the bodies."

"I gave you names and dates."

"Not dump sites. You didn't give that information because you don't know where their bodies are, do you?" Will stays silent, and you get the impression that he's desperate out of love. "I know you were a Sergeant that led troops, and you've probably lost some men along the way, right?"

"A few."

"How would their parents feel if they didn't know whether their sons and daughters were dead or alive?"

"Don't lecture me on notifying families," Will angrily says. He takes a deep breath and composes himself. "No one cares about those people. Why should I?"

He got angry when you mentioned the word "families".

"You didn't kill those men, did you?"

"What makes you think I didn't?"

"Because you were out there every night showing people their photographs and checking their names off in a notebook. You'd only do that if you were looking for someone. Who are you missing, William?"

It's the kindness in your voice that causes him to break down crying. You look at Hotch and he encourages you to continue.

"You intentionally made sure everyone was out of that checkpoint booth before hitting it. You never wanted to kill anyone, just like you didn't kill those ten people. Now, I believe you when you say these people are missing. Is that what you wanted? To make us investigate so we'd find whoever it is you're missing?"

"Yes," he cries.

"Who is it?"

"My baby sister, Lee. When I got home from Iraq, the first thing my mother told me was that Lee was on the streets. She asked me to find her. I managed to find her once and brought her home. We fed her, got her cleaned up, and I let her wear my dog tags for good luck. Two weeks later, she slipped back onto the streets."

"Will, you provided so much information on the ten victims, but you didn't give us anything on Lee. Why is that?"

"I hid it in my spare tire. I needed to wait until I was sure that you were on board."

"What can you tell us about Lee?"

Will gives you everything he had on Lee, and you found the file he gathered on her in the spare tire in his trunk. He even gave you his phone that has a voicemail she sent to him right before she disappeared. You leave the interrogation room with Hotch and turn to him with a smile.

"Did I choke you?"

"You did a really good job. I'm serious. Keep up the good work."

"Thank you," you grin.

x

Follow my library blog @aqueenslibrary​​​​​​​​​​​ where I reblog all my stories, so you can put notifications on there without the extra stuff :)

[st4rwon]

train rides with hyun

hyunjin x reader

when visiting hyunjin’s family for vacation, hyunjin starts to feel motion sick

contains: so much fluff, comfort, mentions of motion sickness(?), medicine (?), just two cuties :)

word count: 0.8k

request here!

sitting on the train with hyunjin was nice, just the two of you sitting together, hand in hand, one earbud in each of your ears while listening to your shared playlist (that was hyunjin’s idea to create). the calmness of the train was nice and you appreciated the serene state you were in, hyunjin’s schedule was packed recently and it made it hard for him to see you, so this weekend you took the train to hyunjin’s parents house so that you were all able to spend time together. you loved hyunjin’s family, they were so welcoming and kind when you first met them, it felt like a second home to you. all of a sudden you felt hyunjin shift a bit in his seat, putting his phone away, and staring out the window. you hadn’t traveled much with hyunjin, especially on train rides like this so you decided to ask what was wrong, “hyun, you don’t look so good everything okay?” hyunjin dreaded the feeling in hs stomach, he hated that he had motion sickness, but what he also hated was making you worry. “yeah i’m okay love” he squeezed your hand to reassure you. “alright but please let me know if anything is up, your my top priority” he smiled, how did he get so lucky?

all of a sudden it all got worse, hyunjin’s stomach felt horrible, it was like he could throw up at any minute. he tried to make himself feel better, but nothing worked. taking note of his strange behavior you motioned him to put his head on your shoulder. “close your eyes for a bit, if your still not feeling better let me know” he hummed in response and just focused on the sounds of your breaths

hyunjin felt his shoulder being shaken and slowly opened his eyes, “hey, it’s time to go” you said in a hushed voice. you took his hand and walked out of the train together, after leaving the station you walked around the city to look for a taxi. eventually you were able to ahold of one, when seating yourself down you noticed hyunjin still wore a pained expression on his face. “you holding up alright?” he nodded his head in response “i swear to god i’m never going on a train again” he groaned “how are we supposed to get back home?” “i don’t mind staying with you forever” he said pulled as close to you as possible. “is a symptom of motion sickness to be clingy?” you joked “no, but i heard a cure is cuddling” you laughed “alright whatever you say hyun”

once you arrived to his parents home you rang the doorbell waiting for them to answer the door. “yn! hyunjin! ah it’s so nice to see you two again. how long has it been? 2 years?” “we were here like 3 months ago” hyunjin responded, he didn’t mean for it to come out as rude but the pain was killing him. “sorry mom didn’t mean it like that, I’m glad to see you” he said greeting his mother “glad to see you’ve come with yn! we’ve missed her company” his dad said chuckling “it’s always a pleasure to see you both“ you responded smiling. after seating yourself on the couch and having some small talk everyone in the door couldn’t help but notice hyunjin grunting in pain. “you stomach still hurts?” you whispered he just nodded in response. “i always forget about how bad he has it, i’ll grab him some medicine. hyunjin head up to his room” his mother says reaching into a cabinet to grab the box of different medicines, while you got up to fill a glass of water for him. “could you go give this to him?” she said motioning to the medicine. “yes of course”

you walked up the stairs to the house and entered hyunjin’s bedroom. it was the same as it’s always been the light blue bed sheets, walls covered with his drawings he made when he was young. you sat on the floor next to hyunjin’s bed, “hyunnie you gotta take this” “ugh i don’t want to” he whined. though he was a grown adult now, there were still some qualities that made him seem like the little boy you met all those years ago. “if i take it will you cuddle with me?” “whatever you want baby” he grabbed the pill off the table and held his glass of water. after taking the medicine he scooted on the bed making some space for you to lay down. “needy are we?” “for you? always” “glad to see the sickness hasn’t taken away your cheesiness” you said putting you arms around his body “pretty let’s just stay like this for a bit” he said weakly, of course you didn’t mind it. you combed through his hair for a bit before hearing his soft snores, you pulled his a bit closer to you and kissed the top of his head.

please don’t spam like posts, repost, translate, or use my work without my permission. all work is fictional and only used for entertainment purposes.

[blackjack-15]

the way nat is treated is sooo sad and predictable. she doesn't always (present day) handle things well, but...with an upbringing like this? and good on her for pouring the liquor down the drain and bringing paper towels

"oh you're gonna make sprite?" "yeah, i'm gonna make sprite" that's carmy in a nutshell. push on a wall, it becomes a bridge.

"holding everything in and then letting it out inappropriately" you've reduced the bear to its most basic components!

he made sprite! something from nearly nothing, that's carmy. and no one even thanks him to his face. he didn't have to do it, he was doing 6 other things at once, and he still made sprite for someone who was having a hard time

also richie's ex wife reminds me strongly of mrs. berzatto. just saying.

"why isn't someone listening to me?" "i'm listening" "WHY IS NO ONE LISTENING TO ME" and this is mrs berzatto at a 4/5? we're gonna see her at a 6+ before long

i hate to armchair-diagnose, but there's pretty obviously a personality disorder present here in the Matriarch of the Berzatto clan. histrionic personality disorder is my immediate thought, but could be something else.

"no one's f//kin with you why would you think that?" gee i wonder.

"we ran into the love of your life" "i don't have a love of my life" 1) they're 100% talking about claire 2) carmy baby. you're so right you don't yet.

wow i hate mikey/richie right now. but! this adds a whole new dimension to carmy re: claire! because claire is tied to mikey, to what mikey 'wanted' for carmy, and that makes this whole thing come full circle, doesn't it?

"what did you do. what did you do." maybe christmas in copenhagen would have been a good idea.

carmy's absolute distaste for this whole 'conversation' (the glasses came off? the body is banging? really guys? you're being disgusting) is beautiful. carmy's got many, many vices and makes a lot of mistakes, but this is Not something he puts up with

"i don't understand why you would do this. why are you like this" oh carmy honey.

"i'm not in love with her, that's what i'm saying, where did you guys get that?"

THERE IT IS.

there's the reason for showing how carmy reacts when someone wants something from him, why the awful phone conversation with claire has her making him go from not wanting to give his number to saying "i want you to have my number". we have to see how carmy goes from saying no -- the truth -- to saying yes -- a lie -- after pressure is put on him. because this is where it starts.

claire represents what others want for carmy. normalcy, a chance -- his "only" chance -- to be with someone deemed societally Valuable. to not be an "other", to fit in, to have something "Good" that everyone thinks is good. carmy/claire is nauseating, but it's supposed to be. people spend so much time on screen telling us how Good claire is, when the show itself doesn't back it up. she's a figure of myth, a representation of the expectations others set on carmy and that he bows to, not a character. full stop.

and wow this is legitimately hard to watch. carmy attempts to set boundary, boundary is ignored. rinse, repeat.

they think carmy's in love with her -- this is a man in his, what, late 20s at this point? -- because he used to draw her in high school? the tenuous is getting more tenuous my Gosh.

"carm. this is a good thing." oh and no it really really isn't.

okay nice moment here for richie. does he think carmy is weird? yeah. does he still kinda brag about his sprite-making abilities? yeah

okay, ex wife is the worst. the boy makes you sprite b/c you don't feel good and there's none in the house and you ask why they'd 'punish' a nice girl like claire by hooking carmy up with her?

richie is adorable with his daughter and despite everything going wrong in his life (both his fault and not) is a really good dad ("do you think that she'll like us?" is such a soft question). i am really, really glad he's divorced. i want him to find happiness -- i don't know what that would look like for him just yet, but.

"we just have to not be like our parents" the other distillation of the bear!

richie trying to get a better job for his kid is really sweet. mikey telling the bill murray story in the background? hilarious

we're further breaking down the Mythos of Mikey -- he's introduced as a perfect, tragic figure, and we've spent a season and a half showing his foibles...which are Many.

[alexanderlightweight]

Wednesday ask - I love your Claimed by Fire and I was wondering how the story would go if Magnus knew that Alec was his soulmate and had to get through the Clave to get to Alec. Just a thought! I adore your writing and have been reading your works on AO3 for a long time, I just got on to tumblr so I’m still trying to figure out how this works! Thank you

okay this was fun to write and i hope you enjoy it! thank you so much for the prompt

--

Magnus stares at the small, still flickering fire message. It’s a shriveled little thing, more char than words but he knows what it says.

It’s his name. 

His demonic name that no one should know but his father and there are words and what looks like blood and tear stains and something in Magnus breaks.

It should never have made it to him. 

Not if what he thinks it means is true. If Magnus’ soulmate is a nephilim, then their fire message should never have reached Magnus, not while he’s in the spiral labyrinth. 

Magnus wonders how many notes were sent. How much desperation his soulmate poured into his messages, for this one to reach him.

The end of the message read Lightwood, no first name, whatever was written the flames ate away. 

Magnus knows this isn’t one of Maryse or Robert’s traps, they wouldn’t ever insinuate or sully their children with even a hint that they were soulmates with a warlock.

Which means that Magnus’ soulmate is being raised by people who hate Magnus. Who hate what Magnus is, who hate his people and his magic and don’t even believe he has a soul.

It’s intolerable. 

Magnus has not waited eight hundred years for this gift to be denied it.

Magnus refuses to let the clave and shadowhunters take one more thing from him, because they will, if they find out, and they’ve already taken so much.

So Magnus plans and he researches and he threatens people and tortures others and he kills until he has a complete if sparse dossier. 

Three Lightwood children and a foster-fourth who bears a different last name.

A babe, Max, too young to send a message. The middle, Isabelle, who is still in training and Alexander, the oldest, the Lightwood heir.

Alexander is his, Magnus knows the moment he reads his full name and his magic surges with hunger.

Cat and Ragnor plan with him, carefully. Ragnor takes them deep into his memory, to show Magnus every secret he can without risking the oaths he once took to teach at Idris.

The clave doesn’t think warlocks can be trusted, so they don’t consider that warlocks trust each other, some of them at least.

But Ragnor loves Magnus more than he loves the sanctity of his own mind and he welcomes both Magnus and Cat in, so that all three can get as much information as possible. 

“You’ll have to be quick, once you're through the wards.” Cat reminds as they look over the layout and the weaknesses. 

“What will you use as a distraction once you’re in? It could take ages to find him.” Ragnor asks, reading glasses perched as his nose as he carefully draws an array.

“I’m going to open a rift to Edom.” Magnus says casually, like he hasn’t been refusing to do so since the start of the war.

“Magnus—” Cat trails off, biting her lip and then nodding solemnly. She understands that to him, the risk is worth it now in a way it wasn’t before.

“Your father is a bloody arsehole.” Ragnor mutters and scowls at the table when Magnus chuckles with relief at Ragnor’s predictable reaction. “At least you’ll get more of your power back, this will break what’s binding him to Edom, won’t it?”

“Yes,” Magnus admits easily. “Even the Council doesn’t know my heritage, only my abilities. If they knew what the risk was, they would never have asked me. However they have, that I chose to go through with it is their own fault.”

Which is true. Magnus has been at the forefront of this war, his magic and blood spilled more than any other as he fights for life and freedom and sometimes for revenge. Because Magnus is owed his pound of flesh and when he storms Edom for the soul born of his soul, he’s going to take it.

—

Magnus opens the rift slowly, carefully. Ragnor used the last of his priceless nephilim artifacts to create a spell that will let Magnus slip past the wards and go to the location Magnus knows from Ragnor’s mind. 

So it’s with shocking ease that he enters Alicante in the early glow of dawn. A pink and orange hue dapples over the sky as the sun peeks up over the great forest and mountains that protect Idris.

And Magnus opens the rift and the sky bleeds red and the air fills with screams. Magnus tucks himself away, up high and in the shadows so he can watch the nephilim run like ants, screaming and shrieking like so many downworlders do in their raids.

Some are killed instantly, unable to get their weapons in time and unprepared for violence in their perfect little city of rotten divinity. Magnus is getting bored, watching the demons trying to crash into the towers and the shadowhunters trying to drive them away. Some get ripped in half and others dropped into the rift for other demons to devour.

It’s gruesome and horrific and possibly the most gory massacre Magnus has ever had the pleasure of watching or instigating and he can’t even enjoy it properly.

He has something more important to concentrate on.

He doesn’t find him for ages. Not until several hours have stretched past, the demons still coming but slower than they once did. Idris may yet survive this, it seems Magnus’ father has finally awoken and is calling some of the more controllable ones to him, the ones who haven’t scented angelic blood and answered Magnus’ call.

It’s a culling the likes of the nephilim have never seen and yet Magnus forgets it all when he sees a demon fall from the sky, a red-fletched arrow through its eye.

Magnus is too slow to track the arrow and another demon crashes into the tower the archer is hiding in.

The tower goes down.

But the demon also falls, a small figure wrapped around its neck with something glinting in the air.

Magnus is in delighted awe.

His soulmate realized he was about to fall — Magnus would have caught him, will always catch him now he’s found him — and instead, jumped on the demon and is now hanging on via some kind of weapon in its body. The demon twists up and up, wings beating powerfully as it tries to dislodge it’s attacker and Magnus holds out his hand and says, “bring him to me.”

The demon comes, ignoring the hunter clinging to it, obeying the master who claimed it.

Magnus lets the demon get above him and then destroys it, his magic wrapping protectively around his soulmate and Magnus steps out, catching his soul in his arm.

“There you are.” Magnus says, his entire being filled with a sense of delighted awe.

His shadowhunter is shocked and bloodied, but he’s whole and he’s in Magnus arms. And then hazel eyes are lighting up with equal awe and weapons are being dropped as arms come up around Magnus neck.

And Magnus is being kissed with the desperate and innocent passion of someone who has been waiting to be found.

“Sayang, my Alexander.” Magnus murmurs, “you clever boy. Getting your messages to me, shall we go home now?” And then because he needs to hear it, he murmurs his own name and Alexander kisses him, more chaste now, shy rather than untold years of agony being soothed.

“Anywhere, as long as it’s with you, Magnus.” 

He’s told and Magnus summons his boy’s weapons and in the middle of carnage and devastation, he opens a portal and takes his soul home.

[tanoraqui]

On one hand: I now DESPERATELY want like, a 5+1 of times Maedhros went nuclear on the HOA/PTA (and one time Fingon did it for him).

But also I am now imagining the canon setting HOA/building codes. Like. They're like 95% defensive stuff about keeping walls clear and in good repair, fire suppressant means on hand, etc. But the remaining 5% is buckwild Finwean aesthetic bullshit.

Thanks for the ask! If it’s in any way reassuring, re: your tags on the inspiring post, Maedhros doesn’t run the HOA with an iron fist so much as…okay listen have you ever read the Meng Yao vs. the Board of the Homeowner's Association MDZS/Untamed fox series? Maedhros can’t use his power or his menacing reputation for the HOA (or PTA, etc) because this is his mild-mannered alter ego. He can’t even act too much like Maedhros Fëanorion(TM), because the disguise is glasses + Clark Kenting! So instead of being sexily threatening and supernaturally authoritative, he rules the HOA with nonthreatening charm, spreadsheets, and a dash of blackmail as necessary.

Also, actually, he has a full-time job as a CEO/supervillain, so most likely he rules the HOA through a convenient patsy.

Idk if I can pull out a full 5+1, but…

1. When they were still living in an apartment in downtown Echo City (penthouse, fairly fancy but not where the UBER-wealthy live), one time Maedhros suggested to the building manager that the rooftop garden would be more aesthetically cohesive and appealing with brickwork pathways. The manager brushed him off. Maedhros took offense (“Our contract says that the landlord will maintain the building for use AND aesthetics!”) and rallied other residents to make a fuss. After three weeks of escalating complaints, the building manager nearly started crying in an all-parties meeting as he tried to explain that he’d asked about getting superficial brickwork on the roof, okay, he’s sorry he was dismissive at first, that’s on him, but he did ask, and his boss said that he’s not allowed to so much as look at contractors to upgrade the garden paths—

It was at this point that Fingon pulled his beloved husband aside and asked, “Russo don’t you technically own this building?”

“Yes,” said Maedhros.

“So his boss, or his boss’s boss’s boss’s boss…”

“He was rude to me,” Maedhros hissed. “Which is a failure at his job, too! I will break him, and then I will have him fired and replaced with someone who is a more quality judge of interior and exterior design.”

2. When they moved into a house in the suburbs, neither bothered much with the HOA at first, because they were too busy with their newly untesttubed baby. Maedhros realized he needed to Do Something about it when the HOA wouldn’t let them put up an eye-searing display of Solstice lights. Fingon more or less said “sic ‘em” on this one; in all universes, Noldor are (sometimes fatally) attracted to shiny things. They’re like crows.

3. Maedhros licked the chocolate crumbs from his fingers with intense focus.

“This isn’t just homemade,” he said slowly. “It’s actually good.”

“That’s great!” said Fingon. Judgement passed, he bit into his own brownie. “Mmm, yeah, that is good—I can’t believe your weird little competition prompted her to not just make real brownies for once, but to make good ones! I assumed she lied about the storebought ones because she just couldn’t—hey, no. No.”

He grabbed his husband’s hand, which was pulling out a cellphone with the same forbidding fury that most people reserved for drawing guns.

“You are not allowed to call a hit on Laura from the PTA,” Fingon said sternly. “Be proud! Be happy! You inspired her, and now the bake sale stands a real chance!”

“I’m not calling a hit on her,” Maedhros said grimly. “I said I’d humiliate her and I meant it—so I’m doing far worse.”

He swiped the phone open and handed it to Fingon.

“Please call your grandmother and ask for her brownie recipe—you know, the really good fudgey one that my father always pretended to hate.”

BY THE WAY, it hasn’t come up at all in the au and I’m not sure about the details or implications, but the Vanyar are definitely an alien race. Maybe secretly? 2/3 of this extended family are only partly or mostly human. They still get their superpowers from Finwë’s side, though.

[boliv-jenta]

Marcus Moreno x f!reader

Warnings: protected P in V sex. Talk of sex work.

Summary: A new client finds her perfect match at one of the motel's Fantasy Weekends.

And It Just Keeps Getting Better

Part 2: It's Always the Quiet Ones.

The bass practically shook the walls of the reception hall.

"Someone go tell Omar to turn it down!" Pike calls as he joins the group outside.

"Tell him my hangover would thank him for it." Dieter adds, wincing as he rubs his temples.

"I have some oils that could soothe that, Princesa." Oberyn offers, a sympathetic smile on his lips as he looks at the permanently dishevelled man that he has taken quite a shine to.

"I'm good. Thanks." Dieter offers him a lop-sided smile of his own.

"Remember we need to circulate and talk to the guests. Not each other." Pike glanced at Oberyn's hand resting on Dieter's shoulder. "I'll have Omar turn the music down so we can actually hear them. Santos is serving food in an hour. That will give the guests time to choose from the other menu."

The Fantasy Weekend was always popular. It cost extra but guests were able to get to know the boys before they chose how they wanted to spend their weekend. Usually bookings were just made through Ezra. He would draw out every detail he needed to pair the person up with the perfect partner. Some were simple. A woman calls up looking for a cowboy, he books her in with Jack. A guy calls looking for the same thing, he gets Silva. Ezra enjoys the more complex ones. The one where he has to listen to what's being said between the words. The woman who insists she is not interested in romance and adamant that she just wants a rough, thrilling fuck. Ezra thinks the lady doth protest too much and sends her to Javier. They definitely gets her hard, satisfying fucking, there's no doubt about that. But a look from Javier's dark eyes that seem to magnify every emotion, shining with concern as he hands her a glass of water reminds her what she is missing out on. It's a cathartic realisation. It's okay to want something outside of the career she's worked so hard for.

Occasionally people ask what happens if they don't find their matches attractive. Ezra reassures them with a chuckle that they will. He's never had a customer who didn't fall for the charm of the boys.

"We have a couple of guests in the side room. Pike and I will tend to them." Moreno steps through the gathering of bodies. "You all know the drill. When Max has finished his introductions, go mingle. Javier and Din will keep an eye on everyone."

"Yes, boss." Jack tips his hat as Joel hides a smirk. Neither of them mind the Marcuses taking control of things, they just find their pathological need for organisation amusing.

Pike mutters a head count under his breath. "Wait, where's Dave?"

Frankie adjusts his cap and clears his throat. "He got a head start on things."

As if on cue Omar finally turned the music down. The sounds of ecstatic screaming came from above.

Dave York was like a predator, when the guests were herded in he would eye them up, looking for any weak ones to pick off. The timid little things were even more impressed by his prowess. That earned him a bigger tip, excellent word of mouth and repeat business. Plus it meant everything was on his terms, Dave hated to be dictated to. That was another reason he gave gatherings a miss. Once he lays his current client out for the night he might swing by to pick up someone who got off on the danger of him having someone else waiting for him. The wedding ring he wore fuelled the fantasy as he slipped his fingers into their panties to tease them before rapidly fucking them in a dark corner. Sending them on their way on shaking legs.

"Of course." Pike sighed.

"Here, at the Hotel de Deseo. We leave no wish unfulfilled!" Max finishes his intro with a flourish.

"Here we go." Joel yanks the doors open leaving those more comfortable with the attention to go in first. Of course, Oberyn and Dieter are first through. The crowd's gaze is mixed. Lust, approval and admiration cross their faces. Each of them give the men appraising glaces, up and down, before settling on the flower each man had pinned to their lapel, or sweater in Dieter's case. To aid the guests in their search for their perfect fantasy partner, each man wore a flower denoting their sexuality. Simple white blooms from the men that only slept with women. Green carnations for the men that only slept with men. Rainbow roses for everyone in between.

Silva and Gregor always elicited a few disappointed sighs from the women. The same goes for Joel, Pike and Moreno with the men.

Finally the pounding base was turned off. Every muscle in your body relaxed slightly, only for a moment. The nice woman, Mrs Lord, that showed you had given you a brief rundown of what to expect. After the dancing and mingling to loosen up. The men would enter and circulate, giving everyone time to work out who they'd like to spend the night with. From the cheering, you guessed that the men had entered. Suddenly you couldn't remember the courage that had brought you here. It was as if someone else called the number and made all the arrangements. Someone else picked a beautiful floral underwear set. Someone else delicately sprayed perfume over your decolletage, hoping that someone would get close enough to enjoy it. It wasn't an all together strange feeling to feel like someone else was controlling your body. Some days you felt like an imposter in it, just going through the motions of acting like a human being.

The door to the simply furnished side room you were sitting in opened. Kind brown eyes framed by thick black glasses meet yours as a smartly dressed man enters the room. He gives you a friendly smile as he edges closer giving you time to adjust to his presence.

"Hi, I thought there were two of you?" He glances around the small room as if he expects the other woman that was here to break out of the camouflage she's using to hide in the tiny room.

The owl-like motion makes you smile. "She got up the courage to go out there."

"But you're happy here…?" His question seems loaded as your fingers dig in the sofa cushions on either side of your thighs.

"Yeah, yes." A bubble of emotion bursts in your throat. "No. To be honest, I thought I could do this…I can't." Shaking your head, you hang it low.

"Can't do what? Sit on a sofa? That's all we're doing right now." The sofa dips on the other side under his weight. "There is absolutely no pressure to go any further with this. You can leave. We'll give you a refund of what you've paid so far. Since you have come all the way out here, maybe you could at least tell me what you're looking for."

"Sex." The word shoots out before you can stop it. You had an appreciation for honesty but that was blunt even for you. "I mean…"

Tiny laughter lines bloom on the man's face. He somehow manages to be even more attractive as he laughs at your candour. "It's okay. I appreciate your honesty. Sorry, forgive my bad manners. I'm Marcus. I'm here to help you find your perfect partner for the night, and the weekend if you'd like. I'm just going to ask you a few questions if that's okay?"

He flips over the clipboard on his lap.

"Yeah. Sure. Can I ask you a question?"

"Ask away. I'm here if you need anything at all."

"Are you one of the partners I could pick?"

When he nervously removes his glasses to clean them and you see his warm eyes properly, you're sure that he is the one. A relieved sigh leaves you when he answers. "Yes, I am."

Marcus diligently takes notes of everything you tell him. After Covid your company decided to have you work from home full time. In some ways it was a blessing. You didn't have to adjust to the world again. You could stay safe in your little bubble. Catering to your needs in a way the work environment just couldn't. The downside was that you met less people. There were less opportunities to find a partner organically. Dating apps and singles nights sounded like a nightmare. Plus you weren't sure if you wanted a relationship. A little human contact of the adult variety could probably keep you feeling fine for a while. That's when you'd heard about the motel. It sounded perfect. No messy social interaction. No second guessing people's intentions. Just a straightforward transactional exchange.

"It really is beautiful out here." Taking a lung full of fresh forest air, you relax as you look out across the lake.

"I thought you might like it. It's peaceful. I come out here to think."

"What do you think about? Sorry, is that too personal?"

"No. Just life I guess. I used to be in law enforcement. I retired for my daughter."

"You have a daughter?"

"Yeah, she lives with her mom. We divorced a couple of years back. I have her every other weekend. Sorry, maybe that was too personal." Marcus was always an open book with his clients when he felt that they needed to connect.

"No. I'm interested in what kind of man chooses to spend his weekends like this."

"A broke one if I'm honest. Some of the guys do it for fun. I got into it for the money but it does have its perks."

"Oh yeah?"

"I'm walking on the beach with a beautiful woman on a gorgeous night. What could be better?" The air between you became awkward. "Sorry. That sounded cheesy even to me. Oh, look we're here."

At the perfect moment you arrive at the beach cabin. It looks like a small one bedroomed log cabin. Recently made by your guess.

"This is Joel's handiwork. Working with wood is his passion." Marcus steps aside to allow you to enter the cabin.

The 'one bedroom' description was very accurate. It was literally a bedroom. A large high bed sat in the middle. A door to the left of it and a nightstand stocked with condoms and lube to the right of it.

"So what do we do now? Do we just have sex?"

Marcus gave you an adorable shy smile. "If that's what you want. How would you like to…"

"I don't know. It's been a while. I'm assuming the part still fit in the same way but I'm nervous about feeling comfortable in my body and want to do..to you."

"You don't have to do anything to me. I'll take care of everything."

The bed was soft but not as soft as Marcus's hands on your hips. His thumbs stroked circles on your bare flesh. His head was currently under your skirt. With your concerns about being naked in front of him he'd simply worked about your dress. Slipping your panties off to give him access before licking you intimately. It was better than you remembered and far better than any toy you had bought to satisfy your urges. His tongue had dipped inside you a couple of times before teasing your clit with kitten licks. A soft whine emanates from you when he brings you to a subdued orgasm.

Embarrassment wells inside you as he emerges with your slick covering his face. He made you feel so good yet you barely made a sound. He must be used to woman who scream his name not repressed woman who are terrified to utter a moan in case their neighbours hear.

"Was that good? You seem a little tense."

Marcus observes.

"It was. Very good. I just…I'm a little uptight naturally I guess."

"I can understand that. A few of the guys here tease me for that. Is there anything I can do to help you with that? How can I put you at ease?"

"No one will come out here, will they?"

"No, the party is still going on. I've booked the room so there's no need for them to."

"Could we put that radio on?"

"Sure, anything in particular you want?"

"No, something soft and can you turn it up?"

Marcus picked a soft Spanish station. The light guitar melody filled the air as he returned to you.

"Do you want me to make love to you now?"

"Yes. Marcus? Where would you like me to touch you?"

"I'll let you know."

Marcus eaes his pants down just far enough to free his sizable erection. Seeing you flinch he makes sure to add a generous amount of lube over the condom.

"Here we go." He pushes inside you like you're made of tissue paper. A slow gentle slide like he's afraid to rip you in two until he's fully inside you.

A strangled gasp cuts from you.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes. I just forgot how good that was."

"Hopefully, it will just get better."

When he sees you forget how to breathe with his first thrust. He takes your hands in his holding them on the bed. "Just breathe."

The warmth of him filling you up is incredible. None of your toys can replicate this either. Or his kisses on your shoulder. A moan drifts out of you as you give yourself over to him. Willing yourself to untense and let him give you the satisfaction you came for.

As your body welcomes him, he speeds up. "Oh, that's it. You're taking me so well."

As Marcus lifts off of you slightly he strikes a new angle inside you. "Oh! Marcus."

"My name sounds so beautiful from your lips. Say it again for me, please?" He pumps his hips at the same angle.

"Oh, Marcus! Marcus!" The volume of your voice startles you but he is making you want to scream his name. Anyone in ear shot be damned. Your legs come up around his waist. Shifting you slightly he sinks deeper.

"Oh, yes! God!" Your head is thrown back into the pillows. You're sure that you look possessed. Wild and feral but you can't seem to care as he pounds into you. "Marcus. Marcus. Marcus." All shame leaves you as he builds another orgasm deep inside you. This one almost takes your breath with its intensity and it hasn't even crested yet.

Suddenly it does. "Marcus. Oh, yes. Marcus. Yes!"

"Oh, oh. I'm gonna…ooooh." Marcus adds a few moans of his own as he fills the condom.

Deciding to end the night on a high, that is where your time at the motel ends. Marcus sees you out. A cab picks you up from the front desk.

As Marcus waves you off Dave appears from his room. "Drove one away already Pike? That's a new record." He calls as he descends the stairs.

Marcus usually tries to rise above the barbs but seeing you bloom for him has his pride high. "Was the last record held by you and your stunning people skills?" He snipes at Dave.

"If I send them away it's for medical attention. I just had another one pass out on me." Dave calmly lights a cigarette as Marcus's head whips up his room. "Relax, Boy Scout. She's fine. Kyle's given her the once over. She apparently hadn't squirted before."

Dave finished half his cigarette before stubbing it out against the and throwing it in the trash. "Anyway it means I get to pull a double shift. You coming?"

Max and his wife watch from the office as the two of them walk away.

Marcus takes a last longing look after your cab before heading back to the party.

"I'm surprised we've made it this long with all the testosterone in this place." She teased him.

"Mi Amor, with you handpicking these men, how could we go wrong?"

[fareehaandspaniards]

9, 13, 14, 18, 27 and 34 for Edgar!

OOOOOooohHHHH thanks for choosing him!!

9. Does this character remind you of anyone you know? Does that affect how you see them?

Yes, Edgar certainly reminds me someone! ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) But not with personality or appearance... I don't know. The VIBE. That person knows i LOVE Edgar, that person can read this post, that person knows that 1-3 times per month I ask him to cosplay Edgar!!!11!

And also after playing Bloodborne I found a type of young men that I call "Edgar". I think almost everyday 1 or 2 Edgars come to flower shop where I work. It's a certain type - 16-30 years old, OFKOS with glasses, very shy, avoids eye contact or STARES into your soul, sometimes edgy, acts weird and tries to pretend everything is okay. LOL. So it's okay if we walk with my husband and I accidentally say "ooh, it's Edgar there again"

13. If you could draw effortlessly and as much as you wanted, what scene (s) would you draw for this character?

I want to draw so much with him... I want to draw him in his childhood, exercing with Gremia who had nothing to do and tried to make little Edgar so sports :D I want to draw him with his auntie Yurie, who he calls "auntie" and she hates it, with Imposter-Iosefka who I call Madlene... I want to draw a shitpost, where Edgar follows Micolash everywhere and Micolash tries to avoid him and discovers that Edgar is yandere xdd I want to draw him as a child that begs everyone to show him Ludwig because he is his hero... T_T I have a sack of ideas but no time to draw them!

14. Are you physically attracted to this character?

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) yes ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

I find Edgar extra hot. My type + looks like nerd + my interpretation of his personality

18. Do you prefer to see this character suffer or know peace? Angst or comfort? Both?

Both and much more. He is doomed by a narrative but is really important for the whole story. Edgar gaving suicidal thoughts, addiction to sedatives, personal life problems (he never had a true family, and Yurie hadn't want to be his family when he grew up), Micolash (as a whole problem), unrequites unnecessary painful love to the one who killed you (also Micolash) - okay! But also I really enjoy imagining him being happy having a cool mentor (who is also VERY silly), finding peace in his heart when Micolash is around, being hugged by Damian and more and more!

27. Do you like to ship this character with other characters or do you prefer not to?

Me? Not to ship? LOL

Micolash/Edgar, Damian/Edgar, Yurie/Edgar (in a timeline where they are !!!!!not!!!! relatives), Yurie/Edgar/Imposter Iosefka (also >>>>>NOT BLOOD-RELATED <<<<), Gremia/Edgar, Micolash/Edgar/Damian (as a kind of polyamory), Good Hunter/Edgar - I ship them and like to write/read stuff about it

34. Does this character inspire you with little things in your daily life?

He does!! Actually Edgar for me projects the problem of a "little man" (I am not sure if this termin should sound like that in english. I read that it's mostly from russian literature so idk sorry).

Edgar is not naturally gifted, not really talented. Though he can hear more voices from beyond than anyone else (ability like Rom has, but weaker) but it doesn't help him even a BIT, only annoys and scares. He is just a man with wounded pride, who has many fears, who needs attention, who wants to be loved, to be praised, to feel that someone needs him, know that he worths something.

So yes, he inspires me, I can say everyday! Reminds that every human has a story behind! And we all are just people, and any of us is like a blanket with many patches (if you joke about the last word, I'll mercilessly find you I swear) (<<<<<joke) (for now)

[zenmastercharles]

Conceptualizing Upgraded Powers for Every Miraculous

What’s up BITCHES🗣️‼️

…i’m sorry guys, I shouldn’t have called you bitches.

The concept of evolving powers in Miraculous Ladybug has raised some…interesting questions. When Ladybug basically said “fuck you, I do what I want” and made herself a new power, it confused a lot of us. And when Shadowmoth did the same goddamn thing, we were just kind of tired of it. The unspecific and wishy washy circumstances around upgrading a Miraculous user’s powers has inspired many people in the fanbase to make up their own headcanons for it, improving on the power that we were given and also conceptualizing upgrades for other users. 

Well, in this post, I’m gonna do the same thing….

For every goddamn Miraculous we see in this show

Am I crazy? Yes. Do I even have the time to do all of this? No.  Am I going to obsess over this for days on end instead of doing what I actually need to do? Absolutely.

To explain what exactly I’m doing here, instead of looking into the animals each Miraculous is based on, I’m purely going to draw concepts from the, well, concept the kwami embodies. That means I’m going to find a new power for Creation, Destruction, Transmission, Emotion, Illusion, Protection, Subjection (fuck Action, all my homies hate Action), Evolution, Intuition, Migration, Derision, Perfection, Jubilation, Inflatio-nah I’m just fuckin’ with you, Exaltation, Multiplication, Pretension, Passion, Determination, and Adoration.

Okay so maybe I lied about every Miraculous being in here since I’m ignoring the Eagle, but I’d rather wait until more Miraculouses from the NA Box get explored. Some of these are going to be easier than others, and some of these are going to be the bane of my existence, lookin’ at you Derision (which is oddly fitting). I’m gonna try my hardest not to make these upgrades OP. Now, without further ado, let’s do this.

🐞LADYBUG MIRACULOUS🐞

“Oh, Ladybug already got an upgra-” Well that upgrade was ASS, so we’re giving her a better one. When thinking of a new power for the Ladybug Miraculous, it was pretty damn difficult. I mean, Creation is a concept that’s so broad yet so specific. You have so many options yet no options at the same time. I was caught in a bit of a strange conundrum. So, in my desperate time of need, I turned to a friend that’s been helping me with shit like this since I first started writing.  My all-knowing buddy,

🪽𝒮𝓊𝓅𝓮𝓇𝓅𝓸𝓌𝓮𝓇 𝒲𝒾𝓀𝒾🪽

When I went to this site, I did what anyone would do and simply searched up Creation to see what I found. And I found a lot, a lot that could become too busted too fast. I had a few ideas at first, my first idea after going to this page was a literal goddamn domain expansion, that being Ladybug projecting her will in the form of a pocket dimension where her imagination reigns supreme. My second idea was something I would’ve called Power Plant, basically Ladybug’s spots glow and she can generate blasts of pure Big Bang energy, which again, is busted. 

Eventually, I found something that interested me and that’s Transmutation. Y’know, Alchemy from FMA? Yeah, that. It’s basically transforming one thing into another thing of equal value. And that, my friends, falls under Creation. Because you’re basically breaking something and using the parts to create something new. So, I’m guessing you can see where I’m going with this, right?

Ladybug’s new upgraded power is Overhaul, an ability that allows her to transform an inanimate object into an object of equal weight and density. So she can take a vase and transform it into an ax, but that ax is gonna be the same weight and density of the vase…and it’s gonna be made out of glass.

…holy shit, I just realized that’s an MHA reference, I legit didn’t even mean tha-

🐈‍⬛BLACK CAT MIRACULOUS����‍

Another upgrade that I came up with thanks to the help of with the help of my dear friend,

🪽𝒮𝓊𝓅𝓮𝓇𝓅𝓸𝓌𝓮𝓇 𝒲𝒾𝓀𝒾🪽

I am of the opinion that Chat Noir got absolutely shitted out of a new power in Season 5. You’re telling me you had Adrien go through all that bullshit that season and you couldn’t have at least given him some new razzle-dazzle to pay it off? Boosh.

Anyway, this one was actually fairly easier since Destruction isn’t really that broad a concept. I mean, you’re destroying shit, how complicated can it be? So, with Creation, I wanted to think about how Ladybug was creating something, but with Destruction, I want to focus on what Chat Noir’s destroying.

I went through some ideas before I came to a conclusion, Chat Noir being able to destroy someone’s soul to incapacitate them, him being able to destroy someone’s mental boundaries and what not. For the longest time I had the idea in my head that Chat Noir could maybe destroy an aspect of something, like maybe he could just destroy the color in an object and turn it completely gray. However, I feel that’s a bit more…situational. But, I eventually had a definitive idea. You know what falls under Destruction? Division.

“Wha-how does Division fall under Destruction?” You might ask, and that’s simple, division is destroying the bond that keeps multiple things whole, forcefully separating them. For example, if you have a lobster and you tear off it’s claw you have to destroy the shell to get to the meat inside. You’re dividing the shell from the meat by destroying the shell. (I’m fully aware that you didn’t need that explanation but I just watched the episode of Young Sheldon where George taught Missy how to crack a lobster and I’m still not over it)

So, Chat Noir’s new power is Hissection, it allows him to forcefully separate one thing from another by basically touching it and pulling that bitch out. He could use it on an akuma’s object and literally rip the akuma out of it without damaging the object. Or, if he’s getting really morbid, he could rip someone’s skeletal structure out of their body and just watch them fall down like ol jelly bones. He obviously wouldn’t do that, but still.

I have the perfect scenario for this power to develop too, Monarch finds out that Adrien is Chat Noir and tries to use the ring to get him to come to his side since Adrien’s a sentimonster, only for Chat Noir to use this power to separate himself from the Peacock Miraculous and wedding rings, granting himself his own sentience. Isn’t that just raw as hell?

🦋BUTTERFLY MIRACULOUS🦋

I’m gonna call Gabriel Hawkmoth for this section because I refuse to keep up with his new names. Hawk Moth has already got a kind-of upgrade with “Megakumas”. However, Megakumas are just boosh. They’re basically ‘akumas but stronger’. So I’ll be coming up with a new one just how I did with Ladybug. 

Now, the butterfly is connected to the concept of Transmission which I was having a hard time with because my stupid ass brain only thought of Transmission as “broadcasting TV/telekinetic signals”. That’s the reason I changed it to “Transformation” in one of my fics. However, one quick trip to le dictionary corrected me. Now I know that Transmission is the act of transferring something from one place to another. THAT’S why he can do that fuckin’ butterfly head thing…well my version doesn’t make sense anymore.

I really only have one idea for this and I find it perfect. Y’know how akumas transmit powers to akumatized victims right? Well, what if the butterfly user could transmit themselves?

Hawkmoth’s new power is Swarm Shadow, it allows him to break his corporeal form into a swarm of butterflies, allowing him to blast across large distances in a reduced timeframe and re-materialize. It’s basically teleportation with extra steps. 

I always thought him being able to do that in Volpina was cool as hell and I wished canon came up with a way to incorporate that someday…they didn’t.

🦚PEACOCK MIRACULOUS🦚

This one is gonna be a bit shorter because I pretty much got a great idea the moment I thought about it for more than three seconds. The Peacock is the Miraculous of Emotion, right? Well, what better upgrade would there be than, well, controlling emotions?

Argos’ new power is Vehementor, it allows him to subtly or blatantly influence a person’s emotions, he can push positive or negative emotions onto someone, or soften certain emotions to calm someone down. Someone with a stronger will could of course resist this. 

I used Argos instead of Mayura because we clearly aren’t seeing her again for a while. 

🦊FOX MIRACULOUS🦊

Now THIS one is harder. The Fox Miraculous is one of Illusion, which is a power that’s so straight-forward that it’s hard to think of anything to add to it without dipping into other domains. At one point, I thought of giving Rena a memory-based power, maybe the ability to take people’s memories and project them in the form of illusions, but that seemed like it was a bit situational in nature.

Eventually, I did come up with something. Imagine an illusion so advanced that it covered you at all times and that you could alter at will. You can make yourself invisible by forcing the illusion to mimic your surroundings, you could make it look like you’re teleporting by disappearing and reappearing behind people in puffs of orange smoke, you could make yourself look like someone else, you could make someone think you’re a shapeshifter, pretty much anything! 

So, Rena Rouge’s new power is Outfox, it allows her to manifest an illusion that’s connected to her brain and can react to her brain activity, twisting, shaping, and altering itself to whatever Rena can think of. She’ll definitely need to focus to keep pulling this off, or else the illusion would go haywire and out of her control, but it could still be pretty damn cool.

🐢TURTLE MIRACULOUS🐢

The Turtle Miraculous is one of Protection, which sounds like it would be difficult to come up for something with. I always felt that when coming up with new powers for the Turtle, other fan-creators did some that just…didn’t feel right to me. They just didn’t focus on the ‘protection’ part enough for me to feel like it made sense. My first idea for this was to give Carapace the ability to shape his shields into other stuff, and while I do think that would make for a good sub-power, it wouldn’t really fit for what I’m going for.

But then, I came up with something I like. Do you remember Metal Mario? It’s a powerup from, well, Mario, that gave him a thin coating of metal that enhanced his durability and strength. I’m going to give Nino something similar to that.

Carapace’s new power is Fortify, it allows him to create a forcefield that’s shaped around his body, allowing him to run around tanking attacks left and right. It also increases his physical strength, however, a downside is that he experiences a slight decrease in speed and agility. 

(Yes, I gave him and Rena similar powers intentionally, DJWifi is one of my favorite relationships, let me be)

🐝BEE MIRACULOUS🐝

Subjection! 

“Wait, isn’t it Action no-” SUBJECTION!

Subjection is an easy one. Subjection basically means ‘bringing something under your control’. So what better power for this one than mind control?

Queen Bee’s new upgraded power is Hive Mind, it allows her to stick someone with her trompo and bring them under her control, forcing them to do whatever she wants.

Notice how I said ‘Queen Bee’? Don’t worry Vesperia fans, I’m one of you, and I’m not leaving her out. In fact, I’m giving her a completely separate power upgrade. While Chloe would have no problem mind controlling someone, Zoe would likely find the concept…icky.  So, we’ll have to find something new for her. At first I wanted to give her the ability to control plants, because one, putting plants under subjection and two, bee, but that felt unoriginal. So, what did I go with? Something also unoriginal. Because what’s better than enacting subjection? Reversing it.

Vesperia’s new upgraded power is Layoff, it allows her to reverse low-level subjection, if someone else has you mind controlled, Vesperia can reverse that shit easy. Yes, it’s basically Bee Balm from Scarlet Lady (zoe please don’t sue me).

…ugh, fine, if I did consider the concept of Action, then the power would be Comb-Up, it would allow the user to drain the momentum from an object with the tip of the trompo to such a point that the object just completely freezes mid-air.

🐰RABBIT MIRACULOUS🐰

We’ve got the main 7 out of the way, let’s get onto the time-hopping Miraculous itself, the Miraculous of Evolution. I have mixed feelings on the linking of Evolution to the Time Miraculous because, like, I get it…but like, it doesn’t match all that well. I mean, Duration was right there if you really wanted something time-related. It doesn’t make that much more sense than Evolution, but it’s closer.

Now, at first, I focused a little too much on the time aspect, I thought of stealing time from someone else to slow them down DC style, I thought of enhancing her own time to speed herself up, I even thought of a power that’s actually going to the next Miraculous on the chopping block. But, I eventually got back to Evolution, and thought about what it means to evolve. And I came up with something pretty cool. What if Bunnyx could evolve objects?

Bunnyx’s new power is Rush Job, it allows her to harness a small percentage of chronokinetic energies and apply it to an object to evolve it, bringing it to a higher level. For example, you got a car? Do you want it to fly? BOOM! Rush Job! Now your car has jets and wings….I feel like I haven’t explained it well enough.

The weakness of this one would be, I guess, when it evolves it looses one of it’s best features from when it pre-evolved. Like, going back to the car, yeah it has jets now but there’s not a steering wheel anymore, just a steering mechanism that’s hella hard to get down. Also it wears off fast.

🐍SNAKE MIRACULOUS🐍

Ah, the Miraculous of the Snake, or as I like to call it, the one that basically lets you go “nuh-uh”. Intuition is a simple concept to get down, basically you’re super aware and have good instincts. This is also another wibbly wobbly time Miraculous, it and the Rabbit take turns making each other insignificant. This one was actually pretty easy for me, as I already had this power in mind for the snake for months now. 

Viperion’s new power is Scale Factor, it allows him to peer through time to view the possible outcomes of each action they take, and adjust for certain happenings. He would have to focus hard, but I feel that shouldn’t be hard for Luka.

🐴HORSE MIRACULOUS🐴

Bit of a detour, but the Horse Miraculous’ power doesn’t make sense to me, mostly because it’s a huge wasted opportunity. The concept is Migration, and that’s basically moving from one direction to another. And what are horses known for? Running! So the obvious conclusion for the Horse’s power is PORTALS! I’m gonna give the Horse the power I think it should’ve had in the first place.

Pegasus’ new power is Steed, it allows him to sprint at incredible speeds, becoming a light green blur (same color as the portals). 

🐒MONKEY MIRACULOUS🐒

This one…this one was the death of me. Because what the fuck is ‘Derision’? I didn’t even know that was a word before Thomas decided to pull it out of his ass and slap it onto the table. Apparently is means, “contemptuous ridicule or mockery”. So basically, magic bullying. Now, how do I find another application of this? Credit where credit’s due, Uproar is kinda perfect for the concept of Derision. Basically making your opponent the laughing stock by disrupting their power. After a few hours, I finally got it. What if your power made you the laughing stock.

What if you’re the jester, the joker, the one who made people laugh, whether they like it or not?

Roi Singe’s new power is Quip King, it allows him to tell a joke so bad, a joke so cringe, a joke so unbelievably garbage, that anyone who hears it laughs at him. Forcibly. And they can’t stop. It’s basically Joker Venom but WAY less lethal. Can’t exactly threaten the city while your ribs are quaking.

🐲DRAGON MIRACULOUS🐲 

Okay, Derision was the death of me, this buried me underground. This time, I knew what Perfection was, I just don’t know how that connects to the animal or the power. I mean, Ryuko has weather powers. The fuck does that have to do with Perfection? I mean, if you wanted her to have weather powers that bad, Precipitation was right there. 

Anyways, finding something to do with Perfection that still looped in with it’s main power was very hard…so I just didn't. I straight up forgot about the ‘Storm Dragon’ powers and focused completely on Perfection. Perfection means, well, making things perfect, so I thought of something like a stat booster, making the user a living unit of strength, speed, durability, and stamina. I realized that, one, that would be way too busted, and two, it would overshadow the turtle’s new power. I eventually came up with something different though.

Ryuko’s new power is Omni-Tongue, it allows her to understand and speak all existing languages, including ancient or fictional languages. It’s kind of situational but honestly, the Dragon is already one of the most busted of the Chinese Box, it doesn’t need another super flashy power. 

🐷PIG MIRACULOUS🐷

Ah yes, the Miraculous quite literally designed for Rose. It’s the Miraculous of Jubilation, meaning the feeling of great happiness or triumph. I’m sure you’re thinking “Zen Master Charles, how the hell are you gonna find another application of this.” Quiet, dear reader, as I know how to do this. I didn’t really have any other ideas for this one since the answer was pretty clear cut.

Pigella’s new power is Peace Out, it overloads whoever she hits with her tambourine with so much positive emotion that they can’t do anything else but frolic around and enjoy the world’s beauty.

🐯TIGER MIRACULOUS🐯

What the fuck is ‘exaltation’?

“Actually, the concept got changed to ‘elation’.” Ahhh…what the fuck is ‘elation’?

Okay so Elation means ‘a feeling of great joy or pride’. Now, how the hell does that factor into a super punch? I have no idea, but I do have an idea of what it’s upgraded power could be. See, when you’re super happy, you’re super energetic, like you’re bouncing around and shit. And you would need a lot of stamina for that, so…

Purple Tigress’ new power is Resolver, it allows her to grant herself nigh-infinite stamina and a slight increase in speed and agility. 

🐁MOUSE MIRACULOUS🐁

Eezy dubs.

Polymouse’s new power is Bootleg, it allows her to produce copies of physical objects, the only downside being that the copies will be of lower quality, y’know, like a bootleg version.

🐓ROOSTER MIRACULOUS🐓

Ah, pretension, a claim or assertion of a claim to something. It actually makes sense paired with the power of the Miraculous itself, good job Thomas! Of course the power itself is busted beyond all accounts and makes the rest of the show seem like it could’ve been solved if at least one character had an IQ above room temperature. It’s hard to come up with something new for Pretension because it’s such a…specific term.

My first idea was a power that allowed the user to create a specific rule that had to be followed within a certain area, but that sounded busted. Too busted, even by the standards of the power it already has. However, once I wrote this off, I had an idea. How about, instead of creating rules, the Rooster hero could break them?

So, Rooster Bold’s new power is Rebel Roost, it allows him to make himself exempt from any rule or law by writing it with his feather pen dagger. Seems pretty useless at first right? WRONG! Laws of gravity? Fuck you, I can fly. Rules of Nature? Hey, mouse! You can kill that cat that’s been hunting you now! Yes, it’s broken, but so is it’s other power.

🐐GOAT MIRACULOUS🐐

Another eezy dub, y’know how passion basically means you’re dedicated towards something and have strong emotions towards it? And when it’s at it’s peak, nothing can keep you away from it?

Caprikid’s new power is Scapegoat, it allows him to become intangible, meaning that he can walk and/or float through physical objects, but he can’t touch them until he deactivates the power.

🐂OX MIRACULOUS🐂

The Ox Miraculous of Determination, in the simplest terms, is literally a big blue ‘nuh uh’ button. Surprisingly, it also makes sense paired with the power Astruc came up with! I’m tired as hell so I’m not gonna explain my thought process here.

Minataurox’s new power is Oxenfree, it allows him to supply his allies with boosts to their willpower. It’s lazy, I know, idc. (God, I’m falling off.)

🐕DOG MIRACULOUS🐕

THE FINAL ONE, YEEEEES

The Miraculous of the Dog holds the concept of Adoration, makes sense with the animal, not so much the power. Now, how the hell am I supposed to find another application of Adoration…actually it’s quite easy. It’s the same thing as the Horse, where all I have to do is give it the power I think it should’ve had in the first place. 

Miss Hound’s new power is Track Star, it allows her to target a specific person and track them down wherever they go. 

~~hide away, hide away from me, hide away, hide away from me-~~

I’M FINALLY FUCKING DONE! 

Guys, this took me 10 days.

Alright, if you have any alternate ideas you want to share or want to use any of these for your fics, make sure to comment below.

[zeldaelmo]

The Pen Pal Plan, chapter 5

Link was relatively calm, but she still hated to see him threatened like this. "He's done nothing wrong!" Zelda choked out, finally finding her voice again.

The guard with the black eye, Avon, if her brain didn't let her down, scrutinized them, one-eyed gaze hopping from one to the other. "Well, all I can see is that he's drinking on duty and has been caught in quite a compromising situation with Hyrule's princess after abducting her from her other guards."

Link went pale beside her, hands sinking, but lifting them promptly again when he suddenly had a spear in his face.

"Please!" Zelda hissed and nervously glanced at the other guests of the tavern. They were slowly but surely making a scene. "Link is the last suitor I intended to meet." She pointed at the paper flowers. "Look, here's the Silent Princess we agreed on to identify ourselves. We only drank one glass of wine and he's been the perfect gentleman the whole evening." She blushed but held his gaze. "Everything between us has happened consensually. There — there hasn't been a single moment where I was in danger."

Boots scraped over the floor, the guards stepping back. Avon cleared his throat. "Well then, I apologize for the interruption. We'll take our posts, Your Highness. Just continue as if we weren't here."

Link and Zelda exchanged a look and burst into a fit of laughter, nourished half from relief and half from the ridiculousness of the idea. They were surely not starting to make out with a bunch of guards standing around them!

"Thank you, Sir, but we'd prefer if you accompany us back to the castle," Zelda explained. "It's been a long day for all of us."

Avon bowed. "Whatever you order, Princess."

Zelda nodded and under the gazes of the other tavern occupants, they slipped into their hoods again and went outside. 

The sun had long set and they had to rely on the torches Avon and his men had organized. Words were sparse on their way through Castle Town's alleys – the guards were busy keeping an eye out for a potential threat among the straying festival goers and Link and Zelda walked quietly next to each other, too. 

Zelda didn't know where to put her hands. She fiddled with the brooch of the hood, crumpled the hem of it, and wiped her palms on her pants. Everything had changed since the guards showed up and she couldn't tell anymore what would be appropriate. They had nearly kissed. Would Link still want to do that? Maybe the reaction of his fellow guards had changed his mind, he had nearly been thrown into the dungeons if not for her word…

"Zelda?" A chuckle, next to her. "Are you nervous? Your hands are uneasy. Are you afraid your parents won't approve?"

"What? No, no, they'll accept my decision. And if my father trusts you already, he'll be very pleased."

He smiled, firelight from the torches flickering over his face. "Okay. Maybe you just need someone to calm your nerves." 

Zelda hummed quietly, shoulders dropping when he took her hand in his. Yes. She needed him to calm her. "Thank you," she murmured.

"I guess we need to get used to the situation with the guards, anyway," he whispered back.

"Probably, yes.” She leaned closer, whispering in his ear. "But I'm not going to get my first kiss from you in front of them."

"Nope." He popped the 'p', promptly drawing attention to him. Waiting until the guards had turned back to the road, Link murmured, "Okay, but how are we going to do this? I–I would really like to kiss you tonight."

“Oh, that's no problem at all. They'll leave me to my business as soon as we're in the safety of the castle walls.”

Link frowned. "Really? Your father has two guards with him for every step he takes."

Zelda giggled and tugged him closer with her hand. "That's only because Mama pranked him one time too many."

"No way!" Link stared at her with his mouth open.

"Yes!"

They continued their walk, leaving the hectic mingling of music and people of the festival behind them. The cold air of the winter evening was clear and the frozen landscape between the town and castle humbled them into silence. At the gates, however, the rhythmic clanking of boots halted, and inside, it was as Zelda had predicted. The guards announced their goodbye, leaving them on their own. 

Now, it was Link fiddling with the hem of his sleeve. 

"Would you mind accompanying me to my room?" Zelda asked, giving his hand a squeeze. "We can go the way over the castle grounds so that not everyone stares at you."

"I'd love to."

She guided him the long way around the arcades and alleys. Did he think about what this evening meant for his life, too? It must be ten times more life-changing for him. 

Zelda had wanted a suitor, skies, she had prepared a whole year for finding one, but the reality still felt strange. Not in a bad way, far from it! She already knew she was crushing hard for Link's simple words, his cute smile, and his easy politeness. Maybe it was relief disguised as nervousness.

Without gathering too much attention, they entered her wing from the far-east side and were nearing her door. Her shoes seemed to have turned into iron boots and Link wasn't faring any better next to her. 

"Sorry," he squealed and released her hand that he had squeezed a little too tight. A little frown appeared on his face and he looked around, searching. "Where are the guards?"

"Hm? Oh, they're only here when I'm in my room."

"Your father…"

Zelda grinned, pulling him closer to her door. "My mother hid a mouse under his blanket once."

"She seems like fun to be around."

"Oh, she is. But she won't spare you."

They smiled at each other bashfully, running out of topics for small talk.

"So, um, it was a really nice evening." Zelda shifted her feet nervously, promptly hitting the door. "And I, ah, enjoyed our pen pal ship a lot."

"Yes. Me too. A lot, I enjoyed it a lot, too, I mean."

"I wouldn't mind if we meet in person more often, though. I mean, you still can write if you want, that's not it."

"Zelda?" He breathed, eyes searching hers, fingers flexing at his side. "M-may I kiss you?"

Her words wouldn’t come out, every thought consumed by the tenderness with which his hand came up to her face and pushed the hood she was still wearing down, so she just nodded. 

He stepped closer, both hands cupping her face. He was cold everywhere where he touched her, but she couldn't care less. His lips hovered over hers, breath stroking over chilled skin. Lashes fluttering shut, he still waited, proving himself the gentleman she trusted him to be. 

"Kiss me, please," she muttered against his lips, half fulfilling her plea herself.

His lips were warmer than the rest of him, soft and firm at the same time. She sighed into the kiss, erasing his nervousness. His hands grew more sure and in a whisk of possessiveness, she grabbed his hood and pulled him against her. They stumbled against the door, but Link kept the rhythm steady, opening up to her. She didn’t hesitate to follow. This was all she ever wanted, Link was all she ever wanted. Someone to talk the night away with (and yes, kissing), someone who balanced her overthinking out, someone who teased her. Someone to be Zelda with. 

They broke apart and she rested her forehead against his, both hands holding his face and unwilling to let him go just yet. His eyes mirrored the fond expression her gaze held for him and he smiled. “See you tomorrow?”

“Yes.” She smiled back. “And the day after tomorrow and every day after that.”

“Sounds like a plan. I- I hate to say this, but I’m back on duty tomorrow… and your day has been long, too. So…”

“It’s okay, Link. I’m tired, too.” She cupped his cheek for a last time and leaned in for another kiss. “See you tomorrow.”

She resisted the urge to look after him as he descended the stairs with light feet and went through her door with a dreamy smile defining her face. What a day. First the creepy weirdo, then the incident with the carousel, and oh! She had completely forgotten about the boring poet. Giggling, she slipped out of her shoes. Serves him right! To communicate solely in verses, how odd and off-putting. 

“Good evening, little bird.”

Zelda shrieked, whirling around, her hands shooting to her chest. “Mama! Goddess, you gave me a heart attack.” Catching her breath, she went over to the armchair where her mother had curled up and was reading a book in front of the fireplace. 

“Oh, I apologize, I thought you’ll notice the lanterns but I guess you were too absorbed in your thoughts.” She yawned and put the book aside. “I was too curious about how your plan would play out. I assume that you’re so late is a good sign? And the thud on the door?”

Zelda shrugged out of her hood and put it away, drawing closer to the fireplace. She was still cold, especially her feet. “Yes. I’m happy to give you a detailed report tomorrow since literally everything went wrong, but I still managed to make my decision.”

Her mother laughed. “You managed to make your decision? Come on, give me a little more. Is it the last one who wrote the adorable letters?”

Zelda nodded. “Yes, his name is Link and he— wait. Do you hear that?”

Someone played a tune on a flute or something similar… no! An ocarina!

Not a second later, Zelda was on her balcony, shivering in her blouse.

Link stood at the foot of her wing, a small ocarina raised to his lips and playing a familiar song. The pale moon illuminated him, making his blond hair shine like pure silver. 

Wait, was that… yes! He played her lullaby. Tears shimmering in her eyes, she waved her hand in greeting. The last note rang through the air and he smiled, pressing a kiss to his fingers and lifting them to her. Then, he disappeared into the night.

Zelda lingered, sighing contently, but her mother pulled her back in and gave her a cardigan. “Oh, how cute! He’s a guard, right? I recognize him. That explains why he didn’t disclose his profession.”

“Hmhm.” Zelda wasn’t able to do much more than hum, her emotions leaving her still in trance. 

Her mother chuckled and pulled her into a tight hug, roaming her hands over Zelda’s frame. “Guess we have a wedding to organize, huh?”

Zelda nodded into her chest, the pleasant warmth and the scent of her mother’s safe arms forcing her eyelids to waver. “Not today, okay? Give us a little time.”

“All the time in the world, my little bird,” her mother said and pressed a kiss onto her hair. “All the time in the world.”

[doyoujustnotwantto]

Your Annoying Tumblr Mutual strikes yet again !!

I'm gonna ask you a few questions :> (these are all so random lmao) (as always, feel free to ignore ^^^)

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

✰ how long have you been on tumblr?

✰ how did you come up with your url/username?

✰ what’s your phone’s lock screen?

✰ do you have any piercings//tattoos? (any you’d like to get?)

✰ do you wear glasses//contacts?

✰ has anyone ever told you you have a "celebrity look-alike"? if yes, who?

✰ best compliment you’ve ever gotten?

✰ are you a collector of anything in particular? If yes, what?

✰ I HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD REST OF YOUR DAY AND TREAT YOURSELF AND I APPRECIATE YOU AND YES OKAY BYE FOR NOW <3

OMG thank you for asking!!!! I can tell you're the sweetest and the most caring person just by going through your blogs <3 You could never be annoying!

♡I've been on tumblr for around 2 years now (but i wasn't active at all)

♡it's a lyric from renegade by taylor. i love the song:')

♡a drawing of gold stars and moon with the completely black background that i found on Pinterest

♡no i don't! I'm in Japan, and tattoos are still strongly associated with gangsters here sadly. So no one around me would agree with me getting one but I'd love to someday actually😬(i wanna leave the country so I will when that happens:)) I'm definitely getting my ears pierced as soon as i graduate from high school!! Does it hurt??

♡nope!

♡Kim Chae-won from LE SSERAFIM! so many people say i look just like her haha and now i kind of think so too hehe

♡friendly and caring?! i try to be friendly so i was happy when someone acknowledged that. Cause that means it's working lol

♡i buy random small snacks with cute packaging to decorate my shelf;) oh and I'm on my journey to collect all of Taylor's cds! I've been a fan since forever but i was little and my parents had no interest lol so i was simply loving Taylor by watching mvs and listening to popular songs thinking those were the only information available about her. I spent half a decade without knowing all the drama or hate she got. It's kind of crazy to think now that i know a lot haha on the other side of the world there were crazy things happening:)

sorry, the answer got unnecessary long! I loved doing this<333 It reminded me of the things i didn't know about myself lol You too! Have a great day, night and December is almost there!!!! luv u!

[violetjedisylveon]

It's Just A Little Cold

Little Star Chapter 5

Summary: Ma would like everyone to know her little brother is still an idiot. A well meaning idiot but still an idiot.

Aka: Chao-Xing gets her first cold, and Ma has to deal with Wukong and Liu'er freaking out.

Word count: 3.3k

Warnings: ⚠sickness(nothing serious), mentions of death, mentions of character death, fire injuries, mentions of miscarriages/stillbirth, think that's it⚠

A/N: This chapter kicked my ass so hard, I kept getting stuck at so many different points. Sorry it took so long. I'm so glad it's finally done.

I also made a bunch of dumb memes while I was stuck. Memes 1, meme 2, meme dump

And some Halloween art

Enjoy!

I meant to post this yesterday alongside the meme dump but was having an allergy attack, cause my body hates me.

Shadowpeach Family AU Masterpost

________________________________________________________________________________

Enlightenment be damned, her brothers were still idiots.

Ma rubbed her eyes as Xuěhuā continued to peacefully sleep on her back. Her little fluff ball could sleep through anything it seemed, including two panicked celestial monkeys barging into their nest in the middle of the night for what was most likely a stupid reason.

The idiots were sitting in front of her rubbing their heads, now sore because they broke into her home and she smacked them.

"You're just lucky I didn't have anything by the nest." Ma told them.

They at least had the decency to look guilty.

"I thought you two knew better by now." She scolded.

"Yeah… but it's an emergency!" Wukong exclaimed.

"Chao-Xing got sick." Liu'er said, nodding in agreement with his mate.

Now that was a decent reason to wake her up.

"Alright, let me see." She groaned.

The tiny little cub had been doing just fine the last two weeks, aside from her clear dislike of the cold, she was acting like a completely normal cub.

Wukong took Chao-Xing out of the baby sling and held his daughter out to her with shaky hands. She hadn't grown very much, that bit was odd, she still fit quite comfortably in her father's hands.

Ma felt around her nest for her glasses, thankfully it was easy to find them.

On a first glance, nothing appeared to be wrong with the little cub, but after a moment of observing, Ma did notice the little one shivering a lot more than she normally did, and her nose was slightly runny.

She rested a finger on Chao-Xing's tiny head to check her temperature, it was hardly a fever.

Then she sneezed, her ears and that odd spot on her side flashed brightly with it. It was a little weird but Liu'er's ears flashed when he sneezed, so it was probably normal enough for six eared celestial monkeys. She only had two to draw from and they both did it.

"She's just got a little cold, nothing to worry about." Ma told them.

They glanced at each other then back to her.

"Are you sure?" Wukong asked.

Ma was too tired to deal with this shit properly.

"Yes I'm sure, it's just a cold. It'll take a day, maybe two, to go away. Besides, it's not like it'll do anything to her, she can't die. She's fine." Ma snarled through gritted teeth, careful not to wake either child up.

"Are you-"

"I swear to- if you finish that sentence I will slap you." Ma threatened.

Liu'er wisely shut his mouth.

"Just keep an eye on her and try to rest, okay?" Ma told them.

Her idiot brothers nodded and headed back to their home to no doubt fret over their daughter until morning.

That's their problem now. Ma climbed back into her nest and settled down, Xuěhuā snuggled into place right on top of her. They were in just the right spot where she could still hold her child while letting them sleep on top of her, their favorite spot to sleep for whatever reason.

She wrapped her tail loosely around her fluff ball and went back to sleep.

XXX

Ma woke up the next morning to an impatient King staring down at her.

She scowled at her brother and slapped his nose.

"Hey! We didn't wake you up this time!" Wukong whined, rubbing his nose.

Ma muttered to herself and sat up, Xuěhuā slid off her back and landed softly in the blankets below. Liu'er was standing a more respectful distance from her nest, holding Chao-Xing close to his chest.

"How long have you been waiting?" She sighed.

"A while." Liu'er said.

"All night?" She guessed.

Neither answered.

She was going to take that as a yes.

"I already told you she's fine." Ma said.

"Yeah but she looks really upset, and she still hasn't gotten better." Liu'er told her.

"Every baby gets upset when they're sick, it's normal." Ma rolled her eyes.

"Could you just take another look at her?" Wukong asked.

"Fine." Ma huffed.

Liu'er carefully passed Chao-Xing to her once she got her glasses.

The little cub was a bit warmer than before, but illnesses usually got worse before they got better. She was shivering much more than the other day, she was practically vibrating.

And she looked absolutely miserable, the poor thing was probably freezing. Seeing how she already didn't like the normal cold, the misery on the infant's pinched face made sense.

"She doesn't like the cold from her fever. Keep her warm and she'll be fine." Ma said, handing the infant back to her parents.

"Are you-"

"Yes. This isn't the end of the world, it's just a little cold." Ma snapped.

That shut both of them up.

Ma gave her annoying brothers orders to bother the healers if Chao-Xing wasn't better soon. Regardless of how long the illness lasted, it couldn't do any permanent damage to her.

She flopped back down into bed, intent on sleeping the morning away.

XXX

Pleasantly, Ma wasn't disturbed by her stone brained brother for the rest of the day. She loved him but gods, he was annoying.

She spent the day at the nursery with Liu, giving the new and tired mothers advice or a break from their troublesome cubs. Xuěhuā played with the other toddlers while she talked with her little sister.

Unfortunately for Liu, she had always been a great listener.

"It's not even that big of a deal, it's just a typical infant cold, and Chao-Xing is immortal, it can't do any lasting damage to her." Ma told Liu as she helped the light brown monkey groom a group of sleepy infants.

"Wukong still worries over us, even though we are immortal too." Liu hummed.

Ma rolled her eyes. Her little brother had grown into quite the worrier. There was some basis for it, The Great Burning left it's marks on everyone, from orphaned monkeys who passed the story of the horrors and their survival down for centuries to the Elders who still carried the marks of the Burning on their fur, but he didn't need to go so overboard on it.

He hadn't even been there to see the worst of it either, by the time he returned five hundred years after, the worst of their injuries were fully healed.

Ma herself had been a part of the "lucky" few who hadn't died in the burning, or from her wounds after. If you could call any of them lucky. She had, however, seen those who were rejected by the Diyu come back, including her own brothers and sister.

"You know how he gets when someone's hurt." Liu said.

Ma huffed at the younger monkey, but knew she was right. Wukong didn't like seeing any of the troop in pain, and it was worse when he felt responsible for the pain. She hated the guilty look on his face when her old injuries, or any other Elder's injuries caused them issues.

Recently she'd begun pinning any pains she had on Xuěhuā, since the fluff ball loved to cling to her back and sleep on top of her. It was an easy enough excuse, and it didn't have Wukong looking at her like that.

Liu'er was not that much better, but he wasn't as much of an overbearing worrier, his ears let him keep track of everyone. He still didn't like seeing any of the troop hurt.

Both of the idiots were no doubt blaming themselves for "letting" their daughter get sick.

"He needs someone to talk him down and help him, not snap at him. Besides Mihou, you're the only one he listens to regularly." Liu said.

Ma glared at her sister as her words sunk in. Liu was right, no matter how much she hated admitting it. Wukong still didn't know how to express when he needed help and guidance. He'd had a lot of trouble being vulnerable as he got older, especially after that journey.

"I hate you, you know that, right?" Ma told Liu as she got up.

Xuěhuā spotted her getting up and raced over to climb onto her back. She waited for Xuěhuā to get into their preferred spot and glowered at Liu's cheeky grin. She flicked her sister's face with her tail.

XXX

Ma banged on her brother's door, then crossed her arms to wait. She might not have Liu'er's near omniscient hearing, but she could hear her brother scrambling from his room to the door.

Xuěhuā nibbled a pear on her shoulder. Her little fluff ball followed her most places, she didn't mind her cub's slight clinginess. They had some attachment issues, being abandoned will do that to you. Ma knew that much from personal experience.

Wukong opened the door.

He looked like shit.

"Have you slept once these last two days, Shí Hóu?" Ma groaned.

"Psht, an immortal like me doesn't need such trifle things as sleep." Wukong scoffed half heartedly.

"Your glamors are down." Ma pointed out, gesturing to his forehead.

Wukong glanced up as he brushed his hand over the scarred skin, his face fell once he realized she was correct.

"Was it the sleep deprivation or the stress that finally got you?" Ma asked.

"Both." Wukong cried, he honest to the gods cried.

Ma patted her little brother's shoulder sympathetically

"Welcome to parenthood." She smirked.

Wukong only gave her a tired glance through his burned red eyes. He normally glamored them, just like his scars, but Chao-Xing had cried each time he tried when they introduced her to the kingdom.

It had been a long time since any of them outside of Liu'er had seen their king's true eyes when he wasn't pissed or losing his grip on the glamor some other way.

Who knew an infant could hold so much power over the great monkey king?

"How much have you slept since she hatched?" Ma wondered.

Wukong didn't answer.

"You do know you have an entire mountain of monkeys to help you, right?" She said.

He glanced away from her, face flushing light pink with embarrassment.

"Some intelligent stone monkey you are." Ma snickered.

"Mihou forgot too!" Wukong objected.

"Yes, you're both idiots." Ma nodded.

She lifted the basket she had grabbed from the healers, neither of her brothers had gone to them yet.

"I've got some medicine, let's get your fluff ball feeling better." Ma said.

Wukong's tired red eyes lit up and he stepped aside to let her in. A faint scent of sickness hung in the air, no worse than the typical cub cold. Chao-Xing's smaller body could have just been having a bit more trouble dealing with the illness.

Xuěhuā hopped off her shoulder and scampered off to Wukong's bedroom. Liu'er was their favorite uncle since they could actually see him without the glasses they hated wearing. One day she'd get a pair to stay on long enough for Xuěhuā to see the difference.

"Uncle Mihou!" Xuěhuā chirped.

Liu'er shouted in alarm. He was very hard to startle, it just spoke to how tired he was.

"Oh… hey Xuě."

Liu'er was patting Xuěhuā's head as Ma came into the room. His ears twitched and he glanced up at her, looking just as tired as Wukong. His eyes went to the basket she was holding and some of the tension in his body left him, he scooted away from the Kings nest.

Little Chao-Xing was curled up in a tiny ball on the nest, the small cub was shivering and letting out pitiful little squeaks every few seconds. Half chewed and spit up bits of fruit were scattered on the blanket around her.

Ma set the basket down next to the nest and handed the healers instructions to Liu'er, then nudged Wukong into place next to his mate.

"She won't take it from me." Ma said when Wukong gave her a confused glance.

Chao-Xing was a tad bit picky about who she got food from. Any scent that wasn't her father's was unfamiliar, so she didn't want it.

"They labeled the medicine in order of taking it, she won't like it though." Ma warned them.

"Will it hurt her?" Wukong worried.

Ma rolled her eyes. He was such a worrier now.

"No Shí Hóu, it just tastes bad and children hate medicine." Ma said.

Ma observed her brothers treating their daughter with a careful eye. She knew how nerve wracking giving medication to a baby for the first time was.

While Liu'er had often helped out in the nursery before and treated the cubs there, Wukong had never touched medicine outside of battle wound treatment and it was a very different situation when it was your child you were treating. She had to correct them a few times when they didn't give her enough or tried to force it down.

Chao-Xing wasn't keen on making it any easier. The sick cub squirmed around in her fathers hands, determined to get off and back to the warm blankets below. She whined and fussed about everything they gave her. Her tiny face was scrunched up into an angry baby scowl by the time they finished with the first round of medication.

Luckily, the tiny fluff ball tired herself out with all the fuss she made and was asleep as soon as she was tucked into the warm nest. Xuěhuā decided to join in on nap time too and hopped up into the nest, curling up next to their cousin. Ma wasn't worried about Xuěhuā catching the cold, they had a very strong immune system for their age.

She made a pot of tea to soothe her brothers nerves as they hovered over their daughter for a little bit longer. They would both be a lot more responsive once they weren't panicking over Chao-Xing.

By the time they came out, she had the tea and food set out on the table in the family room. She let her brothers eat, silently sipping her own tea, as she waited for the opportune moment.

“She's very strong for something so small.” She said.

Her brothers looked up at her, tired confusion in their eyes as they waited for her to expand on that.

“She's a little fighter that's for sure, if she wasn't going to let it kill her, then this doesn't stand a chance.” She set her cup down and leaned back in her chair.

“What got you so worried?”

Liu'er was doing that anxious hand fidgeting thing he used to do, it was a habit she thought he'd grown out of centuries ago. It was one of his better habits.

“… she looked like she was in so much pain… I didn't like that… I felt like I was hurting her with everything that I tried. I don't want to cause her more pain.” Liu'er rubbed his eyes stubbornly.

Wukong leaned closer to him, resting his head on his shoulder. He put one hand over Liu'er's fidgety ones and gave it a little squeeze.

“She's already been through so much, she shouldn't have to suffer anymore.” He admitted.

“And you, Shí Hóu?”

Wukong jumped slightly when she turned her attention onto him.

“I- well, I don't want her to suffer more either.”

“Don't lie to me.” She warned.

“I'm not lying! I-”

“Shí Hóu.” Ma growled.

Wukong scowled at her, she glared right back until he sighed and hung his head in defeat.

“I feel like I already failed her.” He mumbled.

“How?”

“She shouldn't have gotten sick. I shouldn't have let it happen! What good am I as a parent if I can't even keep my kid safe? How else am I going to screw up if I can't do something as simple as that?” Wukong slammed his fist down hard enough to dent the table.

She was mildly surprised he hadn't broken it. He often lost his hold on his powers when he got emotional like this. He met her gaze for a moment before turning his head away and muttering something she couldn't hear.

Whatever he said pissed Liu'er all the way off.

The shadow monkey grabbed his face and turned him around.

“We're in this together, remember? If you ruined her life, then I did too. You aren't taking the blame for this that easily.” He growled, then kissed him.

Ma rolled her eyes.

“The parents who worry about messing up their kids are usually the ones that do the least damage.” She interjected before the situation could devolve into yet another useless make out session.

“And neither of you have ruined anything, she's sick, and she's going to get sick again and again cause that's what happens with babies, they get sick easily. It does not mean you failed, it's part of life, you can't control it.” She said.

She leaned forwards and held out her hands for them. Wukong rolled his eyes at the gesture and Liu'er rolled his eyes at him, they both took her hand.

“You're doing great.” She pulled the pair into a bear hug.

XXX

Ma ran her fingers through Wukong's messy, matted hair, working out the knots and tangles he had accumulated in the two weeks since his daughter's birth. Wukong was quietly working on Liu'er's own mess of hair. The shadow monkey had been too tired to argue when Wukong insisted he get some rest.

“Mom was constantly worried about whether she was raising us right.” Ma said, breaking the comfortable silence.

Wukong stiffened under her fingers. She continued grooming him.

“Really?” He wondered in genuine disbelief.

Mom had always appeared so confident in her abilities.

“Yeah, I would overhear her talking to her friends most nights, asking them if what she did was right or if she could have handled a certain situation better than she did. Almost every day she felt like she was messing up.” She sighed.

“Now I feel worse about all the trouble I caused.” He chuckled sheepishly.

“Don't be, she thought most of it was entertaining.” Ma shrugged.

“How do you think she did it? Feel like she was messing up so horribly but still try?” He asked in a small voice.

“Hmm… I don't know, but it definitely makes a lot more sense now than it did as a kid. Guess it's something you only really understand once you have a fluff ball of your own, huh?” She flicked his nose with her tail.

They settled back into a comfortable silence, the cubs and Liu'er slept without much disturbance, aside from an occasional cough from Chao-Xing.

“Do you ever feel like you're failing them?” Wukong asked.

“Definitely, sometimes I wonder if I should discourage their clinginess, and then I'm worrying that I push them away and make them feel unwanted, again, so I let it slide and then I repeat.” Ma nodded.

“Xuěhuā isn't exactly like me, what works for me doesn't necessarily work for them. I always have to watch out and make sure they don't get burned if they're out too long, and don't even get me started on the glasses. Xuěhuā is a brat about those.” She said.

“They hate them that much?”

“They try to break every pair.” She confirmed.

She loved her fluff ball, but her fluff ball was a little jerk sometimes.

“I think you should talk to Jiāng and Yīng.” She said.

“Why?”

“They have a lot of experience with cubs, they've had a lot of their own and helped many more with their own. They understand the loss and the conflicting feelings of your situation.” She explained.

Her brother was still as a stone. He actually thought he could get it past her. That sort of pain he couldn't hide from her.

“They know more than a few ways to handle the feelings.” She continued.

“It would be better to make peace with it then let it haunt you forever, Shí Hóu.” She finished.

“Just think about, okay?” She requested.

“I will.” He finally said.

“Good.” She nodded and they both went back to grooming._

________________________________________________________________________________

Yuze means rain, and she's def dead at this point, died to a sickness before Wukong started becoming more than a nuisance.

Yīng(wise/flower) and Jiāng(river) are some of the younger elders; they were little babies when Wukong took their names off the book. They are the most experienced with childbirth and all the stuff that comes with it, they know a thing or two about miscarriages and the healing process.

Ma will call Wukong "Shí Hóu" somewhat regularly, but especially when she is upset/exasperated with him, it's like your parent saying your full name, full stop and you shit yourself cause you fucked up big time. When Wukong decided to start calling himself "Měi Hóuwáng", Ma still called him Shí Hóu cause there's no way she's calling her little brother "handsome monkey king". It's a sibling pride thing, you wouldn't wanna call your little brother "handsome" either.

Liu'er, Ba and Liu all "died" in the Great Burning, they all got rejected by the Diyu cause their names were removed from the book of living and dead. Ba and Liu died early in the burning, and they don't remember much from the whole experience. Liu'er was not so lucky🙃

I hope you all have a good day, whatever that is for you!

VJS Out!